Chapter 56

The dawn air was cold.

Amethus covered the blind Shadi Shandor with his clothes.

She heard Amethus tidying up the tent and his belongings.

“Climb on my back.”

Amethus's hand was felt.

Shadi, without hesitation, leaped onto his back as he led her.

Amethus's face flushed with embarrassment, but Shadi couldn't see.

The spirit of sand was circling above them.

As if to say it would wait that long.

“No matter what happens, we just need to survive, I guess.”

Shadi Shandor gave a faint smile.

“And I even got to ride on Captain's back.”

“It doesn't seem like the first time. Didn't something like this happen once at the Waist Gate too?”

“…You remembered?”

Probably, about four years ago.

When they were chasing a magician who was trying to smuggle Imperial Academy of Magic secrets to the West.

Shadi, who had become blind from ‘Sand Question’, was badly injured, and Amethus had carried her on his back, running non-stop for several days.

“Eat well. You're lighter than you were then.”

“……”

Shadi Shandor could not see for 33 days.

However, she could feel that her cheeks were flushed red.

She buried her head deep in Amethus's back.

The jade-eyed man walked on without saying anything.

Amethus, who was about to say that his breath was white, closed his mouth.

Shadi wouldn't be able to see it, after all.

Neither the dense forest nor the bright stars were visible to her now.

He had willingly chosen to be temporarily blind for him.

As he chewed on that thought, he felt he had to say something.

Nevertheless, he couldn't think of anything suitable to say.

Amethus hesitated to open his lips several times.

Shadi, who was on his back, noticed it just from his presence and chuckled softly.

His snickering breath tickled.

Amethus cleared his throat softly.

“By the way, Shadi……”

“We'll have to keep everything about this dawn's events a secret, won't we?”

The Fifth Prince Zionis was alive.

It was not a matter that could be carelessly blabbered about anywhere.

No matter how powerless he was, he was still a direct son of the Great Emperor Continua.

Shadi Shandor, Special Operations Unit Captain of the Imperial Security Bureau, was a woman whose profession was to strictly keep secrets.

“Even my subordinate won't hear a peep. Are you at ease?”

“…You know me so well.”

“If I don't know the Captain, who will?”

This is something I can't give up.

Shadi firmly pressed Amethus's back.

Warmth was felt.

By both of them.

“I even remember when I was first assigned. Oh, I was a senior then. Do you remember our first mission?”

“It was the Etier Trading Company case. Afterwards, hmm, did we eat chicken in the Lutilium shopping district?”

“Wasn't that after the Lurudis family case? After the first mission, you drank three bottles of strong Ketel wine without any side dishes!”

“That's right. I did. Because I was paid so little.”

Once his mouth was open, stories poured out.

It was natural, as they had spent a long time together.

Amethus had spent most of his time as a security knight with this woman.

Casual talk was exchanged.

‘Do you remember this?’

‘Do you remember that?’

‘Of course.’

‘Me too, of course.’

‘How about this?’

‘That?’

Shadi suddenly raised her head.

“Oh, that's right! You borrowed money from me then!”

“…I forgot.”

“And you're the next emperor's confidant!”

“I'll definitely pay you back when I return.”

“No thanks, just treat me to a meal. In a very precious place that you can't go to unless you're the next emperor's confidant.”

“I'll do that.”

“I'll be looking forward to it. Extremely looking forward to it.”

He walked.

Carrying the blind woman, he walked for a long time.

The sharp moonlight and the chilly air were strangely sweet.

The same went for Shadi.

She poked and prodded Amethus's back with her finger.

Though she was blind, she could tell from the presence that they had descended the mountain.

And that the sounds of people were faintly starting to be heard from afar.

She patted Amethus's back.

“Captain.”

Amethus turned his head.

It was almost the Mantera checkpoint.

“Drop me off in front of here.”

“…I can't……”

“What are you going to do carrying a blind woman around? It's easier to go alone, isn't it?”

“No, still……”

Shadi slapped Amethus's hand that was supporting her.

“Instead of clumsy consideration, go and do what you have to do?”

He had originally intended to carry her all the way to their lodgings in the city.

How could he leave her behind when she had become blind for him?

He had intended to stay with her constantly, even if it was inconvenient.

However, Shadi was adamant.

“Even without my sight, I can tell. That you're worried sick.”

“…That's not true.”

“Don't lie. Don't worry. I've already called my subordinate. He'll be here soon, won't he?”

He couldn't win and set her down.

Shadi let out a grunt, heung-cha and stood on her own feet.

Her eyes were closed and beyond her eyelids was empty.

Her two eyes were now sand, dancing above them.

“You said you were going south after passing Beribelom, right? Then the crossroads are……”

“A total of four.”

“We'll have to block all of them, won't we?”

“I leave it to you.”

Shadi nodded her head.

If Amethus pursued, she would help.

They had always done so.

Shadi Shandor was proud of the brooch on her chest.

Wouldn't she be able to help him even more, being in the position of Special Operations Unit Captain?

The woman looked at the man.

Though her eye sockets were empty and she couldn't see, she clearly saw.

The man also looked at the woman.

He did so with his flashing jade-green eyes.

They conversed without speaking.

It was clearly so.

“…Who took charge of the subordinate. Was it Habeo after all?”

“No. You'd be surprised if you saw him.”

Shadi snickered.

“He'll be here soon, though……”

“Captain!”

The voice was loud.

A scrawny man with a ponytail came running.

Amethus called the man's name.

“…Untes?”

“Oh? Oh! Captain Amethus!”

The man called Untes rushed over as if leaping.

He was even ferocious.

He looked Amethus up and down as if he found him amazing and then bowed his head.

He was full of a cheerfulness unbefitting the dawn.

“To think the day would come when I would see you again!”

“Did you become a subordinate?”

“Yes! That's right!”

Untes looked around and then spoke as if whispering.

Their identities were not something to be easily revealed.

“I am Untes Ubias Uterbeum, Vice-captain of Special Operations Unit Captain Shadi Shandor.”

Amethus smiled.

He was a man who had just been a newcomer when he was in the Special Operations Unit.

To think he was a vice-captain now.

His cheerfulness, unbefitting the Special Operations Unit, seemed to have remained, no, even increased.

“You've become quite plausible.”

“It's all thanks to the Captain, and thanks to the Captain… no, Captain Amethus is a Captain, and Captain Shadi is also a Captain, so it's quite awkward to call them. How should I address them?”

Untes crossed his arms and muttered.

Which captain should he call Captain, and which captain should he not call Captain.

Amethus waved his hand.

“No need for that. I'm leaving.”

“What!?”

His shout was loud.

“Already? It's been so long!”

“Quiet, Untes.”

Shadi Shandor frowned.

Did he even have a sense of being a member of the Security Bureau's Special Operations Unit?

His abilities were outstanding, but his conduct still had room for correction.

“I told you to talk less.”

“Hup!”

Untes made an exaggerated gesture of sewing up his mouth.

Amethus smiled softly, reminiscing about old times, and Shadi sighed just from hearing the sound.

She held out her hand.

“Untes, I can't see right now, so you'll help me, won't you?”

“Of course. That's what a subordinate is for. Shall I carry you?”

“That's enough.”

“Yes, sir!”

Vice-captain Untes grabbed Shadi Shandor's wrist.

“We'll be going now, Captain Amethus. I'll continue to report.”

She would head to Mantera.

She would rest and do her work.

The jade-eyed man would set out on his journey.

Following the sand wind, towards the living Fifth Prince Zionis.

“Have a safe trip.”

***

The Vice-captain of the Juet Acrobat Troupe,Helen Pel, was deep in thought.

“…This is strange.”

“What is?”

The child who was licking a candy next to her asked back.

His name was Shion Pollinglight, a regressor who had returned after 19 years, pretending to be a big shot from the West and deceiving the Juet Acrobat Troupe.

Even now, he was nonchalantly receiving reports from Helena.

“I thought the Special Operations Unit's activity had become scarce, but then this report suddenly came.”

Helena held out a few letters.

They were ordinary letters with contents such as 'I miss my mother,' 'I found some good silk this time,' and 'How is your daughter doing?'

If one didn't know the Western code, they would be regarded as truly ordinary letters.

However, I had been the Vice Commander of the Western Alliance before my regression.

Reading coded letters was not difficult at all.

A groan escaped my lips as I examined the letters.

“Hmm……?”

I stroked my chin.

A light of contemplation was in my eyes.

“…If this content is true, then this is really troublesome.”

There were a total of four paths leading from the gateway city of Beribelom to the southern part of the Empire.

“The Special Operations Unit has blocked all four paths?”

‘He's finally starting to act in earnest.’

I snapped my fingers a couple of times, organizing my thoughts.

It wasn't something to be flustered about.

My opponent was Amethus Aretion, the man called the fortuneteller.

I had always prepared for this much of a twist.

“It must be because of me.”

“I suppose so?”

“He somehow caught the scent.”

Vice-captain Helena had also already noticed.

That the Special Operations Unit's sudden movements were connected to the kid in front of her.

I muttered bluntly.

“Hmm, I might have to leave earlier than I thought.”

Although I had agreed to accompany them to Gentium, there was no reason to force it.

It didn't seem like it would be a big problem even if I sent the acrobat troupe away and moved alone.

It would be a little difficult and time-consuming, but it was better than being caught.

“Will that be alright, sir? The path is rough. It would be better if you accompanied us.”

“I agree, but the situation doesn't allow it.”

The Juet Acrobat Troupe had nearly a hundred members in total.

They couldn't head south to Gentium without passing through the blocked paths.

“No. There is a way.”

Helena shook her head.

“There's one more path leading south.”

“I have no intention or reason to force hardship on you.”

“It's not hardship. We just need to pass through. It's a main road, it's just not well-known.”

I tilted my head.

I was a regressor.

And, the Fifth Prince of the Cordis Empire.

However, I had never heard of another path leading from Beribelom to the southern part of the Empire.

“Why isn't such a path well-known?”

“It can only be passed at certain times of the year. In winter, specifically, from the eleventh day of the eleventh month to the second day of the second month. We only recently discovered it ourselves.”

“What a strange path. Even roads are affected by the seasons.”

My interest was piqued.

If Helena's words were true, there was no reason to refuse.

I might even be able to shake off Amethus more easily.

A strange feeling swelled up and pushed me.

“Do you know why that path is affected by the seasons, Vice-captain Helena?”

“Of course I know. On that path, there is……”

Helena whispered softly.

“…a god.”

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