Chapter 69 : Chapter 69
Chapter 69. Definitely a Different Guy
‘Gwanju was unbelievably strong.’
During his battle with Gwanju, Odekerkh reached the 2nd Circle. He himself was aware that he had become stronger. So he drew out much more power than before.
‘I definitely cut him.’
He had broken through his own limits, endured Gwanju’s attacks, and thrust his sword.
Tearing flesh, splitting muscle, the flowing blood soaking his blade. The raw sensation of cutting a person was transmitted to his fingertips, vividly telling him. That he had injured Gwanju. But Gwanju did not waver. He sneered at Odekerkh’s attack. He had tried to deliver a fatal blow and take Odekerkh’s life. If Maxim hadn't appeared, the one who died would have been Odekerkh himself, not Gwanju.
“No, I’m asking how Maxim fought.”
It was Adellian who shook Odekerkh from his deep thoughts.
“Th, that… It, it didn’t seem like c, circles.”
“Not circles? Then how does he fight?”
“Mana in the sword……”
Odekerkh pondered how best to describe Maxim at that time.
‘It felt like the mana was protecting Maxim, but…….’
It wasn't just limited to that.
A red energy and a blue energy emanated from Maxim. The two colors spread out widely with Maxim at the center, establishing a domain. Watching this, Odekerkh felt that the world he stood in and the world Maxim stood in were divided.
“What about the mana?”
Adellian was frustrated with Odekerkh, who just kept pondering without giving a proper answer to her question.
“Th… Ma, Maxim spread his mana… and that, that… it turned purple……”
“Huh? What are you saying?”
“So……”
Maxim, having created his own domain like that, launched himself toward Gwanju. The two energies became one and wrapped around Maxim. At that moment, Odekerkh saw an illusion of a colossal being from another world being superimposed over Maxim’s form.
At first, he had wondered if he was borrowing the power of a god. But it wasn’t the power of the Six Gods he knew. It wasn’t the power of Lucius, the God of Light, nor was it the power of Tenebris, the God of Darkness. It was an unknown power he had never seen before.
“Um……”
No matter how much Odekerkh racked his brain, no suitable explanation came to mind.
A purple line cut through the darkness, and in a white space, Maxim’s sword cut down Gwanju.
‘Beautiful.’ ‘Wondrous.’ These were the first words that came to Odekerkh’s mind when he saw Maxim’s sword. The act of cutting someone down to kill them is nothing but brutal. But the power Maxim displayed was the furthest thing from brutality, something he wanted to see again and again.
“F, fantastic.”
At Odekerkh’s words, Adellian’s expression contorted.
“I’m asking you to explain how he fought, and you say fantastic? What does that even mean?”
“It, it was something I’d never seen before. H, his own domain was created, and a f, fairy? I don’t think that’s it… a s, spirit? W, was that it? Ah……”
“Agh! So frustrating. A domain was created, and what about the spirit?”
“Th, the spirit seemed to be lending Maxim its power. Yeah.”
Odekerkh wore a proud expression, as if this was the best explanation he could give.
Adellian, on the other hand, scowled as if she was dumbfounded and looked at him pathetically.
“So you’re saying Maxim uses a different kind of power than us. And he took care of Gwanju by himself. Is that right?”
Piontek, who had been listening from the side, stepped in to summarize the conversation.
Odekerkh nodded and replied, ‘Y, yes.’
“What kind of guy is he, really? I knew he was beyond common sense… but this is completely off the charts.”
Piontek, who had experienced Gwanju firsthand, clicked his tongue.
“When is Maxim coming back?”
Adellian asked Odekerkh.
“I, I don’t know. But h, he should be back soon, don’t you think?”
Hearing the answer, Adellian wore a pouty expression as if nothing was going her way. And she decided that when Maxim returned, she would have to ask him which god he had sworn an oath to and what kind of power he used.
‘Maxim would know something.’
Adellian absolutely needed Maxim’s help to break through the wall of growth she was facing.
***
Rodrigo was looking at me with a dark expression.
“Lighten up. Anyone would think the world was ending.”
“I apologize. It was just such shocking news……”
Hearing that a spy from Uresra was manipulating the princes, it was no wonder he was shocked.
“We need to inform His Highness about this… have you secured any definite evidence?”
“Have you ever seen a spy leave behind anything that says, ‘I’m a spy’? They’re the types to say it doesn’t exist even if it does, and then commit suicide.”
“That’s true.”
Rodrigo, having learned that his country was being played by an enemy nation’s tricks, let out a deep sigh.
“Should I still inform His Highness?”
It seemed he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.
“Forget it. It’ll just get into the 3rd Queen’s ears. If it goes through her, even things that were going well will be ruined.”
“That’s true. Haa……. This is a big problem. We need to find a solution, but there’s no clear evidence……”
I held out a letter to the deeply worried Rodrigo.
Rodrigo looked at me with eyes that asked what it was.
“Take this and go to the north. Chris needs to know.”
If Uresra started to move in earnest, the first person to clash with them would be Chris, who was defending the border. So, he needed to be more aware of the current situation than anyone else.
“Is there anything else you wish to convey besides the contents of the letter?”
“Tell him to tighten internal security. Since they’ve infiltrated this deep, we can’t be complacent there either.”
At my words, Rodrigo’s face was stained with worry. A continuous stream of sighs escaped his lips.
“By the way.”
Rodrigo began heavily, as if about to speak of his worries.
“You said the Black Market manager was a Uresra spy, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“Wouldn’t Uresra also know that he’s dead?”
I certainly thought so. They had infiltrated deep into Poinus under the name of the Hoso Merchant Guild. So, they would have already established a communication network to transmit important information to Uresra as soon as it was obtained.
“How about leaving the academy and moving to the north with me?”
Rodrigo, judging that I was exposed to danger, earnestly requested.
“Not yet.”
I hadn’t completed Maximilian Caesar’s revenge. I hadn't even found the person who killed his mother.
I also hadn't finished making talented people my allies. Odekerkh and Adellian, Piontek… I needed to watch him a bit more. Anyway, I couldn’t say that Odekerkh and Adellian were entirely my people. It was necessary to build a bond and be together in heart, not just by overpowering them with force. If I dragged them along by force, I wouldn't know when they might stab me in the back. So, I needed time.
Even if I went to the north, it was right to move after finishing all this.
“Isn’t it too dangerous?”
“It’s been dangerous from the start. You knew that when you came.”
“But there might be spies within the academy as well.”
“Wasn't that the case before?”
Rodrigo closed his mouth and fell into thought. He wouldn’t be able to deny my words. It was unlikely that the ones who were messing with the princes would have left the academy alone. The change in this semester’s curriculum might also be the work of Homilia Sotolts.
“But the situation has changed. Your Highness has directly clashed with them and even eliminated them. They won’t stay still.”
“I’m waiting for that.”
“Pardon?”
Rodrigo’s eyes widened as if he was dumbfounded. Then he shook his head vigorously and said, ‘You can’t. It’s too dangerous.’
“It is dangerous. That’s why the ones who were hiding will come out, won’t they? Isn’t that right?”
Until now, they had used others to attack me. They probably saw me as a weak little mouse being played with by the beast that was the 4th Prince. But after the Black Market incident, their perspective was bound to change. The one they thought was a weak mouse had bitten and killed their colleague. From now on, I was no longer a weak little mouse, but an ominous, must-kill mouse.
“Your Highness……”
“I’m doing this for my own sake. If I just run off to the north right now, the Uresra guys won’t stay still. Wouldn’t it be more dangerous to fight the ones coming from outside while also fighting the ones striking from within? So, I need to clean up the ones inside first.”
Rodrigo looked at me with melancholic eyes.
“I will return from the north as quickly as possible. So, you must be safe. You absolutely must not overdo it.”
I patted his arm a couple of times to signify that he shouldn’t worry.
“Ah! Tell him to conduct a separate investigation into the Hoso Merchant Guild as well. If it’s Chris, he’ll be able to find something by linking it to Homilia Sotolts.”
In the meantime, I planned to enjoy their hunt. I was going to hunt down the hunting dogs that came running with drool dripping from their mouths, one by one, and thoroughly teach them who the real prey was.
***
“So, you’re saying you got out before the Bureau of Inspection raided the place? With that bastard?”
Hans looked at the two people in front of him with an emotionless expression. They were Fioren and the president of the Jordi Merchant Guild, Emilia Jordi.
“We were able to get out thanks to the help of the Jordi Merchant Guild.”
At Fioren’s words, Hans scowled and scratched his forehead. He took out a glass, poured wine, and looked back and forth between Fioren and Jordi.
“When the Black Market fell, you got out with that woman’s help. So?”
“Pardon? No, what do you mean, so……”
Feeling perplexed, Fioren swallowed a breath and looked at Jordi.
“We will help Your Highness. We have a wide information network……”
“Enough.”
Hans cut Jordi off and stood up. He took a letter from his desk drawer and tossed it in front of Fioren.
Fioren, not knowing what the letter was, looked at Hans with wide eyes.
“What are you doing? Read it.”
Fioren began to read the letter. His jet-black pupils widened. The hand holding the letter trembled.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Hans glared at Fioren with bloodshot eyes.
The letter stated that Fioren was ditching Hans and cozying up to Dwight.
“No, what is this……. Your Highness, this is a frame-up. You know, don’t you? That I only look to Your Highness.”
“Bryn was right. He said you’d babble on like that.”
“Pardon? Bryn… Pardon? No, that bastard said that? What is this nonsense……”
CRASH!
The glass in Hans’s hand shattered in front of Fioren.
“You’re in contact with the Hoso Merchant Guild, but you spouted bullshit about not being in contact, don’t you remember?”
“It’s not bullshit! I really wasn’t in contact……”
As soon as Fioren spoke, Hans took out another letter. It was a letter stamped with the seal of the Hoso Merchant Guild.
“Bryn got in touch right away, so why did you say you couldn’t? Why? Did you stick with that woman to ditch me and go wipe Dwight’s ass?”
“No, no, no……”
Fioren tried to state his innocence, but seeing Hans’s eyes, he swallowed his words. He knew that whatever he said right now wouldn’t get through to him.
“Haa, Fioren. What should I do with you?”
Hans grabbed Fioren’s face with one hand. Then he let out a hot breath as he looked at Jordi.
“You tell me. What should I do?”
“……Your Highness, I merely.”
Jordi paused, took a breath, and looked at Fioren.
“I only helped because he asked for help. And I only came because he said there would be a reward if I went to Your Highness.”
“A reward?”
Hans snorted and said, ‘Crazy bastard.’
“I didn’t say a reward. I said if I told you I would meet Your Highness and work together, you would give me a suitable price……”
“Stop playing with words. Hey, that is a reward. Did you think I was easy because I was nice to you, you bastard?”
“No, I would never……”
BANG!
“Keuk!”
Fioren screamed.
Hans had smashed his face with the broken glass.
“Haa, fuck. This is why you shouldn’t be nice to people. They just backstab you and try to suck you dry. Isn’t that right?”
“……”
Jordi just stared at Hans with startled eyes.
“What’s your name?”
“It is Emilia Jordi.”
“You’re the owner of the merchant guild?”
“That is correct.”
The conversation proceeded in a grim atmosphere, accompanied by Fioren’s screams and groans.
Jordi saw that getting involved with Hans was dangerous. But since she needed his influence, she decided to take the risk.
“You must be properly ruined this time?”
“There is some damage.”
“Really? You must want to grow again?”
“I believe it would be possible if Your Highness helps. Although there were great losses, we still have our information network……”
“Enough of that. Do you have a few people who can use a sword? Not crappy ones, but ones who can really use it.”
Fioren’s sounds stopped.
Hans let go of Fioren, who had lost consciousness from the pain, and faced Jordi.
The blood that soaked the floor flowed and reached the tip of Jordi’s shoe.
“I will gather as many as possible.”
At Jordi’s answer, standing in the blood, Hans smiled.
“30 people. 1st Circle or higher. I’ll give you a week. If you keep your promise, I’ll nurture you properly.”
Hans, with a hand dripping with blood, lightly tapped Jordi’s cheek.
Jordi forced a smile. Her cheeks were caked with bloodstains.