Chapter 175, My People (3)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Euria was a neat person.

 

She was neat in making decisions and cutting things off, neat in exchanging words and understanding things, and neat with Magic too.

 

Of course, if someone saw forty charred corpses, they might question whether Euria’s standard of neatness was ‘cleanly striking lightning that neatly burns and kills everyone without a single survivor,’ but regardless, Euria’s Magic was neat.

 

Since Euria was such a person, her reflection was also neat.

 

She did not listen half-heartedly but properly took it to heart. She learned a lot from this incident and apologized again as soon as she saw Kalian.

 

Then, with a plain expression, she said.

 

“The name of that organization is Zeon, Your Highness.”

 

Reflection was reflection. However, the work that needed to be finished had to be completed, so she first took care of the cause of this trouble.

 

“And these are the materials found at this location, but they are difficult to read or understand.”

 

Kalian briefly scanned the bundle of papers handed to him along with these words and nodded in response.

 

“You’ve worked hard.”

 

It was completely different from when he had gathered everyone at Wilhelm Hall and delivered his fierce teaching. Even when Euria said ‘I’m sorry,’ he just said he understood and moved on.

 

It was because of Allan.

 

On the way here, Allan had made a request to Kalian.

 

‘I gave the Enclave Head quite a scolding. When we return to the Capital, I’ll also speak to the Deputy Commander, so please don’t scold them further.’

 

Allan knew how much of a fuss Kalian would make with the two of them. Wasn’t Kalian particularly sensitive to such matters? So, he stepped in. Not so much out of concern that Kalian would reprimand them excessively, but rather out of worry that Kalian would focus his attention somewhere else again today.

 

So, Kalian decided to let it pass without saying anything else. He knew why the two of them had acted.

 

“I’d like to bring this to the Royal Palace as it is if possible. Is that feasible, Master?”

 

Feasible?

 

If he said he wanted to bring that moon floating in the sky to Chermil Palace, Allan would first think about how to drag the moon down, so what would a mere bundle of papers matter? He should make it possible to bring even if he had to move the cave.

 

Therefore, Allan was already nodding and extending his hand before even considering whether it was possible or not.

 

“Please give it to me.”

 

Allan received the papers from Kalian, examined them, briefly manipulated his Mana, then tucked them into his Sub-Space. Unlike when they had entered the Sub-Spaces of the other two Mages and crumbled without a trace, the papers were preserved without any change. He had casted Preservation Magic on the papers separately.

 

Kalian turned his head, looking at Allan with eyes that said ‘Master is indeed amazing,’ making Allan feel the greatest reward of becoming a Mage in his lifetime.

 

“Now we just need to deal with those guys.”

 

With these words, Kalian’s head turned toward the spies. Euria had told him everything about what conversation had taken place before the explosion earlier, without missing a single detail.

 

“…So I put them to sleep first and went outside, Your Highness.”

 

Hearing these concluding words, Yellow Warbler bit his lower lip.

 

As Euria had said, he had fallen asleep after hearing the explosion, and when he woke up, he found himself in a situation where an Archmage and Sword Master were looking down at them.

 

He too was a powerful Swordsman, and despite being tense with Euria in front of him, he had fallen victim to Euria’s Sleep. The fact that there was such a difference in mental strength was proof of the gap in their abilities. Now two more people who were even more formidable than Euria had been added, so what more could he say?

 

Kalian, who had walked over without making even small footstep sounds, stood in front of Yellow Warbler among those bound side by side. It was partly because he was closest, but actually more because he already knew Yellow Warbler was the representative of the three.

 

Kalian looked down at Yellow Warbler, who seemed to have completely given up any thought of resistance, and opened his mouth.

 

“Name.”

 

“I forgot.”

 

The answer was quick, and Kalian smiled slightly upon hearing that response.

 

It was partly because he recalled memories of someone who had said the same thing in the past, and partly because he was quite satisfied with the guy’s answer.

 

And at the end of that smile, something completely unsuitable followed.

 

*Whoosh!*

 

A sharp killing intent that flared up instantly.

 

A killing intent as eerie and sharp as Kalian’s red eyes pierced into Yellow Warbler.

 

A voice that had become a bit colder came out again.

 

“Name.”

 

“…I said I forgot.”

 

His voice trembled, but the answer was the same.

 

Swordsmen, who have better senses than Mages, also have higher sensitivity to killing intent. Moreover, Kalian was quite sharp right now. His killing intent was correspondingly thick, but the guy’s behavior was the same. Even though a spy’s name was not such a big secret, he would not reveal even that.

 

Kalian, who had been looking at Yellow Warbler for a while, withdrew his killing intent and spoke again. His voice was no different from usual, as if he had never glared as if to kill him.

 

“When you return, you’ll all die.”

 

The current Chase was very different from before.

 

Had he not killed half the spies just for being suspected? He would not forgive birds that disobeyed orders.

 

Even if by some chance he decided to forgive them, if he learned that Kalian, who had heard his words, had personally stepped out and consequently faced off with the Warriors of the Great Dunes again, he would definitely kill them. Kalian knew he was not someone who would forgive even that, whatever the reason might be.

 

“You probably knew roughly, so why did you act stubbornly?”

 

If they hadn’t come here, they would likely have died at the hands of the Warriors who came looking for the three, but anyway, now they would die at Chase’s hands instead of theirs.

 

Again, Yellow Warbler did not answer.

 

Glancing to the side, the other two guys were likewise keeping their mouths tightly shut.

 

“What would you like to do?”

 

Euria, who had been watching Kalian from the side, asked. If he said to kill them, she would kill them, and if he said to let them live, she would let them live. Euria also knew that the relationship between Kalian and Chase was not bad.

 

Kalian did not answer immediately but lowered his eyes for a moment. He pondered what to do.

 

If they were gathering internal information about Cyries, he would have punished them as a Prince of Cyries, but what these people were currently pursuing was an organization called Zeon. Even setting aside his relationship with Chase, it would not harm the Royal Family. In fact, their efforts would be helpful to Kalian.

 

Soon Kalian moved his gaze toward Yellow Warbler and spoke quietly.

 

“Lord Seiren, I have something to say to them briefly.”

 

It was a request to leave, so Euria went outside without saying anything. Allan was still beside him, but there was nothing that needed to be kept secret from Allan. Therefore, Kalian did not ask Allan to leave as well.

 

“When you return, tell him.”

 

Should he be grateful to learn that not all the guys had changed like White Hawk or Blue Warbler, seeking their own gain? Or should he turn off his interest in Secritia’s spy affairs as he had done so far?

 

“That I met you, and that it would be good if he sheathed his sword.”

 

Yellow Warbler, Seovern.

 

[Better to let them live. He is a spy with not only strength but good instincts and an honest stubbornness who never knew how to give up. He is always the type who took risks and brought back information. It might now be difficult to completely trust the birds’ loyalty, but please overlook it once. Please don’t cut out one’s own flesh with one’s own hands this time.]

 

Chase would understand what he meant.

 

“And you. Properly weigh whether your neck or information is heavier before you act. A guy who gives up one piece of information and comes back alive is more useful than a guy who brings one piece of information and dies.”

 

And Kalian meddled just a little more like this.

 

“…I understand.”

 

Having heard unexpected words, Yellow Warbler, who had been staring blankly at Kalian, answered.

 

Anyway, he had nothing more to say to the birds. If there was important content, Chase would take care of writing it to the ‘green messenger bird’ without him having to waste effort on these people.

 

Therefore, Kalian left them alone and went outside the cave without saying anything else. And he spoke to Euria, who was standing outside the cave looking at the forest.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

Euria nodded and answered.

 

Kalian, who was following behind and taking a step, paused briefly and turned his head toward Euria. Then, with a slightly smiling face, he said:

 

“Those birds and the pig in your bag seem equally tough and inedible. Let’s leave it.”

 

It was another way of saying that he decided to let them live because he was worried about the aftermath that would come if he killed the spies, and it was also saying to give the remaining pork to them.

 

Since they said they were hungry, they should be fed, shouldn’t they?

 

* * *

 

The darkness was thick.

 

This was only the second time he had come outside the Royal Palace at such an hour.

 

Once was when Kalian, who had been attacked by them, said he was looking for Plants, and the other time was now. Both times were connected to Kalian.

 

Plants, who had become someone always called to clean up the aftermath of his younger brother’s actions, briefly frowned.

 

“I didn’t expect you to personally come all the way here.”

 

He had no particular thoughts while moving directly to where the Teleportation Magic Circle was, but as soon as he saw the Mage who was spouting such words while having a face as blue as his hair color, his thoughts changed.

 

“I came for nothing.”

 

He came for nothing when he should have just stayed at the Royal Palace.

 

Kalian had expected that Plants would call Hina, but he definitely would not have known that he would come directly to where the Teleportation Magic Circle was and waited. The same would be true for Arsene.

 

[If you’re grateful, say you’re grateful. Really, he isn’t someone one can see in a good light no matter how hard I try.]

 

*Clip-clop*

 

Moreover, there was that black horse standing beside him.

 

A horse with a mane and coat like shadows deeply submerged in this darkness. Because of that, its pure white right ankle stood out particularly well. Moreover, there was that expression as if three lowly two-legged animals were gathered in front of it. Without a doubt, it was Raven.

 

Kalian had not returned. Plants saw that Arsene had ridden Raven, whom Plants had never been able to mount. Seeing this, Plants’ irritation, because he was Raven’s original owner, grew by a tremendous degree.

 

“It seems your mouth wasn’t injured.”

 

It was said in a very regretful tone, so Arsene, who was about to respond, slightly frowned. His mouth was not hurt, but his shoulder was definitely badly injured.

 

Seeing this, Hina moved her hands toward Plants. Arsene would understand roughly, but he did not know as much as Plants.

 

‘Fighting. Stop.’

 

She intervened in advance because it was obvious that if left alone, a verbal fight would break out.

 

She knew their relationship was not good. Wasn’t it between a Prince who would never live under anyone in his lifetime, and a Mage who would tolerate losing because of a sword but did not want to lose because of a horse?

 

‘First, let’s go inside. Treatment first. Quickly.’

 

Seeing Hina’s words, Plants unexpectedly nodded readily. Not because of that stern expression that had made Plants, who would not eat, finally eat, but because he recalled that he had come to treat the guy who had come back injured.

 

Plants, who had dropped the verbal fight, looked at Arsene and translated Hina’s words.

 

“Treatment first.”

 

Just two key words.

 

Then, he strode into the building. The meaning was to follow and get treatment or stay outside and just die—either was fine with him. Seeing this, Arsene smiled slightly and followed into the building.

 

The Mages guarding the building sat Arsene down with relieved faces. They had been uneasy about sending Arsene, who was already half-dead, directly to the Royal Palace alone, but they were relieved to see Hina come in with him.

 

“…Is it those guys’ doing?”

 

Plants asked Arsene.

 

Coming to a bright place, he could immediately tell how badly he was injured. Half of his white robe was stained black.

 

“Yes. They’re stronger than expected.”

 

Arsene answered calmly as if they had never had a verbal fight.

 

Meanwhile, Hina carefully untied the cloth that Kalian had bound. Arsene, who was quietly watching this, said:

 

“I’ll take that with me. Since His Highness did it for me, I can’t throw it away.”

 

He was going to go and boast to the Mages. That it was a bandage that Prince Kalian had personally tied.

 

Seeing that he was thinking such things even in this situation, Hina chuckled softly and handed it over. Then she looked at Plants and said.

 

‘It’ll be okay. Stop bleeding here, and when we return, we’ll treat it. It’ll be fine.’

 

After Plants nodded, he translated.

 

“She says it’s okay.”

 

Although the meaning was slightly distorted, Arsene would not have misunderstood it. Therefore, Hina immediately started healing without saying anything else.

 

After some time passed and the bleeding stopped, Hina briefly went outside to get clean bandages.

 

And with that, a Silent barrier surrounded the room.

 

“I have something I’m curious about, Deputy Commander.”

 

Arsene opened his mouth like this.

 

His eyes were touching the cloth that Kalian had tied.

 

“His Highness personally bandaged my wound, but I don’t understand how he knows how to do such things.”

 

What Prince would learn how to tie bandages? Of course, not just that, but the abilities Kalian had shown, his killing intent. Rather than suspicion, many questions must have accumulated.

 

“I learned it too.”

 

So, Plants answered like this.

 

Since his little brother was so bad at lying. As the older brother, shouldn’t he help him out this much?