Ch.124Interlude, Dieta (1)

Snake that Swallows the Gold Coins, Dieta.

A figure who left the duke’s residence with only one knight escort and became Cambria’s greatest merchant in just 5 years.

While her achievements were impressive, outside of Cambria, there wasn’t much interest in her or her guild. Though she wielded significant influence within Cambria, that influence didn’t extend beyond its borders.

That was the case until just a year ago.

But now, a year later, the story is quite different.

Over the past year, Dieta’s guild has achieved explosive growth. She established distribution networks beyond Cambria and even set up a base in the heart of the Empire. Furthermore, she attracted public attention by flaunting her connection to the famous figure Najin.

Focused attention. Countless gazes and interest.

One small mistake in this situation, and everything she had built would be for nothing. She should be cautious, but Snake that Swallows the Gold Coins is a merchant to the bone. High risk comes with high reward. That was common sense for a merchant.

She had no intention of missing this opportunity.

With the whole world watching her guild, Dieta boldly stepped onto the stage.

“Buy everything.”

The materials from the slain White Dragon and Red Dragon.

Dieta had already secured the priority right to bid on these materials. All the gold coins she had set aside, even at the cost of taking losses, for this moment. Dieta released it all at once. A wave of gold coins swept through the auction house.

The debts she had accumulated with the Central Guild, the weaknesses and debts she had held over numerous merchant groups—she poured it all into bidding for the materials. Dieta succeeded in acquiring nearly 90% of the Red Dragon and White Dragon materials.

Enough merchandise to call it a monopoly.

Dieta monopolized the dragon materials.

The bleeding was substantial, but in her opinion, the dragon materials were worth it.

What are dragon materials? They’re products used in all sorts of fields—alchemy, magical engineering, armor and weapon forging, and research purposes. Their commercial value had long been proven, but there simply hadn’t been any available to sell.

Now such merchandise had been released for the first time in decades.

And not just any materials, but those of the Red Dragon and White Dragon associated with the legend of King Arthur. They had value not only as commodities but also as luxury items.

‘But that’s not all.’

Dieta rolled a platinum coin on her palm.

These dragon materials were special. The Red Dragon that Najin had slain was a special specimen influenced by the Witch of Abyss, with scales that could withstand even a Sword Seeker’s sword energy.

With such special qualities added to the already expensive dragon materials, at this point, whatever price Dieta named would be the price.

Numerous merchant groups, workshops, magic towers… expressions of interest came from all quarters. But Dieta didn’t respond. A merchant doesn’t just trade in physical goods. Sometimes, she knew that invisible things hold more value than what can be seen and touched.

If a merchant’s virtue is to sell goods at the highest price, then Dieta was an excellent merchant.

“The Red Tower promised to provide us with tower products at a discount. They also made it a condition that they would prioritize us for their products.”

She smiled at the merchants who had come to see her.

“The Dopker Forge promised to provide our guild with products made from the materials, and furthermore, to form an alliance with our guild. And it’s not just the Dopker Forge! The Loens Workshop, Vendelin Alchemy Tower, and Walheit Forge have sent similar proposals.”

“What conditions have you brought?”

Bring your conditions.

Otherwise, there will be no deal.

She incited competition among those rushing for the dragon materials released after decades. She encouraged them to offer better conditions. Amid the heated competition between merchants, Dieta remained silent.

She didn’t sell her goods to anyone.

The customer she wanted had not yet appeared.

This was just bait. Bait to draw a bigger fish into this game. Dieta eyed the big fish swimming leisurely beneath the surface. You must also desire this item. But you probably don’t want to jump into this game yourself.

‘You’ll feel it’s beneath your dignity.’

A guild that trades with you. Merchants connected to you. Getting items through them would be the picture you’d paint. But what about this?

‘I don’t intend to sell.’

If you want it, come yourself.

Only then will I agree to trade. Well, I’ve made this stage big enough for you, who hesitates to jump in because you’re concerned about your dignity. Isn’t this enough?

And, splash.

“Madam.”

Finally, the big fish showed itself above the surface.

“A guest has arrived from the Platinum Tower.”

It took the bait. Dieta flicked the platinum coin she had been rolling in her hand. She smiled as she watched the platinum coin spinning in the air.

The Platinum Tower.

The largest magic tower in the Empire.

At the top of that tower was the prey Dieta was targeting. The master of the Platinum Tower, Safria Gachefsga. A great magician who produced nearly 40% of the artifacts distributed in the Empire and one of the five pillars of the Empire.

Seal of Eternal Beauty, Safria Gachefsga.

She was the prey Dieta was targeting.

Snake that Swallows the Gold Coins looks at the Platinum Tower.

She creates a connection point with the Platinum Tower. She establishes a channel to trade with them. That was the purpose of this entire plan. To successfully establish herself in the capital of the Empire, she needed a solid trading partner.

The fish had taken the bait.

Now all that remained was to cook the caught fish. And that was Dieta’s specialty.

Snap.

Dieta caught the platinum coin she had flicked. Once she had a platinum coin in her hand, she never let it go.

2.

Najin stretched his stiff body.

Every movement was accompanied by creaking sounds, clearly from his body stiffening after lying down for so long.

‘I’ve been lying down for a while. How long was it?’

-About a month?

Is that all? It felt like he’d been lying down for at least 8 more months. Najin tapped his creaking shoulder as he recalled the past month.

For a full month after slaying the Red Dragon, Najin had been bedridden. Even with Excalibur’s recovery ability, the injury had been too severe. The healers clicked their tongues, saying that an ordinary human would have died ten times over from such injuries, but unfortunately, Najin was far from ordinary.

Sword Seeker, two stars, and Excalibur.

Najin already possessed recovery abilities beyond human limits.

The healers said he should rest for at least half a year, but Najin got up from bed after just a month. It would make the healers grab the backs of their necks in disbelief, but… to Najin himself, even that month felt endlessly long.

-Well, that’s because you’ve never rested for more than a week.

Merlin sighed.

-Have you ever taken a break since leaving the underground city? You’ve been swinging your sword at every opportunity as if you’d die if you skipped training for even a day.

‘Thanks to that, I got a star and became a Sword Seeker in less than a year, didn’t I?’

-I suppose so.

As she shook her head as if she couldn’t help it, Najin changed into his outdoor clothes. Watching Najin strap the sword hanging on the wall to his waist, Merlin sighed.

-Going to train again? Why don’t you rest a bit? Your wounds haven’t even fully healed yet, what’s the rush?

‘I’m not going to train.’

-What?

Najin pointed to the shelf. There were all sorts of snacks, including a fruit basket, all left by Dieta.

“Today, you know? In the Empire, various things…”

“Najin, would you like to try this? It’s nothing special, I just bought it on my way here. Sometimes this kind of thing is nice too, right?”

“I brought some books in case you get bored. You like these, right? About the 100 heroes who illuminated the Empire…”

During the month Najin was bedridden, Dieta had visited him almost daily, and Najin felt grateful for that.

“She visited me almost every day, right? I thought it would be nice if I visited her for once. She’s already busy, so coming to visit must be troublesome for her.”

-Hmm… I wonder?

“Pardon?”

-I don’t think she sees it that way.

“What do you mean?”

Merlin made a subtle expression.

Unlike Najin, who had a disastrously poor sense when it came to “these matters,” Merlin wasn’t so oblivious as to miss a girl’s affection.

No, to be honest, it would be strange not to notice.

That girl, her eyes drip with honey when she looks at you, doesn’t she? Doesn’t she startle and tremble when you so much as touch her hand? Doesn’t her ears turn bright red at the slightest thing? How can you not see that?

Merlin swallowed the words that had risen to her throat. Somehow, she didn’t want to tell him. A strange displeasure, like someone else was touching something precious to her. Merlin glared at Najin with a sullen expression.

“Why are you glaring at me like that?”

Of course, Najin just blinked his eyes blankly.

-At times like this, you’re nothing but a child.

“Pardon?”

What is this behavior?

Merlin sighed. It was a fact often forgotten due to his rapid growth, but the boy before her was only eighteen years old. And he had been out in the world for less than a year since leaving the underground city.

Having had so few normal human relationships that they could be counted on one hand, it was perhaps natural that Najin didn’t understand romantic feelings.

-No, she would be happy if you visited.

Merlin shrugged.

Of course, she was of the opinion that spending time on trivial things like lovers and romance was a waste, but she had no intention of interfering.

Besides, was this boy a tree that would fall after being chopped at for a hundred days?

Najin’s head was filled with nothing but swords, knights, and stars. Merlin couldn’t imagine the boy she was guiding falling in love. It was unfortunate for the brown-haired girl, but Najin didn’t seem likely to fall for her.

Grin.

Thinking that made Merlin feel better, and she smiled. Watching Merlin, who had been sulking by herself and was now grinning, Najin tilted his head in confusion.

3.

Dieta Guild Headquarters.

While numerous merchants and customers waited in line, Najin passed by them and entered the building. The guards didn’t stop him; instead, recognizing Najin, they slightly bowed their heads in greeting.

No one stopped Najin from entering the building and going up to the top floor of the guild. Normally, meeting Dieta required going through somewhat complicated procedures, but these were unnecessary for Najin.

Come anytime. And when she said “anytime,” she didn’t mean it in a formal or polite sense, but literally “anytime,” so please feel free to visit, and preferably often.

Dieta had told Najin this, and had also instructed her employees to simply send Najin to her if he came. Thanks to this, Najin reached the top floor without difficulty.

The office door was closed, and two knights stood guard outside. One was Passion, Dieta’s usual escort knight, but the other had his face covered with a robe, making him unrecognizable.

Did she hire a new escort knight?

But, strangely familiar…

Najin narrowed his eyes. Noticing his gaze, the knight smiled slightly and pulled back his robe.

“We meet again?”

“…Sir Klaus?”

Blue Wing Cavalry, Klaus Aten.

A man who had attacked Najin after being compromised by the Order, but who was now Najin’s ally. It was a welcome face, but why was he here? In response to Najin’s questioning gaze, Klaus pointed to the closed office door and said:

“That young lady hired me. I’m grateful for it.”

“Dieta, you mean?”

“Yes. Officially, we’re dead men, so we had no proper identity or place to stay… but that young lady prepared everything for us. Thanks to her, we’re living comfortably.”

Those who promised to become Najin’s allies.

Dieta had told him to leave their treatment to her, and that he should focus on what he needed to do. It was exactly as she had said. Najin inwardly clicked his tongue in admiration.

Arranging identities and lodgings for so many people, and in secret at that—it couldn’t have been easy.

The image of Dieta flicking a gold coin and muttering, “Money can do anything,” came to mind. Najin chuckled and nodded.

“That’s good to hear.”

“It’s all thanks to you. Oh, and my name is now ‘Romanov.’ I’m a mercenary affiliated with Dieta’s guild. I plan to live under the name Romanov until you point your sword at the Order.”

“Should I call you Sir Romanov?”

“The title ‘Sir’ is too much. I’d prefer if you just called me Romanov. Call me ‘Sir’ when I can raise the flag of the Blue Wing Cavalry again.”

“As you wish.”

Najin and Klaus looked at each other and smiled.

While smiling, Najin suddenly asked a question that came to mind:

“So, not just you, but all those people from back then are now affiliated with Dieta’s guild?”

“That’s right.”

Najin calculated inwardly for a moment.

Blue Wing Cavalry, Klaus Aten.

Demon Hunter, Jerold Oton.

Basaus Malek, who had been active as a soldier on the front lines.

In addition to these three Sword Seeker-level powerhouses, numerous Sword Experts had promised to become Najin’s collaborators that day. If all of them had become mercenaries affiliated with Dieta’s guild? Najin let out an incredulous laugh.

“Well, well.”

Unofficial as it might be, a guild with three Sword Seeker-level powerhouses as mercenaries. And considering there was another Sword Seeker sponsored by the guild… this was not the level of military force an ordinary guild should possess.

Najin glanced at Passion.

His expression wasn’t much different from Najin’s.

“How do you think I feel, suddenly having three Sword Seeker-level powerhouses as subordinates?”

It was Passion’s joke that wasn’t really a joke.

“So what brings you here? Have you come to see the young lady?”

“Yes. I thought I should visit her for once.”

“The young lady will be pleased.”

He smiled.

“Right now is the young lady’s nap time, so normally we wouldn’t let visitors in, but…”

He opened the door and stepped back.

“Najin, you’re an exception.”

“Should I come back another time?”

“What are you saying? If I tell the young lady that you came and left, I can’t even imagine what she might say to me.”

So go on in.

Passing by Passion who said this, Najin entered the office. As soon as Najin entered, the door closed silently. It was Passion’s consideration.

Najin shifted his gaze.

By the window, in a spot where sunlight streamed in well. Dieta was sleeping on the sofa there, leaning against it. Brown hair glistening in the sunlight. She must have been quite tired, as Dieta showed no signs of waking even as Najin approached.

Only the small sound of her breathing, ssk-ssk, could be heard.

Najin looked at Dieta for a moment, then sat down on the chair opposite her. He thought about waking her, but it seemed wrong to disturb someone sleeping so peacefully.

After waiting in the chair for fifteen minutes like that.

The alarm clock placed next to the sofa rang loudly. As soon as she heard the sound, Dieta struck the alarm clock as if hitting it. With a bang, the alarm clock fell silent.

“Mmmmm.”

As if reluctant to get up, Dieta groaned with her face buried in the sofa, but soon raised her body.

“Yaaawn…?”

Still half-asleep, Dieta was in the middle of a stretched-out yawn when her eyes met Najin’s, who was staring at her. Frozen in her yawning posture, Dieta blinked. Her long eyelashes covered her eyes like curtains, then lifted several times.

Huck, and.

Understanding the situation, Dieta gasped and quickly turned her head. In a small voice, she said:

“Um, Najin? Could you please look at the wall for a moment?”

As Najin turned his gaze to the wall, Dieta ran to the full-length mirror in the corner of the office. She quickly fixed her clothes, tidied her disheveled hair, and lightly touched up her makeup before returning to the sofa and sitting demurely, as if nothing had happened.

“You can turn around now.”

Inwardly cursing Passion for not waking her, Dieta put on a relaxed expression. A merchant should never appear flustered in any situation. Befitting a merchant magnate who had the attention of the entire continent, Dieta’s facial acting was perfect.

…Her facial acting was perfect.

The problem was that her bright red ears and fidgeting fingers completely ruined that perfect act.