TMOWM~89

Chapter 89

Taybern fixed his cold gaze on the grandson walking toward him.

It was Karte, whom he hadn’t seen in six years.

They ran into each other in the corridor on the way to audience with the Emperor.

Karte approached Taybern at a quick pace.

By now a grown man, he was tall, and for a Catiéron, rather lean.

And—

“He’s brimming with murderous intent. More than me, even after rolling around the battlefield.”

What caught the eye were the blood-red rims of Karte’s eyes and the dark aura clinging to his body.

A Sword Master can sense another Sword Master’s energy.

To ordinary people, just standing near Karte would feel suffocating. Judging by the aura, he had devoured quite a number of innocent lives.

“What in the world have you been doing, Karte.”

In the past, Karte had been timid and sensitive, but not someone inclined to harm others.

That was why Taybern had wanted to take him in.

When he’d first heard that the untalented child had suddenly awakened, he thought dark magic must have been involved.

Maybe that was the problem.

“It’s been a while, Grandfather.”

Karte dipped his head lightly.

“It has been. How have you been?”

“Yes, Grandfather. At last, I’ve accomplished what a Catiéron’s bloodline is meant to do. This year, upon becoming an adult, I entered the Emperor’s service.”

With Sir Gallon, the eldest of the three Sword Masters, having retired, Karte had taken his place.

Taybern said evenly,

“I heard. You’ve achieved much.”

“As expected of a Catiéron’s blood, it was only natural.”

Karte replied smoothly.

“I also heard Hider became a Sword Master safely.”

“With his talent, it was bound to happen.”

Karte smirked crookedly.

“Well, true enough. But I don’t see Hider around. Isn’t tonight the victory banquet?”

“Hider had business to attend to.”

“Business, hm…”

Karte’s voice dropped strangely low.

“To leave as soon as he returned to the capital—I’m terribly curious what business that could be.”

Taybern’s hand tightened around his sword hilt. He knew well that Karte had obsessively pursued Lani’s whereabouts.

Karte had only stopped that recently—likely after the announcement of Taybern’s and Hider’s return.

Even so, the very thought of him being interested in Hider was unpleasant.

“That’s none of your concern.”

“Is there any matter of Catiéron that should not be my concern?”

“What do you mean?”

“I too have become a Sword Master, Grandfather. I now have the qualifications to be heir.”

Though he spoke politely, Karte’s eyes brimmed with malice. He hated Taybern.

“So.”

“That means I, too, have a chance. No, in truth, the position is as good as mine. My father is a powerless figure, so I am addressing you directly.”

Then, in a cold voice, Karte added:

“As the Emperor’s son-in-law, as a descendant of Aites, as one who bears the blood of Catiéron—I am the more suitable choice.”

Taybern’s expression froze even colder.

“So I will claim my rightful place.”

Karte’s lips curled into a sinister smile. His red tongue flicked across his lower lip—a baleful sight.

Taybern’s instincts screamed at him:

“That boy is going to cause trouble.”

Time truly flew. Over six years, I myself had grown taller—by about two finger joints.

Life in the Shultz estate was decent enough. For the first year, I hid, fearing Karte might come looking.

After that, I lived in peace.

When I turned twenty, Mr. Stanley visited once to finalize the deed of transfer.

“Ugh, so stiff.”

I lay back on the sunbed I had built myself, flipping through a book.

It wasn’t a mansion big enough to employ servants. It was just right for living alone, and few people came by.

At most, the postman.

Ah, that reminds me—today was newspaper day. Since this was the countryside, we only got weeklies, but lately the East had been making the news again.

I reached over to the table beside the sunbed, found the paper, and leaned back to read.

[Return of the Eastern Heroes.]

What a grand headline.

The pages were plastered with the names of Taybern and Hider. Naturally so—it was land regained after six years of fighting.

“Two years later than in the original story.”

Still, I had already known they were safe. The papers occasionally covered the war situation, and I could always check Taybern’s status window.

Hider wasn’t registered as an ally, so I couldn’t see his.

On the front page was a black-and-white photograph of Hider and Taybern on horseback. Exactly as described in the original.

“Straight out of a manhwa panel.”

Eyes glistening with melancholy, hair rebelliously tousled, a proud nose, pretty lips, and a sharp jawline—

A body hardened by swordsmanship and battle.

He no longer paled even standing beside Taybern.

“Our grandfather hasn’t aged much either.”

Sword Master perks, I guess.

Smiling warmly, I read on and opened the status window.

[Name: Taybern Catiéron
Role: Hider’s supporter, Hider’s grandfather, Eternal Hero, Lani’s supporter.
Status: Weary. Drained.]

The paper had been published a week ago. By now he would have already met the Emperor. Perhaps the victory banquet was why he was so drained.

I propped my chin and smiled.

Still, it was far better than when he’d been missing. Now the story was moving forward.

Maybe Hider’s heroine had appeared already. I was curious.

If only someone would tell me.

As I lounged on the sunbed, the usually quiet status window suddenly turned red.

“What the…?”

That had never happened before.

Since I left, it had been silent, as though my work was done.

[Updating…]

Updating?

Did I get a new mission? Or had something happened to Hider?

I rubbed at the window, but the screen wouldn’t change.

It kept flashing that ominous red message:

[Updating…]

Seriously, what was this? It was nerve-wracking.

While I wrestled with the status window—

“Are you here?”

A deep voice called out. A handsome voice—urban and masculine.

“I’m coming in.”

Then came the steady sound of footsteps crossing the open gate.

“You really don’t know how dangerous this is.”

A low murmur carried clearly.

I blinked. My body froze as if caught in a snare. I bit my lips and stared at the door.

I already knew who it was that would walk through.

Step, step.

The clean click of boots.

A tall, lithe frame.

As the man stepped out of the sunlight, his figure emerged.

Black hair. Red eyes.

A slightly crooked smile on his lips.

Hider.

My young master, now fully a man.

“Been well, Lani?”

The status window flickered and changed.

[Update Complete.]

“I haven’t been well. You vanished from my world.”

Hider’s voice overlapped with the status window flashing again.

The clean screen spilled out new skills:

[New skills have been generated.]
[Kiss-inducing Lips Lv.1]
[Eyes Only for Me Lv.2]
[Atmosphere That Conquers Lv.3]
[A Look That Captivates Men Lv.2]

What? Was the skill window insane?

That ominous red glow earlier—was it 19+ red?

Completely thrown off, I looked at Hider. He had grown so unfamiliar, so breathtaking. He opened his lips.

“Breathing hurts without you.”

That was unmistakably flirting.

I swallowed hard, and the status window piled it on:

[A Look That Captivates Men Lv.2 is activated.]

Status window, you’ve really lost it.