Time Healer Ceres
Chapter 21
It had always struck her as odd.
She had heard that people like that usually sold off anything that could fetch a price. Yet, those vicious bastards had supposedly never once set foot in the shop.
Upon looking into the reason, she discovered it was all thanks to the mercenaries.
In the beginning, debt collectors had indeed come to the shop, demanding repayment.
However, the mercenaries, who practically lived at the shop, had kicked them out by the seat of their pants.
「Goddammit, you think this is just any place to be acting up!?」
「Hey, did that punk just draw a blade? Ha! Hey, come here while we’re still being nice.」
「These idiots don’t know where they are! The only ones allowed to cause a ruckus in this shop are us mercenaries!」
They had come once and fled in absolute terror.
She had heard they hadn’t even loitered near the shop since then.
“So that wasn’t the case?”
Had they been tormenting Mark in secret?
“If I’m not here… the shop will have to close anyway….”
Their goal was likely to interfere with the shop’s operation by harassing Mark until he fled or got injured.
Then, naturally, the mercenaries guarding the shop would leave, making it easier for them to act out and demand the money.
“I tried to hold out somehow….”
Mark had stood firm and endured the debt collectors’ harassment all this time, but in the end, his arm had been broken.
Now that she looked, she could see quite a few bruises and scars on his body that seemed old. They were likely marks from what he had endured until now.
“…….”
Ceres’s expression hardened into a cold mask at the sight of Mark, who couldn’t lift his head as if he were the one at fault.
“Is that thing expensive?”
“Pardon?”
When he looked up, Ceres was picking something up.
“That is….”
Why was she holding the stick used for beating dust out of blankets?
Leaving behind Mark’s bewildered gaze, Ceres looked at the long, sturdy-looking stick with great satisfaction.
“Is it just you again this time?”
“Yes, that is how it turned out.”
“One would think the Black Guild Master was the only busy man in the world.”
On the first day of the Imperial Council.
Lot, the Vice Guild Master of the Black Mercenary Guild, who ended up attending the Imperial Council alone in Skal’s stead, had to face those picking a fight with him, just as expected.
‘That damn Guild Master!’
He hadn’t even shown his face at headquarters since morning; he’d bolted to who-knows-where.
He suspected the man had run off to the stew shop again….
“Indeed. Our guild has become quite busy lately, as we’ve unexpectedly taken over the defense of the Alsi region as well.”
“Ahem.”
The face of the Red Mercenary Guild Master, who had initiated the provocation, turned red.
Originally, it was his Red Mercenary Guild that was in charge of defending the Alsi region.
However, they had failed to properly contain a recently appeared Black Forest, resulting in massive casualties, and the management of that region had eventually been handed over to the Black Mercenary Group.
“No matter how busy one is, to show such a lack of interest in the Imperial Council is unacceptable.”
“My thoughts exactly. Do they think we have nothing better to do?”
“Always acting so high and mighty.”
The other mercenary guild masters who had gathered around were also busy venting their frustrations.
“Yes, I agree. Our Guild Master is far too capable for his own good; it really is a problem. I’ll be sure to tell him to take it easy on the work from now on.”
“Y-You!”
“Ugh.”
At the sight of Lot, who kept his professional smile while saying everything he wanted to say until the end, all the guild masters eventually turned away, their faces flushed with anger.
‘Tsk.’
If you don’t have the skills, you should at least stay quiet.
‘Old fogies, the lot of them.’
How is it that the words coming out of their mouths are exactly the same every single time? They really are a bunch of people lacking in creativity.
Clicking his tongue inwardly, Lot quickly scanned the paper detailing today’s agenda.
As expected, the main topic was about the Black Forests, which had been increasing in frequency recently.
The plan was to restructure the defense system now that the Black Forests had begun appearing frequently even near the Capital.
“His Imperial Majesty is entering.”
A moment later, everyone rose at the attendant’s cry.
The doors to the council chamber opened, and the Emperor entered, followed by the Crown Prince, Aseraian.
“Everyone, be seated.”
A gentle voice and a benevolent smile.
However, no one dared to hold their head high before him.
Despite appearances, he was the man who had ascended the throne after surviving the most complex and severe internal power struggles in the history of the Imperial Family.
He was a man capable of being more cruel and cold-blooded than anyone when necessary.
“…….”
The Emperor’s gaze stopped abruptly as he sat down.
One of the seats prepared at the head of the table was empty.
‘As expected, he isn’t coming.’
A silent sigh escaped the lips of the Devrica Emperor.
Even though he had summoned him using the Golden Plaque, it seemed the 300-year-old wall of ice had no intention of breaking.
Kainel Persia.
The absence of the Grand Duke of Persia felt exceptionally large today.
‘I heard the previous Emperor never even saw his face.’
The throne had changed hands several times, yet no one had seen him.
That said, no one had ever been able to drag him out by force, either.
‘Never make an enemy of him.’
Those were the words his late father had always said. He insisted there was nothing to be gained from making an enemy of the Grand Duke of Persia.
‘Sigh.’
The current situation was dire enough that he had even used the Golden Plaque, but was that, too, going to be useless in the end?
“Father.”
“Mm.”
The Emperor, lost in thought, nodded lightly at Crown Prince Aseraian’s call. It was a signal to begin the meeting.
“Then, we shall now begin the council—”
Click.
“…?”
At the very moment Aseraian stepped forward to announce the start of the council, the firmly closed doors opened once again.
Step.
Everyone’s eyes naturally turned toward the entrance, and no one could look away from the person entering.
Snow-white hair, without a single speck of dust, was the first thing to catch the eye.
Following that, silver eyes that shone coldly felt exceptionally chilling.
An indifferent expression, devoid of any emotion, made the man’s aura seem even colder.
Thump!
The Emperor was the first to react.
Having realized who the person was, he found himself standing up instinctively.
“Welcome… I am glad you came.”
An appearance no different from what he had heard from the late Emperor.
Where else in the world could someone with such an appearance exist?
‘He said I would know the moment I saw him.’
What the previous Emperor said was true.
“…….”
After giving a silent nod toward the Emperor, the man headed toward the empty seat.
Everyone’s eyes remained fixed on his every movement.
‘So that person is….’
It was the same for Crown Prince Aseraian.
The Grand Duke of Persia, whom he was meeting for the first time, possessed a strange atmosphere that overwhelmed people just by looking at him.
“Aseraian.”
“Ah, yes.”
Straightening his posture at the Emperor’s call, he resumed the interrupted council.
Then, his eyes naturally drifted to another seat that remained empty.
‘That fellow didn’t come after all.’
Even though I went there personally to urge him.
Aseraian let out a short sigh inwardly, thinking of someone who was likely throwing a tantrum somewhere today as well.
“We shall conclude today’s council here.”
The meeting was over. And in a very short amount of time, at that.
Had there ever been another council as quiet and free of conflict as today’s?
‘It would be best for Vertz County to provide more support for the guard forces in the Altoa region.’
‘But Your Majesty, that is…!’
‘…….’
‘…No, it is nothing. I shall consider it, Your Majesty.’
Unlike usual, almost no one countered the Emperor’s words.
Even when someone was about to raise their voice, they would often falter and shut their mouths under the indifferent gaze of the Grand Duke of Persia, who sat closest to the Emperor.
And so, the council ended more quietly and quickly than ever before.
However, even though the meeting was over, no one stood up from their seat.
Even the Emperor was simply staring at one person in silence.
The man who had appeared for the first time in 300 years.
There were many things he wanted to ask, and many things he wanted to say.
Whether he had decided to reopen the Northern region, which had been closed off until now.
Whether he would continue to engage in public activities like this in the future.
If so, who he would contract with and distribute the vast resources that would come out of the North!
Not just the nobles, but everyone in the room was itching to speak.
However, no one could easily open their mouth.
It was as if they were infected by the chilling air Kainel exuded, making it difficult for words to come out.
Rustle.
Was he completely oblivious to the gaze of the people?
Kainel, rising from his seat, gave a light nod to the Emperor just as he had when he first arrived, and then walked out of the council chamber without another word.
