"Ah..."
Raon frowned as soon as he saw the middle-aged man with black hair.
"Were you here?"
"I came here to rest and relax, but I didn't know you'd be here."
The black-haired middle-aged man chuckled and patted his own shoulder.
-I thought it might be someone, but it's just old chuckles.
Wrath snorted as if losing interest.
'Old chuckles?'
-Because he's an old man who always goes "hahaha!" That's why he's old chuckles.
He shook his head as if to say, "Isn't that right?"
'I suppose that's not wrong.'
Raon briefly clicked his tongue as he looked at the middle-aged man.
'Anyway, I'm glad you're safe.'
The black-haired middle-aged man who suddenly spoke up was Roenn in disguise. As expected of a man called the Killing King, his acting was natural.
"How's Montiro? Isn't it relaxed yet lively?"
"I just arrived today, so I'm not sure. I'm here for work, after all."
"Work? I bet you're thinking of delegating tasks to your subordinates and just having fun."
Roenn smirked as if he could see through everything. It was surprising how he had transformed not just his face, but his expressions and behavior into a completely different middle-aged man.
"That's not it, though?"
Raon shook his head with a grumpy expression.
"Who's this friend of yours?"
The white-haired man standing next to Roenn narrowed his eyes.
'He's strong.'
He looked to be in his mid to late twenties, but his martial prowess felt beyond the pinnacle of Master level. He was a martial artist Raon had never seen before.
"He's the son of an elder I'm indebted to."
Roenn smiled faintly, indicating they were somewhat acquainted.
"I see. Well, carry on with your conversation. I'll be going."
"Thanks for keeping me company today, Calob."
"I enjoyed it too."
The white-haired man called Calob waved his hand dismissively.
"Rensia?"
As he turned to leave the beach, he stopped in his tracks upon seeing Rensia standing behind him.
"Mr. Calob! Hello!"
Rensia smiled brightly and bowed her head as if she had just seen her own brother. Her hands, tightly gripping her backpack, trembled slightly.
"Is this your guest?"
"Yes. I started helping him from today."
"It's good to see you working hard."
Calob looked at Rensia for a moment, patted her head, and then left.
"Where did you decide to stay?"
As soon as Calob left, Roenn asked where Raon was staying.
"The one on the hill over there..."
"Balorens? Well, I suppose that's the only place you'd go."
He nodded, saying it was obvious Raon wanted to spend money.
"I'm staying at Balorens too. How about we have a drink together after so long?"
Roenn turned around, telling Raon to follow as if he had no right to refuse.
"Haa..."
Raon let out a long sigh and called Rensia.
"It looks like I'll have to drink with that old man today. Come back tomorrow morning."
He handed her the day's wages while telling her to come back tomorrow.
"But, I've already received it?"
Rensia's eyes widened as she took out the silver coin she had received earlier.
"That was just a tip."
Raon tossed her a silver coin, telling her to take it when it's given.
"Thank you!"
Rensia caught the quickly thrown silver coin with ease and bowed her head.
"Hurry up and come. For a young guy, you're so slow."
Roenn called out to him, acting as if he really was a friend of Raon's father.
"Yes..."
"I came here earlier, and this place is wider than I thought. There's a lot to see. First, the western cave..."
After sending Rensia home, Raon followed Roenn. With his eyes half-closed as if bored, he absorbed all the information about Montiro that Roenn was explaining. By the time he finished hearing about the western stalactite cave and started talking about the church in the east, they had arrived at Roenn's lodging.
"Hmm. Sit over there."
Roenn pointed with his chin to a table by the window overlooking the sea.
"Yes..."
Raon nodded reluctantly and sat in the chair opposite Roenn.
"Did I talk too much about myself? How have you been doing all this time?"
"Well, same as always. Work and rest, work and rest, repeat."
He answered that he had only been working, slightly rotating his shoulder.
-Are you hiding even here?
'There are no people, but artifacts or barriers might pick up sounds.'
Since it was certain that Montiro itself was strange, it was better to be careful until the secret was revealed.
"Is your father doing well?"
"He's doing so well it's almost a problem."
As he nodded, thinking of Edgar, a knock was heard at the door.
"Come in."
The person who opened the door at Roenn's words was a guide. He brought a tray with snacks and drinks to the table.
"Here are the drinks and snacks you requested."
The guide boy bowed his head, seeming accustomed to this task, and placed the drinks and snacks on the table.
"Thank you, Perin."
Roenn gave a tip to the boy called Perin and patted his head.
"It's nothing! Have a good time, both of you!"
Perin hugged the tip he received from Roenn preciously, then closed the door and left.
"These children are working hard."
"Indeed."
"Shouldn't you be living as diligently as them?"
Roenn twisted his lips as if scolding Raon.
[It's been a long time, Light Wind Palace Master.]
However, as he spoke, he wrote in the air with his finger.
"I'm living diligently in my own way, so don't worry about it."
Raon gave a cold reply while writing in the air just like Roenn.
[I was worried, but I'm glad you're safe.]
[I trust my disguise and acting, but even if the Black Tower had discovered me, they wouldn't have attacked. The moment I'm attacked, their suspicion about this place would become a certainty.]
Roenn shook his head, saying that it seemed they weren't under surveillance yet.
[But how did you know I was here?]
[Before meeting you, Palace Master, I contacted an agent from the Black Market. Thanks to that, I was able to learn about the current operation.]
He smiled, saying it was fortunate he had met with the Black Market agent in advance.
[Then, have you found anything suspicious?]
[No. I've been around all of Montiro pretending to enjoy a vacation, but I haven't found anything strange.]
While Roenn verbally nagged, his fingers wrote out polite words in the air.
[Rather, it's a place where everyone is happy and there are no problems. Monsters rampage occasionally, but those called heroes step in immediately, so no damage occurs.]
Roenn shook his head, saying that he had come here in various disguises but couldn't find anything.
[I see.]
Raon bit his lip slightly.
'Well, I suppose that's to be expected.'
Even Wrath couldn't find anything. Before hearing that there was no death energy in this land, even Wrath couldn't detect anything strange. It was natural that Roenn couldn't find anything odd.
[But these people called heroes...]
[Do you remember the white-haired young man who was at the beach earlier?]
[Yes. Despite his young age, he seemed strong.]
Raon nodded, recalling the white-haired young man carrying a greatsword.
[He's the leader of a martial force, his name is Calob, and there are five like him. They're all at the pinnacle of Master level, but they're staying here without any intention of making their names known on the continent.]
Roenn narrowed his eyes as he mentioned Calob's name.
[Could they possibly be with the Black Tower...]
[I was suspicious too and kept watching them, but it's not the case. They don't use demonic energy at all, their aura is even purer than mine, and although their personalities are a bit rough, they truly have the air of heroes.]
He emptied his glass, saying they didn't seem to be related to the Black Tower.
[I see...]
Raon tapped the table with his finger, recalling the situation when he met Calob.
[To be honest, I find it hard to believe that the Black Tower is here, based on what I've seen so far.]
Roenn shook his head, saying that based on his observations, it didn't make sense for the Black Tower to exist here.
[Have you perhaps discovered anything, Palace Master?]
[It's difficult to say right now, but there are a few things.]
Besides the lack of death energy and demonic energy, there was one more suspicious thing, but it wasn't yet at a stage where he could speak with certainty.
[I see. Then I'll trust your judgment, Palace Master.]
Roenn smiled faintly as he refilled the empty glass.
[But Roenn...]
[I trust the Palace Master's will more than my own judgment.]
He bowed his head, saying he trusted Raon more than what he had observed himself.
[The Palace Master... No, Young Master has seen much more than I have since childhood.]
Roenn drank his alcohol with a hearty laugh, as if it were only natural.
[Roenn...]
Raon's hand holding the glass trembled as he felt Roenn's sincerity. Receiving someone's genuine trust was both joyful and weighty.
[I think I need to step out for a moment. I've been in this form for too long.]
Roenn slightly bowed his head, saying he'd return with a new face.
[That would be good. The Light Wind Palace and Central Martial Palace swordsmen are entering in divided groups now, so it shouldn't be difficult.]
[Then I should prepare quickly.]
He smiled thinly, saying he should get ready to leave right away.
"Your face looks gloomy. Did I nag too much? Getting old makes one talk too much, it's a problem."
Roenn chuckled and shook his head.
"Alright. You should go now. It was nice seeing you after so long. Give my regards to your father."
He waved the hand holding his glass as if to say goodbye.
"Understood..."
Raon let out a long sigh and stood up.
"I'll be going..."
"Don't go too far."
Without looking at Roenn waving his hand, Raon opened the door of the lodging and went outside.
'He trusts me more than his own judgment...'
Raon clenched his fist, engraving the words Roenn had written with his finger into his heart.
'Let's find it.'
The secret of this perfect city.
* * *
"Phew..."
Raon exhaled softly as he watched the sun setting on the horizon.
'Has it already been three days?'
Over the three days, the Light Wind Palace and Central Martial Palace swordsmen had successfully infiltrated in various disguises, and the Black Market agents had also entered covertly to perform their roles. However, none of them had found anything strange about Montiro.
Tourists, merchants, and Montiro's residents all seemed to be enjoying happy times, and there was no sign of anyone experiencing misfortune anywhere.
Even he had spent a lot of money meeting many people, but regardless of age or gender, not one person showed any weakness. It was starting to feel like they were searching for a Black Tower that didn't even exist.
'Lady Chamber must be angry too.'
The Light Wind Palace, Central Martial Palace, and even Black Market agents. Despite deploying so many elite units, they couldn't find anything, so she must be stomping her feet in frustration too. Sigh. Raon emptied the bottle and turned his gaze to the right.
"Hmm."
Rensia was humming while knitting.
'That child was ordinary too.'
He had kept an eye on Rensia too, thinking a demonized human might be in disguise, but she was just a cheerful child typical for her age. There was one strange thing about her, but it wasn't necessarily related.
"Rensia."
"Ah, yes!"
Rensia put down her thread and needle and looked up. After treating her well for three days, she was now showing a somewhat familiar face.
"Everyone here seems happy."
"As you've seen, Mr. Kayden, there's nothing but good things happening here."
Rensia nodded with a bright smile.
"The weather is nice, the sea is clear, and everyone is kind. Sometimes monsters appear, but the heroes take care of them all."
She clasped her hands, saying that nothing bad could happen here.
"Is that so..."
Raon clicked his tongue briefly while shaking the bottle.
'Unfortunately, the world doesn't consist of only happy things.'
Even in the seemingly perfect annex building, negative energy occasionally surfaces. There are times when the maids fight among themselves, Sylvia sheds tears worrying about Sia's condition, and Edgar, unable to forget his sins, kneels down to pray.
Past life and present life. Living two lives, he realized that there's no such thing as a perfect life or perfect happiness. As long as people live with other people, unconditional happiness doesn't exist.
"The sun has set. Shall we get going now?"
Raon put down the empty bottle and jerked his chin. Today was the day the underground arena opened. He had wanted to go before, but since it only opened once a week, he had to wait until now.
"Yes. I'll guide you!"
Rensia put her knitting materials in a blue bag and stood up.
"The entrance fee is quite expensive. Is that okay?"
Having seen him spend money lavishly, she asked as if it would obviously be fine.
"You don't need to ask that."
"Then let's go!"
Rensia smiled brightly and walked down the main street, as if telling him to follow. At first, she had been afraid of him, but now she seemed to have realized he was just a rich idler and was treating him familiarly.
"It's this way."
She led him to a small church behind the Balorens Hotel.
"A church? The arena is here?"
"Yes. Isn't it interesting? I guess people don't believe in God here."
Rensia spoke as if she didn't believe in God either as she entered the church.
"Welcome."
A bronze-skinned man who seemed taller than 2 meters approached, dressed as a pastor.
"Hello!"
As always, Rensia greeted the adult cheerfully as soon as she saw him.
"You can give the entrance fee to the pastor."
She gestured for him to give the entrance fee to the person who could be either a pastor or a thug. In reality, her fingertips trembled as if she was scared.
"Hmm."
Raon slightly furrowed his brow as he tossed a gold coin.
"May God's blessing be with you."
As the muscle-bound pastor waved his hand, the floor with the angel statue opened, revealing stairs leading down.
"Let's go."
Following Rensia down the stairs, a space brighter and more lavish than the Balorens Hotel lobby was revealed. Under brilliant lights, numerous people were enjoying gambling.
"This is the underground gambling den. The odds are 2 to 10 times higher than the gambling halls you've seen outside."
Rensia nodded, suggesting it would be better not to gamble here if possible.
"When you say things like that..."
"Yes. You'll probably gamble more. I'm sorry..."
She bit her tongue slightly as if realizing she had made a mistake.
"..."
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the people in the gambling den.
'I can't sense any death energy here either.'
Montiro, being a tourist destination, had quite a few gambling dens. But even in gambling dens where people were falling into ruin, no death energy could be felt, and it was the same here.
-There's no demonic energy either.
Wrath wrinkled his nose as if in disbelief.
'It really doesn't make sense.'
It was incomprehensible that no negative energy was emanating even among people despairing over lost money or rejoicing over winnings.
"Where's the arena?"
"It's below here."
Rensia said to go to the next floor, crossing the wide gambling hall and descending to the second basement. Perhaps due to the high ceiling, they had to go down many more stairs than when entering the gambling den.
Woahhh! As they arrived at the entrance where dim lights were glowing, they could hear people cheering. It was a sound that made blood boil and stimulated the mind. It seemed the arena had already opened and fights had begun.
"It seems it's started!"
Rensia waved her hand, urging to go quickly.
"Go slowly."
As Raon was leisurely descending the stairs, Rensia stopped at the entrance, her mouth agape.
"How did you come this far?"
A young man with a blue spear slung across both shoulders blocked Rensia's path, frowning.
"Ah, Mr. Felix! I was guiding a guest to the arena!"
Rensia seemed to know the spear-wielding young man and bowed her head with a bright smile.
"Guest?"
The blue-haired young man called Felix frowned as he looked at Raon.
"It's fine to have fun, but isn't it a bit much to bring a child to a place like this?"
He exhaled uncomfortably, suggesting it was going too far.
"..."
Raon clicked his tongue, not looking at the man called Felix, but at Rensia who was smiling brightly yet trembling as she held her bag.
'It seems...'
I might have found a weak point?