Chapter 21
That had always been puzzling.
Normally, such people were said to sell off anything that could make money. But strangely enough, those vicious thugs had never once shown up at the shop themselves.
When I looked into the reason, it turned out it was all thanks to the mercenaries.
In the beginning, the loan sharks would actually come to the shop demanding repayment.
But the mercenaries, who practically lived there, would literally kick their butts and throw them out.
‘The hell, you think this is the place to cause trouble?!’
‘Hey, did that bastard just draw a knife? Ha! You lot, get over here while I’m still being nice.’
‘What do you think this place is, huh?! The only ones who can make a scene in this shop are us mercenaries!’
They came once, got scared out of their wits, and ran off.
After that, I’d heard they didn’t even dare come near the shop.
“…Guess not?”
Had they been secretly harassing Mark all along?
“If I wasn’t here… the shop would’ve had to close down…”
Most likely, their goal was to bully or injure Mark to the point he couldn’t run the place anymore.
Then the mercenaries guarding the shop would naturally disperse, and it would become much easier to come and cause trouble while demanding repayment.
“I tried to endure it somehow, but…”
Mark, who had bravely endured the harassment of the loan sharks until now, had finally ended up with a broken arm this time.
Looking closer, I could see quite a few old bruises and scars all over his body. Probably traces of what he had suffered until now.
“……”
Seeing Mark hang his head like he was the one at fault only made Ceres’s expression turn even colder.
“Hey, is that thing expensive?”
“Huh?”
When Mark raised his head, Ceres was holding something.
“That’s…”
Why was he holding the stick used for beating dust out of blankets?
Ignoring Mark’s puzzled look, Ceres studied the long, sturdy-looking stick with deep satisfaction in his eyes.
“Are you the only one again this time?”
“Yes, it turned out that way.”
“At this rate, people will think the Black Guildmaster is the only busy one around here.”
On the first day of the Imperial Council meeting,
the vice-guildmaster of the Black Mercenary Guild, Lot, ended up attending alone in place of Skal. As expected, he immediately had to deal with people picking a fight with him.
‘That damn guildmaster!’
Since morning, he was nowhere to be found at headquarters. They couldn’t even catch a glimpse of him.
Most likely, he had run off to that stew shop again…
“Indeed. Our guild ended up unexpectedly in charge of defending the Alci region this time, so we’ve been quite busy.”
“Ahem.”
The Red Mercenary Captain, who had started the provocation, flushed red.
The Alci region had originally been under the responsibility of his Red Mercenary Corps.
But after they failed to properly control the recently appearing Black Forest, which resulted in massive casualties, the management of the area had been handed over to the Black Mercenaries.
“Still, no matter how busy you are, you shouldn’t show such disregard for the Imperial Council.”
“Exactly! Do you think the rest of us have nothing better to do?”
“Always acting like you’re the only important one.”
Other guildmasters who had gathered nearby soon joined in, spilling their own grievances.
“Yes, I quite agree. Our guildmaster is indeed far too brilliant all on his own—such a problem, isn’t it? I’ll be sure to pass on your advice and tell him to ease up on working so hard.”
“Y-you!”
“Ugh.”
Lot, smiling his polite “business smile” without breaking it once, spoke until he’d had the last word, leaving the guildmasters fuming red-faced as they turned away.
‘Tch.’
If you don’t have the skills, at least keep quiet.
‘Old fogies, all of them.’
Every word out of their mouths was always the same. They were people completely lacking in creativity.
Clicking his tongue inwardly, Lot quickly scanned the paper listing today’s meeting agenda.
As expected, the main topic was the increasing number of Black Forests.
They were planning to reorganize the defense system, since the Black Forests had even begun appearing frequently near the capital.
“His Majesty the Emperor enters!”
At the herald’s announcement, everyone rose from their seats.
The doors opened and the Emperor entered. Behind him came the Crown Prince, Aseraián.
“Be seated, everyone.”
A gentle voice, a kind smile.
But no one dared raise their head proudly in front of him.
Despite his appearance, this was the man who had overcome the most tangled and dangerous court intrigues in history to seize the throne.
It was said he could be more ruthless and cold-blooded than anyone when needed.
“……”
As the Emperor sat, his gaze stopped at one spot.
One seat, placed in a position of honor, was empty.
‘As expected, he isn’t coming.’
A sigh, barely audible, escaped Emperor Debrica’s lips.
Even after issuing a Golden Summons, the three-hundred-year-old wall of ice refused to break.
Kainel Persha.
The empty seat of the Grand Duke of Persha loomed especially large today.
‘They say even the former emperors never saw his face.’
Dynasties had risen and fallen, yet no one had ever laid eyes on him.
And no one had ever dared drag him out by force, either.
‘Never make an enemy of him.’
That was what his late father had always said. That nothing good would ever come from opposing the Grand Duke of Persha.
‘Haa.’
But the current situation was too dire, so he had used even the Golden Summons—yet it seemed it was all in vain.
“Father.”
“Mhm.”
Lost in thought, the Emperor nodded lightly to the Crown Prince Aseraián, signaling for the meeting to begin.
“Then, let us begin the council…”
Click.
“…?”
Just as Aseraián stepped forward to announce the start, the firmly shut council doors opened again.
Step, step.
Everyone’s eyes turned naturally toward the entrance, and they could not tear their gaze away from the one who entered.
The first thing to catch the eye was pure white hair, flawless and without a speck of dust.
Then came coldly gleaming silver eyes that struck with an icy sharpness.
His expression, utterly devoid of emotion, made the air around him even more chilling.
Thud!
The first to react was the Emperor himself.
Recognizing who it was, he found himself standing up before he even realized it.
“Welcome… indeed.”
His appearance was exactly as the late Emperor had described.
There was no mistaking it—no other person in the world could look like that.
‘You’ll know him the moment you see him.’
The former Emperor’s words had been true.
“……”
With a slight bow to the Emperor, he made his way toward the empty seat.
And still, every gaze in the hall was fixed firmly upon him.
‘That man…’
The Crown Prince Aseraián felt the same.
The Grand Duke of Persha exuded an overwhelming aura that could cow people simply by being in his presence.
“Aseraián.”
“Ah, yes.”
At his father’s call, he straightened his posture and resumed the meeting.
But his eyes couldn’t help wandering toward another still-empty seat.
‘That guy… he really didn’t come.’
Even after he had gone personally to urge him.
Aseraián let out a short sigh inwardly, thinking of someone who was no doubt throwing a tantrum somewhere.
“Let us adjourn here today.”
The meeting was over—faster than ever.
Had there ever been such a quiet council, with so little conflict?
‘We should have the Berz County provide more reinforcements for the guards in Altoa.’
‘But, Your Majesty, that’s—!’
‘…….’
‘…No, never mind. I will consider it, Your Majesty.’
Unlike usual, hardly anyone contradicted the Emperor’s words.
Whenever someone seemed about to object, they would falter and fall silent at the icy glance of the Grand Duke of Persha, who sat closest to the Emperor.
Thus the meeting ended more quietly and swiftly than ever before.
But even after it ended, no one rose from their seat.
Even the Emperor remained, silently gazing at one man.
The man who had revealed himself for the first time in three hundred years.
There were so many things they wanted to ask, so much they wanted to say.
Had he finally decided to open up the sealed-off northern lands?
Would he continue to appear in external affairs from now on?
If so, with whom would the North’s massive resources be contracted and traded?
Not just the nobles—the entire assembly was itching to ask questions.
But no one could easily open their mouth.
It was as if the chill radiating from Kainel froze their words in their throats.
Rustle.
Did he not feel their gazes at all?
Kainel rose from his seat and, just as when he had first appeared, gave the Emperor a slight bow before quietly walking out of the council hall.
