The Guardian Commander's Confrontation

“O-of course I have deep interest, Great Khan! In Floria as well, Mohican tribal crafts are renowned for their quality and artistry!”

Queen Elizabeth, the incompetent ruler, answered Geum Taeyang’s question about Mohican crafts with a flushed face. ‘What a miracle! I had been running around for days without any chance of meeting the Great Khan, yet he approached me first and even asked a question!’

Being the queen of a weak nation without noble support was exhausting. Especially for Elizabeth Manuel Floria, who had suddenly become queen. She had no established diplomatic or administrative channels under her direct control. This was essentially her first official diplomatic engagement, and in her desperation she had brought only four staff members to throw herself into the fray. But diplomacy wasn’t something that could be solved with enthusiasm alone. There had been no way to connect with an S-rank guest. Yet now the very target, Geum Taeyang, was showing her favor first.

“That’s fortunate. The truth is, I was hoping to propose opening a Mohican crafts store in Floria. That’s why I took the liberty of approaching Your Majesty so abruptly. Among the western kingdoms, Floria seems the most suitable location for a branch, in my opinion, Queen Elizabeth.”

Queen Elizabeth’s dream had come true. The story continued to unfold. Geum Taeyang didn’t stop at simply speaking to her—he had directly requested to open a Mohican crafts store in Floria. Camilla Jasmine glanced sideways at him. From the look in her eyes, it was clear that the Kingdom of Floria had never been part of the original plan.

“We welcome it wholeheartedly! As Queen Elizabeth Manuel Floria of Floria, I will spare no support for the Mohican crafts store!”

Elizabeth was beside herself with excitement at Geum Taeyang’s proposal. Her already flushed face turned beet red as her eyes sparkled with vigor. It was the face of someone who had just won the lottery. With an expression of pure joy at having secured the right connection, she declared as queen that she would provide full support, as if taking an oath.

Whispers spread. The surrounding nobles had begun to grasp the situation and were murmuring while glancing toward Geum Taeyang. Contrary to his image as a young leader, the Mohican Great Khan was proving to be a difficult opponent. They had thought it would be enough to offer some interests and maintain the store, but Geum Taeyang had erected an iron wall, rationally examining every detail. Camilla’s professionalism as the person in charge was enough to make anyone’s jaw drop. The sudden rise of the weakest kingdom, Floria, caused quite a stir.

“In that case, the practical matters can be handled between our advisor Camilla Jasmine and your staff.”

“Yes! We’ll do that.”

“If time permits, would you and your spouse care to join us for dinner tomorrow evening?”

“O-of course I have plenty of time! More than enough! It would be a true honor, Great Khan!”

“The honor is mine, Queen Elizabeth. Hahaha!”

Geum Taeyang wrapped up his first conversation with Elizabeth. When attention was this high, it was best to strike and retreat quickly to maintain an air of mystery.

“This may be an impertinent question, Great Khan.”

Elizabeth hurried off to the waiting room with her staff to prepare properly for the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠negotiations that would begin in the evening. Camilla, who had resumed walking with Geum Taeyang, carefully opened her mouth.

“Is this perhaps out of pity?”

According to the information Camilla possessed, opening a store in Floria would bring little benefit to the Mohican tribe or the Grace Kingdom. She recalled the atmosphere when the Great Khan Geum Taeyang had been watching Elizabeth for quite some time. Perhaps this inexperienced young leader had felt sympathy for the queen who had come as royalty only to be ostracized.

“Since this is a conversation with my advisor Camilla, I suppose I should be honest. You’re right. I can’t say I feel no such sentiment at all. As the leader of a tribal nation myself, I found myself empathizing.”

Geum Taeyang admitted it coolly. Watching Elizabeth’s excited back as she ran off filled him with satisfaction. It felt as though he had done a good deed.

“But there are also benefits for the Mohican tribe that I’ve calculated in my own way. The same goes for the Grace Kingdom. It’s a long-term view. I hope I can show you the results someday, Advisor Camilla.”

At the same time, he subtly hinted that he was seeing something only he could see.

“……”

Camilla stared at Geum Taeyang with an enigmatic gaze, saying nothing.

“Though our time together has been short, given the remarkable path the Great Khan has walked thus far, this advisor Camilla will follow with expectations.”

“Hahaha! Thank you for your trust, Advisor Camilla.”

She smiled and showed her respect. To Camilla, a veteran merchant and administrator, there was no wavering in Geum Taeyang’s eyes. Those eyes were filled with conviction, and because he had achieved everything so far with that gaze, Camilla realized her worries had been unfounded.

“Oh! The Saintess is here! I hadn’t heard anything about an event like this!”

“It’s really the Belahaim entourage!”

At that moment, excited murmurs erupted from ahead. The Saintess of Memphis, Serazad, co-host of the current social gathering, had appeared.

“The Saintess is showing herself today as well?”

Camilla, who knew the entire schedule of the Goddess Festival’s social events over the past ten years, wore a rather surprised expression. Aside from the blessing and baptism ceremony on the first day, the Saintess had never appeared separately like this to show herself to the nobles. She had only shown herself during official ceremonies in between.

“……”

Geum Taeyang, on the other hand, watched the appearance of the Belahaim entourage with a calm expression. Soon after, a meaningful smile spread across his lips. ‘Hiya… Looks like yesterday’s sex worked its magic properly.’

“You are far too beautiful, Saintess! Such beauty upon the Saintess!”

“You radiate both mystery and maturity, Saintess!”

“You flatter me, everyone. Thank you for seeing me so favorably.”

Amid the noblewomen’s praises directed at the Saintess, one could somewhat infer what Geum Taeyang’s upturned lips meant. ‘A see-through top, huh. That’s quite a bold outfit for a Saintess. Impressive.’

Indeed, Serazad had appeared in a completely different, daring outfit compared to the baptism ceremony. It was a priestess robe with a hanbok-like feel, but the jeogori was entirely see-through.

“Quite bold, Great Khan. Perhaps the Saintess, now twenty-one, wishes to appeal to the public with a different image than before? After all, Selendis is also the symbol of fertility.”

“That seems like a reasonable interpretation. According to the Church of the Goddess of Light, twenty is the beginning of adulthood, and twenty-one is its completion.”

“You are truly knowledgeable, Great Khan.”

Camilla offered her own interpretation of the Saintess’s unexpected appearance, and Geum Taeyang agreed while showing off his knowledge. ‘She probably wants to appeal to her Cloud-incarnate oppa that she has become a mature woman too. After that incredible sex yesterday.’

Of course not. Serazad’s outfit concept today and her sudden outdoor appearance were aimed squarely at Geum Taeyang—whom she believed to be the incarnation of Cloud.

“Oh my…! The Great Khan is here as well. Did you not go to the hunting grounds with the other gentlemen?”

After exchanging sufficient pleasantries with the noblewomen, Serazad stepped forward and, upon spotting Geum Taeyang, widened her eyes and greeted him warmly.

‘This sly little thing. She knew I was here ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all along.’

Geum Taeyang barely managed to suppress the smirk tugging at his lips at Serazad’s slyness. When the Saintess went out in public, her security system was no joke. The aftereffects of Cloud’s poisoning were significant. They calculated exactly who would be in the area she visited and whom she would meet along her route. In other words, Serazad had already received a definite report that Geum Taeyang would be present where she was heading.

“Even though I’m a barbarian, I don’t particularly enjoy hunting.”

“Is that so? We’re quite compatible then. I don’t enjoy hunting much either, despite being the Saintess of Memphis, famous for its hunting grounds. Hohoho!”

Geum Taeyang answered with a very gentle expression. It was the same demeanor he had shown during the blessing and baptism ceremony, not the beastly barbarian mode from last night. Serazad, on the other hand, laughed quite proactively and took the lead in the conversation, unlike before.

‘She’s completely fallen for it. Serazad truly believes I am the incarnation of Cloud. And the proof?’

Geum Taeyang was never the type to solve everything through guesswork alone. The meticulous Geum Taeyang—

‘In less than a day, both favorability and affection reached 100. What clearer proof could there be?’

Of course, the Eye of the Transcendent hadn’t worked on Serazad yesterday. But now that it did, the numbers that appeared were more than enough to please Geum Taeyang’s eyes.

‘Look at those eyes. Those aren’t the eyes of someone looking at a person they met for the first time yesterday. Arthur was the same. These young ladies’ love burns quite hot.’

Saintess Serazad chattered away enthusiastically in front of Geum Taeyang. The content wasn’t particularly important—whether the temple food suited his taste, whether there was any discomfort in his quarters—but her eyes and tone were those of a twenty-one-year-old girl desperate to keep talking to her beloved oppa, not a temple mistress receiving a guest.

‘Good. The trap has been set well ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠enough. Now all that’s left is for the prey to step into it.’

Serazad’s favorability and affection had both hit 100, yet Geum Taeyang’s primary target didn’t seem to be her.

“Saintess, forgive my rudeness, but a rather delicate business matter has just arisen. Advisor Camilla and I will need to excuse ourselves to prepare for it.”

Geum Taeyang expressed his polite regret to Serazad, who continued to twitter like a sparrow.

“Ah…!”

Serazad looked terribly disappointed.

“I-I see, Great Khan… I hope we can meet again during the remaining schedule…”

But what could she do? Cloud-oppa’s incarnation, Geum Taeyang, was currently the Great Khan of the Mohican tribe. He surely had many official duties to attend to. Having lived as a Saintess for six years, Serazad understood the weight of that responsibility well. In the end, she nodded, swallowing her regret.

Thud, thud, thud. As Geum Taeyang walked away with Camilla, leaving Serazad behind—

‘Oppa… Still, I was happy I could talk to you…’

Serazad watched him with a slightly bitter smile. And another person—

‘Great Khan Geum Taeyang…’

Victoria Saint-Pierre, commander of the Belahaim Guardians, was also watching Geum Taeyang. However, her gaze carried a rather displeased feeling.

“Great Mother, I’ll head in first. There’s a guest joining us for meals today and tomorrow, so I have preparations to make. Advisor Camilla will organize everything you need to know.”

“Understood, Great Khan. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Hahaha! Of course not.”

After strolling through the garden and discussing various matters with Camilla, Geum Taeyang also relayed some instructions to Great Mother Sophia.

‘Heh! As expected, she took the bait.’

Afterward, Geum Taeyang spent time poring over various documents in the S-rank VIP quarters where he was staying. Then someone came to visit, and the moment he saw that person’s arrival, celebratory music rang out in Geum Taeyang’s heart.

“Mohican tribe’s Great Khan, Geum Taeyang. In accordance with Article 1, Clause 3 of the Goddess Festival social gathering regulations, as commander of the Belahaim Guardians, I request an audience regarding the security protocols of the Church of the Goddess of Light.”

The person who had come alone to find Geum Taeyang was none other than Saintess Serazad’s Guardian Commander and right-hand woman, Victoria Saint-Pierre.

“……”

“……”

After the audience request, a brief standoff occurred between Geum Taeyang and Victoria.

“Very well.”

Geum Taeyang accepted coolly. He could have asked what it was about or followed additional procedures, but he chose not to.

‘As expected, this man…’

Geum Taeyang’s reaction only made Victoria more displeased.

‘Even though she’s the Guardian Commander, she’s frugal. Despite being the head of the Saint-Pierre family, Memphis’s wealthiest actual noble house.’

Once he accepted, Geum Taeyang followed Victoria to her office. The office was quite spacious, complete with its own sword training room. However, the decorations and other furnishings were extremely modest.

“Great Khan Geum Taeyang.”

Thud, thud. Victoria removed her plain uniform outer garment and walked steadily toward Geum Taeyang.

“Just who exactly are you?”

She stopped three steps in front of Geum Taeyang and directly voiced the complaint she held against him.

“Who did you hear it from that you’re impersonating Cloud and confusing our Saintess!”

Victoria had already noticed that Geum Taeyang was targeting Serazad. And ‘As expected, Victoria’s straightforward. Very nice.’ That was exactly what Geum Taeyang wanted.