Chapter 361: Imperial Palace (1)
ynBI slept deeply. I had been worried about not adjusting well to the time difference, but it was an unnecessary concern.xrJaU3u
oTYgLZ‘Looks like going back and forth from the Demon Realm helped me develop a tolerance to jet lag.’aQaw
yW0mI was drying my hair with a towel when—2kxgL
3NIAYJrKnock knock.MbF
uPHYThe sound of knocking on the door bounced off the wall and echoed through the emptiness.vSVC45
AlfgRD“Hmm?”adDLgl
giXySLyWho could it be?awCc0
bNJV7zCIt couldn’t be the staff. I had made it a condition that no one was to attend to me in my room while I stayed at the imperial palace.B2dQxO
38AP7Not because I feared assassination. I just wanted to avoid awkward situations with women entering my room while I was away from home.zMD
FSPSQdMy conscience still weighs heavy after what happened with Media that time at the Antarctic base.r4sxTAA
1VlBRI opened the door cautiously. It might have been a butler.yCvA3
AGoBut the person on the other side of the door was completely unexpected. It was a woman—and not one from the staff.ksU
WsHzIt was someone the staff served.KBz1
MkE65“Heavenly Sword…”ngt4
wuYWZIt was Princess Victoria. She was carefully holding my freshly ironed clothes.vFPnoS
wGXgk“What brings you here, Your Highness…?”5K5xiHf
qK6d3I stopped mid-sentence when I noticed where Victoria’s eyes were looking.QXMvQb
Wcp3R‘Ah.’Wh1Hg4
AyXpnThe fact that she had my clothes meant I… was naked. I only had a towel wrapped around my lower half, walking through the room.BBk
nA4XFIt seemed the knot in the towel had loosened. Right at that moment, the towel slipped with a soft sound.c0LI
3f5iiK5“Kya!”DPwKYhJ
TTE00UIKya…?TuO6x
txaca“Kyaaaaaaaaa!”6hoAPi
x5UA loud morning scream awakened the day. The owl stretching on a tall tree flew off instantly.Z3g
mf6K***LHfe
6FCznuS“…I’m sorry for coming unannounced.”eJd
ymWVictoria apologized in a barely audible voice. She was looking at the wall.dp7
9hU“I’m fine… but you, Princess…”Kicevt
thbcWhile I dressed quickly, I watched her carefully. All my senses were on high alert.oXJRys
7XiPuIf word of this got out, it would be a scandal. If someone had seen this scene, I’m afraid I wouldn’t escape from making threats.kjPyC9l
QnxKRvI have to survive no matter what.5KpWVo
y8I‘Wow, I’m drenched in cold sweat. So much for having taken a bath.’1izOKE
DLQ6qVictoria explained she came because of a condition I mentioned to the emperor.cjoX0
r6sMonTThey had to deliver my clean clothes, but since they couldn’t approach me, the servants were waiting nervously in the hallway.YxDn9Z
dtoMlVictoria took the opportunity to also act as my breakfast guide. I set that condition to avoid contact with women, but it backfired.ec1LS
Nwr3mI’m constantly being tested. Damn suppression.EdTHuqx
SFqN“I’m also… okay. I feel like my earlobes are about to explode.”BfqW8
tzV27a“…I had my birthday last week, I’m an adult now. So it’s fine.”jRHB0
JC8uAh, so that was why. Looks like I underestimated Her Highness.KW1YvbR
ozqu6“You may turn around now.”1sl
COq“Yes…”Q8S
5tLnAs I dressed, Victoria watched me intently and then asked:pJEXwY
l0QHn“Seems like you like that black coat. Didn’t you used to wear a white one?”F5wFU
ihvYeZ“It was a gift from Abel. I really like the design and color, so I wear it almost every time I go out.”Vg2I
zfW1“Actually, black suits you better than white, Heavenly Sword. It gives you a more… intense air. It matches your wild nature…”OmbbFXa
GvBgshVictoria left the sentence hanging, and her face flushed red.wzsHF
qiVz5Huh? Did she say something embarrassing…?sMlAl
AkS‘Ah.’asPB
MVLAWW“Beastly.”4BBz
cCaN“Forget it, Princess.”neUEZ8m
WTDmLb“Yes, I’ve already forgotten. Completely forgotten. Besides, lucky sukebe are the ones that trigger flags…”H0gf9l7
lqqFlags? More importantly…jAngCBr
Nyl“Do you know what a lucky sukebe is?”sqnOoVX
9zo“Ah, ahh! No, no I don’t…!”90rsgT
5peOf course she knows. She used the term perfectly, at just the right moment.eSPyBrs
oR0xC“But… how do you know, Heavenly Sword…?”vZBJtd
QgMZjRcDamn, she cornered me. Fell into my own trap. But come on, who am I? Even as the most famous swordsman in the country, none of my secrets have ever been discovered.uHrxf
iRiXq7“Ryozo is Japanese.”XTUH6FM
ng4I answered shamelessly.6QjDsJe
89TVF7“I learned it from her.”5ix0of
NjXxw79Sorry, Ryozo.dmeb
sQELzXq“I don’t think the principal teaches things like that…”Kln
WkGRga“That’s her public image. In reality, she’s very well-informed in that area.”UulhdMI
GD0aR“Ah… I see.”p7sWEZX
CEkdWhen I get home, I’ll make it up to you. I love you.fxx5M
uqZc‘Even so, how odd that the princess didn’t know what a lucky sukebe was.’CzVD
6aiTnYDespite all the incidents we’ve experienced together, I always felt a certain distance between us.KDFZg
8XOdAO6But now, even if just a little, I feel a closer connection.O21tub
BkKndW‘An internal connection forged by a lucky sukebe…’gakgqPC
WnrKp8LHow depressing. Let’s change the subject.iTgBwDq
fNy“Shall we go?”Zko
9nUaf“Yes.”T6AZupO
akAhT1EGuided by Victoria, I headed toward the banquet hall. Two sets of footsteps echoed at steady intervals.nr5R0A
ImzThe hallway was long and wide, large enough to host many people.0IlBO
hL2T83As we walked, some aligned faces began to stand out.Rb9cG
OU3yXjThe maids greeted us with bows. Then the royal guards raised their swords in salute.qe1RQ
lCwojI returned a slight nod and kept walking. I felt their gazes piercing my back. They were hostile.PJF
av9LOpn‘How uncomfortable.’a1k
qp43KKAfter a long walk, the hallway grew darker. There were fewer windows. Instead of the morning sunlight, oil lamps were hung on the walls.yoM
n2WMore than a banquet hall, it looked like a dungeon. So of course, there should be a gatekeeper.KMCqqwz
7HG5sAnd right in front of the enormous door, a woman was standing.CCwAaV
DrvTiRHer appearance was so peculiar it stood out even from a distance. She had ash-gray hair and an eyepatch with a red eye drawn in the center.nBzU9s
I0Tr3“She’s one of the closest to His Majesty.”mh51t
zijOVictoria, noticing my gaze, cleared the doubt.yzZF
UELKL“From the Ryoo family of Pungsan.”D91jR
PVrGFShe added the detail.VQAiMh
Uv57“The Pungsan family? The ones who train every sense but sight from childhood?”biVH
r7GN“Yes.”3S1EBVO
2R9The Pungsan family doesn’t appear in the pregame guide for Miracle Blessing M.hgda
mX0EII discovered them by chance about ten years ago. It’s a lineage shrouded in mystery.JXi5
2k3USimilar in activity to the Auditore, who move between light and shadow, but with a different nature.kF1Umvo
EOGGThe Pungsan family never sets foot in the light.3BLMRrm
n1C‘Despite being heroes, they’re never admitted to the academy.’2Rt
OSgThey only operate in the dark. Perhaps giving up sight is part of that.HSLi2NP
4LZ1JVictoria murmured:PT90g
wnjmy0M“The Pungsan family chooses the most promising member and sends them to the imperial palace. It’s always been that way.”k0t
snf5“It’s the first time I’ve seen one… and she’s already the most talented of her family? What’s her role?”S4ar
hIg“She’s a palace official.”krD
Lzorjo1“She’s that capable?”ELJW
jV7“In terms of energy perception, they say she’s among the best in her family’s history.”uqFXa7r
jaS6Victoria replied with an uneasy expression. Seems she doesn’t get along with that blind official.tA5uPZ
yR3‘If she’s a palace official, she must serve directly under the current emperor. And if the princess doesn’t get along with the emperor, it makes sense she wouldn’t get along with her either.’7MZ6dzK
buwJADeduction complete, I nodded. Just then, we reached the door of the hall.eMlrpl
Ww4CVXThe palace official gestured with her chin as a greeting and pushed the door open without a word.EycO
CHy6With a deep sound, the door opened. Victoria entered without even glancing at the official.yX1G7l
RJzJNXgI was about to enter the banquet hall when…eulj
mp6e5OJ“…Thank you.”XRXm
rYKBgaThe palace official, who had been silent like a rock, finally spoke.UYnNjLf
4aJfS5I turned to look at her. She bowed her head as if to say she had nothing more to add.XauV
PrKRWas it something like “Thank you for visiting us”? It didn’t seem to have that kind of tone.6W5M1
vkDbZAgI let that small knot in my head slide and headed to my assigned seat.IwM
MOUremiThen, the palace official rushed over and pulled out my chair. Victoria slightly parted her lips.dkv
Qr0BwC“Palace official, that’s not something you usually do.”0y3Ati
i1sX5A sharp tone, tinged with distrust.yT5Z
zov“Because he is a special guest, His Majesty ordered special attention.”hgv0
Sc6wDye“I don’t believe that order means the palace official should perform staff duties. Am I wrong?”Op5c
tdVgm“A palace official of the Imperial Palace has sufficient discretion to make decisions like this.”Wrx59
sr0k0HThe atmosphere tensed immediately. The official didn’t yield a single word.astDxD2
bfvTvLIt felt like a direct challenge to the authority of the imperial family. A scene that clearly showed the kind of treatment royal family members receive within the palace itself.yAVo
kvLiMore precisely, the treatment received by blood royals who are not the Emperor.bPbFaaa
GyeR1o“Don’t you think a palace official serving at the table like a common maid diminishes the dignity of the Imperial Palace?”39y
V4VYAEven so, Victoria was first in line to the throne. Her words carried much more weight than most other royals.RjVZ10
7UGsI8“I’m sorry, but I can’t offer further explanations.”99e1Li
joeThShe replied naturally, and gave me a slight nod.5xHCIB
XHkz1FIt seemed like some kind of signal.TbIpPvR
YjGBpEG‘Do we know each other…? Why is she acting like this out of nowhere?’Bxt
R7vLIn any case, just then, the servants began to bring in the food, which helped ease the tension.wDA
3Ef4JcAmid the awkward atmosphere, I reached out for the cutlery.ZK2lJ2g
Vqi1Qk“Allow me to cut it for you.”CyJm
5koThe palace official quickly began slicing the steak. She was so fast that by the time I tried to reach for the knife, the meat was already perfectly cut into portions.tgVYk0C
SZZI was left speechless.VVR
w9FDVictoria, stunned, couldn’t even get a word out. When I looked at her, the official silently retreated into the shadows.UB4
tKnr2roUnsure of what to do, I put a piece of meat into my mouth. It tasted as good as it looked.KPx6
hUBSa‘If it weren’t for the atmosphere, it would be delicious.’MZQb96
uxtK5wWhen only the bones were left on the plate, they immediately brought out a fish dish.urh
csq9As expected, the palace official rushed over and skillfully removed the bones.vZuHUM
nFZE29Even I, known as the best swordsman in the country, was surprised by her dexterity. But wait, wasn’t she blind?nII2u
4KMew“Palace official!”Awb7yxy
FkT8dpThe cutlery clattered loudly on the table. Victoria stood up abruptly, slamming her fist on the table.vGZ
lpTzu“What kind of disgraceful behavior is this?!”vqc4W
TR5“…”N6vs6I
KTmVKThe palace official looked at her while holding the fork. More precisely, she just turned her head in that direction, since she wore an eye patch.qeTU
F9epsw“I, too, love the Imperial Palace as much as Your Highness.”yYNU4mP
sgMShe clung to me like a shadow as she firmly delivered her declaration.18NYGNy
7HAq“And all my actions are part of my fight to protect it. I would appreciate it if you could keep that in mind.”sdhfPD
3wp“Ha…”h7BXl
MPrVictoria let out a sigh of exasperation.Elf
7IYQ“Is cutting meat part of that fight?”PN1
AbbnUx6“Yes.”I2AXJl
GdFr“Removing fish bones too?”PmSyrbW
YHEU“Of course.”vcSX4
ik6“What’s next then, giving yourself completely?”iCGog
oKE“If necessary, I could even help him bathe. I’m blind anyway, so it’s not a problem, right?”EQJxsd
KMkr‘Please, why are you doing this to me…?’iNm8v
f8uGiQ“Palace official!”Tmw
xvooA verbal fight without physical violence broke out over the wide table. I sat there, pale, completely out of place.ZP017
dAR44bbI didn’t know what to do. Intervening would be meddling, and I didn’t have the ability to mediate between them.mnPla
VTQ79tBut what intrigued me most was why the palace official was being so excessively attentive.DrM
zPz7zShe seemed to have mistaken me for someone else. Did I save her once without knowing it?4YY
rfMYD5‘…Maybe I should just go home…?’CY5Ivic
HiqAt that moment, whether it was coins, EX-grade enhancement materials, or anything else, I didn’t care.VdsBVrd
VSttLLMI just felt an overwhelming urge to go home, rising up my throat like a primal instinct.kZB
Nb6While I sat in that state, the palace official gave me a slight smile, tugging at the corner of her lips.QVR9iy
R7XAAfter the meal, there was already a scheduled agenda.h2Ls
IdTN1SMI had to talk to this woman. No matter what.FAKHw
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