Book Eater

Chapter 155: One Year Later (1)

The port city of Piris in Soldun Kingdom was the only international port that housed ships traveling directly to the eastern continent, and as such, it was the lifeline of the coastal kingdom. Thus, Marquis Piris, who was in charge of this crucial port, held a unique authority in the kingdom. There were often jokes about how birds would tremble and fly away from his mere presence.

However, even Marquis Piris had to be polite today. His guest was the crown prince, the next king of the Soldun Kingdom, Elsid.

“Glory to the descendants of the Great Wave King! Marquis Piris, David El Piris, greets the crown prince.”

“It has been a while, Marquis. I’m sorry to come so abruptly.”

The crown prince had the lemon colored hair and sea-like eyes characteristic of the Soldun royal family. He looked like a prince right out of a fairytale, and so was the subject of many young maidens’ dreams. Although he was only twenty-six years old, he was already marked as the next Wave King of Soldun Kingdom.

Marquis Piris advised him with a difficult expression, “Forgive me, Your Highness. But didn’t I tell you to come here stealthily?”

“It can't be helped,” Elsid sighed and shook his head a few times. “Duke Cornwall’s men were on my trail as soon as I left the royal palace. If the escort knights hadn’t blocked them, I wouldn’t have been able to hide my tracks.”

Marquis Piris gritted his teeth, and his eyebrows twitched as his brown eyes filled with uncontrollable anger. “Cornwall... That traitor will surely...!”

Soldun Kingdom’s unique geographical attributes made it difficult to grow crops, and so didn’t field an army large enough to fully patrol its borders. It had only been fifty years since they had established trade with the eastern continent, but nobles with interests in other kingdoms had spent time and resources to keep Soldun Kingdom’s prosperity in check.

Chief amongst those meddling nobles was Duke Cornwall, who had several relatives in Kargas Kingdom. He even dared to track Prince Elsid’s actions.

Elsid sighed. “Well, let’s stop with the unpleasant story. There is nothing we can do right now. Don’t we just have to do what we can?”

“... Hoo, Your Highness’ words are correct. I was too excited.”

Despite the prince’s words, Marquis Piris’ face was still flushed. Duke Cornwall’s actions always infuriated the loyalists. Prince Elsid knew this and was thankful, but the matter they had to discuss right now had nothing to do with the traitor.

“Rather, Marquis, how did it go?” Elsid whispered in a low voice.

“Please be delighted, Your Highness. There was a big profit,” Marquis Piris replied with a small smile.

Some of the loyalists, including the crown prince, had been pushing a certain plan for ten years. Now, they had finally achieved something.

It was impossible for the people of Soldun Kingdom to overcome these adverse conditions with their own strength. The bordering Kargas Kingdom and Lairon Country kept suppressing them, and the southern border was ringed by swamps.

Therefore, the people of the Soldun Kingdom turned their eyes to the continent beyond the sea.

“I have received a promise from a famous family of the Western Xia region in the east that they will move to Piris.”

“Finally!” Elsid’s face brightened like a rising sun.

If he couldn’t grow seeds, then he would import them. Fortunately, the Soldun Kingdom had tremendous financial power to make up for its lack of military power. They could promise a noble title, fertile land, gold, and valuables.

“They’re called the Baek Family, and they were a prestigious military power in the Western Xia region.”

“Hoh, a prestigious family is migrating?”

“Yes, I investigated them thoroughly.” Marquis Piris recounted the details from his report, “Thirty years ago, their military lost a battle against another kingdom in the central region. The Baek family took responsibility for the defeat and resigned from the military. Their assets were taken by other families, and now they are economically and politically isolated.”

“Indeed, our offer would seem quite attractive.”

“That's right. I heard that the head of the Baek Family is bringing all his family members and belongings to Piris. They will probably arrive today or tomorrow.”

Elsid couldn’t help clenching his fists in excitement. They had always been forced to rely on foreign navies because of their weak military ability. But this was a chance to avoid that humiliation. The eastern continent had focused on martial arts over magic power. If two warriors were at the same level, the one from the east would be stronger.

It was the same for the Baek Family migrating here.

“In the east, a sword master is called an expert.”

The master of the Baek Family, Baek Jongmyung, was an expert. Elsid didn’t know why his punishment was so severe, but he was literally worth an army of thousands. The Baek Family had a hundred skilled aura users, including a sword master. This was enough martial power to tilt the balance toward the crown prince’s favor, even Cornwall and his allies combined their forces.

“... You did a really great job, Marquis. I will never forget your hard work.”

“It is only natural, considering my role in the kingdom, Your Highness. Your words are enough. The important thing is what will happen from now on.”

Elsid nodded at his loyal subject. “Of course. It is my duty to embrace them as my own people and to forge them into Soldun Kingdom’s sword.”

The young prince vowed again that the kingdom wouldn’t remain weak in his generation. For that goal, he would spend as much as he needed. He gazed out of the window, sunlight bathing his face, before turning to the marquis.

“That reminds me, what about giving them that mansion?”

“Huh?

The prince pointed. “That one. It is a bit expensive, but it’s a decent chateau. It can build up their pride, as well as fit everyone they’re bringing.”

He had once visited the mansion in the past. It was well-built, but it was in a bit of an isolated location. However, its neighbors were all mansions, which drove up the price. The combination made it a slightly difficult property to sell.

However, it was a different story if it were given as a gift. It couldn’t be sold anyway, so it was better to use the mansion to make a good impression. Since they were warriors, living on a hill wouldn’t really be a disadvantage.

However, Marquis Piris showed a strange reaction. “Hrmm, well, that is...”

“Huh? What’s the problem?”

Marquis Piris was silent for a moment before explaining wryly, “The mansion Your Highness is talking about has already been sold.”

“Huh?” Elsid failed to hide his disbelief. “Wasn’t the price a thousand gold? Who was insane enough to buy the mansion at that price? Even if you gave them a discount, according to kingdom law, the price should not have gone below eight hundred gold?”

“There was no discount. The buyer paid a thousand gold on the spot.”

Therefore, Marquis Piris had sold it without any hesitation. He smiled bitterly at the memory. Indeed, from his position, an unused mansion was a wasteful expense. So, it was natural to want to quickly dispose of it.

Elsid didn’t know how he felt about it as he clicked his tongue. “Tsk, they certainly are big spenders. A noble?”

Marquis Piris replied, “Yes, perhaps. He didn’t say it, but it was evident in his actions.”

“Actions?”

Marquis Piris nodded and explained, “He seemed to have a bodyguard as an escort, and though I’m no expert on swords, that bodyguard seems unusual. It seems the buyer is hiding his identity.”

The prince’s brows knitted. “Hmm… around one year ago. How has he been living?”

“There are occasional visitors, but he rarely leaves the mansion. Ah! He is famous for purchasing original magic books at around three or four times the normal price? So, sometimes he gets merchants visiting from foreign countries.”

As the prince pondered, the marquis remembered the names of the two people.

“The young man who bought the mansion is Ted, and his bodyguard is called Adolf. Those are their names.”

“Ted and Adolf...”

It was common to find three or four people with the same names from the villages in the north and central parts of the continent. If so, these names were likely pseudonyms. As Elsid stared at the hill where the mansion was located, he decided it was necessary to visit them.

A variable had appeared out of nowhere, and he needed to find out whether they would have a good or ill effect on his plan. For now, he had no idea which one it would be.

***

Kkiruruk- kiruk-

As always, the seagulls cried out as the wind carried the scent of the sea.

“The weather is good today,” Theo muttered as he placed the thick book on his desk and patted Mitra, who was sleeping in a flowerpot.

A year had passed since he’d left the Pirate Archipelago, and he was more mature than before. Theo’s face had matured early from the hardships he had faced, and his clear eyes now had a mysterious depth to them.

Meanwhile, Mitra was snoring cutely.

[Horororong... Hororong...]

Theo smiled at the cute snores and thought back to his days in the Soldun Kingdom.

No one had pursued them after leaving the Pirate Archipelago, so they had spent the past year honing their respective skills. Randolph experimented with his awakened Aura Ability while Theo researched how to reach the next level.

My progress isn’t bad, but...’

Theo looked out the window with a dissatisfied expression. There were many things he’d gained in the past year, but it would still take more time to reach his goal. Gluttony had said he would need another half year, but it was inevitable that he would feel nervous with the deadline approaching.

Right now, Theo was facing the wall of the 7th Circle, the master’s wall. He only needed one more step to escape the confines of a mortal. It was a transcendent area which couldn’t be easily overcome, even with Gluttony’s power.

He murmured, “I have one and a half years.”

Almost half of the three year deadline that Myrdal had given him at the world tree had passed. Of course, he had expanded his vessel with all the original books he’d eaten, but the easiest solution was to become a master. A master naturally went beyond the limits of their mortal vessel, so it would eliminate any danger from his vessel being overfilled.

“Hah...”

However, if it was as easy as it sounded, the continent would be littered in masters.

Theo sighed and closed his eyes, falling into his inner self. He focused on the Circles inside his body. A magician could diagnose their body, just like a warrior could do with aura. The Circles turned together like cogs in a giant machine. He could even see the outline of the 7th Circle sitting in place. But Theo just couldn’t figure out what was lacking.

I need an opportunity.

Ultimately, he needed a decisive moment to overcome his stagnation.