Chapter 50
Late at night, Luri returned to the 50th floor of the Imperium Bank. Arnold was waiting, reading a book.
“You’re late, daughter.”
“I was hanging out with friends, Father.”
“Martin of Ulvhadin?”
“Yup.”
Arnold sighed at his daughter’s unabashed affirmation.
“You know who Martin is, don’t you?”
“A prince on a white horse? No, a marksman on a black dog?”
“Hah…”
Arnold, who’d denied that raising a daughter was futile, began to think he might’ve been wrong.
It was bad enough that his beloved daughter was smitten, but with the notorious trash Martin, of all people.
“Luri, your father still disapproves. Martin is the shame of nobility, a hound, trash…”
“A demon in human skin, a loser, a pup, the epitome of annoyance?”
“You know well, yet you act this way.”
“I’m an academy cadet. How could I not know?”
His founding of the Violence Circle early in enrollment, harassing innocent commoner cadets until the Four Great Ducal heirs disciplined him, was infamous beyond measure.
Luri had seen it herself.
“Then think. One commoner cadet declared withdrawal because of Martin. You’d find a better gentleman among commoners.”
“You’re right. Maybe.”
Don’t date bad people. Martin is bad. Therefore, don’t date Martin. The logic held. But—
“Father, what was Martin like yesterday?”
“….”
Alone. To Arnold, Martin was a man living in solitude, trusting no one, suspecting everything, whipping himself—a lone hunting dog.
“Whatever it is, he’s changed. It’s hard for someone to change, but once they do, they don’t revert. You said it yourself, Father.”
“…I did.”
Arnold stood. Further talk was pointless. He was too late. Far too late. His daughter’s mind and heart were filled with Martin alone. Come to think of it, there was a saying about fathers never winning against daughters.
He trusted his wise daughter would make a sensible choice.
“I’m heading in, daughter.”
“Good night, Father.”
“Remember. Your father doesn’t like Martin.”
“Yup, your daughter loves Martin to death.”
“Hmph!”
As Arnold left, Luri went to her room. Instead of preparing for bed—
She shed her elegant clothes and donned a dignified uniform. She undid her cute twin-tails. Outside, her trusted aides awaited.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The destination was the sewers. The capital’s sprawling sewer network led anywhere. Deep inside, first-class knights in hoods guarded a place.
She faced them, but their forms were hazy. Turning away, their features faded from memory.
At a room, a knight opened the door.
Inside, the Golden Princess, Adela, awaited her.
“You’re late, Luri of Elidore.”
“Well, you just came early on a whim.”
“Making me wait is being late.”
“Fine, call it late then.”
“Hmph, how dull. Sit.”
Adela lazily offered a seat, and Luri sat obediently. Their gazes clashed in the air.
“…So, you know something about my knight?”
“Not your knight. Young Master Martin belongs to no one.”
“…You’ve learned a secret you shouldn’t have.”
Adela’s golden eyes gleamed with madness. Luri faced the suffocating pressure head-on. Despite Adela’s imperial authority, Luri was the eldest daughter of the Elidore Marquis Family, controlling the continent’s commerce.
“How did you know?”
Luri had joined the Dungeon Tournament as a noble and clearly saw the Diamond Bullet that defeated Platinum Knight Dominic and her friend Helaine, making it easy to deduce Martin was the Princess’ knight.
“Are there secrets in this world?”
“Hah! So cheeky. To say that before me.”
A cold wind blew.
Adela’s Shadow Knights and Luri’s aides engaged in a fierce battle of auras.
Both Adela and Luri raised hands to stop them.
“Enough. Don’t react to every word from the marquis’ wench.”
“They’re the Golden Princess and Shadow Knights. Stay calm and stand by.”
Adela and Luri were opposites but shared a trait: a keen ability to read hearts.
“…You’re not here to forcibly unmask my Black Knight. What do you propose?”
“I only want Martin’s happiness.”
“Oh, a grateful swallow? Amusing.”
It didn’t take long for them to realize they could use each other.
Luri needed Adela’s martial power and authority.
Adela needed Luri’s vast financial power.
They were necessary to each other.
“Daughter of the marquis. What do you know? Martin von Targon Ulvhadin’s goals, path, hopes. What do you know to be so obsessed with his life?”
“I know you’re aiming for the empress' throne and are at a great disadvantage.”
“Sharing my knight will cost a hefty sum.”
“Martin isn’t your knight. You must have some leverage over him. You actively hid information about the demon summoner incident to gain more leverage, didn’t you?”
Adela’s brow furrowed. As expected of the continent’s top merchant family—tougher than most high nobles.
Elisha, Bord, Mary—they tried to suppress information, but as mere young cadets, even from the Four Great Ducal Families, they couldn’t. Without Adela, Martin’s identity might’ve been exposed.
“Hah, you’re better than them. Martin probably doesn’t even know.”
“He doesn’t need to. I’ll handle the underhanded fights.”
“Oh, how noble.”
Though they bickered, they’d already confirmed each other’s intentions.
“Fine. This is fun. You’re not entirely stupid. I’ll make good use of you, Luri of Elidore.”
“Looking forward to it, Princess Adela.”
An alliance for one villain was formed between the two women.
***
At home, Lilac, Bianca, Sebastian, and Nerjin—wearing an apron and skillfully brewing coffee—greeted me.
“Manager Nerjin?”
“Oh, President Martin. Welcome. I’m demonstrating a café latte I just learned. Does it look alright?”
“Uh… Yes, sure.”
As a café latte finished, Lilac and Bianca praised him.
Nerjin offered me a cup.
“Care for one? It’s cold out; a warm coffee should suit you.”
“If you insist.”
I took a sip of the café latte.
“….”
Lilac, Bianca, and Nerjin watched my mouth with tense anticipation.
“It’s delicious.”
“Haha, good to hear.”
Nerjin sighed in relief, a rather amusing sight.
“Seems you find barista work interesting.”
“President Martin.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“May Bianca and I join the coffee cart?”
The unexpected request made me glance between Nerjin and Bianca. Lilac, seemingly already in agreement, just looked at me.
“What about the alchemy workshop?”
“It was never a thriving business. The Malice Wraiths’ attack sealed its fate.”
I looked at Lilac. With growing customers, running the cart alone looked tough.
“If Lilac’s okay with it, I don’t mind.”
“Thank you!”
Bianca hugged Lilac, beaming happily. Seeing their reactions, it’d be fine for now.
“By the way, how’s your health?”
“Lilac told me you poured potions and called a temple priest. Thanks to that, the wounds from Helaine left no scars. That must’ve cost a lot.”
“Don’t worry about it. A life is worth more than money, obviously.”
Though checking the treatment bill nearly stopped my heart.
Nerjin chuckled. For someone just recovered, he was brimming with energy.
“We’ll be in your care for a while. Oh, and I have things to show you.”
Nerjin led me to a room. Signs of overexertion from someone just awake were evident.
“You started working right after waking?”
“The waves of inspiration wouldn’t let me rest. That’s an alchemist’s nature.”
“And this is the result?”
Bullets. On the workbench were unique bullets, glowing gemstones carved into ammunition.
“Magic bullets. Developed in the Cosmos Empire but discontinued before distribution due to the Time Chaos Dungeon outbreak.”
“Magic bullets? Like your cards?”
“Somewhat similar. Though crafting is far more complex.”
Nerjin showed me a blueprint.
“The casing is the same. Mana stone powder is added, and a mana stone orb generates explosive propulsion. But the warhead is a gemstone.”
Test pieces—ruby, sapphire, emerald, aquamarine—lay scattered.
“It’s tough work, but engraving a magic circle on the gem warhead creates a magic bullet that activates magic upon impact.”
“Magic bullets, huh? Nice.”
Beyond nice—excellent. An item to compensate for Martin’s weak bullet power.
“If you hand over your guns, I’ll upgrade them. I’ve worked on the Star Child’s guns multiple times.”
“Oh… The first Gun Master, the Peacemaker?”
“Yes, indeed.”
Without hesitation, I handed over two guns—one for Martin, one for the Princess’ Black Knight.
“Hmm, good. Leave it to me. I’ll make plenty of bullets too.”
“Thank you. That’s reassuring.”
Having made his pitch, Nerjin got to the real point.
“Lilac said you’re planning to move. When you do, may Bianca and I come along?”
Moving. Right. I couldn’t stay near the slums forever. I might manage alone, but it wasn’t right for Lilac. For her sake, I wanted a place near a park blooming with flowers like her name.
Nerjin and Bianca joining was fine—better, even. The Helaine incident taught me I needed allies to entrust with Lilac.
“No issue, but why?”
“Because I believe you’re hope.”
The old man’s eyes held no trace of deceit. Since the Helaine incident, he seemed more proactive and passionate, as if enlightened.
“Alright. Will you run an alchemy workshop there?”
“That’s to be decided. I only kept it to avoid looking idle in old age, so I don’t mind stopping. Brewing coffee with my granddaughter in my twilight years sounds romantic.”
I’d guessed as much, seeing him in an apron learning barista skills.
Good timing. Since Bianca was a student, Lilac was alone during the day. I could trust Nerjin with her.
He could oversee the move too.