The Priest of Corruption - Chapter 212

Uninvited guest

Uninvited guest

“Come on, this is the right place.”

Following Soldos’ guidance, we arrived at a building without a signboard. Even at first glance, the building itself had a very antique atmosphere, but compared to the bright lights coming in from every window, no one could be seen walking directly inside the building.

I stopped my brief appreciation and shifted my gaze to Soldos.

“What are you doing here?”

“Whatever it is, is there any reason why the place you promised to drink and brought it to was somewhere other than a bar?”

“If a person like Monk Soldos could go, it must have been a famous store, but there was no signboard, so I wondered if it was a bar.”

“That’s what’s so special about ‘No Name’ here.”

Soldos laughed very eagerly and patted me on the back.

“It’s not too late to go in and explain further.”

“yes.”

After following him into the building, the person who appeared to be an employee confirmed Soldos’s face and guided us to the third floor of the store without saying anything. The space we arrived at at the end of the guide was a very large space for two people to drink.

In the room decorated with antique patterns, there was a small sofa and a brown table compared to the size of the room.

“Come on, sit down.”

When I sat down, Soldos gave the waiter a short command, ‘I’ll ask for the usual food,’ and sat down with his buttocks across from me.

“So I wonder why this store doesn’t have a sign?”

I’m not that curious. However, a drinking party not related to work was okay as long as there was something to chew on. I also enjoyed hearing a lot of stories.

The waiter poured out a glass of water he had left behind and handed it out to Soldos.

“It sounds peculiar.”

Soldos added, ‘Thank you.’ He took a glass of water from me, took a sip, and opened his mouth again.

“As for the reason, it would be appropriate to start with the usefulness of signboards. Come to think of it, why would a store have a sign with its name on it?”

“There may be many things, but isn’t the biggest purpose of promoting the store? You have to tell passers-by what kind of store it is so that customers will come to the store or not.”

“yes.”

Soldos shook his head at my words and added his words.

“Then, wouldn’t a store that doesn’t need to attract customers on the roadside not need a signboard?”

Does it feel like it is operated as a membership system without anyone accepting it?

“So this seems to be a place that only special people like Soldos can find.”

“Yes. Besides, in fact, this is not a store run for profit, but a place run with the patronage of rich rich people and nobles who want a quiet place to have a drink.”

He laughed lightheartedly and added a small word, saying, ‘Thanks to that, I can drink high-quality alcohol and snacks at a cheap price.’

I was honestly a little taken aback by his friendlier attitude than I expected. I thought you called me to ask me something.

While we were chatting, a waitress came and served us drinks and snacks on the table.

With skillful hands, the waitress cut the meat, which was still brown and still sizzling, into bite-size pieces, threaded through thin awls that looked like toothpicks, and arranged fresh vegetables and meat neatly for ease of eating.

‘Salhat…’

My mother swallowed saliva in her arms at the delicious appearance, but she couldn’t taste the food.

I’ll have to buy it next time I get a chance.

“How is it? Many of the side dishes here come in bite-sized pieces that are easy to eat while talking like this. Come on, let’s have a bite.”

When the waiter bowed his head and left, Soldos picked up a snack without hesitation, ate it in one bite, and exclaimed that it was delicious. I followed him, picked up a piece of meat stuck on a toothpick, pushed it into my mouth, and chewed it.

Absolutely no taste whatsoever. The least interesting thing is the crispness of the vegetables chewed together with the tender meat.

I sneakily looked into Soldos’ eyes.

Should I tell him that I can’t taste the taste, or would it be better for me to pretend that Soldos, who served me, is delicious so that he doesn’t feel embarrassed?

Soldos looked at me gently as I quietly ate my food. He unstopped the bottle, filled my glass, and held the bottle out towards me.

“You pour me my cup.”

I took a drink from his hand and poured the right amount into my glass. In the transparent vanilla-colored liquor poured into the glass, small bubbles gently rolled over.

“Then take it.”

Lightly clinking the glasses, I passed a little of the sake down my throat.

“hmm?”

Of course, alcohol had to be like water to me, who didn’t feel much of a taste. However, as soon as I passed this drink down my throat, tiny air bubbles violently tickled my throat. I couldn’t help but exhale a little admiration at this nostalgic tickle.

“Oh…”

Yes, this was a highly carbonated drink.

As I gazed at the glass, soaked in emotion, I heard a low voice.

“Since you lost your sense of taste, I specially prepared it for you. With snacks and drinks that even those who have lost their sense of taste can fully enjoy.”

Information I never told him. I quietly put my glass down and met Soldos’ eyes.

“Did you like the texture of tender meat and crunchy vegetables? What about the taste of the foam tickling your throat? To be honest, I like strong drinks, so I don’t really like alcohol like these children’s drinks. Priest Marnak.”

The master of the empire, who had stayed for over a hundred years but was young in appearance, smiled and spoke to me playfully. Thanks to that, the feeling of enjoying carbonated water, which I hadn’t tasted in a long time, was blown away.

“Did you investigate my background?”

His smile grew even thicker at my question.

“Beauty is a young priest protected by the emperor who wears lots of beauties, and his teacher is a master with superior skills than me. If you were a person wearing such a bunch of conspicuous modifiers, you would have made a name for yourself somewhere… Somehow, I’ve never heard anything about you.”

Soldos lightly reached out, picked up a meat-studded toothpick, pulled it out in one bite, and pointed the end of the toothpick at me.

“Since I am like this, wouldn’t it be more strange not to do a light background investigation before meeting you?”

How far did you find out? Did they even find out that I am a worshiper of evil spirits?

Unless you know how far the author knows, it was difficult to say anything. Rather, there was a high possibility that I would make a mistake and pass on useless information.

“I thought this was a light drinking party…”

“It’s a light drinking party. I just want you to clear up some of the old man’s little doubts before we start talking.”

Based on his words, I was able to guess one thing.

That Soldos hadn’t heard from the Emperor about me. If he had heard about me from the emperor of the Northern Empire, who even knew that I was a worshiper of evil spirits, there would have been no reason to set up a meeting like this and ask me questions.

In that case, it would be better to answer assuming that you do not know that I am a worshiper of evil spirits.

“What are you so curious about?”

Soldos pushed the bowl lightly with an empty smile that didn’t match his youthful face at all.

“Listen while eating. I’ve been looking into you, and you’ve done quite a bit of good in the Northern Realms. The saviors of Eradico, the antagonist of evil spirits of Kelton, the demon slayer of Gus. All of them are honorable titles. In addition, he left the city without expecting anything in return. It is very commendable.”

“I only helped because there were people in need.”

“is it?”

Dark golden eyes stared at me. Soldos looked at me quietly before opening his mouth again.

“But after digging a little deeper, I had a small question. All of Marnak’s journeys began in Gus. Unusually, his past before Gus was clean, so it was close to pure white paper. As if someone deliberately erased your past… or it just fell from the sky.”

It was natural. In the first place, it was Gwis who wore the priestly uniform of a priest and took the name Marnak.

“Before that, it must be because I lived very quietly in the mountains.”

“okay? what happened Actually, I’m not particularly curious about your past. There’s nothing else I’m really curious about. Please answer this question.”

“What is it?”

He quenched his throat with carbonated liquor, stared at me, and opened his mouth heavily.

“What kind of plan is His Majesty the Emperor drawing up right now?”

“yes?”

i don’t know that either.

Whether I was taken aback or not, Soldos quickly added his words.

“Since the Emperor, who is so strict with the law, gives you so much favor as an exception, at least you know more than I do.”

“Um… would it be okay if I told you honestly without a single lie?”

“That is exactly what I want.”

I honestly told him the story of meeting the emperor who was pretending to be a gardener after being invited by Rusona to eat at the Rose Palace. Except for the fact that I am a worshiper of evil spirits.

“Hmm…”

After hearing the story, Soldos buried himself in a chair with a somewhat languid expression.

“So you’re saying His Majesty told you to do as you please?”

“I was very candid. Can you believe it?”

“No, no.”

He waved his hand helplessly.

“Listening to your story, I don’t think there’s anything suspicious about how His Majesty treats others. Usually His Majesty is not the kind of person who shows his intentions outside.”

“Is that so?”

“Whoa…”

Soldos sighed and quietly refilled his glass. He picked up one of the snacks, shoved it into his mouth, and opened his mouth again.

“The reason I asked you such a question is because of what Your Majesty always says about the war against the Southern Empire. From the time I raided the National Security Agency, I thought you were carrying out a secret operation to empower the main propaganda nobles. But after hearing the story, it seems that is not the case again.”

Only then could I enjoy a drink full of carbonation with a little more comfort.

“War… But doesn’t Soldos want a war?”

“I think war is just a plausible cause. His Majesty must be picking out people right now. Nobles who will follow their will even if they make absurd claims. If you’re from the North, you’ll know, right? This country is not in a state of war right now.”

Well, in a situation where worshipers of evil spirits are running amok in the country and the anti-emperor faction is looking for an opportunity, a war?

The moment they emptied most of their forces to wage war against the Southern Empire, a real treason might occur.

Soldos laughed bitterly.

“No, if you look closely, war itself is quite possible. To begin with, this country has enough wealth to keep everyone full. Do you know how much wealth can be amassed just by having a huge canal running through the country? The real problem lies with the nobles of this country who oppose the war.”

He spoke the reality of the empire in a low voice.

“A long time ago, when the empire was divided into north and south, the roots of the family were long-standing meritorious families. If you gather their wealth and troops, which they are holding onto without paying taxes properly, in one place, you will be able to calm down the problems within the empire in less than a month or two. Right now, they’re fighting against the emperor, using the people of the empire as hostages. Just hoping that His Majesty’s stiff head will break.”

Is it a confrontation between the priesthood and the imperial power, which have grown out of control? Again, it wasn’t an issue for me to get involved in. So I put Soldos’ words into my head moderately and focused on the crunchy snacks and the tangy drink.

“…If the Great Council continues like this, His Majesty will have no choice but to…”

“Wahhahahahaha!!!”

Soldos, who had been lamenting the state of the empire while sighing deeply at the sound of cheerful laughter coming from below, stopped talking.

“Don’t stop!!! Did I shoot everyone here today? I’m going to shoot them all!!!”

A familiar voice somewhere. Seeing the hustle and bustle of noise coming in here, it seemed that a drunken nobleman was running amok downstairs.

Soldos burst into laughter as he tried to refill his glass, realizing the bottle was empty.

“Oh… I guess I’d better go downstairs and warn you to drink quietly.”

“Let’s go down together. I’d like to get some more drinks while I’m gone.”

A tingling sensation that can be felt while the sense of taste is paralyzed. I really missed Tok Som, so I wanted to bring a few more bottles and drink it to my heart’s content.

Soldos nodded happily.

“Instead, I’ll take care of those who are rampaging below, so you don’t get involved.”

“I will.”

In the first place, there was not even a speck of thought to stop the drunk.

“Leave this! I’m not drunk! I wasn’t drunk!!!”

As I came down the stairs, a familiar voice and a familiar face greeted me.

Waist-length bright yellow hair and clear bright yellow eyes. A handsome face. The three princes of the Dragon Kingdom.

Downstairs, Batis Draco, red-faced, was grabbed by the clerks and ran amok.

“Leave this! Do you work hard if you don’t let go? Am I really trying?! Why am I shooting everyone who drinks here?!”

At dinner, I heard from Rusona that she didn’t have a single penny, so she was staying quiet. This is a membership only, but it’s a cheap bar, so you came here to drink?

“The three princes of the Dragon Kingdom.”

Realizing that he was not a noble of his own country, Soldos paused for a moment, looking at Batis, contemplating what to do with it. I moved quietly, out of sight of Batis, and spoke to the waitress.

“The alcohol sent to our room. Could you please send me two more bottles of that?”

“Ah yes. All right.”

“uh?!”

an ominous cry. When I slightly turned my head, a red-faced Batis was looking straight at me with bright yellow eyes.

“Me me! Unlucky Marnak!!! why are you here!!! Hehe…”

Batis hiccuped and hiccuped, and soon burst out laughing.

“I hate you like dog poop… but as royalty!!! If you take back what you said once, you will be embarrassed!!! I shoot yours too!!! I hate you!!!”

I wanted to reply that Soldos agreed to buy it for me even if you didn’t buy it for me, but nothing good happened to me when I talked to a drunkard. That moment when I ignored it and tried to go upstairs alone.

bang!!!

With the sound of something breaking, a thick feeling of life weighed heavily on the surroundings.

After knocking the door of the store open as if to smash it open, the woman walked straight to Batis without even hiding her golden wings, grabbed him by the collar, and lifted him up.

“Kek?!”

Golden scales covering the back of the hand and vertically split pupils. The princess of the Dragon Kingdom, Rusona Draco, let out an angry roar without hiding her appearance as a dragon.

“Batis Draco!!!”

When Batis saw his sister, his face turned white in an instant, as if he had never blushed.

“uh? uh?”

“Are you really mad at last?!”

“Why why?!”

“Why!!! Are you sure that will come out of your mouth?!”

Sharp teeth flashed between Rusona’s gaping mouth. She didn’t hide anything about living on her own. Employees collapsed one by one under the intangible pressure she exhaled. Rusona pulled Batis roughly and shouted while making eye contact with him.

“To take off your own scales and claws and sell them for money! And that’s just for a few drinks! You are now the name of our royal family! It means throwing the dignity of a dragon that has been preserved for a long time into the gutter!!! Make an excuse right now! If I don’t give you a compelling reason right away, I might kill you right away!!!”

There was only one answer for Batis, who had already been caught and lifted up by Rusona’s fierce denunciation.

“Keheuk?!”