Continental Conference (3)
Astra's actions left Jin utterly flustered.
He couldn't help it.
Not only had he essentially ignored the heir to the Lunaria Empire and asked for his name instead, but those parting words were something Jin had heard crystal clear.
'Finally, we meet.'
The phrase echoed relentlessly in his mind.
We've definitely never met before...
Jin desperately racked his brain for any memory.
He'd spent his entire life in the Lunaria Empire's Academia. When would he ever have crossed paths with someone from Haven—let alone the leader of the Jin Gang Regiment?
There shouldn't be any connection...
Every eye in the banquet hall fixed on him.
Dozens of gazes pierced him, laced with curiosity, suspicion, and fear.
While Jin stood there stammering in shock, Sebastian broke the silence.
"Jin, have you ever been to Haven?"
"No... As you know, the only way out of the Academia is during breaks. And for someone like me, hiding my identity..."
"Right, I know that."
Sebastian spoke in a low voice.
"But if I'm not mistaken, that guy definitely seems to know you..."
"I really have no idea."
Jin's voice carried genuine bewilderment.
The banquet hall fell into heavy silence.
Hundreds of eyes turned toward him.
Curiosity, doubt, fear, envy... A tangle of complex emotions stabbed at him like thousands of needles.
Why... why me...?
Jin's hand trembled faintly.
He clenched his fist instinctively to hide it.
The fact that Haven's regiment leader had snubbed Lunaria's crown prince and shown interest only in Beltria's heir shook everyone's calculations about the continental power balance to the core.
"Could it be..."
Someone whispered softly.
"That Beltria and Haven have some secret alliance...?"
"No way. That's impossible..."
The murmurs grew louder.
"But if it's true, what happens to Carmen?"
At those words, silence descended once more.
Everyone knew.
In a war between the two minor kingdoms, Beltria and Carmen, Carmen held the edge.
Carmen's king, Zahir, hailed from the desert regions like the Sahara Kingdom and could count on their strong backing.
But if Haven's regiment leader backed Beltria...
Carmen loses.
All those gathered reached the same conclusion.
Even with full Sahara support, the mere participation of Haven's regiment leader would hand victory to the minor kingdom Beltria.
That was the prestige of the title "Haven's regiment leader."
Jin stood like an isolated island amid the growing whispers.
The chaotic buzz around him swelled, but it all fell on deaf ears.
He understood everyone's shock from what had just happened. But he was the most confused one in this entire hall.
What the hell is going on...?
* * *
"Astra, do you know that kid?"
Balderic's question brought the Beltrian heir—Jin, he'd called him—to mind.
Who would've thought Jin was Beltria's heir.
Jin.
One of the characters I'd invested the most effort into, a swordsman type. With his Supernatural Ability "Wooden Sword Swordmaster," he could become the strongest the moment he picked up a wooden sword.
Judging by how his name hadn't yet echoed across the continent, he probably hadn't even awakened his ability.
But that didn't matter.
Finally found him.
The first piece of the five-part puzzle. That alone put me in a great mood.
"Not personally. He just resembled someone I know, so I was curious about his name."
"Hmm. Is that so?"
Balderic didn't press further. She probably didn't care. She only paid attention to matters involving Haven.
Jin being Beltria's heir... But taking him now would stir up political complications.
No matter how small Beltria was, snatching their heir outright would create headaches.
"Are you perhaps acquainted with my son?"
As I approached Cassius's side, the man beside him spoke up.
"And you are?"
"I am King Leonid of Beltria."
No wonder he'd been watching me so tensely. That explained it.
As I opened my mouth to respond, the man next to him with slightly dark skin fixed me with a sharp glare.
Ah, so Cassius summoned Carmen's king and Beltria's king separately.
I glanced at Cassius.
Ha, that brazen attitude.
The man who'd orchestrated every dirty scheme to convene this continental conference now played the wise mediator fretting over peace.
His hypocritical mask was disgustingly perfect.
What an actor.
Cassius's face brimmed with sincere concern. To an outsider, he'd look like an emperor truly striving for harmony between the two nations.
Of course, there was one thing he didn't know.
That Cervantes had already captured Count Oz. Cassius's grand scheme had its roots severed before it could even begin.
Though the man himself has no clue.
And moreover...
My gaze settled on Carmen's king.
Interesting.
He must realize he'd been used by the Lunaria Empire, yet he maintained a surprisingly calm expression.
Cassius had likely already dangled some sweet promise before him.
Probably full Lunarian support.
Carmen's king's eyes trembled faintly.
He believed Lunaria's aid would let him crush Beltria easily.
But then Haven's regiment leader appeared, seemingly tied to Beltria's heir in some mysterious way. How disorienting that must be.
But you're just as pitiable.
Cassius had only used them to lure me here. The war between the kingdoms, Carmen's ambitions, Beltria's peril—all mere bait to draw me out.
Now that he'd seen me, would Cassius honor his promises to Carmen?
No chance. They couldn't even protest if he didn't.
Such was the plight of small kingdoms.
They danced to an empire's false promises, unable to even voice betrayal publicly. That would invite Lunaria's true wrath.
"Nothing major. He just looked like someone I know, so I asked his name."
"...I see."
Leonid nodded, though his doubts lingered unresolved.
Cassius smoothly smiled and wrapped things up.
"Hahaha, enough talk—let's sit and eat. What do you say, Balderic?"
"Fine."
Balderic took a seat at the emperor's table, and I sat beside her.
"You two may withdraw."
At Cassius's words, Beltria's and Carmen's kings retreated. The real talks began.
"Balderic, have you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"That the prison holding our prized criminals was raided?"
My hand paused mid-motion with the silverware.
Ha, leading with that?
Cassius was stating outright that he knew Haven was behind the raid.
"Is that so? How unfortunate."
Balderic, seemingly oblivious, continued eating calmly.
Cassius's gaze shifted to me.
His smile was serene, but his eyes screamed, I know you were there too.
It grated on me.
"Cassius."
"Hm? Something to say to me?"
"Do you know why black mages were hated, persecuted, and driven to extinction by the mages centuries ago?"
"Hm, back then they didn't grasp the difference between demons and black mana. Anything demon-related—"
"No."
"Pardon?"
"Not all humans are the same. Some possess humanity worse than demons. Those were the black mages—they discarded their humanity, using humans for twisted experiments."
My voice was ice-cold. A faint crack appeared in Cassius's flawless smile.
He'd get it.
This was aimed squarely at him and his chimera experiments.
"They ripped souls from living humans, butchered bodies for spell components. They massacred hundreds to extract pure mana from children, even sacrificing their own families for greater power."
The air at the table grew heavy. Even the usually indifferent Balderic set down her fork and watched me.
"They weren't exterminated for demon ties. They forfeited their humanity."
I leisurely raised my wine glass.
"What are you getting at?"
Edge crept into Cassius's voice. Fury flickered behind his calm facade.
Silence fell.
We stared each other down. The surface was an elegant banquet, but beneath, poison-dipped blades danced.
"Black mages' history teaches us the fate of those who abandon humanity for power."
"Hah."
Cassius scoffed.
"To hear that from Haven's regiment leader. Isn't Haven the nation where rank is determined solely by strength?"
I took a sip of wine and set the glass down.
"...I only hope the Lunaria Empire never crosses that line."