Episode 257. Proof
‘I can’t believe I’m back here again.’
Blane looked around with anxious eyes.
Every time I breathed, I could feel the poisonous fog. The fog that surrounded the mansion like a wall, just to protect Roinenga. It was like the ‘Tuhun’s tidal wave’ of the Tuhun Plains.
If it had been her before, it would have been difficult for her to overcome the poison even if she had tried her best, but now she could endure it. In fact, it felt like her dark magic was becoming more solid as she walked through the fog.
This wasn’t her first time at her parents’ house either. She had come here at the age of nine, when she had gone through the ‘first selection’, and had chosen warehouse items.
But it was a completely different situation from back then. Now, she was an official guest, guided by Rubin Roinen, a descendant of the main family.
In fact, even the heads of the collateral branches cannot come to the main house at will. They must make a formal request for a visit and receive permission before they can step inside the foggy walls.
If the heads of the household are like that, what about the children of the collateral line?
-Young lady, don’t be so nervous.
The sound of her Roynenser Burso walking beside her. Now that I think about it, Burso looked more comfortable than Blanet.
‘That’s right, Burso was a vassal of the Roinen family.’
In addition, it was Burso who had visited the main house not long ago on Rubin’s orders. He had been there to get a long-range weapon suitable for Blanet, but in the end, they all failed to overcome the dark mines and were sent to the stronghold warehouse.
-This is not the place for you to test yourself. No one will be wary of you.
-Is that really true?
-Of course, first of all, you were invited by Master Rubin.
-But you too will have to compete for the succession here.
-That’s normal. But when I came back to my parents’ house a while ago, the balance weight was already tilted. And completely.
-completely?
When he visited his parents’ house the other day, Burso sensed the complete trust of the parents’ house towards Rubin. It was a trust that went beyond the level of courtesy towards their children. Burso, being from the parents’ house, could tell the difference delicately.
-It was like loyalty. The kind of loyalty that can only be felt towards one’s master.
-Does that mean that Lord Rubin has already become the next head of the household?
Burso nodded.
Although Siren had not declared it, it was already a fait accompli within the family. Especially since it was acknowledged even by Damon, who was directly under her command, and Roynenser Killian, who had raised the legend.
– Of course, the collateral branches probably haven’t noticed it yet. If there’s an official announcement later, it’ll cause a huge stir.
-Being recognized as the next head of the household only two years after becoming a monk… … .
It was a moment when stereotypes were broken. But thinking back, it seemed natural to me, seeing Rubin up close.
Rubin’s level of reaching 6 stars was one level higher than that of her family, the head of the Krieger family. It meant that she was stronger than her father. It was bitter, but I had no choice but to admit it.
‘No, it’s not just Father. The current Young Master might be stronger than Benik Benar, the weakest of the Dark Spirits.’
Why did such a Rubin invite him to his home? He said he would find out when he got there, so he had no choice but to wait.
Eventually, the main gate of the Roinen mansion appeared before them as they passed through the fog.
Swish.
Before their identities could be revealed outside, the main gate opened by itself.
And in front of him, Damon, who had gone directly to him, was standing and waiting. Damon bowed to Rubin.
“Damon.”
“I’m glad you returned safely, Master Rubin.”
Damon then greeted Blane with courtesy.
“I am Damon, a direct retainer of the Roinen family. It is an honor to meet the young lady of the Krieger family. I thank you for accompanying me in carrying out the imperial command, and I will make sure that you will be comfortable during your stay.”
As Blane responded with a slight nod, Damon took the lead.
“A banquet has been prepared for you two. Please go to the Asleep Hall. The Lord is waiting for you there.”
* * *
A long table was filled with various dishes. At the end of it sat Siren.
Rubin noticed that Blane was breathing heavily, nervously, next to him. Even Blane, who had fought in the war only two weeks ago, seemed helpless in front of the head of the Assassin’s Blade family.
“I’m back, my lord.”
“Blane Krieger, the lord of the main house of Roinen, welcome to meet me.”
Siren simply nodded and gestured for them to take a seat.
Rubin and Blanet took their seats, while Kuze and Burso stood behind them. Siren motioned to the two Roynens as well.
“You too, sit down and eat together.”
Come to think of it, there were five seats prepared in total.
Kuze and Burso instinctively looked at their direct vassal. However, Damon nodded as if this was not a test.
As Kuze and Burso moved cautiously and sat down on the chair, Rubin tapped his breast pocket.
In the pocket was Tina. Tina, a tiny mouse with blinking mint-colored eyes.
There were five seats prepared. One seat was still empty. Rubin seemed to know who that one seat was for.
As expected.
“Tina, come eat with us too.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The moment her name came out of Siren’s mouth, Tina had already stuck her head out of her pocket. She came out, following Rubin’s hand, and quickly ran to her place.
“I didn’t give you permission to run across the table in the form of a rat.”
Squeak squeak. Squeak squeak?
Siren snickered, perhaps because Tina’s wide-eyed and trembling appearance was quite cute. When she gestured to indicate that it was a joke, Tina finally felt relieved and transformed into her human form.
Phew.
A pretty woman with mint-colored hair who looked like she’d seen it somewhere. She smiled at Siren and grabbed a fork and knife.
“I wonder if there’s any poison in this?”
“When I was little, Killian always put some poisoned food on the table.”
“Siren, are you kidding…? Right?”
“No kidding, but eat at ease. I think you all are past the point of training like that.”
Only then did Tina feel relieved and start moving her fork and knife. There were only two people who could eat comfortably in this place, Rubin and Tina.
“Rubin.”
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“Yes, my lord.”
It was past the halfway point of the meal.
“What was Your Majesty’s first task?”
The question was about the mission to track down Brion Auror. Rubin answered without hesitation.
“It wasn’t that difficult. It was easier because of my status as an Imperial Inspector.”
“The wound you found was from a monster attack while being transported. They say all the executives of the Imperial Command were killed.”
Siren’s meaningful words. It was dry and toneless, but the ending was sharp.
It was the moment when it was proven that the information of the assassination sword that Siren possessed was spread throughout the continent. Of course, Siren could not confirm that it was Rubin’s doing.
“Tell me about your mission, Rubin. What you experienced. What you saw.”
Siren’s order was given, and Blane looked at Rubin with tense eyes.
How much truth will the master tell?
What about the blacksmiths of the other world? What about the chosen ones? What about the anthropomorphism of the taunts and the Empire’s ‘Operation Sunset’?
Finally, Rubin’s mouth fell open.
“After I met Blaene in Avern… … .”
For a while, only Rubin’s voice echoed in the twilight hall. Siren nodded and asked questions from time to time, but the dry atmosphere remained intact throughout the conversation.
As a result.
Rubin was only telling half the truth.
Meeting Haneke’s secret great-granddaughter, fighting Imakarum but not capturing him, handing over Kundalit to a fake Brion Auror manifestor, and even rescuing him along the way.
But the other half was left a secret.
Reaching the 6th star and talking to ‘Amyeon’. Going to the world of blacksmiths and having Rayubia become the ‘Lord of Red Cloud Castle’. Even leading the Empire’s ‘Operation Sunset’ to failure for the sake of the Tohuns.
There will come a day when these things will be revealed, but I have decided that it is not the time yet.
The current Siren may harbor hatred for the Emperor, but she will not agree to killing him.
‘There will come a day when I can tell you that I have regressed, Mother. But not now.’
Siren, who had heard the story, remained silent for a while. It was a silence that amplified the anxiety of those sitting around the table.
The moment when the silence is finally broken.
“As expected, that person with the scar is still alive. Fortunately, the Imperial Department doesn’t seem to suspect you.”
“If my decision is wrong, I will be punished.”
“no.”
A dull voice followed.
“It doesn’t matter whether what you did was right or wrong. It matters whether it was perfect and innocent or not. That’s all that matters.”
If Rubin’s actions had not fooled the Imperial Commission and the Palace, then it would have been Siren who would have judged Rubin’s actions.
That was the ruthlessness of Siren, whose top priority was to protect the Assassination Sword.
Of course, it might have seemed like a bloody decision to others, but at least in Blane’s eyes, it wasn’t.
‘The lord really trusts the young master.’
Siren said that she would give him free will, but if he was not perfect, she would gladly cut him out. This was not so much a sign of ruthlessness as it was a bold determination on Siren’s part. It made me understand a little why Rubin was already able to be chosen as the next head of the household.
“Your Majesty.”
“… … ?”
“I heard from Damon that Killian left after receiving orders to assassinate him. Can I ask him about that?”
“It was an urgent order from the head of the Imperial Department. It was to remove some of the key positions in the headquarters of the General Department.”
It would probably be about killing those who obtained information about ‘Operation Sunset’.
As Rubin had guessed, the Emperor seemed to be postponing the development of the steppe until a later date. The fact that he had left the aftermath to the Assassin Swordsman meant that he had no idea that Rubin was involved in the ‘Sunset Operation’.
“There are several 5-stars and even two 6-stars in the high-ranking positions of the Grand General’s Office, but Killian will be no problem.”
Rubin was sure that Siren had called Killian to end this as quickly as possible.
“Rubin. The next imperial edict won’t be as easy as this one. So… have you decided who you’ll be helping out on your next mission?”
“It depends on the mission, but I have some collateral descendants in mind. Kun Crokisson or Hamil Cunitli.”
Siren thought back to the two of them. They had gone through the ‘1st and 2nd selection’ with Rubin, and they were all top-ranked kids.
Kun of the Crokison family was currently working as an Imperial Navy soldier in the port city of Krulti, fighting pirates.
As the head of the family, Siren regularly checks on the educational status of her children, and according to the information she has received, Kun’s growth has been remarkable.
A talent that even the Croquison family, which has been in the Black Shadow for generations, would be proud of. Just looking at his growth, it was said that he was reminiscent of Siren’s childhood.
Of course, no matter how much you fly or crawl, you can’t compare to Rubin.
‘Kun?’
When Blane heard this, he was inwardly shocked.
‘Are you serious? If it’s Kun, he’s not only competitive but also hateful towards you.’
It was unexpected for Blanero, who was fully aware of Kun’s vicious nature. If he were Rubin, it would be difficult for him to keep Kun by his side, who might pull out a knife from behind his back at any moment.
‘By the way, you were thinking about Hamilton too.’
On the other hand, I had already guessed that Hamil Kunitli was a kid who respected Rubin and, above all, was full of desire to improve.
As she recalls, Hamil chose ‘Leureta’, the mecca of mercenaries, in the ‘second selection’.
Just by choosing that city, which is famous for its monster floods along with the polar regions, you could tell how ambitious Hamil was.
‘Hamil will grow up like me. He was a strong kid from the beginning, so if you help him, I wonder how much he will grow… … .’
Blaine’s fighting spirit was burning. His journey with Rubin was about to end, but he had no intention of just watching Hamil and Kun grow.
When I return to Avern, I decide to hurry and check out the bullets from the dark mines that I haven’t checked yet.
“My lord, I have a favor to ask.”
Rubin’s voice rang out again towards Siren.
“Please?”
“Could you please call Marek Helde to the Roinen mansion?”
At that moment, Siren’s eyes wavered. However, no one except her knew what Rubin’s request meant.
Others simply remembered that Marek Helde was one of the Black Shadow Eight.
“Are you talking about the Helid family that fought you on the non-stage?”
“Yes, I would like to meet him and fight again.”
“Are you going to prove the promise you made to me before?”
Rubin, who had been on equal terms with Marek a few months ago.
After that battle, Siren made a promise with Rubin. She would prepare the battle in two years, and he had to prove that he had completely surpassed Marek.
“Yes, I will prove it to you.”
Siren smirked. It wouldn’t be hard to bring Marek to Roinenga. And it would be quite possible for Rubin to defeat him.
But I didn’t know that time would come so quickly.
‘What happened in the meadow, Rubin?’
It was clearly a promise made for a two-year term. Not even six months have passed since then.
Strangely enough, Rubin was brimming with confidence. It seemed as if something had happened in the meadow and he had seen the light of growth there.
‘no way.’
Does that mean you’ve already reached 6 stars?
