Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 146

146.

It had only been a few days since Ferris successfully contracted with Jin. He had truly become a spirit master who had mastered two attributes to the advanced level. He was the first human to do so, and historically, it was a rare occurrence even excluding dragons.

“It’s always amazing to see Jin transform into a human.”

At the light admiration, Jin squinted his eyes and retorted.

―I’m not transforming. This is my true form, okay? How many times do I have to say it?

“Haha, I’m sorry. I’m so used to the animal form. I think I subconsciously assume that the animal form is the true form of a spirit.”

―How foolish. It’s because you humans try to judge spirits. You can’t develop because you have such pathetic stereotypes.

“You’re right. I was wrong.”

When Ferris readily apologized, Jin looked deflated. Jin, known for having the most volatile temperament among the high-level spirits, enjoyed disputes but tended to lose his will to fight if the other party was gentle.

“Jin, how did your mission go?”

At that moment, Kei, the captain of the Royal Guard, who had been silently watching, stepped forward and asked. Unlike his face, which feigned composure, his eyes were full of impatience. He clearly seemed to be restraining himself from pressing.

Jin considered teasing him but decided against it. Ferris’s mana wasn’t sufficient to drag it out for long. No matter how mischievous he was, his conscience wouldn’t allow him to ignore the increasingly pale face of his contractor.

―It’s as you guys guessed. I went quite far, but I didn’t see a single soldier. They seem to have all withdrawn.

“What about the posters?”

―I collected those too.

Collecting the posters was tantamount to discontinuing the wanted status. Kei narrowed his eyes. His premonitions were very bad.

Several months had already passed since they began hiding to avoid pursuit. It had been a long time since they infiltrated the capital. Living under disguise had become as natural as breathing.

During that time, the empire’s situation was changing rapidly from moment to moment. Or, to be precise, there were no visible changes. At least, the capital was always peaceful.

The first thing the Grand Duke did after seizing the Imperial Palace was to shape public opinion in the capital. He was very kind to the citizens of the capital and bestowed many privileges. The people in nearby areas were suffering from the tyranny of officials by only a single step, but the capital was in perfect peace.

The Grand Duke deliberately spread false news from other regions, so the people of the capital knew nothing about what was happening outside. To them, the Grand Duke was a good ruler and an excellent lord. Conversely, the perception of the emperor, Isana, was merely that of a pitiful being who had lost her father at a young age and gone mad. However, recently, as the dire situation in the provinces was gradually being revealed through traveling merchants, people were beginning to awaken one by one. Especially after the news of the Miracle of Three Days spread, public opinion toward the emperor had turned more favorable. It was obvious that the Royal Guard’s efforts shone brightly in this process.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly. If it weren’t for the strange rumors that suddenly surfaced.

Kei replayed the rumors that had been circulating in the capital recently. The most talked-about topic was undoubtedly about Duke Charybdis, the Grand Duke’s loyal right-hand man. The appearance of an evil dragon that massacred people, and the brilliant conclusion of a genius swordsman achieving a great victory after a desperate battle. When the Royal Guard knights learned that Duke Charybdis was the protagonist of a story that seemed to come straight out of ancient books, they couldn’t help but chuckle in disbelief.

However, the era always desires the birth of a hero. This absurd rumor spread rapidly among the people, adding strength to the Grand Duke’s name. Even those who had viewed his actions unfavorably were reportedly sending letters of admiration.

Meanwhile, when Duke Charybdis returned to the Imperial Palace, the entire capital fell into a perfect festive mood. What was ominous was that the pursuit of the Royal Guard suddenly stopped shortly after that news was delivered. Even after hearing Jin’s reconnaissance results, it seemed that all wanted notices had been discontinued.

Generally, there are only two reasons for suddenly discontinuing a wanted status. Either it is judged that they cannot be caught by ordinary means, or they have already been caught and there is no need to continue the wanted status.

He wanted to believe that it wasn’t the latter, but he was bothered by Duke Charybdis’s return. Known for his rigid nature, he had never abandoned a mission midway. Yet, after returning this time, he was simply staying in the capital. He reportedly spent most of his time attending banquets with the Grand Duke or resting at his mansion. This meant that it wasn’t just a temporary return.

In this situation, there was still no news from the emperor, who had headed to Clamor. The Royal Guard felt like their hearts were burning. They wanted to at least grasp the local atmosphere of the Clamor Duchy, but it was too far away, so it would take at least a few weeks to find out from there. This was something that even Ferris’s spirit magic couldn’t help.

Spirits, especially wind spirits, are very fast and can travel long distances in an instant, but they are restricted from straying too far from their contractor. It was also impossible to entrust tasks to other natural spirits. Intervention in human affairs is only permitted when mana is directly shared from the contractor. The only being free from these restrictions was the Spirit King.

“Couldn’t we at least examine the situation inside the Imperial Palace in detail?”

―Sorry, but that’s also impossible. The Imperial Palace has defensive magic circles set up by high-level mages. If you approach in any way other than through the main gate, you’ll be detected immediately.

“Then, what about the Duke’s mansion…….”

―That’s even harder.

“Pardon?”

―That guy, Charybdis or whatever, has the power of a spirit. And it’s the same power as mine.

When he realized that fact, he almost unintentionally revealed hostility. Jin bit his lip, still feeling the unpleasant sensation. At the same time, Ferris and the Royal Guard’s faces hardened. The fact that Jin specifically described it as the same power as his meant that the opponent was also a high-level spirit.

“Why does a Sword Master like the Duke have the power of a spirit…….”

“Are you saying he became a spirit master?”

―No, it’s a bit different from that. He has the power of a spirit, but only a part of it. However, that part is more immense and dangerous than ours.

“What does that…….”

―There’s something like that. Anyway, it seems difficult for me, and even Cyciel, to approach that guy secretly. Even if it were possible, I don’t want to get close to ‘that’.

“That?”

―That’s a very sad memory for us winds. I don’t want to say more than that.

At the firm answer, the Royal Guard couldn’t continue their questions and closed their mouths. However, it was clear that Jin severely disliked ‘something’ that Charybdis possessed. The Duke was already the most guarded figure among the Grand Duke’s faction just by being a Sword Master. For him to have even obtained a power that even a high-level spirit was wary of was a very bad omen from the Royal Guard’s perspective.

“Don’t worry too much. As long as the Water King is with her, Her Majesty will be safe. There’s a high possibility that the Grand Duke gave up the pursuit for another reason.”

It was Ferris who comforted the increasingly gloomy knights. Kei nodded at those words.

“Are you saying they’re preparing for an all-out war?”

“If everything went as planned, Her Majesty should have met Duke Clamor by now.”

“Hmm, that’s certainly a plausible story.”

“Or it might be a trap to lure us out.”

With the last words, the atmosphere rapidly hardened. Although they were a group too small to even be called a resistance, they had cleanly evaded the Grand Duke’s pursuit every time. It was time for him, who must be extremely frustrated by now, to seek new measures. However, one thing was certain in either case. The time for them to confront him in earnest was approaching.

“What are you going to do, Captain?”

As his comrades’ gazes landed on him, Kei stroked his rough face and pondered. It was then.

Knock, knock―

“……!”

At the sound of knocking, the Royal Guard all grabbed their weapons. The candlesticks on the table were all extinguished, and darkness fell in an instant. Kei quickly pulled down his hood and stood close to the door. A black shadow flickered through the slightly opened gap. Kei pulled the doorknob and opened it just a little. Then, as if waiting, a whispering voice was heard.

“It’s me.”

Kei immediately recognized the identity of the person standing outside. It was a person from the information guild he had been trading with for a long time. Since there were many things that couldn’t be found out with just light reconnaissance, Kei was periodically buying information from the underworld. But this was the first time they had come to him first without a request.

“What’s going on?”

“I have something to deliver.”

“Deliver?”

Almost as soon as he questioned, the other party handed something through the door gap. It was a small, sealed pouch.

“Then, I’ll be on my way.”

As Kei received it, the presence quickly disappeared. Only after confirming that there was no one nearby did Kei open the pouch. What came out of it was a small pendant. But as soon as Kei saw it, his face hardened. He was familiar with the emblem engraved on the pendant.

“Isn’t that the Clamor family crest?”

Ferris, who had come closer, checked the pendant and looked flustered. Kei hurriedly turned it over to the back. Small letters, as if engraved with a needle, were carved on the smooth surface.

‘When the starry night dwells in white crystal.

In the street of the sleepless alley cat.’

Poetic phrases were commonly used as slang among information merchants. Kei glanced at the window and lifted the curtain. From a distant restaurant, a woman dressed as a waitress was walking out. The woman, who was from the Alponf Empire, had a somewhat exotic appearance compared to the people here. Her name was ‘Nazmun’. In their language, it meant ‘star’.

‘Starry night.’

The woman began to put candles in the lanterns. It was something she did regularly at this time every day. In the Alponf Empire, candles were called ‘nights’. It meant that they were in a state of darkness until they were lit. There was an amusing anecdote about a man who had come from Alponf long ago asking to ‘sell nights’ at a general store, only to be beaten and chased away by the landlady who mistook him for coming to buy a prostitute.

As the woman lit the red candles, the round lanterns shone white. From a distance, they looked just like white crystals.

Kei put the pendant in a pouch and tucked it into his chest. His comrades beside him gave him anxious glances.

“Are you going, Captain?”

“It might be dangerous.”

“I know. But we need to confirm who sent this.”

“I’ll go with you.”

At Ferris’s hastily uttered words, Kei nodded without much hesitation. The fewer the numbers, the better, but two people were better than one in case of an emergency. Moreover, Ferris was someone who could produce the effect of a hundred men, so there was no better companion.

“It’s okay, nothing will happen.”

Before opening the door and stepping out, he said, looking back at the gazes that were filled with worry. But the steps he took forward were heavier than ever.

* * *

‘Sleepless Street’ was the name of an old tavern in a slum slightly away from the capital’s outskirts. They only sold cold sausages as snacks and cheap beer as drinks, but thanks to the low prices, the place was always packed.

“Is this the place?”

At Ferris’s question, Kei silently nodded. As he opened the door and entered, a hot gust of air rushed in. The inside of the store was filled with people who were heavily drunk from the front to the back. It was getting late, but Ferris had no doubt that it had been like this since the afternoon. As evidence, all the liquor jars placed on each table were almost empty.

Kei looked for someone dressed as a merchant among them. People with the occupation of a merchant often called themselves alley cats. It meant that they freely moved their territory and did not have a master in their hearts. As expected, one merchant was sitting in a slightly secluded spot. Among the boisterous, drinking people, he was sitting alone, neatly sipping his alcohol.

Kei and Ferris went to sit next to him without saying a word, as if they had been companions from the start. The merchant also smiled gently, as if welcoming an acquaintance without being surprised.

“I am Eldran from the Cliff Merchant Guild.”

The name of the guild was not familiar, but it was not unfamiliar either. Kei repeated the word Cliff in his mind and asked.

“How did you know the information guild I trade with?”

There were many information guilds in this empire, and Kei only used one of them. It could be a coincidence, but he was sure that he knew that fact from the beginning and entrusted the request. If it wasn’t that guild, it would have been impossible to even find him. If he had entrusted the request to several places, the news would have been delivered in the process. Then, as if it was a question he had already expected, Eldran calmly replied.

“Our leader has a slightly special ability.”

“Do you have the power of prophecy or something?”

“It’s a little similar.”

“That’s even more suspicious.”

“Please believe me. Even though it looks like this, I even used a space- 이동 주문서 [Space-Movement Scroll] to deliver the news as soon as possible.”

“……What’s the matter?”

Kei, who frowned slightly, went straight to the point. He hadn’t let his guard down, but he was curious about their purpose for now. The fact that they deliberately sent the Clamor family crest meant that it was somewhat related to him. Perhaps it was sent by the Duke or the Emperor, he had a glimmer of hope. Of course, it was hard to understand that they borrowed the power of the guild. At that moment, he widened his eyes at the quietly 이어진 [continued] words.