STM 131
by Nilu“Solongo.”
In the large, antique-filled reception room, Solongo bowed respectfully to the one who had summoned her.
“Speak, Duke Kilu.”
“Sit down. If you stand so stiffly, you’d think I summoned you to scold you.”
Kilu’s tone was relaxed, as if addressing a close friend, but Solongo merely lifted her head slightly and maintained her upright posture.
“How could I dare consider the Duke’s precious words a scolding? Please speak freely of anything.”
Solongo’s tone made it clear to anyone listening that she was groveling. Kilu seemed pleased by this, his smile grew larger.
“I merely summoned you to acknowledge the excessive gift received from the Adeye Merchant Guild.”
“Excessive? Considering the kindness the Montaine family has shown our guild, it is quite insignificant. I sincerely hope the goods met your expectations.“
”Not bad. Though they fall short compared to the Southern Textile Guild’s wares.“
”My apologies. If given another chance, I could provide superior goods…“
”Solongo, I told you. This isn’t a meeting to reprimand you. Nor is it to discuss troublesome business matters.”
Kilu smiled leisurely, but it was clear to anyone that he meant for Solongo to stop talking. Solongo, quick to catch on, obediently shut her mouth, and Kilu brought up the main topic.
“I heard a mercenary guild recently sent a large contingent to Crystal Lake. Does Adeye know anything about it?”
Solongo faltered, but soon bowed her head and confessed honestly.
“They were funded by our Adeye family.”
Kilu smiled, yet his eyes were cold. He already knew Adeye had provided the money and intended to test how they would respond. If Adeye had chosen Kun, they would have to be turned into enemies.
However, Solongo was taking a more submissive stance than expected. That meant she still didn’t want to antagonize Montaine, right?
Though her scheming was obvious, it wasn’t bad news for Kilu. It meant she could still be useful.
“Actually, Lord Lu has entered the Kun household. Though the wedding hasn’t been held yet, he’s staying there as the fiancé. But—”
Solongo paused, looking troubled.
“Sadly, right after Lord Lu arrived, His Grace the Grand Duke Kun had to leave home due to the Crystal Lake matter. Lord Lu had been looking forward to spending time with His Grace, so he threw a fit…ahem, strongly requested that we use our influence to ensure the Grand Duke could return.”
Solongo cleared her throat as if she’d made a mistake, but Kilu knew she’d deliberately leaked the information. Then again, considering Adeye Lu’s temperament, it was easy to imagine him not just pestering but throwing a tantrum.
He thought Lu had changed, but he’s still the same. It wasn’t something to worry about greatly, but confirmation was needed.
“Adeye stepping forward to handle the overflowing monsters in Borhumi is commendable. But with Grand Duke Kun occupying Borhumi Castle, isn’t it understandable that anyone would misinterpret Adeye guarding Crystal Lake?”
Solongo nodded respectfully.
“It could certainly be seen that way. The matriarch is also concerned about that point. I humbly ask for your broad understanding of Adeye’s situation, who is bound to the Kun family through marriage.“
After offering her apology first, she brought up her justification.
”However, after a certain amount of time has passed, the mercenaries can be withdrawn immediately whenever desired. Even if the situation deteriorates, unlike the peaceful lake we have now.”
Solongo raised her eyes as she spoke. Kilu immediately grasped the meaning behind her words. She was making a show now, intending to withdraw the mercenaries the moment monsters reappeared.
“Withdrawing when things worsen would be disastrous. Unless it’s right before it happens.”
“Is there a date you might be able to inform us of?”
Solongo’s gaze sharpened, but suddenly another voice cut in.
“I’ll tell you when the time comes, Solongo.”
Hoiga was walking over, though it was unclear when he’d arrived.
A chibi bear. This was absolutely not an ordinary bear you’d see in the forest. Unless it was a stuffed toy. But there was no way such a huge, walking toy existed in the world.
And I hadn’t noticed before, but it had small wings on its back. They were wings in shape, but positioned just slightly diagonally downward, so small they could be mistaken for fur.
Yet, no matter how toy-like it looked, I couldn’t smile and call it cute. Its size was too intimidating for that.
Especially when that enormous head slowly turned and looked down at me, I couldn’t help but freeze. Most of its small eyes were white. The black pupils were quite small and held an eerie glow.
Fuck, what the hell is this…
“What’s behind me?”
At Black Bear’s question, I turned my creaking head. Can’t you see it? Only I can see it… Haa, damn it.
It’s a non-human entity.
The problem didn’t end there. That chibi bear’s gaze was truly unsettling. It was rare to encounter a being with such a gaze that was so difficult to meet directly. Moreover,
‘Mo, did you put a filter on that bear?’
[Yes. But the filter is not working.]
…The exact same words as when I first encountered the blue snake.
Damn it, a divine beast. Another divine beast. At this rate, I’ll meet Buddha in Tubain too. Ugh.
I scrutinized the chibi bear with a troubled gaze. The only divine beasts I hadn’t met yet were Kun and Sarne, but at first glance, this clearly wasn’t Kun.
Even though this was Kun’s territory. It just didn’t fit with Tairok. That said, it didn’t fit with the person in front of me either… No, wait. Her name was Black Bear!
“Hey, Adeye Lu?”
“……”
I looked at her silently, but my mind was filled with confusion. Why was the being presumed to be the Sarne divine beast clinging to Black Bear? The question slipped out of my mouth.
“Is your surname Sarne?”
Shling.
The moment the sound of a sword leaving its scabbard echoed, a massive blade touched my throat in an instant. But what was more menacing than the sword was Black Bear’s gaze.
“How dare you attach that filthy surname to me. Who told you that? Did Adeye Lantuya blab it?”
“My sister didn’t say anything. I just guessed.”
“So how?!”
I sighed, gesturing behind her with my chin.
“Because you’re carrying the Sarne divine beast with you.”
“……”
“Of course, I should confirm with you, but experience tells me it’s definitely a divine beast.”
“……What nonsense.”
“Yes, I think so too. But what can I do? I really see a huge, chibi black bear. It even has wings on its back. Tiny ones, but still wings.”
“…….”
“Excuse me.”
Clang.
The sword slipped from her hand and clattered loudly to the floor. Startled, I backed away, afraid I might get cut by the falling blade, but the owner herself seemed oblivious to having dropped it.
“Black Bear, are you alright?”
“……What does the bear have?”
“Ah, wings. Tiny ones.”
Again, no reaction. Well, I couldn’t blame her. It was unbelievable.
Honestly, I couldn’t believe it either. Just looking at it, it didn’t seem like a divine being. The Montaine divine beast had been mysterious in its own way.
Even Borhumi, who was just a tiny snake at first, was insignificant, but its true form was intimidating. But a teddy bear? This is just too mismatched…
I flinched.
The chibi bear, as if reading my thoughts, rolled its eyes and looked at me. An inexplicable chill ran down my spine. Damn it, at least its eyes looked divine.
Instead of showing distrust, Black Bear posed another question.
“…Why?”
Asking me that won’t get you an answer. Looking back up at the chibi bear, it was now slumped on the floor, staring ahead.
It looked like an enormous toy, but its black eyes turned toward me again. I flinched once at the gleaming whites, then again at the eerie gaze. Those eyes were impossible to get used to. Why were they like that?
“We’d have to ask the divine beast itself to know that. But you weren’t from the Sarne family?”
“…….”
“I’m sorry if I misunderstood… Huh?! Black Bear!”
I had no choice but to rush toward her, calling her name. I had to protect her head, which was about to fall like a wooden stick.
But at that moment, I never dreamed that a moment later, I too would be grabbing the back of my neck and falling backward.