Chapter 89

‘For him to show emotion like that. Has he finally developed a weakness?’

Igrid concealed his triumphant smile behind a suave demeanor.

“Well, I was passing by the Magic Tower today and saw some illusion magic…”

“And?”

“Honestly, I was a bit shocked. Her face looked like a pumpkin smashed under a rock. It was hideous.”

“…”

“You sure have a strong stomach. How can you date a woman who looks like that? Besides, she’s not in her right mind, talking back to Father like that.”

Igrid snickered, moving his hips in a vulgar way.

“Is the princess good at… other things? Is that why you’re with her?”

At that moment.

*Thud.*

Dante threw the towel he was holding to the floor. Then, he slowly cracked his neck from side to side, a menacing sound echoing in the silence.

*Crack, crack.*

The smile slowly faded from Igrid’s lips.

No matter what weakness he might have, Dante was not someone to be taken lightly.

He was a crazed monster who would smash a vase over his younger brother’s head for no reason.

“Ack! W-what are you doing! Are you crazy?”

“I told you to stop.”

“Did I insult you? I was just telling you the rumor that the duke’s daughter is crazy! Why are you hitting me all of a sudden?”

“Your voice is disgusting.”

“This… this monstrous bastard, who do you dare call disgusting? Hey! I’m bleeding! You think Father will let you get away with this?”

“I get it, so shut your mouth. My head hurts.”

For that, the emperor locked Dante in the Red Room for five days. Without so much as a meal, not even a sip of water.

And yet, Dante hadn’t died. He had survived.

When they were young, he had been terrified of Dante. He was like an immortal monster.

‘But not anymore.’

He was the prince favored by his father. The true heir who would soon sit on the throne.

He was a superior being, beyond comparison to a monster who was constantly being punished.

‘Just you wait until I become emperor. You’ll be the first one I kill.’

Igrid straightened his shrinking shoulders.

“Why are you getting so serious? It’s not like I made anything up.”

“Get out while I’m still being patient.”

Dante’s voice was low. But Igrid’s sneering only intensified.

“Did I hit a nerve? I guess that’s the only reason you’d be with an ugly, crazy bitch—!”

Before Igrid could finish his sentence.

Dante’s large hand brutally clamped over Igrid’s face.

“Wha—!”

His nose and mouth were sealed shut by the palm, leaving only his eyes exposed.

Igrid, unable to breathe, clung to Dante’s arm.

“Mmph… mmph!”

He struggled, scratching furiously at Dante’s arm with his nails, but Dante didn’t budge.

He merely looked down at him, his expression unchanged.

“Hnngh… ple… plea…se.”

In an instant, Igrid’s eyes were stained with tears.

The terrifying grip was so tight it felt like it would crush the bones in his face.

Dante whispered into the ear of the trembling, terrified Igrid.

“I’ve thought this for a long time, but your mouth is the problem.”

“…”

“Even when we were kids, you spouted filthy nonsense every time you opened it. You’re old enough to know better, but you’re still the same.”

“S…sorr…”

“An apology only works once or twice. Can’t you control yourself? Should I just tear your mouth open for you?”

A cold sweat quickly formed on Igrid’s forehead.

It was maddeningly terrifying how his voice remained endlessly soft while he spoke such horrifying words.

Dante gently brushed a strand of hair stuck to Igrid’s forehead.

“You’re sweating a lot. Are you that scared?”

“…”

“You knew you’d piss your pants like an idiot, so why’d you keep poking? You know I have no patience.”

“…”

Tears welled up in the corners of Igrid’s eyes and streamed down his cheeks.

“Don’t touch the princess. Don’t look at her, and don’t speak her name. Got it?”

“…”

“You need to answer, brother.”

Unable to move his head, Igrid blinked his eyes frantically. Only then did Dante release his grip.

“I’m going to take a bath. Tell His Majesty to wait.”

With that, he walked past Igrid and into the bathroom.

The glance he shot down at him was as dry and lifeless as if he were looking at an insignificant object, not a person.

*Click.* The bathroom door shut.

Igrid, who had been standing there trembling, collapsed weakly to the floor.

“Hah! You crazy son of a… ugh!”

His entire face throbbed with pain.

His jaw, in particular, felt like something was wrong; he couldn’t even enunciate properly.

It would surely be bruised black and blue by tomorrow.

‘How dare he… a monster like him!’

Igrid ground his teeth.

“Just you wait. I’ll make you regret this!”

* * *

The next day, the entire Magic Tower building glowed with white light.

It was a light so immense it could be seen from anywhere in the capital.

Startled passersby stopped in their tracks and stared at the Magic Tower.

“Gasp! Wh-what is that?”

“I thought the building was exploding… Is something happening at the Magic Tower?”

“I’m not sure… It doesn’t look dangerous. Let’s go take a look.”

A crowd of onlookers gathered around the Magic Tower like a cloud, all drawn by the strange light.

Then, the light abruptly vanished.

At the same time, the back of a figure appeared on the building’s outer wall.

The figure stood with their back turned, a massive sword held at an angle.

As the crimson dress swayed in the wind, uniquely shaped boots peeked out.

“Uh…? That looks like a Louis design, doesn’t it? See, there’s the logo!”

“Oh my! Could that dress be the uniform? The one Princess Astell said she would provide to her guild members!”

“Gasp! Then could that be Princess Astell herself?”

“We can’t see her face, but it probably is, right? Anyway, that uniform is gorgeous. Ah, why am I not a Hunter?”

“I don’t know who will join Guardian, but I’m so jealous.”

The person in the video, still showing their back, walked forward.

As she did, her long, wavy hair was revealed, and the blurry figure of a black knight appeared before her.

“Ah, silver hair? It must be Princess Astell!”

“It looks like the video from before she fought the Dark Knight, doesn’t it? Her hair and clothes are the same.”

“Oh! I think you’re right. I was so disappointed when that video suddenly disappeared…”

Astell stepped forward calmly, lifted her greatsword, and plunged it deep into the ground.

*Thunk!* The moment the blade struck, the video ended.

Then, from the now-black wall, light seeped out to form words.

[I will protect you.]

It was the grand opening video for the Hunter guild, ‘Guardian.’

* * *

In front of the Guardian Hunter guild headquarters.

A woman in shabby clothes loitered near the building.

Fumbling in her pocket, she pulled out a note and, after reading it, hurriedly stopped a middle-aged man who was passing by.

“Excuse me, sorry to bother you, but can I ask you something? Is this the Guardian headquarters?”

“It is.”

“I came up from the countryside, so I haven’t heard anything. They’re starting to recruit guild members today, right?”

“You’ve come at the right time. Applications start today.”

“Oh! That’s a relief. Could you tell me where to apply?”

“It hasn’t started yet, so you’ll have to wait over there.”

“Huh? Where?”

“See those people?”

The woman turned her head, following the man’s gesture.

A long line of people was stretched out there.

Some had brought chairs and were chatting, others were eating packed lunches, and some, apparently tired from waiting, had even spread out mats on the ground to sleep.

A rough count showed well over a hundred people.

The woman asked, her voice weary.

“Are all those people Hunters?”

“That’s right.”

“There are more than I expected. I heard everyone had joined Bluebird…”

“That’s because people have come all the way from Akron. You can always leave a guild. I myself put in my resignation and rushed over.”

“Ah… I see. I hurried here on purpose, but it looks like I’ll have to wait a while.”

“Registration starts at nine, so it won’t be long. If you’re getting in line, let’s go together.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“So, what’s your class? I’m a swordsman.”

“Oh, I’m a healer. Though my level is low.”

“Healers are valuable regardless of level. I’d better make a good impression. I’m Simon.”

“I’m Sera. It’s nice to meet you.”

The two introduced themselves and walked on side by side.

It was two hours until the Guardian guild opened.