Chapter 31

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Super Shy Kid Looking for Dad 128

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"Flint Cove—I've heard of it too."

With even Nordics chiming in, the squad members' expressions turned deadly serious.

"It's a rundown district, sure, but they've got their own decent public safety, and like you said, it sounds perfect for Tiye to go to daycare there."

Flint Cove was a small neighborhood tucked inside the Isera River.

It sat just one street over from the shopping district, and for a slum, it had a surprisingly low crime rate.

"So you're saying that in this Flint Cove place, nobody recognized the kid at all?"

Nordics nodded at Veil's question.

"That's the most likely scenario. In the capital—especially the central districts like this—people don't talk much about mercenaries."

The commoners packed into Flint Cove were working-class folks, plain and simple.

Short-term contract laborers who built the capital's structures, paved its roads, and patched up busted sewers.

And the ones reaping the benefits? Nobles, naturally.

"You can see it clear as day in the local Flint Cove papers. They're full of Holy Knight heroics—no whisper of mercenaries. Gotta hype up how grand and glorious the elite are to keep the commoners in line, right?"

Veil's face twisted at the ridiculous notion.

But Nordics kept going.

"Mercenaries, on the other hand? Total opposite."

The imperial family figured that every time mercenaries became necessary, it was like stomping the Holy Knights' honor into the dirt.

Unlike Holy Knights, any commoner could sign up as a mercenary.

Sure, it meant risking your neck—but mercenaries could smash magic stones and pile up more wealth than nobles.

And snag even greater glory while they were at it.

The royals desperately wanted those facts kept from Flint Cove ears.

Foolish hopes had a way of stirring up rebellion in the laborers.

That was why mercenary news got downplayed in the capital's core.

"Nobles, of course, hear all about it through back channels. Everyone's got their spies. Some even slip in private commissions on the sly..."

But Flint Cove commoners? Clueless about mercenaries.

No one bothered telling them, and nobody chattered openly about it in their presence.

Plus, they swallowed the line that everything beyond the old gods' borders was a magic-stone death trap.

In that setup, their "news" boiled down to bare-bones scraps like "some merc group dropped by the Compensation Bureau's central branch."

"To sum it up."

Nordics took a sip from his glass to wet his throat before adding,

"Point is, in Flint Cove at least, Astie won't have to sweat prying eyes. Not like out in the open world."

Silence blanketed the dining hall.

As Veil grudgingly picked up his utensils again,

Valentis turned to Tiye.

"If you'd like, I can check it out for you. See if there's a preschool in Flint Cove that suits."

Tiye's eyes went wide, every gaze snapping to her.

The child set down her bread and sank into deep thought.

"Flint Cove..."

A place where builders, road pavers, and sewer fixers all crammed together.

A neighborhood scraping by on meager paychecks, sneered at by the capital's nasty nobles.

'...Even back in my old neighborhood in Korea, it happened sometimes.'

'Aigoo! Uncle Park, what happened to your face this time?!'

'Aw, it's nothin'. Went all the way to Pyeongtaek, but they stiffed me on the proxy fee. When I asked for it, the guy came at me swingin'...'

She remembered the day Uncle 103 showed up with a massive shiner.

Auntie 203 had stomped around in dismay.

'Drunk as a skunk, spewin' filth—argh. No wonder he's stuck drivin' proxies... Don't get me started. Only shut up when the cops rolled in.'

'Hey, no job's too lowly! Buncha real psychos out there.'

'Tell me about it. Thinkin' of ditchin' the proxy gig and hittin' construction again. Back's feelin' better...'

'It ain't healed all the way! Doc said rest it fully or you're askin' for trouble.'

'Can't beg from my kids in old age. You're in the same boat, Auntie.'

Tiye was little, but she caught the raw bitterness in their grown-up talk.

The world brimmed with all kinds of jobs—as long as they weren't shady or illegal, everyone deserved respect.

That was why her dad, with his "daily grind for daily bread" hustle, had always been Tiye's proudest hero.

"Tiye go Flint!"

Decision made, she blurted it out, stunning everyone.

Tiye chugged her milk and piled on,

"Go Flint, make friends with people there. Like house-builder uncle, road-roller grandpa, Adelin sister! Play with kindergarten pals too..."

Valentis blinked blankly for a beat—then a faint smile ghosted his lips once more.

Before long, he answered.

"Sounds good. I'll work out the details step by step."

Meal over.

Tiye and the squad barricaded themselves in the conference hall again.

She cracked open the second volume of the imperial organization chart; they pored over docs from other continents.

But sunset came and went—no breakthroughs.

Tiye skimmed two-thirds of volume two before announcing she'd rest in her room a bit.

She shuffled off, Ppu Ppu now perched on her shoulder for comfort.

"Kyuu..."

Even Lukarion—who'd been dead silent since entering the ducal house—spoke up.

"You'll be fine. It'll turn up in the rest."

But Tiye couldn't shake the gloom.

"Blackie, Tiye got super scary thought now."

"What thought?"

"Scary thought that Daddy maybe not in organization chart at all..."

Lukarion had no comeback.

He couldn't swear the guy would show up there either.

Meantime, Tiye sighed and pushed her door open.

Her eyes bugged out.

"Huh? Not Tiye room?"

The view inside wasn't her room from last night.

Antique furniture—old but classy—wafted a soft wood aroma.

Curiosity hooked her; she padded deeper in.

Over plush carpet, a desk sized just right for Tiye appeared.

"Waaah."

She yanked the chair, hopped up, and perched at the desk.

The grain gleamed glossy where countless hands had polished it.

"Lukarion, look! Desk super pretty!"

Tiye giggled, tugged the front drawer—"Huh?"

A fat leather-bound notebook tumbled out.

She snatched it up, flipping it every which way.

Thick leather wrapped a sheaf of parchment; bottom right of the cover read Theseus in small script.

"Got buckle! Like Tani Ping sticker book."

Thrilled, she popped the clasp—the book splayed open.

Tiye dove right in, reading the penned words.

Her lips parted wider with each line.

I hate seeing my family suffer.

But I'm numb to bearing pain myself.

Maybe I never should've come back alive.

I'll just keep being their anchor.

I don't want to imagine how much more I'll wreck them going forward.

If only I could shut down every thought...

"Uh... super bad words...!"

Tiye finished the page, flustering in her seat—

"What're you doing in here?"

A hand gently snagged her wrist.

Head snapping up, she yelped and dropped the notebook.

There stood Bird-Poop Uncle Leonardo, back to the door.