Chapter 93

After the prayer service ended.

Instead of heading to his desk, Joo Yian returned to his room and slumped onto the sofa for a moment.

“Hm…”

His eyes were tired, but that couldn’t be helped.

He squeezed his eyes shut tightly for a second, then opened them.

That was when it happened.

“Your Holiness.”

A Holy Knight’s voice came from outside. It was a familiar one.

One of the Temple’s information brokers who moved in the shadows.

“Come in.”

Joo Yian rose from the sofa as he spoke.

The man entered silently and bowed his head.

“Is it urgent?”

“Not urgent, but there seem to be changes in the dynamics between the Imperial Family and the noble houses.”

“Changes in the dynamics?”

Joo Yian glanced at the Hunter Chat.

If something like that had happened, it would’ve shown up here first, right?

“Yes. It seems the lord of the northern Raella Territory has been decided.”

Emperor Ivan had purged his uncle’s faction and absorbed it into the Imperial Family—a prime piece of land.

It was certainly important news.

“…?”

Joo Yian tilted his head slightly.

For something like this, Hunter Shin Jae-heon would’ve shared it immediately.

Maybe it wasn’t that significant of a personnel change?

“Raella Territory…”

Joo Yian murmured to himself.

It was a territory of considerable size with exceptional productivity, so who took it could shift the balance of power in the northern Empire.

“Who became the lord of that land?”

It was obviously someone from the pro-Imperial faction, but depending on how friendly they were to the Temple, their course of action would change.

It wouldn’t be a new noble house.

As Pope, only Shin Yuri could get permission from him to establish one.

So which house was it?

The moment he wondered, the Holy Knight answered.

“It’s said to be Count Tenchia, formerly of the eastern frontier marches.”

“Ah.”

Joo Yian’s complicated thoughts cleared in an instant.

He raised an eyebrow.

The absurdity was fleeting. Soon, he suppressed a laugh.

“The Emperor made a bold personnel move.”

“Yes. The reason for relocating an old eastern house to the north is still under investigation, but…”

Investigation? No need for that. Joo Yian smiled faintly.

“They must value Count Tenchia’s Gate defense record.”

That was the excuse, no doubt.

Gate defense rate of 92%.

Not up to Hunter Shin Yuri’s level, but overwhelming compared to other nobles in this world.

And the houses near the northern mountains had relatively poor Gate response records.

Perfect excuse.

Putting him there would positively impact the north’s Gate defense rate too.

Knowing all that, Joo Yian couldn’t hide his bitter smile.

Would Emperor—no, Hunter Shin Jae-heon—send Count Tenchia north for that reason alone?

No way.

But soon, a gentle smile returned to his face.

A move that seemed almost aggressive. A warning not to dare lay eyes on her.

He could see and hear the hidden intent. But beyond that, Joo Yian approved of Shin Jae-heon’s decision.

Joo Yian spread his hand.

“Then we should make our move too.”

The pretext was obvious. He continued naturally.

“Make sure Tenchia doesn’t lean too far toward the pro-Imperial side. He already had faith in Lord Shinsian anyway…”

Joo Yian tilted his head slightly before speaking.

“Push forward a plan to build an additional temple in the Raella Plains, the area with the most Gates.”

“…!”

The Holy Knight’s eyes widened at his words.

It signaled that the Pope would be keeping a close eye on Tenchia.

“Where there is battle, Lord Shinsian’s mercy is needed.”

“…Indeed, that makes sense.”

The Holy Knight bowed his head.

Joo Yian smiled softly at him and gestured.

Dismissed.

“I shall carry out the order immediately.”

The Holy Knight withdrew swiftly, looking moved.

—Click.

The door closed, and Joo Yian sat back on the sofa.

“…”

His body felt even more melted than before. Joo Yian leaned back against the sofa.

Then, once more, a pitch-black devil’s whisper echoed in his ear.

‘Let’s make sure Count Tenchia never sees Hunter Shin Yuri again.’

Before Hunter Shin Yuri takes an interest in him.

Before that attention-grabber steals her favor.

So Joo Yian planned to make the north very comfortable for him.

“What was the Gate situation around Raella like…”

He rose and approached his desk.

Frowning at his still-blurry vision, he took out his glasses and put them on.

Edelweiss Territory must really be hot right now.

Well, even I could see why.

A new noble house appearing after 10 years!

Imperial Family interested! Temple interested!

And not only that—the territory’s lord holds the position of Guardian Knight Commander and is friends with the Magic Tower Master!?

This is a winning stock!

I understood why people were flocking here.

[Magic Tower Master Clona Eisen is staying in Edelweiss Territory]

I didn’t bother stopping that rumor from spreading.

No reason to.

If our friendship got out, it’d make meeting up with Hunter So Yeri easier, and above all, wizards quietly gathering at the news of the Tower Master here was good news.

“This is where the Tower Master conducted her research…”

“I knew Edelweiss Territory’s mana flow was unusual from the start!”

Watching wizards act like they knew while trickling in, I smiled contentedly.

Plus, with the large Temple, aspiring priests were starting to gather toward the territory center.

“Where do I go for the Shinsian Temple?”

There were so many like that, I even spruced up the roads a bit.

That way’s to the Temple. That way’s to the Magic Tower.

Didn’t Rome build roads first when founding their empire?

To do anything, good roads are key.

Even if people want to move, bad roads mean they just flop at home watching Nutube.

And the result.

“Wow.”

The stack of knight squad applicant documents in front of me felt like a blunt weapon by now.

I marveled at the little dealers—no, aspiring knights—crowding in to take the exam.

Twice as many as I’d expected.

“Wow, our Hunter Shin Yuri is super popular~”

Hunter So Yeri, looking down at them with me from the spire roof, said.

I shrugged.

“I’ve always been popular. You could pull an all-nighter on Nutube just searching Shin Yuri—didn’t you know?”

“Whoa.”

Hunter So Yeri’s mouth dropped open.

“You didn’t?”

No interest in your own team hunter?

The moment I narrowed my eyes, Hunter So Yeri spoke.

“I was too busy with Hunter Joo Yian’s ASMR to think of searching for you.”

“Oh dear.”

Can’t beat Joo Yian ASMR. Mmm.

Our team’s main hangout was the duplex house.

First floor had Joo Yian’s and Shin Jae-heon’s rooms; second floor had mine and Hunter So Yeri’s separate.

Bought as a villa, but since we stuck together a lot, we just settled in.

From the second floor, open the window, play Joo Yian’s ASMR, and within 10 minutes, someone came up from below.

‘…Hunter Shin Yuri.’

Open the door, and there’s the ASMR star with a troubled face.

‘Um… Hearing my voice before sleep makes me feel weird.’

Politely asking me to turn off his own ASMR. Heh heh heuk.

Couldn’t miss that fun.

“I lose.”

Total defeat. I raised both hands.

Hunter So Yeri burst into giggles.

“By the way, I heard a weird rumor.”

Hunter So Yeri looked down at the swordsmen milling about, waiting for my speech.

Glanced at the clock—8 minutes left.

“What is it?”

I turned, and she rubbed her arms like it was terrifying.

“They say Edelweiss does knight selection as a survival battle!?”

“Huh?”

What nonsense is that? I raised an eyebrow.

Crazy—do a survival?

Then if there’s one real hotshot in there, 2nd or 3rd place get eliminated without a chance.

No plans for stupid selection like that.

“They say Countess Edelweiss is super strict and picky, only hires if you survive 100-to-1.”

Eek, scary! Hunter So Yeri rubbed her arms furiously.

“Where’d you hear that crap?”

“Stuck a clone at the knight application spot and overheard.”

“Sigh.”

Her curiosity! I waved it off.

“I’m heading down to debunk the survival rumor. Who started that?”

Hunter So Yeri burst out laughing at my words.

I accepted her skill and floated lightly downward.

The site’s clamor grew louder.

“Survive, son!”

“Yes, Mother!”

Even intensely dramatic conversations could be heard.

No way—the survival rumor was real? You kids believe that?

“Countess Edelweiss is coming!”

As I neared the platform, the Knight Commander shouted.

Good lungs!

The murmuring crowd quieted at his voice.

I scanned the knights.

[E] [D] [E] [C] [D] [D]

The little dealers’ ranks were visible. Some C-ranks here and there.

Hm, good stock.

“I’m thrilled so many talents have come to become Edelweiss knights.”

No mic on the platform, but my voice rang out naturally.

Magic mimicking a microphone effect.

“… “

The tense pure-dealer kids looked up at me.

Of course, some seemed like wrong-career healers, tanks, or supports.

Even shady dealer-marked guys who might be spies from other territories.

Can’t fool the system window even if you fool people, kids. Tsk tsk.

“I know there’s a lot of talk about this Edelweiss knight exam.”

First time speaking like this in front of a crowd.

A fresh feeling washed over me.

When was the last time? In front of reporters?

‘Send official questions needing responses via mail.’

Seemed like I heard Shin Jae-heon’s voice.

Yeah, from some point, he started blocking reporters swarming me.

‘I hate crowds of reporters swarming.’

After I said that?

‘Why?’

Shin Jae-heon asking that had his deep blue eyes wide open.

Like he really didn’t know.

Because of you.

Almost said it.

No way I’d like the reporters who’d been itching to tear into you since C-rank days.

But I gave a vague answer.

‘They swarm worse than monsters. I want news on my terms.’

After that, he stepped up to cameras more than me.

Sorry, but grateful.

C-rank then, now S-rank.

Top-tier S-rank dealer even among them.

No reporter could ignore him now. Ones who did were fawning over him nonstop.

[Hunters Weak to Recognition Don’t Survive – On S-rank Shin Yuri and C-ranks]

Those absurd columns vanished one day.

“… “

Standing before the crowd, his back came to mind. From some point, he stood in front of me.

Like protecting me.

‘Said I’d die before you.’

As that voice echoed, making me zone out.

“Family Head?”

The Knight Commander called cautiously.