Chapter 325
Chapter: 325
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 325
>Chapter Title: No. 21's Daily Life (1)
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Seongjin had learned about the existence of the "workshop" only relatively recently.
However, if one went back in time to when he was locked in fierce combat against the Lycanslope Grand Army in Sigismund Territory, an informant had already scouted the area and reported back to the Holy Emperor long before.
Enrique—also known by another name, No. 21.
As the Holy Emperor's direct informant, he had once been ordered to inspect some abandoned farmhouses on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital.
"See if anything suspicious is going on."
"Pardon? Your Holiness, why the empty farmhouses all of a sudden...?"
"Just check and return straight to the palace. Understood? I absolutely forbid any engagement or pursuit."
"......?"
Those were the only orders. With no further instructions, even the purpose remained unclear.
No. 21 left the palace with a bewildered expression. It had already been several years since he began serving at the Holy Emperor's side, but times like this, when he had no idea what he was even doing, still came up far too often.
'What the hell does that man want from me? Just tell me properly for once!'
He had always thought the Holy Emperor was the quiet type, but lately, his extreme reticence made it impossible to guess his intentions alone.
But what could he do? When the master gave an order, he had no choice but to at least pretend to follow it.
Finally, letting out a deep sigh as if the ground might cave in, No. 21 began lazily wandering the outskirts, checking the farmhouses.
'Hm?'
Not long after, he discovered a truly suspicious barn.
In the pitch-black night, grown men were gathered, hastily packing their belongings without even lighting a fire. Some of them were piling up items too heavy to move, digging deep holes in the ground, and frantically covering them with dirt.
'What the hell are those guys up to?'
No matter how he strained his eyes, it screamed midnight flight from the law!
Realizing something seriously amiss was afoot, No. 21 killed his presence and began cautiously approaching the barn.
"......!"
That is, if he hadn't suddenly felt a chilling sensation crawl up his spine.
An extremely skilled aura of concealed presence!
'...An assassin?!'
Indeed. Among the men was a powerful assassin who seemed to be directing the entire midnight escape.
At the same moment, the enemy assassin noticed No. 21's presence and whipped her head around, glaring at him.
Whoosh!
In the dark blackness, round eyes met his directly, gleaming with murderous intent. Beneath a black hood tied like a headscarf, a bizarre woman with utterly smooth, eyebrowless brows stood out.
'Not your average killer!'
Before he could even fully register it, No. 21's body reacted on instinct.
Swish!
A sharply flung stiletto from the opponent grazed his shoulder. Without time to feel the stinging pain, No. 21 rolled forward and hurled his dagger blindly—just to keep her at bay, with no chance to aim properly.
Shiiik!
The wild dagger naturally missed the assassin and flew off elsewhere. Instead of piercing flesh, a sharp crash echoed as something like pottery shattered.
Clang!
"Huh?"
"Damn, we've been spotted!"
"Run, hurry!"
The startled men grabbed their luggage and bolted in panic.
Tsk.
No. 21 clicked his tongue and rose to his feet.
At this rate, he'd be letting them slip away right in front of his eyes. He wanted to give chase immediately, but the enemy assassin wouldn't just stand by idly.
Whirrl—whirrl—
Sure enough, the assassin remained alone, spinning her pointed stiletto in circles with both hands, standing her ground. The blades caught the moonlight, flashing intimidating glints of metal.
'I need to take out that assassin first! But how?'
Right then, a memory flashed through No. 21's mind.
"I absolutely forbid any engagement or pursuit."
Ah. So that's it.
'So that's why he gave that order—he knew!'
No. 21 bit his lip and faced reality. With his skills, engaging or pursuing would be impossible.
Someone on par with that assassin would have to be a distant senior like No. 13.
"......"
No. 21 subtly backed away while keeping a wary eye on her. A glint sparked in the eyebrowless woman's eyes.
"Hoh? You catch on quick."
The woman curled her lips into a smirk. Her eyes didn't smile one bit, of course, only amplifying her eerie aura.
"That dagger throw. Rookie, you're from the Oberon Hand faction, aren't you?"
"......"
"Lately, they've got some real cute ones in there. You, for instance. Ever hear of a girl named Sabrina? She's probably a few classes ahead of you..."
The deadly spinning stilettos were poised to pierce No. 21's throat at the slightest opening. Yet the woman casually asked after someone's well-being.
As No. 21 slowly backed away in full tension, she narrowed her eyes and sized him up carefully.
"Hmm. I pegged you for just some greenhorn, but you've reached a decent level, huh? Fine, whatever. I've got no time to waste on you anyway."
"......"
"I'll let you go. So let's both mind our own business and be on our way. Come on, relax."
As if he could trust that so easily.
No. 21 didn't drop his guard one iota, retreating slowly until he judged himself out of her weapon's range.
Right then.
Flash!
The assassin, her eyes blazing with killing intent, suddenly hurled a stiletto without warning.
Empowered by strong aura, the blade's range extended dramatically, aiming straight for his leg!
Clang!
"......!"
But No. 21 deflected it effortlessly, as if he'd anticipated it. Years of repeated lessons from someone had been etched deep into his brain.
"When facing another assassin, the moment you must be most vigilant is right when you think you've just escaped their range. Assassins from Kaya's Breath especially never miss that brief gap—they specialize in crippling foes' legs from afar."
"Tch! What a bore...!"
Leaving the woman's irritated tongue-click behind, No. 21 bolted for his life without even stopping to staunch his wound.
"You did well breaking it up properly. Good work, Enrique."
Exhausted upon returning to the palace, he was greeted by the Holy Emperor, who showed not a hint of surprise and an annoyingly nonchalant face.
"...You knew everything?"
Of course you did. It's you, after all.
The Holy Emperor gazed at No. 21's face, unable to hide his bitterness, then placed a hand on his wound and infused holy power directly—naturally, just as he always had in their childhood.
"Why the long face after handling the job so well?"
"......"
"Now, let's hear your report. What did you see out there, Enrique?"
Yeah, right. Do you even need to make time for my report? You already know it all.
"...I'm No. 21."
Gruffly snapping back, No. 21 swallowed down the inexplicable surge of emotion.
* * *
"Am I really of any use to him as an informant? With his abilities, he could handle everything alone without me..."
Returning to the Monkey Spire in a somewhat depressed mood, No. 21 heard a familiar lament. It was his senior, No. 19, slumped with his head on the table, groaning.
As if this senior wallowing in self-doubt was anything new.
"What is it? Trouble with Prince Logan again?"
No. 19, informant to Prince Logan, was a veteran quite a bit older than No. 21, but thanks to frequent run-ins at the Monkey Spire lately, they had grown fairly close.
"Rude brat. No. 21, watch your manners."
"Yes, yes. What happened with His Highness Prince Logan?"
If only he weren't so excessively loyal to Prince Logan, he'd be a pretty good senior.
No. 19 turned his dejected face toward No. 21.
"Hmm. Nothing happened. I just wonder if a lacking informant like me is even worthy of someone like Prince Logan."
"......"
It wasn't a one-time thing.
Ever since being assigned to Prince Logan, No. 19 had repeatedly despaired over serving someone beyond his capabilities.
Who could blame him? An imperial prince who concealed his presence better than any informant and wielded far superior force.
As a result, whenever Prince Logan led a subjugation force off somewhere, No. 19 was left alone in the Imperial Capital, wasting time investigating irrelevant groups.
By then, doubts like "Am I really useful to him?" were inevitable.
"No. 13 senior proudly went off to Sigismund Territory with Prince Mores."
"Enough with the pointless griping."
No. 21 shot back peevishly.
"No matter how you complain, it's the same for me. I'm the Holy Emperor's direct informant, you know."
No. 19 then gave him a look of fresh pity.
"Oh... Hang in there."
'Damn! Being pitied by that senior—what a crappy feeling!'
But he had no more time to banter with No. 19. If he didn't head to Asien right away, it would be hard to sync up with the Holy Emperor's schedule.
"...Another trip to Asien?"
No. 19 stared at No. 21 as he hurriedly packed his disguise.
"Yeah."
"You're awfully diligent. Can't you just hand it off to the agents at the Asien branch? No need for you to go every single time, right?"
But No. 21 was adamant.
"Don't talk nonsense. When His Holiness deals with the homunculus, isn't that the most dangerous time for his safety? How could I leave him to just anyone?"
"......?"
No. 19 looked utterly baffled.
Who could blame him? He knew better than anyone No. 21's usual resentment toward the Holy Emperor.
After a moment of stunned silence, No. 19 muttered softly in appraisal.
"You know, you're one weird guy yourself."
Shut up. Right back at you, senior.
* * *
No. 21 didn't exactly relish trips to Asien either.
Every time he met Kaien Klanos—the Holy Emperor's hidden illegitimate son—it meant enduring a profoundly unpleasant experience.
This time was no exception.
"Your Holiness!"
*Cough*!
As the Holy Emperor, who had been eating normally, suddenly vomited blood, No. 21 rushed over in horror.
"......!"
—No, I'm fine.
Instead of using his damaged vocal cords, the Holy Emperor slowly waved No. 21 off. Even amid that, Kaien's actions were a spectacle.
*Tap.*
Kaien flipped over the hourglass nearby, then stared impassively at the blood-vomiting Holy Emperor.
"One, two, three..."
He was casually counting down.
'What a crazy bastard!'
No. 21 ground his teeth, glaring helplessly at the boy.
If that brat weren't the Holy Emperor's son, No. 21 would have unhesitatingly plunged a dagger into the kid's forehead without a shred of guilt.
'What the hell were the other guild members doing? Did they even monitor this punk properly?'
Fortunately, the corroded esophagus and airways recovered in no time. As the Holy Emperor swiftly returned to normal, Kaien gave a small tsk.
"Wow, recovered after just a few breaths? Guess escape's off the table for today."
"...You managed to poison the food well enough. What trick did you pull?"
Even with guild members watching every bite. What a crafty kid. As the Holy Emperor pondered this, Kaien flashed him an innocent grin.
"That's a secret. I just mixed it in good."
"And where'd you get this poison? It doesn't circulate easily, even on Asien's black market."
"That's a secret too, Dad."
With that, the boy rose from the table and stretched leisurely.
"By the way, something going on lately? You're coming more often than before."
After Kaien settled in Asien, the Holy Emperor had visited faithfully once a week for at least a month.
Then visits tapered off around his birthday, but lately, he was making up for it with twice-weekly trips.
No. 21 was the one dying from all the back-and-forth to the Imperial Capital.
"I've had some extra time in my regular audiences lately. What, you hate seeing me more?"
"Nah. Playing with you is pretty fun, Dad."
Kaien glanced at the bloodstains soaking the tablecloth and twisted his lips. A chilling smile that hinted at the scope of their "play."
"So, Dad, what're we doing today? Chess again?"
The boy's face, brimming with curiosity, looked almost innocently childlike for once.
"No interest in chess?"
"Yeah. Honestly, it's not that fun."
"You seemed pretty focused for someone who says that."
"It's a game. I hate losing, no matter what."
Pouting primly, Kaien slowly approached the Holy Emperor.
"How about we talk more deeply about the major events coming up instead?"
He narrowed his black eyes into a crescent and formed a fairly affectionate smile.
"Huh? Tell me, Dad. When are you gonna kill me?"
"......"
"You're planning to eventually, right? So spill it. That way I can prepare myself and make plans beforehand."
Ahh.
No. 21 squeezed his eyes shut, thinking.
'Just listening to that father-son duo is enough to drive anyone insane!'