Translator: RainTL
Puzzle Pieces (2)
Banquets were exclusive to nobles.
Simply put, it was one of the few places where nobles, in the midst of their decline, were able to show off and save face.
Feudal lords were no longer as powerful as they were in the past, and being an official of the central governnt beca the primary objective of everyone, which was why the royal family often held these banquets to appease their desire to et others and show themselves off.
From where? Ah, that peasant district, huh?
From the East. Tch!
Go look for my n by tomorrow. The road managent team seems to have caught sight of a demonic beast.
It was commonplace in gas, was it not?
Do this, do that, grab so herbs from the nearby hill, kill 100 demonic beasts
Why the hell did these stupid NPCs treat national heroes like subcontractors?
Park Sihu and I understood the reasoning behind this only after experiencing these nobles first-hand in the last iteration.
Whether it be superhuman knights, mages, or national heroes, peasants were peasants and the player was considered a barbarian from an unknown territory.
Although the peerage system in this world was in decline, it wasnt gone just yet and no one looked at us favorably.
They treated us like upstart peasants in the last iteration but
Lord Lork. I am Baron Belver, a Grade 3 administrative officer of the royal court. If you do not mind, I would love to invite you to the Baron Club
Count Poitie here. What a perfect pair you two make!
Justice of the Peace, was it? Thats a magnificent post. If you happen to visit the Lopital region, please do co for a visit.
Seriously
It seed that having the peerage of a baron was incredibly different from being without one.
Actually, even this probably wasnt much in their eyes because it wasnt a hereditary title. The real reason they were being so amicable was probably
Ah, hello. Lopital? I think Ive been there with my family once.
Wow, Baron Club? My youngest brother is going to be inheriting the peerage of a baron very soon, so I will definitely send him there.
There were a lot a bunch of flies going after Marie, the oldest daughter of the Dunareff Dukedom. They probably found it difficult to talk directly to a young lady as male nobles, and their desire to create a connection with Marie through was incredibly apparent.
I wasnt very experienced in this field, so Marie stepped up and took care of all of them with ease.
Fuu
Heres so water.
Nn? Thanks.
She was busy dealing with the flood of nobles so I handed her a glass of water.
You know, most people bring wine when they do that.
Must be a shrewd little guy. Be careful of those people.
Of course. I would have taken it anyti if it was from you though, Korin.
Marie said with a suggestive tone and smile.
Please dont provoke this Oppa too much. Be careful otherwise
Its not very different from the ti when I was at your house, Senior. Actually, it might be even worse.
Nn. Its rare for our family to co up to the royal capital so thats why. Ive also only been here once for my debutante.
Just like the banquet back in the South, she was at the center of everyones attention. I didnt see this in the last iteration because the Dunareff stayed inside their territory, but this proved just how influential they were.
More importantly, Korin, dont you have sowhere to go?
How did you know?
Youve been throwing glances a few tis already. Theres soone you need to et, right?
She appeared to have seen stealing glances at Renya Claire and Ednar. I felt sorry for being a bad partner but it couldnt be helped
Quick. You cant keep that beautiful lady waiting.
This was definitely a sign that I shouldnt go there right? Seeing my feet co to a stop, Marie imdiately loosened the tension on her face.
Hehe, Im joking. Thats the person from the Intelligence Guild that you introduced to us last ti, right? Dont worry about .
Ill make it quick.
Okayyy~.
She smiled while taking a sip from the glass of water that I gave her. For so reason, she seed to be in a good mood today.
There was a eting place that Renya and I had decided on beforehand it was the resting room, Room 2103 on the second floor of the banquet hall.
By the way, when you go into an odd-numbered resting room on the 2nd floor of the banquet hall, a red light cos up, and it is a common rule to not interfere with the room.
Kuhum It was a coincidence. I havent used this place before Well, maybe a few tis, but I was here for the secret discussion with Ednar, and nothing fishy.
-Knock knock!
The mont I knocked on the door of Room 2103, I was t with the beautiful voice of my acquaintance.
-Drift?1TL Note: *Drift: In Korean novels, it tends to refer to plot drifts or sudden changes in genre. Ie. from romance to NTR, or sudden BL drift (Speaking of BL, BL is Boys Love, and hence the following countersign, Boys Not Love)
Go to hell.
-Boys?
Not Love.
-Click!
The door clicked open from the inside after a set of countersigns.
Welco, Boss.
The executive of the Intelligence Guild who was now one of the top mbers of the guild, Renya Claire, welcod in her dress.
Looks good. How about you dress up like that all the ti?
Attracts too many bugs so that would be troubleso.
Renya was a tall beauty and looked beautiful when she dressed herself up, but was still a normal commoner. She was invited to the banquet for being a mber of the Korin Guardians guild but was probably being looked down on for being a commoner, just like from the last iteration.
Are you the guild master of Korin Guardians?
Grade 4 Officer Ednar. She was a young lady with red hair wearing large glasses, who appeared just like an average governnt official. She started shivering before and looked completely like a normal person.
W, why would an esteed guild master such as yourself look for soone like
Lets cut to the chase without wasting our ti. Theres nothing in it for either of us to stay here for too long.
W, what do you an
She still wasnt showing her true self. Her acting skills were astonishing, to say the least, but I knew of her true nature.
Ednar the Leopardess, was it?
Her face turned stiff for a split second, but she quickly regained her mask before long. She probably wasnt sure about what I was trying to get.
Was I referring to Ednar the Leopardess of the SM world? Or was I hinting at sothing bigger?
Ednar. She was a normal low-end officer of the Kingdom but that was her disguise. Her identity was that of the Queen of Night, infamous for what she did at night but
Even that was a disguise.
Ednar Illusan. The Queen of Cats. How is it? Is this enough for us to reveal our hands now?
H, how did you find out?
Still stuttering, huh?
She had yet to fully remove her mask.
Last autumn, the secret sexual preferences of you and the higher-ranked officials were almost exposed, and there was soone from the Intelligence Guild that warned you beforehand, right?
Miss Renya Claire.
Ednar muttered while turning her eyes to the black-haired beauty next to her, who returned a wave with a faint smile.
One of the important pieces of information I told Renya last year to increase her contribution included the story of Ednar.
An SM Queen in control of countless higher-ranked governnt officials.
If that were to be exposed to the public, it would have resulted in a massive scandal and a great impact on the social power balance of the Kingdom. The reason for that was obvious. Who would be happy to find out that their superior had a special sexual orientation where they loved being whipped and squealing like a pig?
More important than the gazes of ridicule and disgust that they would have to overco, it was difficult to imagine that they would be able to keep their post after that.
In fact, after obtaining the information from Renya, the Intelligence Guild had tried to work on Ednar.
However it resulted in a counter-attack and a massacre.
A quick oppression of the executives and blaming them for the illegal obtainnt of information to send them over to the prison island. Aiya~, that was pretty good
Marquis Matona,
Chief of Public Order, Gorgel,
And Michelle, the deputy head maid of the 2nd Palace.
Those were so of her esteed custors. Thinking how these bigshots were masochists in a chicken race, trying to do their best in order to get rewarded by the queen was a bit revolting.
We do have a slightly special preference, but thats just sothing we reveal at night. Trying to ss with that made the custors very upset.
It wasnt just with your custors help though, was it?
W, what do you an?
Anyway, putting that aside, it was thanks to the Intelligence Guild being half-crushed that Renya here was able to grab a position. Whats your position right now?
District Leader of the Intelligence Guild. Right below the Guild Master, Boss.
Right, and that was more than enough. The high executives of her level had access to that event, which was what I had been after all along.
Ku Shee. Ku Shee the Werewolf. Thats the na you were after, Boss.
!
Ednar gave a deep scowl. There was no way that she wouldnt be aware of the value that na had in the Kingdom, and how dangerous it was at the sa ti.
It might not an anything to most people, but if that na were to reach the ears of soone specific it would most certainly result in an unimaginably enormous bloodbath.
That wouldnt be sothing that Ednar Illusan could handle, as a beastman who already lost dozens of her comrades to a brutal massacre.
I see. Ku Shee, that motherfucker, huh?
That was the na of a beastman who would later die in the ga in the middle of the bloodbath. Unless I had filtered the information by specifying the ti and range, the Intelligence Guild wouldnt have been able to find out that na either.
This answered one of my questions from the last iteration.
W, what are you guys talking about?
I wonder, will you still pretend to be clueless even if I were to tell you that I knew of the location of the village of Mound, the demi-human union?
Mound, the demi-human union ford by several demi-human villages. If she continued pretending to be a fool even after hearing that na, I would congratulate her for being so thick-skinned.
Tch.
Ednar collapsed on the sofa along with a large click of her tongue. She took off her large glasses and crushed it with her hand.
Stop showing off, young man.
Now that she took off her glasses and crossed her legs, she gave off a totally different atmosphere. The clueless Grade 4 official was long gone, and replacing that was the Queen of Night, who was using just her voice and eyes to add weight to the atmosphere around her.
Ednar Illusan a high-ranked executive of Mound, the demi-human union ford to protect themselves from persecution. They were one of the core parties of the 6th Arc, and a part of the swirling storm around Princess Miruam.
Korin Lork. A young knight in the 2nd year of the academy, but with skills rivaling that of the Sword Master.
Have you looked into already?
Of course. I certainly did look into the player of the century, who has hit on more than 50 girls in that short ti fra.
That must be soone else.
Even the intelligence of Mound had shortcomings, it seed. I could understand up to 4, but 50? That was slightly less than all my female acquaintances combined.
So, what are you going to do? she asked. Send off to Princess Elizabeth? That lunatic would love to see .
I would have done that already if that was the plan. You might have guessed already, but I want information about Ku Shee. I want his details.
Impossible. Thats a severe act of treason against the Union. I would rather die by myself.
I knew it. I had never looked down on their bond.
Considering the connection the persecuted demi-humans had forged together to survive, and considering the price that would be paid by betraying that, it was obvious for her to refrain from betrayal.
Thats not how it is, though.
What do you an?
Crazy. You You are the craziest human I have ever t. How in the world are you going to take responsibility for that?
I gave her a reason and gave her faith. In a form that she would be able to see later in the future.
Why would you go to such lengths? No matter how I see it, theres not enough in it for you.
There is only one thing I am after
A happy ending.
That was the only goal I had in mind until now.
Hah, interesting.
After hearing everything, she had a different look in her eyes she was looking at with a smirk. Hmm Didnt she look at with this sa gaze in the last iteration as well?
I have a condition though, she said.
What is it?
Look for at night. If you let eat you up for a night and if you can withstand it without changing your mind, I will gladly lend you a hand.
Damn
Not again!
For so reason, this woman was so eager to eat up.
Fine.
Well, it worked out in the last iteration so it should work out the sa.
Fufu. I will treat you to a special course. You young little piggy wearing the skin of a wolf.
Itll work out, right?
Anyway, I managed to obtain two of the three puzzle pieces that I wanted to get. There was only one remaining, and my goal was to acquire that during todays banquet.
***
After the secret eting with Ednar Illusan, I returned to the banquet hall and enjoyed the night.
His Majesty! And Her Majesty are now entering the hall!
The introduction of the King and the Queen was very simple, unlike the long and fancy introductions of the nobles. It was proof of how the King of the El Rath Kingdom was fond of functional and practical approaches instead of formalities.
-Creaakk!
The door opened as a middle-aged man and a lady wearing a pink dress stepped onto the red carpet.
King David Joseph El Rath of the El Rath Kingdom, and the mother of Estelle the 1st Princess, Queen Asher. Following the two of them from behind were the two princesses of the Kingdom.
The pink-haired saintess was wearing a white dress, which differed from her usual sacred outfit, and the red-haired princess was wearing her usual dark yet vibrant reddish-black dress.
Both of them gave a smile when our eyes t. The King and the Queen sat down on the highest throne, and the two princesses sat down on the seats that were located a staircase below them.
Whether it be a noble or a commoner, everyone present got on their knees and quietly listened to the words of the King.
Today,
A powerful voice, as expected of the King of the dominant Kingdom, echoed through the hall. His shoulders were broad and he was muscular, making him look more like a warrior than a King.
We are here to commorate the safe return of my beloved daughter and the Saintess selected by the Lord from the evil hands of mages.
Although this was evidently thanks to the graceful rcy of the Lord, it is likewise thanks to the devout assistance of various guardians.
He gave a simple praise to the Lord and continued with a few flowery words. After that, he summoned the ones worthy of a prize, so we kneeled before the stairs leading up to the throne.
Marie, Hua Ran, Alicia, Lunia, Master, Lady Josephine, and . Aside from us, there were also the Warsky rcenaries and the half-giants that stopped the mages from escaping. All in all, it was everyone in Korin Guardians who monopolized the glory of this battle.
First off, Baron Korin Lork. There are many words of gratitude that I must convey to you. I have heard great stories of your actions from my daughter.
It is my honor.
The 1st contribution award. Park Sihu and I had received that sa complint in the last iteration, and we were the ones who chose the reward and not the King.
Baron Lork, o great knight. If you so wish, I will grant you anything you desire.
There was a limit to the options that could be chosen in the ga, but now that this was the real world, we were able to ask anything of the King.
The Kings rewards were endless and vast.
We could ask for precious treasures, elixirs of incredible effects, peerages, or even a piece of land, and Park Sihu had asked for things he did not have back then.
As for ? Well, I took Princess Miruam.
To be exact, it was an official proposal I had to make because she was already pregnant back then.
However, this ti it was different because I was able to keep myself sane from her seduction.
Therefore, I was able to ask for the last puzzle piece that would finish the puzzle.
1 year.
It took 1 year.
For 1 whole year, I had to make Renya Claire a high executive of the Intelligence Guild and used the information from the last iteration to persuade Ednar.
And through this inevitable reward which I knew I would receive, I would be able to at last complete the puzzle that I had been longing to prepare.
Your Majesty. There is only one reward I would like to ask for.
Hoh? Is there sothing you have thought of already?
King David looked at with intrigue as the Queen and the princesses all focused their eyes on . While feeling the countless gazes of the nobles and servants of the banquet hall I uttered the sentence that I had been holding onto the whole ti.
Legal Immunity. For one single occasion. I would like to ask for a single Immunity from Persecution a promise that you would pardon any cri that I may commit in the future.
Father-in-law?
It will just be a little treason, okay?
1
TL Note: *Drift: In Korean novels, it tends to refer to plot drifts or sudden changes in genre. Ie. from romance to NTR, or sudden BL drift (Speaking of BL, BL is Boys Love, and hence the following countersign, Boys Not Love)
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