Chapter 462: The Town
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 462: The Town
"O, beautiful moon, why do you drift from the clouds, to peer through the window and cast your silver radiance upon my pillow?"
"O, beautiful moon, you..."
Before the first light of dawn could break, the fluttering of wings disturbed the melodious, lingering song.
A robin perched upon a branch, looking down at the singer beneath the tree.
He was a wandering poet—or at least, he possessed the temperament of one.
His face, obscured by a long-neglected, tangled beard, bore an expression of unfathomable sorrow.
He was dressed shabbily, his only luggage a tattered cloth bag. Leaning against the great tree, he sat on the ground and gazed at the moon—which had only just risen into the sky, only to be chased away by the approaching dawn. To the accompaniment of his wooden lyre, he sang a poem steeped in melancholy.
"The Inner Council can grant your request."
The robin hid its disgust and disdain deep within its eyes. It flapped its wings and spoke coldly:
"In exchange, however, you must complete the task we have assigned to you."
"O, beautiful moon..."
The song continued; the poet acted as if no one else were there.
It wasn't until the first glimmer of dawn outlined the distant mountain ridges—and the impatience in the robin's eyes was nearly impossible to suppress—that the wandering poet finally opened his vacant eyes.
They were gray eyes, appearing as though they could no longer perceive any light. Yet, he accurately located the robin and turned his head toward it.
"How much?" the wandering poet asked.
"Everything."
With a flick of the robin's wing, a small identification card appeared in the poet's hand.
"This is your new identity: the wandering poet, Marvin Stellimo."
"Everything? Heh, everything!"
Marvin Stellimo rubbed the identification card in his hand. He tilted his head back and began to recite with rhythmic, joyful cadence:
"Ha! Merciful noble lord, generous noble lord, how shall I praise you? How shall I sing of you? Please accept Marvin’s praise, please accept—"
"Cut the act. We need you to complete the mission."
The robin spread its wings, transforming into an inky shadow that vanished into the horizon, leaving behind one final instruction:
"Remember, be quick. The guests will be arriving soon."
"Naturally, naturally. What I am best at is entertaining guests. Hehe, entertaining guests."
The wandering poet took off his tattered hat and gave a ridiculous, clumsy imitation of a noble’s bow toward the direction where the robin had disappeared.
Once the robin was gone, silence returned to the morning woods. The wandering poet stopped singing, leaving only the leisurely chirping of insects echoing through the trees.
"Spring is here. How wonderful. Hehe, how wonderful."
The wandering poet shouldered his tattered bag, leaned on a wooden staff he had scavenged from somewhere, and followed the rugged, muddy path. He walked toward the small town that was just beginning to wake amidst the morning mist.
"Hello, I am the wandering poet Marvin... Marvin Stellimo. Would any of you like to hear me sing a song?"
*
"Hiss... Senior, it’s broad daylight. This isn't right, is it?"
Muen wore a pained expression as he grabbed the long, shapely leg clad in black stockings that was teasing him from across the carriage. However, he wasn't in a hurry to let go; instead, he took a moment to appreciate the smooth, warm sensation of the black silk.
Black stockings really were the best. While the serpent tail certainly had its own unique charm, it ultimately wasn't his primary fetish; it could only serve as an occasional change of pace.
The snake demon only needed to be suppressed once or twice; any more than that, and he might actually go bald from the stress.
If one wanted to get serious about "culture," one had to look toward black stockings, white stockings, sheer stockings, leopard print...
"Oh my, you can still get worked up? That little girl didn't drain you dry before she left?"
Anna rested her chin on her hand, her seductive face wearing its usual mischievous smile.
"I specifically left the two of you alone to give you some space. You’re a bit underwhelming, aren't you?"
"Senior, how can you say that?"
Muen suddenly perked up, puffing out his chest and raising his head.
"If you think a single person could drain the current me dry, you’re seriously underestimating me."
"Oh? Then how about..."
The slender, silk-clad leg suddenly broke free from his wandering hand and began to trace teasing circles in a certain sensitive area...
"Ahem, ahem... Forget it, let's just forget it..."
Muen coughed forcefully and rejected Anna's provocation with a look of feigned righteousness.
"We’re traveling. It’s not... it’s not quite appropriate on the road."
Muen turned his gaze out the window.
Beyond the swaying curtains, the fields, woods, and mountains were constantly receding.
Although most of the jolting had been neutralized by specialized magic arrays, he could still feel a faint vibration through the soft sofa.
This was a high-speed carriage, and its destination was Belland, the capital of the Leopold Empire.
Of course, even in a carriage, Muen wouldn't have minded a bit of "passionate communication" with his Senior, but the problem was...
"Lady Anna."
Suddenly, a bronzed, angular face with a solemn expression and piercing, righteous eyes appeared near the window.
His gaze flickered over Muen with a hint of wariness before quickly shifting to a respectful look as he addressed Anna.
"I heard a strange noise just now. Did something happen?"
"Nothing happened at all. You’re being too vigilant, Jin Ze."
Anna had already retracted her leg and was smiling pleasantly, acting as if nothing had occurred.
"Is that so?"
Jin Ze’s expression turned solemn again. He said, "If anything happens, please be sure to call for me. As your deputy, I will ensure your safety at all times. I will not allow a single accident to befall you!"
"It’s broad daylight. What kind of accident could I possibly have?"
"It is precisely in broad daylight that the desires of certain beasts are stirred..."
"Alright, alright. Nothing is going to happen. You may go."
"Yes..."
Having achieved his goal, Jin Ze gave Muen a smug glance. He then snapped the reins, and his horse accelerated, heading to the very front of the convoy.
Muen’s lip twitched. "So, did he do that on purpose?"
This was the real reason Muen was currently behaving himself. He wasn't just in a single carriage; he was part of an entire convoy. After all, Anna was now the Acting Head of the Silence Bureau. She couldn't possibly head to the Holy City for a meeting without bringing her subordinates.
Jin Ze, whom Muen had briefly encountered before, was also in the group. Furthermore, he had been promoted to Anna's deputy and seemed to be highly trusted.
"What do you think?"
Anna gave Muen a flirtatious glare. "Have you forgotten that you punched him for no reason last time?"
Muen: "..."
Right... that did happen.
Muen remembered that after the Silent Moon incident, he had been trapped in a three-way deadlock and had to rely on Jin Ze as an outside force to break the stalemate.
Unfortunately, Jin Ze hadn't been able to stand his ground. He had been simultaneously threatened by Muen's maid, the future Sword Bearer, and the Imperial Princess—and he had folded on the spot.
Too weak.
"How can someone so narrow-minded and lacking in social intelligence stay by your side as a deputy?"
Muen began to whisper "pillow talk" into Anna's ear, badmouthing the man who had interrupted his fun.
"I think he should be sent to some grueling post to be tempered. Otherwise, how can he be of any great use in the future?"
"What, are you jealous?"
"Ahem, how can you call this jealousy? This is for your safety, Senior..."
"Alright, alright, stop throwing a tantrum. Jin Ze is only acting as my deputy temporarily for this trip. He has great potential and will soon be sent to manage a regional branch. That is the 'tempering' you mentioned."
Anna tilted her head and giggled. "Besides, social intelligence is useless in the Silence Bureau. We only care about will and efficiency."
"Makes sense."
Muen nodded solemnly. "In that case, should I also only talk to you about 'efficiency,' Senior? As for 'will,' my will has always been..."
"..."
Anna couldn't help but roll her eyes at Muen's irreverent banter.
"Stop that. We’re about to reach the next town. Let's take a break first."
Muen looked out the window again. The silhouette of the town was becoming clear under the glow of the setting sun.
It looked like an extremely peaceful town. On either side of the slowing convoy, farmers were already busy with the first round of spring plowing. They looked up curiously, watching the carriages slowly roll into the town.
Some of the townspeople were even bold enough to wave at him, shouting something with genuine smiles on their faces.
"Nice town."
"Yes."
Anna’s gaze softened as she nodded. "It is very nice."
*
The Silence Bureau’s convoy was not conspicuous, as it was disguised as a merchant caravan. Therefore, aside from the moment they entered the town, they didn't attract much attention.
As the Empire's specialized agency for dealing with Evil Gods, the Silence Bureau actually had many branches with personnel stationed in various regions. However, a small town with a population of less than a thousand was clearly not among them.
The Empire's territory was too vast and its population too large. If every small town had a branch, the manpower required would be astronomical.
Under Jin Ze’s lead, the convoy quickly found a clean and spacious inn to stay the night.
"Although there is no branch stationed here, we have specialized observers staying in towns like this. I need to go inspect them first. Lady Anna, you..."
"Muen and I will just wander around."
"Yes, wander around."
"..."
Muen smugly and provocatively took Anna's hand, happily watching the miserable "salaryman" leave with a look of indignant grief to go work overtime.
He then led Anna on a casual stroll.
"Strange. Why does the town feel so deserted?"
Muen chatted with Anna while looking around. His brow furrowed as his gaze swept across both sides of the street.
Even for a town with a small population, the number of pedestrians on the street... was far too low.
"Maybe because it's dinner time?" Anna mused, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"No... dinner time in the countryside is usually later. It shouldn't be time yet."
"Oh?"
Anna tilted her head, looking at her junior with curiosity. "The son of a Duke actually knows when dinner time is in the countryside?"
"Uh... I heard the maids at home mention it."
Muen rubbed his nose, making up a random excuse.
He couldn't exactly say he was basing it on his experiences from his previous life.
Though, experiences from a previous life might not apply to this world.
However...
Muen looked up. He didn't see the wisps of cooking smoke that should have been rising at dinner time.
No matter what world it was, the countryside should always have some signs of life—the warmth of a hearth and home.