◈ 164. [Side Story] Serenade
“I have no choice but to take her by force.”
The woman in the maid’s uniform said that while picking up the huge coffin like a blunt weapon.
“Hoo.”
I smiled, baring my molars. Look at this. Are you even threatening me now?
Do I look like a pair of hot pants? No matter how he looks like this, he has defeated countless monsters on the monster front and even defeated the vampire king.
good night! Let’s face it!
… The words filled my throat, but I managed to hold it in. Instead, he nodded.
“Okay, okay. Don’t follow me.”
When I said I would quietly follow her, the woman seemed puzzled.
“Are you sure?”
“Really. Because I also want to meet your master.”
What are you doing, why are you exerting pressure on the merchants of the ecliptic and using that pressure to interfere with my work? I’m honestly very curious.
If you’re invited there, there’s no reason not to go. Let’s see each other’s faces and talk.
“Hmm… .”
The woman narrowed her eyes and murmured softly.
“You’re not running away. Something is different from before… … .”
“?”
what. Is this woman dating Ash by any chance?
I wanted to ask, but there was no time. The woman with the huge coffin on her back took the lead in the mercenary guild.
“Follow me. I will guide you.”
***
It took a while to get into the wagon that was waiting next to the Mercenary Guild building and move south.
The carriage stopped at a large building right next to the port.
I looked up at the building’s signboard with an unexpected feeling.
< Wintersilver Merchant >
‘The Wintersilver, the largest merchant corps in the empire, in the zodiac?’
Wintersilver is the family that runs the largest guild on the continent, which is said to reach every corner of the empire.
It was a top rank that could be contacted in the game, but for some reason it was like dummy data that never traded with Crossroads.
‘Are you saying that the Wintersilver Merchant interfered with my dealings with other merchants… … ? why?’
As the suspicion deepened, I followed the woman in the maid uniform into the upper building.
Even though it was late, the sun had already set, the upper building was bustling with people.
A woman in a maid’s uniform skillfully walked among the busily running around carrying bundles of papers and goods.
Even with that huge coffin on his back, he moves like a loach.
The woman stopped on the fifth floor, the top floor of the upper building.
In the innermost part of the fifth floor, there was a door made of luxurious wood, and a large nameplate hung above the door.
It seems to be the room where the head of the upper
ranks lives.
In front of the door, two women dressed as maids stood guard.
These two guards also have terrifying faces that are formidable.
When the woman in the maid’s uniform put down the coffin on her back, two guards moved out of the door.
Knock-knocking on the door cautiously, the woman in a maid’s uniform recited emotionlessly.
“master. I have brought Your Highness.”
Moments later, a young woman’s cool voice came from inside the door.
“come in.”
“yes.”
A woman in a maid outfit pulled the door open and stood beside her politely. I moved my feet carefully and went inside.
The first thing I noticed was the smell of ink and paper.
The large room was filled with all sorts of papers. Upon closer inspection, most of them were receipts and transaction statements.
There were also a lot of certificates for items bought and sold at the top.
The next thing to be seen was neatly packaged jewels and precious metals.
As befits the continent’s largest guild, it seems that these high-value items are also traded. I turned my head while estimating the price of the jewel.
Finally, I saw her sitting at the desk in the middle of the room.
It was a young woman in a women’s suit with no wrinkles.
His long hair that went past his waist was light blue, like clear water, and the eyes in the glasses looking at the papers were bright silver, like freshly plucked silver coins.
She glanced in my direction, put down the pen in her hand, and took off her glasses at the same time.
“great job. Get out, Elise.”
“yes. master.”
It seems that the name of the maid who brought me here was Elise.
Elise looked towards her master with eyes of loyalty and compassion… … As for me, he let out a vague warning just like before.
Elise politely bowed once and quietly closed the door.
Only me and the woman who was the head of the Winter Silver Merchant were left in the room.
“… .”
“… .”
There was an awkward air.
I hesitated on what to say first, but the woman let out a small sigh.
“I haven’t seen you in a while, do you have anything to say to the girl?”
“uh… .”
Hesitantly, I waved my hand shyly.
“Long time no see?”
“… .”
The woman’s eyes narrowed. I broke out in a cold sweat on my back.
Holy shit. I know this woman has something to do with Ash. I don’t know what it is, so I don’t know how to get out.
‘Is this bastard Ash in debt to the Wintersilver Merchant?’
Since this bastard is said to have lived madly at gambling on a fictitious day, there is a good chance.
Couldn’t it be that he sold the name of the prince and yanked money from the upper management here?
No matter how much I think about it, that’s the only reason why they call me so menacingly at such a large top.
After guessing, I nodded my head inwardly. OK, let’s be bold.
Because I can’t pay it back, it’s double!
“yes. long time no see.”
However, I realized that I was completely wrong at the words of the woman who followed.
“Husband.”
“… .”
I stupidly blinked my wide-open eyes. what?
me… . pouch… .
“My dear… sir?!”
“You don’t even want to hear that title anymore?”
A bitter smile crept across the woman’s lips.
“No matter how much you hate the girl, you still have to admit it.”
“uh… ?”
“We’re from both families and promised to get married.”
It was only then that the nameplate on her desk caught my eye as she muttered sadly.
Serenade Wintersilver.
This person was the owner of Wintersilver, the continent’s largest upper class, and Ash’s fiancée.
“Let’s go.”
Standing up, Serenade picked up the coat from the hanger and threw it over her shoulder without putting her arm in.
“The atmosphere here is not very good to celebrate the reunion.”
Serenade passed me and left the room.
I hurriedly followed her after staring blankly at her back as she clattered and walked away.
***
Shoot aaaaa… … .
The calm waves that approached the bow of the ship dispersed creating foam.
I am on top of a luxury yacht owned by the Winter Silver Merchant.
The white and sleek yacht gently parted the sea and made a big turn around the port coast.
In the distance, not too far away, the lights of the harbor and the city twinkled.
How can you look at this city from the sky, land, and sea in one day today? Wouldn’t it be like accomplishing a challenge?
‘No, no, stop thinking about crazy gambling for a while!’
I shook my head. It’s not time to open the system window to ask if achievements aren’t showing up! Stop escaping reality!
‘I heard rumors that he has a fiancée. I heard… … .’
Could I have known that we would meet right on the first day we came to the ecliptic? Your heart is not ready!
Lucas didn’t tell us in detail, so we don’t know exactly what kind of relationship it is, and more than anything, it’s crucial.
Serenade is ‘Ash’s fiancee.
The relationship with the people of Crossroads is a human relationship built by ‘I’.
However, this woman promised to marry ‘Ash’, not me.
Besides, it’s not another relationship, it’s a lover… … .
‘I’ve only been possessed by this body, but I’m a person who is a lover of that body’s original owner.’
To be honest, I had no idea how to deal with it.
I may be a professional at defeating monsters, but… … that… Being a woman is a bit difficult?!
again. again.
Then the serenade came behind me with the sound of shoes. When I glanced back, I was holding a cocktail in each hand.
Serenade handed me the light blue cocktail she was holding in her right hand.
“I brought it with what I always ate.”
“Ah thank you… .”
I was about to say thank you, but I quickly shut my mouth.
Like Ash, like Ash? Like Ash!
widely!
Taking the glass away, I hit the cocktail with one shot.
It must have been a fairly strong drink, so it instantly warmed my stomach. Aww! Goddam hell yeah!
I boldly threw the cleanly emptied glass out of the yacht.
Sea, sorry for throwing garbage! Still, it would be like Ash at this point?!
“… .”
Surprised by my sudden eccentricity, Serenade’s eyes are wide open and stiff.
I broke out in a cold sweat. Was it a little too much?!
“hmm… You must have been very thirsty. Can I get you another drink, sir?”
“No, it’s okay. that’s enough.”
I pretended to be calm and waved my hands. If you drink one more cup like this, your esophagus won’t be left.
Still, thanks to the alcohol, my body, which had been stiff with tension, was relieved. Shall I borrow the power of drunkenness to play Ash?
“Whoa.”
The serenade, who was leaning next to the railing I was leaning on, sighed lightly and put her glass in her mouth.
“You left for the dead and returned to the imperial capital, but you didn’t say a word to the girl.”
“… .”
“When you left, the girl didn’t even say a word. I think I’m used to being simple, but a little… … Isn’t that too much?”
Serenade’s silver eyes glinted at me. I tried to smile nonchalantly.
“Are you worried?”
“I’m worried. I’m always doing it.”
Whirling the cocktail glass in her hand, she murmured a serenade.
“Langgun-nim… I’m afraid you’ll break your promise. I am always anxious.”
promise? What promise did Ash make?
I was curious, but I changed the topic. I had something to ask.
“Is that why you interrupted?”
“Are you interfering? What do you mean?”
“Don’t pretend. Aren’t you the one who made all the architects and the upper ranks I contacted back down?”
Serenade snorted.
“Oh is that it? That was the right thing to do.”
“what?”
“Didn’t the Winter Silver Merchant Corps promise to provide the best commercial service to you? No other flies should come in.”
I was speechless.
so what
“I will select the architect. I don’t know what kind of business you want to do in Crossroads, but that business is also in charge of our Winter Silver corps.”
I didn’t want to see me sign a contract with another guild, so I tried my best to stop it… … is that a story?
“If you ask me to do this, I will take care of everything, so just tell me from now on.”
“… .”
“Tell me how much money you need. Whether you use it for gambling as usual or for gambling, I will lend it to you as much as you like. If the goods are also handled by our top company, just tell us. Whether it’s alcohol, jewelry, or anything rare, I’ll give it to you if you can get it.”
Why are you even doing this?
Hesitantly, I asked cautiously.
“What can I give you in return?”
“… You pretend to have forgotten again.”
The soft sea breeze blew Serenade’s aqua-colored hair. It was like waves bobbing in the air.
“From the beginning, our family’s needs were fixed, weren’t they?”
Serenade let out a long sigh and looked up at me with clear silver eyes.
For some reason, her eyes were desperate and sad.
“To Wintersilver, a humble merchant family with only money… Please give me the royal family name.”
last name?
It’s not the castle that catches vampires, it’s the castle’s castle? then… .
“your… The emperor’s seed.”
Serenade’s long, slender fingers gripped my sleeve tightly.
“Ask for me.”
I was frightened and my eyes widened.
Seed… .
CCC CCC CCC!
I really like this development