Chapter 98
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: The Royal Palace (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"...Do you have any lingering attachments to Earth, Yu-ju?"
"......"
'...Did I just ask something I shouldn't have?'
I felt like I'd made a slight blunder by prying into something personal, but just then, Seo Yu-ju gave her answer.
"...Hmm... No. Of course, I'm worried about my parents back on Earth... but I don't really have any attachments. It feels like I've come too far for that..."
That made sense. I'd only been in this world for about a year, but as a regressor, she must have spent a considerable amount of time here.
"Truth be told, even when I was on Earth, I grew up without any real hardships, but it wasn't exactly fun either. It just felt like living an ordinary life, like anyone else?"
"......"
"So I guess that's why I don't feel much attachment. Besides, like you said, Yun-seong, there's no way back to Earth anyway."
I nodded after hearing Seo Yu-ju's response. It was perfectly understandable.
I considered asking Kang I-seo the same question, but I held back when I remembered she was an orphanage kid like me.
'...No need to dredge up any bad memories unnecessarily...'
Since I'd wisely chosen not to ask Kang I-seo, she took the initiative, grinning at me mischievously.
"But why didn't you ask me?"
"...Ah... Well..."
"Heh... It's all over your face. Being considerate, huh?"
"......"
"Aw, why so shy? Come on, a guy can be thoughtful toward a girl sometimes."
Her words were laced with obvious intent to tease me.
"...Who's being considerate to whom? Don't get the wrong idea on your own..."
"Oh dear~ Is that so? Well, if you say it is, then it must be~"
"......Anyway, just so you know, we've got to head to the palace in a week."
And so, the day we were to head to the royal palace arrived.
They'd said they'd send people and a carriage, so we were waiting outside the clan house at the appointed time.
"...That must be the carriage."
It hadn't been long before a carriage approaching the clan house came into view.
The carriage soon stopped in front of us, and two people stepped out, excluding the coachman.
"...Greetings, members of Eternity Clan. I am Rayhakter, the palace scribe dispatched to escort you. This woman here is my aide, Leila."
'...They sent the scribe?'
I hadn't expected the head of administrative affairs to come personally. I'd figured it'd be a few knights at most.
I checked the status windows of the man named Rayhakter and his female aide. Hers was normal, but his was unusual.
'...A scribe with solid combat stats.'
His job wasn't legendary or anything, but his stats were impressively high. He could hold his own as a fighter, no problem.
"Ah, nice to meet you. I'm Seo Yu-ju, temporarily serving as clan master, though I'm a bit lacking in that role."
"Ah, we've heard all about your exploits. Haha... Anyway, please board the carriage. We'll take you comfortably to the palace. It shouldn't take too long— we'll use a warp point midway."
"Yes, we appreciate it."
With that, we boarded the carriage: Rayhakter, his aide Leila, and our clan members excluding Lee Jae-hyo and Song In-woo.
Lee Jae-hyo, who had been one of the key players in resolving this incident, probably should have come too, but we needed someone to manage the clan, so he stayed behind.
We were sitting there awkwardly, not wanting to strike up a conversation first, when Rayhakter spoke up.
"...Anyway, thank you for resolving this matter. Truth be told... those drugs were a real headache. Leaving something like that alone could lead to disaster."
Apparently, drugs were just as much of a problem here.
Earth's Opium Wars didn't happen for nothing. Drugs left unchecked could threaten a nation's very existence.
"His Majesty the King was quite troubled by it as well. Being the one who oversees state affairs and all..."
'The king of the neutral nation... a young man, if I recall.'
From the various records I'd looked up since arriving here, the current king of Neutral Nation Baronia was a young man. He'd been crown prince until about two years ago, when he ascended the throne.
"Especially since this incident involves the Eastern Alliance, it must be giving His Majesty an even bigger headache."
This point had piqued my curiosity, so I spoke up.
"Um... I hope it's not too forward to ask, but do you know what happens next? Like you said, the Eastern Alliance connection is bothering me."
"...Since you're involved in this, I suppose I can tell you. Honestly... uh... hold on a moment..."
".....?"
"Sorry, but... mind if I have a little drink? I can't function without alcohol..."
"...Pardon?"
'What the...'
I was momentarily stunned by his request when Leila, his aide, sighed and pinched his thigh.
"Ow...! What was that for?"
"...Please, not in front of others. It's embarrassing for me."
Rayhakter scratched his head, looking deflated as he spoke.
"Come on... it's not that big a deal..."
"Haa... No, it's not okay. Get a grip, please. You're the scribe of this neutral nation."
"Well... it's not like I want to..."
"...Keep this up, and I'll have to report it to His Majesty."
"No, no, no! Wait, wait! Haha... Come on, Leila dear? What's got you so upset...?"
My clan members and I were just sitting there, feeling secondhand embarrassment from their exchange.
It was bewildering for everyone. A man of his position acting so oddly.
Rayhakter and Leila seemed pretty close.
You could tell just from how casually his aide spoke to him.
Noticing our discomfort, Leila apologized to us.
"Sorry about that. Our Rayhakter here has... this quirk. Please understand."
"No, it's fine. Uh... everyone likes a drink sometimes. Haha... I enjoy it too."
I drank occasionally, but I wasn't that into it. Just polite words.
"Oh... A man who knows his stuff! Exactly. How could life be enjoyable without alcohol? It's the joy of living... You're Lee Yun-seong, right?"
"Yes, that's me."
"I heard you were the top contributor to solving this. Hmm..."
'...What?'
For a brief moment, he stared at my face intently, deep in thought.
"Anyway, to answer your question... The Eastern Alliance is a mess right now, so they plan to just ignore it—no protests or messy diplomatic procedures."
"Ah... I see."
"Precisely because lodging a protest wouldn't get us the response or compensation we want. His Majesty has decided to cut off all contact with the Eastern Alliance."
In other words, protesting to the Eastern Alliance would be pointless, so they wanted no involvement at all.
"I understand. Thanks for letting me know."
"No problem. Since you're deeply tied to this, it felt right to inform you."
Of course. If that woman from the Eastern Alliance, Yanagiya Riki, decided to retaliate, our clan could be the target. We needed to know.
Rayhakter clasped his hands together, looking at us pleadingly.
"So... could I... have that drink now?"
My clan members, excluding me, were eyeing him like an alcoholic.
"Sure, go ahead."
"Grrreat...! Thank you so much."
"Sir Scribe..."
"Hey, they said it's fine. Right? Just a little sip."
"Haa..."
"Don't be so uptight. Guys don't like that."
At Rayhakter's words, a vein bulged on Leila's forehead.
"Really... just wait until we get back."
'What a circus.'
Beyond the chaos, that earlier moment was nagging at me.
'...Could it be...'
Others might dismiss his brief stare, but not me.
'...I've got reason to be paranoid.'
I was getting a strange vibe from this man.
'...Call it a hunch, but he feels like he's playing dumb on purpose.'
Truly smart people never flaunt their intelligence.
The moment they do, everyone around them starts wearing masks.
That's why playing dumb is common among them.
People show their true colors around fools.
Half-smart folks, on the other hand, desperately try to prove they're clever.
This guy didn't strike me as half-smart like me. He felt genuinely sharp.
'...That split-second glance.'
Even the smartest slip up eventually. It's human nature.
'People aren't machines.'
I always observe new people's eyes closely—but subtly, never obviously.
Eyes are windows to the soul. In seconds, you glean their psyche, emotions, state.
'Does he suspect me? And if so, how much?'
A minor suspicion was fine. As long as it wasn't certainty.
'...Worst case, I ditch the drugs I have on hand.'
No sudden inspection was coming. Honestly, even if one did, no big deal.
'The drugs are inside the chimera.'
Without finding the chimera, no one but me could locate what I had.
As I pondered, the man pulled a bottle from his robes and took a swig.
"Ahh... This is why I can't quit. Even as a native, I love the booze you otherworlders make. That unique flavor..."
"Quite the drinker, huh."
"You know it. Alcohol's my life partner. Oh, speaking of which."
'...Gotta think ahead.'
"...I've read all your Eternity Clan's strategy logs and promo stuff. Seo Yu-ju here has incredible combat prowess..."
"......."
"And they say Lee Yun-seong's a real brainiac. Super smart."
"Haha... It's all exaggerated. Bit awkward to say, but the promos hype me up more than reality."
"So humble too!"
'...Ugh.'
I'd planned to mull over Ha Yu-ri once back from the palace, but now that was the least of my worries.
"Ahh... I envy folks who can think sharp. My brain's so slow."
What nonsense. No dullard climbs to scribe.
'This carriage better not be heading to the gallows.'