Chapter 575 – Ep.573 Tullius Empire
“Lord Roan. “Please do me a favor while I’m back.”
“… Haha… Please come back.”
I left the office, leaving Roan buried in completely worthless documents.
“Insect!!”
Then a member with slightly curly hair saluted me.
Did you say his name was Payden?
“Okay. “I’m sorry for catching you on your way home from work.”
“Oh, no…”
The guy smiled awkwardly and cautiously lowered his hand in a salute.
He told me to salute him every time he commutes to work starting tomorrow, but it looks like he really doesn’t want to spar with me.
I thought there would be at least one person who rejects it, but I wonder if he’s scared or has surprisingly little pride.
So far, he has shown obedience to my words.
“Then… “I will guide you to the Crystal Palace.”
I nodded once and followed him out of the knights’ building and started walking toward the imperial palace.
‘I guess it’s because it’s time to get off work.’
Unlike when I went to work, when I felt many eyes on me, I didn’t encounter anyone except for the people on patrol and servants who probably all left work quickly.
How long did it take to walk like that?
“This is the place.”
“… Right.”
The outer wall of the palace exudes a subtle luster.
‘It’s made with real crystal…’ …’
I couldn’t easily take my eyes off the shiny, glossy exterior wall and the gorgeous white-colored door that looked like it was carved from crystal.
“Then… “I’ll just go now.”
“Uh, okay. “Be careful and go back.”
He bowed his head towards me, then quickly disappeared from my sight, taking steps that were completely different from when he guided me. Seeing how he is running, I think it would be a good idea to give him a run tomorrow too.
‘However… ‘It looks like there’s already quite a bit inside.’
It’s been a while since I showed off my spirit, and I scratched my cheek at the various signs I felt inside the Crystal Palace.
‘I left 30 minutes early, so I’m sure I’m not late, right?’
After making sure that no one was around, I took off my hat and swept my hair up.
Basically, taking off your hat indoors is a common courtesy both here and on Earth.
“Big.”
And after calming my voice once, I pushed the ornate door as hard as I could.
**
Five women sitting at a round table.
Each of them glanced at the empty seat with different expressions, showing a little bit of displeasure.
“Tsk…”
At that time, a woman with brown ponytails clicked her tongue and spoke to the other four.
“I don’t think he’ll come, so why don’t we just get started?”
“… “Let’s wait a little longer.”
A blonde-haired woman with golden epaulettes on her shoulders answered.
“Sweet, puha… “Is there any need to waste precious time and join in with those bastards?”
Asked the woman with a thick cigar in her mouth, exhaling thick smoke.
“Because there’s just a little over thirty minutes left. “Let’s wait.”
A woman with pink hair that was hard to see anywhere laughed.
‘Fuck…’
Irina, the only one among the five who did not open her mouth, cursed under her breath.
With black hair that was as rare in the Empire as pink, she was the leader of the Knights of the Black Mane, one of the five knights’ orders representing the Empire.
And the other four people sitting in her seat are also the leaders of the representative knights’ order that leads various knights’ orders like her.
‘I don’t know why these useless meetings continue. ‘Fucking bitches.’
Since we have already entered into a truce with the Demon Continent, the atmosphere has become very relaxed, and the number of people committing crimes is increasing every day, leading to a shortage of personnel.
‘… ‘Fucking bitches.’
Irina is from the desert and rose to this position solely through her skills without any connections.
In terms of rank, she has the same status as the other three, except for the head of the knights’ guard, who wears a golden epaulette on her shoulder and is in charge of protecting the emperor and the royal family.
However, Irina’s working environment was so unreasonable that it was easy to see that she was treated differently than the other three, even when comparing only the tasks she was responsible for.
While other organizations were involved in the exploration of monsters and ruins, or the inspection of nobles’ territories, Irina and her knights and soldiers were in charge of the security of the island.
Compared to the capitals of other kingdoms, the island is at least twice and up to four times larger in size, so of course it is a place where a huge population lives and the floating population is thousands of people every day.
How can you cover a place with thousands of people with only 500 knights and 3,000 soldiers?
Irina glared silently at the pink-haired woman, who had three times as many knights and soldiers as her own, even though she had nothing better to do.
‘Fuck you… All adventurers are responsible for subjugating monsters. If there is nothing left to do, should I lend them some troops?’
That was when Irina was blaming everyone in this room in her mind.
“”…””
The eyes of five people, including Irina, turned to her door.
This was because a presence she had never felt before was approaching.
The figure stopped in front of the door for a moment.
Grrrr…
I pushed hard against her thick crystal door.
However, the door was only pushed slightly and did not move any further.
-Okay… What kind of damn door is this heavy?!
A low-pitched voice flowed through a very slightly opened gap.
“Hmm.”
“Greatness…”
“I am…”
The leaders, who had been continuously irritated, simultaneously took off their heavy buttocks.
However, it was not faster than Irina, who was sitting closer to the door than anyone else.
Grumble──
“Uh, huh?”
As she pulled the door open, Irina blinked at the shadow cast by the man’s voice, which slightly confused her.
‘… ?’
Naturally, she thought she would see the blue rose on her hat, but her eyes suddenly blinked at the blue coat that filled her vision.
“Oh, thank you.”
And she reflexively raised her head at the voice coming from above.
“Uh…”
Irina’s mouth opens naturally.
“Um, is there any problem?”
“Uh? Ah, ah, that, ah, no, no…”
Irina clenched her fists and quickly lowered her head due to the heat rising in her instantly. Otherwise, it seemed like an accident would happen at any moment.
‘Rice, you idiot… !!’
Why do you have to stutter and talk like hell there?
Irina quickly sat down in her seat, completely forgetting that she had been irritating her just a moment ago.
“If… “Am I late?”
Irina’s body trembled without realizing it as her voice gently tickled her ears.
“No. “We just arrived.”
Her pink hair responded.
“That’s right. Oh, no, that’s right. Haha!! And men can be a little late.”
The brown ponytail quickly caught up to her.
“I apologize if I am late. This is my first time… Cough, Cough… !!”
“Oh, I’m sorry… Do.”
The woman who had a cigar in her mouth quickly took it out and put it out by rubbing it in her palm.
‘… Horny bitches.’
Irina laughed inwardly at the change in their attitude, as a little while ago she was full of thoughts of accepting her order from the vice-captain of the Blue Rose Knights.
But even though she was cursing the other four, she couldn’t stop her eyes from turning sideways.
Sigh.
“Wow…”
The moment the man took off her hat, small exclamations flowed from the mouths of the five people present, including Irina.
‘Now, wait a minute…’ … Are you a desert person?!’
Dark eyebrows and strong eyes. And Irina, who was momentarily mesmerized by her sharp jawline, noticed a beat later that her man’s hair and her eyes were the same black as her own.
‘Oh, is this the son of the chief of some tribe…? … ? Rather, those muscles… Why is he so tall? …’
Taken individually, he was a man who was closer to a typical woman, but no one here thought that way.
“It’s my first time attending a meeting… “If you let me know, I will come properly prepared next time.”
The man stood up and bowed his head to everyone.
“Who… “There is a first time for everyone.”
“Is it so… If you don’t know, just learn… Yo. This.”
Haha!! “If you’re having trouble with anything, I’ll help you.”
“I came here a little nervous… “They are all kind people.”
When the man raised his head and smiled slightly, even the head of the guard knight, who had been silently keeping his mouth shut, blushed and cleared his throat slightly.
“Then, today I will listen with the spirit of a field trip.”
When he sat down again, the leaders began glaring at each other.
It’s a look with the meaning of what to do now.
The eyes of the four people who had been glaring at each other for a long time were focused on the commander of the Knights of the Guard with epaulettes on his shoulders.
“… “The Commander of the Blue Rose Knights must be tired after having just finished his duties today, so let’s briefly introduce each other today and then leave.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea.”
“I agree.”
“Agree.”
“… Great.”
Everyone, including Irina, quickly agreed.
This is because everyone knows that there are limits to suppressing excitement using magical power.
‘Okay… ‘Let’s get it out quickly.’
I can’t even eat it anyway.
If they look at it like this, they will only suffer.
So, it would have been wiser to quickly send them out and continue the meeting among themselves.
“I am Melbourne Leonis, Commander of the Guards.”
Melbourne, with an epaulette on his shoulder, introduced himself first.
“I am Daisy Ronbell, commander of the Knights of the Sun. “If there is any monster skin you would like, please feel free to let me know.”
Ronbell, with his striking pink hair, spoke.
“Storm Hawk Leader Velvet Carmen… No see. In charge of monitoring the nobles… “Yes.”
Velvet glances while playing with her brown ponytail.
“This is Atalanta… “I am in charge of exploring the ruins.”
She quickly put out her cigar and cleared her throat slightly.
‘Fuck…’
In her turn, Irina opened her mouth, letting out a muffled curse of her own.
“… This is Irina, the leader of the Black Mane… “She is responsible for the security of the system.”
She wanted to say she was doing something a little fancier, but reality was just harsh.
After everyone’s introductions were over.
“My name is Smith. She has become the Commander of the Blue Rose Knights, and I wish her well in the future.”
Clap clap clap──!!
The women, who couldn’t even remember the last time they had praised someone, once again welcomed Smith, who bowed his head towards them, with applause and a blank look on his face.
“Then… “Let’s end this regular meeting here.”
Melbourne, who was also acting as chairperson, declared the meeting over, and Irina, feeling very embarrassed, got up from her seat and walked to the door, hoping that Smith would leave the meeting room.
“Thank you. Irina-kyung.”
“… “Oh, no.”
Even though she knew there was no hope, Irina lowered her head and rolled her tongue, which was burning inside her without even knowing it.
“Sir Irina?”
“… Yes?”
She lowered her head and raised her head again at Smith’s call. She then opened the door and was able to spot Smith, who had half pulled her body out.
“Are you not coming out?”
“Uh, I… Just…”
At that very moment, Irina, unable to utter the words that she would send you out and proceed with her meeting, swallowed her dry saliva and rolled her head as best as she could.
“I have something I’d like to discuss regarding security…”
“… ?”
Consulting?
Is it true that she just said that she had something to consult?
“If you’re busy, next time──”
“Oh, no, no!! “I was just about to leave!!”
What the fuck is a meeting?
Irina followed her Smith out of her crystal palace, completely ignoring the stinging gazes on her back.
