Translator: Wan ED/PR: Fan
At Krone’s sudden change of heart, Lucion looked at him quietly.
“But now it’s different.”
Krone put strength into his voice.
“I received a place to live, freedom and a new life from Hamel-nim, so shouldn’t I repay the gratitude? I’ll do as Hamel-nim wishes, and raise this organization to protect Hamel-nim.”
In fact, Lucion only sped up Krone’s growth, which he would have done by himself in the future.
However, because the atmosphere felt like he became Krone’s savior, Lucion wanted to leave straight away.
“I’m not as great a person as you think I am.”
“No. It’s the first time I saw a person give his things to someone without any doubts. Such actions probably aren’t easy for anyone.”
When Krone refuted Lucion’s words, Hyum firmly nodded.
“… Giving you one hundred thousand Del was just out of my fickleness.”
“Hamel-nim may have given us an enormous amount of one hundred thousand Del truly out of fickleness, but that money changed everything for us.”
‘That’s wrong.’
The moment Lucion saw Krone’s gaze, he stopped making excuses.
No matter how he saw it, it was some enormous misunderstanding.
‘Well, I can’t help it.’
From the beginning, Lucion didn’t coerce him into it, and Krone was someone who could think for himself, so whatever the misunderstanding was, didn’t he reach the conclusion after thinking?
Lucion decided to just comfortably accept what Krone gave him.
“You will protect me?”
“That’s correct. I’ll grow this organization to protect Hamel-nim.”
An organization grown just to protect one warlock.
Lucion thought it was really funny.
As such, Lucion was swept up in the atmosphere, and had not even once thought of revealing his identity.
“Good, do this.”
“Please leave it to me.”
“This is only the beginning phase of this plan. It’s your duty to build on it and flesh it out, Krone.”
Lucion handed over the work right away.
Nothing much has changed because Krone said he got the goal of the organization.
Krone also replied with a smile.
“Yes. I’ll report to You after the investigation.”
“Is there something I need to do perhaps?”
Lucion asked.
“I think Hamel-nim should also have some exchanges with the organization members. At least, informing them who the real leader of this organization is…”
“No.”
Lucion cut off Krone’s words like a knife, and his voice sunk low.
“Do you not know why I set you as a leader?”
“My apologies. I know the reason.”
Because Lucion was a warlock, if that fact was revealed before the organization was fully grown, there was a high chance that it would collapse.
It was extremely dangerous to know there was a warlock in the organization, but it couldn’t be helped to lessen the shock the organization members would receive in the future.
“Then, having some exchanges with organization members at least should be fine, correct?”
At the word ‘exchanges’, Lucion clenched his fists.
He thought ‘I really hate that word’.
“Later.”
“I didn’t expect You to be shy. That’s unexpected.”
As if he had become more comfortable after giving an oath of loyalty, Krone’s attitude towards Lucion softened.
“Noisy, anything for me to do besides that?”
“Pete has been waiting for Hamel-nim.”
Pete.
The mage Lucion brought, and the villain who worked under Count Roberio.
“Okay. I should meet him.”
“Ah, Hamel-nim.”
When Lucion was about to get up from his seat, Krone called out to him.
“I think You should start to slowly decide on the organization’s name.”
“Ale.”
“A fine nuance. Does it have any meaning?”
“No.”
“Then the organization symbol…”
“Put your heads together with Shutra and Hellon, or someone else, and think about it.”
“Understood.”
Krone giggled.
There was annoyance in Lucion’s tone.
“Pete is at the back of the building.”
“Okay. I’ll contact you later.”
“Yes. I’ll wait for Hamel-nim to contact me.”
Krone bowed to Lucion.
‘…Ale.’
After Lucion left, Krone thought about the name of the organization Lucion gave.
Though he wasn’t certain, he knew about some meanings related to ‘ale’.
Alcohol.
And an ancient word meaning freedom.
‘Wouldn’t it be better to think about the latter?’
Krone suddenly burst out laughing with a much more comfortable face.
***
The moment Lucion left Krone’s room, Latta babbled the words she was holding back.
— Latta sees it. Krone talks really cool. Like a knight from the book Hyum read.
Latta’s face jumped out of Lucion’s shadow.
She was smiling faintly.
— This is it, Lucion. Bethel did it. Hyum did it. Right now Krone did it too. Now is Latta’s turn. If Latta swears loyalty to Lucion, will Lucion accept?
Lucion smirked for a moment at Latta’s cautious question.
At Latta’s sparkling gaze, he stopped in his tracks for a moment and pressed his finger against Latta’s forehead.
Russell already turned his back, his shoulders twitching.
A Divine Beast doing an oath of loyalty?
Even so, thinking of Latta, Russell desperately endured.
— Will Lucion not accept because Latta is the weakest? Latta will grow big like uncle Troe! So Lucion can also ride Latta!
“No. Latta, you’re special, so there is no need.”
Lucion whispered.
— Latta is special?
The corners of Latta’s mouth rose high.
Her ears repeatedly folded and unfolded like a tail.
“Yeah.”
Lucion replied, while he delicately pushed Latta inside the shadow.
It was fortunate that there was no one around.
— Heup! Latta is special…! Unbelievable!
Thinking of Latta happily running in circles, Lucion didn’t hold back his laughter.
Lucion stopped in his tracks for a moment, and looked at Hyum.
Hyum also looked at the shadow and burst out laughing.
“You’re the same, Hyum.”
“… I’m like this too?”
At Lucion’s sudden words, Hyum’s eyes seemed to sparkle like they were filled with light.
“Yeah.”
“This is… the first.”
A bright smile slowly appeared on Hyum’s lips.
“Thank You, Hamel-nim.”
[Well done, Lucion.]
Russell finally clapped.
Seeing Lucion become a person who could take care of someone, as a master, he couldn’t help but be deeply touched.
[Was Lord Lucion not like this originally?]
When Bethel asked with a curious eye, Russell thought that this was the time and poked Lucion.
[Greatly. No. Enormously different.]
‘Master-nim…’
Lucion bit his lip, and headed to the back of the building where Pete was.
However, feeling the gazes of organization members glancing at him, Lucion stopped in his tracks and stared at them.
At their gazes mixed with curiosity, displeasure, amazement, etc, Lucion grabbed the hem of his clothes.
Even though he got better, he couldn’t help but feel awkward.
[How about you ignore them, Lord Lucion?]
Bethel looked at Lucion’s trembling hands and suggested.
She didn’t know Lucion very well yet, but those shivers weren’t normal shivers.
[Yeah. Krone and Jamad are a bit special. Those gazes are the usual reaction, so there is no need to bother much.]
“Are You perhaps the only warlock in this organization?”
At that moment, one of the organization members approached Lucion.
“That’s correct.”
For a second, the surroundings became noisy.
“Then how about You leave for the sake of the organization?”
Those words were so sudden that Lucion momentarily froze.
“What did you gabble just now?”
Someone approached them, outraged.
It was Hellon.
As if he was shifting baggage, there was a sound of something falling to the ground.
“He-Hellon-ssi.”
When Hellon suddenly grabbed him by the collar, the man was flustered.
[Slap him right! Those kinds of bastards have to be hit to come back to their senses!]
Russell raised his voice and said.
[No. That kind of person doesn’t change easily, so we should just slit his throat.]
Bethel grabbed the hilt of her sword, riling up.
Perhaps the surroundings became colder because some people shivered in the unexplainable cold air.
Hellon grabbed the man’s collar and shook him.
“It’s not Hamel-ssi who needs to leave, it’s you! What did Krone-nim say? Isn’t disorder unconditionally forbidden in the organization?”
“However, that’s a warlock! It’s honestly scary to be together!”
“Then you shouldn’t have come here. It was clearly stated beforehand, what are you yapping about after consenting?”
“That’s because…?”
“Who do you think gave that money that you’re using and eating?”
“Me, the dog fucker.”
Continuing Hellon’s words, Lucion snorted.
“If you accepted the money, you should have known from whose pocket it’s coming from. If I leave, can you cover the organization’s management expenses? I guess you’re very confident.”
He already put his hands on the assets of those bastards from the Pizzat family.
Soon, he will also get the money the bastard Count Roberio had, and there were also investments he ordered Krone to make from the pocket money Novio gave him.
It wasn’t just that. Lucion knew many ways to make money.
Lucion approached the man, who couldn’t say a word, and tapped his head in a bad mood.
“Why are you messing with me if you can’t handle it? If you don’t mess with me, I won’t bite. Got it?”
Lucion’s warning wasn’t only towards the man.
It was for the people who were holding animosity towards him because he was a warlock.
The foolish bastards who accepted a warlock’s money.
Lucion wanted to jabber like this and grab the bastard’s head, thrashing it into the ground, but decided to stop here for today.
From the beginning, he didn’t think that they would understand him, a warlock, and didn’t want to bring up the clause of not causing chaos himself.
Moreover, that man was needed for the organization’s order.
What would happen if you lash your tongue.
What would happen if they messed with him.
Didn’t they need to be given an example?
[You’re stopping here?]
At Russell’s question, Lucion slightly nodded.
If he killed that bastard here, he would only invite resistance.
There was a good stage of the Viscount Chepplan family that he will put his hands on, so why would he just stir rebellion here?
[I feel like you should do a bit more. Well, it’s your choice.]
Russell said, as if he was regretful.
“Thank You, Hellon-ssi.”
Lucion’s mask was dyed blue.
“No. Didn’t Shutra already do it?”
Hellon said, while letting off the bastard.
“Shutra?… No way.”
If Hellon had eyes, he would know that Shutra hated him.
“Shutra’s language is a bit rough, but she is much kinder than you’d expect.”
“Yes. I’ll think about it.”
Lucion replied in a half-hearted manner, and headed to the back of the building to meet Pete.
‘It’s like waves.’
Following his footsteps, people gathered around.
Lucion smiled widely at this sight, but he thought it was pretty good for a first impression.
Rather, it was better if he was someone no one can touch.
“Hamel-nim.”
Hyum called out to Lucion heavily.
Her gaze towards the organization members was fierce.
“Speak.”
“How can You hold back Your anger? It’s difficult for me to endure. I want to break their necks right now.”
“Me too. But my generosity only goes this far. I’m also a member of the organization, so can’t I give them this degree of pardon?”
At the meaning that there wouldn’t be a second time, Hyum at last sighed heavily.
“You have great patience.”
“I have confidence to endure.”
Lucion’s voice was mixed with laughter.
[Isn’t that lonely person over there Pete?]
Russell pointed at the man sitting under a tree, fiddling with something.
“That’s right. It’s Pete.”
Lucion’s mask was dyed yellow as he approached Pete.
Seeing that Pete looked much brighter, it seemed that things went well.
‘It seems that the blue thread connected to Pete was cut off when I fainted last time.’
Lucion confirmed that the blue thread connected to Pete disappeared.
The moment Pete saw Lucion, he stood up and greeted him without a hesitation.
“Thank You, Hamel-nim.”
“Is your dongsaeng okay?”
“Yes. Thanks to You, the curse was released and he is recovering right now.”
After Pete smiled awkwardly, deep shadows appeared around the rims of his eyes.
“Do you have a place to stay?”
Lucion asked.
“Krone-nim provided a place.”
“That’s good. As Roberio is dead, there won’t be any bastards chasing you for a while.”
“The news is fast.”
“They’re only fast. Anyway, as you came to the organization, I guess you’re planning on staying here.”
“I came to this place only to see Hamel-nim. I have a debt of gratitude for saving my dongsaeng and for setting me free from that bastard. I’ll repay everything.”
Pete’s voice was deep, and in his eyes, Lucion seemed to be no different from a saint.
“Then you can repay it right now.”
Lucion stretched out his hand.
Pete was captured and lived under Count Roberio because a warlock put a curse on his dongaseng.
Even though he didn’t want to, he was closer to Count Roberio than anyone else.
Then what would be in Pete’s hands?
“Can we change places for a moment?”
“Okay.”
Lucion easily agreed to Pete’s suggestion.
Pete took the lead, and Lucion followed after him.
“Even without You asking, I was planning to tell Hamel-nim the things I saw until now when I meet You. Because I’m chasing those bastards, too.”
The bastards who cursed his dongsaeng.
The bastard who ruined his life.
Pete’s voice was full of deep rage.
“Roberio was just a supervisor, no, he was just a puppet.”
It was something Lucion already knew.
“Those bastards have six branches in the empire. Roberio was just in charge of one of those branches.”
“… Branches?”
“Behind the bastard, who was controlling Roberio, is the Neavera Kingdom.”
[Neavera Kingdom…? When the hell did those bastards take root in the empire?]
Bethel reacted strongly.
It seemed that she still had loyalty towards the empire, as a knight should.
“Each branch gathering the information about the empire belongs to the Neavera Kingdom. They look like inns on the outside, but under…”
‘… Wait a moment.’
Lucion blinked in the middle of Pete’s story.
If it was a place under an inn, didn’t he already visit one?
*~*~*
Translator’s note: Author-nim, for the sake of my sanity, please tell me. What ‘ancient language’ are you talking about.
Editor’s note: Closest I’ve found is the Viking’s “freedom ale”. But that still isn’t just ale.
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