30 Years After Reincarnating, It Turns Out This World Was A Rofan?! novel Chapter 215

Even in the midst of a sudden standoff, Ihan wasn’t the least bit flustered.

Hadn’t he predicted this from the moment he entered?

‘I knew they’d show up eventually.’

It was absurd that half-breeds had been disguised as paladins in the temple before, but now, the appearance of suspicious figures wasn’t a big surprise.

There was just one thing that bothered him...

"Owl, let me ask you something."

[What?]

"You said you’re a Gatekeeper, right? Shouldn't those kinds of things not be allowed to pass through the gate?"

It was a question that naturally arose.

How could those creatures have been allowed here? Ihan was genuinely puzzled and even suspected that this owl might be incredibly incompetent.

[Ah, that? Of course, I didn’t want to let them in either. But what can I do? Unlike you, those ominous ones came in with a 'key,' so they were allowed to enter legitimately. That’s why they didn’t go through the gate like you did.]

“......”

[At least they can’t touch the holy relics without my permission, so that’s one saving grace. The problem is, I’m just a Gatekeeper, not a manager, so I can’t harm intruders freely.]

“...This is insane.”

[Sorry.]

“No, I wasn’t talking to you... Sigh, forget it.”

The fact that those creatures entered by holding the ‘key’—the permission granted by the temple to access the Sacred Vault—was maddening.

That meant...

‘The temple bastards are clearly allied with them, aren’t they?’

It was hard not to curse at that realization.

"...When we get out of here, I’ll have a lot of people to hit."

Ihan muttered with irritation, and upon hearing his words...

"Maybe that's not a conversation for after we leave alive."

“......”

"What? Do you think we’re that easy to deal with?"

“......”

"How arrogant. Though I suppose it’s justified."

A woman with bleached-white hair and eyebrows smiled at him. She seemed attractive at first glance, but there was something off about her smile—it was stiff, as if her facial muscles were locked in place, making it seem awkward.

It was the kind of face that looked like she wanted to smile but couldn’t.

Ihan recognized the woman.

She had been a senior of his in his past job.

“Number 7...”

"Ah, you recognize me? Right on target, heh! Oh, but I have to correct you. I’m no longer number 7, I’m Number 7 Apostle now. Call me that, okay?"

“......”

“And how is that guy? The one from before, is he doing well?”

"...?"

"Stop pretending. Number 8, the traitor, is with you, right? Heh, I’d love to see his face. He was cute back in the day, I wonder how he turned out."

“......”

"Call him here. Oh, don’t lie. The [Prophet] already told me. He’s here."

“...Hmm.”

"You won’t betray your comrade, right? He must be a good ally, heh heh."

"No, that..."

"You don’t want to talk? —Kill him."

Whoosh!

Without hesitation, the command from Number 7 Apostle was given, and immediately, half-breeds charged at Ihan.

Ihan, still stunned and feeling unjust, had to swing his sword before he could process everything.

Even so, the question lingered in his mind...

‘Have I really changed that much?’

The last time he met Number 4, they didn’t recognize him either.

...It wasn’t like he had changed that much since childhood.

He hadn’t even been trying to hide his identity, which made it even more frustrating.

***

“—That knight is strong.”

Number 7 Apostle, Daina, shuddered as she observed the knight's power.

It was strong.

Incredibly strong.

Crack!

...Can a human’s head really be crushed that easily?

And it wasn’t just anyone—it was a half-breed.

Most half-breeds had strength that surpassed thirty strong men combined, and their fighting techniques, along with their mastery of various sword skills and combat techniques, made them formidable—capable of taking on one knight by themselves.

And yet, this half-breed had been completely crushed, unable to fight back.

Even if there had been fifty or even a hundred of them, they wouldn’t have been able to handle this knight.

An overwhelming display of power!

Number 7 Apostle, Daina, nodded.

“Number 4 Apostle deserved that. We wouldn’t have been able to handle him.”

She knew that the knight had defeated Number 4 Apostle, and also killed the half-breeds and the giant Mother Worms that the Black Moon had spent so much time nurturing.

She also knew about the destruction of the Magic Tower...

In conclusion, Daina evaluated the knight.

This knight was...

“...A monster.”

Clearly someone no one but the Oracle user could handle.

But...

“Did they get scared before even engaging?”

“Number 11 Apostle...”

“From now on, call me Yan, Daina.”

“Sorry, I’m still used to calling you by the number.”

“No need to apologize, I’m the same.”

Number 11 Apostle Yan chuckled and approached, followed by others who spoke up.

“Don’t worry too much, sister. We’ll make sure you get out safely.”

“And our goal isn’t to kill that knight, is it? Let’s stick to the plan.”

One by one, the voices of Number 6 and Number 5 Apostles joined in.

Hearing them, Daina couldn’t help but laugh.

“...Right, of course.”

Their goal wasn’t to win the fight.

While they were ordered to kill the knight, the true meaning of the command was understood in a different way.

‘Your lives will be used to stop him.’

Though the resources and time spent raising them weren’t insignificant...

“It’s a necessary expenditure, isn’t it?”