Chapter 204

Chapter 204: The Loser

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍woman seemed to have judged Ria, whose eyes shone even at the hopeless content, as someone who was unwell somewhere, especially in the head.

“Forget ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it. I said something unnecessary.”

Ria ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍grabbed the wrist of the woman, who was slowly trying to move away from her.

Startled ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍by the strength that was greater than expected, the woman tried to retreat, but there was nowhere to run inside the wagon. And Ria had a persistent side.

“Who ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍said we’re being used as bait? The Temple priests?”

“Anyone ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍who’s worked even a little at the Temple knows. The people who came in as tribute never returned after going to the place where god is.”

“That isn’t information about what they’re going to do with us. Who said we’re being used as bait?”

When Ria pressed her with frightening intensity, the woman seemed to become scared.

Trying to pull free from Ria, she must have realized she could not win with strength, because she lowered her voice as much as possible and snapped.

“It’s a rumor that goes around in secret! They say some crazy woman who came to the Temple a few years ago said that. At first, it was just treated like a ghost story, but......”

“Why does everyone believe that now?”

“You really don’t run out of questions, do you?”

The woman looked at Ria with an expression of utter exhaustion.

“Most of the monsters captured by the Imperial Family are dealt with in their castle, but sometimes they make it all the way to the Temple.”

“It seems they found something in a corpse.”

The woman nodded.

“A keepsake came out of its mouth. It was an old ring, and they said it belonged to a boy who used to work here. His parents had placed it in his hand for the last time, so he treasured it greatly......”

Having finally obtained the answer she wanted, Ria slowly released her grip.

The woman sighed and continued speaking.

“When something like that happens several times, you can’t not know. So harden your heart too. Though looking at you, I don’t think I need to worry.”

The woman added bluntly, but Ria, busy thinking about something else, paid it no mind.

In Rimis too, the holy object had eaten people, but it was said the number was not always the same.

Sometimes, there were survivors as well.

If being used as bait for monsters meant they were the ones left over, then......

Ria looked up at the woman at the question that suddenly came to mind.

“Why didn’t you tell other people?”

“To whom? Once someone enters the Temple, they can never leave again. And if that is god’s will, then it’s right for us to obey, isn’t it?”

She said that while trying to move her body as far away from Ria as possible and facing forward.

Ria noticed that, compared to how calmly she tried to speak, the woman’s voice was shaking little by little.

Ria’s heart grew complicated as she looked at her.

It was not as if she could not understand.

Until only a short while ago, Ria remembered that she herself had thought in a similar way.

A servile, obedient posture of acceptance that had seeped into the body was not easily fixed.

Perhaps she still had habits left that she herself had not noticed.

Ria opened her mouth for one last question.

“Why did you bother trying to tell me that?”

The woman, who had been looking straight ahead, glanced at Ria.

Thinking it did not seem like she was trying to ignore her, Ria continued her question.

“You could have just left me not knowing anything. Did you want me to be afraid?”

“What are you talking about? Why would I think that?!”

The woman, showing her displeasure, moved her lips a few times before giving an answer.

“You should at least know what’s going to happen to you. I just thought it was pitiful to suddenly suffer something like that without even preparing your heart.”

Ria looked at the side of the woman’s face as she turned her head away again after answering.

“That’s a relief.”

“Pardon?”

At Ria’s whisper, the woman frowned and asked back.

“I said, thank you.”

Flustered by Ria’s sudden gratitude, she frowned as if uncomfortable, then simply closed her mouth.

This time, Ria also closed her mouth, and silence returned to the wagon.

***

The movement of the long wagon procession slowed.

Ratel raised his head and looked at the enormous castle, the castle wall and gate that seemed as if not even a speck of dust had settled on them.

The next enemy was inside there.

The last Imperial Family member Ratel had met was Dito Abalan.

Ratel briefly thought of Ran, who traveled with them, but decided to exclude him because the one inside Ran’s body was not Ran Abalan.

Since he had decided to believe his words, the current him was someone from another world, not Ran.

That meant the result of the last fight with an Imperial Family member he remembered was defeat.

Ratel had no intention of losing anymore.

Strangely, he no longer thought he would lose either.

He knew the source of that small confidence was the man who claimed to have come from another world.

Being reassured by another person’s words was unfamiliar to Ratel.

In order to ignore that uncomfortable sensation, he focused on looking over the splendid castle.

“It’s disgustingly extravagant.”

Ratel muttered to Jing standing beside him.

“Yes. Disgustingly extravagant.”

Since there were not many cases where Jing agreed with his blunt expressions, Ratel looked at him as if seeing something strange.

At his gaze, Jing smiled awkwardly.

“I just remembered a time when things this overflowing and excessive still seemed infinitely lacking to them. Most places where the Imperial Family live are like this. Even so, compared to the castle in the capital, this is still a far more modest one.”

Ratel looked at his face, which somehow seemed bitter, then spoke offhandedly.

“Isn’t it good that there’s plenty to loot?”

“Just because it is excessive for them does not make it ours, so please do not think about looting it.”

At the sight of Jing returning to being his usual nagging self, Ratel shrugged as if he understood.

While they exchanged pointless talk, the last wagon safely passed through the castle gate.

The wagon at the head of the procession stopped, and the procession halted for a moment.

The priest who came out of the stopped wagon entered the castle under the escort of knights.

Ratel watched them strut toward the chapel.

The only one who could meet the Imperial Family was the priest.

And the only ones who could follow him were the knights who served him.

It was as if the only path that could approach the Imperial Family was blocked, but this time, Ratel was not impatient.

Ratel raised his head and examined his surroundings.

Before long, his gaze fixed precisely on one spot.

A place where he could see the procession entering the castle at a glance, while not exposing himself. A small window at the top of a tower a little removed from the main castle.

Ratel’s eyes met blue eyes that had been watching the wagon procession.

The owner of those eyes seemed quite flustered by the unexpected eye contact, and quickly hid behind the wall.

However, Ratel did not shift his gaze and repeatedly looked at whoever was beyond the window.

After their eyes met two more times, the other party eventually could not endure it and completely disappeared.

Only after confirming that wavy golden hair vanished into the darkness did Ratel turn his head.

Then he voiced his sincere impression.

“He’s a cripple, just like I heard.”

Jing, who had been quietly watching the two from beside him, tried to keep his expression as much as possible, but holding back a hollow laugh at such a simple and primal insult toward the Imperial Family was too difficult for him.

“There is nothing good about saying it loudly.”

At the warning Jing barely managed to give, Ratel raised one corner of his mouth.

“If he can figure out who the cripple I mentioned is just from what I said, that would be fun in its own way.”

“......That is also true.”

Unable to find a reply, Jing acknowledged it.

“Do you know who that Imperial Family member is?”

“To some degree.”

In truth, he knew him quite well.

Jing had lived as a knight inside the castles of the Imperial Family since the current Emperor had been a strong candidate for the throne.

He had seen which members of the Imperial Family the Emperor drove out of the capital, and which he kept.

He also remembered the name of the Imperial Family member sent to Hyre.

Renin Abalan.

A younger brother five years younger than the Emperor.

“Renin Abalan, a user of wind. He was not among the candidates for Emperor, but he is strong enough to guard this district. Do not let your guard down too much.”

Ratel nodded roughly and approached the cargo wagon where Ria was riding again.

Now all that remained was to wait.

According to someone who was not here, it would not take long.

Ratel recalled the face that had issued instructions with a rather confident expression.

***

-He is a person with a strong inferiority complex. He wants to hide the fact that he failed to become Emperor and was pushed out to a border region like this. Unless he receives as much tribute as he did while in the capital, he will not be able to endure it.

-That is really...... pathetic.

At Ria’s blunt expression, Ran laughed a little.

-Right. He is pathetic. To the point where he cannot endure it without checking every time just how much tribute is coming in. He only feels a strong sense of satisfaction when he confirms it with his own eyes, and without that satisfaction, he becomes anxious.

After answering that way, Ran turned his head toward Ratel.

-So what you have to do as soon as you enter the castle is simple. There will be a tower to the right of the largest building. All you need to do is make eye contact with the man watching the wagon procession from there.

-That is all?

When Ratel frowned, Ran nodded.

-Repeatedly. You need to look at him repeatedly so that it shows you noticed his existence. He is not very smart, so after your eyes meet a few times, he will hide inside.

-He will hide just from that? Someone called a god?

Unable to hide his absurdity, Jing asked.

-He is called a god, but he is not much different from us. He cannot stand the thought that things he considers worse than worms have noticed his pettiness. And he will definitely try to confirm it with his own eyes.

-Then we just wait as we are?

At Ratel’s question, Ran looked at him with a serious face.

-Yes. In the end, he will be the one to call you because he cannot endure his anxiety. Until then, there is no need to cause a commotion first.

***

While Ratel recalled the past, at last, all the wagons stopped moving.

The castle servants moved in perfect order to unload the line of wagons.

They took out and carried the goods skillfully and efficiently.

Before long, the long line of wagons had revealed their empty floors.

Except for a single wagon.

While all the other cargo was moved, no one touched the very last wagon.

As if it did not exist in this place at all.

Ratel and Jing watched the strange phenomenon where no one entered within a six-foot radius centered on the wagon beside them.

The final wagon was able to move only after all the cargo from the other wagons had been unloaded.

The empty cargo wagons began moving forward again.

The last wagon, full of people, also followed behind them.

Jing hoped Ria inside the wagon would not be anxious and tapped the wall of the cargo hold twice.

A small sound of feet stamping twice came back.

Jing looked worriedly at the back of the wagon moving away, then moved his feet and entered the castle with the other knights.

Now the role of the knights was finished here.

Before Ria was offered to the holy object, Ratel and Jing had to perform another task.

Following behind the knights moving with familiarity, Ratel and Jing slowed their pace.

Someone spoke from behind the two, who were gradually putting distance between themselves and the other knights.

“Knight of the Temple, there is someone who wishes to meet you.”

As if they had been waiting, Ratel and Jing turned their heads and looked at the owner of the low voice calling them.

A man wearing simple but fine-colored clothing was greeting Ratel and Jing with a gentle expression.