Chapter 17
[Quest Completed]
The system acknowledged the quest as successful.
‘Just as expected.’
The quest’s success condition was to help Magdala escape ‘from the fighting pit.’
What happened afterward wasn’t part of the conditions.
‘Thanks for the 700 gold.’
It was morning already, and her body was exhausted. Still, her mind felt refreshingly clear.
Baeksan stood in the back alley, watching Magdala’s gang members being arrested one after another.
Fortunately, there weren’t many victims. Because Magdala had fled early, her underlings had been in disarray without orders.
After confirming that Lira was among the rescued victims, Baeksan turned away.
‘Doing things I’m not used to is really tiring.’
Though she felt sorry for Elize and Agnes, she planned to go home and use a vacation day.
Just then, a voice came from behind.
“Leaving just like that?”
Baeksan hesitated, then turned around.
“Everything is finished, isn’t it?”
There stood Exarch, looking rather refreshed.
“You agreed to cooperate with the investigation?”
“Ugh.”
Are we really doing that?
When Baeksan made a sick expression, Exarch smiled like a boy in the dawn light.
“I need an explanation. How did you know Magdala had multiple hideouts? I never mentioned that.”
Shrugging her shoulders, Baeksan answered:
“You didn’t say it directly, but you explained everything. That she’s good at escaping and Magdala alone is the central point.”
Someone like that would naturally have other hideouts prepared.
Of course, she became certain when she saw Magdala directly.
[Magdala Magik]
Wanted criminal in Orquenina. Multiple major crimes including murder, arson, human trafficking.
Shows genius talent in escape. Always maintains secret hideouts unknown even to her executives.
All hail the system window.
“The more scared someone is, the harder they think about escape routes. I figured she’d have hideouts that only she knew about.”
“Something like criminal psychology?”
“I just tried thinking from Magdala’s perspective.”
Exarch gave a bitter smile.
“It’s a bit embarrassing that we didn’t realize what you figured out so simply.”
“No… honestly, it’s natural you wouldn’t know.”
“Hm?”
The Exarch before her was clearly the opposite type of person from Magdala.
Not that he was fearless, but rather someone who wouldn’t think about escape even if he was afraid.
But since there was no good way to explain this, she just avoided his gaze.
“More importantly, my other friend reported this to the Security Force but was ignored. Could you handle that?”
At those words, Exarch furrowed his brow.
“Still doing that… I’ll make sure it’s handled properly, don’t worry. Tell them I’m sorry.”
…The more you look at him, the more he seems to apologize for everything.
After a moment of silence, Exarch changed the topic.
“So what about inside the hideout? I really need to know how you gained Magdala’s trust.”
Baeksan pointlessly looked at the sky. She’d gotten too worked up trying to save Lira.
“…Couldn’t you just pretend not to know?”
“No.”
“Huh?”
Her head snapped down.
Exarch had strangely concluded such an important matter and calmly moved on to the next topic by himself.
“Anyway, though you’re an important witness, investigation isn’t the main purpose. So I’d really like you to come to the mansion.”
“…What is the main purpose then?”
When she asked suspiciously, Exarch smiled as if amused, then changed his expression.
His black eyes instantly deepened.
“Thank you. For using that ability to help people.”
“…”
Ah, this.
This is ‘Grand Duke Zahig.’
The gentle yet weighty voice continues.
“I’d like to thank you properly. Could you come to the Grand Duke’s residence?”
Finally, Baeksan found herself unconsciously speaking formally.
“…You really say the most embarrassing things. Let’s just count this as fulfilling my civic duty, shall we?”
Exarch burst out laughing.
“Then just come visit casually.”
“Who visits a Grand Duke’s residence casually…”
“And just call me Exa from now on.”
“What?”
Baeksan questioned, but Exarch didn’t answer and turned away.
“And formal speech doesn’t suit you much.”
The hem of his robe, dusty from spending the night personally running around helping people, fluttered.
Golden letters floated above it.
[Grand Duke Zahig Ridim Exarch Perato Schröder]
One blessed by the Goddess of the Heights. Material for both a hegemon and a sage king.
If he becomes emperor, he will be a ruler who goes down in continental history. 60% of Orquenina’s citizens support him.
Being kept in check by the emperor.
“…”
Standing for a long time staring at where he had disappeared, Baeksan let out a long sigh.
“…Must. Must absolutely not get involved.”
* * *
Bathilda opened the door to the Grand Duke’s office with bold steps.
“I heard you caught Magdala Magik, Grand Duke!”
Exarch, sitting at his office desk, didn’t even look up.
“Yes.”
Entering the room, Bathilda raised one eyebrow.
“You caught such a vicious criminal, shouldn’t you be a bit proud?”
“Since it wasn’t achieved by my power alone, there’s no reason to be proud.”
“…”
Bathilda sat on the sofa and sighed.
“Exa. Don’t be so stiff.”
Exarch also sighed.
“Bathilda. What’s with that way of speaking?”
“We’re cousins, what does it matter?”
“Do royals even have cousins?”
Despite his gentle voice, the cold words made Bathilda smirk.
“Well, my father doesn’t seem to think so. What a nasty old man.”
“Bathilda.”
“Alright, alright.”
Bathilda rested her arm on the sofa’s armrest and brushed back her hair.
She had many things she disliked.
First and foremost was having someone as incompetent as her father sitting on the throne.
Second was not being named Crown Princess.
Third was how the emperor was working his much younger nephew, the Grand Duke, to the bone.
‘Just look at this recent incident.’
Apprehending the Magdala gang wasn’t something the Grand Duke should have had to do.
Arbitrarily sending him to the frontlines, then calling him back to chase after wanted criminals.
‘How does he endure it?’
Bathilda glanced at Exarch, who sat properly writing with his pen.
Noticing her gaze, Exarch deliberately gave attention to his troublesome visitor.
“Did you have something to say?”
“It’s nothing.”
Bathilda waved her hand with a hollow laugh.
At the start of this complicated mess was Queen Ari Schröder.
Ari Schröder.
She had two sons, Anton and Lars.
The elder Anton was violent in nature, while Lars was gentle and of good character.
Ari naturally wanted to give the emperor’s crown to Lars.
However, Lars refused it.
‘Mother. I only wish to grow old peacefully with the one I love.’
Though disappointed, Ari didn’t give up and delayed naming a crown prince.
As the days without a crown prince lengthened, Anton’s anger and inferiority complex grew larger.
Then one day, Lars died in a mysterious accident.
Ari, shocked by her second son’s death, soon followed him, and finally Anton became the emperor he had so desperately wanted to be.
However, perhaps because he had never been formally named crown prince, Anton’s inferiority complex didn’t disappear.
Eventually that complex was directed at his son Exarch, who was born the year Lars died.
Exarch was one blessed by the goddess.
On the day he was born, part of the horizon where the Goddess of the Heights was said to dwell revealed itself in the sky.
Everyone saw that dark and beautiful trajectory, including the emperor.
‘Exarch… damn Lars’s son…! He’ll steal my throne someday!’
The emperor began suffering from anxiety and delusions.
Despite the Grand Duke himself having absolutely no desire to become emperor.
Despite his own children now being ahead in the succession.
Remembering those antics from back then, Bathilda laughed cynically.
“Exa must be tired too. Having to constantly mind someone who feels inferior to you.”
