Chapter 233
Chapter 233
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 233
Chapter Title: Eastern Pact and Hanok's Resolve
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Imperba Duke took one look at Sahā Village, his eyes blazing with excitement, before turning on his heel.
He had clearly recognized its true value.
As expected, he was far better suited to being a merchant than a politician.
Imperba Duke even expressed his personal willingness to invest.
Leyzon gladly accepted.
There was no reason to turn down support straight from the duke himself.
"Abyss, you're a real monster of a man, aren't you?"
Sunso Guild Leader Mulso looked utterly exhausted as he stared at Leyzon.
His face said he never imagined things would escalate this far.
"You mangy mutt. Gotta admit, you've got a real knack for surrounding yourself with talent."
"I like to think it's thanks to my own efforts."
Rafila was treating Leyzon far better than even he expected.
"And hey, I don't think your luck with people is all that bad either."
For all his gruff appearance, Mulso's guild had quite a few solid members.
Take his guildmate Obillon, for instance.
The guy went all out for his leader and guild with genuine dedication.
With the right nurturing, he'd go far someday.
"Ugh, fine, let's say that's true. Next time, we won't cross paths..."
Mulso started to say that but trailed off into a cough.
"See you around."
Looks like Syria popped into his head, prompting the change.
What a steadfast guy.
With that, the deal with the eastern nobles was sealed.
Imperba Duke would subtly spread the word that Abyss had joined the eastern noble faction.
In the chaotic imperial court, every noble had their ears wide open for intel.
It was bound to reach them one way or another.
'And that means it'll reach the Puppet Troupe's ears too.'
No telling how the Puppet Troupe would react.
So Leyzon planned to keep a close eye on them.
'I can leave the surveillance to the Nightcrows.'
The real issue was that Sword Saint fellow.
The Sword Saint was tearing through the imperial palace like a madman, desperate to reclaim his Bluebird Knight Order captain.
He was barely holding it together as it was.
'Yeah, maybe it's fine to let one guy go that blatantly wild.'
Leyzon decided against reining in the Sword Saint.
A loose cannon like that was just what was needed to shake up the board.
Ever the positive thinker, Leyzon.
'Now for the rest.'
Back to business as usual.
Leyzon headed to Sahā Village to pick up Hanok.
"Come here."
He kicked open the door to the Steel Wolf Guild hall.
And there was a familiar tail wagging.
Not a Sword-Tooth Clan's tail, but a bright yellow catfolk one.
She huddled up tight, looking terribly anxious.
"Narmeok?"
"Nyaa!?"
The moment he called, she yelped in shock, her fur standing on end all over.
Her identity: the Copycat Witch, Narmeok.
The same one Leyzon had used as a decoy against the ossuary in the past.
What was she doing here out of the blue?
He could guess.
"Rafila, you're in love, huh."
Isis must have come visiting.
Narmeok had tagged along somehow.
She'd worked her tail off, only to find the guild leader smitten.
Leyzon's mood soured, turning downright mischievous.
Hanok, Rafila... seemed like romance was blooming all around him lately.
"Guess I should find myself a mate too."
For all his words, Leyzon had no real interest.
Romance required leisure he didn't have.
Just navigating this world was challenge enough right now.
Syria jumped in, pitching herself eagerly.
Yeah, he'd raised his daughter well enough to be satisfied.
Loneliness could be drowned out with undead.
With that resolve, Leyzon approached the still-frozen Narmeok.
"Narmeok, thanks for last time. You saved my skin."
He'd meant to thank her properly but got sidetracked by work.
Now that he did, she finally relaxed a bit.
"Ah, um... glad I could help."
She used formal speech with Leyzon in particular.
Maybe because their first meeting was so intense, but warming up to her wasn't easy.
"Anyway, I've joined the eastern noble faction this time. Wanna come over to the east with me?"
"Y-Yes?"
He threw in some business talk too, and Narmeok panicked.
She'd been active in the north all along.
No wonder she was thrown by a sudden move east.
"Sahā Village doubles as a safe haven for former slaves and fugitive heteromorphs.
Even with the Shadow Warlord around, I figure your presence would put them more at ease."
A necromancer and a bunch of heteromorphs in Sahā Village.
Not by design, but it was turning into a peculiar city.
A sanctuary for outcasts, maybe.
"What do you say? Come join us here."
"Th-That is, uh, um."
Narmeok floundered, neither accepting nor refusing.
"Leyzon-nim, could you stop poaching our mages?"
Then a familiar voice rang in Leyzon's ears.
There stood Isis, emerging just in time, silver bob swaying as she gave a wry smile.
"Sorry, kept you waiting, Narmeok."
"N-No, it's fine."
Narmeok pretended otherwise, but her face lit up at Isis's return.
What good was being that shy around people?
Leyzon didn't care for it but let it slide.
"Isis, you look more radiant every time I see you. That happy, huh?"
"We're not exactly like that."
"Doesn't seem that way, with how often you're together."
Leyzon teased, and Isis coughed awkwardly.
The two were still playing coy.
"More importantly, you said you've joined the eastern nobles?"
She must have overheard on her way out.
"Then Westring Night will support the eastern noble faction too."
Offering allegiance before he even asked.
Leyzon's eyes widened in surprise.
"Not something you'd jump into lightly, is it? Westring Night operates around the capital and north."
"We're a small guild at heart. Our affiliates are scattered everywhere anyway. Moving bases isn't a big deal."
Isis glanced back at the Steel Wolf Guild hall as she spoke.
"Above all, I trust your judgment, Leyzon-nim. I'd rather not get caught off-guard in the wrong camp."
She knew the scale of Leyzon's operations well.
If he joined the eastern faction, there had to be a reason.
One big enough to rock the entire empire.
Having watched him alongside Rafila, Isis trusted her instincts.
"Plus, my sister's tied up with the imperial side."
Isis knew why Leyzon was maneuvering against the palace.
Sharing intel with the Sword Saint, she saw his intent.
There was surely a damn good reason.
"Your sister? Sword Saint will drag her back from hell if he has to."
"Begris oppa's exactly the type."
Isis smiled, bowed to Leyzon, and left.
Narmeok hurried after her.
Leyzon figured he'd see those two plenty more.
"So, shall we go fetch your guild leader's sweetheart—the slave who ditched her master?"
Leyzon rolled up his sleeves and strode off purposefully.
Moments later, he found Hanok in an unexpected spot.
The Steel Wolf Guild hall's garden, meant for rest.
Hanok slumped in a chair there.
His eyes were glazed over, completely unfocused.
"What's up with him, nya?"
"He's done for."
Syria and Eden poked his cheeks from both sides.
But Hanok didn't budge an inch.
"Woof."
Haron barked sadly.
Estelle reported with a knowing look.
"He got rejected."
"Yeah, looks like it."
Pauli, perched on Leyzon's shoulder, nodded in agreement.
Hanok twitched at that.
He rolled over and buried his face in the chair.
'I thought things were going well with Yusia.'
Leyzon hadn't expected Hanok to get shot down.
"...Leyzon-nim, why am I still so young?"
Now he got the reason.
Big age gap between Hanok and Yusia.
Even if Sword-Tooth Clan matured faster, humans saw time differently.
Yusia must have turned him down over that.
"Yeah, being young made you rush the confession. Haven't you seen Rafila? He's endured for years like that."
Leyzon pointed out Hanok's immaturity too.
Love is like wine.
A quick matchstick flame is just lust.
True love ferments deep and slow over time.
At least, that's what Hanok and Yusia's bond needed.
Hanok should've waited longer instead of confessing now.
His aging was faster than hers anyway.
Mature steadily until even she accepted him.
She wouldn't have refused the grown Hanok then.
But dungeon runs with Leyzon had bottled up his feelings.
Weeks of grit just to see her.
The moment he did, it all burst out.
"Hic."
Hanok swallowed sobs.
He knew his youth was the mistake.
Leyzon patted his head comfortingly.
"Hanok, wallowing like this won't change the rejection."
"Waaah!"
Hanok burst into tears.
Leyzon wasn't great at empathy.
He wanted to say there were other fish in the sea, but it'd fall on deaf ears.
"Jeez, a Sword-Tooth Clan warrior crying over this forever?"
Syria snapped, fed up.
"As a fellow woman, that sniveling is even more pathetic!
Look at Leyzon-nim! He never sheds a tear, always smiling bright no matter what!"
Leyzon suddenly got props for his smile.
"You said you'd be the top Sword-Tooth Clan warrior! If you're gonna get distracted by romance, quit bothering busy Leyzon-nim right now!"
Syria was especially harsh on Hanok.
But tough love had its place.
Hanok stifled his sobs and stood.
"...You're right. I'm Leyzon-nim's warrior."
He gripped his spear tight, swallowing bloody tears.
"Leyzon-nim, let's hit the dungeon. I'll climb to 16th Ascension."
Rejected in love, Hanok was reborn a resilient warrior.
Yeah, that's life—getting dumped too.
Such trials forge your future self.
"Good. Let's go, Hanok."
Time to repay rejection with dungeon conquests.
Come back strong and dashing.