Chapter 97

Even for F-rank or E-rank dungeons, it had to be tough for parties with knights as their dealers to clear the gates.

As expected, the F-rank dungeons that our team could blitz in ten minutes were taking them days to conquer.

And how did I know that?

It popped up, so of course I knew.

And that was perfect timing—a stroke of good fortune.

Coincidentally, Edelweiss territory had the most gates breaking out across the entire West Empire right now.

The more gates we held down here, the better it would be for our plans moving forward.

In the meantime, Shin Jae-heon, Ju Ian, and Hunter So Yeri were spreading the word nationwide.

Of course, our desire for that L-rank dungeon reward—Level 2 increase—was nicely packaged.

Why risk a penalty by saying it straight out?

Shin Jae-heon’s letters flew to every family. I was impressed.

His packaging skills were no joke.

From “Quick-on-the-Uptake Guy” to “Shin Jae-heon Bastard” in a day—he was on the verge of becoming “Brazen Bastard.”

“You’re saying to deliberately leave gates alone and clear them later?”

“What if a gate goes berserk…?”

“His Majesty ordered high-risk gates cleared first.”

The frontline knights handling gates were understandably confused at first.

Just as I’d predicted. But?

“The Guardian Knight Commander said to do it that way.”

“The temple agreed too.”

“The Magic Tower’s throwing their full support behind it.”

“His Majesty approved, so they must’ve sent the letters.”

With the most data on gates and the biggest influence in the empire backing the plan, trust came easy.

And Shin Jae-heon had slyly lit the fuse.

“I heard the East Empire’s trash-talking us, saying we can’t manage gates properly.”

“What? Who are they to talk?”

“Dunno. They mocked us for patrolling blindly since we can’t predict gate spawns, even if they pop early.”

Once the spark caught, the West Empire folk started burning with rage.

“We can’t lose to the East Empire!”

“I won’t hear we’re worse at catching gates than those East Empire bastards!”

And just like Koreans right before a Korea-Japan match, they went wild.

Uniting against a common enemy was a given.

Hunter So Yeri watched it unfold and commented:

Exactly. This wasn’t your average hunter’s opinion-shaping…

Anyway, while the West Empire rallied like Koreans pre-Korea-Japan game, Hunter So Yeri and I finally met the Miyah alliance folks.

It was none other than Count Tenchia’s northern appointment celebration banquet.

“Welcome!”

Greeting us boisterously was Count Baya, his shoulder wrapped in bandages.

“Whoa, what happened to your shoulder?”

I asked, startled, and Count Baya burst into hearty laughter.

“Got injured in a gate. But! To a knight, this is an honor badge!”

He let out a booming kuhahaha! I was impressed.

This guy would probably love hearing there’s a pure dealer mark etched on his forehead.

“For the Magic Tower Master to grace us personally! What an honor to host such a distinguished guest!”

Knights who used to eye us like chicken scraps were suddenly treating mages like treasures after a few gate rolls.

Told you not to diss supports?

Count Baya’s attitude toward Hunter So Yeri was especially deferential.

“Indeed, we never expected you’d come in person.”

The other Miyah nobles marveled.

Even with the Magic Tower signaling support, they’d expected the No. 2 who handled external affairs—not the lord himself.

“She wanted to discuss gate response strategies together. And you were in the territory anyway.”

I said. Truth be told, I’d stayed in our territory just to come here, but details.

“Clona Eisen.”

Hunter So Yeri flashed a sweet smile at the excited pure dealers.

But behind that smile lurked monstrous curiosity, no doubt.

Her eyes sparkled excessively.

Was she confusing this with chat again?

As I worried, Count Baya laughed heartily.

“I’m Count Baya, hosting this humble banquet!”

His voice echoed thunderously. He gestured welcomingly.

“Come, this way!”

Claiming it was nothing much, he led us to a dining hall piled high with food.

Not a battlefield this time, so it was properly noble fare.

Especially in front of Clona Eisen, the knights seemed eager to prove they ate well and lived grandly(?). The spread was excessive.

The problem was…

Hunter So Yeri had the palate of a Korean straight out of hell.

Why was this lunatic’s madness always so national-scale?

“Truth be told, we didn’t expect Miyah to invite the Magic Tower.”

Thankfully, even as Hunter So Yeri vented about soybean paste kimchi in chat, she stayed in character as Clona Eisen.

The Miyah nobles cleared their throats.

“Relations between mages and knights have indeed been lacking.”

Lacking? More like knights despised mages as bookworms.

“It’s true Karman’s view of mages isn’t always kind.”

Hunter So Yeri’s double-speak—outer sweet, inner savage—edged toward penalty territory.

A ticking time bomb!

I kept one hand lowered, ready to hush her, while focusing on the talk.

A bite or two of food wouldn’t kill her.

“…That’s undeniably true.”

Count Baya’s voice sank unusually low.

Then he bowed to Hunter So Yeri.

“We’ve looked down on mages until now. But! This gate crisis taught us much!”

His voice boomed through the hall.

With his loud voice, wide connections, and solid skills, Count Baya was Miyah’s powerhouse.

As he bowed, the other nobles eyed Hunter So Yeri cautiously.

And Hunter So Yeri wasn’t one to spurn a sincere apology.

“We’ve received gracious words, so the Magic Tower will redouble efforts to aid the knights.”

Her double-edged voice rang out.

Count Baya laughed heartily.

“Karman is the land of the sword. His Majesty wields the sword but never mistreats the Magic Tower or temple.”

His face lit with passion as he continued.

“At first, I couldn’t grasp His Majesty’s intent, but now I think I do!”

He clenched his fist.

“The sword! Isn’t stood upon by swords alone!”

I nearly gave a standing ovation.

“Exactly.”

I joined the double-speak myself.

A strange déjà vu hit me.

Hadn’t something like this happened before?

With eyes on me, words spilled out.

“The battlefield isn’t for knights alone. If everyone plays their role, we achieve greater things.”

1+1 doesn’t always equal 2 on the battlefield.

That’s why I saw teamwork as a knightly virtue.

In short: Don’t diss supports and healers! You’ll regret it big time!

Count Baya’s eyes widened at my words.

“Kuhhh!”

Suddenly slapping his knee, forehead, and pumping his fist in the air.

Hunter So Yeri knew she did the same when her stocks surged.

At this point, she needed a hype buddy next to her.

But Count Tenchia, the star, was absent.

Wait, where’s the protagonist? A protagonist-less party?

“Truly wise words. We must preserve them for posterity!”

As I floundered, Count Baya called a servant amid the commotion.

“No need to taxidermy or anything…”

Then it hit me—this feeling was familiar.

Same vibe as the day the Knowledge Tree taxidermied me! Argh!

No matter how I looked, Count Baya scribbling my words on paper handed by the servant spelled trouble.

“Could I have one too?”

A noble beside him snatched an extra sheet.

Why are you grabbing one?

“Me too…”

“Please, for me as well.”

Other nobles slyly snagged sheets.

Before an Edelweiss Count quote collection was born, I swiftly changed the subject.

This vibe would just lead to more taxidermy.

Good thing this world has no Knowledge Tree!

(I’d later learn it had something more embarrassing: family plaques.)

“B-but where’s Count Tenchia? He hasn’t left for the north already, has he?”

Celebrating without our protagonist?

Someone answer—who’s got the scoop?

All eyes turned to me at my question.

Theirs sparkled. Especially Count Baya’s—practically glowing.

He asked,

“Feeling neglected? Is that it?”

“Pardon?”

What were these people thinking?

I froze, then remembered a key fact.

Right—that guy confessed to me!

With every weirdo swarming since becoming S-rank, he’d faded to “Passing Guy No. 1” in my mind.

“Just asking since he’s not here. He’s the guest of honor.”

Iron wall! I held up an open palm.

Count Baya and the nobles exchanged glances.

“No other intentions whatsoever.”

Here, iron wall it hard! No gaps—burn them all!

“Is that so.”

But Count Baya looked sly.

And this romance-obsessed middle-aged man kept bringing it up, even mid-frontline Magic Tower meeting.

“Wouldn’t Countess Edelweiss benefit from a private channel with Count Tenchia?”

“My territory’s the eastern edge; his’ll be the northern. Really?”

Not a chance in hell.

As I walled up, Count Baya and nobles smacked their lips.

“I thought we’d see Miyah’s first couple born…”

What were you hoping for?

“Purely business contacts.”

Count Baya’s eyes filled with more regret.

So regretful? Date him yourself!

I sliced my steak into a 凸 and waved it off.