Chapter 29: Information Guild (1)

The sunlight streaming down on my face made my eyes open naturally. At the same time, a headache swept over me, drawing out a groan.

It was only natural—I’d stayed up all night working on paperwork.

“Haa…”

Since my success at the hunting festival, all sorts of miscellaneous paperwork had piled up.

From trivial merchant product recommendations to invitations for engagement ceremonies, the variety was endless.

Even though I prioritized and processed them one by one as quickly as possible, the mountain of documents seemed insurmountable.

“Where… am I?”

The rose garden.

I hadn’t been here in years, overwhelmed by my busy schedule.

Why had I fallen asleep in a place like this?

To shake off my drowsiness, I circulated mana through my entire body. The lingering fatigue receded slightly, and fragments of my memory began to return.

Turning my head, I noticed a note pinned to the table.

“Don’t overwork yourself—sleep is important.

P.S. You don’t need to return the coat.”

A coat?

Only then did I realize a fur coat was draped over me.

Come to think of it, I had come to the garden last night to hear out Adele.

She’d seemed particularly troubled lately, and I’d been concerned.

Yet, I ended up falling asleep right there, burdened by her kind gesture.

“Get a grip…”

Focusing entirely on work and documents had taken its toll.

I’d insisted on handling it myself since delegating to Allen felt inappropriate, but overdoing it had worn down both my body and mind.

Ultimately, it was my fault for failing to manage my condition. She was right—sleep was important.

At least the coat had kept me warm through the night, so I wasn’t as exhausted anymore.

‘I should thank her later.’

If it weren’t for her covering me, I might have caught a cold.

Even though I was an Archmage and sword expert, pushing my limits affected my body much like any ordinary person.

Pushing that thought aside, I got up. Passing through the garden, I returned to the mansion.

The familiar desolate atmosphere of the lobby greeted me.

It had been stripped of all luxury, every valuable item sold off. Indulging in extravagance now would only feel absurd.

“Did you wake up, sir?”

“...Yes, it seems I overslept a little, Allen.”

“That’s fine. I’m just relieved you seem well-rested.”

Allen chuckled softly, his tone like that of a kind grandfather.

I couldn’t help but smile. After all, he had cared for me like family all this time.

Without him or Laura, I might have gone mad in this house long ago.

As I reflected on this, Allen seemed to recall something and spoke.

“By the way, it seems there’s news from the guild.”

“News?”

“Yes. They claim to have found a clue regarding the inheritance.”

The inheritance…

Could it be that? I thought it would take longer, but it seemed they’d found it sooner than expected.

“Understood. I’ll head there immediately.”

“What about breakfast?”

“Sorry, I’m a bit busy…”

“Miss Adele is waiting for you.”

I paused mid-step at Allen’s words. Could she have skipped breakfast just to wait for me to wake up?

While the information about the inheritance was crucial, ignoring her felt wrong.

“Ha… Didn’t you tell her to go ahead and eat?”

“Of course.”

Allen smiled as he said so, making me let out another sigh.

“...Fine. I’ll eat before leaving.”

Allen, as if waiting for this, escorted me to the dining hall.

As I entered, a familiar figure came into view—jet-black hair and ruby-like red eyes.

My fiancée and the protagonist of this world, Adele.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, thanks to the coat you covered me with.”

“That’s a relief.”

Her voice was filled with genuine concern, making me feel slightly awkward.

‘Is she worried about me?’

It was easy to respond to hostility with hostility, but receiving such sincere kindness left me feeling uneasy.

Especially since our relationship had started as nothing more than a contractual marriage.

At some point, however, we’d begun to care for each other.

If I had to pinpoint a turning point, it was likely the hunting festival…

But even now, I couldn’t quite figure it out.

Lost in thought, I noticed the breakfast tray being served. Sausages, fried eggs, and bacon—though simple, it was a generous portion for breakfast.

Adele, delicately holding her fork and knife, ate with perfect etiquette.

Recalling how she used to eat with no care for manners, I marveled at how much she had improved.

“...Is there something on my face?”

“No, I was just pleased to see you’ve mastered proper dining etiquette.”

“Is that so? I’m glad.”

With that, she resumed her meal.

I couldn’t help but wonder how someone so small could eat endlessly.

As someone who had always been a light eater, both in this life and the last, I found her appetite fascinating.

“Adele, you eat so heartily.”

“...Allen said that’s not exactly a compliment,” she replied, pouting slightly and glaring at me.

Her hamster-like expression made me chuckle.

“I meant it as a compliment, so don’t worry.”

“You barely eat, though, Abel. Isn’t that a problem?”

“I’ve always been a light eater, so there’s no need to worry about me.”

As the casual conversation continued for a while, breakfast was nearing its end when Allen approached me.

“Excuse me.”

“What is it?”

“They say the Crown Prince has arrived at the Information Guild.”

I had asked them to notify me whenever the Crown Prince visited the guild. To think he would show up just when I had a reason to visit the guild.

It seemed my luck was good this morning.

“Something urgent has come up. I’ll head out first.”

“Understood. Please take care.”

“You as well, Adele.”

With those words, I immediately cast teleportation magic.

There was no need for complicated calculations.

The most convenient feature of my spatial magic was that I could teleport without restriction to any location I had visited before.

When I turned my head, a shabby wooden building came into view.

‘It hasn’t changed a bit.’

The sign hanging from the building’s pillar was cracked and on the verge of breaking. Cobwebs under the roof gave off an eerie vibe.

To anyone else, it looked like an abandoned ruin. But that made it the perfect location for the Information Guild.

From my subspace, I took out a mask and put it on.

It wasn’t just any mask but one enchanted with an exceptionally strong perception-blocking spell.

Acquiring it had cost me a fortune, but its value was undeniable.

Knock knock knock knock.

I knocked four times, and a man’s voice came from beyond the door.

“The hawk crossing the moon—”

“Can even cross the sun.”

The passphrase, which changed regularly, was always annoying to memorize.

A seemingly random combination of words, yet they somehow formed a plausible sentence.

“Come in.”

With those words, the door opened. Unlike the eerie exterior, the interior was warm and inviting.

A cozy fireplace heated the room, with people drinking around it. Others were gambling for entertainment, adding to the lively atmosphere.

The Information Guild wasn’t just a place that dealt in all sorts of information from across the empire.

It also served as a brokerage that connected clients to mercenaries who could fulfill their requests.

Because of this, the place was often filled with mercenaries lingering around.

Unlike most guilds, however, this one was unique in that only those with significant accomplishments could enter.

Lost in thought, I realized a man was guiding me somewhere.

“It’s been a while, Cain.”

“Yes, it has. Is that scar still the same?”

Cain—

It had been a long time since I heard that name.

It was an identity and name I had created to navigate the underworld.

Ever since I established the Ravens and began gathering information independently, I hadn’t been called by that name.

“Yeah, it seems even potions can’t do anything about it.”

The man scratched at the scar running across his right eye as he spoke.

I didn’t know his name, but I’d worked with him a few times, so we shared some familiarity.

“How’s the new recruit?”

At my question about Luke, the man paused to think before nodding as if he understood who I was referring to.

“Ah, that sharp fellow? He’s rigid, but his work is flawless.”

“Seems he’s doing well.”

“Yes. It’s no surprise, considering you recommended him. His skills are top-notch.”

Well, of course.

That’s what it means to be the Emperor’s Sword.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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