Chapter 249
Chapter 249
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 249
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-1. Iris
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"Blueberry...?"
His hand, reaching toward the fruit wine section in the display case, froze in place. He tilted his head, as if wondering whether he'd misheard. But it wasn't a coincidence.
The shop owner had named the menu items, and rather than asking if there was anything else, the customer had ordered it specifically. With complete certainty that it existed. Blueberry fruit wine. The owner had never imagined a customer would come here asking for it. Still, he composed himself and turned around with a smile, speaking politely.
"Sir, we don't sell fruit wine made from blueberries here."
"Oh dear. Did I misspeak?"
Judah smirked.
"Sometimes a deep sapphire hue, other times a crystal-clear lake blue—fruit wine made from blueberries. Is that it?"
"Ha!"
Catern curled the corner of his mouth and narrowed his eyes. Who was the traitor that spilled this? It was a critical issue. The code Judah had just uttered was known only to those among the Shadow Kingdom's hounds classified as wolves.
Judah believed the Shadow Kingdom's hierarchy consisted solely of crowns, hounds, and butterflies. In reality, however, there was an additional rank of wolves between the crowns and hounds. They were the grand commanders overseeing all branches scattered across kingdoms and empires. And the code Judah had just spoken was one known exclusively to the wolves, used only in emergencies. In other words, it was something Judah shouldn't know.
"Do you even realize what you just said?"
He flicked his finger. It might look like a mere habit, but it was a signal. The two employees scrubbing the floor with mops caught it without fail.
"You ordered fruit wine."
Either unaware of his own words or utterly serene, Judah replied calmly. Selecting a bottle no longer mattered. Catern felt incredulity mixed with rising killing intent. His sharpened gaze pierced coldly.
"...Hoo."
Catern closed his eyes. At the same moment, Judah channeled his mana and activated his heresy art.
—Shadow Heresy 9th Form
—Dancing Wraith Knights
Mana drained away as a black, flame-like haze erupted behind Judah's back, multiplying explosively. From the flickering haze emerged two knights clad in plate armor. It happened in an instant. They had no presence or aura, like figures from a painting. The summoned wraith knights bore no souls from spirit sword owners.
They held plain swords and shields. Of course, "plain" was relative—their imposing forms radiated menace and pressure. The two wraith knights, exhaling black energy like haze from their armor, moved immediately upon summoning. The moment they thrust out their shields and swung their swords, their hidden presence burst forth, accompanied by the clanking of armor.
Ting! Tang!
A one-handspan dagger flew toward an extended shield and ricocheted off. Then, the two wraith knights abruptly turned, leveling their blades precisely at the throats of the two employees who had appeared behind Judah. The employees, who had gripped their daggers reverse-style with blades glinting sharply, halted in astonishment at the uncanny precision. They swiftly retreated.
"My, trying to kill me right off the bat? Isn't that a bit much?"
He didn't answer. Just as Judah had bizarrely requested blueberries, he gave an equally offbeat reply.
......Black Claw.
Ho. This time, it was Judah—not the man at the counter—who was surprised. Black Claw. It was Judah's class name. This was only the second person he'd met who knew it. Aside from Kaseun Sabnak, Cain's grandfather in Serenia Castle, he hadn't expected to encounter another here.
A tense standoff ensued. Catern stepped closer to Judah. Close enough that a single arm extension could slit his throat. Hands were faster than eyes. He could kill this suspicious stranger whose identity he didn't know, right here. But the thought that unilaterally slaying a man their queen, Iris, had taken an interest in might earn her ire stayed his impulsive hand.
"Impressive. I heard the lineage was completely severed, but apparently not?"
Judah chuckled at the mocking tone. This man seemed to know which kingdom's secret knight order the Black Claws had been, and how they fell. In the lore, only a scant few knew that truth. But it wasn't strange. The Shadow Kingdom would naturally have such knowledge.
"I don't know if there are other Black Claws besides me, but at least it's not fully severed. Not with me around. More importantly, aren't you going to take the commission? Wasn't that the code I used?"
He tilted his head innocently, feigning utter ignorance. It was an expression that might charm a woman, but on a man, it was utterly repulsive. Catern's face twisted in disgust.
"A commission? Here?"
They didn't accept commissions in the Veil of Light, the Shadow Kingdom's de facto capital. Did he not know the branch locations? He knew the code and that this was the kingdom's current capital? The more Catern thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed. He let out a long sigh. For now, since the man seemed ignorant of the code's meaning despite acting like a customer, a conversation was in order.
"Come with me for now."
Judah glanced at the employees glaring warily, then cut off the mana sustaining the wraith knights. Deprived of supply, they dissolved into flames that consumed themselves and vanished. Watching the still-vigilant employees, Judah hopped over the counter.
The door led to a warehouse, marked "Staff Only." Inside looked like an ordinary storage space, but stairs descended to the basement. Magic lamps spaced evenly along the walls kept it from being too dark.
'But was what I said wrong?'
Their reaction suggested the code was correct. It had to be—he'd memorized it at his sharpest and jotted it down. Or maybe it had changed without his knowledge. Either way, their willingness to talk made it fine.
'As long as the outcome's good, right?'
No musty air like one might expect. Descending revealed a spacious underground area like the upstairs hall, lit softly with fine furniture and plush carpets on the floor. Seeing him remove his shoes, Judah followed suit without instruction. Who knew what traps lay beneath the soft rug? In an assassins' den, even cozy spots bred unease.
"Have a seat here. Something to drink? I could offer fruit wine."
"No, I'm fine."
Fruit wine now, of all times.
Judah eyed the offered seat warily before sitting. He half-expected something to impale him from below. Death itself didn't scare him much, but dying skewered through the anus? Unpleasant thought. Still, he sat without hesitation to avoid showing doubt. Surprisingly comfortable.
"Even as a client, I have a few things to confirm first."
"Go ahead. I'll answer what I can."
"First: Who told you that code? Who gave it to you?"
"You think there's a traitor? Don't worry. No one told me, no one gave it to me, no one leaked it. You know, right? Everyone in the Shadow Kingdom is bound by oaths."
Catern frowned.
"You're asking me to believe that? Being this uncooperative is problematic. What you just said to me is something no ordinary person should know. Or are you saying you'll keep the secret? Impressive."
"Truly remarkable," he said sarcastically. Judah sighed. Fair enough—he couldn't think otherwise. He pondered how to explain so the man would understand.
"Even if I told you the truth, you wouldn't believe me."
"That's for me to judge. If you won't speak truthfully, we won't take the commission. Too many red flags."
......
Judah rubbed his nose. Freshly washed, no grease.
"I see illusions and hear voices."
"Pardon? What nonsense is—... Ah, sorry. Please continue."
His face said he'd humor the story. Judah spilled it all. Believe it or not, up to him.
"A hazy mist-like illusion comes with voices. That's it. The code I said? I heard it there."
......
"I know it's unbelievable. I'd call bullshit too if someone told me this. But as you said earlier, it's not me who decides—it's you."
"Ha."
Sighing deeply, he leaned back in his chair. Utter disbelief etched on his face.
"So. You're saying you see the future?"