Children of the Holy Emperor - Chapter 376



Only Noblemtl

376. Mores Exploration Journal (4)

Owen returned to the Blue Rose Labyrinth and sat down on the sofa with a bewildered expression. In one hand, he was holding the small hat that Sir Marsain had made for him.

[Special Quest – Return to the Zodiac! (Completed)]

As I stared at the small window blinking before my eyes, a strange sense of emptiness washed over me.

‘The ultimate elixir is probably… … .’

It will be written for Mores, or for Mores. If so, there is a high probability that Main Stream 3 will also revolve around Mores.

‘I was planning on giving it to him anyway, regardless of the quest.’

However, once I found out the truth, I couldn’t help but feel a little discouraged.

Owen has never been lazy in his quests. At first, to become stronger. Then, to help the Seonghwang family even a little. And recently, he has been devoted to quests day and night to protect his beloved family.

But the person I was trying so hard to save was, of all people, that annoying guy I had been arguing with all this time!

Of course, Owen would not have ignored whatever crisis was coming to Mores.

But even if he had known the truth earlier, would he have been able to continue to stamp his feet and devote all his energy to the quest as he has so far?

Honestly, Owen couldn’t guarantee that. Maybe the status window knew this well, and so they made an ambiguous title like ‘Save the Castle □!’

‘You know what? I feel like I’ve been seriously cheated, Mr. Status Chang!’

I grumbled into the air, but the status window didn’t respond at all.

Just then-

dripping.

With a small knock on the window, a small, dwarf figure in a sleepsuit slithered into the room. It was the informant from the monkey watchtower who had been assisting him for a long time.

“Your Majesty. I’m a little late.”

Owen shouted, unable to hide his joy, toward the round-faced woman who greeted him warmly.

“Number 9!”

She is a fairly old veteran informant who has remained on the Southern Front since Owen left to finish the job.

It would probably be next to impossible to quickly hand over the complex task of moving between tribes of pagans with different languages ​​and customs.

So, she carefully handed over the work to her successor as much as possible, and then belatedly followed Owen to the capital.

“Welcome back, No. 9. How’s the mood in the South these days?”

“It’s quiet for now. Perhaps because Karazhan, the most belligerent clan, is keeping quiet. Most of the other clans are welcoming the truce.”

Number 9 was speaking in a fast and light tone that was not appropriate for his age. He had always been quick-tempered and quick-spoken, but after spending the past few years with Owen, this tendency had become more pronounced.

Owen was partly to blame for this, as he spent a long time undercover among the Varsha tribes on his orders, and his Imperial accent gradually became slurred until it resembled the speech of the pagans.

“According to rumors, Wakana Tousai is currently having quite a headache over the issue of succession. He has already chosen his young eldest daughter as his successor, but it seems that his eldest son, Wakana Kushat, is strongly opposed to it.”

Unlike Volantha, Karazhan is a clan that mostly passes power through the matrilineal line, due to the long-held belief of the Varsha that daughters carry a thicker bloodline.

But raising children is not always what the parents want, and occasionally, a child is born who is so outstanding that he or she shakes up all the traditions.

Such was the case with Wakana Kushat, the eldest son of Wakana Tousai.

“Yes. I saw him at the Grand Council. He seemed like a pretty bold and ambitious guy.”

Owen also saw the potential of Wakana Kushat as the next successor. No wonder he thought of slowly becoming friendly with him first, rather than the old Wakana Tusai.

Even Owen, an outsider, could sense that, and he could easily imagine how much of a waste he must have been to his fellow tribesmen.

Thanks to that, the Elder Council of Karazhan has been split into two factions recently and is causing quite a stir. There was a reason why Wakana Tousai, that old fox, readily agreed to the ceasefire agreement.

“By the way, how have you been lately? Why do you look so unwell?”

“Well, actually… … .”

Owen, who usually enjoys chatting with No. 9, slowly opened up about his recent worries. Of course, excluding the status window and quests.

And Number 9, upon hearing what Carrie had said to Owen, became furious.

“Does that make sense? You sound like a fucking old hag!”

“Number 9. Do you think differently?”

“Of course! That old man really doesn’t know anything! He’s never trained in Aura, so he probably didn’t hear the details of what the two of you were talking about! Didn’t he just think they were kids fighting again?!”

Number 9 grumbled indignantly as if he had been insulted.

“Prince Mores has clearly crossed the line! This is definitely not a matter that can be resolved amicably!”

“Hmm. I see.”

Although the positions of others were so clear, Owen, the person involved, was rather confused.

Maybe it’s because people change so much, but I feel like my hatred for Mores has been fading away little by little lately.

“Well, in a way, it’s not unreasonable. Wasn’t Grandma Carrie the loyal and dedicated maid of Empress Bethsheba? So no matter what others say, when it comes to the affairs of the Seonghwang family, you just have to look at it favorably and say, “Yes, yes, yes!”

As the saying goes, Carrie’s previous owner was Empress Bethsheba, the mother of the current Emperor. I heard that she served and followed the Empress who had been abandoned both materially and spiritually until the previous Empress banished her to another palace.

Perhaps it was all thanks to Carrie that Empress Bethsheba, who had no divine powers, was able to last so long in the villa where poisoning attempts were rampant every day.

Because she was like that, she could have taken care of Owen, who had suddenly rolled in and become a Seonghwangga. Most of the dedicated maids who have been in the palace for a long time tend to have unnecessarily high self-esteem.

But unlike Owen, who felt grateful to Carrie, Number 9 always seemed to be dissatisfied with her thoughtless and indifferent behavior.

“How dare you assist me with such a shallow attitude? I can’t forgive you! Of course, that annoying old woman has always been like that! So how can you serve the insane empress, whom everyone else finds so daunting, without a second thought… …!”

psychopath?

When Owen flinched, the flustered Number 9 hurriedly swallowed his words.

“… Ah, it’s nothing. I made a slip of the tongue, so just forget about it.”

Owen thought he had heard something incredible, but he didn’t ask any questions about it.

The former empress was the mother of my beloved father. So I didn’t want to listen to any gossip about her, no matter how false it was. Aside from that, I felt the need to calm down No. 9, who was overheated.

“Calm down, No. 9. I wasn’t just listening to Mores back then either.”

“that……!”

Number 9, who had been furious, thought back to the past and unconsciously bit his tongue.

It certainly was. When Prince Mores called Owen ignorant, Owen would lash out with a torrent of harsh insults befitting his ignorance. These were insults of incredible intensity, acquired on the outskirts of Rohan.

At least Carrie was right about one thing. Owen was always full of energy when dealing with Mores, and he never backed down.

“And Carrie has a point. We’re not kids anymore. We can’t just grab him by the collar and fight forever.”

“lowering…….”

Number 9 looked very moved.

“I always think about this, but you are truly a generous person! If only Prince Mores had been half as generous as you are.”

“Enough with the nonsense, let’s talk about work. Actually, there’s something I really want you to do, No. 9.”

Owen brought up an important issue that had been put off until now because he was worried about the sick Mores.

It’s about finding the newbie I met in Pangea Chronicle.

“Is that the name Lee Seong-jin? It’s such a strange name, the pronunciation is so confusing.”

No. 9 tilted his head after hearing the whole story. No matter how much he listened, it didn’t seem like a Delcross-style naming.

“Yes. You said you live in the Yellow Sea, but I heard the surrounding environment is quite harsh. So it would be best to look for it in the slums.”

“Understood. Just in case, I’ll put out a search warrant in the vicinity of the Imperial Capital and report back to you as soon as information comes in. Now, you may rest!”

Number 9 hurriedly greeted Owen and left. It seemed that his hands were itching with the new mission, which was unbearable for his impatient personality.

Owen, now alone again, absentmindedly placed the hood he was holding in his hand on the wooden statue in front of him.

‘Looking at it this way, it seems like I get along well with the old man… … .’

Owen stared blankly at the statue, gathering his thoughts.

Eventually, his relationship with Mores will have to change somehow. Owen is now the only one who remembers the past grudge, and Mores seems to be treating him in an unusually gentle way lately.

‘And there’s also the problem of the next quest.’

Owen shifted his gaze to the newly sparkling quest window.

[Main Quest – Find Your Own Place! new!]

[Quest Level: E]

[You have put an end to the long-standing feud with the heretics, and have brought about a truce that may be the beginning of a complete peace. You have proven yourself as a great prince by doing so, but unfortunately, all your achievements and reputation are currently based on the southern front. When you have no solid support base, the most efficient course of action is probably to help others and borrow their support. From now on, find out for yourself where your strength is needed within the palace, and do not spare your assistance there.]

[Reward: 20 P Cash]

[*This product is available in the Pangea Chronicles store window.]

Owen found himself laughing.

Now, look. Since all the expressions are so vague, it is highly likely that this is also a quest related to Mores.

‘Well, you’re saying I should just stay by his side and kill him for a while. And then occasionally report back to him about his newbie exploration.’

Owen stared at the statue’s warm smile for a moment, then put on the black rabbit eyepatch and slowly closed his eyes.

* * *

Originally, he had planned to head to the main palace as soon as the morning dawned. However, Owen had to change his schedule as soon as he left the Blue Rose Palace. This was because Amelia had asked him to take some time off.

And the place Amelia led him to with a smile was the Pearl Palace, where the owner was currently away.

‘You two have become so close that you can come and go as you please?’

The Jinju Palace had become brighter and more cheerful than before.

As Owen looked around, a large number of servants came and went, bowing politely to Owen. It seemed as if they felt it was natural for them to come and go from the Pearl Palace even without Mores.

“This is it.”

The place where Amelia finally stopped walking was a large atelier with a clear view of the Pearl Palace courtyard.

A young painter, absorbed in his work under a sunlit window, bows his head as they enter.

“That man is the most skilled portrait painter in the Zodiac. Mores signed a contract to employ him for life and even gave him his own studio in the Pearl Palace.”

“okay?”

I thought it was quite surprising that the guy Mores would support an artist, but Amelia’s next words were even more surprising.

“I will become a portrait painter specializing in Seonghwangga people. I said I will spend my life drawing pictures of my family.”

“… You’re drawing your family?”

That Mores?

Owen looked again at the painting the artist was working on.

It was a magnificent picture. A proud boy standing with a huge sword in his hand, with a wide field behind him.

“Is this… a portrait of Mores?”

Although it was still unfinished, it was an outstanding portrait even to Owen, who was an amateur at painting.

Against the black clothing and dark background, the figure’s neat face and light blond hair stand out brightly.

The boy’s deep grey eyes, staring straight ahead, seemed to see through everything beyond the picture, just as Owen often felt whenever he looked into his godfather’s eyes.

“You drew it well. But doesn’t Mores look too mature?”

Owen looked back at Amelia with a trembling expression. Why not? As far as he was concerned, Mores was just a small child.

Of course, it was mostly because I came back after a long time and saw him curled up in bed and grumbling.

“He’s still a little kid, isn’t he?”

As I said the word kid out loud, the image of a cute friend I had recently made flashed through my mind.

Now that I think about it, I think Mores is probably around the same age as Newby. Sometimes, when he talks, he puts his hand out in front of his eyes, which somehow reminds me of that little friend’s habit.

He must have been eating only good things and living well in the palace, so why is Mores still so small?

Then Amelia turned to Owen and let out a small laugh.

“Haha. What are you talking about? Mores is quite tall for his age. It’s just that my brother suddenly grew so much that he looks relatively small!”

“…okay?”

“Well then. And how thoughtful and dignified he is? It’s strange that my brother treats him like a child.”

Deep in thought… and dignified?

That stubborn Mores who doesn’t listen to you?

But as Amelia spoke and looked at the portrait of Mores, there was a deep affection in her eyes that came from the heart.

Owen felt a little puzzled.

If you think about it, it was I who growled the most with Mores, but that was only because he was the one who confronted him loudly without any sense of shame.

If you think about it, wasn’t it Amelia or Logan who got hurt the most by Mores at the time? So how are they all doing so well now?

“But Amelia. Why did you ask me to meet you here?”

“Oh, right. I called you because I thought it would be a good idea to take this opportunity to paint a portrait of your brother.”

“My portrait?”

When Owen asked stupidly, Amelia smiled and nodded.

“Yes. The first drawing is still unfinished, but I think it would be okay to change the order a little. Mores said so. And since I don’t know when I’ll be called to the Southern Front, I think it would be better to draw my brother’s portrait first.”

“Mores… … .”

You asked the family artist to paint my portrait?

“Mores told me to tell you that if you want, I won’t say anything even if you draw it with chicken feathers this time.”

Owen, who was suddenly speechless at Amelia’s joke-like words, stared blankly at the boy in the portrait for a while.