Life before the reincarnation.
Having no place to stay, I wandered the streets, and eventually ended up at the gang’s hideout.
Before I met a friend, I lived there as if I were part of the family, and after a year of living like that, I realized one thing:
“Hey, Nahan, were you involved too?”
“No. I just stood there.”
“What?”
“The elders were the ones who broke the shop, I just stood there quietly.”
My body was something I had to take care of myself.
Of course,
“This kid is funny. Hey, this time you’re carrying it in and out, right? I’ll give you a nice bonus.”
“No. I don’t want to draw a red line.”
“What? Aren’t you going to live with us anymore?”
“Yes. I just want to mooch off you until I’m an adult, then leave quietly.”
“…Bring the paddles and kneel.”
“Yes, sir.”
As you can see, it wasn’t smooth sailing, but the second worst option was definitely better than the worst.
And that’s still the case now.
“You have two eyes, so I’ll gouge out one. How can you say such things?”
“No, that’s you…”
“I didn’t ask you to show me your interrogation skills, I didn’t tell you to pluck out an eye. Gwae-ryong, you’re scarier than I thought.”
“Ho… What kind of ridiculous…”
Judging by the identification badge, it seems he’s one of the Emperor’s secret inner circle. If I get entangled in anything, it’s certain I’ll last no more than three days.
If that happens, the Black Wolf will undoubtedly stir things up, and if the Hero’s Party returns in the meantime?
“Total chaos.”
If the Black Wolf dies, I die too. And if the Eclipse has no one to protect the Emperor…
Thus…
“I’m innocent, so I’ll be on my way.”
Sorry, Dalan.
Since there’s a risk of being falsely accused of instigation or contract killing, I was about to hastily leave when the man grabbed my arm.
“Nothing happened, right?”
“Hm?”
“I just came to have a conversation with Yellow Dragon. Nothing happened, right?”
Saying this, the man’s eyes sparkled so brightly they were almost transparent, so I caught his meaning and asked one last question.
“There’s a serious bruise around your eye, though.”
“I tripped and fell on my own.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. Thank you for your concern, but don’t you have more urgent matters to attend to?”
It means let’s consider the violent incident just now as not having happened and listen to what he has to say instead.
Despite his rather despicable appearance, he was a man of great integrity and uprightness.
“If you’re going to insist that much, there’s no reason I can’t listen. Go ahead and tell me.”
Only after he completely let his guard down and nodded did he hand me the badge again.
“Let me introduce myself again. I’m the commander of the Black Spot knights secretly founded by His Majesty the Emperor, Amelar.”
“Amelar? With that face, Amelar?”
“Yes?”
“Oops.”
After uttering an inappropriate remark worthy of a Yellow Dragon, I corrected myself and added,
“No, sorry. Your name… it’s just very beautiful.”
“Kikikiki, I understand. It’s a kind of name you’d hear in a kids’ doll play. However, it was directly given by His Majesty, so I live with pride.”
“…You’ve had a hard life, too.”
“Not at all. I’m really satisfied.”
Amelar, who had been smiling sincerely, soon stiffened again.
“Anyway, as I mentioned earlier, His Majesty has decided to cancel the warrant order he previously issued to Yellow Dragon.”
“The warrant order?”
“Yes. Therefore, a sufficient ‘fee’ will be paid to the Mercenaries Union by tomorrow, as ordered.”
We’re saved.
‘Even though it’s an order that should have been canceled anyway, not only was it canceled first, but they even took care of the fee.’
Though I wanted to cheer, I managed to restrain myself and solemnly asked.
“Reason?”
“…That.”
Amelar looked around and cautiously whispered as he came closer.
“Because His Majesty the Emperor directly witnessed the massacre that just happened.”
‘What, even though Central Square is close to the Imperial Palace, it’s not open enough to be seen from there?’
When I was wondering how he had watched the situation, Amelar added.
“Therefore, the warning level for the Black Wolf and his subordinates has been raised to the final stage, and it’s said that a special response team has been prepared accordingly.”
“Special response team?”
“That’s… well…”
Amelar, who was trailing off, took something out of his coat and handed it over.
A golden envelope,
The Emperor’s seal stamped on the center.
It was the warrant order.
“Isn’t it enough to just tell me?”
“Sorry, it’s only a secret that Yellow Dragon should know…”
Amelar, checking Dalan’s reaction, nodded and opened the letter.
Unlike the previous warrant order, a sheet of pristine white, high-quality paper appeared.
I confirmed the contents written there and couldn’t help but ask.
“Are you really saying that what’s written here is true?”
“…Yes.”
The content bolded on the sheet.
It was,
“To help wipe out the <Black Wolf> and his gang, assist the <Imperial First Army>.”
This was the content of the first incident that prompted the Hero’s Party to retreat in the original work.
If things continued as they did in the <original>, the Black Wolf and the <Imperial First Army> would clash within a week.
The result would be an overwhelming victory for the Black Wolf.
In this process, unavoidable casualties would occur, including in the list of victims the family of one of the members of the Hero’s Party who served as a guardian.
The Emperor’s incompetence would be exposed,
the death of the guardian’s family,
<Eclipse>‘s media play.
For these three reasons, the Hero’s Party decided to retreat, abandoning the <Emperor> to <Eclipse>, opposing the Black Wolf.
The result,
“Kill them all, kill the Emperor too, and it’s just fine, all will end.”
It leads to bad ending.
‘Think clearly.’
Even if the plot followed the original, it wasn’t entirely a bad thing.
Because the knowledge from the original could be used only if the story followed the original.
…But.
‘Does it mean I can just sit by and watch this foreseeable massacre unfold?’
The casualties in the army conflict aren’t just the guardian’s family.
After the incident, a grand joint funeral would be held, with numerous deaths.
“Of the eight hundred thirty-six thousand ninety-two soldiers, three hundred forty-two hundred seventy soldiers lost their lives.”
What was printed in words was just that, but if this place were really reality…
“…It must be stopped.”
Of course, I wasn’t exactly altruistic, and it wasn’t like I was randomly struck with hero syndrome either.
But knowing the upcoming tragedy and having the power to prevent it,
“It might as well be stopped.”
That was all it was.
“…Ah, Yellow Dragon?”
I raised my head to meet Amelar’s gaze as I thought about alternative solutions.
“When is the operation?”
“In six days.”
In six days. I had anticipated it, but the time was still too short.
“I’ll accept it, so you can go.”
“Are you sure? If you’ve accepted, you’ll need a detailed explanation, right?”
“It’s just after a fierce battle with some thugs, I’m tired. I’ll contact you again soon.”
“Ah… Sorry for detaining you for so long. I’ll leave today, but please communicate through the Mercenaries Union district manager later.”
“Alright.”
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
Perhaps due to the protection of the sun?
“…Is it really you, Yellow Dragon?”
“Shh! He’s speaking!”
“…Who’s in front? They look like a villain, but aren’t you one of the Black Wolf’s subordinates?”
Due to the increasing presence of people in the secluded alley, Amelar hurriedly turned her body and disappeared into a narrower alleyway.
Only then did Dalan, hiding in the corner, step forward with a smile.
“I thought you looked like a villain, but you seem to be a reliable man.”
“Hmm. That’s uncertain.”
Eclipse, a group spread throughout the empire yet rarely revealed themselves.
At first glance…
No, even after conversing with him, he seemed decent, but one could not let down their guard.
“Anyway, let’s go.”
“Already? Don’t say that and let’s go another way. They’re in the mood to let go of today’s trouble, so let’s pick someone and get free drinks.”
“No. I have something to do.”
“Something to do?”
Dalan, seemingly confused, tilted his head as I whispered quietly.
“I’m going to kidnap someone.”
“What did you…!?”
Dalan, startled, lowered his voice and whispered back to ask,
“Kidnap?! They already heightened the alert, so what are you saying all of a sudden?”
“What’s all this talk? Literally.”
“What?! Who on earth…!!”
As mentioned earlier, there are three triggers that lead the Hero’s Party to a decisive retreat.
The Emperor’s apparent incompetence,
The death of the Guardian’s family,
The media play of Eclipse.
Originally, all these would occur due to the conflict between the First Army and the Black Wolf. However,
“Through this ‘Central Plaza’ incident, two conditions are already fulfilled.”
The Emperor’s incompetence,
And Eclipse’s media play.
“So what remains is?”
The Hero’s Party,
The death of the Guardian’s ‘family’.
After considering this, I smiled at Dalan and whispered softly.
“Call Ruby, Dalan. Tonight, we’re raiding the Gardner house.”
“Can I ask my target?”
“The Guardian’s younger sister, Hestia Gardner.”
This isn’t an order from the Yellow Dragon but the Black Wolf.
Dalans’ attitude changed swiftly. Maintaining his usual gentle smile, he bowed his head.
“Everything will go as the captain wishes.”
“There are too many eyes watching. Lift your head, Dalan.”
“Yes, captain. Then before summoning Ruby, what should I do first?”
That’s simple.
I replied solemnly.
“Book a hotel.”
“…Yes?”
“One with a clean and soft bed.”
“…Yes, captain.”
Alright, before night falls,
Let me take a nap, shall we?
A few hours later.
Located at the northern end of the region, the center of the Gardner Barony, the mansion of the Gardner Baron.
As always, it was peaceful, until a commotion arose.
“Black Wolf!!”
“The Black Wolf and his subordinates have appeared!!”
“Protect Miss Hestia!!”
Indeed, the attack was by the Black Wolves.
The same as the ‘Central Plaza Incident’ earlier, masked assailants with the wolf insignia dressed in black attacked here as well.
The region where the Gardner Barony is located is a bit away from the jurisdiction, yet rumors always spread fast and get exaggerated.
“They’re monsters who’ve cut hundreds of heads!!”
“They tear people alive, protect your necks!!”
“Damn it, take care of the lady first!!”
The knights, crouched in fear, were focused solely on the two figures. They didn’t notice the other shadow slipping away.
Thus, the remaining figure could reach the predetermined location.
That was the most secure yet somewhat isolated place in the Gardner Barony.
The only sister of Balkin Gardner, the guardian of the Hero’s Party.
“Sorry for the late-night intrusion, may I come in for a moment?”
“…That’s a window, not a door.”
“What, isn’t a window also a door?”
Inside Hestia Gardner’s room…
