My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 240

240. Unexpected Guest (1)

Time, shortly after the fall of the barony.

While waiting for supplies and preparing to set up camp.

“This is…”

Connor spotted a subtle mark amidst the wreckage.

To the untrained eye, it would seem like just another piece of natural debris.

But not to Connor.

It was a mark he had often seen long ago when he was involved in the underworld.

A mark he often saw when working as a special assassin, a hound of the underworld.

Connor glanced around subtly.

Ruben’s soldiers were clearing the surrounding wreckage to prepare for camping.

It was a moment when rest was needed, and supplies had run out.

Sian’s order to rest here for the day had been given.

So Connor was also preparing for camp with the soldiers, but…

*Swoosh.*

Connor used stealth to slip away quietly.

Then, he reappeared in a forest quite far away.

A dense forest where no sign of people could be felt.

“What is it?”

“Seriously… is that Connor?”

As soon as Connor spoke, a voice was heard, as if waiting.

Soon, a woman appeared from above the trees.

A silver-haired woman resembling moonlight.

“No way… really Connor?”

It was none other than Diana, the guild leader of Shadow Moon.

Also, the guild leader of the guild Connor had belonged to in the past.

Diana, who revealed herself, was greatly surprised.

“Yes, how are you here…? Weren’t you dead?”

“I almost died, but I didn’t,” Connor replied nonchalantly.

Diana seemed to want a detailed explanation, but Connor ignored it.

“More importantly, why is the guild leader here?”

Diana still looked at Connor with surprised eyes.

The shock of seeing a dead person return was evident on her face.

And in fact, in Diana’s memory, Connor *was* a dead man.

After the request to assassinate Sian, Connor had not returned.

Connor was a special assassin belonging to Shadow Moon.

The failure of an assassin’s request had only one outcome.

But now, Connor’s appearance…

Even look at Connor’s attire.

It seemed like he had participated in the war as a soldier of Ruben.

No, he didn’t seem like *just* a simple soldier.

That’s because the attitude of the soldiers towards Connor was different.

It was as if they were treating Connor as a superior.

It seemed that Connor was in a fairly high position.

Diana’s eyes sparkled for a moment.

She didn’t know why the dead Connor was alive.

But Connor’s current appearance…

That is, Connor’s position in Ruben.

If such Connor helped, things would be easily resolved.

Diana said again, her eyes sparkling.

“Connor, can I ask you for a favor?”

And although she said it was a favor, Diana knew that Connor would not refuse.

Connor was a special assassin who worked for Shadow Moon.

In other words, he could be said to be her subordinate.

Even though he was in Ruben now, he would never refuse her request—.

“I refuse.”

The words came instantly.

Connor refused Diana’s request with a firm look.

“I am no longer affiliated with Shadow Moon. I am Ruben’s assassination instructor. I don’t know what the favor is, but I refuse.”

Connor turned his back and began to leave.

In the process, Connor did not even show a sign of hesitation.

Also, in Connor’s attitude, even a sense of loyalty was felt.

That too, an unyielding loyalty.

“…”

Diana’s expression turned blank for a moment.

Loyalty to a special assassin?

Diana stood there for a moment at the sense of incongruity.

She didn’t know if she could have such thoughts as Connor’s former superior.

And she didn’t know if she could have such thoughts as the guild leader leading the Shadow Moon guild.

But there was no such thing as loyalty in the underworld.

There was no such thing as loyalty in the city of criminals.

But what is this now….

Was Connor… originally like that?

Diana’s mind was only becoming more dazed.

But she couldn’t let him go like this.

Diana said to Connor’s back as he left.

“Okay. I understand that you are no longer affiliated with Shadow Moon. I also understand that you are no longer my subordinate. But it’s a fact that you *were* affiliated with Shadow Moon, right?”

Connor’s steps stopped for a moment.

Then, he turned his head slightly and said.

“You’re not going to say that you can’t leave the guild recklessly, are you?”

“No. It’s the underworld where criminals run wild, but…”

“Is one arm enough?”

“… What?”

Diana tilted her head for a moment.

“I asked if cutting off one arm would be enough as the price for leaving the guild.”

“No, I mean, what is that…”

Diana couldn’t understand Connor’s words.

But whether he knew Diana’s feelings or not.

Connor was really trying to cut off his own arm.

*What is he doing now….*

Diana hurriedly grabbed Connor’s arm.

“What are you doing now?”

“You said that you can’t leave the guild recklessly.”

“I said no. I don’t want anything in return for that. Even though it’s a guild based in a city of criminals, does it make sense to give up an arm as a requirement for leaving the guild?”

Diana said with an absurd expression.

Only then could Connor put down the blade.

“Then what was the reason you said that?”

Connor stared at Diana silently.

Diana, who rose to the top of the underworld.

But in fact, Diana was far from a criminal.

In the first place, if Diana was a criminal no different from those beasts.

“A long time ago, I took in a kid.”

She wouldn’t have taken in young Connor a long time ago.

“So, you’re saying to repay the favor of taking me in?”

“I’m sorry to force you. But I can’t help it either.”

Diana nodded slowly.

And Diana could feel a certain conviction.

She could be sure that Connor would listen to her request.

Connor was a hound of the underworld, but he knew gratitude.

Connor was also far from the criminals of the underworld.

Diana looked at Connor.

Connor was recalling old memories in his head.

Past childhood.

There was a time when Connor roamed the back alleys and made a living day by day.

Connor was too young to live alone.

And to such a young Connor, the underworld was too harsh an area.

Not to mention murder, torture, rape, kidnapping.

An area full of guys who commit creative criminal acts without hesitation.

And they don’t even feel a bit of guilt.

They were truly beasts.

A place swarming with guys who were not enough to be called sons of bitches.

Diana, the guild leader of Shadow Moon, came to the underworld where such sons of bitches were running wild alone.

A mysterious woman whose identity and origin were unknown.

But she single-handedly trampled all the sons of bitches who were crazy with madness.

She gave ‘rules’ to the underworld full of chaos.

And she was the one and only existence who finally rose to the top of the underworld.

The first thing Diana did after conquering the underworld was to take in the children on the streets.

Numerous children, including Connor, were taken in by Diana.

Diana was the one who made it possible for Connor to live in the underworld.

Connor knew such grace and had a grateful heart to Diana.

So Connor couldn’t betray both Sian and Diana.

Isabel threatening Diana’s life.

Connor had no choice but to take the poison Isabel gave him himself.

And on that day, Connor, the hound of the underworld, died.

The current Connor is Ruben’s assassination instructor.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve already repaid that favor.”

Connor turned his back resolutely.

“What?”

Diana’s eyes widened for a moment.

Repay… the favor?

Diana didn’t remember receiving anything from Connor.

In the first place, Diana only knew that Connor was dead.

But what did he repay?

“The guild leader has been tracked by Elan D’Or all this time.”

“How did you know that…?”

“From some point on, the tracking became lax.”

Diana’s eyes widened once again.

She couldn’t understand why Connor was suddenly bringing up such a story.

“It’s okay. It’s not like I thought you’d understand.”

But Connor didn’t give an answer to that.

Connor was just moving his steps again and leaving.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Diana blocked Connor’s path.

Diana was blocking Connor’s path with an incomprehensible expression.

Connor smiled bitterly.

Well, there’s no way Diana would know about that.

“What kind of help do you need so much that you’re doing this?”

“Persuade Count Sian together.”

“I refuse.”

“You don’t even ask what to persuade?”

“I refuse everything.”

Connor moved the steps he had stopped again.

But he had no choice but to stop walking soon because of Diana, who was blocking the path in the same way.

“No matter how much you do this, I…”

“Then just help me meet him!”

“Haa….”

Connor unknowingly let out a deep sigh.

Diana, who was persistently dragging on.

It seemed like she wouldn’t give up easily.

A moment of thought.

“… Okay.”

Connor nodded slowly.

Of course, there was some suspicion.

Even so, Diana was a person who rose to the top of the underworld.

And she was being oppressed by Elan D’Or.

Considering that Ruben is currently at war with Elan D’Or, maybe…? The question arose.

So I didn’t want to help much.

“I will report to the Lord that the Guild Leader wants to meet him. But if the Lord refuses, I will not help you anymore.”

With those words, Connor left the place.

A figure that was so firm that it was cold.

The figure of Connor, who used to be a special assassin, could not be found at all.

“…”

Diana was just standing there blankly.

#

The battlefield, which was gradually being cleaned up.

Ruben’s soldiers were setting up their respective barracks.

Diana walked across the soldiers.

A silver-haired woman who seemed to contain moonlight.

The soldiers looked with puzzled faces at Diana’s unfamiliar appearance.

“This way.”

But perhaps because of Connor’s previous appearance.

The soldiers started to concentrate on their work again without much suspicion.

It was as if they were trusting the existence of Connor.

Diana felt a subtle feeling and silently moved her steps following Connor.

How long had she walked like that?

Connor stopped in front of a barrack.

No, this couldn’t be called a barrack.

Originally, a barrack meant a building temporarily built like a tent.

A building built so that soldiers could stay inside.

Of course, the crudeness was beyond words.

“This is…”

But this barrack was not.

From solidity and sturdiness to neatness.

It was definitely not something to push the concept of temporary.

This was no different from a building, not a barrack.

*I guess the dwarf engineers I saw coming here built it….*

Dwarves, called the race of artisans [skilled craftspeople].

However, the question was why those dwarves were with Ruben’s soldiers.

*What kind of army is it….*

*That’s how they’re pushing Elan D’Or with unstoppable force.*

Diana muttered to herself without realizing it.

“If you go inside, the Lord will be waiting for you.”

At that moment, Connor’s words broke Diana’s thoughts.

“This is all I can help you with.”

Connor left, his words final.

As if there was truly nothing more he could do to help.

There wasn’t a hint of hesitation in his stride.

“He wasn’t like that when he was under me.”

Diana shook her head.

Then, she turned her gaze back to the barrack door.

*How does a barrack even have a hinged door?*

Swallowing that thought, Diana knocked on the barrack door.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

A young man’s voice came from inside.

The voice came almost simultaneously with the knock.

It seemed he knew Diana was outside.

Diana opened the barrack door.

The scene inside was, as expected, not what one would call a barrack.

“I believe this is… probably the first time I’ve seen you in person.”

The young man’s voice spoke again.

There, with his blond hair, was Cian.

Diana gave a slight bow to Cian.

“It is an honor to meet you, Count Ruben. I am Diana, Guild Master of Shadow Moon.”

“As you know, I am Cian Ruben.”

Cian nodded lightly in response.

And before Diana could even sit down.

“I’ll get straight to the point.”

Cian asked Diana directly.

“Why did you want to meet me?”

This was direct, even for direct.

One would usually exchange some pleasantries.

This was beyond cutting to the chase; it was practically amputating the preamble.

“Since you’re being so direct, I’ll be direct as well.”

Diana paused to gather her thoughts before speaking.

“I need help.”

“You need help?”

Diana nodded slightly.

She was about to explain the situation when.

“I refuse.”

Cian’s answer came a beat too soon.

And then Cian continued.

“When I needed help, you ignored me. Now you come asking for help…”

Diana was momentarily speechless.

Because she knew what Cian meant.

Back when Cian was in Armsberg.

Cian had asked Shadow Moon for help in finding Soren.

As part of that, Cian had sent Diana a Shadow Mark [a token signifying a request for aid].

A token that Diana had given him, promising help at any time.

But Diana had not responded.

In other words, she had completely ignored him.

But at the time, Diana couldn’t help it.

Diana couldn’t reveal herself carelessly.

The guild was on the verge of collapse, and Diana was still in hiding.

She didn’t have the capacity to help Cian in that situation.

Diana had no choice at the time.

“Don’t you think you’re being brazen?”

But to Cian, it was just blatant disregard.

To ignore him like that and then come asking for help now.

Cian wore a slightly angry expression.

*Should I be more honest?*

If it hadn’t been for Connor’s contact, Cian wouldn’t have even considered meeting her.

“Th, that’s…”

Diana really had nothing to say.

*This is why I needed Connor’s help….*

Diana swallowed her disappointment, but Connor didn’t seem to have any intention of helping.

“More than anything, Ruben is currently at war. We don’t have the capacity to turn our eyes elsewhere.”

Cian stared at Diana as he spoke.

“We Ruben have no reason or capacity to help Shadow Moon.”

Diana, again, had nothing to say.

She couldn’t even offer an excuse in the face of Cian’s almost factual assault.

A heavy silence descended.

“If that’s all you came for, please leave.”

With those words, Cian turned his gaze away from Diana.

As if he had nothing more to say, he didn’t even look at her.

And in reality, that was the case.

When he needed help, they turned a blind eye, but now that they need it, they ask for help?

Moreover, it was Shadow Moon who had promised to help at any time.

They were the ones who had broken their trust first.

*Anyway, that’s why criminals are no good.*

The Shadow Moon Guild, standing at the pinnacle of the underworld.

That meant they were at the top of the criminals.

More than anything, they were currently in the middle of a war with Elan D’Or.

Because of this war, the search for the Last Dragon and the Beastmen’s kingdom had been postponed.

In many ways, there was no reason, time, or capacity to help Shadow Moon.

Cian didn’t even look at Diana.

And Diana watched Cian’s expression.

*Why is that?*

Favel, the Elder of the Gwiin Clan, who had come to Diana asking for help.

Was this how Favel felt when he was coldly rejected?

Diana briefly had that thought.

Cian really seemed to have nothing more to say to Diana.

Diana, too, honestly had nothing more to say.

But was it right to leave like this?

Her fists clenched tightly.

“…It’s not about Shadow Moon.”

Diana slowly opened her mouth.

But Cian still didn’t look at Diana.

He didn’t even glance at her, as if he hadn’t heard the previous words.

*Now that it’s come to this… there’s no time to be calculating.*

This wasn’t a situation or an opponent to be measuring and testing.

Diana erased her hesitation and quietly spoke.

“Please… help the Beastmen.”

Pause.

Then Cian’s movement stopped.

Soon, Cian’s face slowly turned towards Diana.

The expression on Cian’s face seemed to say.

“What the hell are you talking about now?”

#

A long story followed.

“So…”

Cian tapped the table with his index finger, summarizing Diana’s story.

“The Beastmen’s Great Chieftain is currently missing, and the Beastmen are facing some kind of threat… is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s right.”

Diana nodded calmly.

Cian looked at Diana.

“How does the Guild Master of Shadow Moon know about this situation?”

Cian asked Diana with a suspicious look.

The story Diana had just told him.

It was a story about the current situation of the Beastmen.

But the Beastmen had completely disappeared from the world hundreds of years ago.

So how did Diana know about the Beastmen’s situation?

If it was because she was the best information guild in the Empire… it was possible.

Even Cian couldn’t keep up with the information power of an information guild.

Nevertheless, problems remained.

Why did Diana investigate the Beastmen’s situation?

Why was she telling Cian about it at the same time?

Why was she asking Cian to help the Beastmen?

Cian’s question implied all of these things.

And Diana was well aware of that fact.

“That’s…”

Diana slowly opened her mouth.

But no additional words were spoken.

Where should she start explaining this?

No, even if she explained it, would he believe her?

Diana seemed quite hesitant.

Cian didn’t urge Diana.

How much time had passed?

Diana suddenly held out her left arm towards Cian.

Specifically, she rolled up her left sleeve above her shoulder, revealing her fair skin.

Diana’s snow-white skin, contrasting with her silver hair, was visible.

*What is she doing?*

In an instant, Diana’s skin began to change.

At the same time, something dense settled on Diana’s skin.

“Scales…?”

It looked like some kind of scale.

Soon, Diana took something out of her pocket.

A small dagger in her hand.

Immediately, a blue mana began to ripple over the dagger.

Diana drew on the power of Aura [a refined form of magical energy] and engraved it on the dagger.

Diana, standing at the pinnacle of the underworld.

That meant her assassination skills were also top-notch.

Cian momentarily raised his energy.

And just as he was about to draw out the power of magic.

Diana unhesitatingly threw the Aura-imbued dagger.

And it was aimed not at Cian, but at Diana’s own left arm.

Clang─!

Sparks flew as the dagger bounced off.

The Aura-imbued dagger failed to pierce Diana’s skin and bounced off.

Rather, the blade of the dagger was damaged.

“What…”

Cian’s eyes widened without him realizing it.

The Aura dagger that couldn’t pierce Diana’s skin.

That was… absolutely impossible.

Even the S-rank armor worn by Ruben’s soldiers wasn’t that strong.

Even that armor couldn’t directly block the power contained in Aura.

The transcendent-grade armor that Cian was equipped with, Immortality (不滅) [Immortality, in Hanja, a system of writing using Chinese characters], would be the only thing that could do it.

That was the only thing that could do it.

Of course, it was impossible with the skin of a living being.

No matter how ferocious a monster was, it couldn’t block an Aura-imbued strike with just its skin.

No, to be exact, there was only one being that could do it.

There was only one creature on the continent that could withstand a direct hit from Aura without flinching.

The one who reigns at the top of all races in the world.

The strongest creature on earth, reigning over all things, and an unapproachable powerhouse.

Dragon.

But Diana’s appearance was clearly that of a human.

Also, the energy felt wasn’t that strong.

A human with the characteristics of a dragon.

“Dragonkin… [a race of humanoids with dragon-like features]?”

Diana was a Dragonkin (龍人族) [Dragonkin, in Hanja, a system of writing using Chinese characters].

Diana didn’t deny Cian’s words.

Chrararararak.

Soon, Diana’s skin returned to its snow-white color.

It was as delicate and soft as that of a human woman.

“Haa…! Haa…!”

And for some reason, Diana’s breathing had become rough.

Even cold sweat was flowing, and she didn’t seem to be in good condition.

“Wa, wait a minute…”

Cian’s mind became complicated in an instant.

“Why is a Dragonkin…?”

Diana didn’t say anything.

She was just swallowing her rough breath.

However, the expression revealed on her face.

It seemed… there was some complicated story.

But she didn’t seem to want to talk about it.

So Cian didn’t bother to ask.

What was the point of asking about a story she didn’t want to tell?

More than anything, whatever the story, it was an undeniable fact that Diana was a Dragonkin.

In other words, Diana was a member of the Beastmen.

It fully explained why Diana knew about the situation of the Beastmen, who had disappeared hundreds of years ago.

It also explained why she was asking him to help the Beastmen.

*The Guild Master of Shadow Moon is a Dragonkin….*

Cian was lost in thought.

“No, that’s not the point.”

Cian organized his thoughts and asked Diana.

“Why are you telling me this story?”

When he thought about it, that was the case.

Revealing that she was a Dragonkin.

Explaining the situation of the Beastmen and asking for help.

It wasn’t a story she had to tell Cian.

To be exact, there was no reason to come to Cian.

Especially coming to him, who was at war with Elan D’Or.

The one called the head of the best information guild in the Empire wouldn’t be unaware of that fact.

“That’s…”

As expected, Diana slowly opened her mouth.

And after a little time, Diana’s words were heard.

“Because Elan D’Or is involved in this.”

*What the hell is this now?*