Taken (3)

Ian had identified the puppet master who had participated in Yuria's abduction.

Rudeus Delmora.

In Ian's previous life, Rudeus was a dark mage belonging to the faction of Hisperion's eldest son, theo.

Ian himself had once raided that bastard's workshop during the Hisperion civil war.

He was a truly twisted and vicious man.

Rudeus crafted puppets using living humans as materials, and the process was unimaginably horrific.

He would extract internal organs while they were alive, slice off limbs, skin and strip the flesh, mince the bodies, dissolve them in a corrosive acidic solution, and mix them with pig fat until they became a jellied mass like soft yokan...

'Of all people, it had to be that bastard who's involved...'

Suddenly, Ian recalled the time in his previous life when he had secretly snuck into Rudeus's workshop.

The man was sawing a person in half with a long saw.

― Euhi! Euheehee! Euahahak!

― Seogeok! Seogeok! Seogeok!

― Kkeuaaa! Aaak! Kkeuaaaa!

The man's chilling laughter, the distinctly echoing sound of the saw, and the victim's rending screams...

Everything Ian had seen and heard in the bastard's workshop in his previous life still lingered vividly in his mind like an imprint.

People were hung from the ceiling, still alive, like butchered meat.

Others moaned, locked in iron cages with their limbs severed.

'Haa... What the hell.'

So now, this bastard was involved in Yuria's abduction?

Ian licked his lips, parched with anxiety.

'If he's involved, I have to move as quickly as possible.'

If Yuria was trapped in that bastard's workshop, it was obvious what he would do to her.

'He'll try to slice her up alive and turn her into a puppet.'

Yuria, who had received more blessings from Hisperion than anyone else, would have a body that was the finest and most unique material in the world for an evil puppet master like Rudeus.

'I can't waste any more time. I have to move even a second faster.'

However, moving alone was far too dangerous.

This incident could very well have Hisperion's eldest son behind it.

While tracking Yuria, he could end up clashing swords with a Swordmaster-class powerhouse, or possibly face an even greater Grandmaster-class entity.

Even if Ian had been a Swordmaster in his previous life and now possessed both Vladiark and the Authority of Projection, he couldn't possibly take them all on alone, so he absolutely needed support.

"I need to see the Heavenly Sword Lord."

Ian decided to visit the Heavenly Sword Lord.

If it was Darkan, he could provide capable and trustworthy knights as support.

Knights loyal to the Heavenly Sword Lord wouldn't betray Ian at a crucial moment, and if he was lucky, he might even get an extraordinary powerhouse like Kelbian.

When it came to gaining support from skilled people without worrying about factional ties, there was no backer like Lord Darkan.

"Sir Javier. Where is the Heavenly Sword Lord right now?"

No matter how isolated Deputy-Commander Jonathan of the Heavenly Sword Knights tried to keep the investigation, there was no way Darkan could be unaware that Yuria had been kidnapped.

He was surely conducting an investigation somewhere as well.

"Hmm..."

However, Javier couldn't answer immediately and pulled a troubled face.

"The Heavenly Sword Lord is currently absent. He left on an expedition through a massive gate that opened in the north... It'll be at least a week before he returns."

"Ah."

Ian's expression hardened, turning cold.

Why now, of all times...? The most reliable force, the Heavenly Sword Lord, was absent?

No...

The enemies had deliberately kidnapped Yuria while the Heavenly Sword Lord was away.

"Ian, have you found out something?"

Seeing Ian bite his lower lip in contemplation, Javier cautiously asked.

"Anything is fine. If you have any ideas, please share them with me..."

"I found out who the puppet master who made this puppet is."

"W-What...!?"

Javier's eyes widened in surprise at the magnitude of what Ian had just revealed.

"Is that... is that really true?"

"Yes. I'm 100% certain."

"One hundred percent...!"

"The one who made this puppet is a dark mage called Rudeus Delmora."

Without hesitation, Ian shared the information with Javier.

'Because this is someone I can trust.'

Javier belonged to the pro-Heavenly Sword Lord faction, and in Ian's previous life, had risen to deputy-commander of the Heavenly Sword Knights, searching for the missing Darkan until his death at the hands of the eldest son.

With the Heavenly Sword Lord absent, Ian had to get support from at least this man.

"Rudeus is an evil bastard who makes puppets out of living humans."

However, Ian refrained from mentioning that Rudeus was Theo's underling.

Rudeus had sided with Theo during the Hisperion civil war, a period that was more than ten years in Ian's current timeline.

It was impossible to be 100% certain that, ten years before the civil war, the two still had a close connection.

Rudeus might currently be working for another branch, and if Ian suggested Theo was behind the kidnapping, it could create issues of slander or defamation that would only cause future headaches.

"R-Rudeus Delmora... That's a name I haven't heard before."

Javier chewed over the dark mage's name and asked,

"He doesn't seem like a particularly famous dark mage... May I ask how you learned this?"

"..."

Since Ian couldn't talk about the Authority of Projection, he simply pointed to the puppet.

"I found the clues in the puppet."

"The puppet? You got clues from this? How could you with something like this..."

The puppet was so badly damaged, it was hard to even recognize its shape.

How could anyone get information from that?

"The texture and the smell. Every puppet master's work carries distinct characteristics."

"Texture and smell...?"

"This puppet is so melted down it's hard to find any original features, but the squishy, sticky texture, the metallic taste of blood, the heavy oil, and the scent of cinnamon all remain. It's exactly that bastard's style."

"S-Such a thing...!"

Javier hesitated before speaking.

"If what you said is true, there's enough value in investigating. It'd be rare for so many distinct features to overlap. However... How do you know so much about the characteristics of a puppet by Rudeus? Are you perhaps... acquainted with him?"

"Acquainted...?"

As if that were possible.

Ian shook his head.

"I don't have any ties to him."

Just a brief, nasty connection, that's all.

"Sir Javier. I can't explain in detail, but I have a special ability. That's how I figured out who made this puppet."

"I beg your pardon...?"

"It's probably thanks to this ability that I managed to catch the Heavenly Sword Lord's eye."

While Ian hadn't shown the Authority of Projection to the Lord, he'd displayed extraordinary talent by using it to treat his aura disorder.

"S-So that's the story... So that's why the Lord took you in as a guest..."

Ian nodded.

"I told you for understanding's sake, but please keep my ability a secret from others."

Nothing good would come from word getting out about Ian's special ability.

It would only invite jealousy, suspicion, or even indirect sabotage.

"Of course. That sort of thing is truly important inside the Heavenly Sword Palace. Thank you for trusting me with that information. I would never do anything to trouble you."

Fortunately, Javier answered reliably and reached out his hand.

"I can't say I was expecting much, but you've given us critical clues. Everything you said makes sense. We will do our utmost to track down this Rudeus."

But Ian did not take Javier's outstretched hand.

Instead, he showed his palm and said firmly,

"No. Please allow me to take charge of finding Miss Yuria myself."

"... What?"

"Finding her will require quick, situational judgment. I have more information on Rudeus than anyone – I should take the lead."

Ian had no intention of entrusting Yuria's life to anyone else.

"Could you provide some people for support? The stronger, the better."

"Uhm... You wish to act directly, young master?"

Asking for support on top?

Javier was surprised, but his hesitation was brief.

"There's no reason to decline. In fact, that would be for the best."

Ian had the ability to immediately deduce the parties involved.

With someone so talented actively cooperating, there was no reason to refuse.

"If you'll use your ability, I whole-heartedly welcome it. The investigation will go much more smoothly."

Javier considered for a moment.

"As for support..."

He decided quickly.

"I'll join you myself. That'll be the safest."

"Excuse me?"

The head of the investigation department himself, coming along?

Even Ian hadn't expected that.

Not that he disliked it – Javier was a seasoned Swordmaster.

But what about field command while he was gone?

"The frontlines...?"

"We haven't exactly been getting any proper reports. Me staying here would just mean doing nothing."

Javier once more extended his hand.

"I'd rather go track down the culprit together with you. I'd love to see your ability in action."

"... Is that so."

It was unexpected, but Ian had no reason to reject it.

No – in fact, it was very welcome.

"I will also bring one squad captain and three high-ranking knights along."

"Oh..."

The good news kept coming.

That was over half the investigation team's core fighting force moving with Ian.

'He's more decisive than I thought.'

Javier, the investigation chief, was a seasoned high-ranked Swordmaster; the captain was at the initial Master level, and the high-ranking knights were all top-tier experts.

With this much force, unless they faced a Grandmaster-class monster, they'd rarely lose a fight.

"This is excellent."

Ian gripped Javier's hand tightly.

"You'll never regret trusting me."

"But... Young lord,"

Javier said with a hint of concern in his eyes.

"If we fail in this pursuit – even by the smallest chance – neither I nor you will escape responsibility. Are you truly prepared? If you're not confident, you can still back out."

Should the pursuit waste time and end up failing to rescue Yuria, Javier would lose his position as investigation chief immediately. Ian, for disrupting the investigation, would suffer even harsher punishment.

Losing his place as a guest would be the least of it.

In the worst case, he could be executed under charges of obstructing the rescue.

"That will never happen."

Ian answered resolutely.

The Authority of Projection had unmistakably told him Rudeus was involved.

As long as he caught that dark mage, some clue would certainly emerge.

"Sir Javier. Let's move immediately. From now on, every second counts."

"Yes. Right away. I'll call the remaining members by communication stone."

"Young master! I'm ready too! Let's go right now!"

Sophia pressed close to Ian, clenching her fists.

"Mm. No, Sophia. You return to the mansion."

"... Huh? What?"

When Ian pushed her away, Sophia blinked her large eyes.

"I have to go back alone? Why? Are you returning soon?"

"No. It might take several days."

He wouldn't come back until Yuria was found.

"W-What! Then I definitely have to come, too! I'll go with you!"

"Not this time."

Now, more than ever, he needed to move quickly, and there was a chance they might face Master-class or greater threats.

Bringing Sophia along would just slow them down in travel or in battle – at present, she'd only get in the way.

"Go back to the mansion. Tell Miss Cheryl, and head straight to a city doctor—"

"No! No, young master! Wait! After coming with you all the way, you're really going to leave me behind now!?"

"Hmm?"

To Ian's surprise, Sophia grew quite upset.

"We're not going to be separated forever, so what's wrong?"

"You think I'll just be a burden! I can help too!"

"Hmm."

So that's what she was upset about.

But this wasn't something to be decided emotionally.

Objectively, Sophia's ability wasn't suitable for this mission.

"You can't even sleep alone without me! How can you go off on your own!"

"..."

Sleeping together had just been a childhood habit, and if anything she'd insisted first.

But that wasn't the point right now.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine, Sophia."

"How am I supposed not to worry!"

"Don't you skip your daily training just because I'm not there."

No matter how Sophia pleaded, Ian wasn't taking her.

The matter was too urgent, and above all, too dangerous.

If he brought her along, they'd both be in danger.

"Aish..."

Once she realized Ian was unyielding, Sophia's spirit began to flag.

She knew she was being rather stubborn.

"Haa... Fine! I'll go back! Really... So annoying..."

Sophia gathered her sword and trudged out of the hospital room.

Her voice was tinged with tears – she'd probably cry as soon as she got home.

'Sophia. She's just anxious.'

It seemed Sophia was angry she couldn't help.

'There's no need to rush.'

If she just kept following Ian as she was now, she'd become a Swordmaster without a problem.

Then, whether he liked it or not, he'd end up owing her plenty.

'I should buy her a present on the way back.'

That might help her feel better.

But first, finding Yuria came above all.

"Let's go."

"Yes, I'm ready. I've called the rest of the team by communication stone – they'll join us right away."

"Reliable. Then let's move."

"Yes!"

The target for pursuit was set, and a powerful force had joined the hunt.

All that remained was to find Rudeus, beat him, and bring Yuria back.

'Rudeus, you son of a bitch.'

You dare, not knowing your place, to kidnap Yuria?

You're bringing your end a decade early compared to my previous life.

For crossing the line, you'll pay with your pain, your screams, and your life.

― Ta dadaht!

Ian and Javier began running in search of Yuria.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

I was thinking, the Heavenly Sword Lord will surely help, but wouldn't you know it, he's outside...

Talk about the timing...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】