Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 308 : Side Story 8 - Let's Not Do This

Side Story 8 - Let's Not Do This

In the market street at the heart of the Empire, Conrad Azra was swept by a sudden wave of people and stumbled to the side toward the wall. Countless people on the street were all moving in the same direction.

"Guildmaster, this way!"

His escort shouted urgently, but instead, Conrad advanced a bit further with the crowd. His merchant's instinct whispered to him—this was no ordinary gathering.

"What's this? Is there some festival going on?"

Conrad stretched his height as much as he could to see over the throng.

Dozens of men with hoods pulled over their heads were marching down the street like an army. Each of them wore a curved sword at their side, and at their center, a nobleman with a solemn expression was advancing slowly on horseback.

"That's the Dawn Society."

Conrad's escort whispered in a low voice.

"For the Dawn Society!"

"Long live our savior, Lord Pintel!"

Though some were frightened, citizens threw flowers toward the Dawn Society, and children waved little flags.

An old man wiped away tears and bowed his head in greeting.

"To think the Dawn Society is so prestigious..."

Conrad could not hide his bewilderment.

The local merchant standing beside him answered with a proud expression.

"You're a foreigner, so you wouldn't know, but when the Fourth Imperial Prince started a rebellion and the demons swept through the capital, it wasn't the imperial family who protected us. It was the Dawn Society."

Conrad nodded, finding it interesting.

The Dawn Society.

A cult not limited to just the Adratan Empire, but one that had spread its notorious reputation across the entire continent.

Frankly, calling them a cult was generous—it'd be no exaggeration to call them heretics. Rumor had it they served the power of "Demon God Barbatos"; such was their purported closeness to the demons.

"If it hadn't been for the Dawn Society, my family wouldn't have survived."

And yet, the Dawn Society was being praised as heroes in the Empire. How ironic.

"Hm."

Conrad sighed, glancing at the local merchant. His gaze soon focused on the man riding at the head of the Dawn Society.

Disciplined posture and a cold expression—at a glance, a man with the blood of an imperial citizen running deep in his veins.

"That man is Pintel Obradin, one of the current leaders of the Dawn Society."

His escort whispered, apparently knowing the man's name.

"But where are they going?"

Conrad followed the direction the Dawn Society was heading with his eyes.

At the end of his gaze stood the imperial palace of the Adratan Empire.

"The imperial palace, huh."

The Dawn Society advanced toward the palace with the confident stride of conquering generals. Conrad's merchant instinct whispered that something extraordinary was bound to happen today.

"And behind them..."

His escort pointed to the rear of the Dawn Society's procession. There was a carriage decorated with gold. On its door, the symbol of the sun was clearly drawn.

It was the Holy Kingdom's delegation, which had accompanied Conrad when entering the Adratan Empire.

'The Dawn Society and the Holy Kingdom, together.'

The odd combination of the two heading to the same place piqued Conrad's curiosity, but once again, his merchant's instincts whispered.

This could be dangerous.

At the same time, a powerful scent of money began tingling his nose.

"Guildmaster, let's not get involved in anything that looks dangerous. We only came here for business, not for political matters..."

"I know, idiot."

Conrad grinned.

Information cannot be bought with money alone.

Sometimes, you must pay with something worth more than gold.

To avoid that, Conrad decided to kill his curiosity for now.

* * *

Yulian entered the Adratan Imperial Palace. Previously, as 'Blind Eyes', he'd been permitted to set foot in the palace, but having given up all his positions to travel over the last year, it should have been impossible for him to attend such a sacred place now. Yet with Osborne's invitation and the Imperial Knights as his escort, no one stopped Yulian.

Following the Imperial Knights' lead, Yulian was soon guided to a small conference room in the palace.

There, prince Osborne stood by the window, overlooking the imperial palace.

"I greet the sun of the Empire."

Yulian addressed Osborne with the courtesy due royalty; Osborne's black hair shimmered gold in the sunlight as he turned.

"It's been a year, Yulian."

Osborne's voice was calm, but there was a tangled storm of emotions within.

Yulian wore his usual smile and bowed lightly.

"It's an honor to see Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty... I'm not Emperor yet. But I suppose I soon will be."

Osborne peered deeply, as if attempting to read something in Yulian's expression. But it was impossible to decipher any genuine emotion behind the ever-present smile.

"Where have you been for the past year?"

There was a hint of reproach in the question. But Yulian's smile did not waver.

"I traveled. I wanted to see things beyond the sword."

"Traveled?"

Osborne's eyebrow twitched.

"And it's interesting that this travel was with people from the Briman Federation and the Holy Kingdom."

He kept insisting inwardly that it wasn't so, but suspicion was growing in Osborne's mind.

Would Yulian, the hero, follow in the path of his former teacher?

When the Sword Saint "Hayden Reich" defected, Osborne was deeply disappointed in him.

He had never doubted that Reich's sword was for the Empire.

"I suppose it wasn't a simple trip, then? I hear you entered the capital with people from the Briman Federation and the Holy Kingdom of Fernand."

"Heh."

Yulian chuckled briefly. Demeanor unconcerned even before royalty—if the prince had taken offense, immediate punishment would not have been strange, but there was nothing discomforting for Osborne in Yulian's laugh.

That laugh was not a sneer at Osborne.

"I can guess why Your Highness said such things."

Instead, Yulian seemed serene.

"But I, Yulian, would never do anything that goes against the will of the Empire..."

Knock, knock.

As Osborne listened to Yulian, he turned towards the sound of someone knocking on the conference room door.

After seeking Yulian's consent, he told them to "enter."

The man who entered was Robert, the chief administrator of the imperial government.

He shot Yulian a piercing glare, then gave Osborne a formal bow.

"Your Highness, you have a visitor."

"... A visitor?"

"Yes."

Osborne wanted to ask whether he was being visited simply because he had a guest, but realized Robert's expression was not friendly.

"Who is it?"

"It is the Holy Kingdom's delegation and the Dawn Society..."

"What?"

The Holy Kingdom and the Dawn Society.

Upon hearing those words, Osborne turned to Yulian.

At the same time, Robert's eyes grew fiercer.

Yulian arrived at the palace by Osborne's invitation, and right after, the Holy Kingdom and the Dawn Society arrived together.

Could this truly be a coincidence?

* * *

As I heard the chief administrator's words during my conversation with Osborne, I thought to myself.

What is this madness.

Why now, of all times?

An expletive slipped out in my mind; naturally so.

"Kuheum."

Osborne cleared his throat, refreshing the air. Even so, beads of sweat appeared as he dabbed his forehead with a handkerchief.

I knew exactly what Osborne was thinking when he'd summoned me and probed with his questions.

Because the imperial family was in danger.

Internally and externally, things were precarious.

So even if he couldn't make me an ally, he'd at least want to avoid making me an enemy.

He probably tried offering medals or promising new positions, just like before.

"I know it isn't the right thing to say to someone who just returned, but I wanted to entrust you with the commander position of the Imperial Knights."

As expected.

It's always best to keep a leash on those who are a little too dangerous.

"But urgent guests have arrived, so let's postpone this for now."

Although Osborne's words to me were kind, his eyes and the emotions he radiated were entirely different.

"Did you, by any chance, summon the Holy Kingdom delegation and the Dawn Society that have just arrived?"

I answered.

"I swear, I haven't told anyone that I was heading to the palace."

Zahard heard it, but he's not the sort who would tell anyone.

"I... I see."

He didn't seem convinced. Of course—I wouldn't believe me either if I were Osborne.

Damn it.

The reason I rushed to the palace today was to discuss with Osborne how to suppress the Dawn Society.

Avoiding direct conflict would be for the best.

It didn't seem that word had gotten out that I was, in fact, the former leader of the Dawn Society, but if we collided, it certainly would.

Above all—

"With my seniority, haven't I earned the right to relax?"

Why the hell have I been called all the way here for this?

Just what has the Dawn Society been up to?

No, Pintel.

What the hell are you doing, you bastard?

Haaa.

Patience.

Pintel isn't a fool. Or—is he? Well, either way, he must have a plan for pulling a stunt like this.

He hasn't completely crossed the line yet, so there's a chance to manage it.

Yes, let's look on the bright side.

At least there's been no sword drawn yet, right? Considering the "bishops" of the Dawn Society from before, this is a much more gentlemanly outcome.

"Pity. I'd hoped to chat a bit more."

Osborne hurried off to greet the Holy Kingdom delegation. I followed him, as though to see him off.

"Heh, there's no need for regret, Your Highness. I am but a humble subject, ready to serve the Empire. I am always available, anytime, anywhere, whenever Your Highness calls."

"Hearing you say that does cheer me up."

It was clearly flattery, but it seemed to please Osborne; his face looked that much brighter.

Chief administrator Robert, following behind, was still glaring at me, however.

"But are you aware? These days, the people say it's time to replace Adratan's imperial bloodline."

"Heh."

I laughed softly again as I replied.

"Even so, who could possibly reach for the sun that soars high in the sky?"

"A new sun—!"

As Osborne and I exited toward the palace grounds, we saw kneeling figures turning to us and voicing their awe.

"We greet the new sun of the Empire...!"

"We greet the new sun of the Empire!"

Unfamiliar faces. Did Osborne summon these guards? No, that couldn't be it.

Even if he's meeting the Holy Kingdom's delegation, this many guards would be unnecessary.

Wait a second.

The face of the man kneeling at the very front looks awfully familiar.

That's...

Pintel Obradin...?

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Pintel is always a riot...

【٩(^ᗜ^ )و ´-】