âThe wind whispered the man with black hair won.
Ruel patted Leo on the head.
It was strange that Leo, the spirit, had not heard the sound of nature so far.
It was a good change.
âI didnât lose. Well, how can I say, I just let my guard down for a while.â
âThe leader of the Blue Knights has his tongue-in-his-cheek.â
â⊠Anyway, it was great. It was a short time, but I could see the way.â
Ganienâs eyes were filled with fighting spirit, as if recalling yesterdayâs confrontation.
Finding the way is something to celebrate, but Ruel felt impatient with them.
Itâs been a few days since the black blooded man appeared.
âWhat I canât do, you do, and I do what you canât do. So, work around it moderately.â
âThatâs what Iâm supposed to sayâŠâ
âGanien, promise me one thing here.â
âWhat?â
Ganien began to look uneasy for no reason.
âDonât covet anything I pick up. Donât tell me you forgot, right? The sword that you broke.â
âHow can I forget? I promised.â
Ruel raised the corner of his mouth, biting Breath.
Thatâs it.
Ganien didnât pick it up first, so he should pick it up himself.
âYoung master!â
Then, the butler rushed in.
Ruel pictured in his head what was urgently happening around this time in the novel.
ââŠI donât think so.â
âWhatâs going on here?â
âSien Lupiros is hereâŠâ
Ganien ran out as the butler announced it, without listening to the rest.
âIâm sorry, Lord Setiria.â
The butler bowed his head in shame.
âDid Ganien do something wrong?â
âI think it was last night.â
âAhâŠâ
Youâre going to get in a lot of trouble.
Ruel took it easy and inhaled Breath.
âLord Setiria, Mr. Lupiros said he had something to talk to you about.â
âMe?â
âYes, Iâll show you the way.â
The butler walked ahead first.
âIs there any reason why Sien wants to see me?â
Ruel walked after the butler, questioning.
Anyway, he was glad to meet Sien again.
Ttak.
The sound of a cane rang.
***
âSorry for calling you out of the blue.â
Sien bowed his head and apologized.
Ganien was seen standing behind him in a squat position with only his arms outstretched in front of him.
He desperately asked for help using all his facial muscles.
âYou donât have to worry about it because itâs the perfect punishment for a child who doesnât know position or rank and is just excited about fighting.â
âTeacher, it wasnât just a match. Cassion is a very strongâŠâ
âOh, I forgot one thing.â
Sien took two stones from his pocket and placed them on Ganienâs lap.
âKeep trying to flap that mouth that doesnât know the shame of distracting the guard of your precious guest.â
Only then did Ganien shut up.
âNow, please sit over here.â
The landlord was Ganien, but Sien guided Ruel as if it were his own house.
âCough, cough.â
Ruel sat down in the seat led by Sien, ignoring Ganienâs eyes begging for help.
âI came to meet that child, and I heard that you were here, so I called to tell you a story that I had not gotten the chance to before.â
âDid you have anything to talk to me about?â
âYou donât have to be so wary. I heard it all through that child.â
âGanienâs mouth seems lighter than I thought.â
âI think thatâs imprudent, too. If there are many people who know a secret, there are many places for it to leak from.â
Ruel nodded with satisfaction.
Everything Sien said was right.
âAnyway, apart from that fact, I called you here because I thought Lord Setiria should know.â
However, despite Sien being my favorite character, my life depends on his choices.
He still had to check something.
âDonât you need to prove to me that Lord Lupiros is not a member of the Red Ash?â
âI guarantee it!â cried Ganien in a fit of anger.
Sien laughed as if he liked it.
âYouâre a fighter, contrary to what I see.â
âThereâs just a lot of doubt.â
âWhat do you want? I heard that my disciple owes you a lot.â
âPlease make an oath with Mana. What is more certain than this?â
Ruel smiled and stroked Leo.
âThereâs certainly nothing more reliable than that. But donât be too blind. Thereâs a loophole in everything.â
Ruel agreed just by looking at Cassionâs example as someone who had also taken the oath and previously planned to assassinate him.
It seemed that the standard that he was loyal to was the standard he considered himself to be.
Sien smiled slightly and moved his mouth.
âI, Sien Lupiros, will not be a part of the Red Ash now and in the future. I swear on the mana Iâve had since I was born.â
Sienâs cobalt-colored mana appeared and poured into his heart.
Sien looked at Ganien.
He spoke with discontent, âThe oath is made.â
Ruel was relieved to hear that.
He didnât know how Sien would change later, whether he came out as Ganienâs helper or whatever. Sien asked leisurely.
âDo you mind if we continue the conversation?â
âOf course.â
âFirst of all, I would like to thank you for your trust in my disciple. You canât tell how surprised I was to hear that there was an immortal man called the black blooded man.â
âYou really told him everything.â
Ruel looked at Ganien with an exasperated face.
One corner of Ruelâs mouth went up as he slightly looked away.
âWe are now investigating what is called âBlack Water,â given by Lord Setiria.â
âWhat do you want to tell me?â
A useless story was added.
Ruel didnât know where Sien was leading the conversation, but it gave him enough time to take a deep breath.
âWe saw movement in the Tonisk Empire.â
ââŠ!â
Ruel was too surprised to blink.
âThe Tonisk Empire is a country that abolished itself, so why is a country that was never mentioned active all of a sudden?â
âAre you alright? You look pale.â
âThatâs all right. But what does it mean to show movement? Does that mean that the empire came out of the abolitionist country?â
âOnce the door opened and closed. The conclusion I made is that it is not immediate, but it seems to be moving to reestablish the country soon.â
The empire is moving.
Ruel felt dizzy.
In the novel, it was written that the empire was so powerful that the three countries could not win even if they combined.
Ruel asked, frowning.
ââŠthatâs why you proposed an alliance?â
âYouâre right. Please pass this news on to the King of Leponia. Since we do not know who the Red Ash colluded with, for now, only Lord Setiria, who is the representative of the delegation, is the most reliable person.â
âAlright, I have a reason to hurry back.â
Sien wiggled his fingers as if he was ashamed.
âI heard that you are going to go sightseeing. I donât know if I made your heart heavy for no reason.â
âKnowing is better than not knowing. You need to know to prepare.â
What changed and caused the empire to open itâs doors?
Ruel inhaled Breath.
âLord Setiria, may I increase your escort?â
As soon as Sien knew that Ruel was the target of the Red Ash, Ruel has been on his mind.
As a representative of the delegation, he had a good escort, but when viewed as a must-protect object, he was far too vulnerable.
âAre you sure that an increased number of escorts can save my life, Lord Lupiros?â
âI made a slip of the tongue. Please pretend you didnât hear it.â
âNo, thank you for your concern.â
It could not be guaranteed that the Red Ash would not be mixed in the increased escort.
In such a situation, it would be better to have people you can trust by your side.
Ruel did not bother to mention the shadows that still protect him.
Knock. Knock.
To the sound of knocking on the door from outside, Sien answered, âCome in.â
The butler didnât say anything when he saw Ganienâs appearance.
Perhaps this situation was familiar.
The butler carefully placed the tea down. bowed and exited the room.
âThis body wants to eat that.
It was an apple tea that Leo particularly liked.
He reacted quickly.
âIâd like to stop talking about difficult things and talk about personal things. Would that be all right?â
Sien smiled softly.
Soon his eyes focused on the fox sticking his tongue out from Ruelâs lap toward the tea.
Ruel grabbed Leoâs mouth.
âYes, itâs a sightseeing tour. I can leave tomorrow.â
There was nothing bad about getting close to Sien.
Rather, he wanted to be close.
âTeacher, Iâm fully reflecting on myselfâŠâ
âShut up, Ganien.â
As if a scene from the novel had been recreated, Ruel sipped his tea and watched the two of them like spectators.
Sien soon smiled awkwardly and opened his mouth.
âHeâs that kind of guy, but heâs a pretty good guy. Feel free to use it during your stay in Cyronian.â
âYes, Iâll work him comfortably.â
I was going to work him to death anyway. Afterall, shouldnât I give you a chance to pay off the debt?
***
Ruel had a pretty good time with Sien and went back to the palace.
The sun was already setting.
Looking at the sunset, Ruel inhaled Breath.
The door to the Empire is opening.
â⊠itâs not because of me, is it?â
When the empire closed its doors, there was no such thing as Ruel Setiria.
A sharp sound came from his side.
At the repeated noise, Ruel looked at Cassion and asked.
âDo you like it that much?â
While Ruel was lying down after taking the new medication, Cassion repeatedly sharpened the newly obtained sword.
âIâm very upset that this sword was stored among the other low-grade swords.â
âWhatâs that sword?â
âGiven the blade, the drawing line, and the small pattern carved on the edge of the blade, it is clearly the work of the blacksmith known in the legends as Lione! Lioneâs reputation was buried because of her descendants, but the swords she made contained their own soulsâŠâ
Cassionâs words continued endlessly to the point where Ruel thought he had asked for no reason.
Leo, who had been sulking because he couldnât drink apple tea at Ganienâs villa, returned here and was drinking apple tea as much as he wanted.
âDoesnât your tail hurt when you shake it like that?â
By the time Ruel reached out and grabbed Leoâs tail, Cassion came back to himself.
âRuel-nim, this is Bianne.â
Cassion sheathed the sword and took out the communication device.
âHow long has it been since I gave the communication device? I already got a call?â
Coming from Ganienâs villa to the palace, he met Bianne briefly and handed over the communication device.
âConnect.â
The communication device lit up.
-Lo, Lord, Iâm sorry to contact you so suddenly.
Bianneâs voice sounded very unsettling.
âWhatâs going on?â
-Iâm contacting you because I heard that the Red Ash will leave the temporary hideout soon. Youâd better hurry.
âWhere?â
-âŠI donât understand.
âWhatâs the order that came to you? How did you obtain that news?â
-If I left the temporary hideout, I was ordered to destroy it.
Ruel raised the corners of his mouth.
In order to completely destroy it, it was necessary to have a blueprint or related data.
âYou must have data related to the hideout in your hands. Isnât that right?â
-Well, thatâs right.
âPut all the data on your desk quietly.â
-On the desk? Alright.
âIâll hand you a copy soon.â
Ruel cut off the communication and glanced meaningfully at Cassion.
He resumed polishing his sword while Ruel spoke with Bianne.
Cassionâs hand paused at Ruelâs gaze.
âHinaâŠâ
âYouâre faster.â
Cassionâs face was wrinkled for a moment, but he soon sighed and replied.
âIâll be right back.â
Cassion quietly hid himself in the shadows.
âRuel, Ruel!
Leo, who had been licking the rice bowl several times, came up to the bed with a grin.
âWhat?â
âDirty things have risen! This body just ate something sweet and sour right now, so itâs very appetizing! Now, this body canât wait to eat something dirty!
âEat when Cassion comes back.â
Leo looked shocked and saw that Cassion had left.
âIf you eat something dirty after eating sweet and sour things, your stomach will be happy. So, this body ate something sweet and sourâŠ
âCough, cough.â
Ruel patted Leo on the head, who burst into tears.
âWhat does it taste like?â
Then, while inhaling Breath with the other hand, he secretly raised the corner of his mouth.
Thereâs no Cassion, isnât there?
After purifying, the shadow had never moved.
Since the power of resistance has grown, shouldnât we check how big the shadow was now?
âHina, if you pretend you didnât see me, Iâll let you pet Leo.â
In the corner, Hina slightly stuck out her head.
Her eyes were shining brightly, âReally?â
âYes.â
âYou must not work too hard, not enough to vomit blood.â
âYes.â
Hina smiled and sank back into the shadows.
Ruel sat his upper body up.
Then he cycled the Mana through his body.
After confirming that it was rolling smoothly, he moved the shadows.
One, two, threeâŠ
Ruel pulled out shadows as much as he could.
Despite the increase of five, Ruel was still unaffected.
âItâs worth throwing up blood.â
Leo, cried with a âEEEP,â raised his head when he saw the shadows. Still in tears, he asked.
âAre you playing hide and seek in a circle?
âDo you want to do it?â
âThis body is sad now.
âLetâs use this room as a whole then, not within the circle like we did before.â
Leoâs tail wagged slowly.
âIt would be more fun, but what should this body do because this body is so sad?
Leoâs eyes shook greatly at the sound of fun.
Ruel tickled Leo with one of the shadows.
âPuhaha, donât do it. This body is very ticklish⊠Hehehe!
If you tell me not to, I wonât.
Ruel quit suddenly.
Leo giggled and looked as if he had lost his country as the shadow disappeared.
ââŠwhy not?
âIf you run away from my shadow, Iâll tickle you again.â
âReally! Ahem. This body is sad, but I will run away for Ruel.
The slowly wobbling tail moved vigorously.
âStart.â
With Ruelâs words, Leo went up to the table with a triumphant face.
His short legs moved as Ruelâs hand quietly protruding from Leoâs shadow tried to grab his tail.
âHe doesnât get caught by the same trick anymore. Did he get smarter?â
But there are more shadows than before.
Just as there are no rules in hand-to-hand battles, Ruel will win again if he used numbers to his advantage.
Each time Leoâs legs moved, the shadows secretly waited and spread out quickly as if aiming to enclose their prey.
âClose!
Ruel frowned.
Swish.
Leo escaped from the shadowâs hand narrowly.
After repeating it several times, Ruelâs breathing became erratic.
It was harder than he thought to inject and maintain a certain amount of mana.