Chapter 126

First of all, talking outside felt a bit awkward, so we decided to move to a nearby tea shop. But somehow, I felt guilty for ruining the date with Glacia. So, while we were walking, I casually apologized to Glacia for ruining the date, and her response was:

“It’s okay. The goal for today… has already been achieved.”

We only ate at a commoner-style restaurant, so what exactly was achieved? Well, if she’s happy, then that’s okay. I’m a man with a heart as vast as the ocean.

We sat down and started ordering drinks one by one. Of course, I ordered melon juice, and Glacia ordered a simple black coffee.

Squar flipped through the menu and ordered with a bored expression.

“Change the milk in the chocolate cookie latte to soy milk, add honey and syrup, preheat the cup to 90 degrees, and don’t forget to sprinkle coconut powder on top.”

Wow, what a ridiculously complicated order. While the staff was flustered, Heavenly Demon Ocheonyoung also closed the menu. Judging by the atmosphere, he seemed like the type to drink black tea or green tea, but…

“Give me a jasmine musk melon parfait and a chocolate parfait with extra strawberries on top.”

Is there another order that doesn’t match someone’s face like that? He looks like an old man who would only chug alcohol, but he’s addicted to parfaits. What a sign of the times. I was worried he might get diabetes and drop dead.

But in a medieval fantasy setting, having so many sweet treats is really breaking the historical accuracy. Well, in some otherworldly stories, they deal with food shortages by making burdock root stew and adding sugar, so maybe it’s fine.

After some time, our drinks arrived, and I downed my refreshing melon juice in one go and asked:

“Sister Squar, so what brings you here? And before that, what kind of country’s etiquette is it to send a letter saying ‘Just the two of us are going’? I’m an orphan, so I don’t know much about these things.”

Squar, who was about to sip her drink, smiled slyly and replied:

“Hmm… this isn’t something to talk about in a place with so many people.”

She said that and flicked her finger. Suddenly, trump cards flew around the café, and when Squar clapped her hands, everyone in the tea shop disappeared. Glacia looked around in shock. From customers to staff and even the owner, everyone disappeared in the blink of an eye, so her reaction was understandable.

“What did you do to the people…?”

“Don’t worry too much. They’re all sleeping soundly in the false space I created.”

“How on earth did you manage to…?”

“Revealing the trick goes against the magician’s code. It’s also contrary to the nature of a phantom thief.”

In short, she just didn’t want to explain it one by one. That was Squar’s Phantom Magic, a spell developed by her master, the thief Darkwing, who was said to have stolen a country.

Unlike traditional magic that uses natural spirits, it involves complex rituals that interfere with space itself, combining alchemy, artifact usage, assassination techniques, and weapon skills.

“Hmph… don’t tease a young kid with such petty tricks.”

Heavenly Demon Ocheonyoung said that while already finishing a parfait.

“So, cut to the chase and tell us why you’re here.”

“Heeing… I came all this way, and this is the reaction? Our youngest has become so prickly.”

Squar started pretending to cry, covering her eyes.

“That kid’s almost thirty, so stop it. Let’s drop the act and get to the point.”

“Oh, right.”

Squar stopped her crying act. Being half-demon, her personality was quite mischievous.

“First, there’s a message from our leader.”

[There’s a traitor among us. The location information could be explained if there were first-class scouts or spies… but the fact that they can exploit our personal weaknesses means there’s a traitor. We still have no way to confirm who the traitor is, so Werner, be careful. And… stay healthy, Werner.]

“Well, I understand that such important information can’t be sent in a letter, but… did you really need to bring two people just to deliver that?”

Then, Heavenly Demon Old Man’s educational Blue Lightning Fist slammed into my head. Even though it was just a fist, it felt like an electric shock and hurt like being hit by a hammer, but no bump formed.

“Old man, why did you hit me?”

“In a situation where there might be a traitor, sending just one person to you is foolish.”

Ah… if they sent only one person and that person turned out to be the traitor, something bad could happen, so they sent two. When you think about it, it’s quite a rational decision.

Squar shrugged and said in a bitter voice:

“We haven’t suffered any direct damage yet… but because of this, the atmosphere among comrades is one of mutual surveillance. The old camaraderie is still there, but… it’s only on the surface. We can’t even go fishing alone at night because someone might be secretly following.”

Just the fact that comrades are suspicious of each other is threatening enough. Suspicion is the worst enemy of any group.

“It’s hard to imagine. Even with all this surveillance, you still haven’t found the traitor.”

“That’s why the leader initially suspected Ricardo. But it’s not him. He gave false information in the report to the Imperial family, and the enemies noticed it.”

“Ah, fake info… wait, what? You deliberately wrote false information in the report to the Imperial family?”

Deliberately falsifying documents submitted to the Imperial family is a crime punishable by death. But to do such a thing so casually, it seems everyone’s guts have spilled out.

“But that was the only way to confirm whether Ricardo was the traitor or not.”

“And I can vouch for it too. Older Brother Ricardo is not the traitor.”

Despite his somewhat strange name, Ricardo is definitely a good person.

“Alright, alright. Oh, and… we recently found one of the Black Round Table’s branches near the capital.”

That’s not the kind of information you casually drop like a tomato sale at the next store.

“So, how did you find out about that?”

“We’ve decided not to disclose our sources anymore. In a situation where we don’t know who the traitor is, revealing sources is suicidal.”

In short, she meant she couldn’t even trust Heavenly Demon Old Man.

“We’re planning to go deal with it next Thursday with the old man… youngest, do you want to come along?”

“Ah, can you move that to Friday?”

“We can do that, but… is there a special reason?”

Seeing the sharp looks from Heavenly Demon and Squar, it seems they’re on high alert when it comes to the Black Round Table. Well, that’s understandable.

“I have an important appointment next Thursday.”

“An important appointment?”

Even Glacia started staring at me with curious eyes. If I said I was meeting a god, I’d sound crazy…

“My mother is alive.”

At that, Squar and Glacia jumped up in shock.

“Lord Werner, what on earth…!”

“Youngest, what are you suddenly…!”

The only one keeping his composure was Heavenly Demon Old Man.

“So, are you sure it’s really your mother…?”

Holding a parfait cup like that doesn’t make him look cool at all… but Heavenly Demon Old Man was worried that I might be deceived. Well, in the world I came from, even though I’m an orphan, there are countless people who approach successful individuals claiming to be their parents, so it’s a natural concern.

“It’s from a reliable source… so it must be true.”

“Who is this source?!”

Squar was so shocked she grabbed my collar and shook me. She was practically in a state of panic.

“But you said revealing sources is forbidden.”

“It’s okay in front of me, so spill it!”

“There’s this old, thorny source.”

Heavenly Demon Old Man calmly ate his chocolate parfait and said:

“Alright… then go meet them.”

“Old man! This isn’t something to decide so easily! What if it’s a trap?!”

Well, considering he’s in a position to kill me if he wants, I don’t think he’d bother setting a trap…

“Shouldn’t we go with him?”

“There’s nothing more foolish than outsiders interfering in family matters. Even my master, the Black Wing Sword Saint, advised against meddling in others’ family affairs.”

I don’t know who that is, but they sound like a great person.

“Don’t worry about us and go ahead.”

Just when I thought things were somewhat resolved, Glacia suddenly grabbed my sleeve.

“What is it?”

“Um… when should I go to greet your mother?”

Her blushing face was cute, but… trying to sort all this out was giving me a headache.