Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: The Twenty-Fourth Fragment, Carpediem
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It was crumpled, but still perfectly readable. Tia handed the letter to the curious Yuda after reading it herself. There were no major differences. It simply thanked them for their hard work and invited them to a dinner banquet.
"You're going, right?"
"Of course. It's the lord's banquet. You might not know it yet, Yuda, but when lords use the word 'banquet,' they mean a real banquet. There'll be food far more delicious and exquisite than what we had at the captain's estate. You have to go and enjoy it."
Tia had only received invitations from the lord a few times herself, and each one had featured an abundance of top-quality dishes.
"With that in mind, let's skip lunch today. We need to save room for dinner."
Tia shot Kaseun a glare before humming a tune under her breath and heading to her room.
"Hmm. Are you going too, Grandfather?"
"I suppose we should go together. After all, I'm your guardian. And they wouldn't turn me away just because I show up."
Yuda nodded and reread the letter. Dinner at 7 p.m., with a carriage arriving at the house. It reiterated that there was no need for formal attire—just wear whatever they usually did.
"But I don't know the first thing about etiquette. Will that be okay?"
"It won't matter. If etiquette were a big deal to him, he wouldn't have so many people around him like that."
"Hmm, good to know."
Kaseun nodded as he looked at Yuda.
"But if you're going to live in this world, shouldn't you at least learn the basics of etiquette?"
Yuda could tell from Kaseun's tone that he was offering to teach if asked. Etiquette, huh. It might come in handy someday, but it probably varied by country. As long as he came across as polite, that should suffice. He could just observe others and mimic them.
"Just teach me the basics. No need to go into the fine details."
Fortunately, there was plenty of time before the carriage from the lord's castle arrived. But once Kaseun started explaining the basics, it turned out to be nothing complicated. When greeting, bow your head politely and look just below the eyes afterward. For handshakes, make eye contact. Don't make noise while eating or drinking. If you need something, don't call for a maid—just raise your hand and she'll come. Simple stuff.
While Yuda learned etiquette from Kaseun, Tia was selecting her outfit. She might have lived as a mercenary for a long time, but she was still a woman with plenty of clothes. She even owned a dress or two that she'd splurged on.
Kaseun glanced at Tia as she tried on outfits and shuttled back and forth to the bathroom before speaking up.
"Yuda. What are you planning to wear?"
"Clothes? Well, they said regular clothes are fine, so I was just going to go in my everyday stuff. I'm a kid anyway—no one expects a child to dress up formally, right?"
Even if he bought new clothes, he rarely wore them long. Most would be outgrown in a year, so he avoided unnecessary expenses. Tia occasionally dragged him to a clothing shop for a change of pace and bought him something, but otherwise, he didn't shop for himself.
Kaseun considered buying Yuda an outfit but dropped the idea upon seeing the boy's clearly reluctant expression. Fair enough—the lord wouldn't expect etiquette or fancy clothes from a child, and it was pointless to force it if Yuda disliked the idea.
Kaseun diligently taught Yuda the basics before lounging on the sofa for a nap when time remained. He slept surprisingly soundly.
"Yuda~ Come here for a sec."
At the call from her room, Yuda sighed and headed over. Tia was wearing a white dress. It was a beautiful garment that hugged her figure perfectly. But she couldn't reach the zipper, leaving her back fully exposed.
"Help me zip this up on my back."
Her healthy, sun-kissed skin and white undergarments were on full display. She didn't seem to use a corset. Or rather, her slender frame didn't need one.
"Hurry up."
She showed no embarrassment at exposing her bare back, which left Yuda feeling a bit let down. Even if her affection for him had grown, she still saw him as just a kid.
"Aren't you being a bit too careless? I'm a guy, you know."
He grumbled as he zipped it up. That's when he noticed her silky black hair parting slightly to reveal an ear that twitched.
"Hmm? What was that? Careless? Guy?"
Tia turned her head to look down at Yuda, amusement evident on her face.
"Hmm. Well, our Yuda does seem pretty manly. Manly enough to eat up."
She licked her lips seductively and flashed a playful smile. Most kids would be shocked by such words from a beastkin like her—wanting to eat him, of all things. But Yuda didn't flinch in surprise; his face just flushed red.
Yuda was technically thirteen, but the soul inside was a man in his mid-twenties. He knew exactly what she meant. He startled with a hiccup, and she burst into giggles.
"Just kidding. So, what do you think? Does your master look pretty?"
She rose from her chair and spun in place. The white dress clung to her curves and accentuated her legs beautifully—it suited her perfectly. She was stunning. Yuda nodded appreciatively. Leaving her hair down worked well, but tying it up would be even better if she knew how. That might hit his tastes right on the mark.
"Hearing our Yuda call me pretty makes me so happy. Hehe."
Her tail swished happily, as if she truly was delighted. Then her gaze drifted to Yuda's clothes.
"But you weren't seriously planning to wear that, were you?"
Her expression brooked no argument as she grabbed Yuda and headed straight to the second-floor wardrobe. Kaseun was snoring on the living room sofa, lost in his nap, so she paid him no mind.
She pulled out all of Yuda's clothes from the wardrobe and made him try them on one after another. After playing dress-up doll for what felt like ages, Yuda ended up in plain black pants, a white shirt, and the black coat he usually wore for hunts—simple and unassuming.
"We really should buy you more clothes. I got these for you, but you've barely worn them, and they're already too small."
Tia sighed regretfully at the pile of sorted clothes on the bed.
Preparations were complete. Following Yuda's advice that tying her hair up would make her even prettier, she returned to the room with the mirror.
About two hours later, a knock echoed at the door.
"Are you in there?!"
Thud thud thud!
It sounded polite enough, but the knocks rang loudly. Stepping outside, they found a middle-aged man dressed impeccably like a butler. He placed his right hand over his left chest and bowed deeply.
"The lord invites Yuda Arshe and Lady Jentia. I assume you've heard, but are you ready?"
+ + +
#Serenia Castle - Lord's Office.
Chapelin Piercen.
That was the name of the current head of the Piercen family, who had guarded and developed Serenia Castle for three generations.
Following his grandfather and father, he held the honorable title of [Owner of the Spirit Sword] for the third generation. Though called lord or castle master, he was essentially the king of these lands. Indeed, when he visited other countries, he received treatment on par with their kings. He was a man of honor.
Martial artists accorded him even greater respect.
Two apprentice knightesses sat before him.
The red-haired one in leather armor was Ea, an apprentice warrior from the Baekje Empire. Across from her sat Jeanne, the Blue Spear Knight from the Byron Empire, dressed in simple, practical clothes.
As knights from rival nations like fire and water, they naturally eyed each other with hostility. But in Piercen's presence, Jeanne kept her eyes closed, ignoring Ea's murderous glare to avoid impropriety. Without him there, they would have drawn swords without hesitation.
"Hmm."
Piercen was reading documents brought by the two knightesses. Each bore the imperial seal of the Byron or Baekje Emperors.
Though from different empires, the contents were similar.
They hoped he'd share information on the fragments with imperial knights and assign mercenaries familiar with troops or terrain... Requests like that.
He had received such letters multiple times before. No need to read further.
Piercen skimmed them roughly and tossed them onto the desk. At the sound, Jeanne opened her eyes, and Ea shifted her glare away.
"...!"
The two knights flinched upon seeing the documents stacked haphazardly on the desk. Piercen's action was rude. These bore the seals of the two emperors vying for continental dominance—hardly something to handle carelessly, let alone toss.
Yet he showed no hesitation, even with their loyal knights right there. Of course, neither could protest. They lacked the skill to call him out.
"As I recall, both the Byron and Baekje Emperors have properly succeeded to the throne. Yet every time they dispatch knights, they send the exact same documents—not a word different."
Warrior Ea and Blue Spear Knight Jeanne had no knowledge of this, so they stayed silent. Piercen hadn't expected a reply anyway; his gaze was indifferent.
"In my grandfather's and father's time, at least elite and senior knights came. Now it's apprentices... The empires must be nearly giving up. Can't blame them after 150 years with no results."
"......"
"Think you two can find the fragments?"
Piercen's voice dripped with mockery, his eyes dismissive. Sending apprentices said it all. Far superior elite and senior knights had been dispatched at intervals in the past to search for the fragments Perlnen was said to have dropped.
But they all returned empty-handed. Countless others had swarmed here for the same reason, to no avail. If only they knew the fragments' form, power, or traits—but no information existed.
Worse, ancient magitech empire ruins abounded here. Most "fragments" turned out to be mere relics.
Even professional teams had slim odds, so what could lone imperial dispatches hope to achieve? His words urged them to give up and go home. They weren't fools; they got the message.
"It'll be tough, but we can find them."
"I don't think it's impossible."
Piercen leaned back, shrugging at their responses.
"Fine, whatever. If you can find them, give it a shot. It's been over 150 years—due time for them to show up. With luck, maybe you will."
"What about the support the emperor requested?"
Blue Spear Knight Jeanne met Piercen's eyes squarely and asked politely.
"None. You knew that, right?"
Past imperial knights had brought similar letters, but he'd never granted their requests. The Piercen family, perennial owners of the spirit sword, were untouchable by assassins. Serenia Castle was too distant for economic pressure, and invading with armies meant crossing multiple nations for worthless land. No need for fear; their power made them bold.
Knock knock-
Just as he was about to dismiss the silent knights, a knock sounded, and the door opened.
A maid in uniform entered, gave a light apologetic bow to the knights, and addressed Piercen.
"My lord, guests have arrived. Where shall I escort them?"
Piercen broke into a bright smile unlike any he'd shown the knights.
"Ah, really? Guide them politely to the dining hall, then. I'll head there right away.