Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Puzzling
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It's so confusing.
Crown Prince shelter? Just looking at the words makes it kind of funny.
'...No, what is this, some official empire runaway youth center or something? Haa.'
I pressed my throbbing temples and let out a deep sigh in my mind.
At the same time, I took in a breath of the cold northern air to barely hold onto my mentality that was about to completely collapse.
"...Hoo."
Maybe thanks to the cold chill cooling my head, I was fortunately able to regain my composure just barely.
For now, I needed to calm my excitement and coldly tap the calculator.
The woman in front of me had rejected the marriage proposal of the empire's crown prince, the next emperor, and run away.
Hiding her would mean Kaltstein directly opposing the imperial family's will.
In the worst case, it could escalate beyond mere diplomatic friction into a direct confrontation with the crown prince, or even a situation where it seemed like Kaltstein had finally turned against Loen.
No matter that I was the master of the north with absolute power and overwhelming force, there was no reason to make the entire empire my enemy over one lady from another family.
The calculations were done.
The answer was clear.
I straightened my posture and spoke in as calm a voice as possible.
"Lady Baldinmar."
"Yes, speak."
"Do you fully realize what you're saying right now?"
This time, I was genuinely annoyed, so I lowered my voice a bit more than usual and infused it with a faint trace of aura.
But Leonier didn't even blink.
Instead, her red eyes shone even more confidently as she nodded.
"Of course. Asking you to hide a lady who rejected the crown prince's proposal and fled in the night is basically telling Kaltstein to defy the imperial family. I know that full well."
"You know full well... Then the answer is obvious."
I leaned deeply back into the chair and shook my head.
"Go back. Kaltstein is not a charity. Especially not for the empire's crown prince—we have no reason to get involved. I won't throw you out the door, so stay the night outside and head south early tomorrow morning."
A clear order to leave.
I was a bit hung up on the fact that she was friends with Roselia in the original story and seemed like another possible transmigrator, but the risk was too great to indulge that curiosity.
She should get the hint by now.
Just as I thought that and started to rise from my seat—
"I knew you'd refuse."
"...?"
The lady suddenly looked at me with wistful eyes, then calmly continued as if she'd been waiting.
"I've heard the rumors plenty of times. Noxion von Kaltstein. An even more thorough pragmatist than Kailus von Kaltstein. Never does a losing deal."
"...You've even researched my personality?"
"Naturally. Researching your opponent is basic before sitting at the negotiation table."
She opened her handbag on the table with a relaxed expression.
"So I prepared. A price that even you, Duke, couldn't refuse even in death."
"A price I couldn't refuse... We'll see. Kaltstein's vaults are already overflowing with wealth."
"Money? Pfft, you think I'd bring something so trivial?"
She scoffed and pulled out a small box from her handbag—something that emanated a strangely peculiar aura—and placed it on the table.
It was a crude yet antique box wrapped in black leather.
A spark of interest ignited, and I sat up straight, tilting my head.
"What's this?"
"Open it. As Kaltstein's master, you'll recognize its value the moment you see it."
"...."
I eyed the box suspiciously, furrowing my brow.
A value even I would recognize? Something that impressive?
Without much expectation, I reached out and opened the lid.
Click.
The moment the box opened and revealed its contents—
"...!"
I unwittingly held my breath.
Inside the box was a bone fragment the size of an adult fist, so white it almost glowed pale.
I could tell just from the appearance.
It wasn't ordinary bone.
The overwhelming density and aura emanating from that small piece.
It felt like magic condensed from thousands of years, an untouchable kind of power.
I picked it up with trembling hands.
The texture at my fingertips was harder than any metal I'd ever touched.
No, I was certain.
This bone was far harder than dragon bone, known as the hardest in the world.
Snapping out of my shock after a moment, I opened my mouth.
"...This is far harder than dragon bone."
"You recognize it? As expected."
Leonier curled her lips in satisfaction at my reaction.
Still unable to tear my eyes from the bone fragment, I asked in a dazed voice.
"What... what is this? Even dragon bone couldn't have this density. It's like all the hardness in the world condensed into one..."
"The legendary remains called Adamantium Ore."
She revealed its identity quite casually.
"The spine of the Titan Race, said to have gone extinct in primordial times. Specifically, the bone of the strongest among them, the Titan King."
"...Titan Race?"
I didn't know the exact details, but I'd heard the name.
The primordial giants from myth who could rip dragons apart with raw strength.
Their bones were known not only for magic resistance but also for physical hardness unmatched by any existing material.
Especially since they were all extinct, boasting elder dragon-level toughness—a dream material for blacksmiths.
With this... theoretically, I might even forge a sword that never dulls.
I swallowed hard without realizing it.
But at the same time, my reason blared a sharp warning.
'This isn't something you just take outright.'
"But... a treasure of this value must be the Baldinmar family's heirloom, right?"
I already knew the Baldinmar family, called the southern war gods, had cherished something like a sacred relic for ages.
And there was a high chance this Titan King's spine was it.
Using that as mere runaway funds? Unbelievable.
I shot her a distrustful glare.
"The Baldinmar duke wouldn't hand this over. An item that's practically the family's symbol, given as pocket money for his granddaughter's flight? Did you steal it?"
"Steal? How rude."
Leonier widened her eyes innocently.
"I told Grandfather and received it legitimately."
"The Baldinmar duke... permitted this?"
"Yes. That's what he said."
She propped her chin and chuckled.
"'That old bone's nothing special. Better to sell the heirloom and get my one and only granddaughter out than watch her suffer married to that mad crown prince for life.'"
"...."
"Our family folks only know how to swing fists anyway—that bone's just a decoration to us. Wouldn't it be better for the bone if the empire's strongest swordsman puts it to good use?"
"......"
I was speechless.
At the same time, I felt this woman was a bit cool.
Treating a family treasure like 'that old bone'—such boldness.
I knew the Baldinmar duke doted on his granddaughter unusually, but this much?
I stared down at the Titan Race bone in silence, showing no particular reaction.
Rationally, even if they offered the entire Baldinmar family, I should refuse this deal.
Kaltstein and Loen growled at each other constantly, even signing a non-aggression pact because relations were that bad.
But starting a war over a woman? Too childish.
Plus, the compensation wasn't that huge for full-blown hostility with the imperial family.
It was useful to me personally, but not something Kaltstein as a whole desperately needed.
But... paradoxically, that's what made the item's allure hit harder.
It was something Kaltstein, which could have anything it wanted, could never obtain.
This wasn't even something money could buy.
Not priceless in the 'name your price' sense—it simply never hit the market.
'Titan Race bone...'
My hand unconsciously reached back toward the white bone fragment on the table.
Designs for countless legendary swords it could forge flashed through my mind.
Friction with the imperial family? Diplomatic issues? Honestly... for this price, isn't it worth clashing once?
I chewed my lips, deep in thought.
It was a deal like the devil's whisper.
And Leonier smiled leisurely, as if certain I couldn't refuse.
Tap, tap.
The anxious tapping of my fingertips on the desk broke the heavy silence in the audience chamber.
My gaze remained fixed on the Titan King's spine on the table, unable to look away.
Reason screamed 'danger' desperately, but instinct was already fantasizing about the completed item, eagerly drinking the kimchi soup.
To reiterate, this bone wasn't just 'a bit harder than dragon bone' material.
A primordial mystery, the eternal dream of blacksmiths and a material any warrior couldn't help but covet.
If forged into a sword? No, even if not a sword—into armor or any weapon form.
It would be a masterpiece surpassing even the imperial family's sacred sword, the empire's treasure.
'Clash with the crown prince? Diplomatic isolation? Who cares.'
We'd always been at WWE levels with the imperial family anyway.
This time it'd exceed WWE, but probably not reach UFC.
And for that, gaining the world's only one-of-a-kind weapon? Not a loss—a massive profit.
In the end, the weight of desire tipped the scales completely.
"Hoo..."
I sighed deeply, rubbing my forehead.
Admit it. This was my defeat.
"Fine. You win, Lady Baldinmar."
"...Really?"
"Yes. I lost. Kaltstein will accept that damned bone."
As the words of surrender left my mouth, color returned to the lady's face.
A relieved smile like she'd conquered the world or achieved a long-cherished goal.
She clapped with that smile.
"Smart choice! As expected, you're someone who listens to reason, Duke."
"Save the praise. But there are conditions."
I raised my index finger.
"Stay quiet for the time being. I have some private talks going on with Her Highness the princess right now..."
"Don't worry. I already heard from the capital. The century's unexpected romance threw me off a bit, but it doesn't seem like a big issue."
The lady nodded meaningfully.
'Her words are so vague. But she definitely used Korean earlier...'
On second thought, there's no way I misheard.
With hearing that can pick up conversations kilometers away if I focus, I couldn't miss words whispered right in front of me.
The lingering confusion was because her behavior was completely different from Roselia's.
Unlike her, Lady Leonier was blatantly signaling she'd come purely to escape the crown prince.
Her composure was extreme too—for someone who'd made the empire's next ruler an enemy, she was far too bright.
But whatever.
The deal was done, and the item was in my hands.
I reached out and pulled the box on the table toward me.
"Then, consider the deal sealed. I'll have the chief steward guide you to your quarters."
"Thank you, Duke. Or should I call you partner now?"
Leonier tossed a light joke and rose gracefully.
Her voluminous dress rustled as it spread across the floor.
As if no more business, or fearing I'd change my mind if she lingered, she turned without hesitation.
"Then I'll take my leave. I'm worn out from the journey and need some rest."
Clack, clack.
The cheerful click of her heels faded into the distance.
I stared at her retreating figure, caressing the box.
She was an utterly inscrutable woman.
Arrogant yet meticulous, bold yet somehow precarious.
That sparked a different kind of interest from Roselia.
Just as she grasped the audience chamber's massive door handle to leave—
Suddenly, Leonier paused and glanced back at me.
Her red eyes, backlighted, held a strange beauty.
"Oh, and Duke."
"Yes?"
"...."
With an enigmatic smile on her lips, she whispered so softly it was hard to hear even focusing intently.
"I did it on purpose. For some reason, I wanted to open up completely with you. It's been a while, Noxion. I'm really glad to see you."
"...?"
My brain froze.
It's been a while? Wanted to open up completely—what did that mean? Had we even met before?
Well, maybe we'd crossed paths distantly at the crown prince's celebration last time.
But this was clearly our first direct face-to-face greeting.
And just now, she called me by name, not title.
Like someone who'd known me forever.
In a voice full of familiarity and aching nostalgia.
"What do you—"
Before I could ask, Leonier gave a brief eye smile and vanished through the door.
Creeeak, bang.
The door shut, and thick silence descended on the audience chamber again.
I stared blankly at the closed door.
For a moment, I wondered if I'd hallucinated, but her voice lingered clearly in my ears.
'It's been a while.'
Her eyes had been too deep and wistful to dismiss as a slip of the tongue.
"...Haa, whatever now. Just."
I swept a hand over my face to collect myself, then gripped the box containing the Titan King's bone tightly.
I'd thought she was just another simple transmigrator like Roselia, number two.
But this uninvited guest seemed to harbor far more secrets than expected.
No, not even a normal transmigrator.
And 'on purpose'? Interpreting the nuance, it felt like she was boldly signaling, 'I gave you a hint so you'd realize I'm a transmigrator too.'
"...No way it's the cliché gift set: reincarnator and transmigrator done, now here's the regressor!"
If it really was, I might just want to track down the god who reincarnated me into this fantasy world myself.