-Kirat>“It’s been a long time. Have you been well?”
Marquis Narasha was speaking into the empty air in a secret underground chamber beneath his mansion.
No, to be precise, it was not empty air. Something was rippling there, as though it had taken on the shape of a person. And there was not merely one or two such ripples.
In response to Marquis Narasha’s words, a grim yet weighty reply flowed from the ripples.
Is that so? So there is no place where everything is perfect…….>“In any case, it’s fortunate that you came so quickly.
You arrived almost as soon as I contacted you. Your ability never ceases to amaze me, no matter how many times I see it.
You’ve heard all about the situation, I assume?”
-Vander… is that correct?>“That’s right. Some fellow has been interfering with us this time. I don’t know who he is either… but surely finding out that much won’t be difficult, will it?”
Even as he spoke, the marquis found his mouth bitter. To think that Gran
-Vander himself would call eliminating Gran
-Vander a trivial matter…….
Although the marquis did not consider martial might his greatest weapon, he could not help feeling bitter.
-Vander, who is currently blocking the plan.”
As he spoke, Marquis Narasha showed them a report and portraits of Count Roman and the Sword Saint Kira.
Though these two men followed different paths, they would later become a source of strength for Tian. Moreover, the positions they occupied were so powerful that eliminating them would inevitably bring about enormous repercussions.
When those words ended, the smallest of the rippling, human-shaped waves vanished at once. After that, the remaining waves began disappearing one by one.
Before long, only Marquis Narasha remained in the underground chamber.
‘Whew… I do not know whether this is truly the best choice…….’
They were the last card he had intended to bring out only if things escalated into a war with another nation.
When he first made contact with them, he had trembled with fear. But at the same time, he had been unable to contain his joy.
A sharp blade was dangerous, but if one attached a proper handle and used it well, it became a weapon more excellent than any other.
If he made proper use of their abilities, he would be able to greatly expand Tian’s influence during his own generation.
Believing that his opportunity had arrived, he had hidden them in a corner of his marquisate and completely scrapped his original plans, drawing up an entirely new board to create the best possible circumstances in which to use them.
They were people whom everyone ought to fear, and everyone did need to fear them—but that object of fear must not be Tian. It had to be Karan and Taran. To make that happen, he had to control these dangerous beasts and manage the variables.
Considering how dangerous they were, this was not the kind of place in which to use them.
But there was no other choice. If he continued saving them for later and failed to resolve this situation, he would never get to use them at all.
It was a shame to waste the martial might of the mysterious Gran
-Vander, but… according to his plan, their strength alone would be sufficient. Once he seized the royal family, one Gran
-Vander would not be enough to reverse the tide.
Having thought that far, Marquis Narasha decided not to consider the matter any further. He had made his decision, and that was enough. The rest would be handled by those people.
He then left the underground chamber and headed to the operations room to meet his aides. Since the situation had changed, he needed to refine the plan and manage the variables.
☆ ☆ ☆
Sian had recently begun to think that the God of War was looking after him.
There had been almost no blue fireworks going off lately. Perhaps rumors had spread after he had beaten and arrested several violent criminals last time, because no major incidents had occurred in El
-Lua Street recently.
Strangely, incidents had continued to occur in the other districts at about the same frequency as before, but he decided to take it as a good sign. There was no rule saying that he had to remain unlucky forever, after all. Besides, because incidents had broken out in the other districts, Celine, who had been glued to his side and accompanying him everywhere lately, had gone to support those districts.
In other words, he had perfectly returned to the days before the Day of Calamity. (At some point, Sian had begun calling the day the fireworks had gone off and he had joined up with Celine that.)
They say you only realize the value of something after it is gone… Thinking that there was not a single old saying that was wrong, Sian decided to enjoy the peace that had only just returned—and might break at any moment—more actively and more passionately.
As he patrolled El
-Lua Street with these thoughts in mind, Sian noticed something strange.
‘…
What is that?’
Something transparent, resembling either a cloud or a wave, was moving through the street.
In the wake of the highly suspicious object, the air rippled and distorted the surrounding scenery.
Even if it was transparent, surely something that conspicuous ought to be visible. Yet passersby brushed past the mysterious object as though they could not see anything, while the object itself seemed to take that for granted as it wound through every corner of the street and between the people.
‘…
What is it doing? Is it smelling something?’
This was the place where Sian had beaten the violent criminals last time. The mysterious object was moving back and forth through the street, which was still undergoing extensive repairs, and for some reason, to Sian’s eyes, it looked as though it were sniffing around.
Looking at the unbelievably suspicious unidentified object, Sian decided to organize the current situation.
1. It is so extremely suspicious that he should go over and check it, thereby faithfully carrying out his duty as a Rantia.
2. No one around him could see it. That meant that if he insisted he had not seen it either, he would not be reprimanded later. Besides, every fiber of his being was issuing a powerful warning that getting involved with that thing would become incredibly troublesome.
After organizing the situation this way, Sian realized that he had been worrying over something that required no thought at all.
‘I’m passing by.’
Having assessed the situation, he had absolutely no reason to get involved with that object. Rather, since he had spotted it from a distance, he should be grateful for that fact and avoid it.
Sian prayed to the God of War once more in his heart and turned into an alley beside El
-Lua Street.
But at that moment, the mysterious object, as though it had noticed him, came rushing toward him at tremendous speed.
‘Please pass by… pass by… please!’
Sian pretended not to notice it and hurried his steps. Unfortunately, it seemed that the God of War had abandoned him this time.
The object, rippling incessantly as it approached, had already reached directly in front of him and began firing a strange current at him.
Sian sensed that the current resembled the flow that had come from Miss Shuvil at Miss Elon’s house a few days ago, and he instinctively deflected it.
Then, all of a sudden, the object in front of him began to ripple violently—far more violently than before, as though it had been struck by an earthquake all on its own.
Then, with a *thump*, the ripples scattered, and a small girl dropped out in front of him.
She stared blankly at him, then immediately toppled backward, fainted, and did not get back up.
‘Oh dear…….’
Watching this unfold, Sian sensed the murmuring of the crowd around him. He clutched his head with both hands and let out a deep, anguished sigh.
☆ ☆ ☆
Kal
-Rasha rested with her companions in the space prepared by the marquis of this place, thinking of her younger sister, who had departed on the mission. She would do well. After all, she was the child who had inherited the name of Kal.
Her ability was unusual even among the Exers, who wielded all sorts of powers no one had ever seen or heard of.
Kal
-Kirat. Her beloved younger sister.
The place where she had lived was hell. From the moment she was born, she had never had the luxury of thinking about anything else.
Only survival had value. And it was not just her. She and her companions had to fight, fight, and fight again without end in order to survive. They killed the Harijans that charged at them intent on killing, ate their meat, and lived on…….
As they did so, they continued descending. South… farther south… because the farther they went, the weaker the Harijans became. Of course, their pace was by no means fast.
Very slowly… over the course of hundreds of years… following the instructions of the Seven Elders, they continued descending. Passing through the lands of the fallen empire…….
What blocked their migration, which had continued for hundreds of years, was a massive wall. And there, they encountered the humans who guarded it.
The leader of the humans they met while contemplating the Great Northern Wall extended his hand to them. He helped them cross the wall in secret and created a place where they could live.
At last, they had succeeded in surviving. Though they had left behind the corpses of hundreds and thousands of their companions in the territory of the accursed empire.
This place was so peaceful that it made them restless…….
They had not seen many humans, but they heard that Marquis Narasha, the leader who had welcomed them, was among the strongest people in this place. She remembered laughing with her companions as they spoke of it. It really did seem like a peaceful place.
When the marquis asked them for help, eleven of them, including herself, followed the elder out. It seemed like far too many people just to take one head, but everyone had been growing restless, so the elder had granted their request.
Once Kirat brought them information on the person she had to kill this time, they would begin their operation. In truth, Rasha did not know how Kirat managed to find people so well or how she gathered information on all sorts of things. Her younger sister had never explained it in detail.
In fact, they often knew very little about one another. It was an unwritten rule not to ask about each other… They simply trusted one another with their tasks. Then they had only to show the results.
Kirat, who had served as their guide until now, would tell them where to go this time as well. She always had.
Having reached that thought, Kal
-Rasha shifted her attention from her younger sister to the thing before her called dessert. Food was less delicious than Harijan meat, but this dessert was extraordinary. She needed to eat her fill while she had the chance, then carry out her mission.
With that thought in mind, Rasha bit into the dessert and made a blissful expression.
☆ ☆ ☆
From the collected sayings of Ra
-Vander, “Black Moon” Kara
-Kal, 150 years ago
☆ ☆ ☆
Kal
-Kirat. Her name. The guide who led her companions.
She possessed an ability that had been kept hidden from her since childhood, one she had never told anyone about. Only her older sister, Rasha, knew of it.
She had never heard of anyone other than herself possessing such an ability. Even when she came here and secretly investigated further.
In some cases, the information was detailed; in others, it was unhelpfully vague. Sometimes, strings of incomprehensible words appeared.
But there was one thing he knew for certain.
This ability of his had been of tremendous help in leading not only himself but all of his companions to survival. In fact, after awakening this ability, he had crossed a distance that would normally have taken more than a hundred years in only ten, reaching the Great Northern Wall. It was also this ability that had guided them to meet the humans’ leader.
That was why the Elder had not been worried, even though they had heard nothing from Marquis Narasha about the person they were supposed to deal with.
Because he believed Kal-Kirat would be able to find out.
Sure enough, while standing beside the Elder and listening to his conversation with Marquis Narasha, a strange window appeared in the air as it always did. Whenever he encountered a special situation—not merely information about an object—the window in the air would tell him which path he needed to take.
[Quest generated. Will you accept?]
[Marquis Narasha’s Request. YES/NO]
He still did not know what the word “quest” meant. He understood it as meaning little more than a mission.
Whenever he accepted a mission, detailed directions appeared, telling him which path to take. It also continually provided information that might help him. It was rather unkind in its manner, but that much was sufficient.
When he pressed accept, an additional mission was generated this time as well, and information about it was listed in a long stream.
[You have accepted Marquis Narasha’s request.]
[By order of the Fifth Elder, go to El-Rua Street. There, find traces of the unidentified individual.]
[Reward: 1,450 experience points. Maintain the Fifth Elder’s trust. Slight increase in Exploration skill proficiency.]
He did not know where El-Rua Street was, but he was not worried in the slightest. A map would appear beside him, after all.
After thinking this far, Kal-Kirat left the secret room and began moving in the direction indicated by the map.
Action came before thought. Once he arrived there, it would provide him with additional information again. It always had.
Following the map’s guidance, Kal-Kirat arrived at a place called El-Rua Street, which was magnificent and immaculate. It was enough to make him think that this was what the ruins of the empires he had once passed by might look like if they were restored.
If there had been no mission, he would have leisurely toured the area and searched for a shop selling that thing called “dessert,” but he had no time for that now.
The place to which the map guided him was somewhat out of place even on such a street. It had been smashed to pieces. People were hurrying back and forth, busily working to repair it.
[You have arrived at El-Rua Street.]
[Mission: Find the traces of battle!]
-This is the place where traces remain of the battle between Kuron, a Returner on Marquis Narasha’s side (formerly of the Royal Guard, age 44), and Lirian, a Returner on the royal family’s side (formerly of the Royal Guard, age 43).
-The two fought here before being subdued by an unidentified individual. Find his traces.
Once again, the quest gave him unnecessarily detailed explanations—what use could he possibly have for knowing the backgrounds and ages of the people who had fought here?—and told him what he needed to do.
In any case, he was using Zengar-Klang, the village’s distinctive stealth technique handed down through the generations, so he was invisible to the eyes of those around him. He could simply search slowly and carefully.
Thinking this, Kirat began meticulously examining each object around him.
[! You have discovered “A stone shattered by Sir Kuron’s sword.”]
[! You have discovered “The decoration from Sir Lirian’s scabbard.”]
[! You have discovered “Evidence that the restaurant owner was having an affair.”]
For a while, useless information filled the air, but he did not give up and continued searching carefully. The fact that the quest had guided him here meant that traces had to exist somewhere.
With that thought in mind, Kirat finally discovered a trace.
[! You have discovered “A button dropped by the unidentified individual.”]
[Mission: Find the traces of the scent.]
-The button dropped by the unidentified individual has been found. Its owner, filled with rage, swung his sword and accidentally dropped the button.
-A faint trace of the individual’s scent still remains on the button. Track this scent and uncover the identity of the unidentified individual.
“This should be simple enough…”
To follow the scent, Kirat activated a skill he had acquired from a mission. This technique had saved his companions from countless dangers in the past.
[Skill
-Your sense of smell has greatly improved according to your proficiency.
-A specific scent has been memorized.
-The remaining amount is extremely faint. You must approach within fifteen meters of the individual to detect it.
According to the report Marquis Narasha had given him, the individual seemed to live somewhere nearby. It would be a little troublesome, but he could simply search the scents of everyone passing through the area.
Thinking this, Kirat stood in the middle of the street and began smelling the people who passed by.
He was searching for the unidentified individual…
Before long, an information window sounded for Kirat.
[Skill
-The scent of the button dropped by the unidentified individual can be detected.
-Current distance: 13.55 m
Kirat looked around after reading the information that had appeared in the air. Before long, he found the person toward whom the scent was leading.
“What? Is the skill mistaken?”
His abilities had never disappointed him even once, but this time, he felt doubtful.
In the place he was looking, there was a man staring around at the area with a puzzled expression. He did not give off the distinctive feeling of a powerful person.
Having returned alive from the Northern Great Forest, known as the Land of Death, Kirat possessed instincts approaching those of a beast. These senses, which were especially attuned to the presence of the strong and the dangerous, had never once betrayed him.
Yet he felt none of that from this man.
“He was called Gran-Vander, wasn’t he? Someone at the level of Gran-Vander shouldn’t be able to escape my senses…”
Still, judging from the circumstances, it seemed certain that this man was the one he was looking for.
The information windows and skills had never deceived him even once. Moreover, the man clearly seemed to be looking at him.
He was staring at him with an expression of extreme annoyance, appearing to be about to turn down a side street. If so, then he was undoubtedly powerful. Even those called Masters in this place could not easily sense his stealth technique.
Having thought this far, Kirat felt he needed to confirm it more thoroughly, and decided to check before the man left.
If that man was the Gran-Vander he was searching for, then he would not even be able to approach him using his stealth technique. But stealth was not the only ability he possessed.
In fact, even the Fifth Elder could not find him when he activated all his skills. He would be discovered immediately if he harbored the intent to attack, of course. But he only needed to confirm the man for now, so there should be no problem.
[Skill
-One foot has been placed in another dimension. The traces of your existence have been greatly reduced.
[Skill
-Your ability to assimilate with your surroundings has greatly increased. Your ability to hide from the five senses has greatly increased.
[Skill
-Awareness of you has been greatly reduced. This also applies to awareness by Vander and Exar.
Activating his skills one after another, Kirat pushed even Zengar-Klang to its extreme and swiftly approached the man. As long as he got close enough, information would appear in the air. He only needed to confirm it.
Sure enough, the moment he arrived in front of the man, a window rose in the air.
[Unidentified individual found!]
-You have followed the traces and found the unidentified individual.
-Mission complete: 1,450 experience points acquired. The Fifth Elder’s trust maintained. Exploration skill proficiency slightly increased.
-Return and report to the Fifth Elder. Await further instructions.
The mission-complete notification appeared, so this man was undoubtedly the one. But his mission did not end here. This was a man who had to be killed.
He needed to gather as much information as possible. Even after coming this close, the fact that he could sense nothing at all seemed even more suspicious to Kirat, so he activated another skill.
[Skill
-Analysis of the target beginning.
It was an amazing skill that allowed him to understand his opponent and, further, identify specific weaknesses. Personally, it was the skill he treasured most.
In the past, when the entire village encountered two six-horned Harijans while on the move, this skill had allowed everyone to survive. Though the Tenth Elder had become the Seventh Elder and their numbers had been drastically reduced… without this skill, they might not have been completely wiped out, but far fewer of them would have made it here than had.
That was when it happened.
[Analysis successful! Target: Sian von Roman]
[…Analysis failed! Due to the extreme level difference between the target and yourself, no information other than the name can be read.]
[Your skill has been seen through. The skill is canceled.]
[Because you attempted to use a technique on an opponent with too great a level difference, backlash has occurred.]
“…Huh?”
For an instant, Kirat felt as though someone had struck him inside with a hammer. The backlash from having his skill canceled had engulfed his body.
The flow within him was violently disrupted, and Kirat could not regain his senses. Before he knew it, every skill, including Zengar-Klang, had been dispelled, but he was too dizzy even to care.
As the world around him rapidly darkened, Kirat lost consciousness where he stood.
☆ ☆ ☆
“…So you abandoned your post and are resting here?”
“Abandoned my post? Anyone who heard you would get the wrong idea.
This child suddenly came here and collapsed right in front of me.
It was an emer! gen! cy! in which his life might have been in danger! I had no choice but to return to headquarters like this, even during my sacred working hours.”
“I’m joking, I’m joking. In any case, we can’t find any record of this child’s identity… and he doesn’t have anything that could prove who he is, either. I suppose we’ll have to ask him when he wakes up.”
Feeling the noise around him, Kirat struggled to open his eyes. He still could not properly understand what was happening. From the looks of it, he seemed to be lying on a bed.
Why am I here…?
The last thing he remembered was the face of the man looking at him with a flustered expression.
As the circumstances surrounding his collapse came back to him, Kirat hurriedly sat up and looked around.
“Oh, you’re awake. Hello?”
When Kirat saw the man from his last memory greeting him, he tensed and glared at him warily.
“You didn’t do anything to her, did you? Why is this child so tense when she looks at you?”
“Now, now! What are you saying, Miss Selin? Those are words that will bring down divine punishment.”
Seeing the man bicker with the woman in front of him as though Kirat were not there, Kirat opened his mouth and asked a question.
“…Where is this?”
“Hm? Your accent is unusual. You’re not from around here, are you? This is the Garan-Tia headquarters in the capital. We brought you here to treat you after you collapsed. Fortunately, you don’t seem to have any particular problems, but… do you feel anything strange?”
Hearing the woman answer kindly as she looked at him, Kirat first breathed a sigh of relief. From her concerned voice, it seemed that, fortunately, no one had discovered anything about him.
“Yes… I don’t think there’s anything wrong. My name is Kirat… If there isn’t any other problem, may I leave? My parents will be waiting for me.”
Kirat first thought that he needed to leave this place and return to his companions. Then, just as he had been taught by the marquis’s household, he recited the lines he was supposed to use in an emergency.
Fortunately, his appearance was a great help in situations like this. He looked ten years younger than his actual age, appearing to be no more than fifteen.
“Of course. Be careful, though, in case a problem develops later. Sian, go take this child home.”
“…Me?”
“That’s right. You have to take responsibility until the end. Besides, she’s a girl. Everyone else besides you is on du! ty! right now.”
“Ugh… Understood.”
“Damn it…”
Kirat was flustered at having acquired an escort, but after thinking it over, he realized there was nothing particularly problematic about it.
That man did not seem to consider him especially suspicious yet. He could vaguely claim that he was an Exer and say he had only wanted to play a prank. In fact, if he talked to him on the way, he might be able to obtain some other information.
At that moment, a similar status window appeared in the air.
[Quest: Investigate the details concerning the individual whose identity has been revealed.]
-The unidentified individual who beat down an opponent from Marquis Narasha’s household has been revealed to be Xian von Roman.
-I do not know the extent of the opponent’s cultivation, but he is at least an Elder. Proceed with caution and reveal his identity. [Reward: Information on Xian von Roman, Oratory Skill Improvement, 800 Experience]
After looking at the status window floating in the air, Kirat answered with a laugh, then took Xian’s hand and rose to his feet.
“Yes. Thank you.”
Then, leaving the Galantia main building, he began guiding Xian toward the mansion on the outskirts that Marquis Narasha had temporarily arranged for him.[Status Window: Kal-Kirat]
-Traits: Survivor of the Northern Great Forest, Descendant of Kal, Aksarai’s Accessor
-Level: 37
-Vander: 0
-Exar: 82,000/145,000
-Skills: Arangard’s Eye, Jarvan’s Sense of Smell………
As he walked, Kirat thoroughly examined his own status window and realized that, aside from the disruption in his body’s flow caused by his failed use of the skill earlier, there was nothing seriously wrong with him.
Then he once again glanced at Xian, who was walking beside him with an extremely, extremely annoyed expression.[Status Window: Xian von Roman]
-Traits: Second Son of House Roman, Galantia
-Patrol Guard of the Galantia Security Patrol, ?
-Level: ?
-Vander: ?
-Exar: ?
-Skills: ?……
Nothing appeared at all.
All Arangard’s Eye had revealed was his name and occupation… Of course, that alone would be a great help to the marquis, but for Kirat, who had never experienced anything like this before, the situation was simply bewildering.
Of course, he had never even attempted it on the Grand Elder or the Second Elder, who were of an entirely different caliber and frightened him. But even the Fifth Elder and Seventh Elder, whom he had tried it on, had never detected him.
Kirat attempted to strike up a conversation several times, but he could not learn much from Xian, who made it abundantly clear that he disliked talking.
The mansion on the outskirts was located somewhat far from the capital. Slightly removed from the existing residential district, it stood in the middle of a grassland, exuding a somewhat lonely air.
Before long, they arrived at the mansion prepared by the marquis, leaving Kirat no choice but to thank Xian and enter the residence.[Quest Failed!]
-You have failed to conduct a detailed investigation into Xian von Roman.
-There is no failure penalty.
-It is recommended that you learn more detailed information for future missions.
-You may try again. Would you like to retry? YES/NO
Ignoring the window that appeared in the air, Kirat moved to discuss future plans with his companions.
“Have you found any trace of that person?”<…
Yes, one of our children succeeded in finding him this time.>“You’re impressive. It hasn’t even been long since I entrusted you with the task… Astonishing. Do you need any additional information?”
“The second son of House Roman? Is that child perhaps connected to this incident?”
“…
That child is the unidentified individual? Are you certain?”<…
I am. Our child has never been wrong even once… So he must be right this time as well… Do you doubt us?>“No… It’s just… That child is only seventeen years old.”<……!>Even the Fifth Elder was left dumbfounded by the unexpected answer. Seventeen? Did that mean he had reached the realm of a Grand Vander at the age of seventeen?
Those who had not reached the realm of a Grand Vander might simply cry out, “Good heavens!” in astonishment and leave it at that, but the Fifth Elder and Marquis Narasha could not dismiss it so easily.
Because they themselves had reached that realm. That was why they could not believe it.
A Grand Vander could not understand those who were not Grand Vanders. They might think they understood, but the Grand Vander they knew through rumors did not contain even a tenth of the real thing.
The reason he always reviewed every plan himself was to ensure that his advisers did not accidentally devise a plan that would provoke the Sword Duke Kirain or Count Roman.
An existence capable of overturning the royal authority—the Grand Vander.
It was a realm that even he and the Sword Duke Kirain, hailed as geniuses of the century, had only barely managed to set foot in after passing the age of sixty. He could not describe how shocked he had been when he heard that Count Roman had entered that realm in his fifties.
And yet Xian, who was merely seventeen, was the unidentified individual?
Only then did the Fifth Elder speak with a grave expression.<…
I will verify it once more. Still, just in case, prepare the relevant materials for him……. I do not know whether he is a Grand Vander… but it is certain that the person who subdued those individuals was someone named Xian…….>“Understood. I hope you will look into it once more.”The Fifth Elder vanished amid the familiar ripple, leaving Marquis Narasha alone with complicated thoughts.
He had denied it because it seemed impossible, but if Xian was that individual, then all the inexplicable circumstances up to now fell neatly into place.‘Yes… Let’s not jump to conclusions.’Marquis Narasha decided to wait for the Fifth Elder while revising his plans in preparation for any unforeseen developments. Nothing was certain yet, but there was no harm in preparing a plan in advance.
☆ ☆ ☆
“Hello?”
Xian wore a dubious expression as he looked at the child standing before him and smiling faintly. It was the child who had introduced himself as Kirat and whom he had escorted to the mansion a few days ago.
What was more, today the child had brought along another suspicious person.
“Uh… yes… Nice to see you. What brings you here this time?”
“I came because my older sister wanted to repay you for looking after me back then.”
“Hello. My name is Rat. I heard that my younger sibling caused you some trouble last time… so I came to invite you to a meal.”
‘She’s incredibly beautiful…….’
Xian thought this as he looked at the woman who had introduced herself as Rat. Examining her more closely, he thought that the child named Kirat would also become an outstanding beauty resembling his older sister once he grew up, since he had yet to fully mature.
“Would you perhaps join us for a meal after your shift ends? I have always been worried because my child is so frail, but I could not simply let the person who cared for him go without doing something in return. We have made a reservation at a place called
While Xian pondered whether to accept the request of the two sisters, who gave off a distinctly suspicious air despite there being nothing in particular he needed to do, Kirat and Rasha earnestly tried to persuade him.
The Fifth Elder had said that they needed to investigate this individual further before taking action against him. To do that, they first had to learn anything else they could.
According to the report they had reviewed on Xian, he had recently developed a great fondness for eating. In fact, they had heard that he accepted an invitation from a woman named Ilon of Viscount House Kirion…
If he was in his right mind, he would not accept an invitation from suspicious people, so they had deliberately reserved a famous restaurant in the capital as well, telling him not to feel burdened.
In the end, Xian, whose ears perked up at their persuasion, readily accepted the offer.
“Ahem… If you insist that strongly……. Then I’ll meet you after my shift.”
“Yes. Then please come with us when you finish work.”
“Do you have somewhere to stay until then?”
“Oh, we heard there’s a very delicious dessert shop nearby, so we intend to spend the time there. Please don’t feel burdened. Then we’ll see you a little later.”
After saying that, the sisters turned around. Xian praised himself for living kindly, recalled the meal he had shared with Miss Ilon last time, and became immersed in happy fantasies, hoping this time would turn out the same.