Chapter 186 – Chapter 5: Deseo – 4
“Crown prince… ?”
When you say ‘crown prince’, do you mean a prince?
So, Posao killed the prince?
I looked back.
If I could see my face, it probably would have been similar to Marie’s.
I don’t understand.
First, I just learned for the first time that there is a person called ‘prince’ in this country.
And how could Posao kill such a great person?
Okay. Anyway, even if Posao murdered the prince.
… What does that have to do with me?
The merchant just blurted out an enormous conspiracy that we couldn’t even imagine.
In an attempt to somehow understand it, I recalled a story I had briefly heard.
“Is it related to the king being exiled?”
“No, no. What I am talking about is ‘King Laichne’ who ascended to the throne 40 years ago.”
Like’s King? This is my first time hearing this name.
Memorizing the history of Deseo and the names of the dynasties was something only nobles could do.
Commoners like us just know that there is a ‘king’. I wasn’t curious about his name or anything. At best, a king who fought a lot of wars is remembered by the nickname ‘King of Conqueror’, and a king who was particularly quiet is remembered by the nickname ‘King of Peace’.
The merchant looked up at me and sneered.
“You look like you have no idea at all. Giggling… Do you think the country bumpkins even know?”
“I did not come to Deseo to chase the prince. They are chasing Posao.”
“You still don’t understand? How do I know that? Kkkk…”
A cold laugh echoed in the dark room.
“About 15 years ago? That pig came to see me. He said he would buy a poison that could kill one person. What I was selling at that time was a drug called ‘Crazy.’ “It’s a drug that, if you take it, will cause you to run like a crazy person towards the sun and disappear.”
“You sold such a dangerous drug to that guy? Are you sane?”
“Giggle… Baby, this is ‘Deseo’. “There is nothing you can’t do as long as you have money.”
The dried lips and yellowed teeth conveyed not only ridicule but also malice.
“No. Instead, you should be thankful to me, right? “You saved your life with the ‘Dienbooth’ I sold to your girlfriend.”
“… So, did you sell the medicine that nullifies the effects of Dienbus to Posao again?”
The merchant looked blank for a moment and then burst into laughter.
“Kick. Giggling!! What! “You know everything!!”
“Did you expect to be thanked for treating people’s lives like toys?”
Seeing-!
The tip of the rose saber was pressed firmly against the merchant’s neck.
“Don’t be mistaken. The reason I’m not killing you right now is simply because you know more about Posao than I do.”
“Giggle… I lived a long time anyway. There is nothing to wish for in this rotten body that has no dick.”
There was definitely no energy in the merchant’s body.
Even if they left it like this without killing it, it looked like it wouldn’t last more than a month.
He sighed and continued.
“Whoa… That’s right. I sold Dienbus to your girlfriend, and a few days later, Posao came to me and asked for a ‘drug to detoxify Dienbus.’ At that time, I became very curious about that guy’s identity. Who on earth did he kill with crazy drugs 15 years ago? And after helping the poor girl buy Dienbus, are they trying to buy a drug to get rid of it? Giggling… Anyway, I thought that that pig must be so evil that even the devil would stick out his tongue. After doing some research, I found that there was indeed a missing person in your town of Brisden. And that was exactly 15 years ago.”
“… !”
“That person is ‘Albert Antheer.’ Helena Antheer’s husband, and a man with one daughter. And that daughter is Tia Anthea. Right?”
Kwaak.
Marie’s hand grabbed my collar tightly.
Right. Of course, everything was correct.
I get goosebumps. He was not a man from Brisden, but a merchant from Deseo whom I had never met. I felt an indescribable fear from the fact that I knew the entire family history of Tia Antheer, a girl from a mountain village.
And when I became convinced that everything the merchant had said so far was ‘true.’
I finally understood.
“Then it couldn’t be… Tia’s father… ?”
“Kick kick kick-!!”
The merchant laughed.
“… Okay. The one and only prince of King Laikne. The only prince who inherited this country’s authentic and noble bloodline. A dethroned person who left the palace on his own. And a missing person who has disappeared forever. … That man is ‘Albert Antheer.'”
His head whipped around.
It’s also shocking that Tia’s father was the prince of this country.
As soon as I realized that his disappearance was Posao’s fault, my legs started to give out.
“Heo-eok- heo-eok-.”
How long had he been holding his breath? Even without that, the dark alcove feels colder and darker.
If I hadn’t felt Marie’s warm hand holding my arm tightly, I wouldn’t have even known I was alive.
I barely came to my senses and raised my voice.
“How…”
“Did you know that? Is that true? Giggling!! I had no idea until I was locked in this room. It wasn’t until this happened that I finally realized. All of this happened when ‘Tia Anseer’ raided the nobles to buy Dienbus from me and to get 1,000 gold! Hee hee-!!!”
I knew from the moment he attacked me, but Posao was more dangerous and crazy than I thought.
He tried to kill this merchant to cover up the fact that he killed Tia’s father. If this old man hadn’t noticed quickly and hid in the secret room, this secret would have been hidden forever.
Tia didn’t know. She thought the pig next to her was… She has no idea that he is such a vicious and cruel person. Even the fact that she was the one who killed her beloved father.
Dangerous. Tia is dangerous.
Tia is next to the guy who easily harms people.
There is no time for this.
“Where did that pig go?”
“I don’t know either. Hi-Hi-!! It’s been too long since I’ve been trapped here. “I can’t even count the days and nights, so how do you expect me to know what’s going on outside?”
“Shit. If you have already left for another country…”
“No. He’s still in Deseo. That much is certain.”
“Why?”
“Think about it, you hillbilly. Why would someone who was going to launch Deseo bother trying to catch me anyway? “Posao’s purpose was ‘here’ from the beginning.”
“Purpose? “What purpose does this fugitive have?”
“Haha-. “You should know that from now on.”
The merchant waved his weak hand.
“You can cry out for revenge, make a fuss, or do whatever you want. Instead, keep this in mind. The pig has already captured all the nobles. The people who came to kill me were also private soldiers of nobles. They have completely taken over Deseo. “Never let the nobles see you.”
“…”
“It won’t be easy, young man. Giggling…”
After saying something that I couldn’t tell if it was a curse or advice, we left the dark warehouse.
When I came back outside, the scenery of Deseo felt quite different.
Like, this whole country.
This unpleasant feeling that is against me.
Standing in the middle of it all, I was an unwelcome being.
* * *
First, I had to know what kind of place Deseo was.
I wandered around the city to find out about the atmosphere and recent events.
Contrary to concerns, gathering information was not difficult.
Not all Deseo people were cold and callous. Most of them were very kind, but sometimes there were people who were too friendly and had trouble treating them.
Of course, if you have money.
When you put a few coins in their greedy palms, they start spouting off information that you don’t even want to know. At this time, when I handed him another gold coin, he cleared his throat, looked at me, and finally secretly told me the ‘rumor’ I wanted.
Marie disliked the people of Deseo because she thought they were too revealing about their money. I actually liked it because it was simple and convenient.
There is no need to spend a long time building friendships. There was no need to keep wandering around in illusions through memory reading. With just a few of these heavy and useless coins, you could easily learn what Deseo was like.
It was an extremely reasonable method for me, who wasted every day.
What I found out was the situation in Deseo.
December. The nobles, who were dissatisfied with the king, finally revolted.
January. The war lasted quietly and long. The aristocratic forces occupied and dismantled the bases of the newly wealthy people one by one, and it was not until the end of February that they surrounded the royal palace.
March. Sluggish negotiations continued. It is said that he issued a threat that if he did not step down from the monarchy within the designated period, he would have no choice but to engage in a siege.
Early April. The king, unable to endure any longer, resigned from the throne, accepting the terms of exile to a foreign country.
And in May, now.
After much deliberation, the nobles decided to have a new king. Now, the God King had ascended to the throne and was about to announce it to the world.
The people of Deseo had various ideas about the ‘new king’.
“Swimming. “I guess I’m just a puppet played by high-ranking people anyway.”
“But isn’t it usually the case that in a civil war of this magnitude, the strongest person takes the throne? Of course, the most influential person in Deseo is the Piolo family, but instead of him ascending, they are appointing someone else.”
“I guess it’s to prevent a civil war from spreading between noble families who don’t get along.”
“Then doesn’t this mean that the new king who will be crowned is the most worthy king that all the nobles in this country can understand?”
“Haha! You’re good at telling jokes! Is there anyone like that in the world? Even the great and benevolent King Laik fought against the prince and his lineage was cut off. Unless the prince comes back alive and well, the new king is just a scarecrow erected on top of a red castle.”
While doing research, I heard stories like this countless times.
Strangely, the names of Tia and Posao did not appear at all.
Even if I wanted to ask more directly, I couldn’t. I don’t know what would happen if my identity got into that guy’s ears.
It seems like the answer is right in front of me. I’m so nervous though.
The more I moved, the more carefully I followed Marie’s advice to remain calm.
The coronation ceremony of the new king has finally arrived.
‘The festival’ that had been giving us trouble since Rotten Barn was held.
Deseo was noisy since morning. The whole street was full of people. It was difficult for him to even stand on his feet properly. Because people gathered from all over the country, and even all over the world, to see the face of the new King Deseo.
Is that why? On this day, I visited many places to gather information, but the results were not great. Almost all stores were closed. It seems that people who were so crazy about money were also curious about who would soon become their master.
I had no choice but to turn around and return to the inn earlier than usual.
“Ah, Ritsu oppa. “You came early.”
“Yes.”
Marie was working as a waitress at an inn. It was her own will to contribute to living expenses.
The influence of the festival continued even here. The tables at the inn were not empty, with people drinking in broad daylight.
“Is there anything I can help you with?”
“No. Are you okay? Umm… “Except that I was a little worried because one customer was sitting too long.”
Marie pointed to a corner. There was a blonde man sitting there.
Even when viewed from a distance, it was quite a large figure. Her exposed forearms were as strong as a horse’s legs, and her fingers were covered with countless scars, making her look like someone who had been in battle for a long time.
The man had been drinking for a long time and was having trouble keeping his body in check. Everyone in Deseo was in a festive mood, but strangely, he seemed particularly sad.
“I’ll tell you.”
“Be careful. “If he’s a strange person, I just leave him alone.”
“Okay.”
However… Why does it feel so familiar?
Unknowingly, I walked in front of him, driven by curiosity.
As I got closer, I saw a wolf symbol engraved on his clothes and a large sword slanted on the chair.
Is it a knight?
She suppressed her nervousness and spoke to him.
“Hey, are you okay?”
The driver didn’t answer my question, just picked up the glass and poured it into my mouth.
“I heard it’s been around for a long time.”
Boom!
He put down his drink and then raised his head as if he had noticed my presence.
“…”
The moment when those sharp eyes meet.
Suddenly this man’s name came to mind.
A quiet, indifferent, cold knight. But when you get to know him, he is the most noble person.
That’s right.
For some reason, I definitely knew his name.
“Robrert…”
