Chapter 117
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: The Bird That Came Out of the Cage
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Maya had joined the White Whale Mercenary Corps for one reason: revenge.
The Jokyung Tribe, annihilated by that army.
The spirits of her ancestors had prophesied that if she followed Jun, she would encounter that very army.
And now.
Maya had finally obtained a clue about them.
'I'm not sure if they're the exact same guys from back then.'
It was probably unlikely.
But judging by how furiously the ancestors' spirits were signaling their rage, they couldn't be entirely unrelated.
She had finally grasped a lead on her revenge.
That alone was enough to make Maya flash a chilling smile.
'It'll still take time, but that's fine.'
She wasn't strong enough to kill them yet.
It would take time until she was.
While with the White Whale Mercenary Corps, she had learned patience.
No matter how long it took, she was steadily preparing for her vengeance.
The high castle's garden received meticulous care, as it would later serve as the banquet hall.
Beautiful unnamed flowers, various sculptures, and empty tables awaiting food.
Aiden wandered around, unable to hide his admiration for the surroundings.
'But where is the person Lord Aden mentioned?'
After circling the area for a while, Aiden spotted a man in one corner of the garden, tossing hay into a cage made of iron bars.
"Hello."
"Hm?"
The man, who had been focused on throwing hay, turned at Aiden's greeting.
A wide-brimmed straw hat obscured most of his face.
Still, a glimpse revealed short, brilliant golden hair.
"I've come on an errand from Lord Aden."
"Ah... I see. Thank you, young man."
The man glanced at the letter for a moment before tucking it into his pocket, then turned and stretched his back.
"Are you raising something?"
"Indeed. Snow rabbits. Would you like to come closer and see?"
Ever the curious type, Aiden approached the cage without hesitation.
True enough, adorable snow rabbits were hopping around inside.
They seemed to be playing, nibbling on hay and bouncing about.
"They're really cute."
"Aren't they? I saw them for the first time when I came here."
"Is that so?"
He wasn't the imperial zookeeper, then.
"Animals have this talent for soothing the heart just by looking at them. And once you give them your heart, they stay true as long as you do."
"True... they do have that quality."
"You get it. How about a cup of tea over there?"
Aiden wanted to hurry back and report to the group, but he didn't refuse.
They say the elderly feel lonely. This man seemed no different.
As Aiden sat, the man brought a tray with tea and cookies from a nearby table.
"Did you receive an invitation too?"
"Yes. I'm with the White Whale Mercenary Corps."
The man smiled under his hat at Aiden's proud tone.
"Sounds like a satisfying life."
"Yes. It's the adventure I dreamed of... and I have my comrades."
"Comrades, eh. Back in my youth, I admired the heroes in books too. Stories where they understand each other without words and face mighty foes. Isn't it grand?"
Aiden felt a strong sense of kinship with the man's words.
"Did you dream of such journeys?"
"I did. Just childish dreams, of course. Reality is different."
"Of course... but not always."
"I see. You trust your comrades."
"Yes. They're the most reliable people in the world."
Aiden naturally thought of Jun.
The mage who always made wise choices, no matter the danger.
The first person Aiden had ever considered a true comrade.
The one who had broadened his closed-off world.
"Intriguing. Care to tell me about your journeys?"
Aiden gladly accepted.
He had always read others' tales in books; now he wanted to share his own.
"It started when I first joined the mercenary corps. A senior member who was already there approached me first..."
Once he began, the stories flowed like water.
The man listened intently, interjecting with nods and exclamations.
They were quite engaging tales.
Surviving the Black Forest, the Goblin Lord, and then the Queen of the Corrupted Woods.
Before he knew it, time had flown by with various anecdotes.
"I hope I didn't keep you too long."
"Not at all. I enjoyed it thoroughly."
Aiden truly looked satisfied.
"You're living the adventurer's life for real."
"Yes. Someday, I want to reach the 9th stratum with my senior."
"With your potential and your comrades', you'll do it. My best wishes."
"Thank you."
As the sun began to set.
Gazing at the sunset, Aiden suddenly jumped up.
"Oh! Sorry, my senior must be waiting."
"No need. I'm the one who should apologize. Thanks for spending time with an old man like me. Safe travels."
"Yes! Take care!"
After Aiden left.
The man alone stared at his cold teacup.
As he quietly nibbled a cookie and lifted the cup.
"What's this? Eating all the cookies?"
Geom-hon had appeared in the garden unnoticed.
"Proof that even I'm getting on in years, like you, brother."
"Didn't you used to say only the weak ate them?"
"Then I must be weak now."
"I see. So, what did you think of meeting your grown son?"
"Nothing but regret. If I'd known he'd turn out so splendid, I'd have defied the nobles to the end."
Geom-hon looked at the emperor, who genuinely seemed regretful.
But Geom-hon knew better.
Even if they went back in time, the emperor couldn't have brought the young man into the imperial family.
'The noble faction's opposition was that fierce.'
As rumored, the emperor's authority was immense.
But there was one case where he yielded to the nobles on principle.
The founding emperor's decree.
Even the current emperor, known for his mild temperament, had no way to take Aiden inside.
The countless nobles guarding the imperial family wouldn't allow it.
'Ironic. The founding emperor's grace made the imperial interests powerful, yet his rules bind them too.'
Meanwhile, the emperor gazed in the direction Aiden had gone.
"Was giving that child freedom the right choice?"
"A bird leaving its cage is its freedom, after all."
"If trouble arises, the world will call it neglect."
"Ignoring those in need is neglect, but for those who aren't, it's freedom. That's my logic."
"I see..."
Did that child even need his help?
The emperor shook his head.
He needed his comrades' help more than his.
That's how he had grown.
The next morning.
'Banquet day, huh.'
The last attendees, the Sun Order, arrived at the high castle at dawn—fitting their name.
"May the light of the heavens guide you. Greetings."
They were a group of ten priests, arriving just as the morning banquet began.
Uniquely, they had been invited for their surface activities, not Blackout exploits: their role in purifying Merdaine.
Merdaine was a trade city destroyed fifty years ago by a Dimensional Reversal during an enemy siege.
Its strategic location was prime, so the Empire had recently attempted purification.
The Sun Order had played the biggest part.
"Oh, Bishop Entrias. Long time no see."
"Lord Geom-hon remains hale. A relief."
An elderly woman greeted Aden.
He naturally introduced Jun and the others.
"I've heard of your fame. You accomplished something monumental."
"The honor is mine. I'm Jun, leader of the White Whale Mercenary Corps."
"Entrias, bishop of the Sun Order, humble as it is."
Entrias shook Jun's hand warmly again.
"Your heroic efforts saved countless lives."
"Uh... thanks for the kind words."
Jun smiled awkwardly; he wasn't comfortable with such types.
To them, it seemed noble, but to him, it was just a byproduct of surviving moment to moment.
No lofty sense of mission.
"Oh, Eleanor. There you are. I heard about you. Glad to see you here—the gods must watch over you."
Eleanor gave an awkward smile too, for similar reasons.
"Oh, long time no see. Bishop Entrias."
A devout priest who always spoke elegantly, Entrias was uncomfortable for the foul-mouthed priestess Eleanor.
"Let us thank the gods for gathering us."
As the nine priests with her suddenly prayed, the atmosphere turned holy.
"Still the same, I see."
"What do you mean?"
"Ahem, nothing."
Even Aden looked a bit exasperated, and soon all attendees gathered at the outdoor banquet hall.
"You must be the White Whale Mercenary Corps. Never dreamed I'd meet you like this."
The one addressing Jun was Tearthin, captain of the Blackguard Knights, another guest.
He had been busy with meetings yesterday, so they hadn't met.
Having finished overnight, he looked more relaxed.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Jun."
"Heard you've been as impressive as Bernard said."
"Who do you mean by 'he'?"
Who?
"Bernard."
"Ah!"
Bernard. The Blackguard-turned-bounty hunter who collapsed after a surprise attack by Wernein in the Witch's Forest.
Apparently dishonorably discharged, but he stayed in touch with the captain.
"You remember. Heard you saved his life once."
"It just happened that way."
"The world values results over process. Belated thanks."
Jun hadn't expected a Blackguard captain to bow his head.
Knights were notoriously prideful.
Noticing Jun's gaze, Tearthin laughed heartily.
"Not all knights are so stiff. We're human too—can't we be flexible?"
"Sorry."
"No harm. Common prejudice."
Jun had braced for tension among these powerhouses, but the banquet flowed amiably.
'Makes sense. Their fields don't overlap.'
Mercenaries, knights, adventurers, church. Even Geom-hon, hobbyist explorer.
Different domains meant little friction.
Surprisingly, Geom-hon was a networking master, mingling and chatting.
'No princes, though. Because of Prince Javier's accident?'
Seemed they had much to discuss there.
Then.
"All, pay your respects."
At the Celestial Dragon Knight's call, everyone knelt on one knee.
The banquet's most important guest and host, the emperor, appeared with his face veiled.