Chapter 130: Arrival
Edgar left his house and began searching for Semele.
He eventually found her near the eastern side of the Fortress, casually walking between several workers who were carrying baskets of ore.
The mysterious woman seemed completely relaxed despite the amount of work happening around her.
The moment her crimson eyes noticed Edgar, a playful smile appeared on her face.
"Congratulations, you did a good job."
Edgar slowed down his steps, tilting his head in confusion. "...Congratulations for what?"
Semele didn’t answer immediately. All she did was simply smile at him as though she had said something obvious.
Edgar stared for several seconds at her flawless face.
’Is she talking about the slaves?’
He had successfully rescued those people and created a new settlement for them.
’...Or is she talking about me reaching Level Two?’
There was also the possibility that she somehow knew about his ritual.
But he didn’t know which of his achievements she was aware of.
Edgar’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Which part are you congratulating me for?"
Semele only smiled wider. "You’ll figure it out eventually."
"..."
Edgar didn’t like that answer.
He continued staring at her, trying to understand what was going through her mind.
Semele noticed his expression and laughed softly. "You really are cute when you’re confused."
Edgar’s expression immediately became tired, like he already knew what was about to unfold.
’Here we go again.’
Before he could walk away, Semele stepped closer. "You know, you’ve been expanding your influence quite quickly."
Edgar raised an eyebrow. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Everything."
She slowly looked across the Fortress.
"You have soldiers, workers, land, and even another settlement now." Her crimson eyes returned to him. "If you continue expanding like this, you’ll eventually need someone to inherit everything."
Edgar remained silent for a moment when the words that Oswald once told him echoed in his mind.
Slowly, he mumbled. "...An heir?"
Semele nodded her head with a smile.
"A ruler without an heir creates problems." She folded her arms while looking at him. "People will eventually begin wondering what happens to everything after you die."
Edgar rubbed his chin. "I haven’t thought about it."
Semele’s eyebrows rose slightly. "You haven’t?"
"No." Edgar shrugged. "I don’t have anyone."
Semele suddenly gave him a strange look.
Edgar immediately understood what she was thinking. "...Don’t look at me like that."
"I didn’t say anything."
"You didn’t need to."
A playful smile returned to Semele’s face. "But really, not even that silver-haired girl?"
Edgar immediately shook his head. "Hera?"
"Yes, her."
Edgar looked genuinely confused by the suggestion. "I didn’t save her so I could marry her."
She tilted her head. "Then why save her if you didn’t want to bed her?"
"Not everything ends with bedding someone." Edgar immediately countered. "I like her, yes, but that doesn’t mean I want to make her my own."
Semele’s smile became even wider. "Then what about me?"
Edgar froze in his place. For a moment, he simply stared at her.
Then his expression slowly became perplexed. "...What?"
Semele leaned slightly closer. "You heard me."
Edgar stared at her with the exact same confused expression she had given him moments ago.
"What are you talking about?"
She casually shrugged. "I don’t have a problem giving you an heir."
"..."
Edgar’s face slowly became expressionless.
He rubbed his forehead. "Do you have anything else to talk about?"
Semele laughed softly. "You really are no fun."
Edgar turned around. "If that’s all, then I should get back to work."
He had barely taken two steps when Semele’s voice stopped him.
"Edgar."
The playful tone had disappeared, which made her seem much more dominant and filled with wisdom.
Edgar turned around as he noticed that Semele’s expression had become surprisingly serious.
"Be careful."
He narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
"There is a possibility someone may try to assassinate you."
Edgar’s expression changed slightly. "Who?"
"I don’t know." Semele shook her head. "But you’ve started attracting attention."
Her crimson eyes looked toward the distant forest. "Power always attracts people who want to take it."
Edgar remained silent for a few moments.
Then he nodded. "I’ll keep that in mind."
He turned around and continued walking.
Semele watched him leave with a faint smile.
"...What a pain you are."
---
Edgar eventually reached the Fortress wall.
Gordon was already standing there, watching the surrounding forest.
The veteran noticed Edgar approaching and immediately bowed.
"My lord."
Edgar nodded, gesturing for him to straighten up. "Anything happen while I was away?"
Gordon’s expression became slightly serious.
"Actually, yes." He glanced toward the distant road. "Things have become tense around Soragon Bazaar."
Edgar frowned. "What happened?"
"My spies sent me a message about the talk of the town." Gordon folded his arms. "News about Bravi’s disappearance has already spread."
Edgar wasn’t surprised. "That was inevitable."
"There is more." Gordon’s expression became grim. "People have started asking questions about the Northern Sect."
He paused briefly. "And some of those questions are about their legitimacy to rule them."
The blonde boy kept on staring at the veteran soldier. "So they’re becoming restless."
"Very." Gordon looked toward the road again. "Which is why I don’t think we’ll have much peace."
Edgar followed his gaze with the same serious expression on his face.
At first, there was nothing except the grey fog that had taken over most of the outer area of the Fortress.
Then, several dark shapes slowly emerged from the distance.
Edgar’s eyes narrowed. "...Those are wagons."
Gordon immediately stepped closer to the battlement.
The one wagon slowly shifted, and more and more wagons came into their view.
The sound of wheels slowly reached the Fortress.
Edgar’s gaze settled on the banners attached to the front of each carriage.
A familiar emblem was painted across the dark cloth. The symbol of the Northern Sect.
Gordon’s expression became grim. "...They’re here."
Edgar remained completely silent. His eyes slowly swept across the approaching convoy.
’So, it’s finally time to take over the Soragon Bazaar.’
The wagons continued moving toward the Fortress.
And this time, they weren’t hiding their intentions.