Chapter 489

Episode 489. The Dispute over the Castle (5)

—How about we decide by age order, from oldest to youngest?

At Seolrang’s words, the atmosphere in the reception room froze. Even the men, who until a moment ago were chatting enthusiastically about the eighth floor. And Historia and Ryanga, who wore expressions of “oh boy…” while listening to Nangwon’s interpretation. Everyone fell silent instantly.

But it was only for a moment.

—Ahem… something just came up that I need to do.

—I don’t care which floor it is, so I’ll take whichever one is left.

Deus and Radan were the first to stand up.

—I’ll go take a look at the castle…

Nangwon also approached the door of the reception room, keeping watch out of the corner of his eye, and left the room in the blink of an eye. Thus, the number of people in the room was reduced to six.

However.

—Ryanga.

—Huh?

Historia cautiously called out to Ryanga. At the gesture of her hand, Ryanga leaned in. Immediately:

—Oh…

After letting out a small exclamation, Ryanga said:

—We are leaving too.

And she hurriedly left along with Historia. Thus, four people remained in the reception room. However, they couldn’t even pay attention to those who had just fled (?) in a row.

The four women sitting there looked at each other. Seolrang wore a meaningful smile. The other three, without exception, remained silent while monitoring one another.

—Well? What do you say?

Seolrang’s voice broke the silence. Agony began to build up on the women’s faces.

… In reality, at this moment, the situation was advantageous for the others and not for Seolrang. It was obvious. Without a doubt, Seolrang’s age was the lowest among all those present.

However, for the other women to be superior to Seolrang, one condition was required. A very important condition. And it was…

That they had to acknowledge their own “age.”

Seolrang looked at the three of them. They, who did not acknowledge their age in their own way. Facing them, Seolrang inwardly sketched a smile of victory. Beating Seolrang was easy: they just had to admit it. But knowing that precisely that was the most difficult and complicated part, Seolrang, with a smile, said:

—Since no one is saying anything, can I assume there are no complaints?

She tried to deliver the finishing blow with a smile, and in that instant:

—No, wait a moment.

—Eh? What’s wrong?

—We haven’t accepted that method yet.

Magrina refuted. At this, Rine, who was lost in deep reflection, also regained her senses late.

—It’s true, Seolrang. We haven’t accepted that system yet!

When even Yutia Bloodia stepped on the brakes, an expression of disappointment crossed Seolrang’s eyes. With a look that said “I thought I could win like this,” Rine observed Seolrang in silence and asked sharply:

—I suspected it, but… you found it, right?

—Yes. I found it in several ways.

Nodding with a meaningful smile, Seolrang looked at Yutia Bloodia and Rine. She murmured, “Then I’ll have to postpone this bet for next time,” and added shortly after:

—… Let’s decide it fairly.

—Fairly?

—Rock, paper, scissors, how about that?

—Oh, that sounds good.

Yutia Bloodia responded with a smile to Magrina’s proposal.

—Denied.

—No way.

However, Rine and Seolrang showed immediate rejection. Magrina put on a bewildered expression.

—Why?

—It’s too advantageous for one person.

—It’s true.

—For whom?

At Magrina’s question, Seolrang and Rine looked discreetly at Yutia Bloodia.

—Oh? Do both of you think I would do something strange in a game like this?

—Yes.

—Aha.

Ugh…

—And a lucky draw?

—Sounds good to me.

—Denied.

—Not possible.

—Why…?

—Because it is advantageous for one person.

At Rine and Seolrang’s immediate response, Yutia Bloodia’s smile cracked slightly for a moment. Shortly after, they entered into a fierce dispute to choose the eighth floor.

Outside, after having left, the men were eavesdropping on the women’s conversation behind the door.

—Why on earth do they say a draw is unfair?

—Hmm, wouldn’t it be because of that? That they can check the inside through some special method.

—Honestly, it’s something that makes no sense, but here there seems to be a possibility…

They looked at each other and nodded. This time, Nangwon raised a doubt:

—Then why is rock, paper, scissors unfair?

—Hmm, maybe because they can change their hand at the last instant thanks to their reflexes?

—Sounds reasonable. But even so, I don’t think they are all at such a disadvantage.

—Or maybe it’s because of accumulated experience.

—… Experience?

—Well, they all have their fair share of years already…

The moment Radan added that while scratching his chin without realizing… the door creaked open.

There she was…

—Radan, do you want to know?

Yutia Bloodia was standing there with a smile.

—Eh? No, this is just… more small talk…

A cold sweat ran down Radan’s back. However:

—Oh, there’s no need to be like that. Why don’t you put out your fist? —Yutia Bloodia invited him kindly (?).

—No, I mean, this is…

—Quickly.

At the insistence, Radan, overwhelmed by the atmosphere, put out his fist without realizing it. Then, Yutia Bloodia, after seeing Radan’s fist, simply…

—… Scissors?

She put out scissors. Scissors made with her small hands compared to Radan’s. In the instant Radan wore a bewildered expression:

The index and middle fingers that formed Yutia Bloodia’s scissors wrapped around Radan’s hand and…

—Radan. Do you know something?

—… What?

Kwak!

She squeezed with all her might.

—Guaaaaakh!!

Radan screamed at the sharp pain and his fist opened instantly.

—W-w-wait a moment!

Radan, whose legs lost their strength, fell to his knees and screamed desperately, but Yutia Bloodia, maintaining her unalterable smile at the plea:

—My scissors beat the fist, you know?

She tilted her head gently. Only after confirming that Radan was completely on his knees after his final howl did she let him go. And looking at Nangwon and Deus once each:

—Does anyone else want to experiment? —she asked kindly.

An extremely normal question. Of course, no one responded to Yutia Bloodia’s offer.

That night.

—… So they decided to vote to choose who gets each floor?

—Yes, so it seems.

—Mmm.

“The castle is huge, do they really need to choose the floors in such detail?” Alon Palatio had that doubt for a moment but ended up nodding. Although his memories were blurry, in the world where he lived, there was a strong tendency to prefer high floors over low ones. Alon Palatio, accepting the logic after remembering housing preferences, listened as Evan continued:

—But, Mr. Alon.

—What is it?

—What are you going to do about the airship matter?

At Evan’s question, Alon Palatio remembered:

—I already mentioned it to Lainicius, but I don’t know exactly what will happen.

—Didn’t you say there was also something to bring from the empire related to airships?

—That’s right.

The reason Alon Palatio couldn’t do it was the lack of information. “We couldn’t spend months searching everywhere just for that.” Thinking thus, Alon Palatio continued:

—Well, I already told Lainicius, so we’ll wait. As for the airship, I’ll have to visit the Magic Tower at some point.

—Won’t you go to the Divine Land?

—I have to go there too. Thinking about it, I have to go to Theria, see Ar, and also meet with the Divine Blood.

Listing the pending tasks, Alon Palatio scratched his head with a “phew” expression. Although he had resolved immediate matters, much still remained to be done. However, he decided to take it easy. It was no use rushing.

‘First I’ll visit the Divine Land and then I’ll have to meet with the Star Group.’

While thinking that:

—… Mmm?

Suddenly he realized something.

—Evan.

—Yes?

—Now that I think about it, where is Penia?

Alon Palatio shifted his gaze to the place where Penia used to be. He hadn’t seen her at all for a while.

—Who knows…?

—You haven’t seen her?

—No. Well, it certainly is strange. Normally she is always here.

Alon Palatio looked bewildered at Penia’s spot, but:

—Well, earlier it seemed like she had an urgent matter, isn’t she working or just having fun? Surely she’ll come tomorrow.

At Evan’s relaxed response, Alon Palatio nodded and stopped thinking about her.

At first, Penia felt despair when she was told that Yutia Bloodia had come. The reason was the letter she had received. She knew perfectly well what a letter arriving from Rosario with the name of Cardinal Yutia Bloodia meant, but Penia desperately ignored it. She knew why that letter had arrived, and she felt that if she went to Rosario saying she had received it, she might disappear without a trace.

Therefore, while desperately ignoring the “re-education” letter, Penia despaired upon seeing Yutia Bloodia arrive, thinking she was coming to punish her. However, she soon saw a ray of hope. She realized that the reason Yutia Bloodia was there was not for her, but for the castle.

Furthermore, when she heard that not only Yutia Bloodia but others as well had come to claim the castle, she was filled with joy. The more people who wanted the castle, the more certain it was that the Cardinal’s attention would be focused on them and not on Penia.

“Have I been saved this time?” she thought. With the hope of taking refuge for a while in the Blue Magic Tower, Penia had discreetly returned to Palantia. But just in case, she decided to spend a couple of nights out and paid for a room in a town inn.

Clack!

—Phew!

As soon as she closed the inn door, she let out a great sigh of relief.

—My, you look very tired.

—Yes, it’s true, very… ???

Penia, who responded naturally to the voice, stopped dead in her tracks. It seemed to her that she had just heard in her ears a voice that under no circumstances should be heard here. Looking forward:

—Hello, Penia?

—Yu-Yutia Bloodia… Car… I mean… Cardinal?

Upon confirming that Yutia Bloodia was sitting on the inn bed:

—Ha, ha, ha… it seems I got the wrong room, sorry.

Maintaining that forced smile, she turned around to open the door, but the moment she opened it:

—Hello?

Seeing Rine’s figure:

Click!

She closed the door again.

—Ha, ha, ha… the door has suddenly locked.

Penia laughed awkwardly. But despite her laughter, Yutia Bloodia simply kept smiling.

—Ha, ha… well, I’ll have to leave, right? Yes, I’ll leave. I got the wrong room.

Looking at Yutia Bloodia’s smile, Penia approached the inn window and opened it.

—Long time no see.

—Hello.

—… Ah.

She could see Magrina and Seolrang waving at her with equally smiling faces.

Clack!

Penia closed the window too.

—I don’t think you got the wrong room, you know? —Yutia Bloodia said, smiling.

Penia, finally turning around, could only say:

—… Please, save me.

Translator’s Note: Poor Penia, she has fallen into the wolf’s mouth!