By Zephyria 
“Isaac! Isaac!”
The voice calling Isaac’s name drew closer, accompanied by a savory aroma. Meat pies today. He could tell just by the smell that they would taste wonderful.
Isaac, who had been lying with his eyes closed under the warm sunlight, turned his head toward the voice. He saw Aunt Natasha approaching with a plate in her hand.
“Are you feeling peckish? Have some of this while you rest.”
Sure enough, the plate held meat pies. Isaac readily took the plate, which held two palm-sized pies, and replied, “Wow, they look delicious. Thank you!” Aunt Natasha patted Isaac’s back with her thick hand, sat down beside him, and lit her tobacco pipe. Having finished cleaning up after the Prince’s lunch and preparing the afternoon snacks, it was finally time for her to take a short break.
As the head of the kitchens at the Azure Palace, she was humble and easygoing to a degree that made it hard to believe she held a rank equivalent to the Chief Chamberlain. Her attire was always comfortable and neat; looking at her, one wouldn’t see much difference between her and a cook from an ordinary household. Of course, there was a stark difference in that no matter how haphazardly she threw something together, any dish her hands touched became the most delicious food in the world.
“Is this a mix of lamb and pork? Mmm—it’s good, really good. Is that millet mixed in? It goes surprisingly well together.”
Aunt Natasha watched with a fond expression as Isaac devoured one pie in the blink of an eye and reached for the second. Having lost the son she raised alone after her husband’s passing over a decade ago, she now lived by herself. She adored Isaac, saying, “His gentle, drooping eyes remind me of my son. If he were alive, he’d be exactly this age.” While he didn’t resemble Isaac’s mother at all, Isaac liked her; she felt like a warm, neighborhood aunt. At first, he thought she might be prickly because of her stern expression and sharp eyes, but after getting to know her, he found that wasn’t the case.
Most of the people working at the Azure Palace were like that. Initially, he thought it would be hard to fit in because everyone seemed stiff-faced and fastidious, but as he spent time with them, he found them to be quite decent. Because the master of the palace was who he was, they were generally rigid in their behavior, fearing that a single mistake might lead to a disaster. However, because of that, there was an atmosphere of mutual consideration and care among them. …Was this what they meant when they said people bond well when they have a common enemy? No, it would be more accurate to say that people in difficult positions help each other more.
“So, how is the work? Is it manageable?”
“Yes, it’s fine.”
Isaac nodded to Aunt Natasha, who asked with concern.
It had been about fifteen days since he started working at the Azure Palace.
Isaac was doing better than expected.
Aside from the fact that the master of the Azure Palace was a Grim Reaper—which, of course, was a point that couldn’t be ignored—it wasn’t exactly a place where one would die. The nature of the work wasn’t particularly different from his previous posts, and there was no external pressure or persecution; in fact, depending on how one looked at it, it could be said to be more comfortable than other places. Even the Prince didn’t summon subordinates without a specific purpose or harass them for no reason, making him, in a sense, a superior who was easier to serve than others… No, no matter how you put it, that’s not right. You can’t call someone “easy to serve” when you don’t know when your head might roll.
Isaac choked slightly on a piece of pie and coughed a couple of times.
“Eat slowly, slowly.”
“Yes. …But these are really delicious. I bet Lord Kaion would like them too.”
“Who knows. It’s impossible to tell what’s on his mind.”
Despite her words, Isaac knew that Natasha would be overjoyed whenever a plate sent to the Prince returned clean. He also knew she would sigh deeply whenever a plate returned after only a single bite.
However, unbelievably, the Prince was, in some respects, generally a good master. While there was the risk of losing one’s life without a chance for excuse if one happened to cross him, he didn’t nitpick over trivial matters or act temperamental like other royals or nobles.
In fact, a few days ago, a kitchen maid had brought in a squirrel that was dying after being bitten by a stray cat. Out of pity, she kept it in a corner of the kitchen, feeding and treating it. Once the squirrel recovered its strength, it somehow escaped its cage, wandered through the palace, and leaped into the Prince’s study, knocking an inkwell over onto the Prince’s lap. Although the squirrel’s neck was snapped instantly by the Prince’s hand, the maid, who had been trembling like a leaf awaiting her punishment, received no penalty at all.
“…He’s a strange person in many ways, the master here.”
Isaac chewed his pie and looked up at the blue sky.
The Prince was a cold and merciless man. Yet, on the other hand, there were frequent instances where he completely ignored things that would make other high-borns frown and scold for insolence.
He couldn’t figure out the criteria. Isaac shook his head.
“I just can’t fathom what goes on in the heads of high-ranking people.”
“Even if you can’t fathom their heads, do you think their hearts are any different? Whether high or low, a human heart is all the same.”
Natasha murmured, blowing out a puff of pipe smoke. Isaac gazed at her for a moment and then looked back at the sky.
Is that so? …I suppose so.
Whether a person is above the heavens or beneath the earth, whether they lived a hundred years ago or will live a hundred years from now, there are emotions and hearts that remain the same. No matter how much time passes or positions change. The things that make a human, human.
That man, too.
Though he didn’t know him well, there must be such parts to him. That is why he exists and lives as a human.
“Still, you should start being careful. The new moon is approaching. You have to be especially careful with your health around the new moon. …This is your first time working at the Azure Palace during a new moon, isn’t it?”
Natasha looked at Isaac with concern. Isaac replied with a somewhat awkward, “Yes, well, I used to serve at the Azure Palace occasionally when I was in the Royal Guard, so I’ll be fine,” reassuring her. Then, he stole a glance at her expression.
“Still, I heard in passing that the last few new moons passed without any particular incident…?”
“Yes, that’s right. For some reason, Lord Kaion’s condition has been good around the new moons lately. It would be great if it continues to be so.”
“….”
Isaac, who planned to bolt the moment he found the Busitong without looking back, felt a prickle of subtle guilt in his chest and simply continued chewing his pie. Regardless, he decided to take solace in the fact that many people found temporary peace thanks to his sacrifice on the new moon nights. Since he had ended up working at the Azure Palace, he was essentially benefiting from it.
Isaac swallowed the once-delicious pie, which now felt like chewing sand.
In any case, up until now, the Azure Palace wasn’t such a difficult place to work. Break times and working hours were strictly observed, and he wasn’t being worked too hard.
Since he was a guard, he always had to be within the Prince’s line of sight, but the Prince didn’t particularly mistreat him. Rather, he was as indifferent to Isaac as he was to the other servants, treating him as if he didn’t exist, to the point where Isaac wondered why he had been summoned in the first place.
Consequently, he was spending his days without any major issues, and his life was reasonably satisfactory.
“But you… are you… alright? You’re not hurting anywhere?”
…Except for this.
Isaac quickly noticed Natasha’s gaze lingering around his waist and hips, and his expression soured.
“Yes, thanks to your concern, I am still perfectly fine.”
“Right, that’s a relief. People usually suffer terribly after experiencing him. Tell me, you’ve never taken a man in the back before, have you? If so, it would be better to prepare yourself in advance. His… equipment is a size that even most women find hard to take…”
“…No, not only have I not, but I have no intention of taking a man in the back in the future…”
“Yes, I know, everyone is like that at first. But things in life don’t always go as planned. There’s no harm in preparing. For starters, start with something thin. Then gradually move to larger things…”
Natasha was nearly sixty and had seen it all during her long years in the palace, so she spoke without hesitation. That was precisely why Isaac occasionally found this warm aunt to be off-putting.
For a few days after arriving at the Azure Palace under the guise of a guard, he had received such looks from everywhere. Is that the new pet? He looks completely different from the previous ones. Has the Prince’s taste changed?
After a few more days, the looks shifted slightly. How is that fellow still so intact? Is his lower half unbelievably sturdy, or is he just incredibly flexible?
It was only after several more days that people seemed to finally realize the truth. Ah, he wasn’t a pet. I wondered why he looked like that. Of course; no matter how sturdy one’s lower half is, no human could be that fine after doing ‘this and that’ with the Prince.
Thus, Isaac had finally become somewhat free from the strange gazes of others, but those looks hadn’t vanished entirely, and there were still people like Natasha who “worried” for him.
“First, try starting with a sausage. Sausages are smooth and soft, so they’re perfect for beginners. Once you get used to that, go to the vegetable shop…”
Where could there be a place more uncomfortable and awkward than this…
Isaac pondered how to escape the situation.
Just then, he spotted two or three figures walking toward the Azure Palace from the other side of the path. Seizing the opportunity, Isaac stood up abruptly.
“It looks like there are visitors. I should head back in. Aunt Natasha, you should go back in too.”
When guests arrived, there was naturally work to be done in the kitchen. Of course, depending on who the visitor was, there were many cases where tea and snacks weren’t necessary, but since they didn’t know who was coming, they had to be prepared. Natasha looked at the approaching figures, muttered something, and left.
Having escaped the uncomfortable topic, Isaac breathed a sigh of relief. His break time was also coming to an end, and if an outsider was visiting the Azure Palace, it was his duty to stand by the Prince’s side, so he began to walk. Wondering who the guest visiting the Azure Palace on such a leisurely afternoon could be, Isaac turned his gaze toward them and locked eyes as they reached a distance where their faces were distinguishable.
Mages.
Just as Isaac instinctively frowned, those who recognized him immediately showed their displeasure. Since the incident at the hunting competition not long ago, Isaac had become something of a public enemy among the mages.
…I should have avoided them sooner. But what are they doing here?
“Who might this be? If it isn’t Guard Isaac.”
The man standing at the front of the mages spoke. Having missed his chance to avoid them, Isaac hid his reluctance and gave a polite nod.
“Welcome. Have you come to see Lord Kaion?”
“Of course. But what are you doing here?”
“I was reassigned to the Azure Palace as a guard a short while ago.”
When Isaac said this, the mage nodded as if he had just remembered, and his lips curled into a crooked smirk.
“Right, come to think of it, that was the case. I heard Lord Kaion personally brought Guard Isaac to the Azure Palace, fearing he might be harmed.”
Isaac remained silent for a moment at the sarcasm-laden tone.
Come to think of it, there had been such a rumor. The theory that the Prince had moved his post to his own command because he feared the mages would hold a grudge and harm Isaac after the hunting competition incident. What a ridiculous story. As if that Prince were the type of person to care about someone else’s well-being.
But more than that, strictly speaking, these people almost had their colleague killed and suffered immense damage afterward—instead of apologizing, why do they keep picking fights? I’m already at a point where mages, witches, and cats are all starting to seem obnoxious; how audacious.
Isaac gave the mage a wide smile.
“Are there people who say such things? Harmed? Are there truly evil people in the palace who harm others without reason? Surely that cannot be. If that were true, it would be a truly terrifying thing.”
“….”
“….”
The mage’s expression instantly turned cold. Isaac simply continued to smile innocently.
“If someone intends to harm, there must be a reason.”
“A reason? You mean someone would try to harm another and even fabricate a pretext for it? Who could such an evil person possibly be?”
“….”
“….”
The mage, who had been glaring fiercely at the brightly smiling Isaac, finally gnashed his teeth and growled, “You…!”
Right then, Isaac felt a sudden prickle at the crown of his head and shifted his gaze upward. He had only just realized the presence of someone who had been there for some time.
The Prince was standing by the upstairs window. The man, who had been in the drawing room until a moment ago, had somehow moved to the study and was looking down as if admiring the scenery.
Following Isaac’s startled gaze, the mages also belatedly discovered the Prince and hurriedly bowed their waists.
“L-Lord Kaion, we have come to see you.”
The Prince, looking down at them indifferently, slowly nodded.
“If you’ve finished your conversation, come inside.”
Leaving only those words, he disappeared back inside the window. Just before entering, he locked eyes with Isaac, who had glanced up to gauge the situation. As soon as their eyes met, Isaac flinched and quickly dropped his gaze, but for some reason, it felt as if the Prince’s eyes had curved slightly. …He must have seen it wrong.
Ah, what a surprise. To think the person I assumed would be eating meat pies in the drawing room would suddenly appear there; he’s practically omnipresent. In any case, he’s a man one cannot let their guard down around. Caution, caution.
Isaac stroked his chest and followed the mages as they hurried into the palace.
It was a well-known fact that the relationship between the Azure Palace—specifically Kaion—and the mages was poor. Most in the palace knew that the Prince disliked mages, and consequently, the mages didn’t hold the Prince in high regard.
Initially, mages who coveted the Prince’s power had tried desperately to make a contract with him, but all their efforts came to nothing. After the hunting competition incident, the mages stopped seeking him out entirely. In such a situation, Isaac wondered why these mages had suddenly visited the Azure Palace, only to find…
“I believe that placing restrictions on the right to free consultation is a highly unfair act.”
Watching the mage speak in a firm tone, Isaac, standing in the corner of the reception room behind the Prince, inwardly clicked his tongue.
Isaac knew who that young mage was. Said to be a genius born once in a century, he had not been in the royal palace for long, but he had attained a considerable position immediately upon arrival. It was said that the Guild Master, who highly valued his remarkable talent, had taken him in as an adopted son and favored him greatly. Now wielding power in place of the Guild Master, who rarely appeared before people, he was rumored to act as arrogantly as he was capable.
But there is a time and place for everything; if he continues to act so abrasive here, he’ll eventually get hit with a blunt object…
While looking at the young mage with apprehension, Isaac finally understood the reason for their visit.
For a commoner to meet a noble, they must have a clear reason and apply in advance by a designated date. Most mages are also of commoner origin, and in principle, they too must undergo the appropriate procedures beforehand to have an audience with a noble; however, Court Mages were granted the privilege of having those procedures drastically streamlined. This allowed them to meet by simply sending word and making an appointment on the very day.
However, at a recent state council meeting, the Prince proposed a motion to place restrictions on that right of free audience. Naturally, the Mage Guild rose in fierce opposition, but the mages’ standing had been weakened due to the hunting competition incident. Furthermore, the Prince’s influence, which was already strong, had become exceptionally potent, and there were several among the nobles who viewed mages with distaste. Unless the Prince, the proposer, withdrew the motion, it was highly likely to pass if nothing unusual happened.
…And so, they have come to try and negotiate separately, is what I’m saying…
“As you know, we mages maintain close relationships not only with various nobles but also with the esteemed members of the royal family. Your Highness knows better than anyone that they absolutely require us every single month.”
The young mage spoke with a subtle hint of persuasion. The Prince looked at them indifferently and tilted his head.
“Well, it is a matter that does not concern me, so I wouldn’t know. Besides, I am not saying you cannot have an audience; I am simply saying you should follow the procedures according to the original principles. What is the problem?”
The Prince’s tone, as usual, was utterly cold. That logic won’t get through to him at all. More than that, if he keeps speaking like a jagged stone, he’ll surely be beheaded… Isaac watched the young mage with a growing sense of apprehension.
“But might there not be matters that require urgent contact?”
“If an urgent matter arises for a high official and they request to meet you first, then of course an audience can be held immediately. What urgent matter could possibly arise that would make you seek them out? Unless it is a matter of an entirely private or political nature.”
At the Prince’s blunt words, the mage fell silent as if caught off guard.
Even if it isn’t a grand or grave matter, political relationships are always entwined within groups of people. Because of this, people gather, disperse, intertwine, and sever ties in a vast variety of ways; for that, indeed, a method of applying in advance within a set timeframe would be inconvenient. Meanwhile, since this would only help in consolidating royal power and cause no issues, the royals who had contracts with the mages were essentially turning a blind eye and acquiescing to the Prince’s will. The situation, the positions, and the flow of conversation—nothing was in the mages’ favor. Nevertheless, Isaac understood the desperation that drove them to visit, but what was most strange was…
“…”
Isaac looked at the Prince with a questioning gaze. The Prince was still staring at the mages with a flat expression, his thoughts unreadable. He was someone who didn’t particularly like them, and he must have clearly anticipated this situation; Isaac couldn’t understand why he hadn’t simply sent them away and had instead gone through the trouble of letting them into Byeokyeong Palace to meet.
It was then. The young mage, who had been stammering after being silenced, suddenly looked up and stared straight at the Prince.
“I believe we mages have provided much help to the royal family and have maintained a good relationship thus far. While we fare well thanks to the royal family’s grace, the esteemed members of the royal family would also find themselves in a predicament without our power. Now, no matter how much Your Highness may not have a bond with us, would it not be troublesome if you oppress us in this manner?”
Oh boy. He stepped on a landmine.
Listening to this, Isaac’s expression stiffened involuntarily.
The old servants of Byeokyeong Palace nearby also froze, their faces hardening.
Behind them, the elderly mage who had only been listening was seen twitching his white eyebrows.
The only ones who seemed unaffected were the hot-blooded young mage who had spoken so boldly and the Prince, who was facing him with an indifferent expression, devoid of any change.
“Indeed, they say the Mage Guild is so powerful that it boasts influence comparable to most high officials; those words were not wrong.”
The Prince, who had been staring at the mage in silence, murmured as he pushed himself up from the sofa he had been deeply sunk into. “Your Highness, it is not that, this one has not been in the Royal Palace for long—” the elderly mage hurried to speak, but he shut his mouth when the Prince gave a light wave of his hand. …That man seems to have as much tact as he has years. He probably doesn’t want to be hit by the fallout.
“I have heard that because most of the direct royal line entered contracts with mages due to the witch’s curse, several people forgot their positions and lost sight of their place, becoming arrogant and reversing the roles of guest and host. But I did not know your influence was enough to threaten me.”
The Prince walked with slow steps, gazing casually at the scenery outside the window. As those steps approached, the young mage finally felt a sense of crisis; his face hardened and he lowered his voice, saying, “Your Highness, threaten? That was not my intention at all—” but he could not finish the sentence. At that very moment, the young mage’s arm snapped off.
“—”
The young man let out a scream, looking down with disbelief at the arm that had been severed from the shoulder. Before the Prince, who looked down at the youth with a glance of annoyance, could raise his sword again, the elderly mage quickly recited an incantation. The sound erupting from the youth’s mouth was erased. The elderly mage recited another incantation, and it seemed to be a spell to erase pain, as the youth’s distorted face, eyes rolled back, gradually returned to normal. However, the shock was evident in the way his lips trembled as he looked down at his severed arm.
“You should give up any thought of reattaching it. If you do, your head will be the next to fall.”
“…, —.”
The youth looked up at the Prince, trembling violently. Cold sweat poured down, dripping from beneath his chin.
The Prince tossed the sword aside and went to the window. His profile as he looked outside casually seemed utterly bored. Leaving the youth who was still trembling in shock, the elderly mage rose from his seat and knelt.
“As he is not yet accustomed to the court, he was lacking in his manner of speech. Please, I beg you to quell your anger. We always wish to remain obedient as the loyal servants of the royal family.”
The mage stole a glance at the Prince, who had his back turned while looking out the window. After watching him in silence for a moment, he quietly continued.
“How could we ever dare to interfere with the affairs of Your Highness? Regarding the restriction of audiences, we merely sought your generous understanding and came to ask that you at least listen to our plea.”
As expected, an old ginger is spicier; it would have been better if that man had stepped forward from the start, Isaac thought, looking at the Prince with suspicion. It was strange that he was listening to those words so quietly. Even regarding that young mage, it was surprising that he had only severed an arm when he would have normally beheaded him without a second thought.
“Although we enjoy the honor of meeting esteemed persons despite our lowly status, even the lowly have their own pride. If you could consider the kindness you have shown us for so long once more, how could we not be eternally grateful?”
The Prince slowly turned around and returned to his seat. Sitting down, he tilted his head obliquely and looked at the mage.
“Is the fundamental duty of a Court Mage not research? What do those who should be in an ivory tower do by meeting nobles so frequently?”
“Mana is something that acts upon countless diverse and minute parts. The research into it can also be countless. There is something to research in even the smallest part of the world’s affairs.”
“Such as making a noble lady’s skin look younger?”
“For example, there are such trivial matters.”
Despite the Prince’s sneer, the elderly mage answered without a change in expression. As the Prince stared at him intently, the mage’s Adam’s apple bobbed as if he were nervous, but he struggled not to show it. Finally, the Prince spoke.
“Lately, I believe I’ve been hearing some unfavorable stories about you. Wouldn’t it be better to exercise restraint? I hear that mages were also involved in the events that recently took place in Roberny.”
The mage fell silent. The others who came with him also hardened their expressions. And Isaac, who unintentionally knew very well about those ‘events that recently took place in Roberny,’ flinched inwardly.
Rumors had been spreading secretly that a mage was mixed among the corpses of the Roberny gang who had recently died off again. Because the mages’ power was so great, no one spoke of it openly, but those in the know were all aware. Furthermore, the impact of that incident was not good for the mages’ standing; if anything, it was detrimental.
“As for those rumors, I believe they are merely groundless. I consider them rumors maliciously spread by someone intending to slander us. In the unlikely event, it may be one of the illegal mages who acts secretly without belonging to the Mage Guild, but we are also sparing no effort in rooting such people out. We strictly forbid colluding with such forces, Your Highness. …However, separately from that, we will take double precautions at the guild level to ensure we do not accidentally get embroiled in worldly affairs.”
The old mage spoke with a perfectly composed and dignified manner, while playing innocent. He then requested even more politely.
“Therefore, I beg you to reconsider the free audience. While there are those with malice, in order to strive tirelessly for various research, there are times when we must maintain close contact and seek help from esteemed persons. I would be deeply moved if you could consider us with your broad generosity.”
The Prince looked down silently at the old mage, who bowed his head once more. For a while, silence flowed through the reception room. At the end of that silence, the Prince spoke.
“Various research… …It could be used to find a person as well.”
At the Prince’s words, the old mage raised his head. A glint of interest flashed in his eyes. It was the same for Isaac.
The Prince is someone who does not like conversations to drag on. Moreover, he had stayed for a long time with mages, whom he doesn’t even like. …I have a bad feeling about this. Isaac watched them with a heavy heart.
“Do you mean that? Is there someone you are looking for?”
Having caught a lead for a deal, the mage’s eyes sparkled as he lowered his voice.
The Prince spoke while languidly resting his chin on his hand.
“Not a person. A witch.”
“—”
The old mage’s expression froze. The others were the same.
Witch. While everyone froze at that word, which was like a taboo, the Prince’s casual words continued.
“They will have the appearance of a human and be living mixed among people. They live in a stone building built about forty or fifty years ago, and may be living with someone else. They likely have the appearance of a young man, and since they could sit comfortably in that chair, their build is average or slightly smaller than average. They live near the capital or visit the capital frequently, and are engaged in a profession that uses swords, blades, or weapons. They won’t be of a very lowly status. At least they are educated enough to know the manners of a tea party… and there is a high possibility they raise or keep animals close. And recently, for a couple of times, they would have disappeared every Dark Moon. They will likely continue to do so.”
Isaac’s heart dropped.
Isaac couldn’t even breathe for a moment before slowly taking a deep breath. If he didn’t, it felt as though his pounding heart would not subside. At this rate, the sound of my heart will be heard. If one were in a shallow, narrow mousehole and a cat’s paw reached in and stirred, barely grazing the tip of the mouse’s nose—would it feel like this?
It was too obvious that the person the Prince was describing was none other than Isaac himself. Not a single one of the conditions mentioned was wrong.
This is exactly when I must remain calm. There will be no change in my expression, Isaac thought as he turned his head to look at his face in the mirror attached to the wall right beside him. At that moment, his eyes met the Prince’s in the mirror, as the Prince had casually cast his gaze this way.
“…”
Oh my god.
The Prince looked expressionlessly at Isaac, who was unable to move and could only blink like a frog before a snake. Then, as if some thought had occurred to him, he briefly looked into the air before looking back at Isaac. As that gaze systematically scanned down Isaac’s body, Isaac’s heart plummeted once again.
It’s not me. It’s not me. Where in the world would there be a witch who works so diligently with a steady job in broad daylight? Besides, yes, I touched the talisman then—that holy silver that had been consecrated for ages!
Fortunately, it seemed the Prince had thought of that part at the same time. Over the Prince’s indifferent gaze, which lingered for a moment before looking at Isaac, a light of ‘Ah, that’s right, it wasn’t’ flashed.
Unlike his heart, which was frantically shouting and pleading, Isaac’s expression reflected in the mirror was utterly calm. Feeling grateful for his poker face maintenance skills, Isaac stared back at the Prince with the most clueless face possible, as if asking why he was looking at him like that.
“A witch…? Are those the only clues?”
The mage asked with a troubled look, and the Prince turned his gaze toward him. Only then did Isaac breathe a sigh of relief inwardly. His heart was racing. Cold sweat broke out.
“Can you find them?”
When the Prince asked, the mage sank into thought with a difficult expression for a moment, but he had no choice but to nod. He knew that this was the condition of an implicit deal. If you grant what I want, I too shall grant what you desire—
“I will do my best.”
The mage vowed with a serious bow, and the Prince gave a light nod.
With that, their conversation ended. The Prince waved his hand as if he would not engage in any further long talk, and the mage, having achieved the purpose of his visit for now, left the seat obediently after leaving a parting greeting.
As Isaac opened the door to the reception room, the young mage whose arm had been severed was placed at the front, followed by the other two mages. Isaac, stepping aside to let them out, frowned slightly upon seeing the young mage. With a face frozen pale, he was no longer trembling. However, as he walked out clutching his severed arm in one hand, he had eyes that were chillingly sunken and black, devoid of any light.
Isaac knew those eyes. They were eyes filled only with resentment and curses.
“—”
But before Isaac could say anything, they left the reception room, and after watching their backs for a moment, Isaac closed the door with an unpleasant feeling. I have a really bad feeling about this…
However, those thoughts vanished the moment his eyes met the Prince, who was still sitting in his seat.
“…The person you are looking for, that witch… does it have anything to do with looking for the Witch of Roberny?”
Because he was momentarily flustered, he had blurted out a question he wasn’t even curious about—because he knew perfectly well it had nothing to do with it—and only then did Isaac blame his own foolishness for bringing up such a dangerous topic.
The Prince did not answer. As if he hadn’t even heard Isaac’s question, he was lost in thought while watching the mages move away outside the window. He only spoke around the time Isaac was about to forget that he had even asked a question.
“It is a separate matter.”
“…Yes. …I hope you can find the person you are looking for.”
Isaac told a lie that wasn’t even a fraction of the truth. But this was enough. Let’s not mention the ‘w’ of witch in this place anymore.
“Those fellows won’t find them. But they won’t come back for a while.”
The Prince said this as he withdrew his gaze from the window. Watching him lift a teacup to moisten his throat, Isaac was lost for words.
Ah, indeed. Since they failed to achieve what was asked, they won’t be able to visit again… No, but they might actually find them! …Of course, I’ll never be caught. I must not be caught, definitely.
“…By the way, if they cannot find them, how do you intend to find that witch…?”
Only after speaking did Isaac remember that he had decided not to bring up the story of the witch, but since his own identity was at stake, he couldn’t help but be concerned. Moreover, if the Prince told him what he intended to do, Isaac might be able to devise a countermeasure.
When Isaac asked cautiously, the Prince cast a sidelong glance. Isaac flinched.
“You are quite interested.”
“……I just want to earn some merit.”
As Isaac muttered hesitantly, the Prince seemed to recall something he had heard before and murmured, “Ah, the reward.” He then looked at Isaac with narrowed eyes.
“You seem greedier than I thought.”
“……Yes, well, about as much as anyone else.”
“If you find that witch and bring her to me, I shall recognize it as a great achievement and grant you the reward you desire.”
“……. ……. …….”
Isaac’s mind became an utter whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Finding that witch and delivering her would be a piece of cake, and the Prince was offering the very reward he had longed for despite all this grueling hardship, but if he actually did it, he felt like he’d spend the rest of his life rotting in a dungeon…….
Perhaps interpreting Isaac’s complex and gloomy expression as regret over an impossibility, the Prince withdrew his gaze without further interest. Isaac stood behind him, shoulders slumped in depression, as the Prince drank his tea in silence.
How long did that quiet stillness last?
“Witches must vanish from this land, without exception.”
Suddenly, a low whisper seemed to drift through the air.
Isaac snapped his gaze up to look at the Prince. The Prince was still drinking his tea with an expressionless face.
It had been a monologue he muttered unconsciously. At the same time, it was his genuine feeling that had slipped out.
Witches must vanish from this land, without exception.
Isaac suddenly realized that this was the Prince’s ultimate desire. And that if it were him, he would find a way to fulfill that will, no matter what.
“――.”
It felt as if his heart had been submerged in ice-cold water. He felt a freeze spreading from deep within. Isaac flinched and clenched his trembling fingers. His fingertips were cold, as if the blood had drained away.
As Isaac quietly clenched and unclenched his fist, the Prince suddenly looked back. Startled, Isaac quickly tightened his fist and stood up straight.
“Come to think of it, yes. I received this yesterday.”
The Prince opened a drawer in the table and pulled out a bundle of papers. While Isaac watched with a puzzled look, the Prince unfolded the papers and began to mutter as he scanned through them.
“Isaac Raphaud, born June, year 280 of the Rissen calendar. Father, Gaia Raphaud, born March 248, died November 282. Mother, Kalina Raphaud, birth records insufficient due to being an orphan, died December 290. Thereafter, Isaac Raphaud lived independently. Entered High Harden Common School, no record of graduation. Worked as a laborer until 299 through an agent named Sana Graquium. ……Hmm, the track record is quite useful. ……Indeed.”
The expression vanished from Isaac’s face. Staring at the Prince, who was scanning the pages as if reading a tedious book, Isaac eventually let out a sigh and slumped his shoulders. The silent Prince seemed to be reading the records from when Isaac worked as a runner, and those records were likely very accurate, just as the previous details had been.
He didn’t want to reveal it if possible, but there was nothing that absolutely had to remain a secret—at least not the things mentioned in that investigation. But they had certainly done their homework. Since he had lived a difficult life as an orphan and left almost no trail, it shouldn’t have been easy to find out such detailed information; the Prince must have a very good informant. Well, that would explain how he kept such a close eye on the movements of the Roberni faction. Isaac could only scratch his head in dissatisfaction.
“Afterward, went through an apprenticeship and was selected for the Royal Guard, serving as a guardsman…… I see.”
Muttering the contents of the paper slowly, the Prince lifted his gaze to look at Isaac, who was standing silently.
“If you were a laborer of that caliber, your earnings and treatment would have been incomparably better than those of a mere guardsman. Why did you join the Royal Guard?”
“……I wanted to live a comfortable life without danger, even if I earned less.”
“Then why the sudden desire to risk danger to earn merit?”
“……. Even when I try to live comfortably, life doesn’t always go my way.”
Isaac replied lukewarmly. Thinking about it made him depressed again, and a sigh escaped him. Who would have known at the beginning of this year that his life would become this treacherous?
The Prince merely looked at Isaac, who bowed his head with a dark expression, and did not press further. Instead, he dropped his gaze back to the paper. Just what else was written in such a detailed report? Isaac glared at the paper, the contents of which were invisible from his position. Surely there wouldn’t be something like ‘his mother is a witch,’ but he couldn’t help but wonder how thoroughly his personal life had been laid bare.
“Particulars: No record of dating members of the opposite or same sex. No confirmed possession of other peculiar sexual proclivities. …….”
“…….”
I want an introduction to that informant. They’re truly competent. How do they find out things like that? Isaac’s mouth hung open for a moment before he licked his lips bitterly. The Prince’s expressionless gaze flickered toward him again. Since it was a strictly private matter, it shouldn’t have mattered what past he had, yet Isaac felt strangely intimidated and began to stammer.
“I mean, it’s not that I never dated at all, there were a few times I tried to see someone, but it just didn’t work out for some reason, and I was too busy making a living, and women should be treated like flowers…….”
I don’t even know what I’m saying. Isaac shut his mouth of its own accord under the Prince’s steady gaze. A brief silence followed.
“Are you a virgin?”
“That’s not……, ……, ……not yet.”
A reflexive lie born of bravado almost burst out, but those blue eyes seemed to see through everything, so Isaac ended up mumbling the truth.
“Is there something wrong with your body?”
“There is not!!”
This one was the truth. After answering sharply, Isaac realized a moment too late, ‘Wait, maybe that actually is the answer.’
Isaac wasn’t exactly unpopular, and he’d had several opportunities to date women. He had gone on dates multiple times. However, whenever he reached the point of having a deep relationship with them, he always stopped there. It was because of the witch’s blood flowing through him.
He couldn’t readily reveal that he had witch’s blood, and above all, because of the witch’s nature of draining human essence, he didn’t feel like sleeping with someone easily.
The act of mixing bodies is essentially sharing one’s energy, but a witch’s nature is incomparably stronger than a human’s. If a witch sleeps with a human, they unintentionally drain the human’s essence. The greater the difference in power, the more severe the effect; as the acts repeated, the human’s vitality would gradually wither, and they could eventually lose their life.
A light one-night stand might only leave the partner tired for a day or two, but seriously dating a human was difficult for Isaac for that very reason.
But he lived his days dreaming of an uncertain future—hoping that perhaps he might miraculously meet a woman with incredibly strong vitality, or that as time passed, the blood in his body would fade, or that he might find someone he could live with harmoniously like siblings without needing to sleep together, and that one day he too could live in a pretty house with a pretty wife and raise pretty chickens.
The Prince, who had no way of knowing Isaac’s heart, had been looking at him with an unreadable face for some time. It was a strange, expressionless look that seemed like a mix of surprise, disbelief, pity, and curiosity.
“What does it feel like to live without sex?”
When the Prince finally spoke, he sounded genuinely curious, making a comment that sounded like a luxury to Isaac, who immediately felt bad. Whether it was anger, depression, or intimidation, he felt it.
“Once you get used to it, it’s not really a big deal. Lord Kaieon, is it always new and enjoyable every time you do it?”
“Not necessarily. It’s pretty much the same regardless of who it is. The only difference is whether the excretion is a bit more refreshing or not.”
“……. …….”
This man really has a problem…… he really does.
To call it ‘excretion’ so nonchalantly. Moreover, judging by his expression and tone, he clearly believed it. An act of simply discharging animalistic urges, completely excluding any emotional exchange or the warmth felt from human skin and body temperature.
“……If that’s the kind of sex it is, I’m fine living without it.”
Suddenly feeling sorry for him, his heart aching with pity, Isaac muttered without realizing it. He hoped the Prince wouldn’t be like that. He hoped he would feel something much more pleasant and heart-warming.
Then, Isaac flinched as he felt the Prince’s gaze staring intently at him. Did he say something unnecessary? But it probably wouldn’t matter. A man like that wouldn’t care about other people’s thoughts in the first place, so he’d likely just ignore it.
……Or so he thought,
“You are occasionally peculiar.”
The moment the Prince spoke softly, Isaac felt that something had gone wrong.
“I don’t know why…… it’s nothing special and a trivial comment, but occasionally, it strangely scratches a corner of my mind.”
His voice didn’t sound angry, but an unknown warning alarm blared in Isaac’s head. And bad premonitions never miss their mark.
“――.”
Isaac’s eyes widened as he watched the Prince, who was staring intently at him, undo his trouser belt. Why is he suddenly doing that? Before he could even interpret the ominous feeling sweeping over him, the Prince opened the front of his trousers and pulled out his member. While Isaac blinked, staring at it, wondering what was happening,
“Suck it.”
The Prince threw out just those words.
Isaac snapped his head up to look at the Prince’s face. The Prince’s face was as expressionless as ever. No, uh, what—his lips twitched a few times, but the Prince’s expression remained indifferent, his complexion unchanged. He simply pointed downward with a slight tilt of his chin.
“…….”
I stepped on a landmine. I really did. A total landmine.
Isaac’s world went dark.
However, even after waiting a moment longer, this was reality, not a dream, and the attendant nearby had a solemn face as if the inevitable had finally arrived. After a bit more time passed, the Prince’s eyebrow flickered upward. If he dawdled any longer, he’d be in for a world of pain.
Isaac swallowed hard, walked toward the Prince, and knelt. Fine, sucking someone else’s thing isn’t that bad. He had experienced far more humiliating and miserable things while living a harsh life, and his spirit wasn’t so fragile that he’d be shocked by this. It was a hundred times better than having his head chopped off on the spot.
But the reason his heart was still trembling was the question of whether it would end here. It probably wouldn’t. There was no way this man would be satisfied with mere oral petting. Could it be that the peace of his lower half ends today? Looking at the previous favorites, some had been torn open until they bled. ……Eh, whatever. It’s not like he’ll die. He’ll just have to rely on a doctor for a bit. Yes, it’s a hundred times better than having his head chopped off.
Isaac steeled his resolve and lifted his head. He leaned in close between the Prince’s thighs and reached out to grasp the member, and then—
“……. ……. …….”
Oh my god…….
His mind went completely blank.
He knew it was large, but he had never seen it this close in person. Now that he had witnessed it, he realized the rumors weren’t lies. ……Good heavens. Is this thing actually attached to a human body?
Isaac couldn’t believe his eyes and just kept blinking, staring at it for a long time. Until the Prince, who had grown tired of waiting, let out a long sigh above him.
I’m dead. If I get pierced by this, I’ll definitely die. I’m going to die.
“……I’m sorry. I won’t scratch it again.”
Too afraid to look any longer, Isaac dropped his gaze and slumped over, leaning on the floor while crouching between the Prince’s legs. His voice was small and trembling. Since the Prince was a man who didn’t even listen to others, he doubted the apology would be accepted, but he had nothing left but to clutch at any straw.
However, the Prince didn’t respond. Isaac glanced up with teary eyes to check the Prince’s expressionless face and slumped his shoulders, thinking, ‘I’m doomed.’ With a pale face, Isaac leaned his head toward the Prince’s crotch and, at a distance where his chin almost touched, closed his eyes tightly and opened his mouth.
“It doesn’t make much difference who I excrete into,”
Right then, the Prince spoke.
“But I do have a preference.”
The tone was similar to usual, but subtly different. It sounded almost like he was joking…… no, but this man wasn’t the type to know the first thing about joking. Startled by that indescribable tone, Isaac opened his eyes. As he slowly looked up, he met the eyes looking down at him.
The blue eyes, looking down with the same indifference, were narrowed. They looked as if they were saying, ‘Now, confess your sins,’ and strangely, they seemed to be smiling. Despite the usual expressionless face.
The Prince waved his hand lightly. Isaac, instinctively scooting back, blinked at him as the Prince said nothing even though he had moved away, and then he collapsed in relief.
He was teasing him. ……It was so unlike this man that Isaac was still dazed—and the attendant, who had been watching with a nervous face, was also blinking in bewilderment—but he had simply been teasing him.
“I am humbled.”
Isaac quickly bowed and stood up rapidly, fearing the Prince might change his mind. Perhaps because his desperation was too obvious, this time the Prince’s eyes clearly smiled. It was so close to expressionless that no one else would have noticed, but those were definitely smiling eyes.
“You may be at ease. There is no need to prepare with sausages in advance.”
The moment the Prince said that while straightening his clothes, Isaac was puzzled for a second, then froze as a memory flashed through his mind. He had heard the things Natasha said. Come to think of it, the Prince had been in the study directly above at that time.
“……That’s a relief…… thank you.”
As Isaac muttered with a flushed face and lowered head, a short, soft chuckle was heard. But when Isaac snapped his head up, the Prince had already finished adjusting his clothes and was standing up with his usual expressionless face.
“Find out where those bastards are gathering this time.”
The Prince said. The light from a moment ago had vanished completely, and his tone was as cold and sunken as always. Isaac straightened his posture. And he gave a single answer: “Yes.”
There was no need to ask who ‘those bastards’ were. It wasn’t a name to be mentioned where the attendants were, and besides, he had been thinking that it was about time the Robernis gathered again.
The Prince gave Isaac a brief glance and then looked away. Isaac had a feeling that, for some reason, he had passed a test. It was likely because he didn’t add any useless chatter or questions.
After that, the Prince moved to the study and began to read. Knowing that he had no other schedules for the rest of the afternoon, Isaac checked the thickness of the book he had picked up, breathed a sigh of relief, and stood guard at the door. It seemed he only had to stand there until his shift ended.
Feeling as if a short typhoon had swept through, Isaac, who had finally found peace, swallowed a quiet sigh while looking at the Prince, who didn’t take his eyes off the book. He felt as if he were being tested every single moment without realizing it. Like walking a tightrope over a cliff, a test where a single mistake could end his life. But because he had no idea what constituted a pass or a fail, the test felt even more precarious.
Isaac quietly tapped his chest.
He hoped everything would flow smoothly.
For himself. And also for that man.
*
Brick, who joined the gathering late after finishing his evening shift, pulled out an empty chair opposite Isaac, who was sitting at the innermost part of the table, leaning his back against a pillar and propping up his chin with a hand, looking as if he were about to collapse.
“Why does he look like he’s dying? Like a drugged chick. Hey, are you sick?”
“Uh…… no…… I’m just a bit tired.”
Isaac murmured in a pained voice. The brilliant, clear moonlight of the full moon streaming through the window made his complexion appear all the more pale. Brick, who was just about to sit down, looked at Isaac’s sock-clad feet and asked curiously, “Where did your shoes go?”
“I stumbled while coming into the shop and tripped on the step. In the process, the sole of my shoe ripped off, so I left it for repair just ahead.”
Beside them, Olsen answered on his behalf, clicking his tongue. Isaac remained silent, his eyes half-closed. No matter who nagged or criticized him for being pathetic, he didn’t even look at them.
It was the full moon. The day when a witch’s energy is suppressed. Once a month, Isaac, being only a half-blood, also felt his entire body become as heavy as lead. It was unfortunate that a drinking gathering with his Royal Guard colleagues had been scheduled on such a day. At any other time, he would have made an excuse to skip, but since he had business nearby today, he had stopped by.
“Tsk tsk, it’s understandable that you’re struggling. How hard must it be to work under that person? Here, drink up, drink up.”
As Isaac sipped the beer poured by Selbero, Lauder leaned in close.
“So, how is it working as a guard at Byeokyeong Palace? Do you like it?”
“Like it, my foot,” Isaac muttered in response.
“Is the purity of your backside still intact?”
“Yeah, damn well intact.”
Once again, Isaac replied with a mutter and slammed the empty beer glass down onto the back of Lauder’s hand. Seeing Lauder grimace and clutch his hand, crying “Ow, ow, ow!”, the others burst into giggles.
When they first gathered after Isaac transferred to Byeokyeong Palace, his colleagues had all scrutinized him from head to toe with hawk-like eyes. They asked why he looked so fine, if his lower half was still intact, and why he was still unscathed when the guards who went there were marked as ‘playthings’ in the Prince’s mind. Some were even grumbling, and Isaac wondered if they had gone mad, only to find out they had placed bets. The categories were varied: ‘intact,’ ‘one week of recovery,’ ‘one month of recovery,’ ‘submitting a resignation letter,’ and so on.
Even though all his colleagues had been thoroughly beaten by Isaac back then, they still scrutinized him whenever they gathered like this.
“Who knows, maybe he’s already been eaten and is just playing innocent?”
“Nah, no way. Look, his neck is perfectly fine without a single bite mark.”
“You can’t tell from that! Do you think that person is the type to give foreplay or petting? He probably just rams it in right away.”
“I’m telling you, no. He’s walking just fine. There’s no way he’d be walking normally if he’d been pierced by that person.”
“That’s true.”
“I said I didn’t do it!!”
Finally, Isaac leaped from his seat and grabbed someone by the collar, shaking them violently. Regardless, the others continued to giggle and chatter as they pleased.
“See, I told you Isaac isn’t Lord Kaieon’s type.”
“Still, since he specifically picked this guy and took him away that day, I wondered. But seriously, how did he get picked?”
Receiving gazes that seemed suddenly curious, Isaac flopped back into his seat, half-collapsing.
“How should I know? I guess I was picked without realizing it.”
“Hmm, did he do something annoying during the hunting competition?”
“Well, who knows, maybe he just liked the way he looked. Think positively, positively. The fact that he’s still alive means there’s a high possibility of that, right?”
“…….”
It was a comment that felt grateful, yet not grateful, and perhaps grateful at the same time. His body was already exhausted because of the full moon, and now he felt even more drained. He really shouldn’t have come…
“Right, right. Let’s just say Byeokyeong Palace finally got a guard who actually fits the title of ‘guard’ for the first time.”
“True, with that person’s personality, if he wanted to eat him, he would have done it immediately.”
“Besides, Lord Kaieon always chooses those who look flashy and temperamental. Isaac doesn’t fit that taste. He’s a bit too plain.”
“Stop it already, you bastards!”
Whether Isaac shouted in anger or not, the men, already moderately drunk, continued to giggle and enjoy themselves. Ugh, it would be so great if I could hit them each once… Meanwhile,
「So that’s it, right? Our Manbang likes that girl, the greatest beauty in the land, but she doesn’t even spare him a glance. That’s it.」
「How pitiful.」
「It’s okay, they say even a straw sandal has its pair. A good straw sandal will appear for our Manbang too.」
「But our Manbang always seems to grab a rotten straw if he grabs one at all. I wonder what will happen if he grabs a rotten sandal.」
Why is this pub so chaotic… Now, not just humans, but Monsters are wandering around his feet, chattering nonsense.
“Excuse me! Why are there animals wandering around the shop? Please kick them out quickly!”
Isaac shouted toward the server, but the server, who seemed frazzled among the numerous customers, approached and asked, “Where are they, sir?” When Isaac looked back, the Monsters had already vanished.
Those things should be holed up at home on this bright full moon night, why are they out causing a fuss… Isaac swallowed a groan and pressed his throbbing temples.
He really should have just gone back to rest early.
Originally, he had come out to meet a broker. However, since the gathering place for his colleagues was nearby, he had stopped by. Well… it wasn’t as if he hadn’t expected this kind of atmosphere, and occasionally, this kind of boisterousness was fine. It would have been better if today weren’t the full moon.
Yes. The broker had also worn an expected expression.
When Isaac asked him to find a place where the Roberni faction would gather, the broker had looked at Isaac with a troubled and worried face, appearing as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately just nodded without a word. Considering that the broker had provided even quite dangerous information in the past without any hesitation, it seemed the atmosphere over there had become quite grim lately, but Isaac had no other choice.
‘…Oh, that person.’
The broker suddenly glanced over Isaac’s shoulder and signaled with his eyes. Following that gaze, Isaac saw a man walking down the opposite alley. He was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man who was half-bald.
‘That guy was looking into your background not long ago.’
‘Who is he?’
‘Someone in the same line of work as me. The most expensive guy in the industry. Probably twenty times more expensive than me. He’s someone whose face is hard to see normally, but for some reason, he’s in this neighborhood. Maybe he has an appointment.’
Informants are paid strictly according to their ability. This broker was already several times more expensive than others, and if this man was twenty times more expensive than him…
‘He’s the kind of person you can barely hire unless you pour an enormous amount of money into it, and someone using a guy like that has been digging into your past. …Are you doing something dangerous lately?’
The broker examined Isaac with a cautious air. Isaac stared into the air for a moment and then sighed. He did know one person who wouldn’t mind pouring an enormous amount of money. Moreover, that person had proudly informed him recently that he had conducted a background check on him.
Indeed, if they were using an informant of that caliber, it made sense that they had been able to accurately determine the movements of the Roberni side.
Isaac paused in thought before asking.
‘Do you know anything about the Witch of Roberny?’
The broker immediately frowned. Staring at Isaac, he clicked his tongue and spoke.
‘Only unconfirmed rumors that you’ve probably already heard.’
‘What kind of rumors?’
The broker grimaced with a look of discomfort before shrugging lightly.
‘Rumors that they serve a witch and offer sacrifices of young girls’ fresh blood every Dark Moon, or that the witch who gave power to Roberny in return is a powerful witch even among witches, or that the one connecting the witch and Roberni is a mage of very high rank… Rumors that have never once been confirmed.’
“Just false rumors, just things people chatter about,” the broker added quickly, as if someone were listening, and shrank back. Then, feeling quite uneasy, he left as if fleeing, leaving only the words, ‘Don’t get involved in things that are too dangerous. Anyway, I’ll look into what you asked, so just wait.’
“…….”
If I could, I’d also like to stay far away from dangerous places and live peacefully raising chickens… Isaac looked out the window and sighed. Looking at the brightly shining full moon, his body suddenly felt achy, and he found himself patting his waist and shoulders. Today, most of the witches remaining in this land would be staying quietly indoors and resting. …Except for those three who were already busily wandering around his feet.
—Witches must disappear from this land without exception.
Suddenly, the words the Prince had said a while ago came to mind.
The emotion clearly contained in that quiet soliloquy, which seemed to have slipped out unconsciously, also surfaced. It was pure hatred, nothing more and nothing less.
Isaac sighed softly. His mood sank even further. There was no way he would enjoy the feeling of being hated, but remembering the Prince’s words made him exceptionally depressed.
“Is the guard brother sick? Why are you so slumped? Here, have some drink and cheer up.”
Just then, a waitress, carrying a tray full of newly ordered glasses and appetizer plates, looked at Isaac as she set the dishes on the table without any sign of strain. Beside him, his colleagues, who had been chatting away happily, began to shout boisterously.
“It’s because he’s been worked too hard by his superior. A pretty sister should feed him something so he can regain his strength.”
“Shall I? What, feed him by mouth? Oh, now that I look, he’s exactly the kind of face I like.”
The waitress, who took the men’s jokes in stride with a bold response, pretended to drink Isaac’s beer herself before laughing and bringing the glass to Isaac’s lips. Holding Isaac, who seemed to be around her nephew’s age, against her chest and feeding him drink, she had an air that suggested she could scoff at such mischievous words.
Yes, play with me, whether here or there. Isaac quietly left his limp body to her and drank the alcohol. It was then. A man entering the pub caught his eye.
Oh, that man is the incredibly expensive informant I saw earlier… he thought with a hazy mind, but the moment he saw the man following right behind him, his hazy mind snapped awake.
The hair was black, the skin tone was dark, and there was thick flesh on the bridge of the nose and the jawline, but there was no mistake. There couldn’t be two sets of those cold, indifferently sunken blue eyes. Though the disguise was incredibly skillful, it was the Prince.
“…….”
The moment their eyes met, Isaac spat out the drink with a cough, and the Prince seemed to realize that Isaac had noticed him. However, the Prince indifferently looked away, and Isaac also quickly pretended to wipe the drink, bowing his head low while hearing the surrounding complaints of “Ack! Hey, that’s disgusting!!”
Damn, it would have been better if I hadn’t recognized him. Why did I recognize him?
The informant looked around the shop and guided the Prince to an empty seat in the back. It was a seat blocked by a wall, behind the pillar Isaac was leaning against. In such a noisy shop, it was a spot where whatever conversation they had was unlikely to be heard by those around them.
Though separated by a thick pillar, Isaac felt the presence of the men settling beyond it very acutely, and he kept his mouth shut, only sipping his drink.
Why is he here? …Ah, I see. He had no intention of relying on the information Isaac would bring from the start.
“Hey, hey, hey! It’s spilling, it’s spilling!”
Only after Brick shouted and pointed from the opposite seat did Isaac realize he was drinking half and spilling half. Olsen quickly grabbed a napkin and handed it to him.
“Hey, if you’re that sick, just go home. You don’t look good at all today.”
“……Uh…… when my shoes come……”
Isaac, who desperately wanted to get up right then and there, muttered while wiggling his feet clad only in socks. That guy slumps like that sometimes, he’s actually quite frail, he heard his colleagues mutter, but he ignored them and completely collapsed, resting his head on the table. Right, just sleep, sleep, someone said as they draped an overcoat over his head, and he closed his eyes.
As his body grew heavy and his eyes closed, his other senses became acute. The smell of alcohol and appetizers drifting from other tables pricked his nose, and the sounds of voices from far and near mixed together. Among them, the one that pierced his ears with exceptional clarity was, as expected, a familiar voice. A voice that was familiar and to which his ears reacted sensitively.
“……Quite a few, then.”
It is at times like this that one becomes newly aware of the witch’s blood, which is usually hardly conscious. Amidst these numerous and miscellaneous sounds, a voice that should normally be unheard was extracted and reached his ears.
“Since the money and background are so powerful. Four court mages as well……”
The informant’s voice answering the Prince reached him in fragments. Talking about such things in a place like this… he thought with a foggy mind, but then he realized that this place might actually be safer. It was so noisy that one had to raise their voice even at the same table, and the surroundings were open, making it difficult for anyone to eavesdrop.
“Since the atmosphere is not good due to successive events, a directive was issued by the guild to refrain from activities for a while. In this situation, it will be difficult for Roberny to easily send out a mage. ……So perhaps…… this time, they might send the most certain person to see things through to the end.”
The most… as much as the person themselves can move… the informant trailed off.
“The witch?”
The Prince spoke briefly. This time, the informant’s silence lasted a bit longer.
“It seems certain that Roberny has not contacted them directly. However, since a power impossible for human mana was at work in the Cider incident, ……there must be a connection in some way, but it cannot be confirmed yet.”
Adding that if he couldn’t confirm it, no one in the world could, the informant lifted his beer glass to moisten his throat.
“However, I will continue to look into it in the futu— ……Eek!”
A sudden, bizarre sound was added to the end of the informant’s low and serious words. Isaac instinctively snapped his eyes open and sat up.
“W-what is this! You brats, where did you come from?! Go away, shoo, shoo!”
Feeling an ominous premonition, Isaac peeked around the pillar to look, and he saw three small, familiar backs sitting side-by-side on an empty chair right next to the table where the two men were sitting.
The three, who were drooling while keeping their eyes fixed on the plate on the table, were the three Isaac knew very well.
“What, what! You want food? Go away! How dare animals covet human food! You damn stray cats, I’ll spank your butts and kick you out!”
When the informant scolded them with wide eyes, the three rolled their eyes to look at him and began to cry faintly, meow, meow. The sound was so pitiful and sorrowful that even Isaac, who knew them well, felt a tug of heartache.
“Hmph, you brats, stop throwing a tantrum! No, no, crying won’t work! Human food is seasoned, so it’s harmful for animals to eat!”
The informant continued to shout, but he took a piece of meat from the plate, rinsed it in a water glass, and placed it in front of the three. The three rushed in frantically, munching with nyam nyam nyam sounds, and the informant continued to rinse meat in water and give it to them, nagging, “Hmph, eat slowly, who do you think will take you to a doctor if you get indigestion? Don’t eat too much, even if the seasoning is washed off, you shouldn’t get used to eating human food!” He even went as far as to order more, “Give me another plate of grilled goat here! Without seasoning!”
Isaac froze in his seat and just stared silently. In front of the informant, who was preoccupied with rinsing meat and nagging incessantly, the Prince watched them silently, and regardless, the three were preoccupied with chewing meat, their butts pressed together.
“But seriously, where did these brats suddenly pop up from? What kind of cats have eyes as big as lanterns… Hey, hey, you’ll get indigestion, chew and swallow, you brats! Does your owner starve you? What a wicked person!”
Isaac, who had been half-rising, debating whether to make his presence known, ended up sliding back down after receiving an unintentional insult from the informant. No, they aren’t starving, and I’m not exactly their owner…
“Oh my, why are there cats in the shop?! Customer, I’m sorry, I’ll kick them out right away!”