63.

A blue plum landed on the window sill.

“You’re back.”

The manager checked the barrel hanging from Cheongmae’s leg as she tilted her head. This is news from the imperial palace. He gave Cheongmae something to eat and quickly looked for Ain.

“News has arrived from the imperial palace.”

Ain, who was handed the paper, checked the contents and frowned.

“You should also know how to give up in moderation.”

After processing the paper, Ain told the manager to send Cheongmae out once more. The place where Cheongmae goes this time is where there are shadows. They will make Archduke Graham’s path not smooth.

Ain’s work did not end there.

“Did you call me?”

Adelhard, vice-captain of the Leviathan Knights. And those who still wanted to remain in the Knights of Leviathan. Although Richt scattered them, more than half of them had nowhere to go. So it wasn’t difficult to get them back together. There were also many noble knights left there.

“I have work to do.”

Ain planned to do everything he could. When he thought about what Archduke Graham had done in the meantime, he couldn’t hold back his anger. He had no intention of watching it any longer.

Abel’s group ran day and night. We didn’t rest for long, and we exchanged words as if we were eating. It cost a huge amount of money, but Abel was a man who could easily afford it. However, despite his efforts, the distance traveled was shorter than expected. This was because there were frequent incidents and accidents along the way.

“also?”

A narrow mountain road was blocked by a large tree in the middle. It was a sunny day, so there was nothing to cause the trees to fall. At first I went back without thinking much, but it took too much time.

“You can’t jump over it, right?”

“The tree is too big. Besides, look across from me.”

“What a mess. “If you do it wrong, the horse will get hurt.”

The knights looked back while talking. There, their master, Abel, was glaring at the tree with a grim expression on his face.

‘It’s the work of Devine’s shadows.’

They tried to somehow hold on to Abel’s ankles. The tree blocking the middle of the road was Yakgwa. As we passed under the cliff, piles of stones fell from above, and even paved a new path.

Because of this, there were times when I almost fell into the wrong place. In addition, bandits attacked from time to time. From the looks of it, it didn’t seem like he was attacking me because he wanted to. When dealing with Abel, most people got scared and ran away.

“This is different!”

“You die this way, you die that way!”

Anger began to rise inside me. But how well can you hide it? I haven’t been able to find a single head of the shadows yet.

‘It must be Ain’s doing.’

The road is not smooth, so time passes quickly. Meanwhile, Lauren, who had relatively low physical strength, had no choice but to fall in the middle.

“If you run like this any longer, you will die. “I am.”

Lauren raised her hands with a haggard face and settled down at an inn near the border. So Lauren went away, and Abel hired a local to guide her. He promised a lot of money because he had traveled a lot and assured that there was no place he didn’t know. But after riding her horse for a day, her guide, with a face as white as Lauren, asked:

“Do I have to run like this every day?”

Abel silently added more money. Because it was a life-changing amount, the guide gritted his teeth and took the lead. By that time, the disturbance from the shadows had subsided.

‘The purpose is achieved.’

I had an ominous feeling. And that premonition turned out to be correct.

“Here it is. wind. “This store has become more popular after recently receiving royal certification.”

The squinty-eyed guide took the lead and knocked on the closed door. But there was no answer from inside.

“I understand that today is not a day off.”

The guide tilted his head and looked inside through the window. When I looked inside through the window, I saw that all the items needed for doing business were in place, but there was no one there. I stopped a person passing by and asked him, and I got the answer.

“When does the bakery open? well. “The owner went on a trip.”

“Did you say anything about when you would return?”

“Yes, I just said I was going on a trip.”

Richt, realizing the situation, quit the store and left. Abel gritted his teeth.

“Don’t you know where it went?”

“I don’t know.”

No one knew the destination. From here, you have to start tracking again. But even that wasn’t easy. I knew I had definitely gone on a trip, but I didn’t know when I went or what I took. I wasted so much time there.

“Bring Lauren.”

No matter how much you whine, I will drag you along. Abel clicked her tongue and told her to bring Lauren back. Because she was a spiritist, she had excellent tracking skills.

“Ugh.”

Lauren, who appeared in a half-dead state, immediately released the spirits.

“The top, the top in town seems to be related to Devine.”

Abel immediately headed to the top. But no one at the top spoke. Even when she revealed her identity, she just repeated like a parrot that she didn’t know. I tried threatening her, but she persevered even though she had to urinate.

“I can’t tell you!”

“Even if all my fingers fall off?”

“Ugh.”

The store manager covered his fingers and trembled.

“Well, that still doesn’t work.”

“Oh, that still doesn’t work?”

Abel took out his sword and placed it on the store manager’s chubby fingers. I’m sick of it. What on earth did Devine do for me to be so loyal to him? Just as she was about to cut off her finger, an employee behind her urgently opened her mouth.

“I’ll let you know!”

“Are you coming now?”

Abel’s eyes were filled with disbelief.

“Hey, what are you talking about!”

The store manager was shaking and yelling. But he couldn’t silence his staff.

“Didn’t you say that you can take your time and tell me if you can’t decide?”

“But that’s not it!”

“For now, I have to live and see.”

“Oh my!”

The driver stopped the store manager from making a fuss again. They said they were going to give me information, but it was difficult to interrupt them. The employee calmly informed us of Richt’s whereabouts.

It’s Limoda. It is one of the cities of Asrahan and is famous for recreation. Richt said he was there now.

“There is no lie in what you say, right?”

“I risk my neck for the truth.”

“If it’s a lie, you have to be prepared.”

Abel left the top with a threat. He could hear the store manager screaming behind him, but he didn’t need to know. He changed horses again and quickly set off towards Rimoda.

The road to Limoda was strangely smooth. Even the shadows that had been disturbing me like crazy until now were calm this time. When the other person appeared like this, I naturally felt suspicious, but I had nowhere else to go. It took three days to run from the village of Asrahan to Rimoda.

It was said to be a resort town, and there was an overall relaxed atmosphere.

“Welcome to Rimoda!”

The guards guarding the gate also looked bright on their faces.

“Oh, they are from the Empire.”

“Is there anyone else from the Empire?”

“a lot.”

“How much is limited to nobles?”

The guards looked puzzled, but only for a moment. There are many cases where nobles want to become closer to each other.

“There are about three teams now.”

“Can you tell me where you are staying?”

“Yes, he stays here, here, and here.”

Thanks to the friendly guard, Lauren easily obtained the information.

“Let’s stop by here first.”

“Sure.”

Richt did not limit information until the end. If they had been told to risk their lives to protect information, the people at the top would have done so. But no. Couldn’t that mean he was telling Abel to come here?

Therefore, it seemed unlikely that he would be disguising himself as a commoner again. Abel and his group visited the lodgings where nobles were said to be staying one by one.

And finally, I met Richt at the largest and most luxurious lodging.

When I saw Richt again after a long time, she was still pretty. His jet-black hair, as if it had been cut out of the night sky, was wet and hanging down, and his white face was beautifully shiny. The green eyes, which were narrowed in a happy mood, were reminiscent of a cat.

By Richt’s side, Ban was there. He was holding a white towel and slowly drying Richt’s hair.

When I looked at Richt and checked, I felt a sense of relief. And when she saw Van clinging to her as if it were a natural thing, she felt uncomfortable. Abel walked with long strides and stood in front of Richt. Richt did not even get up from his seat, but just quietly looked up at Abel. Abel could not read anything in her calm eyes.

“What are you doing standing there? “My throat hurts.”

Richt spoke calmly. Abel sat in front of Richt without realizing it. Van gave him a stinging look, but all his attention was focused on Richt in front of him.

“I found it.”

Richt picked up the teacup on the table without answering.

“I found it.”

When I say it again, only then do my eyes move. Abel could barely resist the urge to pull Richt into a hug right now. He had a lot to say. There were a lot, but she didn’t know where to start. The moment I hesitated, two more people appeared from behind.

Both had familiar faces.

“hello?”

Ain smiled slyly and greeted me first. Ferdi, the handsome man standing next to him, did not open his mouth. He just looked at Abel with cold eyes.