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Chapter : 38
Ancient Covenant
“The forest clan of the Eastern Continent greets His Imperial Majesty.”
The Eastern Continent delegation had arrived.
They wore pristine white ceremonial robes. Over teal outer garments, they fastened waist sashes embroidered with blade patterns in black thread.
The Eastern Continent was a land where ancient temples and ancient civilizations had flourished.
Saplings in the forest twisted together like vines to conceal old temples, and the forest’s scenery was famed for its beauty.
“Everyone else, withdraw. I will speak with him alone.”
The chief attendant led the Eastern Continent attendants away, and Benjamin, resting his chin on his hand, spoke.
“It’s been a long time.”
“It’s been five years since diplomatic ties were severed, hasn’t it?”
In the past, though rare, exchanges had continued, but due to recent internal strife, contact had been cut off for five years.
“How was the journey to the Empire?”
“We were rather exhausted thanks to a kraken.”
“Did you come through the Pophyuta route? There are ports where monster subjugation has already been completed. It would have been easier to follow that path.”
Pophyuta was a shipping route along the borderlands.
“It’s the closest route. The others would’ve taken two more days circling around, so we chose the faster way.”
Tatante muttered with a grimace, ‘The clan that turns krakens into grilled octopus skewers is even scarier.’
“Pophyuta Harbor is also a monster border zone—a dangerous area. Wasn’t that careless?”
“We already know the Empire frequently dispatches monster subjugation units. Being a border zone doesn’t make it especially dangerous.”
Border zones were “gaps” linking monster territory and human territory.
When black magic was expelled by the Ancient Covenant, monsters were also driven underground.
This was a covenant with the ancient gods, and a shackle placed upon them.
Monsters were permitted only underground and in parts of the border zones. The surface was forbidden.
“Besides, you reinforced the border guards in advance for the delegation.”
Benjamin let out a small chuckle.
“We welcome the entire Eastern Continent delegation.”
“How stiff of you. It’s a reunion after five years, yet you’re not exactly warm.”
“Then again, we were never close enough to exchange warm greetings, were we?”
Tatante felt an unfamiliar sense of distance from the friend he had reunited with after five years.
“You must be tired from the long journey. I’ve instructed the attendants to prepare a place for you to rest—follow the chief attendant.”
“He was never the warm type, but he’s become even colder than before.”
An attendant from Taran, a kingdom of the Eastern Continent, attended to Tatante.
“He was always cold. So harsh that cold air practically poured off him. Back then, he didn’t even know how to keep people close—has he changed at all? He’s already completed a political marriage.”
“Strictly speaking, there were many people around him. It’s just that you weren’t one of them, Lord Tatte.”
“I thought we were quite close. Isn’t that a bit much?”
During monster hunting cycles, they had kept in touch now and then, and Tatante had believed they were rather close friends.
“He’s far too harsh with me.”
“Lord Tatte, please be careful with your words. We are outside.”
Tatante waved his arm dismissively, brushing the attendant off.
“No one’s listening.”
“Please refrain from improper conduct. This is not Taran. Do you see those palace attendants over there? Every one of them is the eyes and ears of the imperial family. Please remember that careless words can reach imperial ears, Little Taran.”
“Taran” referred to the forest folk—those ancient people who founded civilizations and built their lives upon them.
“This is imperial territory now.”
It was different from the days when he might have been deposed.
Having gained the throne through deposition and internal conflict, imperial authority now followed a different path from past emperors.
The current Empire changed course when the former emperor died and a young emperor ascended.
“You talk too much.”
“There must be no trouble at all during this delegation. His Majesty the King personally emphasized—”
Tatante loosened his sash and headed for the northern palace. Inside, it was already in chaos.
“Aaah! Aaaah! Let go! Let go of me!”
Screams echoed from the northern delegation’s palace.
“Go check over there. Trouble has already started.”
A white tail swayed gently. Its pale fur was pristine, its front paws small and chubby.
Such a tiny thing snarled like a wild beast.
It was a wolf pup, its teeth not even fully grown.
With its small snout, it gnawed on a human head.
The attendants, on the verge of being devoured headfirst, crawled on the floor in tears.
“Aah! It’s pulling out all my hair!”
“It’s fine. It’s just a pup—how much could it hurt? A little biting won’t kill you. Looks like it’s teething.”
The white furball glared fiercely at the attendants, who retreated to keep their distance.
“What’s wrong with that thing?”
“I don’t know. It woke up and got even more violent.”
“It’s chewing on a human head like candy! Shouldn’t we pull it off before someone dies?”
Just as one attendant approached—
“Don’t get close. You’ll be bitten.”
Tatante waved them back.
“Is it in a bad mood because it just woke up?”
He walked with his hands clasped behind his back, uneasy gazes following him.
With each step, his long hair fluttered—glossy black, reaching his waist.
Born of the Taran royal bloodline, his bronze complexion stood out.
Once he removed the formal outer robe worn for the delegation, he looked like a languid male lion.
“Wasn’t it the one that always lay around sleeping with a bored look? If not waking up grumpy, then maybe it’s seasick?”
“I’m not sure, but its mood has worsened dramatically.”
“Hm… It’ll stop once it gets bored. Leave it be.”
The wolf gnawed for a while, then spat out the head in disgust.
“His Majesty the King must have had deep intentions in sending that child to the Empire, no?”
“Who knows. Doesn’t seem like they have any grand plan either.”
Later that evening, the furball vanished without a trace.
Charloff gazed out the reception room window.
—Kraang.
It sounded like the cry of a baby animal.
“…A puppy?”
“It seems to be a wolf.”
Charloff pressed her brow firmly.
As she massaged her aching eyes, the wolf pup cried again, “Kraang.”
Its white fur was beautiful. Throwing back its head, it howled like a fierce beast—yet it was no bigger than a fist.
“Kraang!”
The maids glanced around in confusion.
“Oh? Where did it come from?”
“It’s so small.”
“My, it’s far too small. And look how white its fur is—not a speck of dirt. It must’ve been well cared for. Looks like it came with the delegation.”
The white furball hopped down from the windowsill and trotted into the room.
“A wolf?”
“Yes, a wolf pup. I recall the Eastern Continent brought a wolf familiar this time.”
“Then it must’ve slipped out of the delegation’s quarters on its own.”
“Yes. Such a small thing traveled far. Oh dear—its paws are filthy with dirt. Your Majesty, shall we chase it out?”
Charloff answered while gazing at the chessboard.
“Someone may be looking for it. Go check outside.”
Its white fur was fine and almost translucent—clearly accustomed to human care.
Charloff leaned on the windowsill and looked down at the wolf.
“Kki-ung.”
The wolf tugged at the hem of her dress with its teeth.
“Y-Your Majesty!”
“Leave it. It must be teething.”
The wolf toppled backward and rolled.
“Your Majesty. We asked around outside—one young familiar brought as a goodwill gift has gone missing. This must be the one.”
When Charloff picked it up, it curled its tail and nestled obediently into her arms.
“Its eyes are blue.”
“It seems to be of a rare lineage.”
When Charloff stroked its chin, it rolled over to expose its belly. Its white fur was fluffy.
It licked her fingers with its tongue, its not-yet-grown teeth tickling her skin.
“That’s enough.”
The wolf closed its mouth.
“It wags its tail gently, but it doesn’t seem completely docile.”
When Charloff tapped its nose, it grabbed at her nose with its paws and flailed.
“It’s purring—it’ll fall asleep soon.”
As soon as she said that, it curled up and fell asleep. The pup that had been thumping her arm with its tail quickly went limp.
“Let’s go out for a walk.”
“You’re lightly dressed. Shall I bring something to cover you?”
“Bring a shawl for my shoulders.”
“Please wait a moment.”
When the white shawl was draped over her, the pup was wrapped within it. The head maid fastened it with a brooch.
Charloff gently stroked the wolf. Its soft fur felt pleasant.
“I’ll send someone to the northern palace.”
“It’s fine. They’re probably already coming.”
And indeed, from afar, the Eastern Continent delegation approached.
“Hik…!”
Their expressions were odd.
“Why do you look like that?”
“N-No reason. We’ve never seen the young one act like this—it’s shy around strangers.”
The delegation attendants crowded together.
“It’s asleep, so carry it carefully.”
The delegation settled in the northern palace, and Charloff visited the riding grounds hill on a leisurely walk.
“What are the ancient temples of the Eastern Continent like?”
“Not much is known in detail. They’re closed now and only said to be the origin of ancient civilization—the traces of a past where that civilization took root and shone at its brightest.”
“Why were such temples closed?”
The head maid asked, puzzled.
“Because the closure itself was part of the Ancient Covenant. Since then, they’ve only retained symbolic meaning—if that was the will of our ancestors. It’s not for us to judge.”
By the Ancient Covenant, monsters and black magic were driven underground.
The covenant also imposed restrictions on temples, and the old gods lost most of their divine power.
“That’s rather vague.”
“The Ancient Covenant has always been like that.”
Charloff stopped walking.
“This child again…”
She looked down at her feet.
“Kki-ung!”
She narrowed her eyes.
It was the fluffy white wolf pup.
“Didn’t I send you back?”
“The Eastern Continent delegation took it, but it seems to have slipped out again.”
“No wonder their expressions were strange—you’ve been giving them trouble.”
Charloff stroked the wolf.
It mouthed and licked her fingers.
“Kki-ung.”
The white furball scratched at her with its front paws, asking to be held.
“Is the ground cold for a pup?”
“It’s like a child whining because it doesn’t want to be alone.”
“Its white fur makes it look even more like a baby.”
When she pulled it into her arms, warmth rose. The whining pup burrowed into her arm.
Charloff let out a dry breath.
“…Cold.”
As she frowned, raindrops fell on her forehead.
“It’s starting to rain. I’ll fetch an umbrella. Please take shelter under the tree for a moment.”
The head maid left to retrieve something.
As Charloff sighed under the sheltering leaves, droplets gathered and soaked into the dirt.
Tap. Tap-tap.
The rain muffled everything, leaving the surroundings eerily quiet.
The ground beneath began to tremble faintly—too strange to be just rain.
“A shadow?”
“Yes?”
“It looks like the shadows are moving over there.”
Beyond the path, shadows pooled thickly.
Even the sunset had faded.
The darkness writhed like spilled ink.
“Katarina.”
At her command, hidden figures slowly revealed their presence.
“…It’s the northern delegation palace. Something is coming.”
Charloff narrowed her eyes, staring toward the shadowed path.
