Volume 4 Chapter 109 The Disgraced Noble Lady Karin
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Is it even possible to reach the New Continent while avoiding the Demon Sea¹?” Kian asked.
”Oh, don’t be silly, Kian,” Aliona replied, giving a sharp wink. “We aren’t avoiding it; we’re charging straight through. General Isthbaran and I are going to subjugate the Rough Waves of Benevolence².”
When a blonde beauty who looked to be in her late twenties winks like that, most men would just nod along. Kian, however, barely managed to keep his head. He realized the Elven sorceress was talking pure madness.
”Plunging into the nest of an eternal monster seems a bit more than ‘dangerous,’ don’t you think?” Kian asked.
”The sea serpent was an instant kill, wasn’t it? It’ll be fine, totally fine,” Aliona said. “Your big sis will take care of it in a jiffy! ♡”
It is definitely not fine, Kian thought. Even if we kill it, she hasn’t considered how the ecosystem will collapse. And ‘treasure hunting’ requires a massive amount of capital and manpower. This isn’t a casual road trip to Châtillon.
”What’s an ‘ecosystem’? Aliona doesn’t get it! ♡”
Knock it off, you old hag, Rufna thought. It’s pathetic.
”Rufna, Lady Aliona is a goddess,” Kian said. “It’s just that when she speaks Azrael, she gets… over-excited. Retract your statement.”
That’s the part you’re calling out?! Rufna muttered. Master, you need to stop this conquistador-brained Elf too…
”Hey, Lord Rou,” Talia asked, turning to the young man who had already pulled out an Eastern abacus. “What are we doing for money?”
Chak-chak-chak. The wooden beads flew under Rou’s fingers.
”Would selling Fire Island and Underworld Island cover it?” Talia asked. “Oh, we also have those thirteen captured warships.”
”I believe Underworld Island would fetch a fortune,” Rou answered. “In gold coins… ah, it’s more than I can calculate on the fly. We should sell it to the Western Church. As for Fire Island, once the Salamanders are cleared, it will depend on the mineral veins. We can flip that to Châtillon.”
”However,” Rou continued, his fingers never stopping, “Merchant Guild Kian³ only holds management rights for those islands on behalf of the Royal Family. Same for the ships. Technically, they were seized during mercenary work, so the ownership is murky. If we sell them, it might be legally classified as title fraud.”
”It’s fine, it’s fine! Selling stolen property isn’t exactly a hanging offense here,” Talia said. “Besides, once we get the cash, we’re skipping town and leaving Crete in the rearview mirror.”
There’s someone even crazier than Aliona here, Kian thought. “Talia, even for a joke, that’s going too far.”
”Oh, Kian,” Talia said, her voice dropping to a serious chill. “Who said I was joking?”
”….”
Rou licked the tip of his pencil, staring at Talia. “And what happens when the Royal Family sues for damages? Or the Western Church and Châtillon come knocking?”
”I told you, we’re running away,” Talia replied. “If we vacate the guild house, the invoices won’t have an address to go to. Either that, or the Crete government will collapse and the laws will become a mess anyway. The latter is actually pretty likely.”
What is this Princess even saying… Rufna was speechless. She was finally realizing that Talia was a complete loose cannon.
”Actually, the Rough Waves of Benevolence is an old acquaintance of mine,” Talia added.
”What?” Kian asked. “It’s a sea monster!”
”Oh my, that’s wonderful! Total destiny! ♡” Aliona chirped.
Rou spun his pencil. “And what exactly is the nature of your relationship?”
”I told you, Lord Rou. We’re old friends.” Talia’s eyes softened as she clasped her hands. “It’s the giant octopus that gave me the Seventh Secret Sword: Water Moon⁴. It’s delicious when grilled with butter. I was wondering where it went-turns out it moved to the Western Sea. Hehe…”
”Oh. I see,” Kian said.
What the hell did you just ‘see,’ Master?! Rufna thought.
”Wait, Talia. That’s not going to work,” Aliona cut in.
”Lady Aliona!” Kian felt a wave of relief. Finally, someone was throwing him a lifeline.
”If the invoices don’t reach us,” Aliona continued, “the Crete government will just send them to Cardinal Homolka. I may have tweaked the paperwork to list him as the primary guarantor. That, or they’ll put out a ‘Wanted’ poster disguised as a summons in every town in the West. That’ll be a drag. We’ll probably have to ‘liquidate’ Balinars, Medea, and Princess Guria Celda to keep things quiet.”
”What?! Wait, Lady Aliona! Hold on a second!” Kian shouted.
Does she even have a soul? Rufna wondered.
”Oh, wait,” Aliona said. “Did Kian already ‘tame’ Princess Guria Celda? If so, we can just manipulate her and bring her into the fold.”
”Wait… Aliona, stop. I am strictly devoted to you! I’ve never even looked at Guria-OW! Talia, that hurts!”
”Go die, you pig,” Talia muttered, grinding her heel into Kian’s foot. “Seriously, just die. Die.”
(Why is she so pissed?! I don’t get it!) Kian tried to keep a straight face despite the pain. “Anyway, why are you and Aliona so obsessed with the New Continent?”
”Because we need the money, Kian,” Talia said. “Have you not been paying attention?”
”Oh. Right.” Kian was shut down in a second. Money was everything.
Master, you don’t actually want to sacrifice Crete, do you? Rufna asked.
”No. I’d save it if I could,” Kian replied. “Even if they surrender, I want to make sure Guria, Eu, and Amora can live happily.”
”Then you need the money even more, don’t you?” Aliona said.
…I’ve got an idea, Rufna said, clicking her beak. Shidarkan. What happened to him?
”He’s dead,” Kian said. “After Rita used her Battoujutsu⁵, the presence of all the powerful sorcerers-him included-just vanished. Rita said she wouldn’t kill him, but it’s a battlefield. She probably couldn’t pull her punches.”
Can we recover the body? Rufna asked. If Rita is dead, then she assassinated Shidarkan deep in enemy lines. The Gensou army should have recovered the body to send back to Malc.
”Normally, yeah,” Kian nodded. “Unless Rita turned him into red mist like I usually do, they’re probably keeping the corpse on ice.”
”I’ve been wondering, Chairman,” Rou asked. “Why do you always insist on obliterating your enemies’ bodies? It seems like a lot more work than just killing them.”
”It’s a deterrent,” Kian answered gravely. “I want any other enemies who see the mess to realize they should never cross me. It stops future wars before they start.”
That was the official story. In reality, he just got off on the carnage. It felt so much better than a normal kill to watch a blood flower bloom or to see someone vanish in a blast. He couldn’t help himself. Just like an addict chasing the ultimate release, Kian couldn’t stop the overkill. By the time he realized it, he’d already gone all the way.
Rou looked impressed. “As expected of the Chairman.” Talia, however, just looked at him with pure disgust. It was hard not being able to keep secrets from her.
Back to the point, Rufna interrupted. We take Shidarkan’s body, possess it with a spirit, and pump it full of Master’s blood to take control. We snatch the body before it’s shipped back.
”So, use a puppet Shidarkan to rule Malc from the shadows?” Kian asked.
Only if everything goes perfectly. Right now, it’s just counting chickens, Rufna said.
”If we get our hands on Malc’s territory, we get the ships and the funding,” Talia added. “The Twelve Divine Generals are in chaos. If we just execute the opposition, we can strip the place bare.”
The issue is getting a spirit to put in it, Rufna noted. A random ghost won’t have the brains. We need a Heart-Reader⁶.
”I actually have one,” Aliona chirped. “You remember that mental barrier that trapped Kian and Rita? It was powered by the soul of a Satori. A Heart-Reader.”
”After Tsai Hanami passed out, the soul started to go wild,” Rou added. “Lady Aliona and I re-sealed it. It’s a Cursed Spirit my family passes down. It was her ace in the hole, meant specifically to catch the Chairman.”
”Would it be able to handle political manipulation?” Kian asked.
”A Satori is an expert at playing humans,” Rou said. “It can manipulate people through words alone. It’s dangerous.”
”Hmph. Interesting,” Kian muttered.
It had been a while since Kian had used the wraith-fusion method. He’d been obsessed with his own strength as a warrior monk, ignoring his vampire-side skills. But having a few Blood Servants⁷ who couldn’t betray him was just common sense. The Merchant Guild was chronically understaffed. He needed a new piece on the board.
”Alright. I’ll pump it full of my blood-gallons of it-and create the ultimate servant,” Kian said.
Not just Shidarkan, Rufna added. We need a captain, a crew… if we replace the payroll with Blood Servants, our costs drop to zero.
”Heh… so we get to witness the Chairman’s divine miracles. The creation of new life. Truly a God. My very own… Al-Ilah⁸…♡” Rou chuckled.
”Ms. Aliona, are there no other spirit forms you have secured?” Rou asked.
Since he couldn’t exactly use the Wraith baggage carrier, he had to ask. However, Aliona seemed to have no noteworthy spirit forms other than the Satori⁹ extracted from Hanami’s technique, and she simply shook her head.
”Chairman, I have two leads in mind,” Rou said.
”What are they?” Kian asked.
”High Priest Laios of Mount Olympus and Chief Blue of the fishman tribe had brought subjugation requests to that gambling den,” Rou explained.
”I see,” Kian muttered.
Rou continued the explanation. “Due to the fallout of the war, the Crete national army hasn’t been able to handle the monster culling they usually do. Unless some incredibly bored and highly skilled person has visited the gambling den, I think the quests those two put out are still active. If I recall, Laios’s request was the sealing of an evil spirit in the sea prison. Chief Blue’s request was the subjugation of an ancient ghost pirate.”
”A sea prison?” Kian asked.
”A prison used to isolate Crete’s most heinous criminals. It’s separate from the one on Water Island,” Rou replied. “However, no one is being held there now; in fact, there aren’t even any guards.”
”It’s practically a ruin then,” Kian said, knitting his brows.
An evil spirit sleeping in a forgotten prison-if you added rumors of treasure protected by said spirit, it would read like a classic adventure novel.
”Even if an evil spirit went on a rampage in a ruined sea prison, it doesn’t seem like there would be any actual harm. I wonder why the High Priest issued a request?” Aliona asked.
Aliona voiced a reasonable doubt.
”I haven’t heard the full details, but according to the master of the gambling den, there was a serial killer that Circe and Asterios cooperated to seal a long time ago,” Rou answered. “The evil spirit is what that man became. He’s an extremely dangerous individual.”
”Hmm, that sounds like an interesting story,” Aliona mused.
”I hear the killer was originally an elf active around the territory of Malc. Because he killed too many humans, he was exiled,” Rou said. “In Crete, which took him in next, he reportedly obtained a title of nobility, but in the end, he repeated his cruel murders there as well until he was finally arrested and sealed.”
”There seems to be a problem with his humanity,” Talia noted.
Talia said as much, but Kian thought that such an abnormal person was better suited for abnormal voyages and adventures. If the people around that monster are sheep, there will be casualties; but if the surroundings are dragons or vampires, no harm will come of it.
”Do you know what kind of man that ghost pirate is?” Kian asked.
”Just a little. This is also something I heard, but once upon a time, there was a pirate who used to ravage the western edge of Châtillon,” Rou said. “He was obsessed with taking things from others and developed sorcery specialized for pillaging. It’s said that when he activated his unique sorcery, everything in that land became his. I don’t really understand the mechanics, though.”
”I wonder if it’s a type of sorcery that temporarily seizes the land’s spiritual veins¹⁰,” Aliona muttered.
Talia knit her brows. “If so, he’s a troublesome ability user.”
”Based on the name of his original birthplace, the name ‘Conquistador’ apparently remains for that ghost pirate,” Rou continued. “Chief Blue’s fishing grounds have been dominated by this pirate, and because the country designated it a ‘Closed Sea Domain,’ he is looking for someone who can hunt the Conquistador. By the way, the reward was fifty silver coins from the Merchant Guild Azrael.”
”That’s it?! Is the village that poor, or is Chief Blue just a cheapskate?” Rufna grumbled in Kian’s mind.
”Surely it’s the former,” Kian said aloud. “Their main source of income-access to the fishing grounds-has been cut off.”
”Since the reward is low, it might mean the ghost pirate is considered to be that much weaker,” Aliona added.
”Well… I haven’t heard how strong the Conquistador actually is,” Rou said. “Why don’t you contact Chief Blue directly, Chairman, and hear the story from him?”
”Let’s do that,” Kian decided. “Then, regarding Agenda 2, for now, is it okay to move forward with searching for the corpses of Shidarkan and his confidants? We’ll make them serve us by possessing them with spirit forms.”
”It’s not certain yet whether we’ll look for the New Continent, and I don’t know if we can get the bodies of Shidarkan and the others, but the Merchant Guild Kian is definitely short-handed,” Rufna’s voice echoed in his head. “To increase manpower quickly, there’s no doubt we should make a few Blood Servants.”
”Let’s search for the New Continent!” Aliona declared.
”I agree with Aliona,” Talia said. “If we can rob-I mean, borrow ‘Water Moon’ from the octopus… excuse me, from the ‘Rough Waves of Benevolence,’ it will bring me much closer to my original combat ability.”
”If we can use Shidarkan to manipulate Malc, it might be possible to show off our power and make Gensou retreat,” Kian said.
Kian looked around at the group. “To increase our means, the first action we should take is to gather spirit forms and seize the bodies of Shidarkan and his confidants.”
”What about the inheritance problem of Cardinal Augusto in Agenda 3?” Rufna asked. “That fellow isn’t dead yet, but as soon as he kicks it, we’ll be caught up in the mess.”
”True. If Augusto suddenly dies and we go into a panic, we’ll be playing catch-up,” Talia agreed.
”Case files?” Kian asked.
”Hey now, Talia,” Rufna chided. “This is happening because you laid hands on Augusto’s daughter. Are you even reflecting on that?”
”Oh, if I may say so, because I obtained this body, we were able to win the battle of Underworld Island decisively, you know?” Talia replied.
”That’s true, but it didn’t have to be Lyritisse’s body,” Rufna countered. “For that matter, Ninini’s body-the other one Priscilla is keeping-would have been fine too.”
Kian inwardly tilted his head. Ninini is also a beauty, but she’s more of a gag character. If it’s s*x with Talia inside, I feel like Lyritisse was better. Of course, I’d also like to taste Ninini’s psy. If the spirit inside is Talia, I think I could go for it normally.
”It’s already done, desuwa¹¹. Besides, Augusto’s inheritance issue is an opportunity, not a nuisance. Please think rationally, okay? Chief Sorceress Rufna.”
”Man, Master… I’m losing confidence in being able to keep these guys together,” Rufna groaned.
”There’s only you. Please, do your best,” Kian said.
”In order to obtain Augusto’s legacy, the gold and silver of the New Continent will be necessary,” Aliona said, her face pleasant and elegant. “If a massive amount of gold and silver is obtained in the New Continent, the Church, which survives on silver coin income from farmland, will slowly decline. Like a slow-acting poison spreading through the body… like being strangled with silk thread, slowly. With the background of massive financial power, we can also encourage a brain drain of their intellectuals. Let’s have them pay the price for sealing me in the Frontier, heh heh heh…”
”Wasn’t the Church the benefactor that shielded you from the death penalty?!” Rufna shouted.
”Human hearts are fickle things. Once I know how delicious the air of the outside world is, my heart changes too, Chief Sorceress,” Aliona replied.
”This is seriously bad… As I thought, let’s just return this one to the Church, Master,” Rufna pleaded.
Rufna was saying something, but since he couldn’t hear it well, Kian stood up from his chair and decided to close the meeting.
”Well then, I’m going to go gather spirit forms now. If I finish gathering them successfully, next is the search for Shidarkan’s body,” Kian announced.
”I’ll investigate that part; leave it to me, Kian,” Talia offered.
”Can you do it?”
”I’ll use the goats. It’s honestly a pain, though,” Talia said.
”Got it, I’m counting on you,” Kian replied.
When Kian said that, Talia smiled broadly. It was frustrating, but she was beautiful and cute. She had class.
”Then, I’ll continue with the fortification of Underworld Island,” Aliona said. “Even if it’s a scenario where Shidarkan becomes an ally, it will be important as a base for trade.”
Hmm? Trade? The Merchant Guild Kian? Something feels off… Aliona, could it be… well, whatever! Aliona is a goddess after all!
”Please do, Aliona,” Kian said.
”Leave it to me!” Aliona thumped her own chest. Her massive breasts swayed and wobbled, and Kian’s eyes became completely glued to them, only coming to his senses when Talia stepped on his foot.
”Chairman, please check the letters that were in the guild house post before you depart. Here they are,” Rou said.
”Ah, you took them out for me. That helps,” Kian replied.
He received a bundle of letters wrapped in cloth. Most were notices from acquaintances saying they were evacuating to Water Island. The mass of letters handed over by Rou was quite small.
”It seems a letter arrived from your sister as well,” Rou noted. “Though it was written as ‘You don’t have to read this.’”
”Ah…”
”Master, had you not read the report from Linca?” Rufna asked.
”No, well, that’s… because it said I didn’t have to read it,” Kian admitted.
”What does that mean? Enough, don’t make excuses and read it properly,” Rufna snapped.
”That’s right, you have to be precise about those things, Kian,” Talia added.
He was pressed by the two elf sorceresses. On the other hand, Talia, who had sensed various circumstances, said nothing and had a complicated expression.
Perhaps, important information was written in this letter.
Kian looked down at the purple stationery with ‘You don’t really have to read this’ scribbled on it in prickly characters. Knowing the serious Linca, she might have properly conveyed that Sarah faced an assassination attempt and was in a huge pinch. And yet, because Kian ignored it, it’s possible she had no choice but to convey it via Rufna. If Kian had faced the letter from Linca, there was a possibility he could have told Sarah to pull back from the danger zone much earlier. Kian’s eyes distorted.
Linca, Sarah, Maribel… Your Excellency. I’m sorry.
”Well then, I’m going now,” Aliona said. “I’ll deliver the Satori soul later, so take care of it.”
”I’m also going to scout out Cyclops Island,” Talia said. “If the quest from High Priest Laios and Chief Blue seems difficult, don’t hesitate to say so.”
”Ah, yeah. Have a safe trip, you two,” Kian replied.
”I’m heading out soon too,” Rufna said. “I finally finished the sealing of the laboratory.”
”Be careful. —Wait, if you have time, when the talk of mining gold and silver in the New Continent comes up, I want you to forecast the price increase of grains and such. Can you do it?” Kian asked.
”I can do it,” Rufna replied. “I think it’s possible to estimate the fluctuation of grain prices in Izerland and Châtillon from records of when mines were found nearby. I’ll have Ramsey order materials too. However, grain prices involve variables like population and production volume, so accurate prediction is difficult.”
”I’m aware of that. Sorry, but I’m counting on you. If it seems impossible, you can hire an expert,” Kian said.
”Okey-dokey,” Rufna said.
Rufna’s presence vanished from the golem. Kian placed the miscellaneous letters on the table and held Linca’s letter with both hands.
”Chairman, I will bring new paper,” Rou said. “For Lady Sarah and for Lady Maribel Danofen. And, if necessary, for replying to Linca.”
”Ah, yeah. Sorry. Thanks,” Kian said.
”No, then, please take your time,” Rou replied.
What does “take your time” mean? Does he mean read Linca’s letter slowly?
Kian watched Rou disappear toward the upstairs office with a bewildered expression. Then, with a heart hammering against his ribs, he tore open the purple envelope.
A faint, familiar fragrance-Linca’s¹² signature incense-wafted softly from the folds. It was a classic Linca-san touch: a thoughtful gesture for the reader.
Despite the barrage of bizarre letters she’d sent him in the past, Kian felt a deep pang of shame for having ghosted her for so long.
”Linca… I’m so sorry,” Kian muttered.
Muttering the words to the empty room-a rare moment of vulnerability-Kian pulled out a sheet of high-end, elegantly crafted stationery.
* * *
To: Sir Kian
This may come as a surprise, but I have resolved to become a novelist.
To that end, I have drafted a preliminary outline. I would be most grateful for your… unfiltered feedback.
Title:
’The Young Lady Whose Engagement Was Annulled Is Doted On by the Crown Prince of the Neighboring Kingdom-Or So She Thought, but Since He’s Actually a Neglectful Prick, She’s Opening a Farm: A Carefree Slow Life Surrounded by Delicious Food and Fluffies.’
Characters:
*Karin Tsai
Glossary Note: Karin Tsai follows the Imperial surname-first convention.
The protagonist.
Age: Forever seventeen. Female.
The daughter of a Count in the Zuleir Empire¹³. A brilliant honors graduate of the Imperial Academy. Blessed with her mother’s radiant beauty, she is utterly adored by the First Prince, Bujiriel. However, Bujiriel declares that he shall “marry the Zuleir Empire itself” for the sake of his ideals, crowning himself the “Virgin Kaiser.”
The Virgin Kaiser… a hero wed to his nation…
Though his resolve was noble, it resulted in Karin’s engagement being terminated. She is cast off a snowy, precipitous cliff into the abyss below. (<- Hook the audience’s heart with a shocking prologue!)
*Prince Bujiriel
For the sake of a higher calling, he has no choice but to hurl Karin into the valley.
They say a lion pushes its cubs into the depths to test them; perhaps this, too, was a trial… However, Karin doubts his love and runs into the arms of Kian (<- A piece of scum, a womanizer, and Karin’s total deadbeat leech).
Prince Bujiriel later bitterly regrets letting her go and begs her to return to his side, only for Karin to deck him across the face in front of a cheering crowd.
*Kian Vahid
The “hero” (allegedly).
A man who uses his uncanny s*xual prowess to seduce one woman after another.
Absolute scum.
He recently tried to start a business claiming he’d become a “Ramen Master,” but he’s likely a failed loser living in the gutter now. He almost never comes home. Since he’d starve to death without Karin, she begrudgingly tosses him some pocket change and scraps to keep him alive.
*Salah al-Din
Karin’s “best friend” from her Academy days. Or rather, a frenemy.
She spent their school years picking fights with Karin out of a one-sided rivalry, but eventually, she was won over by Karin’s immense grace and they formed a bond.
Now, they are pen pals who find healing in each other’s letters.
*Natra
Sarah’s younger sister. Adorable. Ah, the radiance of youth…
When you actually speak to her, she is shockingly precocious and sharp.
I knew I wasn’t a genius, but… she makes me lose a bit of confidence.
*Christina
A total sweetheart. A truly good girl. She’s a bit socially awkward, but that’s part of her charm. She claims she’s often disliked by older men or girls her own age, but it’s likely just a string of minor misunderstandings. Karin is very fond of her.
These are the three leads and three supporting characters.
The Story:
Introduction:
At a grand ball, Karin’s engagement is publicly annulled by Bujiriel. He declares his ascension as the “Virgin Kaiser” on the spot, but the guests only mock him for throwing away a woman as brilliant as Karin. Wounded, Bujiriel flees to a snowy cliff to commit suicide. Karin catches up and tries to talk him down.
With a cryptic smile, Bujiriel mutters the baffling line, “Dispose of the trash,” and orders his knights to hurl Karin into the abyss.
Why was I discarded?!
What are Bujiriel’s true intentions?!
When Karin awakens, she has been rescued by Kian (<- The ramen-obsessed deadbeat), the Crown Prince of the neighboring kingdom, who greets her with a sleazy, predatory grin…
* * *
”??????????????????????????????”
By the middle of the story summary, Kian’s eyes looked like those of a woman who had been psychologically violated. For a fleeting second, his vision blurred and he felt faint.
Perhaps it was a primal survival instinct-his brain’s way of warning him that reading any further would be fatal to his sanity.
—
Summary:
The Kian Merchant Guild plots to reach the New Continent by taking a dangerous route through the Demon Sea. To fund the journey, they plan to illegally sell captured islands and warships, while also plotting to use a reanimated corpse to seize control of a neighboring territory.
Kian’s inner circle holds a strategy meeting to address their lack of manpower. They decide to hunt for powerful ‘spirit forms’ and retrieve the corpses of Shidarkan’s group to create Blood Servants. Meanwhile, Aliona reveals a long-term plan to use the New Continent’s resources to bankrupt the Church.
Kian receives a letter from Linca containing a novel outline that parodies their current relationship. The outline mocks Kian as a ‘deadbeat scum’ and reimagines him as a predatory Crown Prince. Kian is left psychologically devastated by the accuracy and venom of Linca’s writing.
—
Trivia:
- Aliona has framed Cardinal Homolka as a financial guarantor.
- Talia’s legendary sword was a gift from the giant octopus they intend to hunt.
- Kian’s ‘overkill’ habit is actually a sadistic addiction disguised as tactical deterrence.
- The ‘Satori’ soul was originally captured by Rou’s mother, Hanami.
- The serial killer spirit was an elf exiled from Malc.
- Aliona was saved from the death penalty by the Church, but now wants to destroy them.
- Talia is currently inhabiting Lyritisse’s body, which was a strategic choice during a previous battle.
- Kian intentionally ignored a letter from Linca because it said ‘you don’t have to read this,’ potentially missing a warning about Sarah’s assassination attempt.
- Kian actually tried to start a ramen shop (which Linca mocks).
- Linca’s incense is a recurring identifier for her character.
- The ‘Virgin Kaiser’ title is a jab at Bujiriel’s obsession with national duty over personal relationships.
- Kian had been ghosting Linca’s previous ‘bizarre’ letters.
- The setting involves the Zuleir Empire and a neighboring kingdom
—
Character Insight:
Kian is beginning to embrace his vampire heritage again, moving away from pure warrior monk techniques to use more pragmatic, dark magic solutions for his manpower issues.
Kian shows a mix of strategic pragmatism and occasional negligence regarding his personal relationships (Linca). Aliona demonstrates a ruthless, vengeful side despite her bubbly exterior.
Linca is using creative writing as a weapon for revenge against Kian’s neglect. Kian’s guilt initially makes him receptive, but the sheer toxicity of the ‘satire’ causes a mental breakdown.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The author uses the ‘conquistador’ label for Aliona to highlight her aggressive, colonial-era explorer mindset.
The ‘Case Files’ joke is a play on the trope of adventure novels being titled as ‘Record/Case Files’ of a specific incident.
The novel title is a parody of the ‘Narou’ web novel style, characterized by excessively long titles that summarize the entire plot.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Kian – The protagonist—a vampire exile from Azrael with super-hearing, now Chairman of the Kian Merchant Guild. A pragmatic wanderer in poverty for a decade, he mediates between the Western Church and Crete. High-minded warrior to some, threat to others; accompanied by Priscilla and Homolka, dressed simply in black coat over plain clothes.
• Isthbaran – The High Warlord of the ‘Storm Herd.’
• Ali – The oldest of the elite warrior monk trio, referred to as General Ali.
• Talia – A high-ranking vampire spirit currently possessing the body of Lyritisse. In this form, she has flaxen hair, blue eyes, and thick lips.
• Balinars – An associate of the Merchant Guild Kian who works alongside Madam Tiegel. General of the Cretan fleet. Former Captain of the Guard. Wears an Azrael-style military uniform. Cynical and pragmatic.
• Homolka – A Cardinal of the Western Church. He is a friend of Kian and is open to further negotiations despite the official conclusion of the meeting. A fat, elderly Cardinal. Primarily interested in financial profit and staying out of direct combat.
• Guria – Princess of Crete. Tall silhouette. Wears a white dress with exposed shoulders and cleavage, and a laurel wreath. Defensive of Kian.
• Medea – A dark elf. Same as myth.
• Amora – Scipio’s fiance, and the knight of crete.
• Shidarkan – Gloomy, bearded son-in-law of the Malc family (Flora’s clan); once a modest Malc magician, ordinary next to Shajar’s elites. Attends the Cyclops Island war council after losing his wife, Flora, and sisters-in-law in the northern base’s destruction. First appears Vol. 4 Ch. 45. Reminder: bereaved Malc son-in-law—sober, doubtful, and dim but dutiful.
• Rita – Female warrior monk with fox ears, last direct disciple of Nizaam, wears a fox-ear hooded jacket. A ‘killing doll’ beastman created by Nizaam.
• Gensou – Eccentric young Eastern monk-general in Azrael’s army, playful yet ambitious. Wields sun-like magic, swordsmanship, and assassination tactics. Linked to three masked wives—Seishi, Oushoukun, and Yougyokukan (Head Magician). Ally of Mansoor and Oji, serves under Jibril, proposes Operation Assassination. First appears Vol. 4 Ch. 45. Reminder: playful Eastern general with masked harem wives, always late but magically explosive, contrasting serious monks with his bathrobe vibe and schemes.
• Chief Blue – Chieftain of the Blue Shark-man clan—a massive fishman with a shark tail, clad in a white toga adorned with shells and bones. Stern father to Shark, he fiercely guards his tribe’s sacred view of the Great Sea as a cradle of reincarnation.
• Laios – High Priest of Crete. He is a balding man who represents the national religion. He is highly resistant to Western Church influence and views cremation as sacrilege. The bald High Priest of Crete. Intensely focused on the religious sanctity of Sea Burials.
• Linca – Jibril’s favorite girl. High-ranking warrior monk woman from Shin, with strong abilities like ignoring attacks and poisons.
• Karin – Karin Tsai. Protagonist of Linca’s novel. Daughter of a Count in the Zuleir Empire and honors graduate of the Imperial Academy. Beautiful and ‘forever seventeen’.
• Bujiriel – First Prince of the Zuleir Empire. Calls himself the ‘Virgin Kaiser’ and claims to be married to his country.
• Salah – Salah al-din. Karin’s frenemy and pen pal from the Imperial Academy.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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