Chapter 90
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Blood Ties (3)
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About five minutes later.
"Alright, then. Let's begin the Second Emergency Roundtable Meeting."
The Olfactory Officer spoke with an utterly grave expression.
The Sensory Officers and Erzena, seated once more around the round table, nodded back with faces taut with tension.
"First off, most fortunately, the unfortunate incident from moments ago has been swiftly quelled. I thank you all for your calm responses."
As the werewolf had said, the recovery room was now silent.
A serene and solemn atmosphere, as if nothing had happened at all.
But there was one difference from the first meeting five minutes prior.
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
Noah Kell lay sprawled in the center of the round table, tightly bound to a chair.
Watching the Central Officer's sister flop about like a fish on dry land, the Tactile Officer muttered softly.
"...If the Central Officer finds out, we're all dead."
Deep sighs escaped everyone's lips.
"We should've locked the door."
"No helping it. She already saw Erzena—what were we supposed to do?"
"S-Sorry. I was just so startled..."
"No, if we're assigning blame, the Auditory Officer lying about it is the real problem."
"...I have no face to show."
Too little, too late for regrets—spilled water couldn't be gathered back up.
The Tactile Officer spoke last.
"...So what do we do now?"
The most fundamental question hung over the table.
No one dared open their mouth.
In this unprecedented, utterly bizarre situation, they could only stare quietly at Noah.
The Olfactory Officer scratched his head irritably and muttered.
"Damn it. We can't even just say 'pretend you didn't see anything.' I have no idea what to do."
Everyone shook their heads in agreement.
"I-I have an idea!"
The Gustatory Officer shot to her feet.
"Back home, when this happened, we'd smash their head against a rock! Just until they couldn't remember anything."
"That usually kills people, Gustatory Officer."
"Hit 'em lightly? And with Erzena here, we could heal them up."
Nomads gonna nomad—barbaric to the core.
"Anyone have another idea?"
That was when it happened.
- Creak.
The recovery room door swung open.
"Pardon the interruption while you're resting."
And in walked the very person they'd been dreading.
"Central Officer?"
Nathan scanned the room as if searching for someone and stepped inside.
"Has anyone seen a woman with the same black hair as me...? What the hell are you doing?"
He stared in bewilderment at the five huddled together.
Then his eyes landed on his own sister, neatly trussed up in the middle of the table.
"Noah? What are you doing there?"
"Mmph!"
At the sight of her savior, Noah cried out with tear-filled eyes.
"Mmmph! Erzena! Let me go, mmmph!"
But her shouts were nothing but muffled grunts.
The Central Officer's gaze shook with confusion, shock, and bewilderment.
The Olfactory Officer spoke as calmly as he could.
"C-Central Officer. There are extenuating circumstances here. We can explain everything."
"...This?"
He glanced around.
Curtains drawn over the windows, all lights out, only dim candles flickering in the gloom of the recovery room.
His subordinates huddled seriously around a large round table, deep in discussion.
And in the center, his sister—whom he hadn't seen in four years—writhing with limbs and mouth bound.
And finally, Erzena sitting there openly, not even hiding her holy power despite Noah's presence.
"Nathan... I'm sorry."
"...Ah."
Nathan was quick on the uptake.
His face slowly calmed.
- Creak.
He approached the table steadily and took the remaining seat.
With an equally serious expression, he said,
"We're now convening the First Emergency Roundtable Meeting."
"...It's the second one, Central Officer."
"...We're now beginning the Second Emergency Roundtable Meeting."
And with that, the meeting gained one more member.
Not much changed in the second meeting.
Well, they untied Noah and sat her beside me,
and hung the culprit behind all this—the Auditory Officer—upside down from the ceiling.
"C-Central Officer... I was wrong... please spare me..."
Her face pale from blood rushing to her head, the Auditory Officer whimpered pathetically.
"If you know you were wrong, stay there longer."
If you hadn't pulled that stunt, we wouldn't have been found out, you pointy-eared menace.
I turned to the other Sensory Officers, who were eyeing me nervously.
"What the hell were you all thinking, tying up my sister—no, an entrant? Have you lost your minds?"
"B-But we were so shocked..."
"Just follow procedure. Were you planning to kidnap her or what?"
You lunatics. Do you know how startled I was?
Tying up a kid like some wild beast just because she overheard classified info.
Seeing my sister—whom I hadn't met in four years—bound hand and foot after just forty minutes? Not great for mental health.
Especially with that werewolf Olfactory Officer around—I half-thought you'd actually eat her.
"If Erzena hadn't been here, I'd have hit the panic button. You know that?"
"We're sorry..."
No excuses to make, apparently—the Sensory Officers reflected in silence.
I turned my head to the side.
"And Noah."
"Y-Yeah?"
Noah, who'd barely been freed and was still on edge, startled and looked at me.
I scolded her sternly.
"I told you to wait in the office, not snoop around. Why'd you enter a restricted area? Don't you know civilians get punished for that? You're a merchant— you can't just flout regulations like that."
"...Sorry."
Gone was her bubbly confidence; she answered meekly like a sulky kitten.
Four years later, and she still pulled these impulsive stunts sometimes.
Suppressing a pang of nostalgia, I said firmly,
"Apologize to the Sensory Officers and Erzena. She's the one who got inconvenienced."
"Okay..."
The Sensory Officers exchanged nods, intrigued by the sight.
"...Never seen the Central Officer talk so casually to anyone."
"Yeah. He only cusses at us."
"Guess she really is family."
Noah bowed her head to those seated across from her.
"As the next head of the Kell Merchant Group, I apologize for violating the office's rules and putting you all in a tough spot..."
"No, no. If anything, we're sorry for overreacting and restraining the Central Officer's sister. Please don't take it to heart."
Then to the one woman she'd figured out on her own.
"Saintess. You were hiding from the Church, and I was too reckless. Please forgive me."
"How did you...?"
Erzena blinked in surprise at Noah's instant grasp of the situation.
My sister, with eyes just like mine, gazed steadily at her and said,
"Otherwise, there's no reason for you to be here."
"...Truth is, I'm not a saintess anymore. Just Erzena."
"What?!"
This time, Noah was the shocked one.
"Erzena. That's enough."
I cut in.
No need for the story to drag or reveal more info.
I steered the topic back.
"Good. No hard feelings all around."
Blame had been assigned and forgiven.
The situation was sorted, no escalation—wrap it up here.
But one thing left to do.
"Now, let's discuss Noah's punishment."
Violation of regulations.
Noah, whose face had brightened, whipped her head around.
"Huh? I thought we were done with the nice ending?"
"What are you talking about? Handshakes don't erase rules."
I cut her hopes short and said quietly,
"No exceptions at the border."
Ironclad rules must hold.
Family, friends, enemies, lovers, acquaintances—doesn't matter.
The line drawn on the ground is law for all equally.
Violations demand equal punishment, naturally.
"But you just forgave me..."
"I forgave you. But principles are principles. Can't bend them for family."
And I had no intention of letting my sister treat the border lightly.
"Th-That's..."
Noah stared at me in panic.
But the other Sensory Officers nodded.
"That's right."
"Let family slide, and we're screwed."
"One exception makes the next even easier."
Even Erzena chimed in,
"Miss Noah. If you get hurt during punishment, I'll heal you, so don't worry."
She'd long been swayed by our philosophy.
"Tactile Officer. What's the penalty for a civilian in this case?"
"Well... Unauthorized entry to a restricted zone, disobeying an examiner, witnessing classified info, and as a merchant, high risk of info leakage."
The charges spilled out in a rush.
Noah's expression died a little more with each one.
"But since it wasn't deliberate info-gathering, a Secret Oath Spell and vow of silence should suffice."
Fortunately, no summary execution or detention.
A far lighter magical gag order.
"Phew..."
"Secret Oath Spell, huh."
I muttered the last part.
Only one person here could cast magic right now.
I looked up.
"Cennn-tral Offiii-cerrr..."
The Auditory Officer, on the verge of passing out, dangled limply from the ceiling as she barely croaked my name.
I snapped my fingers.
"Tactile Officer. Release her."
"Yes."
- Swish, thud!
The tentacles binding the elf's ankles finally released, gifting her the freedom of the floor.
"Urgh... gonna puke..."
"Auditory Officer. On your feet."
"Y-Yes!"
The elf scrambled up, sweating bullets.
After nearly thirty minutes airborne, her face was ghostly pale—pitiable, really.
"Had enough reflection?"
"...I saw the World Tree as a life-flashing montage. I swear on Mother Tree, never again."
Good at answering, at least.
I shot her a cold look and said,
"I'll give you a chance to make amends. Can you cast the Secret Oath Spell right now?"
As a former Magic Academy member, she'd know it.
"Preparing it this instant!"
The Auditory Officer, usually sluggish, whipped out a pen at hyperspeed and scrawled runes on a stray scrap of paper.
- Scratch scratch scratch.
And soon enough,
- Whumm.
With an eerie glow, the scrap scroll was complete.
"Here you go, Central Officer!"
"..."
I stared at it wordlessly.
The back of the rune-covered paper read: [Monthly Entrant Numbers Report].
First weirdo magic scroll of my life.
But needs must.
"Alright. Let's get started."
I stood, cleared my throat.
"Regulation violator Noah Kell. Rise."
"Y-Yes!"
"You have unlawfully accessed state secrets and bear responsibility. Do you acknowledge this?"
"I do."
"You will therefore accept the commensurate punishment and voice no objections. Do you agree?"
"Yes."
Acknowledgment of guilt. Consent to punishment.
All secured.
- Tap.
I took her hand and placed it on the scroll.
"Auditory Officer."
At my signal, the elf began chanting promptly.
"By mana and the laws of this world, I bind this oath in script and to thee—speak thy name."
"Noah Kell."
"Noah Kell, child of man, on this day, all thou hast seen, and for all that shall transpire in the week ahead..."
The Auditory Officer trailed off mid-sentence, glancing sideways at me.
I held up seven fingers.
"...for seven years, dost thou swear silence?"
"Se-Seven years? That's too long! Everything? Then I can't even tell Mom and Dad about you?"
Objecting mid-punishment, this girl.
"Fine. Get banned from export and tank the gold rush biz if you want."
"I swear! I swear it firm! Big bro can write Mom and Dad himself!"
Noah answered quick.
- Fizzle...
As she affirmed, the scroll glowed and crumbled to ash.
Noah peered tensely at the dust by her feet.
"D-Done?"
"Test it. Say something about Erzena."
"Saintess Erzena is in the Crossroad... urgh!?"
Noah's mouth snapped shut mid-shout.
"Mmph, phew!"
It reopened after about three seconds.
"Saintess Erzena is in the Cross... urgh!!!"
Same result on retry.
"Solid work. Even the quick version's this effective."
"You're so mean, bro!"
A full academy ritual would've bound her tighter.
This suffices for now.
Noah would know this oath wasn't just magic—my trust and Erzena's identity hung on it.
After a week, before she leaves, we do the formal one.
This was provisional.
"Oh, and... about where you'll stay."
"Huh? Didn't you say grab an inn earlier?"
No reason for her to linger in the office now.
Just walk out and enjoy her freedom.
But every inn and hostel nearby was booked solid.
"Follow me."
"Where to?"
"My place."
"...Huh? What?"
"Stay at my house for the week."
"For real!? You said no earlier!"
I paused, sighed, then said,
"Can't leave my sister out on the street after four years apart."
With the oath sealed, no need to hide secrets anymore.
What she sees, hears, feels this week stays with her forever.
Time to accept it.
I finally smiled.
"Got a lot to catch up on, so crash at my place."
"Heehee... Bro hasn't changed a bit. Awesome."
"One more thing, FYI."
As Noah bounced with excitement, I added,
"Don't freak when we get home. Someone's staying there."
"Ah, gotcha. Roommate, huh? Knew it."
My sister, back to sly black cat mode, narrowed her eyes.
"It's fine. What could shock me more than the saintess?"
There is.