Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Arrival in the Capital
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We had arrived.
A flashy, refined atmosphere unique to the capital unfolded before us, nothing like the small southern city.
Rinar couldn't close his mouth.
Having lived only in a barren land of sand and scorching sun, it was a natural reaction to see a true metropolis for the first time.
"Don't gawk like that. You'll look like a country bumpkin."
Seo Woo-jin chuckled and ruffled Rinar's hair before walking ahead.
"W-Wait for me!"
Afraid of getting lost, Rinar hurried to catch up.
*Good thing.*
On the way to the capital, Rinar had managed to pull himself together.
He had fallen completely for Seo Woo-jin's sweet talk about how heroes were cooler than ordinary adventurers.
It had taken some time, but Seo Woo-jin was relieved that he had been persuaded, even if it was this way.
Of course, it wasn't empty words.
Seo Woo-jin genuinely intended to raise Rinar properly.
With an ability to erase his presence, the kid could become a sword more fearsome than anyone in the world.
It was impossible now, but someday he might even fool the Guardians with his stealth.
When that time came, it would be as good as Seo Woo-jin wielding an invisible sword.
*It'll take time, but I can train him.*
Just like how he had been trained by Ban Slane, he would teach Rinar the same way.
Sure, it would be tough, but achieving a dream was always hard and grueling.
As Seo Woo-jin mulled over Rinar's training plan, he looked around.
It hadn't been that long, but after so many events, it felt like ages since he'd last been here.
"Rinar."
Seo Woo-jin called out to the kid trotting along behind him.
"Yes, what is it?"
"First things first, we need to find a place for you to stay."
It was obvious, but Rinar couldn't enter the academy.
He had no qualifications.
Even Seo Woo-jin couldn't just bring an outsider inside freely.
"M-Me, alone?"
He looked flustered, as if he hadn't considered this scenario.
Well, he had probably assumed he could enroll in the academy.
"It won't be for long. I'll find someone to look after you too."
As compensation for this mission, he planned to negotiate with Yorn, the academy's chancellor.
Things had gotten messy, but they had still eradicated the massive evil known as the Yeorong from the world....
*He'll agree, right?*
Yorn rarely refused Seo Woo-jin's requests.
*If not, I'll just talk to the emperor.*
It wouldn't be a big deal.
At most a week.
That should be enough time to get inside the academy.
*I can pass him off as a squire or something and train him then.*
Seo Woo-jin didn't think much of it.
Finding a temporary place for the kid to stay and someone to watch over him was the real headache.
"Shall we head to an inn for now?"
Money wasn't an issue.
Even with the capital's high prices, booking a room for a week was nothing.
As he scanned the area for a decent-looking inn, Seo Woo-jin soon headed toward one.
Magic Afterglow.
Was it because the Sky Tower was nearby?
It was a high-end inn with a blatantly flashy name.
He opened the brown door adorned with ornate golden patterns and stepped inside.
The interior was impeccably clean and luxurious, far surpassing the Sand Hills inn that Rinar had recommended before.
Though he couldn't say yet which had better food.
"This place...."
Rinar seemed intimidated.
He had been worried about not entering the academy, but he never imagined staying somewhere like this.
"Welcome."
A neatly dressed server approached and bowed politely.
"Will you be dining?"
"Yeah, food first, and we'd like a room too."
"Please follow me this way."
The server led them to an empty table.
"What would you like for your meal?"
"Just bring two servings of your best dish. Oh, and a beer too."
The server looked troubled at Seo Woo-jin's order.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't serve beer here."
"Oh, really?"
Seo Woo-jin looked disappointed.
He had ordered on a whim, reminded of the dark beer at Sand Hills....
"What do you have, then?"
"Wines from the Borsha region and whiskies aged fifteen years or more...."
"Damn, they import all sorts of crap that ruins the vibe. Hey! Is business that bad these days? Letting in riffraff like that."
A rough voice interrupted the server, clearly picking a fight with Seo Woo-jin.
Everyone's heads naturally turned that way.
*A noble?*
His flashy attire suggested he wasn't ordinary.
*Not from the empire, though.*
It was a style Seo Woo-jin hadn't seen before.
He wasn't an expert, but it wasn't the kind worn in the imperial capital.
No, the capital's nobles didn't act so casually in the first place.
Discipline and decorum were ingrained in them.
"Sounds like he meant that for me to hear, right?"
Seo Woo-jin grinned at Rinar.
The kid nodded.
"Thugs like that are everywhere you go."
It had been the same in Rinar's hometown.
Back then, it was a noble named Rashid.
"Thug?"
Did he overhear?
The chair scraped back as the noble-looking punk shot to his feet.
"Say that again."
He wasn't yelling at Seo Woo-jin, but at Rinar.
But who was this kid?
Even if he was playing nice now, back home he was a troublemaker known to everyone.
And with Seo Woo-jin right beside him?
No way he'd be scared of a threat like that.
"Thug."
He repeated it, as if obliging the guy's wish.
"You little shit!"
"S-Sir!"
As the thug approached with a menacing aura, the panicked server stepped in to block him.
"You can't do this here. You'll disturb the other guests...."
"Aren't they the ones disturbing? They look like fresh-off-the-farm hicks. If that's not a disturbance in a place like this, what is!"
He shouted for all to hear, glancing around as if expecting agreement.
"There is indeed a problem here."
Someone spoke up, and the thug noble smirked smugly.
But it was a mistake.
The criticism wasn't aimed at Seo Woo-jin.
It was at him.
"Maintain a noble's dignity. The hick is you, not them."
"W-What?"
The thug's face flushed red as he glared toward the voice.
Ready to hurl insults, just like he had at Seo Woo-jin.
But he couldn't.
The speaker was a noble too.
One far nobler—a great noble of the empire beyond comparison.
"M-Marquis Drunak, Your Excellency!"
The man in charge of the empire's finances, prime minister, and one of the fewer than five marquises—an absolute power holder.
Why was such a great noble in a place like this inn?
"Baron Dorman of Gato Kingdom. Correct?"
Drunak asked coldly, his expression unchanging, eyes fixed steadily.
But the one called Baron Dorman couldn't respond.
He hadn't expected Drunak to know him, so shock made him miss his cue.
"No answer, then. Ian."
"Your orders, sir."
A knight behind Drunak stepped forward and bowed.
*Strong.*
Seo Woo-jin's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the knight.
*At least a top-tier knight. Stronger than Ludein, for sure.*
Maybe even stronger than Ronain, captain of the empire's Platinum Knights, the finest.
Excluding Guardians, the strongest knight Seo Woo-jin had seen.
*A marquis, huh.*
Even his escort knight was no ordinary man.
"Why is Baron Dorman in the empire?"
"He requested a meeting with the hero supported by Gato Kingdom."
"And the reason?"
"Most likely to recruit as many heroes as possible. Preparing for after the Descent War, no doubt."
Drunak let out a hollow chuckle, as if it was absurd.
"And this fool picked a fight without recognizing the hero right in front of him?"
Dorman gaped at Seo Woo-jin in shock.
That ragtag-looking guy was a hero?
*...Impressive.*
Seo Woo-jin ignored Dorman—whatever his name was—and fixed his gaze on Drunak.
*How did he know I'm a hero?*
It wasn't a guess.
He seemed to know exactly who Seo Woo-jin was and why he was outside the academy.
"T-That's...."
Dorman alternated glances between Seo Woo-jin and Drunak, sweating profusely, flustered.
Unsure whom to apologize to first.
"Tch."
Drunak clicked his tongue and spoke.
"Get out. And don't show your face before me again."
Harsh words for a foreign noble, even from an imperial marquis.
But Dorman said nothing, just bowed hastily and fled the inn.
"Now it's quiet."
Drunak wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked at Seo Woo-jin.
"Isn't it, Mr. Seo Woo-jin?"
*As expected.*
He knew exactly who Seo Woo-jin was.
"...Thank you for the help."
Seo Woo-jin thanked him first.
It wasn't a real hassle, but Drunak had smoothed things over easily.
"No trouble at all. Mind if we join you?"
"Of course not."
At Seo Woo-jin's nod, Drunak moved over with the knight called Ian.
"Prepare fresh meals? And beer too, please."
The server bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.
"Certainly, sir."
*Wasn't it 'we don't serve beer' earlier?*
Seo Woo-jin chuckled at the server's quick about-face.
"Allow a proper introduction. I am Drunak Zekein, serving as prime minister—a position far beyond my worth."
Seo Woo-jin's eyes widened in surprise.
Marquis was shocking enough, but prime minister?
*Isn't that like the chief cabinet secretary?*
Realizing he was dealing with the empire's financial powerhouse, Seo Woo-jin tensed up.
"I'm Seo Woo-jin. Though it seems you already know."
Drunak smiled.
"My position means I hear all sorts of stories."
"Like what?"
"That this mission went a bit awry but wrapped up well? Oh, and I know this boy's name is Rinar."
He knew everything.
It was a bit chilling, honestly.
"I overheard you're looking for lodging—for the boy?"
Seo Woo-jin nodded blankly.
What didn't this man know?
"I might be able to help with that."