Chapter 110: Omen (1)

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A certain force had begun keeping an eye on Nox.

After Six’s assault and the skirmish with Carl, Nox had doubled Dirsen’s personal guard.

The close protection unit, Black Label, was also assigned to operate in pairs, so Gallen Poe and Six went out together.

“Hah.”

At that moment, Dirsen was inside the headquarters of his subordinate organization, leading a meeting.

With Lahan’s succession conflict intensifying, it was crucial to soothe the forces and strengthen the frontlines.

Until Dirsen finished the meeting, Gallen and Six waited in the adjoining room.

Clatter.

Gallen enjoyed the tea and refreshments that had been set before them.

Even though it was technically enemy territory, Six watched Gallen eat everything without hesitation, finding it interesting.

“Why are you staring like that?”

“Isn’t it suspicious, Gallen? You never know what’s in the tea or the snacks.”

“This gentleman has a strong constitution, so it’s fine. And he’s thirsty anyway, not in a position to be picky.”

“True, you did overdrink yesterday.”

“Overdrink? That’s normal for me.”

Gallen Poe smiled wryly.

He was both one of Nox’s heaviest drinkers and a connoisseur of alcohol.

Spending the end of a day drinking was a common occurrence for him.

“I managed to get some good liquor after a long time. It was a shame the Master was at the Academy. Only the King or the Master could actually match me in Nox, and both were absent. The rest don’t really enjoy drinking.”

“Probably because they would’ve all gathered if it had been you, Gallen. If the Master invited them to drink, everyone would have come.”

“…Sometimes I feel like I dislike how bluntly you say things.”

“I can’t lie, so I say what I think.”

Gallen exhaled a sigh as if to say he didn’t expect anything, savoring the aroma of the tea.

“Six, you said you don’t drink, right?”

“That’s correct. I am an artist, so I do not indulge in alcohol.”

“Aren’t there artists who enjoy drinking?”

“Everyone has different inclinations. I strive for perfection in my own way. Especially in the arts, precision matters. The movements of hands and feet, as well as one’s will and mind, must be under control.”

“Alcohol disrupts all of that?”

“Yes. Simply put, it’s a harm.”

“Going as far as to call it harmful.”

Gallen gave a wry smile.

He swirled his teacup as if performing some ritual.

“To some, it is a harm; to others, a pleasure. That is the charm of alcohol, isn’t it?”

“Is that so?”

“Just as you have your art, alcohol serves that purpose for me.”

“I suppose it can be interpreted that way.”

“If you’re ever interested, let me know. Resetting your mind with alcohol once in a while can be good.”

“You offered me that once before, didn’t you?”

“Did I? When you get older, you tend to forget trivial things.”

“Haha, well, I understand anyway.”

Gallen chuckled lightly.

Though his expression didn’t really convey understanding.

Unfortunately, it seemed he would have to drink alone for the time being, just like before.

“By the way, Gallen. I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“How did you meet the Master?”

“…Hmm.”

Gallen pondered Six’s question while sipping his tea.

Black Label hadn’t all entered at the same time.

Each had joined at different times and received distinctions based on their abilities.

‘Queen probably came first.’

Queen, Second, then King?

He knew that most Extra Numbers had joined in the early days.

Of course, they had been assigned higher numbers because they had shown exceptional abilities.

Had they been assigned by entry order, Second would have been an Extra Number too.

Meanwhile, Jack, who joined later, would have been assigned as a Normal Number.

“By the way, what’s the matter? You showing interest in someone?”

“Unless something extraordinary happens, I will probably remain in Nox for a long time. To harmonize with the organization, I have to understand others, even if by force.”

“By force?”

Gallen burst out laughing at such a candid remark.

“So I’m the first?”

“Yes.”

“Then I should thank you.”

“If it feels burdensome, it’s fine.”

“It’s not a big deal. No need to feel burdened.”

Gallen scratched his cheek.

Six quietly observed him.

Over the past few years, Nox had gradually shared pieces of their pasts.

While most of their histories were somewhat known, Gallen’s past was comparatively obscure.

‘The King was a renowned swordsman, Queen the daughter of a fallen noble family, and Second descended from a minor continental clan.’

Understanding someone began with knowing who they were and where they came from.

At least, that was how Six tried to understand others.

‘Taken separately, they seem mismatched, yet they gathered around the Master.’

So to understand them, it wasn’t necessary to know how they met the Master.

Even Six himself carried stories he could not speak of without alcohol.

Even if he didn’t drink.

Clatter.

Gallen took a sip of tea, paused for a short silence, and then spoke again.

“I was a cleric.”

“…A cleric?”

“It was an order that no longer exists. You wouldn’t know it even if I told you the name.”

He shook his head.

“Religion requires believers to exist to be established. But usually, people follow large orders prevalent across the continent. Who would believe in a small local order wandering the countryside? They’d call it heresy, and if you’re lucky, you won’t get stoned.”

“…That makes sense.”

“Even I, a cleric, sometimes wondered if we were truly heretical. Ordinary parishioners would have doubted even more. Its downfall was inevitable. Six, do you believe in God?”

“I do not follow a religion. If anything, my faith would be art.”

“I see. If you believe in something, that could be your religion as well.”

Someone would have called it heretical and vomited at the words.

But for Gallun, who had already lost his faith as a cleric, it hardly mattered.

“I first met the Master while investigating the Hero’s Relic. You know the Master has a lot of interest in that, right?”

“Yes. He even went to the imperial palace for it recently. I heard he obtained the sword that ‘Justice’ wielded.”

“Was its name Cheonroe? Anyway, it’s fascinating. Even if you combined all of Nox, there wouldn’t be anyone holding as many secrets as the Master. I really want to open his mind and see what he’s hiding.”

“I agree. But the two of us together wouldn’t be enough.”

“If we work harder and become the Master’s close aides, he might tell us. Someone like Queen, for instance. She might know more about the Master than we do.”

“That seems… extremely difficult.”

Six gave a bitter smile.

He felt gratitude toward the Master, who had recognized his art.

And he had assimilated with the Master to enter Nox.

Of course, there was also the loyalty accumulated over time.

But he was not blindly devoted enough to give everything like Queen could.

“The reason I investigated the Hero’s Relic was to trace the roots of the Order. There was a story that our Order was a branch of the one that served ‘Rest.’ So I wandered across the continent. That’s when I met the Master. Our first meeting…”

“The first meeting?”

“Honestly, I wouldn’t call it good.”

Gallun recalled the situation back then.

He had clashed with the Master over the Hero’s Relic.

He had mistaken him, who scattered pitch-black magical energy, for a demon follower or a contractee of the demon race.

At that time, he still had the consciousness of being a mere cleric, so he fought with his life on the line.

“…I was utterly defeated.”

He must have been close to death.

The Master had been wounded too, but compared to him, it was barely a scratch.

After that, they had many conversations and eventually entered Nox together.

“This is the relic I obtained back then. The Master conceded it to me.”

Gallun lifted the bracelet around his wrist.

A matte bracelet covered in silver-white.

Six, with his aesthetic sense, immediately realized it was an artifact of extraordinary power.

“At first, I was very surprised. I think you were too, Six.”

“Are you talking about the Master?”

“Yes. That monster not only comes from a noble lineage but is also just a kid barely over ten years old.”

It was almost as if a dragon had polymorphed for amusement.

Even now, he harbored near-certain suspicions.

Otherwise, how could anyone possibly understand him?

“Interesting.”

“Six, did you fight the Master too?”

“In my case, it was more like a performance than a fight. And I was overwhelmed by the Master.”

Unlike Gallun, not a single finger was harmed.

He had only been overwhelmed by the difference in level.

He was understood, and he was saved.

The Master was the first person in his life to recognize his art while he was still alive.

“And…”

Six trailed off, letting out a short sigh and shaking his head.

“It’s a pity there aren’t many opportunities to share such stories.”

“Can’t be helped. We’ll just have to wait for another time.”

Gallun snorted and set down his teacup.

At that moment, the window and walls were smashed, and intruders broke in.

Swoosh.

Following the arc of Six’s swinging fingertips, several bodies were sliced to pieces, blood spouting into the air.

Gallun, as if accustomed, lightly rose and dodged the area.

Then he turned smoothly and sent an enemy’s head flying.

“…Ugh.”

He hadn’t considered the hangover and couldn’t suppress the rising nausea.

“W-wait. Six.”

“I’ll handle this.”

Six nodded, stood, and moved toward the broken wall.

The enemies who had already charged inside were all reduced to chunks of meat.

“What’s going on!”

“An ambush?!”

Other members of the organization arrived late, staring at the broken room.

They had deliberately changed the room to make it look like the meeting was taking place here to protect Dirsen, and the enemies had fallen for it perfectly.

“…Damn it.”

Dirsen, realizing he had become the target, twisted his face in frustration.

“Don’t worry. I’ll clean this up quickly. Gallun, you take care of that side.”

“Yeah, leave this to me.”

Gallun, with a pale face, wiped his mouth and stood beside Dirsen.

At the same time, Six lightly swung his hand and grasped the air.

“Push!!!”

The enemies who had failed their ambush began coming at them with full force.

Six scanned the crowd sharply with his eyes.

‘Not them.’

It wasn’t the same side he and the Master had fought previously.

Judging by their level, they were probably under Turga’s faction.

Soon, the hall descended into chaos.

Nearly a hundred intruders had mixed in here and engaged in a fierce brawl.

‘Gallun is protecting Dirsen, so no need to worry.’

Shhik.

Six lightly moved through the crowd, cutting the throats of those who showed any semblance of threat.

Concise, yet precise.

It was the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the power of Nox.

“…So, Turga’s faction is finally starting in earnest.”

Swoosh.

Six flicked his hand to shake off the blood and looked at the fallen bodies.

Their attack was essentially a signal heralding a full-scale rebellion to swallow Lahan whole.

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