Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: The Protector's Command
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“This manifesting here is subtly exhausting. Above all, it burdens my child.”
“I’m fine.”
Charlotte said, looking at Sanka.
“Charlotte. As one individual, I respect you, but your immaturity remains unchanged. If I manifest through you, you’ll fall asleep right away.”
“It’s always been like that.”
“Until recently, it wasn’t a big issue. But not anymore. My beloved child, you manifested my true body. The fatigue from that must be etched into your soul, not your flesh. You need sufficient rest. This isn’t advice or a request—it’s an order from your guardian. As I’ve said repeatedly, you are the most precious to me. Protecting you is my top priority.”
A bird with only one wing took to the air. Deong looked up at it tensely.
It was a short conversation, but enough to grasp the subject. How great—and how dangerous—Sanka truly was.
“Human children, my cooperation with you is solely because Charlotte wishes it. No other reason. But there’s a limit to that. My child needs rest.”
Sanka slowly lowered its one wing. A refreshing breeze brushed past their bodies.
Deong glanced at Charlotte’s face. She was smiling pleasantly.
“To protect you all, my child sacrificed herself. That deep wound carved into her soul won’t heal in a short time. So stop clinging to a child. To my eyes, you all look the same, but by your conventions, isn’t this an adult’s duty?”
“I’m fine.”
Charlotte said.
“You’re not.”
Sanka stated firmly. Charlotte, who had been hesitating, shrugged her shoulders slightly.
Like parent and child, Deong thought, observing their relationship.
“We were inconsiderate. It’s been a burden on Charlotte.”
Lander said. Sanka spoke sharply to others but used a friendly tone with Lander.
It felt like addressing an equal, or perhaps a friend.
“You couldn’t know beforehand, so no need to worry. I’ve kept quiet because I need to sort out my surroundings too, but not anymore.”
Sanka met Lander’s gaze. In that moment, the tiny bird seemed vast enough to blanket the world. Deong swallowed dryly.
“Remember, I can’t perfectly distinguish those filthy ones. I can quickly filter out the ones with thick unpleasant odors, but as you know, they’re rare. What was it? Aleng? Almost no one reeks that badly.”
“It’s uncertain, but still helpful. We asked you after completing all our own verifications.”
“It could become a bigger problem later. An ally’s awl is more fearsome than an enemy’s sword.”
“We can’t keep suspecting forever. Nothing wastes strength like suspicion.”
“Forming a society is exhausting. Especially for human children. I’d love to take Charlotte to my layer, but she’d be sad. She’d hate me.”
With that, Sanka vanished.
Deong cataloged every conversation in the room, establishing relationships. He even subtly checked the consistency of their words.
It was a wretched occupational habit: knowing these people were trustworthy yet still doubting. As Lander said, it was a profession that drained energy terribly.
“She’s fallen asleep already.”
Inebil said, holding Charlotte.
“As Sanka said, we should pause anything burdensome for Charlotte for the time being.”
“Seems we must.”
Belluna replied to Lander.
Silence settled in. To lighten the mood, Deong offered a handshake to Guchi.
“We meet here like this.”
“You look healthy too—glad to see it. What about Blind? Didn’t come with you?”
“That friend will arrive in the Holy City soon. He’s a bit late transporting some goods.”
“The estate matter wrapped up well, then.”
“Wish it had, but issues arose midway.”
“I can almost hear Kalligo sighing from here.”
“That’s why I got chased here. Glad to see you healthy too, Inebil.”
Inebil was about to smile and reply when Charlotte let out a small cough.
“I’ll lay her down.”
That explained why only this room was sky blue, and why there was a small bed.
Deong looked at the child sleeping soundly with soft breaths. An adult’s duty, not a child’s.
“Is Sanka a spirit?”
He asked Belluna, the researcher.
“She’s never directly claimed to be one, but never denied it either. She’s very different from the spirits we know, but she must be from that world.”
“From the conversation, she seems more concerned with Charlotte than being on our side.”
“Right. Sanka lent her power because Charlotte’s here, not because she supports the empire. If that child changes her mind…”
Belluna didn’t finish. As if even mentioning ‘if’ was distasteful.
“How many have you vetted with Sanka’s guarantee?”
Deong asked Lander.
“His Majesty’s closest aides, and a few officials who’d be trouble if enemies—discreetly. Sanka said none were unpleasant.”
“More help would ease things, but given the child’s state, it’s impossible now. But is it okay to waste this precious chance on me?”
His innocence proven was good, but the worry grew: no more borrowing Sanka’s power for a while.
“It wasn’t planned. Charlotte came today for a check-up. Kalligo knows that. Sending you despite knowing means you’re worth it.”
“The pressure’s mounting. I prefer handling things quietly from the shadows over attention.”
“That’s exactly why you needed vetting. Where’s the returned survivor now?”
Deong said, recalling the injured Riang.
“In the 2nd Bureau’s lounge. With the Captain.”
“Checking you first without vetting the survivor… Kalligo suspects the survivor.”
“That’s puzzling. The Captain knows Sanka’s abilities—why send me here? Vetting Riang would’ve simplified things. Ah, Riang’s the squad member who survived the ambush.”
Deong countered.
“He trusts you.”
“Thinking the Captain trusts me gives me chills. What heavy task is he planning?”
Lander smiled and continued.
“And if Riang’s the traitor, better to keep him close than send him here. Kalligo might’ve already shown an opening by now.”
“Better to release an ant indoors and track its nest than swat it immediately. That way, you eliminate them all at once. Understood. What the Captain’s planning, and my role.”
“That’s why Kalligo trusts you.”
“Gorging on the Captain’s glares sharpened my mind for this.”
Deong pulled out his notepad and jotted down the situation in symbols and words only he could read.
“They say Special Inspectorate agents record even as they’re stabbed and falling—and seeing you, it seems true.”
Belluna said.
“They all learned from the Captain. But he barely uses notepads. Memorizes everything.”
“That sounds like him.”
Deong paused his pen and looked at Lander.
“But how did you know Sanka can distinguish friend from foe? You wouldn’t have mentioned it first.”
“Belluna’s help was key.”
This researcher? Deong glanced at Belluna.
“It was nothing. The day Bureau Chief Aleng came, Sanka said he was very unpleasant. It bothered me, so I wanted to confirm, but something came up and I couldn’t ask. Then the castle vanished. If I’d paid more attention, I could’ve stopped Aleng.”
“That’s how things go. If everything fit perfectly, there’d be no accidents. Don’t dwell on it.”
“Comforting me?”
Belluna gave a faint smile. Deong shrugged.
“I should head back to the Captain first. Gotta fulfill my liaison duties.”
“Do that.”
Deong exchanged farewells. He’d roughly grasped the Holy City’s situation.
When hidden truths behind the surface facts mattered most.
Time to shine at my specialty, Deong thought, pocketing his notepad as he left the room. Digging into the backs of those who shared his rice bowl was his daily routine.
* * *
“What?”
Riang asked him to repeat.
“No surprise. When I first heard, I reacted like you—asked twice. Bureau Chief Aleng’s dead. He’s the one who cleanly obliterated the castle. Never felt ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover’ more than now.”
“Bureau Chief Aleng…”
“The castle blast was shocking enough, but his posthumous letter, revealed next, flipped everything again.”
“Posthumous letter?”
Dabans laughed incredulously.
“Published via newspapers. Wordy, but sums up to: ‘May my death spark a popular uprising.’”
“That’s his dying wish?”
“Yeah. The guy always yapping about citizens finally sacrificed himself to demand awakening.”
“Holy City citizens’ reaction?”
“What’s to say? You saw the streets on the way—dead silent.”
Riang recalled the eerily quiet Holy City streets.
“There was already one protest. Led by a man named Vinsendal. About three hundred tried occupying a bank.”
“Getting serious. Leader caught?”
“Nope. Just his name. No clue if he’s lurking in the Holy City or escaped. We don’t have manpower to spare on this anyway.”
“Classic Aleng…”
“The imperial family declared all attacks, including the last terror, were Aleng’s doing. Who’d believe that? Public sentiment’s already abandoned His Majesty.”
“The silence feels more ominous.”
“Could blow up big anytime. If the masses topple the imperial family… that’d be entertaining.”
Dabans paused mid-sentence—“Hold on”—and left the room. Riang stared at the ruined castle ruins, thinking.
I risked everything to infiltrate here, meet Aleng, and fulfill the Foreseer’s will… but he’s already dead.
Anxiety began to build. The Foreseer’s prophecy was veering badly off course.
(To be continued)