Chapter 20
20
"To know even such information. It seems you should be the master of the information guild, not me."
"……."
"Very well. As you said, we are currently working to establish connections with the Temple. It is also a treasure trove of information."
The man, speaking calmly, fidgeted with the paper.
For a moment, the man frowned slightly and let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.
'I deliberately wrote with my left hand to prevent them from identifying my handwriting.'
Someone who is the master of the Rune Information Guild would be able to find people by their handwriting alone.
"But then, what benefit is there for you? It doesn't seem like you want money, are you really going to donate? Or……."
He trailed off, giving a meaningful smile.
"Has this family committed a crime worthy of death against you?"
I looked at him with a calm gaze.
The paper he held contained detailed information about the distribution process of Akaban and the information of the family that smuggled it.
I learned about the family that smuggled Akaban when the memories of the original work returned.
I needed to figure out what point in time it was, and naturally, I realized that the attempted poisoning of the Emperor would occur around this time.
The investigation was led by Eden Aquillium, the commander of The First Holy Knight Order and the second male lead, and he, known as the sword of the Temple, apprehended the culprit exactly one year later, befitting his reputation.
At the same time, Eden Aquillium and the Temple gained recognition and were revered by the people.
This incident, which simply appears to be an event where Eden Aquillium and the Temple were active, actually hides a tremendous secret.
That is—
'The Temple was the one who orchestrated the poisoning.'
Originally, the Empire was firmly in the grip of the divine authority, but the balance of power had begun to shift several generations ago.
The Temple was still powerful, but if things continued this way, it was obvious that power would pass to the imperial authority.
However, the Temple didn't really intend to poison the Emperor to death.
Just before death, around that point, they would use the power of the Saintess to emphasize the divine power and make the imperial family indebted to them.
'In fact, that family was just being used.'
They smuggled Akaban at the behest of the Temple, but they probably didn't know it would be used to poison the Emperor.
The Temple had designed the incident that way from the beginning. In short, that family was the tail of the Temple. A very end of the tail.
'I'm just trying to bring that date forward.'
Well.
'It's a bit drastic, though.'
I told you.
I'm just bringing the date forward.
It's going to happen anyway, even if it's not me. By the Temple they trust so much.
'The Temple will try to find me, the informant, but.'
I looked at the man in front of me.
The master of the best guild in the Empire, the Rune Information Guild.
'He'll be a great shield.'
The top priority of the information guild is the anonymity of the informant.
Isn't that right? Who would want to buy and sell information if anonymity wasn't guaranteed? Information is more dangerous than force.
"Haha……."
As if reading my thoughts, the man let out an absurd laugh.
"I feel like I'm possessed by something."
Pretending not to hear his muttering, I stood up from my seat.
"I hope you leak that information as soon as possible. You should be able to contact the people involved directly."
The search should start by tomorrow at the latest.
"Of course. But at this rate, we'll be a little wronged. I have a condition in exchange for accepting the offer."
I looked down at the man with emotionless eyes.
He said in a slightly hurt voice.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm hurt."
As if he were a very delicate man.
He muttered slyly.
'Even though I can't see his face.'
Besides, the master of the Rune Information Guild is a delicate man? Even a passing dog would laugh.
'I know exactly how this guild grew.'
If I were to reveal that process in detail, <Everyone Only Likes the Saintess> would become 19+ instead of all ages.
"The condition is, once a month from now on. You have to meet me."
At the man's words, I let out a small hollow laugh.
"To meet the master of the Rune Information Guild in person. Isn't that too good of an offer for me?"
Even the Emperor has to put in a lot of effort to bring this man in.
'If it weren't for the information from the original work that the information guild only accepts requests on the third Wednesday of every month, I wouldn't have been able to meet him.'
At my words, the man asked back with a bright face.
"Then will you accept?"
"I refuse."
At the firm refusal, the man's expression became as gloomy as someone who had been rejected for marriage.
'Even though I can't see his face, I can see exactly what kind of expression he's making.'
That's why he's more dangerous. Showing himself means he's that confident.
"It doesn't seem like a bad condition, as you said, so why are you refusing?"
"I don't like restrictions."
"Restrictions? You just have to meet me once a month. It doesn't have to be a meeting for information trading. We can have tea or play chess."
"Either way, it means I have to meet you once a month. I don't know what kind of variables might arise from that, so how can I make a promise so easily?"
"Oh dear…… I'm quite popular, you know."
He lowered his eyes secretly.
I looked at such a man with indifferent eyes.
'But…….'
I reconsidered the man's offer.
The offer to meet him once a month could be a restriction, so I refused, but.
'He's the master of the Rune Information Guild. If I establish a connection, I can use it to my advantage later.'
I pondered. The man gave me time leisurely, as if he knew my thoughts.
Soon, I slowly parted my lips.
"How about this?"
"Tell me."
"Let's make a bet."
"A bet…… you say?"
At the word 'bet', the man's eyes lit up as if surprised.
I nodded calmly.
'I can't think of a way to gain an advantage over this man no matter what I do.'
If I come to him defenselessly like today, I'll have to give him more than I want.
'This man knows that I'm the one who's getting impatient.'
So, I'm going to take the form of a bet to secure an advantage.
Of course…….
'I have to win.'
In other words, this is a gamble. A gamble with a high probability of defeat.
"Hmm, a bet. It's interesting, but……."
The man, with a smile on his face, trailed off and gauged my mood.
"It's a bit of a hassle. A bet should have a prize, right?"
"The information you want most."
At that moment, the temperature around us dropped slightly.
He, who had been smiling all along, stared at me with eyes like he was holding a knife.
For a moment, his lips twisted.
"The information I want most. Do you know that I'm the master of the information guild? Do you think there's information that I don't know?"
It was still a light tone, but his voice was as cold as ice.
"Well, I guess so."
"……Are you kidding me?"
I know why he's being so sensitive.
Because it's his Achilles' heel.
That's why this is the only way to handle this man.
"So, are you going to accept the bet? If you think it's absurd, you can just not accept it."
But I don't intend to drag this out any longer.
When I asked in a firm tone, he let out a hollow laugh. Then, he leaned back, crossed his arms, and asked.
"Alright. I'm really curious to know what you know. Then what will you get?"
"That's……."
I raised my eyes and met his green eyes.
Then, I smiled softly and said.
"I'll tell you then. No matter what I say, it won't be worth more than 'that information' to you."
"……The bet is?"
"Tag."
"Tag?"
I nodded.
"For the next three months. You find me. I'll find you. Whoever finds the other first wins."
"Haha, that's fun. Tag is really fun."
He burst into laughter as if he was genuinely enjoying it.
I quietly stared at the man.
"Alright. I'll accept your offer."
"However, it's impossible to put people behind me. That's cheating."
The man nodded as if it was obvious. Then, he shrugged his shoulders and said.
"But isn't it a little unfair? It seems like you know me very well……."
He traced the surface of the watery teacup with his fingertips and smiled.
"I don't know anything about you."
"Rather, that's what makes it fair. I'm a commoner and you're the master of the information guild."
I answered firmly and clicked my tongue inwardly.
I was displeased with him for trying to gain even a little bit of an advantage.
When his trick didn't work, the man shrugged his shoulders as if he couldn't help it.
"Okay. Then let's set a code."
What would be good?
He rubbed his chin and pondered, then suddenly slapped his palm with his fist as if he had a good idea.
