“Be careful.”
Estribal landed on the ground, wrapping Ciello with the hem of his long coat. He seemed naturally accustomed to such magical tools. As Ciello looked at him with doubtful eyes, Estribal responded with a poker face.
“What do you think of me? As an agent, I’ve used this kind of magical tool more than enough. But more importantly…”
Numerous eyes filled with surprise, hostility, and confusion were staring at them. Although their visit had been announced through Ciello, the Liberation Group still seemed to find it hard to believe.
Ciello, feeling tense, slightly crouched down. Estribal tightened his grip around Ciello and met those eyes. Noah, who was in the crowd of the Liberation Group, took a step forward.
Before opening his mouth, Noah glanced at Ciello. His upright gaze was filled with worry.
When Ciello blinked as if to say, ‘I’m okay,’ Noah let out a faint sigh of relief. Then, Noah turned his gaze and glared at Estribal hostilely.
“I thought it was crazy talk…I didn’t expect you to really come.”
Noah said, putting strength into the hand holding the weapon. However, Estribal lightly raised both hands to the side of his head.
“I’m not one to break promises. As promised, I don’t have any weapons. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m equal to you just because I don’t have weapons.”
“What?”
“Such rudeness…”
Not only Noah, but the others also glared at Estribal. However, Estribal remained calm. In that standoff, Ciello, noticing the tension, spoke up.
“Um, anyway, do we really need to do this here…?”
At that, Noah clicked his tongue and spoke with a dissatisfied expression.
“…I trust you because of Ciello. Follow me.”
Noah took the lead and guided Ciello and Estribal to where the elder was. Watching his retreating figure, Estribal casually retorted.
“Similar. I also spare you guys for Ciello.”
“What? Are you really going to do it?”
As Noah, who was opening the door to the elder’s office, turned around in anger, the elder’s voice was heard.
“Stop it. Anger leads to rage.”
“Elder!”
Noah shouted loudly. The elder slowly got up and shook her head.
“Noah. Calm down. He’s not someone you should deal with like that.”
“I’ve never been taught to bow to nobles of the empire!”
“Well, that’s true.”
The elder looked at Estribal with strange eyes. Estribal subtly avoided her gaze and sat down. Ciello also hesitated before sitting next to him. Estribal spoke.
“The greeting is excessive.”
“Understand. I too did not expect you to find this place now.”
The elder did not use condescending language to him as before. Although there was an ambiguous honorific mixed in the voice, Estribal did not say more. The elder, as if she couldn’t help it, lightly laughed and changed the subject.
“Noah. You also disarm and sit down.”
“But…!”
Noah frowned as if he couldn’t understand. Estribal leaned back in his chair and raised the corners of his mouth.
“It’s done. There’s no need to pull out the claws of a puppy.”
“Damn…!”
Noah gritted his teeth and almost threw down the sheath tied to his waist. Seeing that, Ciello sighed and glanced at Estribal.
“Duke…!”
But Estribal shrugged nonchalantly. The elder, who had been watching the farce, moved and sat down in front of them.
“So, this time, did the emperor order us to be annihilated?”
At the elder’s question, Estribal nodded.
“Yes. But Ciello didn’t want that.”
The elder looked at Estribal with doubtful eyes.
“Even though you’re the emperor’s dog, you seem to have found a way to unleash the leash.”
“Well, who knows. He might pull out a bomb again.”
Noah was openly sarcastic, but Estribal did not respond. Ciello cautiously interjected.
“Um…Can I speak?”
“You’re the only one who can speak here anytime, Ciello.”
“We agree on that point.”
At the elder’s words, Estribal also nodded. For once, Noah didn’t snap at Estribal. Ciello swallowed and whispered softly.
“Serpiente.”
A round light spread over Ciello’s shoulder.
–Ugh… Stop calling me all the time.
Serpiente revealed itself. The elder’s eyes trembled.
“Serpiente…!”
Noah, who had been consistently dissatisfied, also gasped in surprise. Rather, Ciello looked embarrassed at the intense reaction. Estribal whispered low enough for only Ciello to hear.
“Now you see how big a mess you’ve made.”
Ciello scratched his cheek. Unlike the two, the elder’s eyes were bloodshot, and faint tears seeped from her wrinkled eyes. Serpiente tapped the bead with its tail.
–You’re making a fuss…You even resemble your ancestors in that regard.
“For generations, it has been the duty of Perez to serve Serpiente and the royal family of Peregrine. But I was so unworthy that I only now got to greet Serpiente… How can I not feel humbled?”
–Yeah, yeah. I’m tired, so don’t talk too much.
“I understand.”
The elder bowed her head. Serpiente wagged its tail and spoke.
–The emperor used me to order that guy to annihilate you, and originally, that guy couldn’t resist. So this place was completely reduced to ashes. You guys wouldn’t remember.
“Then could it be…”
Noah and the elder looked at Ciello. Serpiente nodded inside the bead.
–Yes. The command ended at that point. This kid turned back time and only avoided the result. Do you understand?
“That can happen…”
Noah had an incredulous expression, but the elder nodded with an understanding face.
“I understand. It’s really… amazing.”
–Yeah. Of course, there were other necessary conditions…
Then, Estribal cleared his throat and interrupted.
“Do you really need to explain how to unleash a free man’s leash, Serpiente?”
Only belatedly understanding his words, Ciello rolled her eyes awkwardly. The elder and Noah looked at them with puzzled expressions, and Serpiente chuckled and flicked its tongue.
–Yeah. Then I’ll stop here.
“Yes. Please go in.”
The elder bowed her head respectfully. Serpiente yawned widely and twisted its tail.
Then, it disappeared. Noah muttered.
“My goodness, I had a conversation with Serpiente…”
“You didn’t exactly have a conversation.”
Despite Ciello’s retort, Noah still stared blankly at the spot where Serpiente had disappeared. Estribal ignored him and spoke.
“Although the force of the command has disappeared, if you guys are alive and well, the emperor will doubt me.”
The elder nodded. Estribal spoke calmly.
“If you understand, then consider it repaying the favor of saving your lives to me, and I very politely request that you feign death and hide for a while.”
“You…Is that a polite attitude!”
Noah shouted as he jumped up from his seat.
“Elder, let’s take this opportunity to finish him off. I’ll be the bait. Of course, borrowing the hand of the emperor is a terrible thing, but when will such an opportunity come again!”
“Noah.”
“I never trusted that guy from the beginning. Not to mention what he’s doing to Ciello…!”
Noah stopped speaking with a flushed face. Estribal let out a chuckle with an expression that didn’t seem to care.
“I wonder what you’re saying to my lover.”
He raised his hand and wrapped it around Ciello’s shoulder and asked.
“Isn’t that right? Ciello.”
“Ah, yes…”
Of course, it’s a contractual relationship. Ciello swallowed the rest of her words and nodded awkwardly. Estribal smiled kindly, seemingly satisfied. It was the first time ‘Estribal’, who was not Duke Trepe and was not drunk, smiled like this.
‘It seems like a mix of the two people…’
Ciello shrugged her shoulders awkwardly. Misunderstanding her reaction, Noah gritted his teeth.
“That shameless! So stiff and clearly doesn’t like it…”
Noah turned to the elder and said.
“Elder, anyway, I will do the job you entrusted me with. I have to make Ciello join our side…”
“That’s enough. Sit down.”
The elder reached out and stopped Noah.
“Ciello has already trusted us and allowed us to meet Serpiente. So now, you don’t necessarily have to have a special relationship with that child, do you?”
Noah asked the elder with a puzzled face.
“Huh? Then the task you assigned me…!”
“Well, Noah. Weren’t you burdened by your task?”
When the elder asked with a smile, Noah stuttered in response.
“That, that’s true, but a mission is a mission…”
Estribal, who had grasped the situation, chuckled again.
“Now the enemy and ally have changed. In a new game, we need to set a new strategy. So, let’s stop unnecessary tasks.”
He finished his words looking at Ciello.
“Ciello also would be uncomfortable with such insincere behavior.”
‘But aren’t we doing this because of the contract…’
Ciello laughed awkwardly, holding back what she wanted to retort. Noah, whose answer was awkward, closed his mouth tightly like a clam and sat down heavily. Estribal raised the corners of his mouth in satisfaction and spoke.
“Anyway, you guys need a place to hide. You wouldn’t have not anticipated this situation. Do you have a thought-out plan?”
“…There is indeed one. Although it’s not Peregrine, there is someone who hates the current emperor as much as we do.”
“Good. I believe in hatred more than in God. Arrange a meeting immediately.”
Estribal nodded. The elder smiled strangely with an interested face.
“Of course, I will. But you, like the emperor, are also quite hated…I wonder if it’s okay.”
“Wait, don’t tell me…”
Estribal frowned.
****
“One finger. Then I’ll personally sit at the negotiation table.”
The voice of the woman sitting in the wheelchair, the 1st Princess Raysendella, was as cold as an icehouse.
