Ch.90His voice is deeper than I expected.

# 1.

Time goes back to a few days ago.

“I have a suitable identity I’ve used before. I can stay by Your Majesty’s side as a guard knight using that identity.”

“…Indeed, such a method might work.”

“Before that, Your Majesty is already burdened with various stigmas anyway. Let’s just add one more while we’re at it.”

“A stigma?”

After Nahan posed this curious question to Reina, he suggested:

“Well, aren’t we in a position where we must share even sleeping quarters now? So to move around together more comfortably, we could spread rumors that Your Majesty has fallen into debauchery—”

“No.”

“Pardon?”

“I said no.”

“Pardon?”

“I want to get married someday too!”

Immediately after being rejected for such a reason, Nahan smiled gently and asked:

“Are you serious?”

“Do you really need to ask—!!”

“I understand.”

“Huh? I wasn’t finished speaking!”

“It’s fine. I respect Your Majesty’s wishes.”

“…Huh?”

Reina was bewildered.

‘He’s giving up this easily?’

What kind of man had Nahan—no, Black Wolf—been in her eyes until now?

A man who, whatever his purpose might be, would stop at nothing to achieve it.

Wasn’t he the utterly insolent one who entered the Emperor’s chambers as if it were his own home, pressuring even the Emperor to get what he wanted?

“Why are you suddenly…”

As Reina awkwardly stammered in confusion at Nahan’s sudden change in attitude, Nahan, with an even more gentle smile, took her hand.

“Marriage is important, isn’t it?”

“…Huh? Y-yes, it is.”

“Your Majesty is already called a tyrant, an incompetent emperor, a slaughterer, a blood-drunk monster, garbage, and an idiot. If rumors of debauchery were added… it would greatly hinder any future marriage prospects, wouldn’t it?”

“W-wait. I’ve never been called garbage or an idiot.”

“Haaaaaah…”

Nahan let out an enormous sigh, cutting off Reina’s words, and added:

“Setting aside the rumors of debauchery, your marriage prospects already seem hopelessly ruined, but if Your Majesty is truly concerned, I cannot force you.”

“No, wait.”

“Just stay like this. Continue being helplessly victimized as you are now until Bedro cuts off your head and Ilsik stabs your heart. No, wait. Until your head is cut off and your heart is stabbed.”

“But I also have—!!”

“Yes, I know. Your Majesty must have plans of your own. So you don’t need to follow mine. Well, it seems none of your plans have succeeded so far, but as your loyal subject, I’ll pretend not to notice.”

A smile that cut like a knife.

“Y-you…!! Ugh…!!”

She tried to refute, but everything he said was painfully accurate.

“…Do as you wish…”

“Pardon?”

“…I’ll follow whatever you say.”

“Ah.”

In the end, Reina surrendered.

“You should have done that from the start.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing. Anyway.”

Having gained Reina’s cooperation through their conversation, Nahan explained his plan once more.

With the Main Scenario – <Those Who Cannot Be Saved> and the Main Quest – <Happy Ending> set aside, only one objective remained: the annihilation of Ilsik.

“But it’s difficult right now.”

“Why? From what I know of the Black Wolf’s capabilities, it should be quite possible, shouldn’t it?”

“No.”

Currently, Black Wolf was being pursued by Gwangmyeong, and Bedro, the first member, had also turned away, determined to kill the Emperor.

The variable of Gwangmyeong and the loss of strength due to Bedro’s departure couldn’t be ignored.

‘But these are our internal circumstances.’

Nahan sorted through the information worth sharing, then calmly added:

“If Ilsik were just an ordinary group, it might be different. But their elders are similar to our members, and their leader, the First Elder, seemed to be on par with me. We must be fully prepared before eradicating them.”

“Are they truly that powerful?”

“Yes. Moreover, if we disturb them carelessly in this situation, they’ll hide even deeper than they are now, making it even more crucial that we proceed with caution.”

“…I understand.”

Reina nodded, and after contemplating with a serious expression, she changed her question.

“Then don’t you lack time? It seems you should find Ilsik and strengthen your forces as quickly as possible.”

Reina’s observation was accurate.

Having hidden the existence of the Main Scenario – <Those Who Cannot Be Saved> and the Main Quest – <Happy Ending>, the annihilation of Ilsik would seem like the only goal.

Of course, for such advice to emerge, Reina would have to place her own life as a lower priority than the annihilation of Ilsik.

“So don’t worry about my life and do what you need to do now.”

Reina added with a serious expression, as if it didn’t matter at all:

“The annihilation of Ilsik is the salvation of the Empire. For the sake of my subjects, I can readily give up my life.”

In her earnestly curved golden eyes, the qualities of a sage ruler shone like stars.

Confirming her sincerity, Nahan released her hand and raised it.

Thwack!

And he hit her.

“Ow!?”

A direct flick to the forehead.

“Wh-what!? Did you just…!?”

As she was bewildered by this situation she had never experienced before, Nahan solemnly said:

“As much as Your Majesty cares for your subjects, your life is important to me.”

“…Huh?”

Unwavering black eyes.

“If Your Majesty were to pass away, I too would writhe in agony until death.”

“No, I—!”

A furrowed brow, as if angry.

“So I beg you, please don’t take your life lightly.”

Facing the man who was worried about her life, his face close to hers, Reina nodded with a reddened face.

“Ah, um… I understand.”

“Good.”

Only then did Nahan smile gently.

Looking at the sharp yet kind man, Reina unconsciously murmured:

“Your voice… it’s deeper than I thought.”

“Pardon?”

“Ah!? No!?”

Her face instantly turned red.

“Wh-what am I saying…!! It’s nothing, nothing at all!!”

“? Well, alright.”

Leaving the flustered Reina behind, Nahan felt deeply relieved.

‘Why does this Emperor take her own life so lightly?’

After all the hardships so far, a bad ending is out of the question when we’re so close.

“Anyway, until I persuade the departed member to return, I’ll stay by Your Majesty’s side 24 hours a day as your guard.”

“Ah, yes! Th-that’s, ahem, do so!”

As mentioned earlier, once Bedro was coaxed back, the only enemy would be Ilsik.

Then, Kasler alone would be sufficient for protection, and he planned to wait for Bedro’s return while staying by the Emperor’s side.

“B-but listen. While it might be fine in unofficial settings, wouldn’t it be… difficult for you to be with me as Black Wolf in official situations?”

“Difficult is an understatement. An Emperor associated with Black Wolf? As I mentioned, it could even lead to rebellion.”

“S-so what should we do!! Even with a disguised identity, wouldn’t a mediocre status raise suspicion!!”

To Reina’s anxious whining, Nahan raised one corner of his mouth in a smirk.

“That’s why I told you. We need the setting that you’ve fallen into debauchery.”

Debauchery.

“A tyrant immersed in wine and lust brings in a man as a guard and always moves with him. This way, you might face some criticism, but less suspicion.”

“Mmm… that’s true, but… wouldn’t some people still find it sudden?”

“Not at all. If Your Majesty were a respected emperor, perhaps, but you’re already treated worse than a neighborhood mutt, so you won’t easily arouse suspicion. Well, people might curse, saying they knew it all along.”

“It seems you’re the one cursing me?”

“That’s a compliment.”

After finishing his words, Nahan gently stroked Reina’s head and added:

“And there’s no need to worry. The disguised identity I’ve prepared isn’t so shabby. Everyone will probably accept it.”

“No matter how excellent the disguised identity is, how excellent could it be? But let me ask anyway. Who is this person who will become my guard knight?”

To her dejected voice, Nahan grabbed both her shoulders, leaned in, and whispered in her ear:

“The Yellow Dragon.”

“…Sigh, fine. From now on, you—”

Her small lips suddenly froze.

Reina, who had mulled over Nahan’s words several times, asked as if she had misheard:

“Who did you say…?”

“You heard me perfectly well.”

“…Whaaaaat!?”

A voice that burst out involuntarily.

The two had been worried that it might escape the barrier Nahan had set up, but—

“Y-you’re the Y-Yellow Dragon!?”

“…Shh. Please keep it down.”

Black Wolf’s barrier was perfect.

# 2.

And so, several days later, in the present.

“Have you heard the news? The Emperor, of all people? There are rumors that he’s fallen into debauchery…”

“My, now it’s debauchery on top of everything else?”

“How… how immoral…”

Creeeeak…

Today too, a man with a dazed expression walked into the bustling Mercenary Union.

“What do you want?”

“For… the Saint… of the… back alleys…!!”

“…What’s with this creepy guy? Hey, don’t bother with him, just let him pass.”

Staggering steps,

An emaciated body,

A disheveled appearance.

The man, whose only bright feature was his eyes that gleamed as if possessed by something, took out a piece of paper from his possession, attached it to the mercenary request board, and turned to leave.

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.

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【Request.】

-Buying information on vile and lowly ‘trash’ at high prices.

-The more evil they are, the higher the reward.

-Buyer: The Saint of the Back Alleys.

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“…Wait just a little longer, Lia.”

After completing all his revenge,

“I’ll return to you.”