Chapter 80. Resignation

“F*ck.”

Cyril entered the hideout, tearing off his fake mask and swearing irritably. Jacques, who had been waiting, watched him warily and placed a transparent glass ashtray on the table as soon as the Master sat down.

Cyril put a cigar in his mouth and lit it.

“Whoo.”

With a long sigh, the cigar smoke spread out in a hazy cloud. Cyril watched it blankly and let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“Not just once or twice.”

Why do I keep missing Seraphina?

It was the same in Sahar. Even though I could occasionally enter Sahar Castle disguised as the ambassador of a newly established eastern nation, I rarely had the opportunity to talk to Seraphina.

Timing my visits to the castle to coincide with her schedule was more challenging than expected.

Even with all the effort I put into getting in, there was no reward.

I tried to pretend to bump into her in the hallway, but Seraphina didn’t recognize me and just walked past. And that was without even wearing the fake mask.

Wasn’t I supposed to be the benefactor who appeared like the wind?

Who forgets the face of their benefactor so easily?

It was frustrating, but there was nothing I could do.

There were too many eyes watching in Sahar Castle. Initiating a personal conversation was not a wise choice, especially when disguised as a foreigner.

Still, I was reluctant to give up, so I tried to at least greet her lightly…

<Master Silvat.>

Mihail found him with uncanny precision and called him away.

This happened twice, and otherwise, there was no chance at all. That was because Seraphina spent most of her time in the desert, and with the Holy Knight Order, no less.

In the end, Cyril decided to quit being Silvat.

The newly established nation was considered defunct.

The eastern countries were too busy fighting each other to notice if a few dots disappeared from the map. The reason for using a fake identity from a ‘newly established eastern nation’ was precisely for such convenient cleanup.

Anyway, I withdrew from Sahar.

But going to Hilton wasn’t an option either. I heard Seraphina was being worked even harder there, and I couldn’t just join the Northern Knights to try to approach her.

So the answer was clear.

Elmon.

At least here, Seraphina seemed to take some rest.

Even if it was only for a day or two.

“I finally met her, and it’s absurd.”

Cyril took a deep drag from the cigar and exhaled the smoke.

Jacques, who had been silently observing the mood, cautiously asked,

“Did you meet Miss Seraphina, Master?”

His question implied, why is your mood so low then? Cyril easily read this and let out a series of deflated chuckles before speaking.

“I asked her out on a date and got rejected.”

“What?”

“I got rejected.”

The second time he said it, a dark aura resonated.

Realizing he had touched a sensitive spot, Jacques quickly shut his mouth.

How could this happen…

He looked at Cyril in disbelief.

“What was the reason?”

“She said she had to go to the Imperial Palace.”

Cyril cursed as he pictured the Emperor’s face.

That damn Imperial Palace, f*cking Imperial Palace.

If I ever find a statue of Emperor Marseus, I’ll kick it.

As he imagined childish revenge to calm his anger, Jacques spoke again, his voice rather composed.

“Then you weren’t really rejected, were you?”

“…I wasn’t rejected?”

“Yes. She postponed it because she had to go to the Imperial Palace.”

“……”

Cyril paused, holding the cigar to his lips, then set it down. The cigar, loosely held between his index and middle fingers, wobbled slightly up and down.

I thought she was just idly wandering the streets, buying an apple to eat. In reality, Cyril had been following Seraphina for quite some time.

What was so interesting about an ordinary street?

She walked around in circles, taking her time.

It seemed like just yesterday she was a little thing toddling around and crying whenever she fell, and now she had grown so well and was wandering around.

Feeling nostalgic, Cyril followed her without realizing how much time had passed.

It was enjoyable.

Seraphina probably didn’t even know she was being followed, but it felt like they were taking a walk together.

Perhaps that’s why.

Cyril impulsively revealed himself in front of her.

He had pondered how to appear before her, and paying for her fruit seemed like a decent way to do it.

But when he asked for her time, she said she had to go to the Imperial Palace…

Cyril naturally assumed she had made up an excuse to reject the date.

“To properly spend time with you, Master.”

“…Properly?”

“Yes, Master.”

“……”

Cyril fell silent, organizing his thoughts. Listening to Jacques, it seemed he might be right.

Maybe she was just killing time on the street because she had some spare time before entering the palace.

It seemed like Cyril had been too narrow-minded. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense.

Above all, Seraphina had no reason to avoid him.

He’d even given her the address of the hideout, so maybe she’d visit soon.

With pleasant anticipation, Cyril’s lips curled into a small smile.

* * *

“How long has it been since I last saw the Imperial Palace?”

I muttered to myself, gazing at the grand view of the palace.

It’s been a long time, but I won’t be seeing it again. Heh heh.

I patted my chest to ensure the resignation letter was safe and then moved forward with a spring in my step.

Honestly, I was nervous.

Submitting a resignation letter was a first for me, both as Yoon Jia and Seraphina. The thought of becoming free was exciting, but I was also nervous about what kind of conversation I would have with Ionia or Johann.

“I suppose I should submit it to Miss Ionia?”

I knew that Johann needed to give his approval for the resignation to be accepted, but it didn’t seem right to hand it directly to the Emperor.

Besides, Ionia always made me feel more at ease than Johann did, considering he’s one of the three heroes.

She was a very rational minister.

So I was confident she would handle the purifier’s resignation rationally as well.

With that belief, I inquired about Ionia’s whereabouts and made my way to her. Since she was at the administrative office, I thought it would be perfect to stop by there, greet Johann, and then head home.

With a simple plan in mind and a swelling heart, I went to find Ionia.

“Miss Seraphina?”

Ionia, who had been discussing routine matters with other ministers, turned her head when she noticed me. Adjusting her glasses, she asked in a businesslike tone.

“What brings you here?”

“I have something important to discuss with you, Miss Ionia.”

I spoke politely.

In fact, when I visited the Imperial Palace six months ago, I intended to bring up my resignation. Although I hadn’t prepared a resignation letter at that time.

<Miss Ionia, I have something to say…>

<Let’s discuss it after you return from your mission.>

<Pardon?>

<You’ll be going to Sahar.>

<Yes?>

My first attempt ended absurdly and abruptly.

I mean, when someone starts to speak, you should at least hear them out!

At the time, I was utterly baffled, but unfortunately, Ionia seemed uninterested in understanding me. She said that and immediately left the room.

Ah, the busiest minister in the world has arrived!

Feeling disgruntled, I had no choice but to leave for Sahar with tears in my eyes.

Though I was caught off guard that day, this time was different.

Even Ionia couldn’t send me on a mission like that now. Both the Sahar Desert and the Grodes Mountains had recently been cleared of undead quite thoroughly. Heh heh.

As expected, Ionia nodded to the ministers to excuse herself and stepped outside with me.

Once we were alone, I quickly pulled out the resignation letter from my pocket and handed it to her.

“…What is this?”

“Please read it.”

I spoke calmly, but inside, I was burning with anxiety. Trying not to show my tension, I observed Ionia’s expression.

She opened the envelope and read the paper inside, maintaining a stoic expression throughout.

Not being able to read her mind made me even more nervous.

I quietly swallowed my dry saliva.

Ionia looked up from the paper and stared directly at me. Her gaze was so sharp and clear that it felt like being pierced by a very long and pointed needle.

“What are your grievances?”

Her voice was much colder than I had anticipated, and I was suddenly filled with a sense of foreboding.

I had to speak well here.

If I said the wrong thing, the resignation might be rejected.

As this anxious thought rang alarm bells, my mind suddenly started working well, and all sorts of reasons began to surface.

I had faced life-threatening situations multiple times, the heroes were guarding my mission area, so it would function well without me, and I was bound by an annual salary contract, so I had the freedom to resign…

“If it’s about the salary, we can increase it.”

“……”

My thoughts halted for a moment.

Before I could even answer no, I felt a sense of self-reproach, and Ionia pressed on relentlessly.

“How much should we raise it? Double? Triple?”

“……?!”

Ah…

Oh, you pitiful soul swayed by money.

The negotiation, which I thought would start at 3%, began too aggressively, leaving me unable to gather my thoughts.