Chapter 22, No Ill Intent (2)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

The sky was gradually darkening.

 

When he checked his purse, there was a clinking sound.

 

[It feels like I’m carelessly spending someone else’s pocket money, like a child without restraint…]

 

[Well, since this is all for survival, the old Kalian probably would not be too angry about it.]

 

Having acquired the sword, which was his top priority, he needed to return to the other side of the river. Thus, Kalian retraced his steps toward the bridge.

 

He quickly arrived at the bridge over the Senu River.

 

However, at the bridge entrance, people dressed in black saw Kalian approaching from afar and blocked the path.

 

Seeing them, Raven slowed down and stopped.

 

“Raven, what’s wrong?”

 

Since Raven had been so good at finding the way to their destination, Kalian had been lost in thought about their next destination. He had not been paying attention to the path ahead. It was only after Raven stopped that he look up.

 

That was when Kalian also saw the people in black.

 

A wary look crossed Kalian’s face.

 

Fortunately, they were not brazen bandits who had somehow occupied the capital’s royal road. Kalian, who had been briefly wondering how to use his newly purchased weapon, relaxed and looked ahead.

 

The person standing at the front approached Kalian.

 

“I apologize for blocking your path so rudely.”

 

The black clothes they wore were mourning garments.

 

Perhaps from crying too much, his voice was so hoarse it was barely audible. Nevertheless, the man explained the situation with an extremely polite manner.

 

“A deceased is passing by right now. If it’s not urgent, I would like to ask if you could wait for just a moment.”

 

At those words, he turned his head to look at the Senu River and saw small red Arunesia Flowers with candles floating along the river current. Far away, where the flowers began their journey downstream. There, he could see several people gathered together.

 

Understanding what the situation was, Kalian spoke.

 

“A funeral ceremony?”

 

“Yes, that’s right. I apologize.”

 

Kalian readily dismounted from Raven and replied.

 

“There’s no reason to interfere with the deceased’s journey. No need to apologize.”

 

As Kalian said, what he was seeing was a Cyries funeral ritual. Those mourning the deceased gather at the riverbank closest to the deceased’s home, and they send off candles to light their final path in life.

 

There was a legend stating that if a living person crosses over while flower petals are floating down the river, the deceased might try to follow the living and lose their way. That was why they were requesting others not to cross the bridge for this brief moment.

 

Kalian watched this solemn scene he had accidentally encountered.

 

Senu was always a quietly flowing river. Therefore, the Arunesia Flowers drifted downstream without turbulence. Even the wind was calm, so the candles did not flicker.

 

Kalian spoke without realizing it.

 

“They will go peacefully. I pray for their eternal rest.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

It was a voice filled with sincerity. As a sign of gratitude for not only stopping but dismounting and even offering prayers for the deceased, the man bowed his head once more.

 

[I wonder if Older Brother placed Cinnastar on my grave. Or did he turn back time with the Arcus Tempus before that?]

 

As Kalian was briefly thinking about Secritia’s custom of placing a Cinnastar Flower, which blooms twice under moonlight, on graves, the man spoke up.

 

“You may continue on your way now.”

 

It seemed all the Arunesia Flowers had passed under the bridge.

 

Kalian nodded and mounted Raven.

 

The man looked up at Kalian on horseback, wanting to gauge which family’s Son he might be out of gratitude, when he flinched and quickly stepped aside.

 

Due to the magic lights installed in the royal capital being bright, what was hidden under the deep hood was clearly visible.

 

Noticing that the man had realized who he was, Kalian quietly said.

 

“I would prefer you not remember this.”

 

“Understood…”

 

The man bowed his head, and Kalian slowly crossed the bridge.

 

A moment later, when the man raised his head, he watched Kalian’s retreating figure for a long while. Then other mourners in black approached the man and asked.

 

“Arsene. What’s wrong? Do you know him?”

 

The man, Arsene Hertz, shook his head and said.

 

“No. Just, he seems like a good person.”

 

By then, the distant candlelight was flickering with a small luminesce.

 

…

 

The sun had completely set and darkness had fallen.

 

Since Kalian knew that unlike the blacksmith, his next destination could be visited regardless of the time, he was looking around with a more relaxed mindset.

 

“It’s all Syspanian, everywhere.”

 

The capital of Cyriesus was akin to a dwelling of where Syspanian’s followers live. Syspanian was basically everywhere.

 

He recalled the words of a Secretia spy with the nickname ‘Blue Warbler’, who had successfully completed his dispatch to Cyries. They had talked about Harts-ara and Syspanian, and the theater he had been to yesterday. Yet, it was still overwhelming how all the store signs Kalian could see were plastered with the name ‘Syspanian’.

 

Hotels named ‘Syspanian’s Sleep’ or cafes called ‘Syspanian’s Leisure’, even restaurants named ‘Syspanian’s Meal’.

 

Kalian muttered as if fed up. “Aren’t they overdoing it? A Dragon’s meal doesn’t sound particularly appetizing, you know?”

 

After seeing a bar called ‘Syspanian’s Boozy Breath’ in a corner, he laughed helplessly as most other store names started to seem quite normal in comparison.

 

After going a bit further, he saw a sign pointing to ‘Naeransha Street’. This was where his second destination was located. Seeing this, Kalian’s face quickly tensed up. Then, while fidgeting with his knife, he entered Naeransha Street.

 

The western market of Cyriesus was located there.

 

Since it was night, most shops were closed, and only restaurants, bars, and cafes that stayed open late were lit up. However, none of these were Kalian’s destination, so he passed by them without hesitation.

 

“Two, three, four…… Is this it?”

 

After passing three alleyways in the western market and entering the fourth, he saw a shop that was alone in lighting up the dark street. It was a place that caught the eye with various sizes and shapes of birdcages arranged in front of the door. Seeing what was written on the sign, Kalian nodded as if confirming he had found his destination.

 

‘Naeransha Bird Shop (Messenger Bird Rental)’

 

If it were simply a pet bird shop, it would seem strange for it to be open at this hour. However, the additional note about ‘Messenger Bird Rental’ made the situation more understandable. People wanting to send messages would visit regardless of day or night.

 

However, perhaps because the shop building was small or because it was late, there did not seem to be any stable boy to take care of horses. Moreover, there was not even a place prepared to tie up horses.

 

“What should I do?”

 

Kalian dismounted from Raven and stood there awkwardly for a moment.

 

Since Kalian knew better than anyone that Raven would not go anywhere else when he had a wealthy owner who took good care of him, he was not worried about Raven. What he worried about was someone trying to steal Raven. Though of course, his concern was for the unfortunate person who might try to take the ‘glowing’ horse.

 

Finally, Kalian placed the reins on Raven’s saddle as if he had no choice.

 

“Wait here. And don’t cause any trouble.”

 

Raven made a snorting sound as if understanding Kalian’s words. Then he quietly walked to the side of the shop and stood still. When the black horse entered the shadow of the dark building, only the white fur on his right front ankle was visible.

 

Kalian left Raven there and turned around.

 

After that, he pressed down his hood well to ensure his face would not show. He opened the shop door and entered.

 

*Ding!*

 

A bell sounded out, which was slightly louder than Ian’s. It announced a customer’s arrival. As if woken by the bell, all the birds in the shop began chirping at once. It felt like he was in a forest rather than a corner of the market.

 

[It’s more spacious than it looks from outside.]

 

An incredible variety of birdcages and the birds living in them could be seen. From pet birds that seemed smaller than Kalian’s fist to hawks that could be used for hunting right away.

 

It would be harder to find birds that were not there.

 

The shop owner, who had been feeding birds while wearing a monocle, saw Kalian and stood up.

 

“Do you want a messenger bird?”

 

On this dark night, instead of being wary of a stranger who entered the bird shop with their face hidden under a black robe, this is what he asked.

 

Kalian turned toward a particularly quiet birdcage without answering.

 

Two white pet birds inside were sleeping while leaning against each other. Though they were unmistakably a pair of birds, Kalian knew they were exceptionally well-made fake birds.

 

A soft voice flowed from Kalian’s lips.

 

“These birds won’t wake from their sleep.”

 

Though it did not matter if his voice sounded young, he had worried his tension might show. Fortunately, a calm voice resonated through the shop. The owner answered.

 

“They’re quite sleepy.”

 

It was the same answer Bern remembered.

 

From there, a conversation with predetermined exchanges continued.

 

“They seem to have flown from far away? They look very tired.”

 

“…Isn’t that why they’re sleeping like that?”

 

Kalian could feel the owner briefly falling silent while examining him. Since there was nothing noticeable about his exterior, Kalian only focused on keeping his eye color hidden by lowering his gaze.

 

“Indeed. Come to think of it, there might not be a better place for tired birds to rest.”

 

“I’m glad you think so.”

 

The owner spoke indifferently, then removed his monocle and wiped it with his sleeve. After putting it back on, he asked.

 

“What are you looking for?”

 

The answer from here on out was important.

 

One wrong answer, or a display for suspicious behavior, and his head would fly right off.

 

“I need bird feed.”

 

“Yes. We do sell bird feed here.”

 

Due to the two people’s ongoing conversation, the birds that had been chirping for a while seemed to have fallen back asleep. The shop had become so quiet that even the sound of clothes rustling could be heard.

 

“But.”

 

The owner walked and stood behind Kalian. No footsteps could be heard. It was obvious without seeing that the owner had a sharp blade in his possession.

 

The owner silently watched Kalian’s back for a long while. And, Kalian could hear his own quiet breathing. The air that seemed to have become thick pressed against his lungs. A chilling sensation swept through his entire body.

 

[Killing intent!]

 

Amidst this suffocating tension, the owner’s voice continued.

 

“I don’t remember selling any birds to anyone recently. You seem like an unfamiliar customer.”

 

This was not one of the predetermined questions.

 

Kalian had to think and answer on his own.

 

Immediately, a scoffing sound came from Kalian’s mouth.

 

“Having just left the nest to search for food, you couldn’t have sold anything here.”

 

The owner’s approaching footsteps stopped.

 

“Do you know where this bird is from?”

 

The predetermined question returned. Kalian answered without hesitation.

 

“I heard it came, riding from the southeast wind.”

 

“Then, whose bird is it?”

 

Kalian slowly turned around to face the owner.

 

Under the deeply lowered hood, visible lips drew a long arc. And between those lips came the final answer.

 

“Nebullade’s bird.”

 

The bird of King Debeullan of Secritia. Nebullade was a title created by rearranging the letters of Debeullan’s name.

 

That was what Kalian had become.

 

The first Cyries Prince to infiltrate the hideout of Secritia spies, hidden in Cyries to obtain information about Cyries.