𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟏: 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (2)
‘𝘐𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺. . . 𝘚𝘪𝘨𝘩. . . .’
Although he had returned to the academy and had regained his family’s support, it was only enough to maintain his dignity.
As a member of the Order of the Holy Knights, he received a salary, but it wasn’t enough to cover the cost of potions. It was time to think about a business that would generate a stable income.
“Sigh. . . .”
He had enough capital to start a business, but that would make it difficult to buy various consumables for several months. . . .
‘𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮. . . .’
It only made sense to start a business with his own capital.
‘𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵. 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵.’
It seemed like he would have to temporarily leave the academy.
‘𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺.’
If he said that he had obtained a clue about the blood chaos demon and needed to investigate it outside the academy, the Headmaster would surely grant him permission.
This time, he would have to go further than he had gone north before. It wasn’t even part of the empire’s territory.
It was an area with various names, such as the abandoned land, the lawless zone, the wasteland, and the great desert. It was a place where all sorts of bandits roamed, and where desert tribes that did not submit to the empire’s rule lived.
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
“Hmm. . . . . . But weren’t you in charge of the chaos demons in the capital?”
‘𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥.’
“It’s to cut off the forces that are supporting the chaos demons in the capital. And there are things I need to confirm. . . .”
“How long will it take?”
“About a month, I think?”
“A month. . . . . . Even though I promised to support you, Oswald, a month is too much.”
“Hmm. . . .”
“Don’t be too disappointed. There has to be a way, right?”
“Is there a way?”
“Our academy has something called field training, where we go outside for a period of time. And first years usually go on field training twice a year, once in the first semester before break and once in the second semester.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“There have been several chaos dungeons occurring in Abas City, a city in the eastern part of the southernmost continent that trades with the south.”
“But wouldn’t it be more of a problem if I disappeared during field training?”
“I’m thinking of requesting cooperation from the Chaos Defense Bureau(Chaos Invasion Defense). Of course, the Empire will also send troops to provide protection, but wouldn’t it be better if the Chaos Defense Bureau joined?”
“I don’t really see how that has anything to do with me being able to act separately.”
“I’m thinking of having you raid the dungeons in teams.”
“The problem is my teammates.”
“That’s why we’ll randomly pick your teammates for that period only.”
“But we’ll still be moving to a different place. . . Won’t there be problems?”
“The CID recently infiltrated five students into our academy. As a result, seven new students have been added to the first year.”
“Then there shouldn’t be a problem forming teams.”
“That’s right. You’ll be working closely with the undercover students from the Chaos Defense Bureau.”
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
Weekend. . . Oswald was introduced to one of the students who had been infiltrated by the Chaos Defense Bureau, at the Headmaster’s request.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Abigail Everjohnson. I’m from the New Continent.”
New Continent. Located in the west of the Titan Continent, where the Imperial Empire and the Great Eastern Empire were located, the New Continent was an undeveloped land. As a result, it was a land where chaos had already eroded many areas and where many chaos demons were active.
In order to drive out the Chaos Demons, the CID, a multinational transcendental organization, brokered a deal with those who developed the New Continent, giving them the right to rule over as much land as they developed.
Thanks to this, many people left for the New Continent in search of opportunities for advancement and a chance to turn their lives around, and only a few of them achieved it.
‘𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵. . . . . .’
First Princess Amelia Tygon Paranox.
She led her followers to the New Continent, acquired a fairly large territory, and declared it the Paranox Territory.
Behind her success was a policy that favored knights of the Order of the Holy Knights. Many demon hunters were active in the Paranox Territory, and they took care of the chaos demons on their own, so she was able to expand her territory easily.
“Oswald Winchester, of the Order of the Holy Knights.”
“If you need the CID’s help in the future, please come and see me.”
“I will.”
“Since we’ve met like this, why don’t we go have lunch somewhere?”
Oswald hesitated at Abigail’s words, but then quickly made a decision. He had seen Alicia in the distance.
“Alright.”
“But this is my first time in Central, so I don’t know the geography very well. Can I ask you to show me around?”
“Let’s go.”
On weekends, it was possible to go outside without having to get a pass.
Just then, Alicia, who had spotted Oswald, tried to call out to him, but stopped when she saw the glamorous woman next to him.
‘𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵? 𝘖𝘩! 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘈. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘖𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘥?’
Alicia was curious. As far as she knew, Oswald wasn’t the type to flirt with women. Of course, that was after he had changed his ways. Just then. . .
“As expected, a dog can’t stop eating poop. . . . . . Alright, I’ll dig into this thoroughly this time.”
“Huh. . . Elsa?”
“What are you doing, Alicia? Shouldn’t we look into what that criminal is plotting?”
“Huh?”
“Let’s go quickly. We’ll miss it.”
“Ah. . . No. . . . . .”
Alicia was flustered and didn’t know what to do, but in the end, she followed Elsa.
“Student Oswald.”
“I know.”
“How should we deal with them?”
“They’re students in my class. One of them is the beloved daughter of Nightwalker, one of the five great dukes. She still thinks I’m a delinquent student who commits petty crimes from when I was reckless, and she’s chasing me to catch me in the act. . . The other one is Alicia Valian, the only daughter of Marquis Valian, the Explosion Wizard. She keeps asking me to join the Vanguard, which is really annoying.”
“Hmm. . . . . . You’re quite popular, Student Oswald.”
“I don’t know if I’d call it popularity. . . . . .”
Oswald took Abigail to a decent carriage and asked the coachman to recommend a good restaurant and take them there.
“I don’t really know much about Central either. But when that happens, it’s best to ask the coachmen like this. Coachmen know the geography and famous places of a city well.”
The place the coachman took Oswald and Abigail to was the most famous restaurant in Central, ‘Arwen Queens’. ‘Arwen Queens’ was a restaurant that was created and operated by Second Princess Arwen herself.
Anyway, after paying the coachman, they went inside and a waiter led them to a suitable table.
“Here are the menus.”
“Hmm. . . . . . What would you like to order?”
“Let’s get the course menu.”
Abigail ordered the A course, and Oswald ordered the B course.
“They’ve arrived.”
At those words, Oswald tried to look back, but Abigail stopped him.
“You don’t want to let them know that we noticed they were following us, do you?”
“Ahem. . . . . .”
After a while, the appetizer for the course menu came out first. They were eating when. . . Oswald suddenly turned his head, sensing a filthy and familiar demonic energy that was different from Alicia’s or Elsa’s.
Then, a disgustingly handsome man waved at him.
“Do you know him?”
“He’s a seduction chaos demon that I failed to take care of a while ago.”
“. . . . . .”
The seduction chaos demon got up from his seat and walked towards Oswald, sitting down at his table.
“Wow, the lapdog is on a date. . . That’s certainly unusual. You’re even an academy student?”
“Your life is longer than I thought. How’s your severed arm?”
Oswald’s words made the demon’s face stiffen for a moment, but he soon smiled and replied nonchalantly.
“Hahaha, you’re just a lapdog who can’t do anything on your own.”
“Just you wait, I’ll come back to finish you off soon.”
“Do you know where I’ll be?”
“What, do you think I wouldn’t be able to find you if I looked?”
“Hahaha. Then, my lady, I’ll be taking my leave.”
Abigail smiled brightly without realizing it as the seduction chaos demon bid her farewell.
“. . . Haa. . . . . . Disgusting. . . . . .”
Abigail realized that she had just been charmed and made a disgusted expression.
“Is he an Incubus?”
“Yes, but you resisted quite well.”
“I trained to deal with those kinds of guys. . . . . . And yet I still got caught. He’s not an ordinary one.”
“He’s a high-ranking one. He’s a demon just below archduke, so he’s bound to be powerful. You’d need to be at least Platinum rank to stand a chance against him.”
“I guess I should report it to the authorities.”
“I already have.”
“But why hasn’t there been any action taken?”
“He’s a parasite on the Second Princess, so it’ll be difficult.”
“Why, can’t we get help from the imperial family?”
Even the CID, a multinational transcendental organization, found it difficult to touch an Imperial without evidence, especially when the succession was still uncertain.
‘𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦.’
First Prince Valentine.
He was currently first in line for the throne and had a lot of support in the senate.
‘𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭.’
Having played as Valentine, he knew how outstanding the first prince was.
‘𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘮 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵.’
Gilgamesh was also a Platinum rank character, but so was First Prince Valentine. He had played as a Sword Master from the beginning, so he was practically a candidate who could succeed to the throne without any difficulty.
“If you really need to contact the imperial family, I would recommend First Prince Valentine.”
“Why is that?”
“That’s for the CID to find out, isn’t it?”
Valentine also had another side to him, his heroic activities as ‘Peacemaker’.
‘𝘗𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳’, 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴.
Of course, most of the corrupt officials were his enemies, so he gained popularity with the public, got rid of his enemies, and relieved stress all at once. . . It was like killing three birds with one stone.
Unless you were playing as the first prince, there was no way to stop First Prince Valentine from becoming emperor, no matter which route you took.
‘𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘞𝘢𝘳. . . . . .’
When he played as Gilgamesh, he had helped the first prince and launched a coup d’état just before the world war broke out, preventing the war from happening.
“You need to have some information to find out?”
“Hmm. . . . . . Let’s just say he’s on the side of justice.”
“On the side?”
“On the side.”
After finishing their course meal, the two of them left and headed back to the academy.
“Come to think of it, the Headmaster mentioned that you had something to do in the south. What is it?”
“There’s something I’m pursuing related to the blood chaos demon. . . . . .”
“Blood. . . . . . It seems like there’s no Chaos force that isn’t involved.”
“Yes, it’s hard to tell if this is the capital of the Empire or the capital of Chaos. If this was the Great Eastern Empire in the east, it would be a dream come true.”
Unlike the Imperial Empire, the Great Eastern Empire had an absolute monarchy. In particular, the intelligence and surveillance organization they created, Dongchang, was an organization that surpassed Hecaton.
At least everything that happened within the Great Eastern Empire went through Dongchang, so it was difficult for chaos to operate. In addition, the Ghost Corps, a unit that specialized in hunting chaos, was a group similar to the Order’s demon hunters.
The only difference was that, unlike demon hunters who acted individually, they moved and fought as a group.
What’s more, all the surrounding countries followed the Great Eastern Empire’s Heavenly Order and served as vassal states, so the entire continent could fight against chaos.
“It’s definitely easier in the east. I originally wanted to go to Heavenly Martial Academy.”
Heavenly Martial Academy.
If there was Imperius Academy in the west, there was Heavenly Martial Academy in the east of the Great Eastern Empire. It was an educational institution that taught martial arts and various other subjects and cultivated talented individuals.
“But why here?”
“Because there are so many competitors.”
For new CID agents, the east was a dream workplace where they were less likely to encounter chaos.
“Anyway, it was nice spending time with you.”
“Have a good day. . . . . .”
After parting ways with Abigail, Oswald also returned to his dormitory.
Leave a Reply