Translated by Wook
Edited by Wook
The invitation to the cardinal’s dinner was actually unexpected.
The sudden preparation of the dinner banquet was due to the news that flew to Doom Palace a few hours ago.
“There’s a riot in the South!”
The news that Sir Rena had beaten a Southern knight was also transmitted to Doom Palace and the Northern Knights who were there.
The chatty priest boy repeated the stories he had heard from outside to the people of the North.
Rubid snorted at the shocking story, and the knights shook their heads.
Marquis Ruber laughed quietly from a step away. Until Clavis came and whispered quietly,
“You’re involved in this, aren’t you?”
The Cardinal asked in a low voice, and the question made the Marquis a little tired.
‘This man has a very good sense.’
The Marquis sighed at the Cardinal’s unadulterated insight. Then he realized that it was useless to play dumb and smiled softly.
“It was necessary and inevitable.”
“You, as well…”
At the Marquis’ reply, Clavis shook his head playfully.
After the war had just ended, the South was struggling with various problems, and the dissatisfaction of the nobles, who had their sons taken away because of the tomb conquest, was also quite large. And among them, there were some who left the South and wanted to be incorporated into the North.
So, the Marquis sent someone to incite one of them. And seeing there was an excuse, he designed a plan so that the sensational rumors spread.
“That must not be your only purpose.”
Clavis mumbled as if he knew everything the Marquis was, then smiled and asked again.
“Are you going to kill your daughter again?”
An expedition is just around the corner, and anything that interferes with the unity of the Knights Order will isolate Rena Ruber. Then the purpose is clear.
The Marquis, who was being seen through again, looked at Clavis’ eyes for a moment.
‘Are you going to object?’
The Marquis remembered Clavis’ deep favor with Rena, so it was kind of worrying.
“If that’s the case, I’ll help you.”
“Are you serious?”
“Of course.”
Clavis smiled broadly and said something unexpected. When the Marquis doubted him, he nodded cheerfully, as if to reassure him.
It was obvious what the Marquis was going to do. So Clavis wanted to check it right now. Did Rena Ruber really become the monster he wanted?
It’s meaningless if she just falls into this trap and dies so easily.
***
The atmosphere of the prepared banquet was cold.
Lynn and Rubid didn’t hide their mortal dislike for each other, and Rena Ruber looked at Clavis, the banquet’s host, from time to time, outwardly looking courteous.
Meanwhile, the sumptuous dishes on the table cooled down without being touched.
In the quiet chaos, Clavis said softly.
“Since we’re sitting next to each other, it’s like we’re all friends. What about getting along with each other from now on?”
“Don’t talk nonsense, speak your business.”
At Clavis’s nonsense, Rubid grew annoyed. Rena and Lynn also looked at each other, and in the end, Clavis pretended to be the loser.
“How tough. Anyway, what’s going on is obvious. Sir Rena, today, Prince Rubid and the Eastern Duke visited the Tomb first.”
“So I heard.”
“But the topography of the tomb is completely different from the ground. It’s a big problem.”
‘…What do you want to say?’
Rena felt a strange sensation and looked at Clavis. Then Clavis continued with a deeper smile.
“So, since everyone is still unfamiliar with the place, I was wondering if it would be better to hit a familiar opponent first.”
“And who is the said familiar opponent you’re talking about?”
“The Ones Who Swallowed the First Cry.”
The Ones Who Swallowed the First Cry is the name of the dead that ravaged the South.
Terrible predators whose habit of reacting to sounds made the Southern War known as Silent War.
It was also a very familiar name to Rena, who had been a mercenary in the South.
“I know that you’ve fought them for a long time, and most of all, the South needs revenge, right? Therefore, the first goal is to try them.”
Clavis’ decision was reasonable without needing to add any disagreement. In fact, how to deal with The Ones Who Swallowed the First Cry had been well-studied.
As Rena was still skeptical and unconvinced, Clavis said in front of the other participants.
“In that sense, what if the South takes the lead in the first expedition?”
It was a light voice, as if suggesting a play.
“Lead the North and East from the front, Sir Rena.”
Rena’s eyes widened at the request that was closer to a command.
Lynn was also perplexed. There was no way the Cardinal was unaware of the current situation of the Southern Knights. So this was no different than telling her to eventually die.
Lynn realized Clavis’ inner intentions and quietly bit his lip.
Rena lowered her gaze for a moment, as if choosing what to say. Once done, she was ready to answer.
When it was time for her to raise her head.
“Who cares about that!”
At the moment no one expected, Rubid slammed his table and shouted.
“Of course I am the vanguard!”
It was an intrusion that no one, not even Clavis, expected.
Clavis was at a loss for words at Rubid’s interruption. Rena and Lynn also looked at him with puzzled eyes.
But Rubid was stubborn. He didn’t care at all how things were going, and he was very angry with himself being pushed out of the vanguard.
“Young Rubid…”
Clavis blinked his eyes and quietly called out Rubid’s name. But Rubis looked as if he didn’t even know what was wrong.
Thanks to this, Clavis became a little tired.
Fortunately, it wasn’t that difficult to grab the reins of this bastard.
About the time Clavis was trying to shut Rubid’s mouth.
“I will obey the will of the Cardinal.”
One step earlier, an unexpected voice intervened. It was Rena.
“It is a great honor for the South to be the vanguard of the first expedition.”
“Cut the crap…!”
Rubid tried to scream again, but Clavis raised a hand to block it. Then he looked back at Rena with a puzzled expression.
‘Don’t you know that this is a trap?’
Clavis asked with bewildered eyes. To that, Rena answered with calm eyes.
‘I know. I’m aware of that.’
‘So, why?’
‘What does it matter?’
At Rena’s cold eyes, Clavis bit his lower lip and swallowed a laugh.
But Rena ignored his stinky longing and continued.
“I have a request for you instead.”
“Tell me.”
Clavis nodded his head in curiosity.
Clavis nodded his head in curiosity.
“First of all, please regard this decision as a voluntary choice of the South.”
“That’s all you want? Is there anything else?”
“You said that the first expedition would be in 9 days.”
“You want the date to be postponed?”
“No.”
Rena shook her head at Clavis’ hasty intervention. Then she smiled softly and said the exact opposite.
“Please pull up the date and start the expedition in 2 days.”
Lynn and Rubid’s eyes widened at the unexpected suggestion.
Clavis’ reaction was almost the same. However, the emotion contained in his eyes was terribly impure, unlike the other two people.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
He asked again, but Rena’s answer was still there. So Clavis had to stifle the smile that spread across his lips.
‘What else is this?’
Clavis looked into Rena’s eyes as if trying to find out what was inside her. But Rena took his gaze and gave him no clue.
That made Clavis even more excited.
Just imagining what Rena Ruber would do could give him euphoria.
It felt like falling in love.
***
The night that came after the banquet was particularly dark.
On that night when even the moonlight was overcast, the lake immersed in darkness was as black as a pit.
When Lynn was looking at the black lake with a confused mind.
“You came first today too, even though I already tried to get here as soon as possible.”
A soft voice came along with the sound of grass being stepped on. A sweet and quiet voice. It was Rena’s voice that he could now recognize easily.
Even after such a noisy day, her voice was as relaxed as usual.
So Lynn could easily predict Rena’s expression hidden in the dark.
“I came out earlier than usual.”
“Why is that?”
“I have a lot of things I want to say.”
“Well, that means I will have a lot of work today.”
Rena lightly grumbled and added.
“Seeing Lynn every night feels like writing a diary.”
“Diary?”
“After a hectic day, Lynn organizes and asks questions one by one. Just like checking a diary.”
‘A diary.’ Lynn burst into laughter at the innocent metaphor.
Come to think of it, Lynn always asked the reason for Rena’s ideas and actions.
But he couldn’t stop asking questions. It was simply because Rena’s presence was too great to let her pass as a normal person.
So Lynn started off with a question again today.
“Why 2 days later?”
“Do you think I’ll answer everything if you ask me that? …I was joking, Mr. Lynn, don’t be gloomy.”
Rena, who had replied with a rather mean-spirited answer, saw Lynn’s gloomy silhouette and immediately changed her words. Then, she answered Lynn, who was embarrassed, kindly.
“Well, it’s 2 days later. Because, if they have more time, they will prepare another trap.”
“You’re really…”
“Really…?”
“Weird… I’ll take that back. Sorry.”
Lynn, who had been muttering casually, immediately retracted his remark after seeing Rena’s cold silhouette. But he was sincere when saying she was weird.
He understood Rena’s situation objectively. There are traps and conspiracies all around, and that it is aiming at her every moment.
She was so difficult for him to understand. This lady’s behavior is so radical that it can be called reckless.
It was a clear trap for Rena to be at the forefront. But instead of avoiding it, Rena pushed forward the already tight schedule by a week on condition of acceptance.
It was like lightning for the East.
“Is Mr. Lynn in difficulties because of me?”
Rena asked, as if reading Lynn’s thoughts. Lynn couldn’t answer no to her question, so he replied after contemplating.
“You’re right. It puts me in difficulties.”
“I sorry for Mr. Lynn.”
“You don’t have to. I’m actually more curious than feeling difficult.”
“What do you want to know?”
“What kind of person you are.”
The most important thing for Lynn right now was to establish his Eastern position and protect his own knights.
Nevertheless, Lynn did not hate Rena, who suddenly dropped a lightning bolt, because he believed she wasn’t a random mess.
Rena smiled at Lynn’s subtle trust and curiosity. Then she asked playfully.
“What kind of person am I based on what Mr. Lynn sees so far?”
“Someone abnormal?”
“Did you think before you said it?”
“… My words are a little ahead of my mind.”
Rena looked at Lynn in shock. But all she could see was a black silhouette. As Rena imagined the expression on his face, she burst into laughter.
‘So you know how to joke like this?’
She thought he was just calm, and didn’t know until just now that he was unexpectedly sly.
Rena smiled unconsciously, then pursed her lips and looked at the large shadow.
How boring would it be without this person in the Imperial Palace?
Rena thought she was lucky that she got to know Lynn, but she recalled that the occasion was very trivial.
It was purely coincidental. The two were in the same space by chance and got to know each other by chance.
What if that coincidence hadn’t happened? The Eastern Duke would have exposed his teeth to Rena too. The Southern Representative wouldn’t have helped Lynn, and of course there wouldn’t have been any late night friendships.
Thinking about it that way made this moment even more special. So Rena asked happily.
“Then another question. What kind of person would you like me to be, Mr. Lynn?”
“A person who doesn’t do anything dangerous.”
“Why?”
“I’m afraid you’ll get hurt.”
Lynn’s answer was casual this time too. But it somehow made Rena feel awkward.
Rena stared endlessly at Lynn’s silhouette, her eyes bewildered, and then she sighed softly.
“You’re really…”
Because of Lynn’s calm voice, Rena realized. The reason she got to know him wasn’t trivial at all, and it wasn’t a coincidence.
Rena got to know him because he was a kind person.
Everything was possible because he watched, cared for, and helped Rena.
Rena, who was aware of that, was distressed.
Even under the same rain shower, one could not tell which drops will fall on the sea, and which drops will fall on the dry land.
The same goes for favors. The kindness that Lynn unintentionally offered to Rena, who was suffering from the malice of many people, including her own father, was more than simply a great favor. It was so unbearable that she could only get used to it after a while.
Rena breathed out slowly, looked at Lynn’s silhouette in the dark, and for some unknown reason, felt lucky it was dark.
“Me too.”
“Hmm?”
“I also hope that Mr. Lynn doesn’t get hurt.”
In the end, Rena muttered with a feeling of surrender.
“So, from now on, listen carefully to what I have to say.”
It was originally unplanned, but Rena couldn’t be silent any longer and opened her mouth.
“It’s about the expedition to the Tomb in two days.”
Translated by Wook
Edited by Wook
The invitation to the cardinal’s dinner was actually unexpected.
The sudden preparation of the dinner banquet was due to the news that flew to Doom Palace a few hours ago.
“There’s a riot in the South!”
The news that Sir Rena had beaten a Southern knight was also transmitted to Doom Palace and the Northern Knights who were there.
The chatty priest boy repeated the stories he had heard from outside to the people of the North.
Rubid snorted at the shocking story, and the knights shook their heads.
Marquis Ruber laughed quietly from a step away. Until Clavis came and whispered quietly,
“You’re involved in this, aren’t you?”
The Cardinal asked in a low voice, and the question made the Marquis a little tired.
‘This man has a very good sense.’
The Marquis sighed at the Cardinal’s unadulterated insight. Then he realized that it was useless to play dumb and smiled softly.
“It was necessary and inevitable.”
“You, as well…”
At the Marquis’ reply, Clavis shook his head playfully.
After the war had just ended, the South was struggling with various problems, and the dissatisfaction of the nobles, who had their sons taken away because of the tomb conquest, was also quite large. And among them, there were some who left the South and wanted to be incorporated into the North.
So, the Marquis sent someone to incite one of them. And seeing there was an excuse, he designed a plan so that the sensational rumors spread.
“That must not be your only purpose.”
Clavis mumbled as if he knew everything the Marquis was, then smiled and asked again.
“Are you going to kill your daughter again?”
An expedition is just around the corner, and anything that interferes with the unity of the Knights Order will isolate Rena Ruber. Then the purpose is clear.
The Marquis, who was being seen through again, looked at Clavis’ eyes for a moment.
‘Are you going to object?’
The Marquis remembered Clavis’ deep favor with Rena, so it was kind of worrying.
“If that’s the case, I’ll help you.”
“Are you serious?”
“Of course.”
Clavis smiled broadly and said something unexpected. When the Marquis doubted him, he nodded cheerfully, as if to reassure him.
It was obvious what the Marquis was going to do. So Clavis wanted to check it right now. Did Rena Ruber really become the monster he wanted?
It’s meaningless if she just falls into this trap and dies so easily.
***
The atmosphere of the prepared banquet was cold.
Lynn and Rubid didn’t hide their mortal dislike for each other, and Rena Ruber looked at Clavis, the banquet’s host, from time to time, outwardly looking courteous.
Meanwhile, the sumptuous dishes on the table cooled down without being touched.
In the quiet chaos, Clavis said softly.
“Since we’re sitting next to each other, it’s like we’re all friends. What about getting along with each other from now on?”
“Don’t talk nonsense, speak your business.”
At Clavis’s nonsense, Rubid grew annoyed. Rena and Lynn also looked at each other, and in the end, Clavis pretended to be the loser.
“How tough. Anyway, what’s going on is obvious. Sir Rena, today, Prince Rubid and the Eastern Duke visited the Tomb first.”
“So I heard.”
“But the topography of the tomb is completely different from the ground. It’s a big problem.”
‘…What do you want to say?’
Rena felt a strange sensation and looked at Clavis. Then Clavis continued with a deeper smile.
“So, since everyone is still unfamiliar with the place, I was wondering if it would be better to hit a familiar opponent first.”
“And who is the said familiar opponent you’re talking about?”
“The Ones Who Swallowed the First Cry.”
The Ones Who Swallowed the First Cry is the name of the dead that ravaged the South.
Terrible predators whose habit of reacting to sounds made the Southern War known as Silent War.
It was also a very familiar name to Rena, who had been a mercenary in the South.
“I know that you’ve fought them for a long time, and most of all, the South needs revenge, right? Therefore, the first goal is to try them.”
Clavis’ decision was reasonable without needing to add any disagreement. In fact, how to deal with The Ones Who Swallowed the First Cry had been well-studied.
As Rena was still skeptical and unconvinced, Clavis said in front of the other participants.
“In that sense, what if the South takes the lead in the first expedition?”
It was a light voice, as if suggesting a play.
“Lead the North and East from the front, Sir Rena.”
Rena’s eyes widened at the request that was closer to a command.
Lynn was also perplexed. There was no way the Cardinal was unaware of the current situation of the Southern Knights. So this was no different than telling her to eventually die.
Lynn realized Clavis’ inner intentions and quietly bit his lip.
Rena lowered her gaze for a moment, as if choosing what to say. Once done, she was ready to answer.
When it was time for her to raise her head.
“Who cares about that!”
At the moment no one expected, Rubid slammed his table and shouted.
“Of course I am the vanguard!”
It was an intrusion that no one, not even Clavis, expected.
Clavis was at a loss for words at Rubid’s interruption. Rena and Lynn also looked at him with puzzled eyes.
But Rubid was stubborn. He didn’t care at all how things were going, and he was very angry with himself being pushed out of the vanguard.
“Young Rubid…”
Clavis blinked his eyes and quietly called out Rubid’s name. But Rubis looked as if he didn’t even know what was wrong.
Thanks to this, Clavis became a little tired.
Fortunately, it wasn’t that difficult to grab the reins of this bastard.
About the time Clavis was trying to shut Rubid’s mouth.
“I will obey the will of the Cardinal.”
One step earlier, an unexpected voice intervened. It was Rena.
“It is a great honor for the South to be the vanguard of the first expedition.”
“Cut the crap…!”
Rubid tried to scream again, but Clavis raised a hand to block it. Then he looked back at Rena with a puzzled expression.
‘Don’t you know that this is a trap?’
Clavis asked with bewildered eyes. To that, Rena answered with calm eyes.
‘I know. I’m aware of that.’
‘So, why?’
‘What does it matter?’
At Rena’s cold eyes, Clavis bit his lower lip and swallowed a laugh.
But Rena ignored his stinky longing and continued.
“I have a request for you instead.”
“Tell me.”
Clavis nodded his head in curiosity.
Clavis nodded his head in curiosity.
“First of all, please regard this decision as a voluntary choice of the South.”
“That’s all you want? Is there anything else?”
“You said that the first expedition would be in 9 days.”
“You want the date to be postponed?”
“No.”
Rena shook her head at Clavis’ hasty intervention. Then she smiled softly and said the exact opposite.
“Please pull up the date and start the expedition in 2 days.”
Lynn and Rubid’s eyes widened at the unexpected suggestion.
Clavis’ reaction was almost the same. However, the emotion contained in his eyes was terribly impure, unlike the other two people.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
He asked again, but Rena’s answer was still there. So Clavis had to stifle the smile that spread across his lips.
‘What else is this?’
Clavis looked into Rena’s eyes as if trying to find out what was inside her. But Rena took his gaze and gave him no clue.
That made Clavis even more excited.
Just imagining what Rena Ruber would do could give him euphoria.
It felt like falling in love.
***
The night that came after the banquet was particularly dark.
On that night when even the moonlight was overcast, the lake immersed in darkness was as black as a pit.
When Lynn was looking at the black lake with a confused mind.
“You came first today too, even though I already tried to get here as soon as possible.”
A soft voice came along with the sound of grass being stepped on. A sweet and quiet voice. It was Rena’s voice that he could now recognize easily.
Even after such a noisy day, her voice was as relaxed as usual.
So Lynn could easily predict Rena’s expression hidden in the dark.
“I came out earlier than usual.”
“Why is that?”
“I have a lot of things I want to say.”
“Well, that means I will have a lot of work today.”
Rena lightly grumbled and added.
“Seeing Lynn every night feels like writing a diary.”
“Diary?”
“After a hectic day, Lynn organizes and asks questions one by one. Just like checking a diary.”
‘A diary.’ Lynn burst into laughter at the innocent metaphor.
Come to think of it, Lynn always asked the reason for Rena’s ideas and actions.
But he couldn’t stop asking questions. It was simply because Rena’s presence was too great to let her pass as a normal person.
So Lynn started off with a question again today.
“Why 2 days later?”
“Do you think I’ll answer everything if you ask me that? …I was joking, Mr. Lynn, don’t be gloomy.”
Rena, who had replied with a rather mean-spirited answer, saw Lynn’s gloomy silhouette and immediately changed her words. Then, she answered Lynn, who was embarrassed, kindly.
“Well, it’s 2 days later. Because, if they have more time, they will prepare another trap.”
“You’re really…”
“Really…?”
“Weird… I’ll take that back. Sorry.”
Lynn, who had been muttering casually, immediately retracted his remark after seeing Rena’s cold silhouette. But he was sincere when saying she was weird.
He understood Rena’s situation objectively. There are traps and conspiracies all around, and that it is aiming at her every moment.
She was so difficult for him to understand. This lady’s behavior is so radical that it can be called reckless.
It was a clear trap for Rena to be at the forefront. But instead of avoiding it, Rena pushed forward the already tight schedule by a week on condition of acceptance.
It was like lightning for the East.
“Is Mr. Lynn in difficulties because of me?”
Rena asked, as if reading Lynn’s thoughts. Lynn couldn’t answer no to her question, so he replied after contemplating.
“You’re right. It puts me in difficulties.”
“I sorry for Mr. Lynn.”
“You don’t have to. I’m actually more curious than feeling difficult.”
“What do you want to know?”
“What kind of person you are.”
The most important thing for Lynn right now was to establish his Eastern position and protect his own knights.
Nevertheless, Lynn did not hate Rena, who suddenly dropped a lightning bolt, because he believed she wasn’t a random mess.
Rena smiled at Lynn’s subtle trust and curiosity. Then she asked playfully.
“What kind of person am I based on what Mr. Lynn sees so far?”
“Someone abnormal?”
“Did you think before you said it?”
“… My words are a little ahead of my mind.”
Rena looked at Lynn in shock. But all she could see was a black silhouette. As Rena imagined the expression on his face, she burst into laughter.
‘So you know how to joke like this?’
She thought he was just calm, and didn’t know until just now that he was unexpectedly sly.
Rena smiled unconsciously, then pursed her lips and looked at the large shadow.
How boring would it be without this person in the Imperial Palace?
Rena thought she was lucky that she got to know Lynn, but she recalled that the occasion was very trivial.
It was purely coincidental. The two were in the same space by chance and got to know each other by chance.
What if that coincidence hadn’t happened? The Eastern Duke would have exposed his teeth to Rena too. The Southern Representative wouldn’t have helped Lynn, and of course there wouldn’t have been any late night friendships.
Thinking about it that way made this moment even more special. So Rena asked happily.
“Then another question. What kind of person would you like me to be, Mr. Lynn?”
“A person who doesn’t do anything dangerous.”
“Why?”
“I’m afraid you’ll get hurt.”
Lynn’s answer was casual this time too. But it somehow made Rena feel awkward.
Rena stared endlessly at Lynn’s silhouette, her eyes bewildered, and then she sighed softly.
“You’re really…”
Because of Lynn’s calm voice, Rena realized. The reason she got to know him wasn’t trivial at all, and it wasn’t a coincidence.
Rena got to know him because he was a kind person.
Everything was possible because he watched, cared for, and helped Rena.
Rena, who was aware of that, was distressed.
Even under the same rain shower, one could not tell which drops will fall on the sea, and which drops will fall on the dry land.
The same goes for favors. The kindness that Lynn unintentionally offered to Rena, who was suffering from the malice of many people, including her own father, was more than simply a great favor. It was so unbearable that she could only get used to it after a while.
Rena breathed out slowly, looked at Lynn’s silhouette in the dark, and for some unknown reason, felt lucky it was dark.
“Me too.”
“Hmm?”
“I also hope that Mr. Lynn doesn’t get hurt.”
In the end, Rena muttered with a feeling of surrender.
“So, from now on, listen carefully to what I have to say.”
It was originally unplanned, but Rena couldn’t be silent any longer and opened her mouth.
“It’s about the expedition to the Tomb in two days.”
