The Founder City.
Like the Black Forest, it was one of the level 1 [Check Points] that hadn’t undergone “reset”.
As the name suggested, this was the first city in the Empire where Blackout had been discovered, and where development had initially begun.
Because of that, it was more extravagant than any other city in Blackout.
“Phew… I almost died, seriously.”
After a two-day journey from the Black Forest, they arrived at the City of the Founder.
Inside the towering Founder Castle.
In its interior, which was so grand it made one wonder if it had been designed to intimidate rather than impress, Jun was breaking out in a cold sweat.
It all started with a proposal from the employee who had guided Jun to this place.
“Would it be okay if we helped you prepare for the upcoming banquet?”
Jun nodded curiously at the suggestion that he would dress up appropriately for the occasion.
“I never imagined they’d hover over every little thing, from bathing to getting dressed.”
After enduring three hours of this, Jun finally stood in front of the mirror to see the result.
“…Well, it’s not bad, so I’ll let it go.”
If he hadn’t been satisfied with what he saw in the mirror, Jun had planned to show the employees just how uncouth a mercenary could be.
“Haha… still, senior, it really suits you.”
“Does it? Thanks. Though, hearing that from you doesn’t make me all that happy.”
Aiden, who had received the same help from the employers, looked like a nobleman no matter who saw him.
The crisp white dress shirt had small frills at the cuffs. Over it, he wore a short vest in a light brown color, paired neatly with trousers in a slightly darker tone.
Given the occasion, his posture already hinted at the demeanor of imperialty.
Anyone passing by would have no doubt he was of noble lineage just by looking at him.
Perhaps because of this, Jun noticed a few of the employees casting glances that wavered suspiciously and he let out a light sigh.
“So there was a reason you usually walk around looking so scruffy.”
“Aha…”
Aiden let out an awkward laugh as if this wasn’t the first time he had been through such an ordeal.
“Your formal wear suits you well too, especially the cape draped over one shoulder…”
“They said I needed to look intellectual, like a proper mage, or something like that when they dressed me.”
Although he wasn’t used to the outfit and felt a bit uncomfortable, Jun didn’t have any complaints about his appearance, just as Aiden said.
While they passed the time chatting after arriving at the banquet hall.
Some familiar faces appeared.
“Hey, mage friend!”
It was Colton who had also been summoned by the imperial family.
With his wild beard trimmed and his hair tidied up, Colton looked far more approachable than before.
Looks like he didn’t suffer under the hands of the servants like we did.
The other mercenaries likewise dressed themselves in reasonably clean clothes.
“Well, well. Who’s the handsome man beside you?”
“This is Aiden, Captain Colton.”
“Haha! You’ve all dressed up so splendidly. I never imagined I’d find myself in a place like this. Isn’t that right, everyone?”
With that, the mercenaries’ loud voices began to fill the banquet hall.
They were never ones to keep quiet for even a single day, so they started chatting about what had happened recently.
The main topic was stories about the Azure Cloud party, who had led the recent raid.
“The members got sentenced to five years, didn’t they?”
“Rumor has it the deputy leader got seven years.”
“Tsk, it doesn’t look good for them.”
“Still, who knows? If they make a decent impact in the Frontier Development Unit, they might get out soon.”
“Hah! No way. Nine times out of ten, those who go in either come back crippled or don’t come back at all.”
When he heard their chatter, Jun was reminded of Luke, whose bright smile had left an impression on him.
The Frontier Development Unit…
The Frontier Development Unit was a group created within Blackout to reform criminals. Just as the mercenaries had said, it was full of dangerous tasks, but if they managed to build up enough achievements, they might regain their freedom sooner than expected.
Just as Jun was about to get lost in thought,
“Count Mordenain is entering.”
The voice of a servant echoed from the magical tool used for the banquet.
At the same time, everyone who had been caught up in conversation kneeled down.
Everyone except Aiden.
“It’s good to see you’re all enjoying the banquet.”
Count Mordenain.
He was someone who represented the name of the imperial family and made decisions regarding all the affairs inside Blackout.
In other words, he was the one who ruled Blackout in place of the Emperor.
As he descended the stairs, he spotted Aiden.
Though abandoned, Aiden was still of imperial blood.
The count’s eyes gleamed as he watched Aiden give a brief bow instead of kneeling.
Of course, it was only for the briefest moment.
“Everyone, rise. There’s no reason for those who have brought honor to the Empire to kneel.”
At those words, the mercenaries stood and gave a light nod.
It was the result of the etiquette drilled into them by the servants beforehand.
“Yes, seeing the faces of such warriors makes me feel that the Empire’s future is truly bright.”
His voice brimmed with authority.
However,
“But if I remain here, you won’t be able to rest comfortably, will you? I’m a noble with at least that much awareness. Hahaha.”
The voice that had been so commanding shifted in an instant.
He effortlessly lifted the mood and continued,
“I know exactly what you all desire. After all, what’s more important than looking at someone like me is the gold right before your eyes, isn’t it?”
The mercenaries shuddered as if they wholeheartedly agreed.
It seemed they were already eager to see what the count had prepared for them.
“Don’t worry. While this place may not be a land overflowing with wine and gold, Blackout boasts a history spanning hundreds of years. Here in the city of the ancestors, there are plenty of gifts prepared for brave warriors like yourselves.”
As he spoke, he lightly shook a small bell that had been sitting on the podium, and several attendants descended the stairs.
“Now, follow the attendants who have guided you here. You will receive a reward befitting your accomplishments. But remember, all of this is a grace bestowed by the Emperor, and that must not be forgotten.”
“Thank you! We are endlessly grateful for the Emperor’s benevolence! Glory to the Empire!”
After the mercenaries shouted the promised three cheers, Count Mordenain left the room.
Only then did the attendants begin leading the mercenaries up to the second floor.
They headed toward the rooms they had been assigned.
“…….?”
However, the attendant guiding Jun alone took him to the third floor.
Once Jun reached the third floor, his expression instinctively hardened.
Something felt different.
It wasn’t that he sensed any particular danger, but unlike the elegant first and second floors, on the third floor…
There’s an air of authority here.
Even the footsteps of the attendant walking ahead didn’t seem ordinary.
It was the gait of someone who had learned professional martial arts at least.
By the time he realized this, they had arrived at the end of the third-floor hallway.
“Please, enter.”
Jun followed the attendant’s guidance and stepped inside.
“Welcome, Mage.”
Count Mordenain greeted Jun while sitting on a sofa.
***
“You seem quite surprised.”
“…How could I not be?”
The count’s sudden appearance had caught him off guard.
Jun answered calmly and the count shrugged his shoulders as he spoke.
“I apologize for startling you, but I hope you understand. After all, you were the most important contributor in this recent raid, weren’t you?”
“I’m honored that you’d say so.”
“Hahaha, so humble. Well, like I mentioned earlier, I’m a man with some awareness. For a mercenary like you, I imagine a reward is far more important than a meeting with me, no?”
At that moment, the attendant who had been waiting behind handed an ornate box to the count before leaving the room.
The count slowly opened the lid of the box.
“……?!”
Inside, a single pill emitted a brilliant array of colors.
“Hahaha, you’re even more surprised than before.”
Just as the count had said, Jun was more shocked than when he had first seen the count.
The item before his eyes was something he hadn’t expected to see for at least a few more years.
“It’s a [Growth Pill].”
Also known as a [Skill Growth Ticket].
It was an item that generally upgraded a skill’s rank by one level.
Even in the in-game auction house, it was something you’d rarely come across, so why is it here…?
It was a rare item, something you could only obtain in level 3 or higher, and even then, only with great luck. He never expected to see such a thing here.
Of course, in this world, it was the kind of item whose price was determined by how much someone was willing to pay.
“Is it really alright for me to receive something like this?”
“Of course. You know, don’t you? I’m not one to speak lies. The seat I occupy doesn’t allow for that.”
“…I apologize. I misspoke.”
“No need. It just means you were that surprised. I’m pleased to hear it.”
With that, Count Mordenain slowly pushed the box containing the pill toward him.
Jun was about to reach for it when—
“.…..?”
The count’s hand hadn’t left the box.
Jun looked up at the count.
The count, who had been all smiles just moments before, now showed a sharp glint in his eyes.
“As a Mage, you would understand.”
“……..”
“There’s such a thing as equivalent exchange in this world. So, let me ask, do you truly understand the value of this item?”
“At the very least, I understand that it’s something money can’t easily buy.”
“That’s right. I do recognize your achievements, of course. You performed admirably in the hidden stage that appeared for the first time in centuries, didn’t you?”
“……..”
“But you didn’t accomplish everything on your own. Various factors had to come together for it to happen.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
Just like the count said, the hidden stage this time was the result of several overlapping events.
Benjamin who lost his life, the priestess of the Ariklotus cult Eleanor, and the mercenaries who were receiving rewards downstairs.
All of them had played their parts. Jun had simply achieved the most outstanding results among them.
In other words, the [Growth Pill] before him was clearly a reward far beyond what he deserved.
“So, I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Haha, I may seem serious, but these questions won’t be too heavy.”
Or would they?
Of course, the questions he was about to ask could be light, or they could carry great weight.
After all, to the count, Jun’s life was something insignificant.
“What’s your reason for approaching that abandoned imperial family member?”
But to Jun, his own life carried immense weight.
And now, standing at the crossroads between life and death—
“You seem to be quite interested in someone labeled ‘abandoned’.”
Jun finally spoke.
***
“To get straight to the point, it’s been resolved.”
“…What?!”
It was late at night, on a quiet terrace.
By now, even the mercenaries got drunk from their earlier festivities and retreated to their rooms.
After his meeting with the count, Jun returned to the banquet hall. He then pulled Aiden out to the moonlit terrace and began to speak.
Naturally, Aiden didn’t understand his words right away.
“Well, to put it simply, the only reason you’re even here in Blackout in the first place is because the Emperor allowed it.”
“What… what do you mean by that?”
“It’s exactly as I said. If the Emperor hadn’t allowed it, you wouldn’t have been able to come to Blackout in the first place.”
Without permission, the moment Aiden stepped outside the place of his exile, he would have either been executed or dragged back by force.
“But you arrived here in Blackout safely, and during the few months you’ve been here, no one interfered.”
“Then the people who approached me…”
“The Emperor’s will is the Imperial family’s will, but the Imperial family’s will doesn’t always reflect the Emperor’s.”
In other words, it was the action of a third party unrelated to the Emperor.
“Who on earth…?”
“Actually, that’s not important.”
Isn’t that the most important thing?
Aiden had that thought, but he waited for Jun to continue.
“That’s because the Emperor has decided to leave you alone.”
With that, the story ends there.
Whether the force that approached Aiden was one of the imperial family members continuing the succession struggle,
or a noble aiming to snatch some of the Emperor’s power,
or perhaps just someone curious about the Imperial family’s name,
None of that matters anymore.
Why?
Because the Emperor decided so.
And now, no one has the right to interfere with Aiden’s actions. Nor the authority to do so.
That was the nature of the Emperor’s power.
“Th-Then, all the worries I had…?”
“In the end, they were all meaningless.”
Aiden let out a sigh at those words. As if he was feeling defeated.
“Then why did the count call for you?”
Jun chuckled softly at Aiden’s question.
“Just because it’s the Emperor’s will doesn’t mean the subordinates below him can simply accept it and move on.”
The count’s purpose was simple.
He wanted to find out who Jun was, why he was by Aiden’s side, and whether Jun’s presence could shake Aiden.
“But it’s not like our relationship is anything that significant, right? I’m just someone who came to Blackout trying to climb the ladder.”
“Yes… that’s right.”
“So I told him just that. That there’s nothing more to it.”
“Did he believe you?”
“No way. Instead, I told him I’d show him through my actions.”
Those actions were a declaration to maintain political neutrality.
“Of course, it’s not something that can be settled with words alone. So, I sold it.”
“Sorry? Sold what?”
“The ancient book we recovered in the raid. The ‘Corrupted Forest Expedition Journal’. I sold it to the count.”
Though Jun was nonchalant about it, Aiden imagined Chloe foaming at the mouth after she was endlessly waiting for the auction.
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