Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: A Forbidden Past
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"The Artban family once had complete control over the east. Look at this map."
Kasana pointed to the map.
A vast area, encompassing parts of the south, the west, and the north, was all colored in.
"In the past, this entire region belonged to the Artban family."
"This much?"
"Having allied with the humans, the Artban family rapidly expanded their territory. In return, they provided the humans with pheromones."
"…They provided pheromones?"
For some reason, my whole body recoiled. I hunched my shoulders. Frightening.
"Because humans didn't have pheromones."
"…So you’re saying they gave them Su-in pheromones?"
"Yes. By using pheromone stones to steal the power of the Su-in."
"The… Artban family did that?"
My voice trembled. I felt sick to my stomach. How could they do that to fellow Su-in?
"The Artban family made that decision in order to crush the Miart family, whose power rivaled their own."
I shuddered.
So that's why they're confronting the Miart family again, now that the humans are gone.
"The humans did not share their knowledge with the Artban family. The moment they did, the power dynamic would have reversed."
"I suppose it would have."
"However, the Marinette clan was able to share knowledge with them."
"How?"
"The most likely theory is that the humans judged the Marinette clan not to be a threat."
Was it because they lived in the sea and rarely showed themselves to the outside world?
She had said the Marinette clan was reluctant to leave the water because their power waned on land.
Kasana continued her explanation.
"And there are resources that can only be found in the sea. They exchanged what the other needed. The Marinette are famous for their curiosity, after all."
"I see."
That was new information. The Marinette clan is curious.
If that was the case, it made sense that they would have interacted with humans.
It was a fact that their knowledge and technology had been the foundation for development until now.
"And the Artban family, which actively engaged with them, was also able to acquire some of their technology."
Kasana's expression hardened.
"Specifically, how to extract a Su-in's pheromones."
"…What did you say?"
"They needed to know in order to provide the humans with pheromones. Besides that, the Artban family possesses a significant number of techniques that are now considered taboo."
"Kasana, I'm scared."
I covered my ears. My body was trembling uncontrollably. I didn't know why, but every part of me was rejecting it.
Seeing my tearful expression, Kasana said no more.
She nodded with a somber look of understanding.
"It is a gruesome past, so I understand. But it is also a truth that every Su-in should know."
"…Yeah, but I don't want to hear any more for now."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Kasana seemed puzzled by my excessive fear but didn't press further.
"Kasana."
"Yes."
"So, are the humans completely extinct now?"
Kasana nodded.
"The last human on record was a hundred years ago. Considering the human lifespan, he was likely the last."
I see. I was relieved.
* * *
The eastern part of the continent.
For several days after arriving at the Roisar estate, Aser had been frantically handling affairs in the Gaju's absence.
And…
"Who is the traitor?"
He was also saddled with the critical task of finding the traitor as quickly as possible.
Unsure of the traitor's identity, he couldn't easily inform the elders of the situation.
At the time the Artban family had invaded, a considerable number of elders had been away, working to strengthen the alliance with the west.
It had been several months ago, and the memory was already hazy.
It was impossible to find a traitor who was deliberately hiding by relying on a faint memory.
If word got out that he was searching for the traitor, Aser himself would be the one in danger.
Aser let out a deep sigh.
Nothing was ever easy.
He was in the middle of pulling out and reviewing all the elders' schedules from several months ago.
But there were no suspicious individuals.
Most of the personnel had been assigned to external duties, so almost no one had remained at the estate.
Furthermore, the elders who had accompanied him on this trip were all from trusted lineages.
The position of elder in the Roisar family was mostly hereditary.
This was partly due to the family's emphasis on pure bloodlines, and partly because bringing in outsiders was deemed too risky while the situation in the east remained unstable.
"I can't find anything, no matter how I look."
Aser sighed after flipping through the last of the schedules.
It was past two in the morning. He rubbed his eyes, fighting off a wave of exhaustion.
*Knock, knock.*
"Who is it?"
"Lord Aser, it's me."
"Yus?"
The door opened, and Yus, who still had the appearance of a young man, entered.
"You're still awake."
"I still have work to do."
"…With what happened to the Gaju, it must be very difficult for you, Lord Aser."
A shadow fell over Yus's face. His expression was full of concern.
Aser gestured for him to sit.
"It can't be helped. He endangered the family by acting alone, hiding it from the elders."
"That's true, but. Still, the family would have been more stable with the Gaju here."
"You've barely been an elder. Why are you already worrying about such things?"
"…It weighs on me all the more because this happened so soon after I became an elder."
Aser let out a small laugh. Yus glanced at what Aser had been looking at and tilted his head.
"Aren't these schedules?"
"…Ah, right."
"Why are you looking at these?"
Aser belatedly hid the schedules.
"I was just organizing what's happened in the family while I was gone. Things have been so hectic."
"I see. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know."
Yus said, full of motivation. Aser couldn't help but chuckle at his eagerness to be of service.
"That's alright. Go on and get some sleep."
"But… how can I leave when your light is still on?"
"I was about to turn in myself."
Yus's expression brightened when Aser began to tidy up his work.
"I'm glad. I was worried because it seemed like you've been staying up all night for days."
"Anyway, what brought you all the way to my room?"
"I saw your light was on."
Yus rose from his seat.
"But since you say you're going to sleep now, I can leave with peace of mind."
"You're being silly."
Aser waved his hand, shooing him away.
Yus smiled brightly, bowed his head, and left the room.
*Click.*
The room, briefly filled with chatter, fell silent once more.
The smile on Aser's face vanished as he stared at the door Yus had just exited.
His golden eyes flickered and grew somber.
"You came because my light was on?"
Yus's room was in the west wing.
Aser's was in the east wing.
Due to the building's layout and the distance between them, it would be impossible to know if a light was on without deliberately coming to check.
That meant he had intentionally made the trip to see whether or not the light in Aser's room was on.
How should he interpret this situation?
If not that, then…
"I'll have to look into this further."
Aser's eyes narrowed.
Perhaps the traitor wasn't an elder at the time.
Rather, it was someone who stood to gain from the family's turmoil.
The probability that such a person was the traitor was high.
If he widened the scope of his search in that way, then Yus, who had just visited his room, was also a suspect.
"I never thought I'd come to suspect someone like this."
Aser muttered, his voice hollow and forlorn.
However, his golden eyes were colder and stiller than ever before.