Ch.37The Emperor’s Sword

“You didn’t meet him today either?”

“He didn’t show up at the training grounds either.”

During their brief walk through the streets of Silverhill Estate, Sae-rin and Flora exchanged words as they passed each other. It had already been two weeks since the investigation mission began. Flora and Theo, who were supposed to enter at different times, had also made their way into the estate.

It had been more than three days since they last met. Sae-rin frowned as she recalled the face of the eldest son of this estate, Rowen Silverhill.

His illness hadn’t relapsed. He wasn’t in seclusion for training. He simply wasn’t going out. At some point, Rowen had stopped appearing.

Their identities couldn’t have been exposed. If they had been discovered, they wouldn’t have been allowed to remain in the estate.

‘How strange…’

Sae-rin’s gaze turned toward the Silverhill family mansion located at the edge of the estate.

Late in the evening, Sae-rin left the inn. Normally, this wouldn’t be a time for activity, but she had gathered information about an herb that supposedly only blooms at night.

‘If I’m playing the role of Sera who majors in herbology…’

She couldn’t give up. Someone else might be watching her. She couldn’t abandon her act for even a moment.

Sae-rin left the estate and entered the forest.

The forest at night was quite dark. With moonlight being the only source of illumination, Sae-rin took out a lamp.

They say some noble families possess methods to see as clearly at night as during the day. It’s a concept that exists in other worlds too. Channeling power into one’s eyes to view the world. Hence, it was called the Eye Technique.

Relying on the lantern, she rummaged through the undergrowth for a while. Each time her small hands parted the grass, moonlight gently settled upon them.

Rustle—

A faint footstep was heard. Sae-rin carefully turned her head. She had noticed the other person’s approach even before hearing the sound. However, she didn’t show it.

Because the presence of the newcomer was familiar.

“Sera…!”

“Mr. Rowen?”

Rowen sighed as he looked at the girl before him. Under the pouring moonlight, Sera appeared incredibly beautiful. Could this be what fairies in stories look like? Even the goddess of beauty might envy her beauty.

‘It’s fate.’

Rowen clutched his chest. He had come out for some fresh air because he couldn’t bear the stuffiness. This was another coincidental meeting. They kept running into each other without intending to.

If this wasn’t fate, what was? They say when coincidences repeat, they become inevitable. Rowen felt a strong attraction.

‘If it’s Sera…’

She’s a thoughtful and polite girl. Rumors about her were already widespread within the estate. She treats people without prejudice and is kind without discrimination.

She might understand the secret he carries. That’s what Rowen thought.

Sae-rin stood up and spoke. In her small hand was a small herb root.

“It’s nice to see you, Mr. Rowen. Enjoying a night walk, I see?”

“Ah, yes. Just taking a little stroll.”

“I came out briefly to collect an herb that only blooms at night. I heard it’s very helpful for relieving fatigue…”

“Could it be… for my request?”

Sae-rin nodded without hesitation. In truth, she didn’t remember exactly what Rowen’s request was. She hadn’t thought it was particularly important, but it seemed the situations had coincidentally aligned.

She was lucky.

After a brief silence, Rowen nodded. His eyes were filled with determination.

“Sera. Could you spare some time tomorrow?”

“Of course. When would be good?”

“Tomorrow evening… I’d like you to come to our house. No, I’ll send someone for you. I want to introduce you to my parents.”

Crack-!

The sudden sound drew both their gazes to its source. It was Sae-rin’s hand. The herb she was holding had been crushed, and white sap was dripping from it.

Sae-rin awkwardly smiled and nodded.

“Of course I’ll come! Thank you so much for inviting me!”

“That herb…”

“Ah, I was careful when picking it… but it seems the root was damaged… it burst…”

After setting the appointment and parting ways, Sae-rin didn’t return to the inn. She circled around the city within the estate, leaving inconspicuous traces here and there. After some time, Theo, disguised as a laborer, appeared.

He was busy moving empty liquor bottles. The two passed each other briefly as they walked slowly. Sae-rin spoke.

“Tomorrow evening. Silverhill lord’s mansion.”

There was no response. He didn’t even nod. Theo just moved away like that.

***

As the appointed time approached, a large carriage arrived in front of the inn. Rowen’s promise to send someone was true.

People from the Silverhill family who arrived with the carriage looked for Sera. She couldn’t refuse to go. Sae-rin left her room at the inn and approached the carriage.

“Miss Sera…?”

They seemed to already know her. Sae-rin nodded and replied.

“Yes, I’m Sera.”

“Master Rowen is waiting. Would you come with us?”

What reaction would they show if she refused here? Sae-rin suppressed the small feeling of resistance that arose and shook her head.

Right now, she was carrying out the Blue Wing’s mission. It was better to suppress personal emotions as much as possible.

So Sae-rin boarded the carriage.

The carriage was neither fast nor slow. As she quietly enjoyed the slowly passing scenery, she soon entered the Silverhill Estate mansion.

After getting off the carriage, Sae-rin was guided to a splendid room. As she was being led, she asked.

“Excuse me. Where is Mr. Rowen…?”

“You cannot meet him right away. Some preparation is needed…”

What could that preparation be? As she tilted her head in wonder, Sae-rin realized that the so-called preparation was meant for her.

Entering the splendid room, Sae-rin had to endure being dressed and adorned by the maids. A full hour was wasted like that.

“Oh my…”

“The original was good, but…”

“Goodness… no wonder Master Rowen…”

The maids couldn’t help but admire their creation. The calmly seated girl was truly the embodiment of beauty. It was impossible to harbor negative emotions.

After being tormented for a long time by the maids who squealed and pretended to be close to her, Sae-rin was finally able to move to the place where Rowen was waiting.

The place was a garden.

Rowen was waiting in front of a large fountain. Instead of his usual comfortable clothes, he wore a neat formal uniform mixed with black and red. His hair was also shiny, and he had even put on accessories that weren’t visible before, making himself look quite stylish.

‘I feel like throwing up.’

It felt like seeing Theo on a weekend.

“Ah, Se…?”

Rowen’s unfinished words slowly dispersed. The gaze of someone staring blankly was now familiar. Sae-rin smiled lightly and brushed her hair behind her ear.

“Sera…”

The two strolled slowly through the garden. They exchanged brief conversations. However, the content was quite heavy.

“I told you before, right? About developing a new farming method that greatly increased the estate’s production… Actually, that wasn’t my doing.”

“What? Really?”

“Yes. I didn’t develop the farming method. It was my father.”

“This doesn’t seem like something you’d tell just anyone…”

“That’s because you’re not just anyone. Sera, I don’t want to lie to you.”

As they conversed, the previous doubts began to clear up. Silverhill Rowen was certainly a suspicious person. However, upon closer inspection, no additional suspicions of him being a reincarnator could be found.

His swordsmanship was excellent, but that was it. His skills hardly improved. That’s not a characteristic of a reincarnator. All reincarnators who were given a second life grew at a rapid pace.

He didn’t seem to be controlling his growth rate either. To show off his excellence to the woman he liked, Rowen always did his best.

“Even my recovery from illness was thanks to the mana cultivation method my father developed.”

“That’s amazing… A mana cultivation method that can even cure an incurable disease…!”

They said it was an incurable disease that no one could heal. He cured such a disease with a mana cultivation method? And the Silverhill lord developed such a method?

The Silverhill family had lived on the frontier all their lives, cultivating grapes. They had a history far removed from martial arts.

‘Perhaps the reincarnator is…’

It might not be Silverhill Rowen. Of course, this is only if everything Rowen just told her is true. It was still too early to make hasty judgments.

That’s when Sae-rin sensed a faint presence not far away.

Thud-

Footsteps began to approach. Rowen, too, seemed to notice the approach belatedly and turned his head.

“Father?”

“Is that the girl?”

He appeared to be an ordinary middle-aged man. The aura he exuded was no different from that of an ordinary person. However, there was an inexplicable sense of grandeur.

‘Baron Silverhill.’

The current lord of the Silverhill Estate. The moment the Baron arrived at the garden entrance, Sae-rin felt as if everything around her was covered by the sky.

‘Monster…’

Cold sweat seemed to run down her back. How could this be someone who had spent his life farming in the frontier? Sae-rin swallowed dryly and habitually felt for her waist.

‘My sword…’

It wasn’t there.