Translator: Pai_

The Obsidian Baron was in a go⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌od mood. Or at least, he had exquisitely calibrated his expression to make it seem that way.

His vassals were keeping their households in order, so naturally he would be pleased.

"Let's see. Four hundred and seventy-seven people stranded out in the open, you say? This is no time for us to sit around chatting amongst ourselves."

Click. The Baron beckoned with his fingers.

One of the retainers who had been standing at attention behind him stepped forward and bowed his head. His movements were so utterly professional that he looked like a painting titled [Shadow of a Noble House] come to life.

"You called, Your Ex⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌cellency."

"No, not you. I was calling for the Head Warrior. Why are you the one popping out?"

"Ah."

Sheepishly, Retainer No. 1 returned to his place.

To Retainer No. 2, who had swiftly taken the handoff, the Baron spoke.

"Head Warrior. Take the men and go lend the gatekeepers a hand. Five hundred people are stuck with nowhere to go. This is exactly the kind of time we should be pitching in together."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

"Don't cut corners on the body searches or the luggage checks. And......."

In a murmur. In a voice too low for anyone but the intended listener to hear, the Baron issued a string of instructions. Retainer No. 2 gave a brusque nod of his hulking frame.

"Understood."

"Good. Do your best. And Mun Geum! You will take command of these warriors and handle the inspection procedures."

Mun Geum, who had been making himsel⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌f one with a borrowed sack of barley in terms of presence, jerked his head up with a start.

"Pardon? I, I didn't quite catch that?"

"When it comes to the gates, you're the expert, aren't you? Everyone should play to their strengths. Well? What are you all standing around for? Get out there and get to work. This is the lifeblood of the Royal Capital. We can't very well have the flow of goods completely choked off, can we?"

The Baron sank deep into his wooden chair. This musty military tent seemed as comfortable to him as a sauna.

"It's been a while since I've had a chance to watch you all work together. Go on, now. Don't mind me."

= Please, for the love of all that is holy, mind me very much.

"Y-yes, yes, sir......!"

Cold sweat trickled down Mun Geum's neck.

The area in front of the gate became a flurry of activity in an instant. Dozens of warriors were deployed alongside the gatekeepers. Naturally, the siblings Mun Si-ah and Mun Su-ho were included.

"Take off your outer garments! No, not your underclothes, you idiots!"

"If you've got weapons, put them on the ground, now!"

"The faster you move, the sooner you get in!"

The inspection itself was not terribly difficult. The people followed directions without much fuss.

Citizens of the kingdom were born with a spirit of defiance and a rebellious streak, but the moment the trifecta of 'talking back here means treason charges', 'a noble lord is present', and 'those are clearly warriors who have seen real combat' came together, they suddenly felt the national anthem swelling up from deep within their chests. But of course. When the lords are busy, it is the duty of loyal subjects to cooperate.

The problem was.

"Heh heh."

There was a human panopticon sitting right behind them, watching everything.

On top of that, the warriors deployed under the pretense of "helping with gatekeeping duties" were, each and every one of them, killing machines who had accompanied their lord through multiple wars.

"Uh, well, about this. Longswords require a Sword-Carrying Permit. And the thing is, these get renewed on a six-year cycle, and it expired just, uh, two weeks ago. Normally this sort of thing gets a pass......."

"......."

"H-hiiik. Exemption! Exemption! Go over there for re-inspection!"

Even among vassals, there were clear type matchups.

The water-type gatekeepers, who specialized in defensive operations, felt exactly as if a Pikachu had walked up and said, 'I'm gonna stick right by your side and help! Oh, by the way, my cheeks sometimes shoot out electricity I can't even control', and started lending a hand.

Minor infractions that would normally be waved through in exchange for a modest bribe suddenly transformed into gravely serious offenses. The people had no choice but to suffer an inner conflict between their freshly cultivated patriotism and their hearts.

So it seemed like work efficiency would plummet— but.

"Next!"

"Next!"

Two checkpoints were the exception.

Naturally, these were the ones manned by the Mun clan's next-generation aces: the siblings Mun Su-ho and Mun Si-ah.

"Now, mister. The personal limit on tobacco leaf is two handfuls. The rest gets confiscated, simple as that. You're not going to make this difficult, are you? Good. Next!"

"......You stuff your documents in all crumpled like this, and then the ink smears. As if it isn't bad enough that people up north write Dragon Language like garbage. How is anyone supposed to read this? Take better care of your papers. ......Next!"

The lines melted away.

The secret was simple. Starting with Mun Su-ho: not only was he not the least bit intimidated by t⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌he panopticon or the killing machines, he was accepting bribes right out in the open, same as always.

He let minor infractions slide. If a mistake had absolutely nothing to do with the bombing, he waved people through even faster. Naturally, his speed was overwhelmingly superior.

"Wha, wait. That kid, he's......."

"Unbelievable. And after His Excellency personally acknowledged him, too."

The other gatekeepers watched Su-ho's antics with looks of sheer disbelief. More than a few began nervously glancing at the warriors, as if their own guilty consciences were making their feet itch.

But Su-ho had his own reasons for confidence.

'He just wants to see how we normally act. The lord, I mean.'

The Transcription Notebook.

When he had glimpsed the articles from ten years in the future, they had contained mentions not only of the last princess but also of the Obsidian Baron. Wasn't the Baron destined to end up in the obituary column right alongside her?

It was only two days since that night. The contents of the Special Feature he had transcribed were still vivid in Su-ho's mind.

Within those contents lay hints about the Obsidian Baron's character.

「...Looking back, his most painful regret was his failure to identify the traitors. The Obsidian Baron, who had been in charge of internal security for the Kingdom Revival Army, lamented this until his final moments.」

「He had long enjoyed observing people in their daily lives to build a picture of their character. At times, concerned that his own presence might interfere with his observations, he would go so far as to disguise himself and conduct covert inspections of the Baron's District.」

「He was, after all, a baron who prided himself on his 'eye for talent'. But how could human wisdom ever fathom that spies from the Dragon Empire had infi⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌ltrated the kingdom centuries ago, assimilated into its culture, and posed as kingdom citizens across generations?」

「The Dragon Lords had been preparing the kingdom's downfall for a long, long time. From ages past, perhaps from the very day the kingdom was founded a thousand years ago. The Obsidian Baron lamented the fate of having been born mortal....」

As for the parasites lurking within the kingdom, the would-be traitors, the Dragon Empire spies... Su-ho put them out of his mind entirely.

The kingdom was a ruthless class society. Every single one of the traitors outranked him. If some low-ranking gatekeeper started making claims, he would just get crushed and trampled in return.

'What matters right now is the clue about my lord's personality.'

The Obsidian Baron liked observing people.

Which meant showing him an unvarnished, authentic version of oneself was actually more likely to be to the Baron's taste.

The way Su-ho saw it, small-time bribes had never even counted as a vice in this kingdom to begin with.

Even when gatekeepers skimmed a little off confiscated goods, the custom was to tithe fifty percent up to the Baron. In other words, this was all the loyal act of a faithful servant filling his lord's coffers, was it not?

"Next!"

"......Next!"

Mun Si-ah, on the other hand, was a different story.

She simply refused to fall behind an illegitimate child. No grand insight into the Baron's personality, no strategic calculus. She was running purely on the singular conviction of 'I will not lose to him', and that alone fueled her speed.

"Ho ho. Those siblings really do get along beautifully."

This, too, pleased His Lordship.

Beneath the tent, the Obsidian Baron leisurely enjoyed teatime with Retainer No. 1.

"Maybe I worried too much. I was concerned that Mun Geum's nerve was too weak and he might crumble under the pressure this time, but he had his son and daughter propping him up from right behind."

Tok.

"He's the sort who can fend for himself, at least."

"Well. Regardless, that boy Su-ho, I like his work ethic. Sharp and diligent. If the reports are accurate, his martial skills shouldn't be half bad either. I'll have to test him sometime."

Tok.

"You do always take your pranks too far, Your Excellency. That's the problem."

Tok-.

"What did I ever do? Enough of that. If he's that capable, next time I ride out to suppress a rebellion, I could rest easy leaving the gates in his... Hm?"

Tok—.

"Wait. Head Steward, don't you hear something?"

"Sir? Hear what?"

The Obsidian Baron set down his teacup.

And furrowed his brow.

"It's raining."

"What?"

Patter.

Out at his checkpoint, still in the middle of his duties, Mun Su-ho had the Prophecy Newspaper and its flyer rolled up inside his coat.

In that place where not a single raindrop could intrude, the letters squirmed and wriggled to life.

【Correction of False Report!】

「Prophecy Newspaper, October 18th edition, front page.」

「Regarding the report titled 'Obsidian Baron Catches the Flu!'. We offer our sincerest apologies to our subscribers.」

「Investigation has confirmed that the Obsidian Baron successfully avoided the rain on October 17th and suffered no health issues whatsoever. We hereby issue this correction.」

【Your actions contributed to the correction of this report!】

【A reward is being delivered as a token of our gratitude!】

【You prevented the Clan Newsletter's primary subject, the Obsidian Baron, from falling ill with the flu: Subscription Points +10】

【The Newsletter subject's entire bloodline clan has avoided being held accountable for their lord's illness: Subscription Points +10】

【Current Subscription Points: 20】

Squirm.

* * *

Ratatatattat—.

A sudden downpour. And then a deluge.

In the mist thrown up by the thick sheets of rain, people moved frantically, gatekeeper and warrior and commoner alike, regardless of station.

"Move it! Move!"

"Don't nitpick the small stuff. If they look fine, let them through!"

"We're almost done!"

In the kingdom, weather, or rather celestial energy, was a matter of utmost gravity.

This was a world where magic and monsters were real. Improperly purified air acted like poison on the human body, and rainwater had a high chance of containing such toxins.

With bad luck, a person could lose years off their life just from getting a little wet. In short, it was acid rain, and a pretty nasty kind at that.

"That could have been a disaster."

Fortunately, they managed to process most of the travelers before the rain began falling in earnest.

This was largely thanks to the Su-ho and Si-ah siblings moving so quickly, and partly because the other gatekeepers had, belatedly, buckled down and committed to the inspections.

But from the perspective of the Baron's vassals, there was something far more important than the well-being of nameless commoners.

Crackle, crackle—. A brazier blazed at the center of the tent. The sound of charcoal roasting mingled with the patter of rain, spreading a pleasant warmth throughout the shelter.

Retainer No. 1 let out a sigh.

"......If this tent had been shoddy, we might have failed in our duty to properly attend to His Excellency. I don't know who had the foresight to prepare for this, but thank heavens they did."

"Ha ha. If it rains, you just stand in it and use your Gang Qi to get the blood flowing. That's all there is to it."

The Baron laughed good-naturedly.

"Don't you remember? Some years back. It was pouring just like this, and we cracked those cultists' skulls open with a single charge."

"It was a glorious day indeed. That was thirty years ago, my lord. I'm getting old......."

The warriors filed back into the tent one by one, as the inspection procedures were winding down.

One of the vassals leaned in to whisper to his lord. It was none other than Retainer No. 2, the Head Warrior of the house, the one who had received secret orders from the Baron just moments ago.

"Your Excellency. I've tallied everything."

"And?"

"All travelers who were passing through at the time of the incident had been separated and kept isolated from those who arrived later. Their total number is 477. The count is confirmed."

"Hmm."

The Baron nodded.

"What's your assessment?"

"Forgive my candor, but it did not seem as though the other gatekeepers had independently secured a headcount. For all that, most of them were remarkably unprepared. Even though the civilians had been isolated, they hadn't been organized into proper lines. And above all......."

"Above all?"

"There were several cases of people holding infants in their arms among the crowd. If someone hadn't been paying close attention, those could easily have been overlooked. I suspect the boy named Mun Su-ho counted them on his own."

The Head Warrior paused briefly, then said in a low voice.

"And upon further inquiry, I learned that this was originally a different tent."

"What?"

"The preparations were initially being made to befit Your Excellency's dignity, but then Mun Su-ho apparently rushed over and insisted the tent be swapped out. He argued they needed to prepare for the possibility of rain."

"Is that true?"

"My subordinates each questioned different gatekeepers while assisting them. The information has been cross-verified through three independent sources, so it is almost certainly accurate."

"......."

Tok. Tok. The Obsidian Baron's fingers drummed on the armrest of his chair. On those thick fingers sat a gold ring engraved with the crest of his house.

A glint passed through his eyes, like that of a gold panner who has just spotted a gleam in the silt.

"Interesting. Very interesting. Su-ho, was it......."