The Banquet of Thanks
The sword strike whistled past my earlobe and slammed into the cave wall, collapsing an entire section in a deafening crash.
The speed was so blinding I couldn't even track the blade's path.
He was strong. Even by the lowest estimate, he seemed at least on Jubern's level.
"Maru, stay inside."
The man who had unleashed the strike stroked his mustache, its ends curled upward in neat spirals, and shrugged with feigned nonchalance.
"Ah, my apologies. Don't misunderstand. I wasn't trying to hurt you. You brats just popped out so suddenly that my hand moved before I could stop it. So you're those kids from the National Academy, right? Well then, did you find the culprit?"
He had swung a blade at innocent people without warning, then immediately jumped to business without offering a single word of apology. Claiming his hand had simply slipped because they surprised him? The sheer audacity was staggering.
"Before we discuss that, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
At my calm rebuttal, he swept his cold gaze over me and my companions before sheathing his sword.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Count Blanser, appointed temporary captain of the encirclement unit by direct order of His Majesty the Great King of the Eastern Kingdom. I sincerely apologize for what just happened. Now it is my turn to ask questions. Is that man the culprit? And is he acting alone?"
"There are a few more inside, but the situation was urgent so we couldn't bring everyone out."
"I see. In that case, from this moment forward, the custody of that individual and the remaining criminals shall be transferred to our Eastern Kingdom for a thorough—"
"What the hell kind of bullshit is that? We did all the hard work, and now you're just going to plant your spoon in the meal we prepared?"
Teraden cut the count off, his temper flaring.
"Don't say that. Our original goal was simply to locate the missing people."
There was nothing to gain by provoking the Eastern Kingdom's forces, and since we had already accomplished our main objective, I stopped Teraden.
"Tsk. All that effort just to hand it over to someone else."
Inside the cave that Haru's party had turned upside down.
Count Blanser prodded the fallen yokai with the tip of his boot, clicking his tongue in annoyance.
"As expected, they're still just blood clots. They've all been left alive. How bothersome. Kill them."
Thud. Thud.
The moment Count Blanser's low voice rang out, the black-clad warriors drove their blades into the fallen yokai without the slightest hesitation.
"We're pulling out. They've caused enough trouble for everyone. Worthless creatures."
With emotionless eyes, Count Blanser glanced at the now-corpses and carefully closed his palm.
Still, what was that killing intent I felt when I tried to cut down that brat earlier? It actually made me falter for a second. Could it really have come from that kid?
In an office in Dongye that had been perfectly peaceful only moments earlier.
"So what amount did you have in mind?"
"Four gold coins."
At present, Teraden and the administrative supply officer were deep in negotiations over the request reward.
Four gold coins? I'm grateful they resolved the kidnapping incident, but four is a bit excessive. I've survived every kind of negotiation there is. I can't just hand over four gold coins with my eyes wide open.
"Haha, Sir Teraden. Four gold coins? You must be joking. Wasn't the original reward slightly less than one gold coin? Still, your achievements are considerable, so I'll gladly offer one gold coin and fifty silver coins."
Teraden, who had been digging at his nostril, twisted his lips in open contempt at the supply officer's self-satisfied expression. His attitude was downright arrogant.
It was clear Teraden had no intention of compromising.
He had come fully prepared.
"Four."
"How could I possibly offer four times the original reward? I'm willing to go as high as two."
Teraden rolled his eyes as if the offer wasn't even worth feeding to dogs.
The lord of Dongye, Samro, had ordered them to provide every possible convenience, but that command might as well not exist. Setting that aside, they had been heavily injured fighting yokai. Even so, four gold coins crossed the line.
"Four."
The supply officer was slowly losing his patience with Teraden's bullheaded stubbornness.
But showing irritation simply because his pride had been wounded was something only amateurs did.
"Hehe, my friend. You're no ordinary negotiator. Quite skilled indeed. A true genius at bargaining."
It seemed the supply officer was the amateur after all.
He tried to force a smile, but he had already abandoned polite speech entirely. He was clearly at his limit.
Until this very moment, the supply officer had not dreamed that Teraden had truly come here intending to walk away with four gold coins.
"Very well. In recognition of your service, I'll go to three. No more."
"Four."
"Listen, it's three. A full three gold coins! That's triple the original amount! This is outrageous!"
The supply officer hoped Teraden would be satisfied here. After all, three gold coins was an incredible sum.
Three gold coins could cover six full years of tuition for both the preparatory and main courses at the National Academy.
At the supply officer's stern warning, Teraden appeared to consider it for a moment. Then he slowly opened his mouth. The supply officer, eyes bloodshot, stared at Teraden's lips and swallowed hard.
Please, please...!
"Four."
"You son of a—!"
If he handed over all four, Samro would undoubtedly throw a fit. It wouldn't end with a written apology. His joints would be thoroughly crushed.
But if he refused, he would be condemned for withholding even four measly coins from those who had fought yokai, tarnishing Dongye's honor. From the supply officer's perspective, he had been put in absolute checkmate.
"Fine! Take your four gold coins!"
"Ehehehe! Confirmed. I'll put these four gold coins to good use. Thank you."
In the end, the supply officer surrendered completely. Teraden, thoroughly satisfied, left the office.
"Kekekekeke!"
Teraden's wicked laughter echoed down the hallway.
"He didn't resort to violence, but damn. He's nothing but a straight-up bandit."
Uhaha, with the people from the National Academy... What? Four gold coins? Have you ever seen such a crazy bastard! Hey, kid! You're getting a pay cut for the rest of the year! No, you're fired! And even if you're fired, don't think you get to rest! Report for work anyway!
Just imagining the storm that would hit when Samro learned four gold coins had been taken made the supply officer's head throb.
Whatever. I did everything I could. The advisor can deal with the rest.
The day we returned to Dongye with the missing people, we had planned to leave immediately, but—
"Aigoo! Benefactors! Where are you rushing off to already? Are you trying to turn us into the most shameless people in the world?!"
The people who had recovered their precious family members—once believed dead—clung to us with tears streaming down their faces.
"Sir Haru! You must at least wait until your wounds are completely healed before leaving!"
"Whoa, okay! I understand! Just please stop! My pants are coming off!"
Yebaek had grabbed onto my pant leg and refused to let go. There was no need to go this far…
In the end, unable to withstand the desperate pleas of so many, we agreed to stay in Dongye for a few more days under the pretext of treating our injuries.
A few days later.
"It would have been wonderful if you could have stayed a little longer."
Samro, who had come to see us off at the city gates, smiled bitterly, seemingly reluctant to part so soon.
"You've already given us far more hospitality than we deserve. If we stayed any longer, I fear we might turn into pigs. Including the return journey, we've been away for nearly a month. We really must hurry back."
At my firm response, Samro smacked his lips with clear disappointment before bowing deeply to us.
When Samro bowed, the leading figures of Dongye followed his example.
"Dongye will never forget the dedication you have shown us. Please travel safely. We will eagerly await the day you visit our city again."
After Samro and the dignitaries of Dongye departed.
"Benefactors…"
This time, the people we had rescued and their families took their place.
"Truly… thank you so much. If you hadn't come here, we wouldn't be standing in this world anymore…"
They too seemed just as reluctant to say goodbye, repeatedly expressing their gratitude until the very end.
Some still looked haggard and pale, yet the warm smiles they offered, bathed in the glow of the sunset, were more precious and beautiful than anything else.
With those final farewells, our request in Dongye finally came to a close.
Jubern, who had been quietly observing the heartwarming scene from afar, silently lifted the corners of his mouth and uncrossed his arms.
"So my lord's command ends here."
"Hmm. Yokai, you say. You've worked hard. Are you injured anywhere?"
Lan carefully examined the silver star Jubern had placed in his palm.
"No, my lord. And it seems they will arrive here in approximately three days."
"I see. In that case, I would like to hear about the feats they performed in Dongye."
"Understood, my lord."
Lan listened to Jubern's report with a smile that never left his face. It grew so wide it seemed to carve new wrinkles into his skin.
"Um… my lord?"
"Hm? Yes. What is it?"
"Are you listening?"
"Of course. Please continue."
"Yes. At that time, Sir Haru… My lord?"
"I said I'm listening."
"Ah, yes. Understood."
But three days later.
Whiiiiiiing.
Contrary to Jubern's prediction, Haru and his party did not arrive. Only a lonely wind blew through the empty space in front of Haru's dormitory.
"…Jubern?"
"…I am deeply sorry, my lord."
"Didn't you say they would arrive after three days?"
Reading the disappointment on Lan's face, Jubern didn't know what to do with himself.
"I-I am sorry! My lord!"
"Haha. It's fine. Let's head back."
To have wasted his lord's time. Jubern was truly ashamed.
Meanwhile, at that exact moment.
The very group that had caused Jubern such embarrassment was in a restaurant not far from the Imperial Capital, eating and drinking to their hearts' content as they shared what might be their final moment of camaraderie.
The table was so heavily laden with colorful, aromatic delicacies from mountain and sea that it looked ready to collapse.
"Pour it! Drink up!"
Teraden filled Haru, Blanser, and Maru's cups with a refreshing, fizzy drink that tickled the nose.
Anyone watching might have thought they were drinking alcohol in the middle of the day.
"They say four students from the National Academy's preparatory military studies year solved the serial kidnapping case in Dongye. Seniors, what are your thoughts on this?"
Imdun, ranked second in the preparatory course's second class, read the front-page headline about Haru's party's exploits and casually asked for the gathered students' opinions.
"Is that even true? Mere preparatory military students accomplished something the Dongye defense forces couldn't? Does that make any sense?"
"It's not a lie, Nakrang. If it's four people… I have a few kids in mind. Whether what's written there is real or fake, we'll find out soon enough."
"As Senior Daebang says, I have the same suspicion. The Arirang clan members who always travel together and the disciple of His Highness the Grand Duke. It's them, isn't it? Personally, I'd like to fight that Blanser guy once."
"Don't forget our primary targets are Amerk Junior, evaluated as the next generation's The One, and Arirang Teraden, master of the light ability. Those two come first. The rest can wait."
At Hyeondo's words—the top-ranked student of the first class—the other four slowly nodded in understanding.
"The Night of Illusions is going to be something to look forward to."