Chapter 13
"Empty-handed?"
My words drained the color from Cheong's face. He knew just how disrespectful it was to act this way in front of his Lord.
However, I remained unfazed.
At least the Arkan I knew was always fair in any kind of transaction, a firm believer in give and take. She wasn't the type to force a one-sided deal just by flaunting her authority.
This time, though, was different.
"You're actually crossing the line?"
A massive surge of mana flowed.
Arkan openly focused her Killing Intent onto a single point—me.
It was just a concentrated point of Killing Intent, but the resulting pressure was enough to crack the floor beneath my feet. Rudine and Cheong struggled to even breathe.
"Didn't I make myself clear? That's my property."
I raised my head and stared directly at Arkan.
An incredibly intense Killing Intent pressed down on the space, but I still felt no threat.
The important thing, however, was that Arkan's previously amicable attitude had taken a complete turn.
'Well, it's not an incomprehensible situation.'
Yeah, she'd be pissed.
The True Ancestor she'd been searching for had been killed by some random human, and when she asked for the stolen Forbidden Book back, I demanded compensation. Arkan's anger was, in a way, a natural progression.
But she was mistaken.
"You said that cursed Forbidden Book was stolen?"
"You're making me repeat myself."
The Killing Intent gripping the space intensified.
Rudine gritted her teeth and gripped her dagger in reverse, while Cheong drew his sword, making the atmosphere even more hostile.
Of course, I still felt no harm, but the tension was so thick, a fight could break out at any moment.
"Well, I understand. Seeing as you're still looking for it, it must have been quite precious."
"Knowing that, you still…!"
"But that's just your perspective."
Literally.
Her perspective was her perspective; it wasn't my concern.
"As you know, I'm the administrator here. So, naturally, I have a duty to investigate the West Side sector, and in the process, I happened to stumble upon a Labyrinth. So, what choice did I have? I had to explore it as an extension of my duties. And then, I happened to find a True Ancestor there. He looked like a threat, so I took care of him myself."
I puffed up my chest.
This kind of response was only possible because I genuinely felt confident.
"The Book of Pindal, was it? That ominous thing was also spoils of war I obtained from clearing the Labyrinth."
Witch Arkan.
The Leader of the Arkan Monarch Society and one of the continent's top figures, she possessed a rather unique Authority.
The original novel described her Authority in a rather complicated way, but the core of her ability was simple.
'She can see through lies.'
Lies don't work on her.
Just by staring intently at someone, she can distinguish truth from falsehood.
But Insight Eye wasn't all-powerful.
"The spoils of a Labyrinth belong to the first conqueror. And I was the first to conquer that Labyrinth. Naturally, it's the fruit of the time and resources I invested, right?"
Just as countless shades of gray exist between black and white, the same applied to truth and lies.
The time it took to explore the Labyrinth was only a few hours.
From another's perspective, it might seem like I got off easy, but if I say it was difficult, then it was difficult.
So by now, she probably realized that everything I'd said was, in fact, true.
"That's why your argument is unreasonable. I explored the Labyrinth through legitimate means and simply took the spoils as my reward."
“……”
"What do I care who that cursed book originally belonged to? If it was so precious, shouldn't you blame your own carelessness for letting it get stolen in the first place?"
"That's...."
"But now what? You want it back just because it was originally yours?"
Like that's gonna happen.
Not a chance.
"I removed the curse from the book, and I killed the True Ancestor. Where exactly is your contribution in all of this? In the first place, didn't you lose your right to it the moment it was stolen? And now you're trying to claim ownership, thinking I'll hand it over like a sucker?"
"Uh... um..."
There were no loopholes.
The conqueror of a Labyrinth claiming the spoils was a natural law in this world.
She, having lived for hundreds of years, should naturally know this.
Arkan's jaw dropped.
She blinked, clearly flustered. The Killing Intent she'd been exuding quietly receded.
"Now that you've calmed down, let me reiterate."
“…”
"Like I said, I'm not unaware of your situation. And I don't intend to be stubborn about this."
I paused my verbal lashing here. To facilitate smoother negotiations, I needed to soothe her wounded pride a little.
"But the scales of a transaction must be balanced."
“…Transaction?”
"Yeah, regardless of the outcome, I retrieved the lost item you couldn't even locate, right?"
So shut up and give me my reward.
Arkan stared at me with a dumbfounded expression.
Naturally, I stared back with a 'what are you going to do about it?' look.
“……Haha!”
Finally, after a long silence, she burst out laughing.
"Wow, what kind of person are you?"
"So, what's the answer?"
"Okay, okay. You're right. I apologize. I was a bit sensitive because it's something I've been searching for."
"I understand."
Yeah, this was the Arkan I knew.
Someone who repaid grudges twice over and kindness tenfold.
That's why I persuaded her with logic.
As long as she recognized that she owed me a debt, Arkan would offer a corresponding reward.
"Good. Things got a little out of hand, but let me formally introduce myself again. Thank you. You saved me a lot of trouble."
With a much softer expression, Arkan smiled brightly.
"You can forget about the Dark Shadow Society incident. I'll take responsibility and resolve it. You won't be held accountable for any related issues anymore."
"That's good to hear."
"Right, about that... I can't avoid the topic of compensation."
That's right!
You've finally come to your senses!
"I can offer you one of two rewards: money or an item. What do you need?"
Money would mean actual money, and an item would mean an artifact or a relic.
'I don't really need either.'
I already have plenty of money.
I'm the youngest son of a Count in the Empire, after all.
An item? I don't really need that either.
The essential activation requirement for artifacts and relics is mana infusion, and unfortunately, I don't have any mana, so it's pointless.
'Then, as expected...'
Hmm, is there anything else besides that?
I finished my thoughts and raised my head.
"I'd like to request something else."
"Tell me."
"I need people."
People?
Arkan tilted her head at my words.
"I don't understand. Can you explain in more detail?"
"As I said, I'm the administrator of Blackmore. But the land is so vast that it's difficult to manage alone."
"So?"
I smirked, the corners of my mouth creeping upwards.
"Five years. I need manpower to assist me with my duties for exactly five years."
I prayed earnestly in my mind.
The Arkan Monarch Society is a cradle of talent.
Just belonging to it means their abilities and qualities are beyond question.
Not only that.
It's a system where power is concentrated in the hands of a few, so loyalty is also high.
If they send just a few people, managing this damned Magical Boundary will definitely become much easier.
Since we're likely to encounter each other often in the future, building a rapport beforehand won't hurt.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Really? That's all you want?"
"It's enough."
She stroked her chin as if intrigued, a devilish smile spreading across her lips.
"Interesting. Alright. I'll accept."
"Good. I'll hand over the book right away."
Just as this satisfactory deal was being struck…
In front of Luke Richter's office, where Adina remained alone…
"Gasp... Gasp..."
Three men.
They were clutching wounds on their waists and breathing heavily.
They were assassins.
Elite assassins who had come running after receiving a request to assassinate Luke Richter, infamous as the Empire's mastermind.
They had been confident.
Confident that with veterans like themselves involved, the request wouldn't fail.
However.
"What… Gasp… What the hell is…"
Their grand goal had crumbled pathetically.
Not because of Luke Richter, nor because of the bizarre terrain of the Magical Boundary.
The Fox Beastman before their eyes, twitching its triangular ears.
It was all because of that damned female.
"Hmm, this is normal! So it was just those two who were abnormally strong? I knew it wasn't me who was weird."
"...?"
Had the environment of the Magical Boundary driven her mad?
The Fox Beastman muttered incomprehensible words before abruptly turning her head. Her violet eyes flashed with a dangerous glint.
"I'm sorry."
A silver ring surrounding Adina's body emitted a halo of light.
A chilling, viscous wave of pure white energy, like a blade slicing through their nerves, brushed against their skin.
They didn't understand.
By the time they realized that a strange energy had passed over them…
*Gooooo!*
The compressed violet energy that had been pressing down on the space transformed into an intangible will and erupted into the sky.
It became a light that illuminated the night sky.
The moment it exploded in all directions, flashing brightly…
"!!!"
*Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-gwang!*
A gigantic lightning bolt, ripping through the sky, struck the ground.
Formidable power.
A blow powerful enough to snatch a person's soul.
The men, directly exposed to the explosive thunder, left no trace behind.
All they left was a brief, dying scream.
Meanwhile.
Adina, having displayed the Art, the secret technique of the White-Haired Clan…
"...Hee hee."
Wagged her silver tail.
Once again, she was captivated by her own strength, the protector of the home.