STM 73

“Hmm. Well, maybe, when I look closely, it really seems to say that.”

One guard reached out to take only the gold coin, but Tairok gripped it tightly and did not let go.

“Can we go?”

“Hmhm, since you have a certificate of confirmation, taking water out is allowed. So this, ugh… let go a little.”

“Can we go?”

“Yes.”

When he answered, Tairok released his hand. But the guard changed instantly as soon as the gold coin touched his palm.

“Wait, the only ones who can go are that cart and the blacksmith. The rest of you, show your passes. I’ve never seen either of your faces before.”

Then the blacksmith suddenly intervened.

“He, he’s my family.”

The guards frowned and looked between her and Tairok. There was not a single thing about them that looked alike. Then I stepped forward.

“Yes, we’re family. I’m her cousin. Sister, isn’t that right?”

The blacksmith looked at me with a nervous gaze, then she nodded.

“Your cousin, you say? But she said that person, not you, is her family.”

He pointed at Tairok. I awkwardly smiled and grabbed Tairok’s arm.

“Well, this person is my… spouse.”

“Spouse, meaning… he’s an omega?”

“Yes.”

I vigorously nodded. The guard was shocked, but he was an understanding man.

“Well, I see… he looks like he’ll give birth well.”

“Of course. Our child is already five years old.”

Tairok’s gaze burned against the side of my face. I was trying to escape a crisis, but my life felt in danger in real time. But thanks to that, we made it safely out of the fortress.

“Our child is five years old?”

I looked at the blacksmith standing far away and lowered my voice.

“It was just improvisation.”

“Only one?”

What, did that mean he was dissatisfied that there were too few? I stared at him in disbelief, then gave a clumsy excuse.

“If there are too many children, they’ll fight over inheritance and cause trouble when they grow up.”

“You must fight and take what you want.”

“Your child will grow up really well then.”

He took my sarcasm seriously.

“To lead a ducal house, one cannot grow up ordinary.”

I looked at him for a moment, then nodded.

“He won’t be ordinary, that’s for sure.”

“You prefer to have only one?”

Why was he asking that now? Why something so pointless… wait. I looked him up and down.

No way, are you N?! You look one hundred percent like an S, but are you actually the type who writes a hundred volumes based on one hidden personality trait?! (N = iNtuitive S = Sensing)

I couldn’t believe it, but that was the only reason I could think of. So people really do have many sides. But I couldn’t imagine Tairok lying in bed for an hour every night daydreaming before sleeping.

I stared at him suspiciously, then our eyes met. For some reason, Tairok looked like he was expecting an answer. I remembered that ridiculous question from before and shook my head firmly.

“I won’t have children.”

“Why?”

My life in Tubain is only extra. Once my role ends, what happens after doesn’t matter. So this life must end with me. I hid the real reason and shrugged.

“It hurts when you give birth.”

I felt his gaze, but I ignored it and turned toward the one who had been watching us from before. The blacksmith was staring at us with wary eyes. When I took one step toward her, she immediately took one step back.

“I’m grateful for your help, but I don’t want to get involved with either of you any further.”

It made sense that she was wary, but the fact that she was still being polite was unexpected. Our disguises had worked pretty well. Tairok seemed to have figured out why.

“So, blacksmith, you saw my sword?”

Sword? Tairok had wrapped his sword tightly in cloth and carried it on his back, of course making sure not to reveal it. But maybe the wrapping had slipped while he moved, because the end of the hilt was slightly visible.

She must have recognized its quality from just that small part. Her eye for weapons was impressive.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

“You can’t before you pay your price.”

“But I have nothing.”

“No, you have plenty.”

Tairok took one step forward and stated his demand.

“I need to hear a few stories from you.”

The blacksmith looked burdened even by the thought of speaking. So I should not have added anything, but the situation suddenly turned bad.

[If you continue suppressing the hunger sense, you may lose consciousness in one minute. Do you wish to maintain this state?]

Right now? One minute? Are you kidding me!

‘Turn it off! Turn the control off right now!’

I shouted to Mo and at the same time shouted to the blacksmith.

“Hey, could you give us something to eat? Bread or potatoes, or even grass! I’ll pay for it.”

I pulled a gold coin hastily from my pocket. Yes, I had stolen it from the relic room too. But I didn’t see the blacksmith’s reaction. Hunger suddenly struck and my head spun. Why?

[Warning: Your body has detected the suppressed hunger and is about to enter a sleep state to survive.]

What, if it was going to be like this, I should have eaten bread for one minute… huh? My body tilted and the sky appeared in my sight.

A strong hand caught me in an instant, so I didn’t hit the ground, but something worse was coming. I had to shout before I lost consciousness! Being held like a princess was abso… lute… ly…

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Rick usually had no intention of receiving guests, but this one was different.

The man was the ‘friend’ who always sent important information in brown envelopes.

Now that Grand Duke Kun had disappeared and his survival couldn’t be confirmed, who else could be as helpful as someone who knew the future?

But Rick couldn’t reveal information about Grand Duke Kun carelessly. Bur he wanted to test how much the visitor knew, so he carefully studied him. Why did he look so anxious?

“What brings you here? The Grand Duke is away on official business.”

“Rick, talk comfortably. We were classmates.”

Because they had attended the same academy, the friend spoke cautiously. Of course, they had never even properly greeted each other as students.

“No. Just tell me your business.”

“Is the Grand Duke alright? Did something happen to him?”

Rick hesitated. So he did know something. He looked at the man with a grave gaze. The visitor wore a long cloak, and even while facing Rick, he didn’t remove his hood, probably wanting to keep this visit hidden.

“Has something happened to the Grand Duke? Don’t tell me… he’s involved in the Owick barony incident?”

The rapid, shocking questions made Rick hesitate. Should he share information and ask for help? The friend quickly sensed his reaction.

“My god… he really got caught up in the Owick barony incident? Is he alright?”

“You know something? Is the Grand Duke’s future in danger?”

Rick dropped the formality and asked urgently. But the friend froze for a moment in shock, realizing his guess had been right.

Only when Rick called his name did the friend regain focus and ask again.

“You don’t know where the Grand Duke is now?”

“No, I know. But…”

“He’s in danger?”

Rick hesitated again. Could he trust this person? But he knew the future.

He might be Salvation. He might break the Kun family’s curse and retrieve the lost divine beast.

If Rick had hesitated just a few seconds longer, he would have confessed everything and asked for help. But the friend grew impatient and asked first.

“Don’t tell me the problem with Tairok is because of Adeye Lu?”

He couldn’t hide the jealousy in his voice when he said Lu’s name. Rick instinctively shook his head. It was a reflex, the same defense he used when facing the countless admirers who longed for Grand Duke Kun. It was exactly like that. The jealousy those followers could never hide.

“No, impossible. The Grand Duke really went to hunt a monster. He went to a dangerous region, and I was just worried.”

“Rick, I can’t say it precisely, but danger is coming to Tubain soon. I believe only the Grand Duke can save the world from it. So please, tell me honestly what’s going on.”

If someone else had said that, Rick might have laughed. But he remembered how accurate this person’s foresight had been. When Rick still hesitated, the friend spoke more firmly, trying to persuade him.

“I want to help the Duke for Tubain’s sake. The Kun family’s curse, it’s the work of a dark mage, right? He infiltrated the Kun castle and spent years building that curse. Isn’t that true?”

Rick’s eyes widened. Again, he said nothing, but his friend read the answer in his silence and lowered his voice.

“I’ve found the clue to breaking the Kun family’s curse. So please trust me and tell me the truth. Is it really connected to Adeye Lu?”