My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 287

287. Arnise Hall (1)

The Royal Mint, located in the capital, Darkan.

The Royal Mint, as the name suggests, was an institution that minted currency and was a core institution responsible for the empire’s economy.

As a core institution responsible for the empire’s economy, its security was strict.

A space that even the most prominent nobles in the empire could not easily enter.

It could be said to be as secure as the Imperial Palace.

And the warehouse of such a Royal Mint.

Whirr.

Endless treasures of gold were pouring out of the warehouse.

The golden treasures poured out like a waterfall.

The people belonging to the Royal Mint could only gape their mouths.

The Royal Knights, who were responsible for guarding the Royal Mint, were also in awe.

Forgetting their respective missions, they stared at the pouring golden waterfall.

Whirr.

The golden waterfall poured down endlessly.

But even a golden spring would eventually dry up.

“Hoo. You can take all of this.”

The poured-out golden treasures were able to stop only after overflowing the warehouse of the Royal Mint.

“······”

“······”

The people of the Royal Mint were all *넋 (neok)* [넋 (neok) refers to a state of being completely stunned or넋 (neok) lost] and stared at the sight.

In particular, the expression of the Imperial Finance Commissioner was truly *넋 (neok)* lost.

When was the last time the Royal Mint’s warehouse was filled to the brim?

At least, it wasn’t in the recent memory of the Finance Commissioner.

Even if he dredged up his hazy memories, it wasn’t there.

How many times would it have happened if he searched through the history of the Royal Mint?

The Imperial Finance Commissioner blankly stared at the sight of something he couldn’t even remember.

But that was only for a moment.

The Finance Commissioner quickly came to his senses and gave orders to the people of the Royal Mint.

The currency shortage that had struck the empire was currently ongoing.

Even now, the economy was slowly collapsing because of it.

To solve the problem quickly, it was not enough to move diligently.

After a long time passed and all the gold was moved.

“Then I’ll go process it right away.”

The Imperial Finance Commissioner slowly turned his body.

And the moment he took a step.

“Ah, just a moment. There’s still more left.”

A strange sound was heard from behind···?

With a thought of ‘what is it?’, the Finance Commissioner turned his body.

Whirr.

And what he saw was a golden waterfall.

The endless golden waterfall began to pour out once again!

“Ah, no···.”

The Finance Commissioner’s body froze completely.

His mind became dizzy in his frozen body, and his memory was cut off for a moment.

Because of that, he couldn’t remember how many more whirrs followed.

He could only guess that it was easily over two digits···?

“Hoo! This is the end.”

That’s how the spring of the waterfall finally dried up.

“Th, then··· can I go now···?”

The Finance Commissioner was able to come to his senses then.

At Xian’s slowly nodding appearance, the Finance Commissioner carefully took a step.

But he kept looking back to check.

His steps did not easily fall, with a truly ‘just in case’ feeling.

But fortunately, the waterfall did not pour out again.

As relief came, a sense of *막막함 (makmakham)* [막막함 (makmakham) refers to a feeling of being overwhelmed or daunted] arose.

When could he process all that gold?

It seemed like he would have to stay up all night for several weeks.

When minting gold, there were concepts that made his head hurt just by looking at them, such as the price index and the amount of currency in circulation.

He had to do calculations that made his head explode just by thinking about them.

Of course, such complex calculations were not necessary right now.

Because there was a shortage of gold currency, it was not enough to print gold right away.

However, the need to do some headache-inducing calculations did not change.

“I guess I’ll have to live in the Royal Mint for the time being···.”

The Finance Commissioner sighed deeply and left the place.

After the Finance Commissioner left.

Xian spoke to Amelia, a beautiful woman with long red hair.

“Amelia, keep an eye on these people here to see if they’re skimming.”

“Ah, yes, well··· that’s.”

Amelia nodded with a dazed expression.

There was no way they would skim at the Royal Mint.

No, more than that, what is skimming?

There is a high-class word called embezzlement.

Would they even skim at the Royal Mint, which is directly under the Imperial Family?

No, would they embezzle··· hey, skimming sticks to the tongue better.

“And as gold is printed, put our share in this bag here. You know how to put it in, right?”

“Ah, yes, well··· no, Lord. Is this right?”

“What’s not right about it.”

“No, well··· that’s true, but···.”

Honestly, there was nothing wrong with it.

After all, this was something they were doing while taking a loss.

Of course, this side was also the reason why the gold currency shortage occurred.

But that was only an event that occurred as a natural economic phenomenon.

It wasn’t illegal, and there was no punishment.

In fact, Xian was only sacrificing himself for the empire.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you, Amelia.”

But what was the reason why it didn’t feel that way at all?

Xian left Amelia in charge and approached Lucas, who was waiting on one side of the Royal Mint.

“Lucas, protect Amelia well here with the knights. It’ll be a disaster if anything happens to Amelia.”

“······ Do not worry.”

Lucas nodded calmly.

But somehow, the answer was a little slow.

And even a somewhat *서운함 (seounham)* [서운함 (seounham) refers to a feeling of being hurt or disappointed] look.

“Why do you have that expression?”

“Yes? What’s wrong with my expression?”

“It seems like you’re *서운함 (seounham)* about something to me?”

“No. What reason do I have to be *서운함 (seounham)* to you, Lord.”

Then Lucas showed a very disciplined appearance.

It was no different from Lucas’ usual self, but Xian could glimpse the small dissatisfaction within.

“Is it because you’re uncomfortable being with Amelia? You were originally a knight of the Brahe family.”

Before coming to Ruben, Lucas was originally a knight of the Brahe family.

He was now the captain of the Ruben guard, but before that, he was a knight escorting Amelia.

“That’s not it. Why would I be uncomfortable with Miss Amelia?”

Even so, the reason why Lucas was making that expression was still one.

“If you go to the Imperial Palace and meet Aria, I’ll subtly pull Laura over here. Don’t be too gloomy.”

Xian patted Lucas on the shoulder and walked past him.

“Wh, when did I ever look gloomy!”

Then Lucas’ shout was heard from behind.

And there was a definite power in his voice than before.

Psh, a laugh leaked out.

“Then, I’ll be back.”

Xian moved his steps towards the Imperial Palace.

#

After returning to the Imperial Palace, Xian completed various procedures.

He headed straight to Arnise Hall.

『[Main Story Quest] – ‘The Unfinished Battle’』

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Karze’s last will and testament and the main story quest.

A quest where Kyle might face the truth.

The problem was that Arnise Hall was not a place where you could enter just because you wanted to.

The selection of the Zodiac Sword, which takes place at the Founding Day event.

You had to receive it to enter the hall.

The problem was that the Founding Day of the Charlotte Empire was unique.

It was none other than the year of the intercalary month when the moon’s energy was full.

The last day of that intercalary month was the Founding Day of the Charlotte Empire.

So the Founding Day event is held every four years.

In addition, the selection of the Zodiac Sword is held every 5th Founding Day event.

In other words, the selection of the Zodiac Sword is an event that takes place every 20 years.

For that reason, the person who receives the selection of the Zodiac Sword is called the best talent of the time.

And in the past, Xian had received that selection.

To be exact, he was selected with Aria, but anyway.

Of course, he couldn’t wait until then.

And even if he waited like that.

Frankly, it was uncertain whether he would receive the selection of the Zodiac Sword.

If he failed to receive the selection, it would be a disaster.

In many ways, the option of waiting was not very good.

So, Xian chose this path. He wouldn’t wait for the Zodiac Sword selection.

“The reason you want to borrow the Zodiac Sword… is it to enter the Hall of Arnaize?”

To gain entry by borrowing the Zodiac Sword itself.

“That is correct, Your Highness.”

Xian nodded calmly at Conrad’s words.

The reason the selection of the Zodiac Sword was necessary to enter the hall boiled down to the powerful barrier within.

A myth related to this had been passed down, but…

‘It was all a story fabricated by Leia.’

It was a story fabricated by Leia, who was a spirit residing in the hall at the time.

In reality, it was a barrier created by Arnaize and Elodie.

And the key to breaking through that barrier was the Zodiac Sword.

In other words, it wasn’t the selection of the Zodiac Sword itself, but…

‘The power of the key called the Zodiac Sword’ that was needed.

So, Xian agreed to a rental fee of 0.7 gold per 1 gold.

A whopping 900 million gold to borrow the Zodiac Sword.

The sword symbolizing the legitimacy of the emperor, the Zodiac Sword.

Lending it to someone else was something that had never happened in its thousand-year history.

If there hadn’t been a currency shortage in the empire.

If the empire’s economy hadn’t collapsed as a result.

It would never have been allowed.

“Then let’s go inside.”

And even that came with the condition that the Crown Prince, Conrad, would accompany him.

But well, whatever.

As long as the goal is achieved somehow.

Xian was able to enter the Hall of Arnaize after many twists and turns.

“I’ll start right away.”

Conrad stood at the entrance of the hall and raised the Zodiac Sword.

At the same time, a small vibration occurred, and the energy of the barrier weakened.

It was a different sight from when he had been chosen by the Zodiac Sword in the past.

Clearly, borrowing the power of the key and using the key itself were different.

“It seems to be working.”

Xian slowly took a step into the entrance.

But Conrad tilted his head and hesitated.

“Can you feel this? I don’t really know.”

Swoosh.

Xian went into the hall without hesitation.

“…I still have a long way to go to catch up with you.”

Conrad shook his head and followed Xian.

#

Suddenly, the view cleared, and a large cavity unfolded.

And six statues were visible.

The Sword God Charlotte.

The Priestess Muriel.

The Great Mage Elodie.

The Divine Craftsman Morcru.

The Celestial Shaman Noemi.

And finally, Kyle.

Of course, Kyle’s appearance was different from the real Kyle’s.

This was also an image manipulated by Leia.

In any case, the Hall of Arnaize, which he had returned to after a long time, had not changed at all.

It was not managed, but left unattended.

That was because no one could enter due to the barrier.

So, it was the same unchanging sight for Xian.

“Why is the hall like this…?”

But it didn’t seem to be the same for Conrad.

Conrad stared at the hall with wide eyes.

To be exact, Conrad was greatly surprised by the sight of the hall being broken and dented here and there.

Xian immediately opened his mouth.

“These are the traces of the battles I fought when I came here before.”

“Fight? You? With whom? Don’t tell me it was with the Saintess…?”

Conrad asked Xian with a doubtful expression.

At that time, Xian had entered the hall with Aria.

“No. I fought with Leia. At that time, Leia suddenly attacked, so I had no choice…”

“Leia?”

Conrad tilted his head for a moment.

He seemed unfamiliar with the name Leia and pondered for a moment.

But soon, he remembered and immediately asked Xian.

“Are you perhaps talking about the Bungwanjo [ancestor from a different family origin]?”

“That’s right.”

“Ah, now that I think about it, I heard that Bungwanjo was sleeping in this hall.”

Bungwanjo refers to Bungwansijo.

It was a word referring to ancestors with different family origins.

And Leia, Charlotte’s younger sister, was like an ancestor to Conrad.

This was the situation Conrad had heard when he came to Ruben in the past.

Therefore, Conrad did not talk about the ruined hall any further.

After all, it was Leia, a long-time ancestor, who had ruined it, not anyone else.

In fact, she was practically the owner of this hall.

Who could he blame?

“Is Bungwanjo doing well?”

“She’s doing better than when you saw her last time. It seems like she’s been a bit gloomy since Aria left this time.”

“That’s a relief. Please give her my regards when you return this time.”

“I understand.”

Conrad nodded and smiled.

“So, then. What should we do now?”

Then Conrad asked Xian what to do next.

The reason for entering this hall was solely because of Xian.

Also, Conrad had not heard the reason.

So, Conrad asked Xian.

“I wonder what it is?”

Xian didn’t seem to know either?

“Hmm?”

Conrad tilted his head slightly.

He looked at Xian with a questioning face, but Xian said nothing.

‘What am I supposed to do now?’

There was really nothing to say!

Karze’s last words and the content of the quest to head to the Hall of Arnaize.

That’s how Xian came to the Hall of Arnaize.

‘Why isn’t there any reaction?’

But there was no particular reaction.

Usually, there would be a ‘Ting!’ sound and it would be cleared.

Or there would be a ‘Tiriing!’ sound and the quest would change.

One of the two should have happened, but nothing happened.

It was just quiet.

“…”

What am I really supposed to do?

There should be some kind of reaction so I can do something.

At that moment, one thought flashed through his mind.

‘Could it be because Mobile Lord is under maintenance?’

There was a possibility… come to think of it, there was.

Looking back on his past experiences, quests had not been completed during maintenance.

‘If this is the case…’

It could be said to be a fairly high possibility.

If this was true, it meant that he couldn’t do anything until the maintenance of Mobile Lord was over.

Well, there was a way to come back after the maintenance was over.

‘Who knows when the maintenance will be over?’

The maintenance of a whopping 1.5 billion cash investment.

There was a high possibility that it would be twice as long as usual.

Above all, the Zodiac Sword was needed to enter the hall.

So, Xian paid 0.7 gold per 1 gold.

He borrowed the Zodiac Sword at a loss of 30%.

‘I have to borrow it one more time…?’

Absolutely not. Absolutely not.

He might not lend it to him again, and he might have to pay the rental fee again!

“Damn it…!”

Xian spat out the words as if chewing them and strode forward.

“Hey, where are you suddenly going!”

Then Conrad’s shout came from behind.

‘I have to finish it here somehow.’

Xian gritted his teeth and searched the inside of the hall.

#

There was nothing.

There was nothing!

He really searched the inside of the hall thoroughly.

He expanded all his senses and searched.

Dragon’s senses and the magic of transcendence.

He pulled up everything he could and rummaged around.

“There’s nothing…”

But nothing came out.

Not even an ant came out.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Xian blurted out without realizing it.

Forgetting that Conrad was next to him, Xian ground his teeth.

“Seriously… seriously…”

How could this be happening!

The quest wasn’t progressing due to the mobile lord’s maintenance.

And he had to waste the rental fee because of it!

‘Just wait until the maintenance is over. I’m going to…!’

He would contact customer service and formally protest.

He would claim compensation for all the damages.

Beyond that, compensation for time lost, compensation for emotional distress.

Defamation, deception, fraud, and more…

Anyway, he would sue them for everything!

“I will definitely do it!”

Xian shouted at the screen of his turned-off smartphone.

But soon, a sense of emptiness washed over him.

“Haa…”

Xian let out a deep sigh.

“Are you… alright?”

Following that, Conrad asked with a bewildered expression.

Xian asked Conrad quietly.

“Your Highness, excuse me… would it be possible to borrow the Zodiac Sword one more time later…?”

Then Conrad showed a slightly troubled look.

“This requires His Majesty’s permission… I cannot give you a definite answer.”

Xian nodded and sighed softly.

Well, lending it one more time wasn’t a difficult task.

It wasn’t like he was taking it away, just entering the hall.

But there was a possibility.

If the Emperor played hardball, Xian would have nothing to say.

If it were Conrad, Xian wouldn’t worry.

However, because it was the Emperor, Xian had doubts.

He wouldn’t worry if it were Conrad, but because it was the Emperor, he had to consider the possibilities.

In any case, the rental fee would just be wasted.

Therefore, the best thing to do was to solve it now.

But that wasn’t happening.

“Haa…”

Xian’s sigh didn’t stop.

Even after searching thoroughly, nothing came out.

‘Was there nothing from the start?’

No, when he thought about it, that was the case.

When Xian came to the hall in the past, there was nothing.

‘Come to think of it… Leia didn’t know either, did she?’

Even Leia didn’t know.

Leia, who had been sleeping in this hall for a thousand years.

A secret space? A hidden device?

After a thousand years, she would naturally know.

Leia had told him about the secret space Charlotte had created.

But Leia didn’t know.

She had no idea that something related to Kyle was here.

Leia, who had lived here for a thousand years, didn’t know something?

It was impossible, but there was only one possibility.

‘It was hidden so well that Leia didn’t know…?’

Hidden so that Leia’s senses couldn’t detect it.

Something that Leia’s formless body couldn’t penetrate.

How could that be possible?

In that sense, there was only one thing that bothered him.

None other than the statues of the Arnaizes.

Xian didn’t find anything else as suspicious as these statues.

You might say there’s nothing to find suspicious since there’s nothing there.

But that wasn’t the case.

The expanded sense of Ki [life energy] inherited from Karze.

The magic of transcendence latent in the Dragon Heart.

Currently, nothing could escape Xian’s senses.

For example, the stone he was stepping on now.

It was an ordinary stone with nothing special, but Xian’s senses perceived it.

At least, he felt the concept and recognition of ‘stone.’

But the statues were not like that.

Since they were statues, they were naturally made of stone.

Therefore, he should have felt the concept and recognition of stone.

‘I don’t feel anything.’

But he didn’t feel anything from the statues.

He literally didn’t feel anything.

It was definitely strange, but even so, Xian couldn’t be sure.

He thought it could be possible.

So he just moved on…

‘Leia didn’t even know…’

Thinking about it like this, it was too suspicious.

Deceiving Leia’s senses, who had been sleeping for a thousand years.

Furthermore, deceiving even Xian’s senses now.

Deceiving Leia’s senses in the past was possible.

But deceiving Xian’s senses was almost impossible.

To be precise, there was only one being capable of it.

‘Kyle.’

The strongest Arnaize, Kyle.

Judging by Xian’s current level, only Kyle was capable.

Only Kyle could deceive Xian’s senses.

If such power of Kyle was involved?

The reason why it didn’t catch Xian’s senses was sufficiently explained.

The reason why Leia hadn’t noticed for a thousand years was also explained.

Not certain, but the only possibility.

Xian slowly approached Kyle’s statue.

It wasn’t just Kyle’s statue that his senses didn’t detect, it was all the Arnaizes’ statues.

Even so, Xian approached Kyle’s statue.

Although the statue didn’t resemble Kyle due to Leia.

It was completely different from Kyle’s appearance.

But that was because Leia had re-sculpted the statue.

Originally, it wasn’t like that when it was first created.

Before Leia touched it, a thousand years ago, it had the real appearance of Kyle.

In other words, only the appearance was different.

This statue was truly made to honor Kyle.

Xian gently placed his hand on Kyle’s statue.

He didn’t know what to do or how to do it…

But in the past, Xian had obtained one of Kyle’s legacies in the hall.

The method of handling and controlling the magic of the source, the Demon Soul Control Method.

And that was a method that only Kyle could do.

Even the great mage Elodie couldn’t approach it.

Wouldn’t this be the best way to prove Kyle?

Xian quietly closed his eyes and recited the incantation of the Demon Soul Control Method.

At the same time, shaaaaa!

Pitch-black darkness bloomed from Xian’s entire body.

Xian pushed the drawn-up power of darkness into Kyle’s statue.

“What are you doing now…?”

Conrad’s voice expressing doubt was heard.

And Xian also wondered if this was right.

But this was the only thing he could do.

Above all, the statue began to absorb the darkness.

Xian continued to push in the darkness.

And at some point, click.

He heard a sound of something opening from one side of the statue…?

Still, nothing was detected by his senses.

But it was clear that he heard a sound.

Xian withdrew the darkness and examined the place where the sound came from.

And on one side of Kyle’s statue, a small lid-like thing was open.

To be precise, a part of the statue was detached in the shape of a square groove.

If fitted together, it would be like a nameplate.

If you looked at it carelessly, it just looked like a trace worn by time.

But why?

“A smartphone?”

The thought of a smartphone suddenly flashed through Xian’s mind.

That’s because the square groove looked exactly like the size of a smartphone.

No, beyond a similar level, it seemed to fit perfectly.

What was there to hesitate about?

Xian immediately inserted the smartphone into the groove, and click.

As expected, it fit perfectly.

And at that very moment.

With a flash of light, complex images appeared on the smartphone screen.

Xian stared at the sight with surprised eyes.

And at the same time.

『[Currently Downloading DLC Content] – Kyle’s Journal』

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