◈ Episode 067

Bishop Solau had a habit that was not praised by others. Whenever he entered the palace, he would slowly look around the castle and sigh inwardly.

There were so many anachronistic customs in Bastet.

The decorations in the castle were representative examples. Carpets embroidered with elaborate patterns, lamps inlaid with various jewels, and useless candle holders were maintained by a professional every week.

In this unchanging country, castles are becoming more and more luxurious.

It's beyond amazing, it's ridiculous. Especially when you think about the basic cost, labor cost, and the money that the person in charge must have embezzled for each of those things.

The royal family's expenditures are directly connected to the nobles' income. Huge sums of money that cannot be written down in the ledgers or even recorded are piling up in their coffers...

But lately, the reality of the situation had become out of sight. Now, there was no time to even lament. The sound of shoes stamping hard on the carpet echoed through the hallway.

'What on earth is going on…!'

His footsteps were hurried, as if to express his state of mind. He was not alone. Many passersby, regardless of whether they were employees or nobles working in the castle, were moving busily around the castle.

The cause was the princess's disappearance.

About a month ago, Princess Ainoa, who was scheduled to have her coming-of-age ceremony, disappeared overnight. Even though the date had already passed, her whereabouts were still unknown.

There was nothing Solau could know about the progress of the investigation. However, Wangseong was a place where all sorts of rumors were floating around. Of those, less than 10% were good news.

The rest were just dark stories.

"Oh, Auxiliary Bishop Solau."

There was a call that stopped me in my tracks.

A man appeared from a twisted alley. When he saw a familiar face, wrinkles formed around Solau's eyes, but they quickly disappeared.

"...Ah, Count Bedeloff. Have you been well?"

"I am still the same. It is thanks to Mithra's blessing. Even someone like me who often skips prayers seems to be tolerated. Maybe it's because I donate money to the temple every year, haha."

He smiled, brushing his neatly grown moustache. Compared to those around him, his behavior was very relaxed. He was a gentleman who always said that being relaxed was classy.

"As I said before, Mitra does not discriminate between believers based on the amount of money they give. Donations are solely for the smooth operation of the temple."

"I know, I know. But how can I be sure? You may not appreciate my efforts to protect the temple."

He is a constant person. Solau buried his discontent that was about to burst out in his chest. It was too new to spit out a sermon. It was not the time to leisurely engage in a verbal dispute.

"That view is also true. It is indeed interesting, but I am in a hurry for a moment...."

"Oh, I see. Come to think of it, the auxiliary bishop was also close to Lady Ainoa."

Count Bedeloff sighed with pity.

"I heard there are some ominous rumors going around."

"It's just a rumor."

"How can you say that so confidently? Did you hear something from Lady Ainoa?"

"That's not true, but we should refrain from making assumptions."

"Hmm. Just a guess."

He rolled his eyes as if thinking, then said.

"Recently, something sad happened to an acquaintance of mine. He got soaking wet in the rain, so I picked him up and looked after him with all my heart, but then the dog bit his wrist."

"What are you talking about…."

"When I see the auxiliary bishop, something suddenly comes to mind. I wish you would pray for him."

He shook his head. Then he added with a look of regret.

"Ah! The Tabes that Lady Ainoa was carrying also went missing. What a heartbreaking thing. I too must pray for his safety."

"Count Bedeloff, such things are called speculations."

"What did I say?"

There was only malice in his sly attitude. Solau considered the possibility that Count Bedeloff had committed atrocities. Even if he had not planned them himself, he might have had some connection to them.

'… … I guess that's an exaggeration.'

The return is extremely low compared to the risk. There is no deep personal grudge. At least as far as Solau knows, Count Bedeloff had no real motive.

Unless the intention is to cause chaos.

"Well, I don't know if it's true or not."

"Whew," Count Bedeloff exhaled, his breath drawn out.

"I'm hearing stories that are starting to go too far. The worst kind of assumptions that I dare not speak of with my own mouth. If the royal family denies it, even if it calms down for the time being, it will only be a temporary measure. That is, unless he proves to the people that he is still alive."

That wasn't a wrong statement.

Public opinion has already been set ablaze. The public is taking it for granted that something is wrong with Ainoa. This is because her coming-of-age ceremony was suddenly postponed.

There is a limit to trying to cover it up with something like a bottle. As the face of the royal family, the princess has been attending various events. The longer her absence continues, the more chaotic the situation will become.

And then, a rumor started spreading like wildfire a few days ago. Princess Ainoa had already been murdered by someone, and the royal family hadn't even found her body.

chin.

A gloved hand came up to Solau's shoulder.

"I hope Lady Ainoa is truly safe?"

The distance between us became shorter by half a step. The face that had become much closer was expressionless. The usual easygoing attitude was nowhere to be found, and it was as if he had put on a mask.

Solau finally realized that while he was focused on Ainoa's whereabouts, something was happening here too.

Maybe this was just the beginning.

"...That will be the case."

The voice that answered was tense. Solau thought for a moment. The rumor was true, and Princess Ainoa had probably been brutally murdered.

So then, what happens to this Bastet?

* * *

Kuk.

Kim Yi-hyeon pressed his temples with his hands. His head was throbbing because he had heard the unexpected words. He could sympathize with Ku-san's feelings a little bit last time.

"I think I misheard you. Could you say that again?"

"I said I would go with you."

"With whom, where."

"You and Bastet."

"What nonsense is this…."

I couldn't hold back my sighs. I could see that the tension was easing day by day. But even so, she was a woman with a strong nerve, saying something like that to the kidnapper.

Even though the gaze seemed to be that of a weirdo, Ainoa did not give in.

"You said you wanted to go? It's hard to gauge the reaction here. I think so too. I don't know exactly where this research center is, but it's probably not easy to get news from abroad."

That was right. Immigration was easy, but Bastet was far away. There were limits to relying solely on information from Kushan spies.

Ainoa's disappearance. Possible murder.

He had to be on his toes to see how the forces of Bastitera would move on this topic. Kim I-Hyeon was going to head there himself to find out more accurately, quickly, and in detail.

So when I told him I was going to be away for a while, he immediately started asserting himself.

'I thought I was smart even though the screw was loose, but was that not the case?'

In fact, Kim Yi-Hyeon was not very knowledgeable about Ainoa herself. In terms of the story, she was a character who suddenly died while the professor and his group were fighting against the Legion.

If we summarize the characters' comments, she can be summarized as a 'beloved princess'. She has an appearance that is beautiful enough to elicit admiration, and she has a bright nature, so she easily wins the favor of others.

'It was mostly just about appearance and personality descriptions.'

The ability part is missing. It's not a hint that the production team has left out. It simply means that for the Pecatums of Bastitera, her abilities were not important.

"Did I treat you too comfortably? What kind of crazy person in the world takes the trouble to kidnap someone and bring them all the way to their front yard?"

"You don't kidnap unless you're crazy, usually."

"Then let's correct him by calling him a crazy bastard."

Even after the conversation was cut off, they exchanged glances for about ten seconds.

After a silent battle of wits, Ainoa lowered her eyes. She was the one who felt sorry, so it was a result that had been decided from the beginning.

"I have no intention of running away. I just want to see with my own eyes. Will they act rationally? Or… will it really be as you say?"

"How can you believe that?"

"Look carefully. Do you see this through the eyes of a liar?"

The sea-blue eyes sparkled. While some people would be mesmerized by the sight, Kim Yi-hyun only frowned. It was extremely burdensome.

"You could change your mind. Wouldn't it be enough to just say, 'I changed my mind when I got back'? No, it would be noble if you left a word."

It's not easy. Ainoa whetted her appetite.

"I swear by Mithra in heaven that I will not do that."

"What do you gods have to do with me?"

"Then you may walk my body."

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Asterike, who had been watching the fire from across the river, spit out the water she was drinking. Then, she glared at Ainoa with a murderous expression that was incomparable to before. It looked as if she would kill her if she said another word.

Kim Yi-hyeon was equally embarrassed. Perhaps because he had just become an adult, he was unstoppable.

"...Stop talking nonsense. Even if you follow my control to the end, it's still a risk for me. If you really want to follow me, I'll offer you a reasonable benefit."

"Profit, you say?"

Ainoa thought for a moment and then opened her mouth.

"If your concerns turn out to be true… I will actively cooperate with you. If you can do as you wish, wouldn't it be easier for you too?"

"hmm."

This is an accurate point. The cause of the civil war is the death of the princess. If only she is alive and well, it is easy to calm her down.

"I don't mind if it's a tall order. You're the one who said my life was worth it. If I really had the potential to shake things up, there must be other ways to use it."

"If your death becomes a fait accompli and the situation becomes urgent, you will be the one in trouble."

"Yes. It would be difficult for you too. Otherwise, I wouldn't have kidnapped you."

Kim Lee-hyun did not deny it. Instead, he shrugged his shoulders and seemed to agree.

"Yeah. We're going to cooperate anyway, so there's no need to waste time."

"…When that time comes, no, even after everything is over, I will not betray you. Hyun, I trust you with all my heart, and I will take off my shoes and step forward when you and Cellbrox Lab are in danger."

The idea of ​​creating a relationship that goes beyond a mere relationship of use. Normally, this would be a ridiculous idea. Trust? Isn't it ridiculous not only in Polaris but also in modern times?

However, Kim Yi-hyeon came to know Ainoa's humanity, just as Ainoa came to know Kim Yi-hyeon.

'It's better than a prince's cub.'

Her brother, the prince, is a real mad dog. He is usually somewhat hot-tempered but is portrayed as a dignified person, but the prince's true worth is revealed during the civil war.

If you keep the aftermath in mind, there is no harm in trying to persuade Ainoa.

'If we keep Se-sa here, he won't be able to escape.'

Kim Yi-hyeon let out a huge sigh. He concluded that although it was annoying, the benefits were great.

"If you do something stupid, I'll come back and throw you in jail."

"Very good!"

"Prison?"

"Huh? No, that's not what I meant, haha."

The sound of laughter like a fountain made me feel even more uneasy.

* * *

"That's crazy. She's clearly out of her mind."

Asterike's face was filled with irritation as she grumbled. Her expressions were much more explicit than when she was hanging out with Kim I-hyeon. Especially when she was expressing dark emotions.

On days when she heard complaints like this, Chelsea felt a strange feeling.

'Am I some kind of emotional trash can…?'

But it wasn't something to completely hate. It also meant that Asterike had become comfortable with her. She could vent her frustrations to her friends and listen to them.

Yeah, I guess we can call each other friends.

"You don't like it that much? You're saying all these gossips that you don't normally say."

"It's not like I don't like it...."

"Is it complicated or something?"

"huh."

"That could be possible."

Chelsea nodded her head. The opponent was the princess of Pecatum. It would be hard not to feel any emotion when you consider Asterike's origins.

'I was surprised when I first heard it too.'

When I heard that Kim Yi-hyeon brought a woman home by helicopter, I thought, 'Is there such a crazy person?' After hearing the details, I thought, 'Ah, he was a crazy person from the beginning.'

She wasn't particularly interested in the princess herself. She had never seen a royal person in her life, so it was a bit strange, but that was it. Chelsea was more interested in spending the day scratching her belly and watching old dramas.

"Should I follow you? It might be awkward for the two of us to do this."

"I'd like to go too. But I can't."

"why."

"I might cause trouble."

Asterike is an arsonist in Bastitera. She has a history of burning down entire houses due to her spells going wild. Disguising herself may reduce the risk of being caught, but it is a risk she does not need to take.

Chelsea was quite impressed after understanding her words. She used to be unable to live without Kim Yi-hyun, but it seemed like she had grown a little mentally.

"And they're going to take someone anyway. They have to watch over the princess too, so wouldn't it be difficult for Hyeon-do to do it alone?"

"This time, you said the purpose was to gather information."

It was certainly as Asterike said. The kidnapping required secrecy and speed, so I acted alone. This time, I don't know how long I will stay there.

At least one person. I'll bring someone who is easy to handle... ... .

'…huh?'

Suddenly Chelsea felt a chill. An eerie feeling came over her.

And two days passed.

"Damn, how could this have happened!"

"As expected, if you pretend, it will be pretend. Please take good care of me."

"Hey, Chelsea? Please take care of me."

Chelsea boarded the helicopter bound for Bastitera.