Chapter 170
Chapter: 170
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 170
>Chapter Title: Logistics Relay Station (1)
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>Time passed steadily, and the day finally arrived for Seongjin and his group to depart for the north.
From early morning, several carriages were lined up in front of the Pearl Palace.
Seongjin's actual group numbered fewer than ten even including the coachmen, but with Orden Zigsmunt's entourage joining them, it became quite a large assembly.
Not only that, but servants bustled about transporting luggage and tending to the horses and carriages, making the Pearl Palace teem with more people than ever before.
The princes and princesses had all turned out as well, using Seongjin's send-off as an excuse.
"You've prepared thoroughly for the cold, right, Seongjin? Of course, you can fend off the chill with aura, but even aura users shouldn't get complacent—the Zigsmunt territory is an extremely cold place."
Logan cautioned him once more.
"Yeah, of course. Do you know how many times you've said that already? If I hear it one more time, blood's gonna come out my ears."
Seongjin grumbled.
But Logan's concern was valid. Though the Zigsmunt territory was technically south of Ortona in terms of latitude, its climate was incomparably harsher.
This was due to the influence of the demonic realm located in the northwest of the Zigsmunt territory. That mysterious forest, perpetually covered in snow and ice year-round, was said to occasionally harbor ice monsters from myth: glacier trolls.
"Here, take this."
Logan handed something to Seongjin.
"What's this?"
"I got it from the imperial treasury records. It's a magic stone that glows when you pray to it. Should be pretty useful as a light source."
It was a small, round pebble. It glimmered yellow, resembling jade or perhaps an opaque glass marble.
Seongjin thought with a bored expression.
'A magic stone? What's that about? Isn't this world not supposed to have magic?'
But the Demon King freaked out upon seeing it.
[Whoa? Seongjin. This is from the material world!]
What?
As Seongjin panicked internally, Logan added an explanation.
"During campouts, there are times you can't make a fire. You can handle the cold with aura, but in pitch darkness, even enhancing your vision with aura has its limits."
"Hmm. Thanks. I'll put it to good use."
Seongjin pocketed the stone for now.
Well, the guy leads subjugation forces all over the place, so his advice couldn't hurt. He'd examine it closely with the Demon King later.
"Mores oppa, have a safe trip."
Sisley approached him quietly. Her face still looked expressionless, but Seongjin could detect a faint trace of worry in the corner of her eyes.
Perhaps because the burden on her heart had lightened a bit, this robot-like little girl was starting to show a touch more liveliness in her face lately.
"And take this."
"What's this one?"
What Sisley held out was a flat, small vermilion stone.
"It's a magic stone that emits heat when you pray to it. I got it from the imperial treasury records. The northern territories are cold, so even with aura operation, I thought you'd need something like this."
"......"
Judging by its size, it'd work as a hand warmer.
But hearing "magic stone" again gave him a bad feeling...
[Gasp! Seongjin! This is from the material world too...!]
Yeah, I figured.
Where the hell are these things coming from? Why are material world items in the imperial treasury?
As he grumbled inwardly, Amelia approached him next.
"Mores..."
She looked quite anxious, clutching her hands tightly in front of her.
Logan and Sisley often left the capital for "noble duties," so they didn't seem to think much of Seongjin's trip.
But Amelia had never left the capital since entering the palace. So it wasn't surprising that she was especially nervous.
In truth, most of Amelia's anxiety stemmed from the fact that this journey hadn't existed in her previous life. Not that Seongjin knew that.
Anyway, she had alleviated her unease through meticulous preparations.
She'd hounded tailors everywhere to outfit Seongjin with entirely new cold-weather gear and personally overseen the servants as they packed his luggage item by item.
Of course, all the new clothes were in drab colors, as expected.
"Have a safe trip, Mores. I'm relieved Masin oppa is going with you, but still, you sometimes neglect yourself to a reckless degree."
She personally fastened the thick new black cloak around him as she implored.
"Yes, don't worry. Big sis."
"Good. Oh! And..."
Amelia beamed and shyly offered him the object in her hand. It was a white handkerchief.
"It's a token praying for your safe return. My embroidery skills are poor, but I worked hard on it for you."
"Embroidery? You didn't have to go to such trouble..."
Seongjin awkwardly smiled as he took the handkerchief, then froze in shock.
On the white fabric, black thread was embroidered in chaotic, bug-like scribbles. It looked ominous just to behold.
What is this? A curse? Isn't this supposed to be for a safe return?
"It's a line from [Orlando's Ode to Heroism]. [The moon fairy Olivier took up his sword and sang, and the whole world resonated, swearing never to impede his journey.] Isn't it a beautiful passage?"
"......"
"Oh, too hard to read? You're weak with archaic phrasing, Mores. I'll lend you more famous classic storybooks next time."
"...Yes, thank you."
She seemed to think he simply struggled to read it due to poor literacy.
Big sis, do you not know? Is this really writing?
No matter how he looked at it, it resembled the dying ravings of an evil voodoo priest cursing the world.
The Demon King apparently thought the same.
[I don't sense any demonic energy, but is it some folk curse? Maybe she's still holding a grudge from when Mores bullied her before?]
Seongjin thought with a troubled expression.
...Sadly, I can't swear it's not.
But Amelia added proudly,
"And don't be surprised. The thread I used for this embroidery is something very special."
"Let me guess. From the imperial treasury records, a magic thread?"
Her eyes widened.
"Yes, exactly! How did you know?"
"......"
Seongjin smiled bitterly.
The night before, when he'd stopped by the Holy Emperor's office to say hello, Head Chamberlain Louis's subtle question suddenly made sense.
-Your Highness, do you need to visit the imperial treasury records separately?
At the time, he'd just found it odd, but it turned out the princes and princesses had already visited the Holy Emperor ahead of him and ransacked the treasury one by one!
No, why are they all doing this? It's just a short trip—what's the big deal?
"Then, Mores, have a safe trip!"
Faced with her smile blooming like a field of roses, Seongjin reluctantly tucked the dubious handkerchief onto his walnut-cracker grip. Of course, Orden eyed it with jealous envy.
"Mores! Don't stay away long!"
"Mores! You have to come back soon!"
Hernia and Gades followed with their farewells.
Fortunately, the twins hadn't committed the atrocity of raiding the treasury. Instead, they unusually clung to Seongjin, whining like normal kids.
"Otherwise, we'll come visit you every day!"
"We'll go harass the captain and Red every day!"
It wasn't an empty threat.
The two were Arenza's spirit mediums. With soul terminals, they could follow Seongjin anywhere. But why threaten innocent people?
"Because if they mess with Mores, Holy Dad will definitely scold them."
"It's fine if Dad looks troubled, but we don't wanna get scolded."
Are you ghosts? Harassing perfectly fine people?
Wait. Do you actually do that to others sometimes?
Seongjin was horrified, but Hernia and Gades clung to his arms, gazing up at him with sparkling eyes.
Their actions screamed little devils, yet their expressions were the picture of innocent angels.
"Finish up quick and come back to Holy Dad's side, got it?"
"You know not to worry Dad too much, right?"
"......"
Hmm. I think I get a little what they're worried about.
Without answering, he ruffled their hair wildly with both hands, and the twins burst into simultaneous giggles.
"It's a shame, Your Highness, but it's time to depart."
Masin, who'd been watching warmly, spoke softly to Seongjin.
"Yeah, let's go."
Seongjin replied and boarded the carriage.
At Masin's signal, Orden Zigsmunt shouted to the Wolf Knight Order members at the front.
"Depart!"
"Depart!"
"Depart!"
With resounding cries, the carriages slowly began to move.
Glancing out the window absentmindedly, Seongjin saw Amelia, Logan, Sisley, and the twins waving in unison.
"......"
Seongjin awkwardly waved back.
It felt strangely unfamiliar yet odd. He'd never in his life been seen off by family like this.
Bruno, the knight captain seated opposite, examined him closely and smiled faintly.
"Feeling reluctant to part?"
What nonsense is this guy spouting? Am I leaving the capital forever? Why is everyone so dramatic?
Dumbfounded, Seongjin turned away with a sour face. Probably, the unfamiliar situation was making him wear an oddly constipated expression, even to himself.
Clatter-clatter.
Meanwhile, their carriage steadily picked up speed, soon leaving the palace behind and racing along the well-paved main road.
* * *
The paved road continued for a while even after fully exiting the city.
Delcross, the continent's center for the past millennium, had become the hub of all manpower and logistics movement.
Of course, it wasn't as perfectly smooth as the capital's roads, so the carriage jolted occasionally.
Still, the ride was more comfortable than expected. Being an imperial carriage, it had good cushioning, and it even featured a primitive but proper suspension system.
'Good chance to meditate.'
Seongjin closed his eyes and thought.
Lately, with the birthday celebration and all, he'd had little chance for leisurely meditation like before.
That's why, despite being almost at level 7, he still hadn't fully formed complete aura level 7.
They'd been progressing smoothly, shortly after passing the northern gate.
Neighhh!
The horses suddenly let out long whinnies, and the carriage jolted violently. The commotion spread instantly, with neighs echoing throughout the procession.
"What is it?"
Masin opened the window and asked the coachman, who replied calmly.
"It's nothing, Masin-nim. The carriage is just leaving [Grace]. It happens every time we leave the capital, so no worries. These lowly beasts are surprisingly sensitive to His Holiness's grace."
Grace?
Seongjin opened his eyes and looked out, and Bruno explained.
"I've heard from priests before. They say a vast grace of the Lord envelops the capital centered on the palace. People like me without divine power don't feel it, but visiting clergy from out of town notice it immediately."
"I see."
"Yes. It must all be His Majesty's power. They say it wasn't like this when the previous emperor was alive. Thanks to it, demonkin can't even approach the capital now."
Indeed. Sounds just like that guy.
Sure enough, he felt the Demon King stretching languidly in his head.
[Ahh, the air suddenly feels lighter. Now I can breathe!]
'That much?'
[Of course! That place and here are like completely different worlds!]
Different worlds...
Come to think of it, the Holy Emperor had said something similar yesterday.
-Once you leave the capital, many things will differ from what you've known, my son. Be wary of everything—and you must be.
Taking in the ever-changing scenery, Seongjin quietly mulled over the Holy Emperor's words.