episode_0024

The drawing room of the Messiah Viscount.

There were two people there.

Asia Messiah and Andrew Messiah.

It was a conversation between the two women.

The Messiah Viscount asked Asia in a gentle tone, “Do you know why I called you here?”

Asia hesitated for a moment.

Soon, Asia realized what the call was about.

Anxiety crept into her heart.

‘Could it be that my visit to that man’s place in the middle of the night reached my father’s ears…?’

If so, this summons would be a reprimand.

Or a scolding.

With a trembling voice, Asia replied, “Why did you call me?”

“I called you because I wanted to ask you the question I asked you about a month ago.”

Asia realized that it was a different reason from what she had suspected.

She sighed inwardly and felt relieved.

‘But if it’s about the question he asked me a month ago…?’

A month ago.

Asia carefully thought about the question her father had asked her.

Soon, Asia remembered the question she had heard before.

‘Asia, what do you think of Asuras, the man?’

That was the question.

That was the only question.

It matched the timing.

‘But why suddenly… Ah, it must be because of the exam I took.’

After the exam, he must be asking me about my feelings again.

Asia tried to recall what she had said back then.

She couldn’t remember. But she knew he wasn’t a bad person.

It was her answer to the question she had been asked.

Asia repeated the same answer once again.

“I don’t know. But he’s not a bad person.”

The same answer as before.

But the emotions behind it were different.

If it was ambiguous before, now it was certain.

Asuras, the disciple of her grandfather.

He was not a bad person.

The arrogant attitude she had seen in him was just his composure, not a contemptuous personality.

‘He must have had a reason for committing mass murder on the first meeting.’

He didn’t seem like someone who relied on strength alone and ignored ethics.

There must have been a reason for it.

If given the chance, she wanted to ask him why he had to kill everyone.

That was the reason she had to kill everyone.

The Messiah Viscount agreed with Asia’s answer.

“I don’t know….”

Asia’s answer was the same as before.

But the Messiah Viscount noticed that the nuance of the answer had changed.

“Then, how do you really feel about the engagement…?”

Asia was a little taken aback by the word ‘engagement.’

‘He’s not a bad person.’

Her ideal type.

A person with no flaws.

A perfect person as an engagement partner.

The only problem was his status.

Only his status.

‘Engagement with such a person…’

Even though it was a false relationship, she imagined what it would be like if that falsehood became reality.

‘Would it be… good?’

Unknowingly, Asia imagined that it would be okay.

Her cheeks naturally turned red.

The Messiah Viscount’s fists tightened as he confirmed this.

“I see, you don’t think badly of it…!”

Upon hearing the Messiah Viscount’s words, Asia quickly began to explain herself.

“Oh, no! My answer is the same as before. Let’s wait and see until after the coming-of-age ceremony.”

Asia hurriedly poured out her words.

‘The relationship between that man and me is a false one from the start.’

Even if she thought it was okay, he was a man who would eventually leave.

She didn’t even know how he saw her.

With that in mind, Asia refused.

But-.

The Messiah Viscount thought to himself.

‘Asia doesn’t seem to dislike it outright…’

The Messiah Viscount, feeling a headache coming on, realized that he had just discovered that Asia didn’t like the man who would claim his daughter.

‘Although I had vowed to accept any man Asia wanted, not just for strategic engagement…’

It seemed that he had newly realized that he simply didn’t like the man who would take his daughter.

***

I lay in the room, enjoying the leisure.

The exams were over.

There was nothing else to do now.

At least until the next exam is over.

“Hmm… come to think of it…”

I remembered something I had forgotten until now.

I hastily searched through the drawers in the room.

And…

“It’s here.”

I found a small bundle.

Inside the bundle, there was a stone emitting a faint blue light.

A magic stone.

It was not an ordinary stone like I had first seen.

Perhaps the time for the stone to look like a regular stone had passed.

It was emitting a blue light like a typical magic stone.

“I should sell this.”

It seemed like it would fetch a good price in the Messiah Viscount’s territory.

But…

“I wonder if I could get more money selling it in a more commercialized place?”

Of course, I had no intention of going to the capital or other countries.

The wealthiest in the south…

“Maybe a Pastel Marquis?”

I could sell it for more than its original value.

I was pondering over this.

“What did you just say?”

The door of my room was suddenly open, and Asia was standing there in the doorway.

“Yes?”

“What did you just say?”

“Just now?”

What did I say… oh!

“I think I mentioned the Pastel Marquis. Why are you suddenly acting like that, Asia?”

I was slightly taken aback by Asia’s seemingly angry expression.

‘Why is she acting like this all of a sudden? Could it be that Pastel Marquis, a fellow from the south, is taboo here?’

The two families that divided the power in the south.

Could that be the reason for their bad relationship?

“What’s the connection between you and the Pastel Marquis?”

“There’s no connection at all.”

“Then why did the topic of the Pastel Marquis come up?”

“Well…”

There was nothing to hide.

I had intended to accept Asia’s help if it was available.

Regarding selling the magic stone.

“I mentioned the Pastel Marquis because I thought it would be a good fit for selling the magic stone.”

With that, I showed her the stone as evidence.

After examining the magic stone once, Asia withdrew her suspicions.

“I’m sorry. I was being sensitive. It’s unlikely that someone like you, who is the disciple of your grandfather, would be associated with the Pastel Marquis.”

“Ahaha, that’s right…”

There must have been a reason for Asia’s outburst.

But I decided not to ask.

I wasn’t that curious,

and Asia’s expression when talking about the Pastel Marquis seemed stern.

“So, can I ask for your help?”

“My help?”

“Yes. Well, since you don’t seem to approve of selling the magic stone at the Pastel Marquis, I’m thinking of selling it here first.”

“Hmm… that’s a good idea. And if you sell it there, you’ll definitely be the only one at a loss.”

A loss?

Why would I be at a loss?

The Pastel Marquis is a merchant family.

Isn’t it normal for them to know the value well?

“Wouldn’t a successful merchant family like the Pastel Marquis offer a fair price?”

“…The successful merchant family is the Pastel Marquis. But would a successful merchant engage in a deal where they would incur a loss?”

“They wouldn’t.”

“It would definitely be a deal where only you would incur a loss. It would be better to sell it here under my name at least you won’t incur a loss.”

Oh, that makes sense.

Indeed.

They must have gotten to where they are by taking everything from others.

Thinking that way, the Pastel Marquis felt a bit ruthless to me.

‘If they’re that ruthless, Asia must dislike them.’

A being despised by Asia.

Asia, who didn’t show any signs of hating people.

So the Pastel Marquis, whom Asia despises, must be undoubtedly evil.

“First, let me…”

Although Asia offered to guide me willingly.

“I don’t think that will work…”

That was a handshake.

“I suppose so.”

The Messiah Viscount must be watching with fire in his eyes…

Would anyone do such a thing without being insane?

“Then, I’ll assign someone else to assist you.”

“If you could do that, I would appreciate it.”

And I mentioned one more thing I wanted.

“I would prefer if the guide knew about swords.”

“Why is that?”

“I’m going to buy a sword with the money from selling the magic stones.”

“Ah…”

Asia already knew that my mana was special.

So, she seemed to agree with my words.

“Well, now that I don’t have the Baekhwa sword anymore.”

That’s right.

The Baekhwa sword that I had given to Asia.

That sword would have returned to the old man by now.

I had given it to him as collateral, so I had told him to return it as soon as it was proven.

“Got it. Then, I’ll find a suitable person to attach it to.”

And the next day came.

Baekjangryeong Square.

There, Asia waited for the guide she would send.

“Hmm, should I buy a sword, or should I entrust it to be custom-made.”

I pondered for a moment.

I thought about it, but I couldn’t come up with an answer.

If there is a well-made sword, I’ll buy it, and if not, I’ll entrust it to be custom-made.

“Come to think of it…”

I remembered a blacksmith.

A dwarf blacksmith who said he would make a sword if I brought the materials.

‘It would be difficult to find the materials.’

The old man lives nearby.

It was impossible for me to go there alone, so it was difficult.

It would also be troublesome if I were to follow him for no reason.

“Isn’t the guide a bit late?”

Not long after I thought that…

‘He’s a reserved person,’

The guide arrived.

And I realized that the guide was someone who already had a reservation with me.

Teedi of the Suneun Knights.

For some reason, he was a man who didn’t seem to like me.

“I have received the honor of guiding you on behalf of Lady Asia.”

“I’ll be counting on you.”

And so, the awkward and strange journey with a person who disliked me began.