“Okay. This is Mutrah.”
The name of the person who said that was Noel. Sephiel quickly realized that he was a close aide to Cherno.
As soon as they got off at the gate, Cherno and his party, including Sephiel, looked around the town.
“Noel, can you brief me one more time?”
“Yes. The name of this place is Mutrah. It is a very small rural town, about a seven-hour ride from Volun, a free city-state. It’s relatively close, but not that close. There are already several small places developed near Volun, after all.”
“That’s true.”
As Sephiel listened to those words, she looked around next to Cherno.
Once they moved away from the bustling streets they had passed earlier, the rural landscape became desolate—so much so that calling it a “town” felt generous.
“But everything is going to change now.”
Noel said in a serious tone.
“Because a new gate has been discovered here.”
“Yes, I know for sure after seeing it today. The gate really does exist.”
“What?”
Sephiel pricked up her ears.
In fact, she understood most of what was being said, but she pretended not to know.
“The thing we rowde on to get heyre, that?”
Noel looked at Sephiel as if he found her cute.
“Haha, Miss Baby, this is your first time using a gate, isn’t it?”
“Mm-hmm. I don’t know much about it.”
Noel glanced at Cherno, who simply shrugged.
“This is a good opportunity. Teach the baby raccoon about these things. Learning about business can only be beneficial.”
“Yes.”
Noel nodded.
“As you may know, a gate is an ancient device that allows one to travel across time and space. It’s a relic left behind by the Ancient Dragons.”
“Oh! Gyandpa is a dragon too, wight? So can ywou make a gate?” Sephiel asked innocently.
“Hmm, no. I cannot create a new gate. Only the Ancient Dragons can do that.”
“What’s the diffeyence?”
“Ancient Dragons came to this world long before I was born. Even among dragons, they are god-like beings, and only they can use space and time magic.”
Sephiel knew it too.
There were 8 Ancient Dragons, and they had arrived in this world long ago.
One of them married a half-elf woman and had a child, the first half-dragon, Cherno.
“I see.”
But Sephiel nodded as if it was the first time she had heard it.
Hearing it directly from Cherno’s mouth made it feel different.
Noel continued.
“Miss Baby, have you ever heard of the city of Volun? A direct gate connecting this town to Volun was discovered not long ago.”
“Yes.”
Sephiel thought about Volun.
Volun, a free city-state ruled by the Grand Duke of Sarihan, Morohan.
The city is connected by gates to the territories of three different rulers.
So it serves as the capital of the actual union of kingdoms and is the center of all commerce.
“It might still be a difficult concept for you, but Volun is a place where land is incredibly expensive.”
“Why?”
“Volun is a small city-state, but there is a lot of money flowing in. In other words, many people want to live there, but there isn’t enough space.”
‘Yeah, I know.’
Sephiel muttered to herself.
It was true—Volun had the highest land prices in the entire union of kingdoms.
“All the prominent nobles want to own at least one house in Volun.”
Since Volun was connected to all the lands of the union of kingdoms by gates, it also served as the center of social circles.
Moreover, it was the dream of businessmen to own even a small mansion in the city of Volun.
‘So, the fact that a gate directly connecting to Volun has been found here means….. a gate transcends both distance and time, allowing people to travel freely.’
“That’s why our master’s goal is to turn this place into Volun’s ‘Town’—a secondary Volun, so to speak.”
“Huh? So ywou’re building houses here?”
“Yes, that’s right. We’re going to build houses, and shops, create districts here, and encourage people who work in Volun but can’t afford a house there to settle here. We’re calling this the <New Town plan>.”
It was a very plausible plan. Sephiel was impressed by the idea.
‘Except that it’s all a scam.’
But she pretended to know nothing, clutching Cherno’s sleeve and looking around with a bright smile.
“Wow! Ywou guys know everyvthing!”
At that, the people around her let out sighs of admiration at Sephiel’s cuteness.
“Anyway, let’s continue exploring this place.”
And they walked around the town, observing the people.
Sometimes Noel would ask the people questions first.
“Have you lived here for a long time?”
“Of course. We have been farming here for generations. But why are so many outsiders suddenly showing up?”
They visited nearby farms and spoke with farmers.
“Are there usually a lot of people coming and going from this market?”
“Business has been going well these days with outsiders coming in, but wouldn’t you like to buy some freshly baked bread?”
They also explored a small market set up in the town.
Then, Sephiel noticed something unusual.
“When on earth will the door open?”
“I’ve been waiting since morning!”
A shabby building that could collapse at any moment. There was a sight of people lining up there.
Sephiel blinked.
Looking closely, it was a building with an old sign <Real Estate Brokerage Office>.
At that moment, the door of the shabby building opened wide and a person came out.
Everyone in line was holding their money bags and shouting.
“Is there any land for sale here?”
“Please show me some properties.”
People shouting with their eyes gleaming.
Sephiel stopped walking when she saw them.
“Who are those people?”
They continued to stroll through the small town.
“Grandpa, aren’t you going to stand in line? You said you were buying land.”
Noel answered instead.
“Oh, Miss Baby, don’t worry. Those people are just trying to buy leftover scraps of land. The elder master doesn’t need to stand in line.”
“Why?”
“You are a very curious child.”
Even though Cherno said that, he explained the situation in detail.
“There is a nobleman who owns most of the land around here. When he heard that a gate was discovered here, he rushed to buy up most of the land in the town, as well as the huge wasteland at the entrance to the town.”
Sephiel nodded.
“But why?”
“He told me that he didn’t have enough money to develop this land, so he wants to sell it to me at a higher price.”
Sephiel’s heart pounded.
“What is that pewson’s name?”
“Name?”
“Yeah! That kind nowble uncle! The good pewson who’s selling land to Gyandpa.”
“You—do you just call anyone a good person? His name is… Right, he’s Count Verice.”
At those words, Sephiel felt as if a large bell had rung in her head.
‘Damn it.’
Count Verice—Sephiel knew that name all too well.
He was ranked ninth on Sephiel’s death note.
‘One of the people I had a bad relationship with in my past life.’
He was, in fact, related to the Allegro royal family.
‘I have to stop this.’
To make things worse, Cherno spoke up again.
“Then there’s no need to wait until tomorrow. Let’s proceed with the final contract now.”
“Yes.”
Noel answered and bowed down to Sephiel.
“Miss Baby, while we proceed with the contract, you have to be quiet and play quietly. Is that okay?”
“Ah….”
At that moment, Sephiel hugged Cherno tightly.
“A-ah, no!”
“What are you doing?”
Sephiel looked at Cherno.
“I-I… I’m hungry…”
Gurgle.
At that moment, a loud sound came from Sephiel’s stomach.
Noel glanced at her and murmured absentmindedly.
“Hmm… Kids do eat earlier. It’s not good to go hungry at this age.”
“…….”
Cherno looked at Sephiel in disbelief before suddenly lifting her up.
“Alright. It would be best to get something to eat first.”
And so, the group entered the only inn in the area, which also served as a restaurant.
The innkeeper, upon seeing Sephiel, chuckled warmly.
“Oh my. This is the first time we’ve had such a cute baby guest since this inn opened. I’ll bring you a stew that’s just right for a child.”
“Thank ywou veyyi much.”
Sephiel politely bowed.
‘No, now is not the time for stew.’
When the stew came out, Sephiel barely touched it, only pretending to eat.
“Does it not taste good?”
“N-no, it’s delicious.”
Sephiel’s brain is fully activated. She must buy time.
‘I have to find a way to show that this contract is a scam!’
‘But how?’
At that moment, a sight caught Sephiel’s eye.
There were only about two tables occupied in the inn.
“Here, a beer!”
“Haha, innkeeper, you’re as lovely as ever.”
“This is a little service for my regular guests.”
The innkeeper smiled as she placed some snacks on the table across from them.
Sephiel looked at the face of the man who was chatting casually with the innkeeper. The man was wearing a green hat.
‘That man looks familiar?’
No way.
Sephiel wanted to slap her knee.
‘That’s it!’
Taking a deep breath, she suddenly let out a loud wail.
“Uuuahhh!”
Sephiel’s chubby cheeks turned red.
Cherno, rarely flustered, frowned in confusion.
“Hey, why are you crying all of a sudden?”
“G-Grandpa…”
“Huh? Go ahead and tell me.”
Sephiel raised her hand and pointed to the men sitting at the table across from her.
“There’s a ghost over there!”
“A Ghost?”
Sephiel nodded quickly, rubbing her eyes with her small fist.
“I’m scayed! We have to yun! Gyandpa, ywou’re in danger.”
As she sobbed and patted Cherno’s arm with her small hands, she tried to pull him away.
Everyone’s attention was focused on her.
“What are you talking about?”
“T-that man over there!”
“Huh?”
“That ghost man keeps following us.”
Sephiel rubbed her eyes with her tiny fists again before shouting.
“He was a faymer earwlier! Then in the aftyernoon, he was standing in line at the yeal estate office! And now, suddenly, he’s here as a traveyler!”
“…..”
“It’s the same pewson, but he keeps changing! That means he must be a ghost!”
Sephiel then glanced up and looked at Cherno and Noel.
‘Now, figure it out, Grandpa.’
‘Grandpa’s a dragon, and dragons are smart, so he should figure it out immediately, right?’
Sephiel glanced at Cherno, feeling a little anxious.
“Wait….”
Cherno pointed to a man wearing a green hat among the travelers sitting in front of the fireplace.
“That man was a farmer earlier, then later stood in line at the real estate office, and now, all of a sudden, he’s a traveler?”
Cherno furrowed his brow.
“That’s definitely suspicious. Hey, you. Come here and show me your face.”
“…….”
The man in the green hat turned pale as he caught Cherno’s attention.
—Crashh!
He quickly got up from his seat and ran toward the door.
“Ah, shit!”
And he wasn’t the only one.
The innkeeper dropped her tray, and the man’s companions all stood up at once.
“Catch them.”
Cherno gave a short order.
In an instant, Cherno’s people surrounded them.
“Interesting.”
Cherno stepped forward, his boots clicking against the floor as he inspected their faces.
“So it’s true. I didn’t notice because you were wearing a different hat than before and your clothes were completely different.….”
At Cherno’s signal, Noel grabbed the man’s arm and twisted it upward.
“Not a single callus on his hands. These aren’t the hands of a farmer. So why were you pretending to be one, following us, and playing different roles?”
“Ugh!”
The man’s face turned pale.
“And you were planning to run away with these people….”
Cherno thought back to what Sephiel had said.
“Where is Miss Baby?”
Just then, Noel glanced around and spoke.
People’s faces instantly turned white.
“Miss Baby?”
“Where Is she?”
‘Could she have slipped out in the chaos?’
A flicker of panic crossed Cherno’s face.
“Find the baby raccoon!”
* * *
