“If you’re afraid, you’re afraid. If it’s sad, it’s sad. Anyway, he seems to be dealing with monsters. He might try to kill me with that monster.”

“I will dedicate my life to protecting you.”

“You don’t have to dedicate your life. I’ll be by your side. I promised the Duke and Duchess.”

Sharlov closed his eyes.

Has life been this harsh?

“Where did things get tangled, like twisted yarn?”

Certainly, it got tangled. However, the point of entanglement was ambiguous.

“Where did it go wrong, why did it go wrong, the origin is ambiguous. I considered my father as the origin of everything, but maybe I am the origin.”

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I am too dull to understand Your Majesty’s thoughts.”

“I feel like my birth might be the origin of everything.”

Katarina was taken aback. She looked embarrassed about what to say.

“Please speak softly.”

“That’s how I feel right now.”

Alright, it’s not suitable for me to engage in a long conversation about this. Sharlov, who was walking while dusting the bookshelf, stood in front of the side door.

“This is the ancient book document room.”

As he turned the doorknob, it opened with a creak.

“It’s dark. I’ll bring a lamp…”

“Stay still. It’s dusty.”
As Sharlov spread his arms, the dust accumulated on the bookshelves scattered. Most of the shelves were covered with white cloth. The white cloth had faded to a yellowish color, telling the tale of the long passage of time—the cloth itself had also aged.

When Sharlov bumped into the bookshelf, a thin booklet fell.

“…Ah.”

Sharlov picked up the booklet and opened it.

The thin booklet was filled with essays.

Inserted between the pages were illustrations depicting monsters pouring out and howling.

“As the dead crave life, chaos fills this world. Monsters pour out, hunting humans, and the cries of children who lost their parents never cease. Is there order in this world? Does anyone not hear these cries?”

Katarina whispered from beside.

“Do you know how to read ancient languages?”

“It was one of my refined hobbies.”

“To decipher ancient languages, you need…”

“I naturally picked it up after being born. My childhood was somewhat different from others.”

Katarina expressed doubt.

“What does it say?”

Sharlov flipped through the bookshelf.

“‘O Lord, protect them.’ It’s a plea.”

Sharlov collected the white cloth that covered the bookshelf. The white cloths covering the shelves fell lifelessly to the ground.

“Why are you still here?”

Benjamin asked, taking off his coat. The long meeting with the Suppression Unit had finally ended. While he was disbanding the unit and searching for the empress, the servant responded in distress.

“He’s in the library.”

“Why. Wasn’t he in the library this morning?”

The servants of the Count’s residence were flustered. Benjamin waved his hand, indicating that it was enough.

“Let’s go check.”

Benjamin swiftly crossed the corridor. The guards sensed his approach. The footsteps clad in military boots stood on the rug.

“Is he inside?”

“Yes. He’s in the document room.”

Ancient documents were stored in the document room. Benjamin passed through the empty library. When he was about to knock on the document room door, he found that the door was already slightly open.

Sharlov was using a quill to write something.

“Is this the deciphered version of ancient language?”

“…Huh.”

The quill slipped, and the ink splattered.

“Did I startle you like this?”

“I heard you were in a meeting with the Suppression Unit. Is it over?”

“Just finished. It’s already dark outside.”

“I didn’t realize the sun had set.”

All the document room windows were covered with military blankets.

“He hasn’t turned on a single light, insisting it’s not too late.”

“It’s quite late now.”

Sharlov put down the quill. His handwriting was neat. Next to the inkwell and quill, he piled up deciphered versions.

“It’s the deciphered version of ancient language. Well, most of the ancient monster records haven’t been deciphered yet, but I thought it might be helpful.”

Benjamin sighed as if amazed.

“Did you learn ancient languages?”

“I’ve never learned. I naturally encountered it when I was young. My childhood was somewhat different from others.”

Benjamin realized. You are a person who walks with your own feet.
“If I stay by your side, I’ll end up watching where you go.”

“Did the Suppression Unit meeting go on for long?”

“Why?”

“You seem a bit short of breath right now.”

Benjamin loosened the cravat with his hands.

“It’s a bit stuffy in here.”

“Well, it’s enclosed, so that’s expected.”

“Do you want to go outside?”

“…Outside?”

“Pofta is a first for you.”

“I didn’t expect you to tell me to go outside.”

Sharlov tilted his head slightly.

“Pofta is the empire’s largest port city, there’s a lot to see at the harbor.”

“Wouldn’t it be less stuffy outside?”

Benjamin called Katarina.

“Get the secret cloak.”

The cold wind brushed against their cheeks.

Dressed in a secret cloak, Sharlov sat in the saddle, adjusting his scarf. Solid muscles touched his back. Benjamin leaned his chin on Sharlov’s shoulder. The arm supporting the waist was stable. Benjamin, wearing the secret cloak, silently guided the warhorse.

“Sit still.”

The Imperial Guard followed behind them.

“Is it your first time personally exploring Pofta?”

“I didn’t have the opportunity to explore when I arrived last night.”

Sharlov looked around while taking in the scenery.

“The architectural style is different from the royal city.”

The village landscape unfolded before them. All the buildings in the entire village were white.

“Limestone contains a mineral called Jasper. The more Jasper it contains, the denser the white color appears in the buildings. Jasper is resistant to monster toxins and is usually a mineral used exclusively in Pofta.”

“Isn’t it just regular rock?”

“Because it’s often exposed to monster toxins, regular minerals would easily corrode the buildings.”

White-colored Jasper was rugged. Mined easily from underground Pofta mines, compressed Jasper had good durability and withstood monster toxins robustly.

“Be careful.”

Benjamin pulled Sharlov’s waist.

“You might slip.”

“I might get distracted.”

The arm behind Sharlov’s back firmly embraced him. The wind that had brushed against their cheeks stopped. In the distance, ships at the harbor echoed with the sound of waves.

“How is it?”

Benjamin asked quietly.