Kasak
Kasak
"Is this place my new nest starting today...!?"
Shed arrived at the Koopong Camp at the crack of dawn. Thinking about fulfilling his first order, he hadn't been able to sleep well due to his swelling excitement.
"Such a peaceful, secluded atmosphere!"
He took a walk around the camp, checking out what was nearby. A place without even a common shop, save for a convenience store. He was even liking that part.
"A noisy space does not suit my Lord."
In reality, it was just that there wasn't much foot traffic, as is the case near most courier logistics centers, so it wasn't a bustling area.
"The place where my Lord resides is clearly visible from here too!"
The Drevo Palace, boasting a magnificent size and height, was visible even from the camp. Living here from now on, he could check on where his Lord was at any time.
"It couldn't be better than this!"
Shed's heart was filled with contentment.
He was about to look around the inside of the camp, but since it was before work hours, most of the doors were locked.
"Is that the dormitory for the Soi Tribe that my Lord leads!"
Shed moved his steps toward the dormitory.
However, Shed hadn't been issued a security card yet, so he couldn't enter the dormitory.
"I will wait for as long as it takes!"
Since the manager's office was in the dormitory, if he waited here, he would eventually meet Saklasi.
After Shed had been doing that for a while,
"Who are you?"
It was Serin.
She spoke with caution, seeing a stranger standing in front of the dormitory.
It was a well-known fact that there were many Soi Tribe members at Koopong.
Therefore, it was natural for Serin to be on guard in this situation.
The worst case was a demon's Doppelganger, and even the best case was a Dog Beastkin.
The former deputy manager was a Dog Beastkin, DonkeyGalller was a Dog Beastkin; all the Dog Beastkin Serin had seen since coming here were the worst.
It was understandable that Serin would show a guarded attitude.
"Hmm! I am Viscount Shed Roiller, who has taken charge of safety management this time! My Lord has taken in lowly me! Are you also one of the Soi Tribe that my Lord leads?"
This was the first time Serin had heard of this. Saklasi had been so swamped with all sorts of incidents that he had forgotten to tell her in advance.
"I haven't heard anything about that. If by 'Lord' you mean Saklasi—"
"Ahem!!!!"
Shed bellowed. It was because Serin had carelessly called the Lord's name.
"How dare you disrespectfully call the Archduke's name! Do you not know that the Archduke's story has been splashed across the headlines and is causing an uproar in the Empire!"
Shed had done a complete 180-degree turn, despite not knowing about it himself until just the day before yesterday.
Serin felt a throbbing in her temples from early in the morning.
However, what Shed was saying was true.
Compared to when they first met, it was such a world of difference that she still hadn't fully grasped the reality of it.
Comparing now to when she took the bus to Koopong Camp as a Soi Tribe orphan, it was truly absurd.
Who could have imagined he would become like this?
But now?
Until now, the only Archduke in the Empire had been the first princess, Gelya. But now, Saklasi had become an Archduke too.
Right below the Emperor, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Princess Gelya, he had become the second-highest person in this world.
Not only as the King Emeritus of the 「Minos」 Kingdom, but as an Archduke, he would receive King Emeritus-level treatment wherever he went.
'Plus, a Holy Water Ability User, which has never existed before?'
It was natural that he was fine even after taking a punch from the former deputy manager.
'Back then, I thought, "Maybe Saklasi is stronger than me?"...'
Thinking about it now, it's so embarrassing that my face burns. But it wasn't Serin's fault.
'I was someone who was hailed as a genius Soi Tribe member too!'
No matter how fast the Soi Tribe's rank advancement was, the fact that Serin became a mid-rank ability user at just 22 was something that could be called genius.
Since the Soi Tribe often had low rank limits, there were many who couldn't even reach mid-rank ability user in their entire lives.
Furthermore, the rate of ability manifestation among the Soi Tribe was lower than other races.
'Yeah, his position is different now. Archduke, King Emeritus, Koopong Manager, Holy Water Ability User.'
Serin acknowledged it.
"I made a slip of the tongue. I am Baron Serin Valenov, currently active as a Secret Defender at the Koopong Camp for Archduke Saklasi Stan."
Serin said, generating electricity in her hand. Serin was also an electric ability user who would be second to none.
At least among the Soi Tribe of her age, she was likely the strongest. Excluding Saklasi, who was an out-of-spec existence.
"My apologies. You were a noble granted a surname by the Imperial family."
Shed also replied, holding a water droplet the size of a fist in his hand.
He realized that Serin's action wasn't just showing she was an ability user.
Asking out of the blue if someone was a demon's Doppelganger was rude, so this was their way of subtly checking each other.
If it were the original Shed, he would have been blunt about Serin's attitude, being a Soi Tribe member, but after meeting Saklasi, he had completely changed.
"A mid-rank electric ability user at such a young age, that is a very outstanding talent!"
Shed was even praising Serin, treating her with the courtesy of an elder and a higher-ranking noble.
"You're too kind. It's all thanks to the Archduke."
"Eh? Hahahaha! The Archduke is truly so special! Hahahaha!"
He had genuinely praised Serin, but Shed's heart was filled with even more contentment at Serin's reply.
"If you haven't eaten, shall we go together?"
Shed readily accepted. Intending to adapt to everything here, he planned to continue using the cafeteria here in the future.
"You walk faster than you look!"
Serin headed to the cafeteria with a fast pace. She was starving to death and had wasted too much time.
She had to arrive at the cafeteria before the male Soi Tribe members who would wake up soon came running to line up. She couldn't wait any longer.
Unlike ordinary female Soi Tribe members who skipped breakfast and made do with the bread provided as a side dish, Serin made sure to eat both.
"Morning time really goes by fast."
I decided to hear the story of how the Emperor increased the Elf population from a few thousand to 100 million in 100 years next time.
"Time to head to Koopong Camp."
I arrived at Koopong Camp easily with a few uses of 'Mist Transformation'.
"This ability is truly the best. It's thrilling. It's always new."
I was too lazy to cook in the morning, so I planned to just grab a bite at the Koopong cafeteria.
I must have been a bit late, as there was already a long line. Looking inside the cafeteria, I saw Serin and Shed.
'It would be nice to eat together, but just because I'm the manager, cutting in line is out of the question.'
I stood in line quietly, but someone who recognized me said in a loud voice.
"I, I greet the Archduke!!!"
At those words, the eyes of everyone in the cafeteria focused on me, and soon after, they all said the same thing in a loud voice.
"""I greet the Archduke!"""
The sight of everyone looking at me and kneeling on one knee was quite a spectacle, but,
This isn't really my style....
Someone even knelt on both knees and slammed their head on the floor.
As a 21st-century South Korean man who lived an ordinary life, it was hard to adapt to this.
"No, why are you doing this? We're all the same colleagues. Get up, get up. Let's eat together."
"Archduke, I, your lowly servant, have already prepared a meal for you! Shall I bring it to your seat?"
"Isn't that yours originally?"
There was even someone who suddenly brought their own tray and said they would serve it to me.
"Archduke's knight, Shed Wildler. I greet you, Your Highness!"
Shed, who had been eating, was suddenly beside me, kneeling on one knee.
"I didn't know the Archduke would come to eat."
"Eh? Why are you doing this too, Serin!? You're hurting my feelings!"
Even Serin using honorifics with me is really embarrassing.
"The Archduke is the second most powerful person in this world, so it is only natural!"
Even with Shed's words, I didn't want that.
"Nope~ No way~ At least Serin is fine."
"What? Why am I fine? ...?"
Serin asked me, twitching her lips.
What should I answer? What's something that would shake a woman's heart? Yes, this is it!
"Because you're the first friend who was nice to me after I came here!"
"Ah.... Yes."
Serin's expression seems to have suddenly turned cold. What, is this not it? 'Start with being friends, even for a solo-for-life person to succeed.' It definitely said that?
"Just treat me comfortably, Serin. I'm lonely."
I quickly shrank back and said with a tearful face.
"Is it... okay?"
Eh? Why did Serin's expression get better again? Anyway, it worked out well!
"Of course!"
"Okay!"
I didn't want to because of Shed and Serin, who said they were waiting for me while eating, but I accepted the meal they offered to serve me.
"I'll accept it just this once. Thank you so much. You don't have to do this in the future."
"I am honored!"
Now I was about to sit down and eat together, but the people around us were murmuring while looking at us.
"Holy Water Ability User...."
"Archduke...."
"「Minos」 King Emeritus...."
I couldn't hear well, but it seems they are talking about me among themselves.
"Do you even know what your position is, coming here to eat?"
"No, I didn't know it would be to this extent either."
"There are many kids who feel uncomfortable even when just the manager comes to eat, and originally, an Imperial Archduke is someone you can barely even make eye contact with!"
Is it my fault? Then, I should tease Serin.
"Ahem! Manager Serin! Why are you making eye contact with me?"
"What are you saying, you told me to act like before!"
"Oh? You didn't refuse when I called you Manager? Have you decided to accept the Manager position now?"
"I haven't! I am! Princess Katerina's Secret Defender!"
"If I asked Katerina to give me Serin, she would, right?"
"Am I an object? To be given away or not!? No, but how can you call the Princess's name so carelessly! Even if you're an Archduke, it's different from the Princess!"
"Katerina told me to do that, though? Are you jealous?"
"What are you saying! Just eat your food!"
Serin was indeed the most comfortable. But Shed is acting a bit strange? Why is he looking back and forth between me and Serin with his eyes popping out?
"Knight Shed, is something wrong?"
"N-no, Your Highness!!! I was thinking if I should also swear loyalty to Manager Serin."
"Eh? Swearing loyalty is a bit much.... Well, Serin is your superior, though. Knight Shed, from now on, please protect the safety here as the deputy manager."
"I! Will follow your orders!"
"Must I sleep with someone like you again!!"
The northern land cut off from the world.
A place where the north wind rages all year round and it is eternal winter.
Inside a hut located in a quiet, outlying village there, a female Fox Beastkin was lying on a thick blanket.
Varla-jin Kasak felt like she was going crazy again today. Why did she have to sleep with another race even on a day like this?
But she couldn't pester her vassals. Because they had to plan something big soon.
"Get lost!"
At Kasak's shout, the old Fox Beastkin left the spot.
Originally, Dragon Beastkin did not marry unless it was with the same race.
However, for the preservation of the race, they had to endlessly sleep with other races.
After the Empire was destroyed by Kalina about 2000 years ago,
since only 'Varla', a distant bloodline of the Emperor, and 8 vassals barely escaped, the only option left for them was marriage with other races.
They had no choice but to secretly kidnap Beastkin from the United Kingdom, but for the last 100 years, even that had become impossible.
They had already been caught and failed several times.
"Still, this place hasn't been discovered. They probably don't even dream that we are thriving here like this."
Until now, they at least had stories they heard from the kidnapped Beastkin, but recently, they hadn't been able to grasp the situation on the continent at all.
So they didn't even dream of how much the technology developed over the last 100 years had changed the world.
"Your Majesty!!!"
Someone called Kasak from outside the hut in an urgent voice.
"What is it!"
"Princess Ariun has escaped!"
"What!!!"