Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Let's Form an Alliance
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The day dawned, and Tail stretched with a long yawn as he rose from bed.
He had woken up earlier than usual and now extended his arms in a full-body stretch.
"Uwaaaah! I'm so tired!"
Unlike his typical routine of sleeping in until late afternoon, there was only one reason he was up early today.
'Today’s the day I head into the city.'
Once a month.
Tail made regular trips into the city to buy the items Abbot Noha had requested, and today was that day.
After loosening up his body with some simple stretches, Tail changed into fresh clothes. That's when last night's events suddenly came to mind.
'Lady Chloe seemed really upset yesterday.'
Why had she been so angry?
He just couldn't figure it out.
Once he was ready, he stepped outside to find people gathered under the bright sunlight.
And among them stood the most eye-catching figure.
Chloe.
Her radiant golden blonde hair shimmered brightly, framing deep, lake-like blue eyes that sparkled.
She wore a warm, beautiful smile like sunlight itself.
Then, as Chloe unconsciously turned her head, her gaze met Tail's.
She flinched.
A crack formed in her radiant smile.
Tail's face hardened as he saw it, and he strode straight toward her.
Chloe startled at his rapid approach and took a step back.
By then, Tail was right in front of her.
So close that leaning forward just a little would bring their lips together.
His hot breath brushed her nose.
And in his clear eyes, she could see her own reflection.
Flustered, Chloe averted her gaze from his eyes and opened her mouth.
"T-Tail. About last night..."
At that moment, Tail dropped to one knee.
"Tail?"
Chloe called out, but he didn't respond.
He simply reached out quietly—
"Wha-what? Hold on!"
He grabbed the lace of her flustered shout and tied her shoelace with fluid motions.
"You'll get hurt if you trip like this."
Chloe's face flushed red at his words.
Her heart pounded wildly at such a simple gesture, cold sweat breaking out.
She couldn't control the fluttering emotions surging within her.
She wanted to attribute meaning to his actions—and desperately hoped that meaning led back to her.
After tying the lace and standing up, Tail asked with his usual expression.
"What were you saying earlier? You brought up last night..."
But Chloe, whose bad mood from yesterday had already melted away, replied with flushed cheeks.
"It's nothing. Thank you."
Chloe gave an awkward smile.
"Fresh bread! Get your bread here—delicious and hot!"
"Potions! Herbs! If you need it, we've got it!"
"Hey, pretty lady over there, need a hair tie?"
Even amid the war, the city streets buzzed with life.
Merchants shouted to draw in customers, and passersby paused before dazzling displays of goods.
'Only possible because this outskirts area hasn't been touched by the war yet.'
Having selected all the items Noha requested, Tail stopped walking and checked the time.
1 p.m.
Still fairly early.
'Plenty of time left. Might as well drop by.'
After a moment's hesitation, Tail set off purposefully in one direction.
A short while later.
Tail entered an alley and came to a stop before one particular spot.
A rickety sign hung crookedly above.
Tail let out a hollow chuckle at the sight.
"Still haven't changed that corny name."
He'd told them to fix it.
Tsk. Tail clicked his tongue once before pushing open the door and descending into the basement.
A spacious room opened up below.
It was a sleek, atmospheric monochrome space.
'Too early for customers, I guess. Not a soul in sight.'
As he scanned the area upon reaching the bottom, the bartender organizing drinks at one end spotted him and widened his eyes.
"...Huh? Mr. Tail?"
"Yeah. Long time."
The bartender's gaze brimmed with fondness as he looked at Tail.
"It's really been ages. How have you been?"
The bartender rubbed his hands with a grin, but Tail ignored the pleasantry and stated flatly what he wanted.
"Where's the master?"
Without a hint of offense, the bartender chuckled and bowed obsequiously.
"Ah, we've caught ourselves a busy VIP. The master's in the back, as usual."
Tail nodded at the response and headed inside with practiced ease.
Along the long corridor in the back, he passed various people.
The common thread? They all startled upon seeing him, then hurriedly bowed their heads.
Growing accustomed to such treatment, Tail waved them off casually and pressed on.
The lighting grew dimmer toward the rear, the atmosphere turning shadowy.
And before long, Tail arrived at the innermost, most secretive room.
Bathed in a soft yellow glow, the space exuded a dangerous yet mystical aura.
In the center, a heavy bolt formed a circular seal—and faint signs of life stirred within.
"Long time no see, Tail."
It was a deep, resonant male voice.
But Tail knew well that it was distorted.
For good reason—this wasn't an ordinary bar.
'It's the hideout of the information guild, Black Wing.'
And the figure concealed before him was none other than Black Wing's master, Khan.
To understand their relationship, one had to go back several months.
Back then, right after he'd accepted that he'd possessed this body and sought refuge at the monastery.
He knew his life as a commoner orphan was feather-light—easily crushed in an instant if things went wrong.
So, he decided he needed to save money.
Why money?
The reason was simple.
'With money, anything's possible.'
Money could buy escape to a far-off land—or even a noble title if played right.
Thus, Tail pondered how to amass it.
Start a business?
Invest?
But all that required seed capital.
So he settled on one path.
'Become a fortune teller.'
His unique edge over others was his possession—knowledge of this world's future.
He resolved to leverage that info a hundred times over.
But a problem arose.
Fortune tellers divined for walk-in clients.
Tail only knew the novel's plot; he had no intel on unnamed characters or extras.
That would turn him into a laughingstock fraud, not a money-maker.
So Tail pivoted.
Not a fortune teller who waited for clients.
'One who handpicks clients and sends personalized prophecies by letter.'
Like an oracle.
Nobles, who craved the mystical and exclusive, would eat it up.
Word would spread, demand would grow, and so would his prices.
'But I can't do it alone.'
He didn't know the full plot—and it could change—so Tail sought a guild.
The information guild, Black Wing.
Even then, Tail made monthly city runs on Noha's errands.
He used one such trip to visit Black Wing in secret.
The crumbling building made him pause at the time.
A fledgling guild strapped for cash now—but in five years, when the romance plot kicked off, it would dominate the world.
'Even Chloe sought out Black Wing.'
With that thought, Tail entered without hesitation and met Khan.
To the guild master on the brink of ruin from funding woes, Tail said,
"Wanna do business with me?"
Tail was bold.
"I'll give you info you could never get and cash to solve your money troubles. In return, you get me what I need."
Khan scoffed, naturally.
A nameless orphan commoner waltzing in with such promises?
Irresistible info, no less?
It sounded absurd.
But Tail didn't back down.
"Don't believe me? Here's a sample."
He brought up the ongoing war.
"Bellenuus Empire and Tieren Empire are at war right now."
This continent had two empires.
Bellenuus Empire.
Tieren Empire.
But there was also a powerful kingdom with strength and wealth to rival them.
"Soon, Panneu Kingdom will side with us."
Panneu Kingdom.
Khan fell silent at Tail's words.
Panneu was neutral, unaligned.
Siding with Bellenuus now? The side that was losing?
Plus, Tieren's crown prince was married to Panneu's princess.
No reason for Panneu to back Bellenuus.
"Want the reason?"
At Khan's question, Tail pretended magnanimity after a thoughtful pause.
"Princess Lien in Tieren suddenly dies."
The princess sent from Panneu to wed Tieren's prince was none other than Lien.
Panneu panicked at the sudden death of their pampered princess.
Furious at Tieren's silence on the cause, they allied with Bellenuus.
Tail grinned mischievously.
"What do you think? If I'm right, we do business."
Intrigued, Khan nodded.
A month passed.
Panneu sided with Bellenuus, and a letter arrived for Tail.
It said simply,
LET'S FORM AN ALLIANCE
And so, Tail became a VIP of Black Wing—the information guild that would one day reign supreme.