Chapter 67

Auxiliary Bishop Solau had a habit of being unflattering to others. When he entered the castle, he would slowly look around with his eyes and sigh inwardly.
There were so many anachronistic customs in Bastitera.
The decorations in the castle were a prime example. Rugs with intricate patterns, lamps with colorful jewelry. Even the candlesticks, which are never used, are maintained by a professional who comes every week.
In this unchanging country, castles get more and more luxurious.
It’s beyond admirable, it’s almost ridiculous. Think of the money that went into each of them, the labor, and the money the people in charge probably embezzled.
The royal expenditures go straight into the pockets of the nobility. There is a great deal of money that goes unaccounted for, unrecorded, and unrecorded between them…….
But lately, the reality of Wangseong’s situation has become invisible. There was no time to lament now. The sound of his feet pounding the carpet echoed down the hall.
“What the heck is going on…!
I felt a rush in my step. He wasn’t alone. Countless passersby, both castle employees and nobles, were busy moving about the castle grounds.
The cause was the disappearance of the princess.
About a month ago, Princess Ainoa, whose coming-of-age ceremony was scheduled to take place, disappeared overnight. Even though the date had already passed, her whereabouts remained mysterious.
The progress of the investigation was beyond Solau’s knowledge, but Jupiter is a place where rumors abound. Less than one percent of them were good news.
For the rest, it was all doom and gloom.
“Oh, Auxiliary Bishop Solau.”
There was a call that stopped me in my tracks.
A man emerged from a twisting alley. The corners of Solau’s eyes crinkled at the sight of the familiar face, but they quickly straightened.
“……Ah, Count Bedelov, how have you been?”
“I am still me. Thanks to Mithra’s blessing. He seems to be forgiving of someone like me who often skips prayer, because I make an annual donation to the temple, haha.”
He flicks his well-trimmed mustache and smiles. Compared to his surroundings, the beggar’s demeanor was very relaxed. He was the kind of man who always said that laid-backness is dignity.
“As I’ve said before, Lord Mithra doesn’t discriminate between devotees based on how much or how little they can afford. Donations are for the smooth running of the temple.”
“I know, I know, but how can I be sure? You might be judging my efforts to protect the temple.”
The same person. Solau buried the discontent that threatened to spill out. This was not the time for a sermon. This was not the time for leisurely verbal sparring.
“That’s an interesting point of view, but I’m in a bit of a hurry…….”
“Ah, yes, I see. Now that I think about it, the Auxiliary Bishop was close to Ainoa.”
Count Bedelov lamented as if he felt sorry for him.
“I’ve heard some nasty rumors.”
“It’s just a rumor.”
“How can you be so sure of this, if you have heard something from Ainoa?”
“I don’t think so, but let’s not speculate.”
“Hmmm. That’s a stretch.”
He rolled his eyes upward in thought, then said.
“Recently, an acquaintance of mine had a lamentable incident: he was bitten on the wrist by a dog he had taken pity on and cared for while soaked to the skin in the rain.”
“What do you mean….”
“Seeing the auxiliary bishop suddenly reminds me of something. I want you to pray for him.”
I shake my head. Next, he added in an apologetic tone
“Ah! One of Ainoa’s tabes, the one she wears, is missing, too. What a pity. I, too, must pray for his safety.”
“Count Bedelov, that’s called conjecture.”
“What did I say?”
Only malice could be detected in his cheerful demeanor. Solau considered the possibility that Count Bedelov had committed the deed. He might have had something to do with it, even if he hadn’t planned it himself.
“…… is probably overthinking it.
The reward is extremely small compared to the risk. There is no personal grudge. Count Bedelov had no ulterior motives, at least as far as Solau knew.
Unless you’re just trying to wreak havoc.
“Well, I don’t know about authenticity.”
Whoa,” and Count Bedelov exhaled like he’d been plucked.
“There are stories being told that cross the line, such worst-case scenarios that I dare not speak of them, and if the royal family denies them, it will only be a temporary reprieve, unless the king can prove to the people that he is alive and well.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Public opinion is already on fire. The public is already assuming that something is wrong with Ainoa. The bar mitzvah was abruptly postponed.
There’s a limit to what you can do with a bottle. As the face of the royal family, the princess attends many events. The longer she is absent, the more chaotic the situation will become.
Then there were the rumors that started spreading like wildfire a few days ago. That Princess Ainoa had already been murdered by someone, and that the royal family hadn’t even found her body.
Chin.
A gloved hand rested on Solau’s shoulder.
“Ainoa, I assume you are indeed safe?”
The distance closed another half step. The face that had gotten closer was expressionless. His usual jovial demeanor is gone, and he looks like he’s wearing a mask.
Solau suddenly realized. While she had been preoccupied with Ainoa’s whereabouts, something was happening here, too.
Maybe this was just the beginning.
“……will do.”
His voice was strained as he answered. Solau thought for a moment. It was possible that the rumors were true, that Princess Ainoa had been murdered in cold blood.
If so, what happens to this bastitera.
* * *
Kukuk.
Kim pressed his hands to his temples. Her head was throbbing from all the random things she’d heard. She could sympathize with Kushan’s feelings the last time.
“I think I misheard you, can you say that again?”
“I told him I would accompany him.”
“With whom, where.”
“You and Bastitera.”
“What the hell is this….”
I couldn’t help but sigh. I’d noticed her tension slackening day by day, but she was a nervous wreck, to say the least, to a kidnapper.
Ainoa was undeterred by the geeky stares.
“You said you’d go, but it’s hard to gauge the reaction from here. I think so, too. I don’t know exactly where this lab is, but it’s not easy to get news from a foreign country.”
He was right. Getting in and out of the country is easy, but Bastitera is far away. Relying solely on information from Kushan’s spies would be limited.
Ainoa’s disappearance. The possibility of being killed.
I had to keep my fingers crossed that the powers that be in Bastiterra would act on this chapter. To find out more accurately, quickly, and in detail, he was going to go there.
So when I told him I was going to be gone for a while, he started to assert himself.
“I thought I was smart, even with the screws out, but I guess that’s not it?
In fact, Kim doesn’t know much about Ainoa herself. In the story, he dies in the middle of the Professor’s fight with the Legion.
Based on what the characters say about her, she was a “beloved princess”. She had an awe-inspiringly beautiful appearance, and her good nature made it easy for her to win the favor of others.
“It was mostly about looks and characterization.
The power part is missing. It’s not something the creators sprinkled in. It simply means that to the Peccatums of Bastiterra, her abilities were not important.
“Did I make it too easy for you, driving someone who was painstakingly kidnapped by some lunatic to your front yard?”
“You don’t kidnap unless you’re crazy, usually.”
“I stand corrected, then.”
We exchanged glances for a dozen seconds before he cut me off.
After an unspoken battle of ki, Ainoa lowered her eyes. She was the one who came out on the short end of the stick, and it was a foregone conclusion.
“I’m not trying to run away, I just want to see with my own eyes if they’re going to come to their senses or… if they’re really going to be like you say.”
“How can you believe that.”
“Take a good look, does this look like the eyes of someone who is lying?”
Her sea-blue eyes sparkled. It was a sight that would have mesmerized anyone, but Kim could only frown. It was overwhelming.
“He might change his mind. ‘I’ve come back and changed my mind,’ that’s all you need to say. No, I’d be a gentleman if he said anything at all.”
It’s not easy. Ainoa’s mouth watered.
“I swear to Mithra in the sky that I won’t.”
“What does your god have to do with me?”
“Then you can walk on my body.”
“Kolok! Kek, kek, kek!”
Asterike spits out the water she’s been drinking as she stares across the river. Then he glared at Ainoa with a murderous expression unlike anything he’d ever seen before. If he said another word, she would kill him.
Kim was no stranger to embarrassment. She was a young adult, and she was very bold.
“…… Bullshit. Even if you follow my control to the end, I’m taking a risk. If you want to come along, you’ll have to offer me a compelling incentive.”
“Gain, I mean.”
Ainoa thought for a moment, then spoke.
“If your concerns were true… I’d be willing to work with you… wouldn’t it be easier for you if you could bend me to your will?”
“Hmm.”
This is an accurate point. The cause of the civil war is the death of the princess. As long as she’s alive and well, pacifying her is simple.
“It’s okay to ask for too much, you’re the one who said my life is worth it. If I really have the potential to shake things up, there’s got to be another way to use it.”
“You’re the one who’s going to be in trouble when you’re dead and the situation gets urgent.”
“Yes. It’s a problem for you, too, or you wouldn’t have kidnapped him.”
Kim didn’t deny it. Instead, she shrugged and seemed to accept it.
“Yeah. We’re going to work together anyway, no point in bullshitting.”
“…When that time comes, no, even after it’s all over, I will not betray you. I trust you, Hyun, with all my heart, and I will step up to the plate when you and Celbrosys Labs are in trouble.”
The idea of creating a relationship that was more than just a use. Normally, this would not have worked. Trust, not only in Polaris, but also in modern times, is considered ridiculous.
But Kim realized Ainoa’s humanity. Just as Ainoa got to know Kim.
“It’s better than the prince’s cub.
Her brother, the Prince, is a mad dog. Though he is usually somewhat temperamental and wrapped in an air of dignity, the Prince’s true colors are revealed during the civil war.
If you’re willing to clean up your act. There’s no harm in appeasing Ainoa.
“If we keep Sessa here, she won’t be able to escape.
Kim let out a huge sigh. It’s an annoyance, he decided, but it’s worth it.
“If you do anything stupid, I’ll come back and throw you in jail.”
“Very good!”
“Prison?”
“What? No, I didn’t mean that, ahaha.”
His cheesy laugh made me feel even more uneasy.
* * *
“That’s a crazy bitch, she must be out of her mind.”
Asterike’s grumbling face was tinged with irritation. She was much more outspoken than she had been with Kim. Especially when it came to darker emotions.
On days like this, when Chelsea heard complaints, it was a strange feeling.
“What kind of emotional trash can am I…?
But it’s not something to hate, because it means that Asterique has gotten comfortable with herself, and friends can ramble on and on and on.
Yeah, I’d even call him a friend.
“You don’t like it that much? Gossip all you want.”
“I’m not saying I don’t like it, but…….”
“Is it complicated?”
“Yes.”
“I can do that.”
Chelsea nodded in agreement. Her opponent was the Princess of Pekatum. It was hard not to feel a little emotional, considering where Asterique came from.
‘Because I was surprised the first time I heard it too.
When I heard the details, I was like, ‘Oh, he’s always been an asshole. When I heard the details, I thought, ‘Oh, he’s always been an asshole.
I wasn’t really interested in princesses per se. She’d never seen any royalty in her life, so it was interesting, but that was it. Chelsea was more interested in a day of belly scratching and watching old soap operas.
“Why don’t you come with me, it’s going to be a bit much for you two.”
“I’d love to go, but I can’t.”
“Why?”
“I might get in trouble.”
Asterique is an arsonist in Bastitera. She’s been known to burn down entire houses when her spells go wild. Disguise may reduce her risk of being seen, but it’s a risk she doesn’t need to take.
Understanding what she was saying, Chelsea was quite impressed. She couldn’t stand to be away from Kim at times, so it was clear that she had grown up a bit.
“And she’ll take someone anyway. With the princess to keep an eye on, I don’t think Hyun can do it alone.”
“You said this time it was for information gathering.”
Asterike was certainly right. He must have acted alone because the kidnapping required stealth and speed. We don’t know how long he’ll be there this time.
At least one person. You’ll want to bring someone with you who is easy to handle…….
“…huh?
Suddenly, Chelsea felt a chill. An eerie sense of foreboding came over her.
Two days later.
“Holy shit, I had a feeling this was going to happen!”
“I see you’re still pretending. Take care.”
“Well, Chelsea, how are you doing?”
Chelsea boarded a helicopter bound for Bastitera.