The Night of Unexpected Guests
Haru was the very picture of despair, left behind in the room with Wolhyang.
Ever since Lan had left, his sister Maru had been sitting cross-armed and expressionless, radiating an unmistakable irritation that made the air in the room feel bitterly awkward.
No sooner had Lan stepped out than Maru and Teraden stirred awake, but Wolhyang’s ice-cold atmosphere had left them too paralyzed to do more than lie on the bed and feign sleep.
Creak. Whoosh!
A long moment later, the door swung open. The two suddenly jolted awake, rubbing their eyes and sitting up.
Every gaze in the room turned toward Lan and Ju Bern, who had just entered.
“Hmm. Hmph!”
Ju Bern cleared his throat repeatedly, clearly unsettled by the concentrated stares.
“I have brought a new friend to introduce to you all.”
Following Lan’s lead, Ju Bern stood at attention before us.
“You two should remember him. He was the one who performed a truly remarkable feat in saving you that day.”
“Ah…!”
Maru, still unsteady, stepped forward and bowed at the waist, hands pressed to her abdomen in perfect form.
“Thank you for saving my sister!”
Was this the look in a father’s eyes when he thanked someone for protecting his child? The pure, untouched innocence on Maru’s face brought smiles to every lip and warmed the room.
“Though I am but a lowly man, I will remain at your side to guard you. Please call me Ju Bern.”
“Hehe. Thanks to you, Maru feels safe and sound! Thank you!”
Starting with the unassuming Maru, conversation flowed naturally. Soon the room filled with lively chatter.
“Lord Teraden, I heard you achieved Ineung awakening this time. I heard it was the power of Immobilization. Congratulations.”
Despite Lan’s praise, Teraden remained strangely sullen.
He pressed his lips together several times as if about to speak, then finally forced a bitter smile.
“Well… it just happened that way.”
Lan, still congratulating him, then turned and sat on the edge of the bed. He leaned close and whispered to me.
“Lord Haru?”
“Yes?”
“This matter is not your fault. Do not blame yourself. The continent is full of warriors who deserve to be called the strongest even without Ineung. Besides, time is on your side. Do not let yourself feel behind.”
His practical words and encouragement gradually eased the impatience in my chest.
“Thank you, Lord Lan.”
“Since you still need rest, I believe we should withdraw now. Ju Bern, from this moment you will guard these two.”
“Yes, my lord. I will not fail you.”
“Oh! You’re leaving already? Farewell….”
“Take care.”
The regret of parting showed in Maru’s lingering words. Lan glanced at me one last time, offered a simple farewell, and left the room with Wolhyang.
At that very moment, a man all had forgotten continued standing guard at the gates of Seo-Wangdo.
“How much longer must I….”
* * *
“Your Majesty, I hear the Imperial Capital has been attacked by monsters. Is the Imperial Body unharmed?”
The king of Seo-Wang Kingdom, Lemann, asked the emperor’s welfare through the connecting mirror.
“Ah, I’m fine. Thanks to the Seven Pillars, there is no problem.”
Whoosh. Thump.
The emperor, having calmed Lemann’s worries, casually tossed the sleeve of a garment with mysterious patterns onto the desk.
“This is something I found on the monsters who attacked the Imperial Capital. Lemann, did you find anything?”
Through the connecting mirror, Lemann revealed garments embroidered with silver stars.
Each of the pieces Lemann showed bore two or three silver stars. The emperor’s had two.
“Yes, Your Majesty. The two stars came from the monsters who attacked Seo-Wangdo. The three stars were taken from the village of the 7th lord’s people.”
“Two and three silver stars. What do you two think this means? To my eyes, it looks exactly like rank badges. Nothing else.”
The emperor turned to the other connecting mirrors and asked casually.
There were five connecting mirrors in total around the emperor. Each held the kings of the four kingdoms—east, west, south, and north—except the Empire, along with a middle-aged man.
Having heard everyone’s opinions, the emperor lightly drummed the desk and studied the star-shaped patterns Lemann had shown.
“Yes, my thoughts match Your Majesty’s.”
Lemann answered, and the others nodded in agreement.
“How was the evaluation of the 7th lord against the three silver stars?”
“He rated them at the level of a viscount.”
“A viscount… A viscount.”
Thump. Thud.
The emperor frowned and stared into the distance while slowly drumming the desk.
That was clearly a sign he was displeased.
Lemann stole a glance at the emperor’s face, steadied his breathing, and continued.
“According to the testimonies of the warriors who fought the monsters in Seo-Wangdo and the 4th lord’s words, two were at the level of a baron. The more stars, the stronger the power.”
“Yet the mention of silver stars… could there also be gold stars….”
Concern laced the voice of someone in the mirrors. The emperor’s brows knit tightly.
“Yes. Most likely. Our information is terribly lacking. We do not know how many stars per color, what colors exist, or even whether the stars actually represent ranks. But the greatest problem lies elsewhere.”
A shadow fell across Lemann’s face as he spoke his mind.
The other kings watching him grew noticeably somber.
“As you have seen, monsters have reappeared after hundreds of years. The continent must prepare for the worst.”
“Indeed. Your words are correct.”
The emperor, listening in silence, raised a hand.
“There is no harm in preparing early. We will call a meeting of the nobles at the earliest opportunity and discuss this matter. There is also the matter of rank advancement, and several issues to handle. It will not be easy. In any case, this meeting ends here. Prepare thoroughly. All remember.”
With those words, the meeting concluded.
Once it ended, everyone except Lemann and the silent middle-aged man disconnected.
“Lemann, how are their conditions?”
“None of the three are severely injured, but they still require rest.”
“They survived that chaos. True to their blood. I am relieved they are not badly hurt. Once they stabilize, may I send them to the Imperial Capital?”
“You mean those people?”
“Yes. For now, we will protect them in the Imperial Capital. As a bonus, we will help their growth. Do you not think they should grow stronger as soon as possible?”
“But there are many nobles who oppose them. It may stir quite a reaction.”
“Ah, do not worry about that. If we frame it as protection, we can silence their objections. First, prepare what they need.”
“As you command, Your Majesty.”
Satisfied that everything was going smoothly, the emperor nodded.
Lifting the corner of his mouth, he shifted his gaze to one of the connecting mirrors that was still active—different from Lemann’s.
“Your Highness.”
The emperor offered a greeting first.
“Your Highness…?”
“Ah, I hear you. Speak, Your Majesty.”
“Grand Duke Crow’s Duck. Do you seem displeased about something? Your face has not been pleasant throughout the meeting.”
The one the emperor greeted was one of only two Grand Dukes on the continent. It was Jin-do Crow’s Duck.
“Your Majesty, is something amiss?”
The middle-aged man who had remained silent the entire meeting furrowed his brow.
“Amiss? If we see it the same way, then yes, Your Highness.”
“Correct. How could monsters simultaneously attack Seo-Wangdo, where that family lives, their hidden sanctuary, and the imperial palace?”
“That is why I arranged this separate meeting. What is Your Highness’s opinion?”
“One of two things. The monsters’ underground operations must have been enormous, or there is a traitor who leaked information—very high up, at that. In the worst case, both.”
“Among your words, Your Highness, I take it as meaning I am off the suspect list.”
“Haha. No one in this world doubts you. Why would I suspect you?”
The emperor’s careless trust made Lemann’s lips twitch faintly.
“Your Highness, the exact location of that family is known to only one person across the entire continent. There could not have been a traitor among them.”
“Your Majesty, even I, a Grand Duke, know only approximate information. But anyone with similar knowledge would surely know a little more. That must be it. Otherwise, there would be no way to find and attack that place. It is not a location that can be discovered in just a few weeks.”
Crow’s Duck’s words hinting at betrayal drew successive sighs from the emperor.
“Either way, this is most troublesome. Having a traitor is a problem, but if it is the first, it means we were unaware for so long… In any case, I ask that Your Highness attend the noble meeting.”
“I shall do so, Your Majesty. Farewell.”
No sooner had the answer been given than the screen showing Crow’s Duck went dark. The emperor, wearing a bitter smile, continued his private conversation with Lemann.
* * *
“Lan.”
After ending the connection, Crow’s Duck called his disciple standing before him.
“Yes, Master!”
“I am going to the Imperial Capital soon. Come with me.”
Blanser, who had been devouring his meal, looked up at his master and asked.
“Why the Imperial Capital?”
Just as Blanser had, Crow’s Duck swallowed his food. He slowly set the dish down and wiped his mouth.
“I heard the Emperor and Seo-Wangdo were attacked by monsters. That is why the noble meeting is being held. How does that sound? Not bad, right?”
“Yes, I do not mind.”
“Ah, I almost forgot. That family you wanted to meet so much will also come to the Imperial Capital.”
At the mention of “that family,” Blanser’s jaw muscles froze.
Setting the dishes down, Blanser slammed the table and stood.
“That family? Then when do we depart for the Imperial Capital?”
Blanser, unable to hide his excitement, leaned his face close enough to Crow’s Duck to flare his nostrils.
“Well? It is not yet decided. I am sure I will receive word soon. In the meantime, finish your meal….”
“KYAAAAAAAHHHH!”
Overjoyed beyond words, Blanser ignored the rest of Crow’s Duck’s words, raised both fists to the sky, and roared.