CIATB Chapter 423: Want to know what the most fun thing is?
Chapter 423: Want to know what the most fun thing is?
“Does he really not have an owner? Lately, he’s been staying here all the time.”“I’m worried,” said Rieta, stroking the large dog’s head.
The dog lying before her let out a short, deep sigh, as if he understood her words.
Louis, who was sitting on the bench right next to her, replied:
“Maybe it wasn’t a dog that was raised by someone, but a wild animal… It’s too big to be a normal dog.”
“Come to think of it, my uncle said there were a lot of wild animals and monsters in this territory. But this one seems to follow humans…”
Rieta tilted her head and met the dog’s gaze.
“Are you a dog? Or are you a wolf?”
“…”
But there was no answer from the beast. The dog simply raised its head slightly and placed its large forehead on Rieta’s palm.
Then a smile appeared on Rieta’s lips.
“Whatever you are, it doesn’t matter. He’s such a good kid, isn’t he?”
“…”
Louis, who was watching the two, also smiled slightly.
He also agreed that it didn’t matter whether Rieta’s new friend was a wolf or a dog.
She was deeply hurt. It was all thanks to that dog that she was able to smile again.
“Rieta, you let it inside the mansion yesterday too, right? Don’t do that so often. The servants are getting scared..”
“But it was raining yesterday. It would’ve been too pitiful for him to wander around in the rain. Besides, he’s very well-behaved and didn’t really mess up the room.”
Rieta protested sharply. Louis, who had no other choice but to chuckle, made a suggestion.
“Then should we give it a name? We’ll even make a collar for it.”
“…Is that okay?”
Rieta’s eyes widened.
And the dog lying down in front of her… no, Warren, flinched.
It was the moment when the werewolf faced the greatest crisis of his life.
But Louis, who couldn’t have known that, continued speaking cheerfully.
“My brother contacted me anyway. He said he’d personally prepare and send anything we needed from the palace. Wouldn’t it be better to ask him for it rather than find one here?”
“Really?”
Rieta’s expression brightened even more.
A few days ago, Louis received a letter from Victor.
The letter, written in Victor’s neat handwriting, contained a long story, as if he wanted to relieve his regrets.
Victor’s sincerity was fully expressed in his handwriting he wrote with great care.
“Really. Then I’ll send a separate letter to him today. I’m sure he’ll be pleased to hear our regards.”
Louis smiled and nodded.
‘I was a fool to have doubted him even a little bit.’
Since his mother had committed treason, he thought he would definitely be abandoned along with Rieta.
But Victor was still their family, their protector.
That fact would never change.
Louis reached out and patted the dog’s head once.
As if he had given up on everything, Warren quietly accepted the touch.
Just as such a peaceful time was passing by.
“…!”
Warren’s sensitive ears detected an alien presence.
Suddenly, the dog raised his head and straightened up, and the startled siblings took a small step back.
Rieta asked with wide eyes.
“What’s the matter?”
“Is there a bird?”
Louis also checked the place Warren was glaring at, but only the garden trees stood silently in place.
“There’s nothing?”
Rieta looked back at Warren, but he stood there for a long moment, not moving.
The wolf’s deep eyes grew cold.
“…It’s surprisingly useful.”
Arendt gave a brief exclamation at the report.
The sender was Llewellyn, and he was reporting the results of an analysis of fragments of relics discovered in the underground ruins of the Lucain Palace and the Nephele Kingdom.
As expected, it has been officially confirmed that the structures were built using the same building materials.
“Everyone was guessing that anyway. Was there really a need to go this far?”
“Oh my, you’re so dull-witted. Things like this should always be made certain. It’s even better if someone credible notarizes it.”
Arendt responded indifferently to Arthur’s question and turned the report to the next page.
“In that sense, Llewellyn is a pretty good worker.”
“…Please don’t treat the prince like that. No, forget it. What could I possibly say to you?”
Arthur sighed deeply and glanced at his junior.
Arendt was still engrossed in his paperwork, showing no signs of being out of the ordinary.
Because of this, Arthur was unable to bring himself to say anything else, so he turned his gaze back to the report he was writing.
‘I can’t figure out what he’s thinking.’
In the midst of all this chaos, it was very uncharacteristic of Arendt to remain quietly confined to the laboratory.
“What are you looking at?”
“You’re so unlucky, you idiot.”
“Isn’t it time for you to get used to my handsome face?”
“…”
Arendt shut his senior’s mouth and took out the blueprints of the underground ruins that Llewellyn had sent him and unfolded them.
Then he took out a new piece of paper next to them and started scribbling something down.
As expected of someone with exceptional dexterity, a new picture quickly began to appear on the paper.
Arthur soon realized what Arendt was drawing.
“This… isn’t it the magic stone mine and lair?”
“That’s right.”
Arendt nodded briefly.
In the blink of an eye, a blueprint for the Dragon Lair was completed next to the map of the magic stone mine.
Arthur’s eyes widened as he watched him blankly.
“Wait a minute. That thing next to it is the Lucain Kingdom ruins, right?”
“Yes. I guess you’re finally getting it.”
Despite the indifferent reply, Arther didn’t even bother to scold him.
He noticed that the Dragon Lair had a structure similar to the ruins under the Lucain Palace.
“They don’t seem completely unrelated. Remember the mural inside the lair?”
“Huh? Yes?”
When Arthur nodded awkwardly, Arendt put down his pen and continued speaking.
“It’s similar in shape to the Chernion Temple. The underground ruins of the Lucain Kingdom were also similar.”
They were definitely not unrelated.
“The original was likely the palace’s underground temple. The owner of the mine lair was a dragon who followed God Chernion, and it built it out of longing for those days.”
The old dragon lived in hiding there throughout the war and lived out its days.
It was a rather sad statement.
“The Chernion Temple in Rebecca’s castle was likely built under the direct orders of the saintness herself, so it would have been constructed exactly as it was in the past.”
“…How on earth do you know such things? Do they teach such things at the academy that nobles attend?”
“I’ve said it over and over again, but you’re just stupid. If you just pay attention, you could easily guess something like this.”
Arendt shrugged.
“Anyway, this makes it more or less certain that the underground ruins are deeply connected to God Chernion. If we organize this and hand it over to Llewellyn, he’ll find more concrete evidence. When you’re done writing the report, give it to me. I’ll send it off together.”
“…Just wait a moment. It’s almost done.”
“Ugh, you’re so damn slow.”
Arthur, who was feeling irritated, replied.
“Are you done? Why are you doing something no one asked you to do?”
“I did everything. Do you think I’m as incompetent like a certain someone?”
But, of course, he couldn’t even break even. Arthur ended up grumbling and burying his nose back in the paper.
Arendt, who had been giving him a pitying look, sat up.
“When you’re done, just leave it there. I’ll send it out later when I go for a walk. I’m going to take care of something else for a bit.”
“Something else? What?”
Arendt responded briefly.
“Interrogation. To be precise, it’s closer to persuasion.”
It’s been several days already.
Ain was tightly bound to the chair in the barrier.
Of course, he was not allowed to eat or drink, and he was even gagged tightly to prevent him from committing suicide.
Ain, who noticed the sound of footsteps approaching from outside the door, raised his haggard face.
The locks installed in multiple layers were released, and a familiar apprentice knight entered the barrier with a leisurely gait.
“It’s worth a look.”
Arendt sat down on the interrogation chair opposite Ain and spoke.
Ain just stared at Arendt with his bright yellow eyes.
Accepting his gaze, Arendt crossed his legs leisurely and leaned back in his chair.
“Have you thought about my proposal?”
“…”
“Just nod or blink your eyes. I’ll take that as a sign that you’re willing to talk. I think you have quite a few questions for me as well.”
Even after he said that, Ain just stared at Arendt for a long time.
It was to discern his true intentions, but nothing could be read from such an endlessly indifferent face.
A moment of conflict flashed across Ain’s eyes.
He slowly closed his eyes and nodded.
“Good.”
Arendt, having gotten a satisfying answer, stood up and untied his gag.
Until Arendt returned to his seat, Ain remained motionless, just staring at him.
“What are you planning?”
“I’ve already stated my purpose. Don’t make me repeat myself. You already know I’m not lying.”
Arendt tilted his head.
“Didn’t your pervert mask tell you that there’s a filthy bastard standing on the front lines who doesn’t even pray?”
“What, huh?”
Arendt kindly answered Ain’s bewildered question.
“He’s called a pervert mask. Oh, was it that fire-breathing boar bastard? His name was Roger, right?”
“…”
Ain’s face became blank for a moment at the unexpected words.
He should have been angry since he had insulted the person he served, but he was too shocked to react.
“Anyway, you already know I’m not lying, right? Or is it that I’m still lacking in sincerity?”
Meanwhile, Arendt naturally changed the subject.
Ain also suddenly came to his senses.
“…I understand what you mean. But how can I trust you?”
“Do you still not believe me when I say I’ll point a knife at Luce?”
“…That’s right.”
Ain, who had been silent for a moment, answered stiffly. Read full story at novelFɪre.net
“Of course, Roger isn’t the kind of person who can’t stop someone like you. No matter what I say here, you’ll die by Roger’s hand. But how can I trust your proposal, given that you’ve been working for the dirty light all this time?”
“That makes sense.”
Surprisingly, Arendt nodded readily. Ain couldn’t help but frown.
“What do you…”
“Hey. Can I tell you a funny story?”
Arendt, who had cut off his words, smiled mischievously.
“This is a story that no one on my side knows yet. I’ll tell it to you first. I think you’ll find it quite interesting.”
“…”
Ain, who was about to say something, just shut his mouth.
It was a challenge, daring him to speak up.
Facing Ain, who was ready for a full conversation, Arendt continued speaking slowly.
Ain’s eyes, reflecting Arendt’s figure, began to gradually fill with astonishment.