Children of the Holy Emperor Chapter 171

§ 171. Logistics relay station (2)

It is difficult for unrefined emotions or impulses to become thoughts. Also, for such thoughts to lead to actions or phenomena, more cause and effect is required than expected.

If you do, what do you do? Since you cannot control a person’s mind, you have no choice but to control the driving force that generates your thoughts, right?

* * *

Seongjin and his party started camping from the first day.

We left early in the morning with plenty of time to spare, but the problem was that there were too many carriages going to and from Delcross as the birthday party period overlapped. It was difficult to achieve proper speed even on wide paved roads.

In addition, there was an accident where one of the carriages ahead broke down, and the road became congested for a while.

“If things had gone as planned, we would have already arrived in Regina and unpacked. “It’s all my fault.”

Orden’s subordinate, Herman, bowed his head to Seongjin with an expression of apology. He was currently in charge of overseeing the group’s travel itinerary.

“No, how can you prepare for such an accident? are you okay.”

Seongjin answered half-heartedly and waved his hand.

For now, all I wanted to do was get some rest. At that time, Seongjin was completely exhausted from mental stress.

Originally, he had decided to just meditate and take it easy, regardless of whether he was stuck or not, but there was a completely unexpected variable. As soon as the grace disappeared, the demon lord felt relieved and went on a wild rampage all day long.

[Ahaha! Haha! Look at this, Seongjin Lee! I’ve gone as far as I have since being away from you, but it doesn’t matter!]

The guy who was always going crazy in Seongjin’s head and acting wildly.

[wow! Look at this, Seongjin Lee! I can control the field mouse!]

Soon, it possesses a rat and chases the carriage, making loud noises.

[ha ha ha! How are you, Seongjin Lee? This body is now flying in the sky! Hahaha!]

A crow was brought from somewhere and circled around, then landed on the roof of the carriage and started cackling without hesitation.

“Where does the crow keep croaking?” . Aren’t crows said to be servants of the demon race? “It’s ominous.”

Masain, who was secretly sensitive to demon species, kept snooping outside the window with an anxious look on his face, making Seongjin feel uncomfortable as well.

Moreover, Director Bruno was the only person who could understand Seongjin’s difficulties.

“Red, it’s so noisy, please stop now… … .”

[What? Who’s red, you idiot! uh? Even after seeing this with your own eyes, wouldn’t you know the greatness of this Demon King?]

Caw caw! Wow! Arrrrrrrrrr!

By occasionally pouring fuel on the burning devil, he actually made the situation worse.

Thanks to this, when the sun went down and he heard from Hermann about the camp, Seongjin had already decided that whatever would happen would happen.

It was an added bonus that Hermann felt even more guilty upon seeing the prince’s face covered in dark circles.

[Hmm haha! Seongjin Lee! Look at this! I’m eating grass with a horse right now! Isn’t that strange? It’s just grass, but it’s somehow delicious!]

Seongjin frowned for a moment, but got off the carriage without much nagging.

‘I’ll just look at it for now… … .’

Because I felt like I wanted to do something like that.

If you think about it, the devil, the devil of devils, survived for several months using a single barrier as a shield in Delcross, a place filled with divine grace like the air.

Is that all? Didn’t I have to crouch down in front of the Holy Emperor from time to time?

[Lee Seong-jin! Come on, check this out! I can do tricks with this guy!]

Hee hee hee!

The driver was sweating trying to calm the horse, which was suddenly jumping and shaking.

“woah! woah! Why is this guy like this all of a sudden? Wow!”

My thoughts changed. If it’s like that again tomorrow, I’ll run to the nearest church and have it exorcised!

Meanwhile, preparations for camping were progressing steadily.

As I approached the bonfire with Herman’s guidance, I saw a cook from the Wolf Knights busy preparing dinner with Edith.

“Regina is a few hours away from here. “We’ll be behind schedule, but even if we get to Regina early tomorrow, we’ll have to stay there one more day.”

As Seongjin and his group sat down, Orden came next to them and said.

“Regina?”

“Yes, there is a big logistics relay station there.”

Regina was a city a day away from the northern gateway to Delcross.

It was originally a small suburban town, but it has grown rapidly over the past decade as the Merchants’ Association began its activities in earnest. This is because all upper-tier logistics leading to the northern and eastern parts of the continent pass through there.

“Once we get to Regina, there won’t be any major changes to our itinerary.”

Hermann added from the side. It is said that many of these merchants are dispersed to various parts of the continent after passing through the logistics relay station, so from now on, there will be no congestion on the road to Sigismund Territory.

“Maybe that’s a good thing. “Like other merchants, we naturally ended up spending a day in Regina.”

“… … .”

Following Orden’s gaze as he spoke while gazing intently at somewhere, Seongjin also turned his head to the other side of the street.

There were many merchants around, like Seongjin and his group, who were stranded and preparing to camp.

Among them, the group lighting a bonfire right across from them is wearing the upper crest that Seongjin is familiar with. It was definitely in the data Dasha had been researching.

Sang Sang-ju, with his scary appearance and goatee, also looks familiar.

“Is it Milo Top?”

“That’s right.”

Seongjin clicked his tongue.

Such a simple ignorant guy. For some reason, I was rushing the schedule too much, but I guess I was planning to follow and keep an eye on the Milo upper section as it ascends!

Meanwhile, Edith brought Seongjin some warm stew. The first thing she does is pick up her spoon, and she feels eyes glancing here and there on Seongjin. These are members of the Wolf Knights who followed Orden.

As a camper, it was unreasonable to expect a sumptuous feast, but it was in fact poor for a meal served to a prince.

It seemed like he was curious to see how the prince, who was famous for being a bitch, would react.

‘I don’t know what you expect, but this is a person who has lived only on preserved foods for decades.’

Seongjin smiled leisurely and thought to himself.

Of course, the moment I took a bite, that leisure disappeared.

The prince’s reaction must have been amusing, as the members of the Wolf Knights exchanged glances and giggled.

“… … .”

Seongjin frowned slightly, but obediently swallowed the stew without saying anything. And he immediately asked Edith.

“Edith, did you cook anything?”

“No, sir. “I just chopped the vegetables and checked the seasoning.”

Ah, somehow. I thought it was good enough to swallow even though it didn’t taste good.

The moment Seongjin thinks so.

Phew! Phuoc! Wow!

Magnificent sounds of stew coming from all over the place were heard.

“do… “Is it poison?”

“It appears to be an attempt at poisoning, Archduke! “Please put down the bowl!”

“He’s an assassin! “An assassin has sneaked in!”

… No, that wouldn’t be it.

Seongjin tried to stop the situation as it seemed like it was going to get worse, but before he knew it, Masain, who had turned pale, snatched his bowl, threw it on the floor, and started shouting desperately.

“Priests! Priests! You have taken poison! “Hurry up and get treatment!”

“No, Sir Masaine. That’s not it… … .”

“Ugh! This happened even though the cooking process was carefully monitored from the beginning! Of course, I should have seen the signs first! I heard earlier that a crow was strangely crowing ominously… … !”

Seongjin grabbed his temple where he had a headache.

Meanwhile, Edith, who was tilting her head with a blank expression, inadvertently took a bite of stew and frowned.

“Yuck! “It tastes like bile!”

Is that what you’re going to say now?

[Wahah! Seongjin Lee! Take a look here. Can I now temporarily possess people? I made him eat it! But why does this stew taste weirder than the grass that horses eat?]

Why are you needlessly tasting it again?

In the end, the sudden poison commotion calmed down only when the priest came.

“You are all right, Lord Masaine. “Don’t worry, it’s not poison.”

A chubby man reaps divine power and smiles kindly. It was Priest Gustav, the exclusive healer of the Wolf Knights.

“I guess that’s true, right? “There really isn’t a single lie, right?”

“Yes, yes. It’s okay. Rest assured. Just a little bit of stew… No, very… “It just didn’t taste good.”

He was a very sociable person. What’s so weird is that he even smiles like that at Lord Masain, who goes on a rampage like a real protector.

Anyway, the situation was resolved, and the bile-flavored stew was reborn as something edible thanks to the chef’s painstaking efforts. Seongjin ordered it because he thought it would be a waste to discard it all.

Of course, I didn’t forget to keep Edith at a distance during the recooking process.

The prince was the first to gorge on the tasteless stew, and the others reluctantly forced themselves to swallow it as well. Suddenly, there was a bit of respect in the Wolf Knights’ eyes looking at Seongjin.

‘Prince Mores, aren’t you amazing? ‘You eat something like that so casually!’

‘And you’ve managed to keep a maid like that alive!’

‘He was more generous than I thought!’

I didn’t want to be respected for something like that.

By the time Seongjin and his group finished their slightly late dinner, drinking parties were already taking place in the surrounding merchants who had finished their meals early.

The main force was mercenaries hired for security purposes, and it was unsightly to see them being drunk without leaving watch. Is that why you become an escort?

“We are still on a safe route and there are many merchants accompanying us. “Even the top owners turn a blind eye to this.”

Priest Gustav, who noticed Seongjin’s bewildered gaze, gave a tip.

“This leisurely journey will soon end once you leave Regina.”

However, when alcohol starts to circulate in a crowded place, problems are bound to arise somewhere.

Sure enough, soon harsh swear words and shouting began to echo here and there. Occasionally, fist fights broke out randomly.

It is an unfamiliar sight that could not be seen at all when passing through the northern gateway. The sharp figures look as if they have thrown off a veil and revealed their bare faces.

“They say that when you leave the ecliptic, humans and animals all become rough, and that was true.”

Masain said, a little embarrassed, wondering if Seongjin was the only one who felt something was wrong. Then Director Bruno shook his head.

“Perhaps it is the other way around, Sir Martha. “When people with rough temperament enter the imperial capital, they become calm.”

“Becoming quiet?”

“yes. This is a story I once heard from a mercenary I know. A troublesome subordinate who had a bad habit of drinking and causing accidents on odd days, strangely said that as soon as he entered the imperial capital, the number of times he behaved like a lie would decrease. He wondered if it was the influence of grace.”

“Grace?”

“yes. People who are impatient become noticeably calmer. “I heard that the reason why the imperial capital is so good even though people from all over the continent gather there is probably due to the influence of such grace.”

“That’s fascinating.”

Meanwhile, there was a woman who caught Seongjin’s eye.

She was a waitress hired by the Milo merchant across the street, and she was busy going to and from the place where the mercenaries were gathered, carrying a tray full of drinks. She was a dark-skinned woman from the Barça region.

And the slender physique and quiet gait that were very familiar to Seongjin.

‘… ‘Dasha?’

Seongjin blinked.

Why is Dasha there? I expected him to be secretly following Seongjin using Auror cloaking, right?

Dasha, who must have noticed his gaze, looked back at Seongjin, narrowed her eyes, and soon disappeared into the upper carriage.

At the same time, Director Bruno’s face becomes subtle. He, too, must have recognized the familiar presence he felt at Jinju Palace.

Seongjin realized Dasha’s intention and stuck out his tongue.

Wow, what a talented human being!

Rather than secretly following them, are they being hired by the top and following them comfortably and proudly?

Then, food, clothing, and shelter will be taken care of, and there will be no need to overuse Auror concealment to hide one’s identity.

At the same time, they are simultaneously conducting an undercover investigation into the Milo Merchant Marine! Is Dasha really a genius?

[When you saw the Archduke earlier, didn’t you criticize him for being simply ignorant?]

After completing his deviation, the demon king returned to Seongjin’s mind and asked in a panic.

Well, Orden is Orden.

fantasy,