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Chapter 25
“Are you volunteering for this?”
Bloden looked down at Raven, who was kneeling before him.
“You’re trying desperately to hide that wide smile, aren’t you? Your face is red from holding back laughter.”
“…Ah.”
He noticed that too, even in this situation?
“Seems like you enjoy being disciplined, don’t you?”
Of course. Where else would I see a scene like this? It’s probably the first time in the empire’s history.
But since Raven was under Baron’s command, he couldn’t say such thoughts aloud. Immediately, he dropped flat on the ground, bowing his head and crossing his hands behind his back.
“No, Your Majesty. But I must apologize for any misunderstanding.”
Bloden looked at Raven bowing before him.
If this were a commander he personally contracted, Raven would obey without question. But perhaps because he was a high-ranking commander or because this wasn’t that kind of contract…
Raven’s earlier words about wanting to have lunch together weren’t because he liked Hailey. They were meant to provoke Bloden, expecting him to get angry. It was also a way to see who held the real power here.
Bloden realized this while sitting in his thinking chair, staring at the wall.
“You’re saying things you don’t mean, then pretending it was a misunderstanding. Keep using me and you’ll regret it.”
“No, I truly meant that I want to have lunch together, Your Majesty. Hailey’s food is delicious and comforting.”
“Enough.”
Bloden clicked his tongue and started walking.
“Stop the act. Come with me. We need to check when she leaves.”
“Oh, you want to see if the so-called sea slime hole is really a derivative gate.”
Raven quickly stood up, shaking sand from his hair.
‘Ha, he saw right through me.’
At the same time, he made a decision.
‘I need to earn as much of Hailey’s favor as possible.’
At least while Bloden is the Baron, he can’t beat Hailey.
Watching Bloden walk ahead, Raven smiled, then noticed something unusual.
“Your Majesty,” he said.
“Hm?”
“You seem taller than before.”
“….”
“You have grown, right?”
Bloden sighed.
“Yes. Quite a bit.”
After expending magic, it takes time to return to normal. But this growth was faster than expected.
“Did you withdraw all your forces?”
“No, that’s why it’s strange.”
“Doesn’t Hailey notice?”
“Thanks to the rain, she hasn’t.”
Fortunately, Bloden had never faced Hailey inside the house. She didn’t realize how much taller he had grown.
“Your recovery speed is unprecedented,” Raven said.
Bloden clenched and relaxed his fists while walking.
“Yeah. My condition is unusually good.”
“Then why not withdraw the army and return to your original form?”
Raven chuckled, imagining the reaction of Lady Beldenburr.
“Just imagining her fainting at the sight of Your Majesty is fun.”
Bloden frowned, uncomfortable just thinking about the ambitious regent.
“Shut up.”
Bloden glanced toward Hailey. By now, they were far enough that she wouldn’t see what was happening.
“Salamander.”
“Pee-yuk.”
A small lizard with flames appeared with a soft cry.
“Light the way.”
“Pee-yuk.”
The salamander lit the path in front of Bloden as he quickened his pace.
“How’s the child abduction case? Any progress?”
Bloden had stumbled upon the information by chance.
After a victory at the Northern Gate, he passed a nearby village where a badly injured, freezing teenager crawled in.
They treated the child, but it was too late to save him.
The child tried to explain what happened, though his words were unclear. Raven understood enough from the repeated phrases:
Snoril, orphan, trafficked, beaten nearly to death, ran away, many like me, save us.
They didn’t know where the child ran from or who abused him.
So Bloden came to Snoril, met Hailey, and Raven took over the investigation.
Raven quietly gathered information, but no one reported missing children matching the description.
“There’s no one to give testimony. The suspects haven’t been found.”
Bloden nodded at Raven’s report and continued walking.
Eventually, he noticed the ground became uneven and stopped to look around.
The area was wide, with scattered water and stones of all sizes.
“This should be roughly the place.”
“Which stone hides the derivative gate?”
Raven muttered, and black smoke rose from his body. His form became semi-transparent, black flames flickering across him.
“There’s not enough time to check each one. I’ll sweep the stones at once.”
Bloden, watching Raven return to his normal form, spoke quietly.
“Stop.”
At Bloden’s command, the black flames went out.
Raven blinked, confused.
“…Yes?”
“You’re planning to destroy the whole area.”
“That’s the plan.”
“No, you can’t.”
“Why not?”
“It’s noisy.”
Bloden shook his head seriously.
“Besides, there are octopuses here.”
“Oc…?”
“Do you want to kill them and make her cry?”
Raven sighed, brushing his face with his hand.
“Then what will you do?”
“I’ll handle it since it will use up magic anyway.”
Bloden stretched, interlacing his fingers.
“Kamen.”
After the call, the ground trembled and stones suddenly rose.
“Is the roof repaired?”
Kamen slowly leaned forward.
“Good. I’ll remove all visible stones at once. After, restore them. Take whatever magic you need.”
Kamen disappeared into the ground.
Soon, a mixture of black, red, and purple energy rose from Bloden’s body like smoke.
With Bloden’s permission, Kamen began using magic fully.
Stones tumbled and created vibrations. Sea creatures like octopuses scuttled and burrowed underground.
Once all stones were cleared, vibrations subsided, and Bloden’s energy calmed.
Bloden folded his arms and gave another command.
“Salamander, check for the derivative gate.”
“Pee-yuk.”
The fire lizard quickly scanned the area, leaving a trail of light from its tail.
After a while, it stopped and let out a long cry.
“Pee-yuk!”
Bloden and Raven approached.
There was a dark blue hole about a foot wide.
Raven crouched and examined it, letting out a low sound.
“Your Majesty, this is indeed a derivative gate.”
