Episode 49.
Before leaving the commission, I decided to entrust the house to Patrick first.
“Patrick, take care of Har and the house.”
“yes? Where are you going?”
“Yes, the request came in.”
Then Patrick opens his mouth in surprise.
“Wow, a request from a black mercenary. The client seems to have a lot of money.”
Certainly, a lot of money was needed to commission the black mercenary.
“But can’t I follow you?”
“Yeah, I guess I’m the only one.”
I already asked, but was denied.
He said that this request should be kept confidential and that the client did not want the number to increase any further.
“That’s too bad. If it’s a black mercenary mission, I might be able to see the demons again.”
“It’s making an ominous sound again.”
“hehehe, rumors are starting to circulate both inside and outside the city that Master has captured the demons.”
“Uh…”
Reasons to leave increased.
I will have to leave for a while until the rumors are quieted down.
“Anyway, why did they change like this?”
He was talking about the Number Wan group.
A lot has changed since the black mercenary promotion.
“I will, Master. They were originally hardworking kids, but now what…”
I put all my heart into it as if I were working with the thought that it was almost only today.
It wasn’t a bad thing, so it didn’t matter.
“By the way, are you planning to leave for a few days?”
“hmm···.”
I’m not sure either.
If it’s just an escort mission, you should be able to return quickly.
However, he said that an additional mission was given.
“It must be as difficult as asking the black mercenary. I probably won’t be able to come for a long time.”
“okay.”
“Well, anyway, finish it as soon as possible and come back. Because of your training.”
“Master…”
Of course, because I have to train not only Patrick’s, but mine too.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it, but I set my goal to become a sword master within a year.
“Then, let’s go now. Take care of the house.”
“Yes, Master.”
***
I waited for the client at Jordan’s plaza. Then I saw a carriage coming from afar.
“It’s an ordinary carriage for the first princess to ride.”
The wagon was plain. I had no idea that a country’s princess would be on board.
“It’s not that wagon.”
I said, but Machi, contrary to my expectations, stopped in front of me.
“…Hans reike?”
A woman’s voice came from inside the carriage.
Perhaps it was the first princess, Ephinia.
“Are you the client?”
Since it was impossible to call the first princess by name, she used the title of client.
Then the carriage door opened.
I got into the wagon.
“I am Epinia Mycener, the first princess of the Mycenae Empire.”
An opaque cloth was covering the princess so that Ephinia’s appearance could not be seen. Next to him was a maid who assisted the princess.
“It is an honor to meet you.”
“Meeting the black mercenary is also an honor.”
“It’s an overstatement.”
The carriage started. And I realized something new.
‘I thought it was an ordinary carriage.’
It must have been a carriage made by Baron Drake. There was less shaking than other wagons.
Like Baron Drake’s carriage.
“If you’re asking me for a request…”
“Let’s talk about it in the imperial family.”
“yes.”
The trip to Mycenae’s palace went nowhere.
I thought there would be dangers in the journey as much as I recruited the black mercenary, but there was no such thing at all.
“Princess, we have arrived.”
“Right.”
I suffered a lot during the trip.
It was because she couldn’t speak easily because of her status as a princess and just moved in silence.
‘When I think of the first princess of the Mycenae Empire, I remember her as a flower in a greenhouse.’
Before returning, it was known that the first princess of the Mycenae Empire lived confined to the imperial family until she died.
So, I expected to receive many questions on this trip.
However, Princess 1 seemed to have no interest in the outside world.
‘As if I went out a lot.’
The carriage went straight into the Imperial Palace. Then, he immediately moved to the residence of the first princess.
The space built like a fortress inside the imperial palace was the residence of the first princess.
After getting off the carriage, we were shown to the drawing room.
“The princess is going to come with simple preparations.”
Since she’s a princess, she seems to be dressing up to keep the dignity of the royal family.
I pondered for a while.
“What kind of request does the princess intend to make to me?”
A hidden princess never seen before returning.
Besides, he died suddenly.
It must have something to do with that death.
“wait for a sec···.”
It was speculated that the reason for the war between the Mycenaere Empire and the Natearden Empire was the death of the first princess.
if that guess is true.
“Is this a quest that the Natearden Empire is also involved in?”
I felt the possibility of a bigger request than I thought.
“Are you saying you won’t accept it right now?”
Blinded by money, getting involved in a quarrel with the empire makes you tired.
While thinking about it, the door to the parlor opened and the first princess, whose face was covered with a cloth, entered.
Silver hair in a dress.
‘I heard the voice and mistook him for Senior Ea.’
However, Ea was caught red-handed, and Princess 1 had silver hair.
Besides, there was the most important thing.
‘The sabbatical period will end soon, so there’s no way I’ll be here.’
Princess 1 sat down in front of me.
“Now it’s my turn to tell you about a proper request.”
“yes.”
What kind of order is this?
“The request I give you is…”
request?
“No, we should start by checking the facts first.”
“yes? What facts?”
“Is it true that you defeated demons…?”
Is it something in Lugi Village?
But why are you asking if it’s true that you defeated the demons?
“That’s right, but… I can’t believe it…”
Patrick’s words seem to come true again.
“Is this quest related to the demons?”
I hoped. I wished it wasn’t.
“yes.”
You must not accept this request. No matter how much money you give.
Having experienced the demons in person, if it was a demon with full power, it would be impossible for me now.
“Then I will have to decline.”
“Why? I heard you defeated a demon once.”
Princess 1 seemed to be misunderstanding something.
obviously i said
“I didn’t defeat the demons, I sent them back to the demon realm.”
I said so.
“Besides, that demon was not in perfect condition. That is why I am alive.”
“…”
The first princess who doesn’t say anything.
1 No matter what the princess says, you must not accept this request.
“It is related to demons, but it is not certain that demons appear.”
“What do you mean?”
1 Princess turned around. Then, suddenly, he started unzipping the zipper on his back.
I couldn’t help but panic.
“If it’s beauty, it won’t work for me!”
I’m not sure.
Although covered with a cloth, the princess was unmistakably beautiful.
“Please look carefully.”
As he brushed off the princess’s hair, her white back came into view.
A black pattern engraved on its pure white back.
“It’s a curse from the demons.”
“yes···?”
Princess 1 lifted the zipper again and looked at me.
“It is a curse left to me by the demons.”
“A curse… more than that, why were you cursed?”
The princess’ expression darkened. It seems to bring back unpleasant memories.
“It was work when I was . . . young.”
“yes···.”
Epinia Michener began to tell the story of her childhood.
***
Epinia was an intelligent child from a young age.
He grew up receiving love from everyone for his cute appearance.
Ephinia had one hobby. reading right away.
“Methia, I want to read a book.”
Ephinia has been obtaining books through her handmaid, Methia.
However, Ephinia came to the idea that she wanted to get the book herself.
“So, you mean the book is in the library?”
“I’ll just bring it to you.”
“No, I want to choose the book myself!”
Despite Mattia’s dissuade, Ephinia headed for the library.
After that, Mattia followed.
“here···.”
Ephinia, who came to the library for the first time, couldn’t hide her admiration.
Everywhere were books.
Ephinia, who loved books, thought that if there was a heaven, it would be here.
“Wow… that’s a lot.”
Epinia read as many books as she could.
I was happy just reading books that I thought were interesting.
Then one day.
-Come here…
While reading a book, Ephinia began to hear a strange sound in her ears.
the sound of someone calling
“who is this?”
-Come here…
Ephinia, who was more curious than fearful at the repeated sound, headed to the source of the sound.
There was a door that I didn’t notice.
A sound could be heard through the crack in the door.
“Is anyone there…?”
Ephinia answers in a small voice as she opens the door.
There was only darkness, nothing to be seen.
It was when Ephinia, who was suddenly appalled, tried to get out of there.
-don’t go···.
It was a voice that would convince Ephinia that what she had heard was real.
It was clearly a voice coming from the other side of the darkness.
“Who are you?”
-I am···.
Ephinia tried to get angry at the mysterious voice that didn’t say anything.
“Because who are you!”
-Let’s call it a fairy.
“fairy?”
Epinia affirmed that it was a lie.
The fairy that Ephinia thought was not such a dark voice.
“But why are you here?”
-I played a game.
Epinia wondered if she had heard it wrong.
“Is it a game? Are you here for the game?”
– You won’t believe it. anyway why are you here
“I came to read a book, but you called me!”
That’s right, a voice came from beyond the darkness.
After silence for a while, Ephinia wanted to leave this place.
“I’ll go then.”
-wait for a sec!
A fairy calling urgently.
“why?”
-Would you like to play a game with me?
Ephinia couldn’t understand the fairy’s thoughts. Suddenly it’s a game.
More than that, the fairy said that I was stuck there because of the game.
“I’m not stupid, why play games?”
– First of all, how about listening to the reward you get when you win the game?
Epinia pondered for a moment. I thought it would be okay to receive a reward.
“What kind of reward is it?”
-prophet. If you win the game, I will give you a book that tells you the future.
At the word book, Ephinia couldn’t hide her excitement.
In addition, it is said that it is a book that tells the future.
I felt like I wanted to play the game right now.
“Yes, I want to play!”
-Wait… We have to abide by the contract. I have not yet told you anything but the reward of victory. You still haven’t told me what the conditions for defeat are or what the game is.
Epinia saw the fairy’s attitude and thought that this game was fair.
-If you are defeated… your soul belongs to me.
It was Ephinia, a sudden surge of fear.
However, it was a waste to give up a book that could tell the future.
Finally, I decided to listen only to the contents of the game.
“Which game is it?”
-hide and seek. Where will I hide And it won’t move from there. The period is 20 years. You just need to find me within 20 years.
Thinking that it would be possible in 20 years, Epinia nodded.
“I want to play a game!”
-good night! You must find me from now on. What was your name before that?
“Ephinia!”
A fairy appeared from the other side of the darkness.
That look…
“devil···.”
It was the appearance of a demon from a fairy tale Ephinia had read.
-Ephinia, you are now playing a game with me.