Chapter 5: The Fox and the Leopard
After the temple shut down, all hell broke loose in the Grand Duke's castle.
"How can those who have built their power in the name of God be so heartless!"
"Those wicked temple bastards...!"
Count Bruin and Count Dennis slammed their hands on the table in anger, and Marquis Eli quietly replied, "The church isn't what it used to be."
Baron Romeo put his hands together and sighed deeply.
"This is a huge problem. We can't just leave the whole area without any healers..."
While the vassals were worried, Kinemia was preoccupied with other concerns.
'Hasn't he made up his mind yet?'
Kinemia sat at the head of the table in the conference room, leaning back in her chair.
She had easily obtained the ingredients from Michaela. Since monsters had started swarming around this time, even the rare ones were showing up all over the place.
Divine Liquor.
The secret of the liquor that Shen Tian Xinghai had been searching for so desperately in the original story lay in monsters—specifically, in the Deer Antler Helmet Flower, a mutated monster of the Divine Beast Helmet Flower.
The poison from the deep core of the Deer Antler Helmet Flower hardens over time into a round pill, and it was so toxic that even a small amount could kill, making it extremely dangerous.
However, this poison pill had a peculiar characteristic. When dissolved in water or alcohol, its unique aroma blended to create a fantastic taste.
Because of this, the taste of the Deer Antler Helmet Flower poison pill was like a forbidden fruit – you'd have to risk your life to try it.
But among those Kinemia knew, there was only one person who could consume it: Shen Tian Xinghai.
He had such a ridiculously strong body that he could detoxify poison the second he swallowed it.
In the original story, Shen Tian stumbled upon it by accident while tagging along with the main character on monster hunts.
Hehehe—to think it would come in handy like this.
Excellent, this situation. I love it. Kinemia chuckled slyly, placing both hands on her stomach and clasping them together.
Sitting like a mafia boss, Kinemia stopped herself from grinning as she pictured him coming to her all on his own.
'He's a total boozehound; he'll definitely take the bait.'
The way Shen Tian was in the original story, it'd be weirder if he didn't show.
'Should I have just sent a carriage to the inn?'
I'll wait a few more days, and if he doesn't come, I'll have to do that.
Maybe they mistook Kinemia's pensive state for worry, because the vassals started to freak out.
Is he trying to make our precious Lady worry?!
No, was it just me? Weren't you all worried too!
I don't think we need to burden the young lady with this yet.
Count Bruin, Count Dennis, and Baron Romeo exchanged glances in succession.
As they stared at Marquis Eli as if urging him to say something, Marquis Eli smiled kindly and said, "There is no need to worry so seriously, Grand Duchess."
"Y-yes, Marquis Eli is right, Grand Duchess."
"Of course, of course."
Count Dennis and Count Bruin nodded repeatedly and added to Marquis Eli's words.
"Grand Duchess, we will try to handle it somehow for now. Please don't worry too much."
"Yes, Grand Duchess. It's not that big of a deal yet."
The vassals tried their best to reassure Kinemia.
So, they all started scrambling to contact anyone they knew at the temple. Things looked grim, but they didn't have any other options.
And that's when...
Two strangers showed up at the Grand Duke's castle.
The first to discover them were the two gatekeepers guarding the front gate.
'A fox and... a leopard?'
The one standing a couple of steps ahead of the group was a slender, handsome man in exotic clothes.
The man, whose long hair was thickly braided and draped to the side, and whose long, monolid eyes made him look like a fox, was arrogantly puffing on a tobacco pipe.
And the one standing slightly behind him was a giant so tall that they had to crane their necks to look up. His body, whose firmness was visible even under his clothes, was all muscle, and his dark skin and features made him look like a fierce leopard.
"Meow—"
Then, the cat that the leopard was holding in his arms meowed cutely at the gatekeepers.
"......?"
"......Hmm."
The gatekeepers stared blankly at the group, then exchanged glances.
"......"
"......"
They nodded to each other and turned back around. It was best to just ignore them.
"You there, come here!"
What's with all the 'come here' business? The gatekeeper on the right side of the gate scowled.
"Can't you hear me?"
The slender fox took a drag of his tobacco pipe and exhaled smoke.
"Come here! Is anyone there?"
"We're right here," the leopard, Luo, said.
"You, shut it for a sec," Shen Tian grumbled and strode towards the gatekeeper, staring intently into his eyes and shouting again.
"Get over here!"
"......?"
When he brought his face right up close and shouted, the gatekeeper, who had made eye contact, reluctantly asked, "Who are you? This is the Grand Duke's Castle of Leon."
"Looks like I've come to the right place."
"Grand Duke's castle? Are you sure this is where you told Master to come?" Luo asked.
"I told you, this is it. I'm here to see your boss. Open the gate," Shen Tian replied.
The gatekeeper scanned their appearances and retorted in a stern voice, "The Grand Duchess doesn't see crazies."
"Wh-what... lunatics!" Shen Tian exclaimed.
"What? Lunatics?" Luo furrowed his brow, and his eyes gleamed sharply.
Hup, the gatekeeper shut his mouth, startled by his fierce gaze.
"Gatekeeper, I have a question to ask."
"Wh-what is it?"
"Are you calling me a lunatic?"
"Is that what's important right now?!" Shen Tian interjected.
"It is very important," Luo insisted.
Shen Tian shouted irritably, but Luo only retorted firmly. "I'll ask you again, gatekeeper. Are you calling me crazy?"
"N-no," the gatekeeper answered in a slightly intimidated voice.
At that, Luo opened his hand. "Then it's settled."
"What's settled!" Shen Tian shouted.
As Luo returned to his impassive face and stroked the cat, the fox next to him huffed.
Okay, no more pretending. The gatekeeper spun his spear around.
"Alright, you two. Show me some ID."
"......!"
ID! Shen Tian, looking startled, took a drag from his tobacco pipe.
"I said, show me some ID."
"......"
Shen Tian rolled his eyes, blew out some smoke, and said, "...Don't have one."
Shen Tian Xinghai was in the country illegally. He didn't have any ID.
"Then you're not getting through these gates."
"Ha!"
Shen Tian scoffed and rummaged through his pockets. At that, the gatekeepers jumped and began to make a fuss.
"Take your hand out of your pocket!"
"Take your hand out and step back!"
Shen Tian frowned. "No, I... I was invited..."
He was just reaching for the invitation letter from the lord, but the gatekeepers thought he was going for a weapon and grabbed their signal horns. They were ready to call in every knight in the castle.
"What's going on?"
Just then, two knights on patrol asked from the castle walls.
"Grab those guys!"
"They look suspicious!"
"What?!"
Hearing the gatekeepers' words, the knights quickly jumped down from the castle walls. They scanned Shen Tian and Luo and nodded, agreeing that they indeed looked suspicious at first glance.
