[Trantor - Jjescus ]


    [Proofreader - Starfall ]


    Chapter: 106


    Even if he had stuck his head into the jaws of a starving, drooling monstrous beast, his face wouldn''t have turned as pale as it was now.


    "Th-then..."


    "I''m calling you in because you''re connected to him. Do you know anything?"


    To be honest, he didn''t expect much. After all, Jo Seunghoe was just a pawn. An expendable piece.


    Son Gye-du was the kind of person who would abandon his lifelong home and his master, the Wolhan Fortress Lord, for his own purposes.


    What value could a mere soldier, who had only run a brief errand for such a man, hold?


    As expected, Jo Seunghoe bowed his head deeply and replied, "I apologize, but I don''t know anything..."


    "Just so you know, I have no intention of dying here, no matter how many times they try to eliminate me."


    Jo Seunghoe flinched, his shoulders trembling.


    "There''s no possibility of me not returning to Wolhan Fortress alive, so don''t think their scheme to kill me will seed."


    "I-I never thought that! Y-you will surely achieve a great victory, Your Highness."


    He didn''t seem to be lying. He didn''t seem to have the guts to do so in the first ce.


    "Yes. I believe you. But you''ll have to prove it."


    "P-prove it? What do you mean...?"


    That''s for me to decide.


    Just do as you''re told, why are you asking questions? You''re a criminal.


    I frowned and instead of answering, I kicked him out.


    "Get out."


    "Yes, yes! Your Highness! I am eternally grateful."


    I waved my hand dismissively.


    Looking like he was about to die, Jo Seunghoe left my barracks.


    "Captain  Yoo."


    I called in Yoo Geung, who was waiting outside. Yoo Geung opened the barracks door and entered immediately.


    "You summoned me, Your Highness?"


    I nodded and replied, "Jo Seunghoe, was it? Put him in the elite force."


    Yoo Geung''s eyes widened in surprise as he asked, "...Do you really intend to do that?"


    "Why? Is there something wrong with that?"


    He added in a worried tone, "I apologize, but... is there a reason why he must be appointed to the elite force?"


    "To keep him close."


    "He''s not someone you could call exceptionally skilled. Also, in terms of experience, his level will be considerably lowerpared to the soldiers who have been fighting since the battle began."


    "Well, he''s survived so far, hasn''t he? It''s not like I''m entrusting my safety to him, so why are you so worried?" I said with a smirk.


    "You''re here to protect me, aren''t you?"


    When I said that, Yoo Geung closed his mouth, seemingly having nothing to refute.


    "And who knows? Those assassins might target him instead of me."


    I chuckled. Yoo Geung frowned.


    "This is noughing matter, Your Highness."


    Yoo Geung''s gaze fell on my forearm under the rolled-up sleeve.  This was from the assassins hiding among the soldiers.


    "Didn''t you notice the tampering with your saddle, Your Highness?"


    As Yoo Geung said, two days ago, I had discovered that a drug that attracts monstrous beasts had been applied to the saddle of my horse.


    They wanted me dead.


    It was such a tant attack that it couldn''t be considered a mistake.


    What audacity they had to orchestrate such a thing.


    "Oh ho. Captain Yoo... have you grown up so much? Lecturing me and not even letting meugh?"


    "Th-that wasn''t my intention, Your Highness. How dare I."


    Yoo Geung bowed his head. Unlike Commander Heo, who didn''t react at all to jokes, Yoo Geung was at least fun to tease.


    So rigid.


    "Please prioritize your well-being above all else, Your Highness."


    "Such words already, over these minor injuries?"


    "You mustn''t take this lightly, Your Highness. Even though Wolhan Fortress is not far, if a critical situation arises..."


    "If that happens, you''ll have to carry me on your back and run."


    It seemed like everyone thought I wouldn''t live long.


    From the perspective of someone who died once and came back to life, it wasughable.


    I yawned widely and replied, "Missing Eunuch Han already? It seems you want to take his ce."


    Yoo Geung''s expression turned serious.


    "I apologize, but I have no interest in bing a eunuch."


    I chuckled and rose from my chair.


    "I don''t want you to be a eunuch either. I can''t waste such talent by confining you to Hyeonnyeongdang."


    Because I need to take him to Seopyungter and confine him to Blood Cloud Fortress, until then, even I needed Yoo Geung to stay in his current position.


    "Just in case, let me tell you, never be a eunuch, Yoo Geung."


    "...That will never happen, Your Highness."


    "How can I know the future? You never know. If life gets boring, there''s nothing you wouldn''t do."


    "That will never..."


    Yoo Geung sighed silently.


    "I swear on my name."


    "Really?"


    "Yes. I, Yoo Geung, will live as a military officer of Mokryeo no matter what happens."


    "Oh ho."


    When I expressed yful admiration, perhaps thinking that my wordscked sincerity, Yoo Geung added, "I will also face death with the same name."


    "Is that so? If you say so."


    When I smiled warmly, Yoo Geung had a perplexed expression.


    "...Anyway, you need to strengthen your security, Your Highness."


    I shook my head and smirked.


    "No way."


    "Your Highness."


    "It''s disappointing to hear about guards when they should be weing me."


    Who would have thought they would nt assassins disguised among the soldiers?


    The meeting between Son Gye-du and the masked man that Jincheon had mentioned didn''t match the timing to be rted to these assassins.


    It would have taken time and effort to prepare such a number of assassins.


    I suspected there were more assassins.


    But that wasn''t the most suspicious thing.


    "It''s dangerous, Your Highness."


    "Look. How many more assassins could there be? We''ve already caught them all as soon as we found them."


    The surviving assassins who attacked me were properly tied up and locked away.


    They weren''t talking.


    If we pressed them, they seemed determined tomit suicide, so there was nothing more we could do. And we had to keep them alive to use as evidenceter, so we were leaving them alone for now.


    I gestured towards the table in the middle of the barracks with my chin. Yoo Geung picked up the map that was on the table and handed it to me.


    "In the first ce, is it even efficient to nt assassins here just to catch me? Even if I die, this won''t be over. Don''t you think so? If I die, wouldn''t they send another general from the capital to rece me?"


    "You''re right, Your Highness."


    I unfolded the map and pointed at the location of Wolhan Fortress with my index finger.


    "Look. Is there even a ce in Wiyeon District where they could obtain assassins?"


    I didn''t think the other lords of the northern region were not involved in the internal conflict within Wolhan Fortress.


    But if they had tried to involve them in the n to kill me, the possibility was low.


    The possibility of them training assassins themselves was also low.


    It was difficult to raise even an ordinary warrior to be useful.  But to train assassins?


    It would be impossible without considerable financial resources and conditions.


    Back in the day, I heard that the money spent on raising that guy Jincheon, who was an assassin, a warrior, and a general, to his level could have bought several 99-room mansions.


    Of course, it would be impossible to find someone as useful as him, but anyway, it takes a lot to acquire a well-honed sword.


    There''s no way Son Gye-du has the ability to provide such enormous support. Maybe a lord or higher could manage it.


    "...Huh?"


    Thud-


    The map fell from my hand. I identally dropped it.


    "What''s wrong, Your Highness? Is it because of your injury? I''ll call a physician right away..."


    "No, it''s not that."


    I frowned as I stared into space. I didn''t even notice the map that had fallen on the floor.


    "I just... had a really strange thought."


    "Yes? A strange thought...?"


    "...Yeah."


    I closed my mouth and fell silent for a moment. I went over a few assumptions in my head and retraced my memories before giving Yoo Geung an order.


    "...The soldiers have worked hard without rest, so they should be rewarded. Distribute alcohol and meat tofort them. I need time to organize my thoughts alone, so make sure no one approaches my barracks, and inform the entire army. Jo Seunghoe is an exception, so summon him back here."


    Despite the abrupt order, Yoo Geung bowed his head without a word.


    "Yes, Your Highness. I''ll go and inform them right away."


    "Go ahead."


    As I nodded, Yoo Geung left the barracks. I continued to stare at the door even after he left.


    * * *


    Flutter-


    The familiar pping of bird wings could be heard from outside the barracks. Soon, Gon opened the barracks door with its head and flew in, fluttering.


    A couple of ck feathers floated in the air.


    "Jeez."


    The bird had been wandering outside all day, and now it was pping around in someone else''s room, kicking up dust.


    "You..."


    I recoiled in disgust, but it approached faster.


    Gon quicklynded on the armrest of the chair I was sitting on and settled down. Then, it stared at me intently and opened its mouth, or rather, its beak.


    "Get some venttion in here. Even if it''s an army barracks, this is where you sleep and eat. Look at all this dust flying around. Did your sense of hygiene develop differently from other humans?"


    It''s your fault.


    I was going to praise it for its hard work patrolling, but I changed my mind. Gon’s the type that deserves to be scolded even after doing its job.


    "You''ve got a feast going on outside, so why are you holed up in your barracks alone?"


    "...Don''t you know that superiors are supposed to stay away from those kinds of gatherings?"


    "Why should they stay away?"


    "Because it makes people ufortable if the higher-ups are there."


    Gon tilted its head from side to side.


    It didn''t seem to understand.


    "Ah, what would you know? You''d have to have a nagging superior to understand."


    "Don''t you also not have a superior?"


    You''re just not here.


    "Anyway... did you see anything?"


    "I''ve seen enough monstrous beasts tost a lifetime."


    "Well, that''s obvious. Tell me more. You should report after your patrol."


    "Hmm."


    Gon started to look away.


    "I said report."


    "Hmph."


    It seemed to want something.


    Why was it being so annoying today?


    "Why are you acting like this when you know what I''m asking?"


    "Why are you acting like this when you know what I want?"


    Is it possessed by a hungry ghost or something?


    I let out a hollowugh and said, "Just wait a bit. It''ll be time to bring food soon."


    "Tsk. A prince is nothing special. You have to wait for mealtime to eat?"


    I just smiled faintly at Gon’s words.


    I kind of want to hit it...


    [Trantor - Jjescus ]


    [Proofreader - Starfall ]