"It's an honor for me."
While Eiyan, maintaining a stiff expression, looked down at the hand Kynemia had grasped, Kynemia released his hand and gestured to Baron Romeo.
"Romeo, please show him to his room."
Eiyan clenched and unclenched his hand, his gaze lowered.
"Yes, yes. Tower Lord, I will escort you. This way, please."
"Thank you."
Wolfman, who had been observing all of this with amusement, smirked and rose to his feet.
Baron Romeo, who was about to lead the way, tilted his head slightly.
Wasn't he feigning illness earlier? Why the sudden interest in checking on his disciple?
"The other mages may follow me as well."
"Yes."
All the mages accompanying Wolfman stood up. Their bodies followed Baron Romeo, but their gazes remained fixed on the eccentric man. The term "에친놈" is correctly translated as "eccentric man".
The eccentric man was perched on the edge of a chair, locking eyes with the Grand Duchess as he spoke.
"Let's kick him out, okay?"
"Why would we kick out my teacher?"
"I'll stop being your teacher as of today. That solves it, right?"
"Are you insane?! Don't just say whatever comes to mind."
"I'm afraid he might do something inappropriate to you."
"Why would the Tower Lord do anything inappropriate to me?"
"Because he's just a perverted old geezer. Mia—"
Eiyan tilted his head sideways and gazed up at the Grand Duchess.
The mages, witnessing this, swallowed hard. Some pinched each other's arms, while others sharply slapped their own cheeks.
Good heavens, that eccentric man is acting cute towards the Grand Duchess!
The mages who had accompanied the Tower Lord were all seasoned and experienced individuals.
Never before had they been so startled and unnerved by any crisis, but now, a wave of goosebumps ran down their spines.
"Do you see? Did you see that? I'm not the only one seeing this, right?"
"Is this an illusion? Did someone use illusion magic?"
"It's not magic. It's real, that's... Get a hold of yourselves. This is reality..."
"That's impossible...!"
"This can't be happening...!"
The mages, who believed such behavior was impossible for the eccentric man, all reached the same conclusion.
He must have some hidden agenda to sweet-talk the Grand Duchess. Shouldn't they warn the poor Grand Duchess? She's just a young girl, after all...
Meanwhile, the mages who met Eiyan's gaze flinched in surprise.
Smiling faintly and using his body to shield Kynemia, Eiyan was glaring at them with piercing eyes, as if issuing a warning.
But why?! What did we do?
The mages, who had only entertained the thought but hadn't acted on it, felt wronged but couldn't voice their complaint.
They could only silently pray for the Grand Duchess's well-being...
While the Grand Duchy's castle was in a state of commotion, Cory, responsible for desk duties at the guild management headquarters, was chewing gum and stamping applications.
Thud
Thud
Today, dozens of teams of riffraff had come to apply, hoping to strike it rich by conquering dungeons.
'Most of them will probably get a taste of the dungeon's harsh reality at the entrance and disappear.'
Just then, Joey, a B-rank guild member sitting in the lobby, erupted in loud laughter.
"With just one hit from me, that guy ran away with his tail between his legs!"
As he guffawed, several guild members who were with Joey also burst into laughter.
'How noisy...'
They were a group of troublemakers who harassed newcomers registering at the guild management headquarters.
They had been causing a disturbance for a while and wouldn't leave, so Cory had even requested help from the soldiers, but B-rank guild members possessed strength that even the soldiers couldn't easily handle.
"What? The Grand Duchess?"
Here we go again.
It was their usual routine: stories of bullying newcomers and disparaging Kynemia Lion, the Grand Duchess.
"She's just trying to curry favor by selling suspicious potions, claiming it's alchemy or whatever! Her wicked nature can't be hidden!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
Joey smirked, watching those around him nodding in agreement. They were the kind of lackeys who would agree even if he claimed a deer was a wolf. Feeling superior, he slammed his beer mug on the table and continued his sneering.
"What kind of Grand Duchess is she? She just happened to be born into a good family—no, wait, maybe she was born into the wrong family! That wicked woman will probably follow her family soon enough!"
Joey's words caused his companions to erupt in laughter.
He was reveling in the laughter of his lackeys, feeling smug about his clever remarks, when suddenly, a low voice cut through the laughter.
"That wicked woman—"
The laughter ceased, and everyone's attention turned to the source of the voice.
"...?!"
Standing there was a tall man who had appeared silently.
"—who are you referring to?"
When did he...!
I didn't even notice the door opening.
Is he a skilled warrior?
Joey's expression hardened, and his lackeys, noticing this, began to whisper amongst themselves.
'Don't be intimidated!'
Joey, his face contorted, gripped his beer mug tightly.
"Of course... of course! I'm talking about Grand Duchess Kynemia! Don't you know the infamous wicked woman of the empire?"
"I see."
The man's brief response was almost simultaneous with the following action.
Swoosh
The table, sliced cleanly in two, slowly separated to either side.
"...?!"
Joey stared blankly at the severed edge, less than a millimeter from his knee, before slumping to the floor in shock.
'I didn't even sense him drawing his sword, let alone cutting the table?!'
As Joey, and even his lackeys, turned pale, the man, with a leopard-like presence, spoke calmly.
"I intend to take your life for insulting my lord. Do you object?"
Of course, I object!
Joey's mouth gaped open, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
But his lord? A man like this serves the Grand Duchess?!
'What kind of insane situation is this!'
Joey subtly shifted his body backward. He knew without even needing to test it that he couldn't stand up to this man.
Moreover, the other party had already declared his intention to kill him.
'I need to escape.'
Running away might be cowardly, but it was the only way to survive.
"Joey!"
"Huh?! Joey!"
"Where are you going?! By yourself!"
"Shut up!"
Joey retorted to the voices of his lackeys behind him and immediately dashed out of the guild management headquarters.
The lackeys, their faces ashen, turned their gazes back to the man with the leopard-like presence.
Instead of pursuing Joey, the man called out to his subordinate.
"Maren."
"Yes, Chief."
A figure, masked and veiled, appeared from seemingly nowhere and bowed.
"Take that scoundrel to an unseen location and finish him."
Maren nodded and vanished.
All eyes in the guild management headquarters were now fixed on the man who had appeared like a storm and caused a B-rank guild member to flee.
"I apologize for the disturbance."
Rou bowed lightly to those around him and then headed directly to the desk.
People's faces turned, following his movements.
Cory, who had been sitting at the desk, frozen with the stamp in hand, stammered.
"What... can I... do for you..."
"I've come to register a guild."
Guild registration?! He certainly didn't look like a newcomer...
"Then... your name..."
"Kshan Rou."
Upon hearing the name, gasps were heard from the surroundings. Cory was no exception.
Kshan Rou? Isn't he the leader of the Black Night Guild!
So... is this the revival of the legendary Black Night Guild?
'This is incredible! A major event!'
To witness the revival of the Black Night Guild firsthand! This was a story that would capture anyone's attention.
Cory, his hands sweating with excitement, swallowed and asked with a serious tone.
"Kshan Rou. Please state the name of the guild you wish to register."
Rou nodded.
Everyone in the headquarters was focused on the words about to come out of his mouth.
In response, Rou stated with utmost solemnity.
"Black Night, followers of the radiant fairy Kynemia Lion.”
