I headed straight to the west of Fortren. Along the way, I chatted with Park Muyeol via whispers, and he explained it to me. Sometimes, toad-like monsters appeared, but they weren't my opponent. Finally, I arrived at where the party was located. I could see those hunting the jewel mammoths in the distance. I increased my vision using super sensitivity and examined their faces. “I guess I arrived just in time.”

Mido waved once she spotted me. “Grandfather~!”

She waved her hand with the clearest smile in the world. Once I saw her smiling, I felt as if all the world's worries were gone. As I approached, Mido ran and slammed into my arms. “Grandfather~”

“Haha, I missed you. Everyone is staring.”

“Huuung.”

I couldn't help smiling at my granddaughter's sudden cuteness. As I touched her beautiful hair, Mido looked up at me from where her face had been buried in my chest. I had always felt it, and it wasn't just because she was my granddaughter. She really was beautiful. 

“Why do I feel like I haven't seen you in a long time?”

“Haha. It must be because we've been too busy in the game.”

“Che, Grandfather, you see my whispers too late.”

In fact, Mido had sent me many whispers while playing the game. However, I was busy with various things and my granddaughter's words to meet me were burdensome. Whenever I met her as her grandfather, all I could do was start a fire or cook.

...This was why I deliberately slowed down the replies to her whispers. I acted like I was so bad at the game that I didn't know a whisper had arrived. Then the frequency of Mido's whispers gradually decreased. It was natural from Mido's point of view since the reply was late every time she sent a whisper. I felt a bit sorry, but I couldn't help doing it in order to hide my ident.i.ty. I was too busy with various things.

“You came.” Park Muyeol walked in front of me with crossed arms. The ebony sword was still hanging from his waist. The flowers had withered again. Why the h.e.l.l did he keep attaching them?

“Yes, I came.”

“Hey, I've been waiting for you. Quickly...”

“Grandfather! I'm going to learn swordsmans.h.i.+p from Grandfather Muyeol!”

“Huh?”

Mido interrupted Park Muyeol's words. Park Muyeol smiled as he made a smoking gesture with his hands. It was to signal to go and smoke together. However, before I could do that, I had to finish this. “Would you like to learn swordsmans.h.i.+p?”

“Yes, Grandfather Muyeol says I have talent. The best!”

“Haha. My Mido is the best. Absolutely.”

“As expected of Grandfather! Will you give permission?”

“Umm...”

Mido was looking up at me with eyes s.h.i.+ning like lanterns. I almost nodded and agreed to let her do it straight away. Groan. First, I needed to talk to Muyeol. “Let me talk to Muyeol.”

“I understand. Do you really need to give permission?”

“Haha.”

I just laughed and ruffled her hair. Mido groaned while tidying up her hair. I headed straight to Muyeol. “Let's go for a smoke.” 

* * *

In an old-fas.h.i.+oned mansion to the southwest of Fortren...

This old mansion was one that had been pa.s.sed down through generations of Aren's family. Its history came from the early days of Fortren, more than 100 years ago. It was just really small compared to his position as a gold spoon. It was because Aren was secretly helping others with the money he earned. It was either a person, a village, or a group. Now with Aren's help, people were gathered for a meeting in a room.

“Sir Aren, we need a new home for the resistance.”

“Um, is it difficult to have a place in Fortren right now?”

“Yes. Aidan's people are eagerly trying to capture all the members of the organization. He said that he would give a large reward as well as a n.o.ble t.i.tle if anyone catches us. Therefore, the place we used to stay is full of Aidan's spies. Now I don't know where to train the resistance members.”

“Umm...” Aren frowned as he became pensive. He was currently talking to Leslie, the leader of the resistance group, Karstein, who opposed Fortren's system. He used the resistance army of less than 100 people to steal money and valuables from various n.o.bles to distribute to the poor. He was a marksman from the Parta Princ.i.p.ality and taught the rebels how to use a bayonet. Of course, it was very difficult for Aren to sneak away guns.

“First, I will start looking for the right place. Let's move onto the next agenda.”

“Yes.”

Aren made a decision and his butler, Alfred, read the agenda.

“Yes, the next item on the agenda is information from Sir Joseph. The current prize for the winner of the Colosseum game being held is a Star Fruit.”

The words caused the n.o.bles, including Aren, to look startled. Leslie frowned slightly. “A Star Fruit. Are you sure?”

“I can't believe it. Are they really bringing out such a precious thing as a prize?”

“Please elaborate, Sir Joseph.”

Joseph, who had been sitting silently with folded arms, rose from his seat. He looked around at the people and stated, “It is true. It is almost certain according to our Argos' information. There is just one problem.”

“A problem?”

“What is it?”

“Kaidan might be giving a fake.”

Everyone nodded at his words.

“It is like this. He isn't selling such a valuable thing. It is impossible for him to take it out casually.”

“After all, the men of Aidan's family are evil.”

“Their greed is endless.”

All the n.o.bles who supported Aren uttered some words. Leslie had just sat down with folded arms. Now he stood up again. His expression was serious. “Sir Joseph, what is the real meaning of your words?”

“I want to steal the real Star Fruit for our side.”

“Our...?”

Joseph nodded. “That's right.”

Leslie couldn't understand it. He couldn't understand why Joseph was trying to steal it. Additionally, Joseph was the only one who was an immortal among those gathered here. Leslie asked suspiciously, “Are you going to eat it?”

Joseph frowned slightly. He turned his head and saw the other n.o.bles looking at him with suspicion. The only one who wasn't looking at him doubtfully was Aren, sitting at the head of the table.

Aren opened his mouth, “Everyone should remove their suspicion. There has never been a time when Sir Joseph has betrayed us.”

“Cough. That is true...”

“Still, Sir Aren, Argos has helped us a lot, but no one knows the reality. This is originally a place for the leaders of the resistance. Only Sir Joseph is an ordinary person. How can you believe these secret people...?”

This time, it was Joseph who opened his mouth, “That's right. I am a person who is a member of Argos. Nevertheless, the principle of our organization is to not reveal our true nature. I might be the one present but all my words are coming from the leader of Argos. Please calm down.”

The n.o.bles who heard it looked displeased.

Aren looked at Joseph and remembered the first time this person had come to visit him. It was one night two years ago. A thief had come to the bed where he was sleeping. It was Joseph. He said he had been ordered by Argos' leader. The reason he came was simple—money.

'I'm curious about the ident.i.ty of the leader...'

At that time, Argos was a very small intelligence organization. Joseph said that he received an order from his leader and was looking for someone to support Argos. Aren, who was part of the resistance, decided to receive information from Argos for free instead of paying for the information gathering.

However, the leader had never been seen. It was because he needed to keep his ident.i.ty a secret to thoroughly collect information.

Joseph spoke in a polite, yet imposing tone, “All of Argos, including our chief, hasn't forgotten Sir Aren's grace for helping us at that time. I hope you don't distort our sincerity.”

Aren sighed slightly. “Everyone, stop it. Is there really any change if the leader comes? Sir Joseph will talk for the leader of Argos.”

“Groan.”

"That is true.”

“I understand.”

"I'm sorry, Sir Joseph.” 

Joseph's expression brightened. Nevertheless, Leslie asked with sharp eyes like his doubts hadn't been resolved. The pressure directed from the eye that wasn't covered with an eyepatch became stronger. “Sir Joseph, what are you going to do after stealing the Star Fruit?”

“I think...”

* * *

The day pa.s.sed.

I ended up giving permission for Mido to learn swordsmans.h.i.+p. In fact, I had no reason to refuse. Muyeol was a pretty great swordsmans.h.i.+p teacher. Additionally, Mido's will was so firm that she would learn even if I refused.

“Wow, isn't this really delicious?” Muksabal spoke in an admiring tone. The party members, including me, sat around the campfire and ate the jewel mammoth's jewel meat. It was because I had collected the ingredients when the party hunted the jewel mammoths.

Jekyll and Baroque continued.

“It's wonderful. I am eating proper food for the first time in ages.”

“Baroque... delicious.”

The Mukjeba Brothers forgot their dignity and grabbed the jewel meat, tearing at it with their hands. They looked like primitive humans and I couldn't help smiling. The other members of the group also said it was delicious in a tone of admiration.

“Yes, delisus (?).” Mido spoke vague words as she chewed on the meat she hadn't swallowed and showed a happy expression. It felt good that my granddaughter found it delicious. It would've been better if I used weather cooking. In fact, the jewel meat was one of the finest ingredients among the meats. It was originally discovered by Alexus but I was cooking it like this. It was more delicious when cooked with a sun recipe so it was a bit disappointing.

“Grandfather Chuntaek, do you always eat these dishes?” Muyeol's grandson, Park Seongchan, asked, while eating the jewel mammoth's meat. His mouth was also full of the jewel meat.

“Haha. That's right, I'm a chef.”

“Wow, I'm envious. We have only been eating combat food these days... I don't know how long it has been since I've had a proper meal.”

All the members nodded at his words. It seemed to be true that Muyeol didn't even want to waste time on eating. I turned to Park Muyeol sitting next to me.

“Where did he go?”

“Who?”

“Kim Gitae.”

“Ah, he is busy dating.”

“...Youth.”

Mido swallowed the jewel meat and puffed up her cheeks. She spoke in a melancholic tone, “I want to be in a relations.h.i.+p.”

“Noona, you don't have a boyfriend?”

Mido nodded at Park Seongchan's question. “Yes, I've been single since birth.”

“Wow, how surprising.”

Mido complained, “Me too. Why on earth don't men like me?”

“Well, isn't there anyone around you? I think you are very popular.”

Mido nodded. “I am very popular, but I don't have a man.” 

In fact, I knew that Mido's popularity was high. That's why it was a bit surprising that she hadn't been in a relations.h.i.+p yet. Was it perhaps because of me? I felt some guilt. No, it shouldn't be the case.

“It should happen soon. You're in the Icarus Guild. Aren't there many handsome Oppas over there?”

“There is someone I'm interested in, but...”

“Ohh, who?!” Park Seongchan asked with wide eyes. I was also curious. I wanted to know who Mido liked among those troublemakers. No, I was very curious. I didn't know who he was, but he was dead.

Mido replied, “I don't know. They will come soon.”

“They are coming?”

“Yes, I told them to come here.”

Just then, a sound was heard in the distance. I saw that no one reacted so it seemed like I was the only one who noticed with my super sensitivity. I s.h.i.+fted my gaze toward it. Three men were crossing the hill under the dim moonlight. They were Kim Hyeonu, Park Taehyeon, and Eun Jeonghyeok.

My eyes became sharper than ever. I wondered which of them I should kill.