Chapter 250
Chapter 250
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 250
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-1. Iris
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"No, it's not the future."
"Then what is it?"
"Past, present, future. It shows everything without regard for any specific point in time. Illusions and auditory hallucinations usually appear in dreams when you fall asleep, and the moment you see them, you know. Whether it's the past, present, or future. And what the situation is."
"Amazing. So you see the situation clearly and remember it?"
Judah shrugged and shook his head at his question.
"Well, I've told you this much, so that should be enough for you to make a judgment. I'll keep the rest a secret. I can't reveal everything in a place that handles information."
Catern's furrowed face showed no sign of relaxing. He let out a sigh and nodded. It was hardly a convincing explanation, but he seemed willing to believe it, at least for now.
"Very well. Then let me ask: why did you come here with those eyes that see the future?"
"To find a connection?"
"A connection?"
What the hell is this? This isn't a marriage brokerage. Why look for a connection here? The more they talked, the stranger it felt. He was about to sigh and tell him to stop joking when he hesitated.
'No, could it be that this guy...'
Catern leaned forward and stared straight into Judah's eyes. They were pure black irises, just like those of their queen, Iris.
"Sir, are you saying that by 'connection' you mean..."
"That's right. Exactly what you're thinking. I want to hire one of your members."
"An assassin?"
"I need someone with top-tier skills capable of conquering a labyrinth. It's a coincidence, but there's only one place that knows the labyrinth's location."
"...So you're saying you came to us assassins to hire someone who can find and disarm traps, like a treasure hunter?"
He sighed. The Shadow Kingdom took on all sorts of commissions, but he never imagined someone would come looking to hire a member.
"Did you see that in your illusions and hallucinations too?"
"Our conversation? No, of course not. But I did dream of heading to the labyrinth. And right after, I dreamed of meeting my future companion here."
Nonsense, Catern muttered. Judah heard his faint mutter. He had no desire to deny it. It was true. All nonsense. All lies. But even if he told him, 'I'm the creator of this world!' he wouldn't believe it, and if asked for proof, Judah had nothing to say. If Catern simply demanded he recount his entire life story, Judah couldn't utter a single word.
Unless it was a key NPC in the story or scenario, he didn't remember the backstories of minor NPCs whose main role was just holding down a position, even if they had settings. So claiming he occasionally glimpsed the unreachable past or future was actually more persuasive. He sighed several times.
"...Honestly, it's hard to believe. Anyone else would think you're crazy. For now... Whew, alright. I don't think I can decide on this alone. Will you at least stay here until tomorrow?"
"I can stay a few more days."
"Good. I'll give you an answer by this evening at the earliest, or tomorrow morning at the latest."
Judah nodded. That concluded their conversation. He stood and returned to the first floor. It seemed they had hung a sign saying business starts in the afternoon, as there were still no customers inside. Glancing at the two maids diligently cleaning the empty hall, Judah left the shop. Robelia, one of the maids, watched his back quietly before rushing to the counter.
"What was that?"
Catern, who had just come out of the storeroom and closed the door, turned around. He looked at Robelia's curious eyes with pity and replied.
"A customer."
Who doesn't know that? Her brows furrowed at his curt response. But since he was her superior, she managed her expression and asked again in the brightest voice she could muster.
"Come on, I know that. What I mean is, how did the customer know about this place? Do we even take commissions here? I've been by Lady Iris's side for years as her attendant, and this is the first time something like this has happened."
It was a first for Catern too. And the fact that he knew the code known only to the wolves was astonishing. With complicated feelings, he sighed wearily.
"Nothing you need to know. Mind your own business."
Robelia clicked her tongue and made a sour face. Was it that hard to tell her? He was branch chief level, at least. She washed her hands clean, watched Catern polishing glasses with a squeak, then stood and pushed the mop again. Cleaning was always a chore.
'Among branch chiefs, I'm probably the only one who cleans.'
It was infuriating. In another branch, she could order underlings around with her rank. What good was being a hunting dog if she was mopping floors like a lowly employee? Robelia sighed heavily, wondering if she should request a transfer to another branch soon, but honestly, doing no real missions and just earning easy money by Her Majesty's side was far better. She worried her skills might rust, but she could just ask Catern to train her.
'No choice. Even working like a grunt.'
Grumbling to herself, Robelia cleaned diligently. And so the shop's day began after lunch. As they started cooking in earnest and welcoming customers, it was soon late evening. Unlike morning, the shop bustled, and it was nearly closing time. After serving a cocktail to the last customer, Catern called out to Iris, who was still tidying up.
-What is it?
"Come inside and talk for a bit."
-Not the storeroom—the break room in the kitchen.
Catern nodded and followed her into the nicely furnished break room. The moment they entered, their positions reversed. In the shop, he was superior and she subordinate, but in a place out of others' sight, she was superior and he subordinate.
He quietly closed the door, and the noisy cooking sounds from the kitchen vanished completely. In the perfectly soundproofed room, Iris naturally pulled out a chair and sat, while Catern stood silently by her side with his head bowed. He kept his mouth shut, waiting for permission to speak.
"Speak."
Iris opened her mouth in a remarkably soft, resonant voice. Those who thought her mute would be shocked to hear it. It was a voice that lingered long, addictive enough to want to hear forever. Yet despite this heavenly gift, she rarely spoke. Outside of reporting missions like this, even he seldom heard it.
"A man used the emergency code."
"Details."
Catern reported everything from that morning without omission. She furrowed her brow slightly at the mention of the code but let out a small laugh at the claim of seeing past, present, and future through dreams.
"...How intriguing."
"It's not a matter of intriguing or not! Knowing that code means—!"
"No. It's fine."
Iris cut Catern off firmly.
"You believe him? His words?"
Catern asked in a hollow voice.
"No."
She didn't fully trust him either.
Knowing the emergency code and coming straight to this shop where she stayed was highly suspicious. It wasn't something to brush off. It could even spark thoughts of a traitor in the kingdom, leading to internal strife.
But as far as she knew, the oath had no loopholes. It was perfect—the foundation that had sustained the Shadow Kingdom, proven time and again by multiple kings. Blind faith in the oath was foolish, but since the man had done nothing despite knowing the code, it didn't seem bad to believe him for now.
"Then why?"
She didn't answer his question. She didn't want to explain at length. She just gazed at Catern silently. Under that gaze, he let out a small breath and nodded.
"Understood."
It was the queen herself who said it was fine. The queen's word was the kingdom's law; there was no need to argue. He had no intention of challenging her authority. As Catern bowed his head again, Iris continued.
"And accept his commission."
"...Yes. Then who will you send?"
Catern inwardly pleaded desperately for his hunch to be wrong. He had a feeling she'd say she'd go herself. She seemed to feel something special toward the man. Catern knew he had a good instinct for such things.
He'd never seen Iris mix personal feelings with work, but this time felt different. He prayed to whatever god might exist. Unfortunately, his wish went ungranted.
"I'll go myself."
Damn it.
He didn't dare curse aloud. Her voice was undoubtedly pleasant, addictively narcotic, but right now, he had no room to succumb. Catern's bowed face stiffened, his eyes twitching.
"I'll... convey that to him."
Watching Catern back away, open the door, and leave, Iris crossed her arms and leaned comfortably against the backrest.
'He came to find a connection?'
Iris chuckled aloud. She couldn't stop laughing. It wasn't even that funny, so why wouldn't the laughter stop? His words about seeking a connection felt oddly pleasant. Iris grabbed the cushion from the next chair and hugged it tightly to her chest. For some reason, her heart itched unbearably without holding something.