Chapter 6

### Council of Lords (2)

The air was heavy.

It was a literal, not a figurative, description. The feeling upon entering the meeting room could not be described any other way.

A space much wider than imagined, and slightly dim.

The first thing that caught my eye was the massive round table in the center and the five people—no, beings—sitting around it.

"Welcome, 5th Lord, and Chief Strategist."

The calm voice of an elderly man broke the silence, echoing from one of the dwarves seated at the round table.

A short, stocky build, copper-colored skin, and a beard that reached down to his chest.

Most notably, his muscular, rock-like physique was clearly visible even from a distance.

I knew the name that encompassed all these features: Dwarf.

And I also knew who he was.

'1st Lord Shin-Tae, Agor.'

The gazes of the lords at the round table, including Agor, were all directed at me.

"Hey, Agor, it's been a while."

Gwangrang approached one of the empty seats and slumped into it.

There were no further greetings or pleasantries.

Only curious gazes remained, lingering on me and Daephon.

3rd Lord Tian Gong, 2nd Lord Lei Hou, 6th Lord Bao Wang, 8th Lord Black Sea Empress... I matched their faces with the names in my memory.

The lords of Caldric were of different races and had distinct characteristics, making it easy to identify who was who.

'Is the Grand Lord... not here?'

Hasn't arrived at the meeting room yet?

The figures of the 4th, 7th, and 9th Lords were also not present.

It was unknown whether they had not arrived yet or were absent altogether.

"By the way, who is the human next to you?"

1st Lord Shin-Tae asked, looking at Daephon.

As I had explained to Gwangrang earlier, Daephon introduced me again.

"A distinguished guest from outside. The Grand Lord has personally granted permission for them to attend the meeting."

The lords' reactions were varied.

"Permission to attend... from the Grand Lord?"

Shin-Tae, who had asked the question, muttered with a mix of doubt and surprise.

"Hmm, what's going on here?"

8th Lord Black Sea Empress propped her chin on the table, showing a look of interest.

"Anyway, our Grand Lord is unpredictable. It's good that this meeting isn't boring from the start."

6th Lord Bao Wang also laughed, finding it amusing.

"..."

3rd Lord Tian Gong stared blankly into space, showing no interest.

He had not even glanced at us from the beginning.

"Why did the Grand Lord allow an outsider to attend the council of lords?"

The only one to express a negative emotion was 2nd Lord Lei Hou.

The elf with sky-blue long hair and pointed ears looked at me with obvious displeasure.

I don't know why I'm here either, so I wish he wouldn't glare at me like that.

At that moment, Gwangrang interjected with a chuckle.

"Since the Grand Lord allowed it, just go with it. Why are you nitpicking? You're still as bratty as ever."

Lei Hou turned his gaze sharply to her.

"I warned you not to call me a brat, 5th Lord."

"Did I? So what? If you're annoyed, you can call me a bastard too."

Lei Hou clicked his tongue, as if deciding not to engage with her.

I just stood there, watching the scene.

Just as I was wondering if I should keep standing, Daephon guided me to a seat.

"Please sit here."

Thus, I took a seat at the round table.

Of course, the lords' attention did not waver.

I really dislike this atmosphere.

Most of all, 8th Lord Black Sea Empress... sitting directly across from me, her very presence made me quite uncomfortable.

Her moth-like antennae on her forehead, the large, membranous wings on her back, and her hybrid appearance of human skin and insect exoskeleton were grotesque enough to be hard to look at.

'Please, don't talk to me.'

In this room full of monsters, all I could do was keep my gaze on the air and maintain a blank expression.

Just as I was enduring this difficult time, the door to the meeting room opened, and someone entered.

I thought it was just a maid.

"..."

But... a maid?

The woman who entered the meeting room alone bowed and began placing teacups on the round table.

Somehow, a more mysterious atmosphere seemed to settle among the lords.

It was a normal scene of a servant setting up drinks before the meeting started, which didn't require much attention.

But I couldn't take my eyes off her.

【Lv.98】

After all, it's unlikely that a mere maid would have a level that could overwhelm even the lords.

...What is this all about?

"Hmm, when will the Grand Lord arrive? It's almost time."

Black Sea Empress smiled at me and muttered playfully.

"He'll be here soon. Just relax and enjoy a cup of tea while waiting."

Contrary to his words, Bao Wang gulped down the steaming tea in one go and then asked Gwangrang, smacking his lips.

"By the way, 5th Lord, I heard you went to Vanhel. Do you have any interesting stories to share?"

"Don't try to start a conversation, vampire brat."

But she crushed his question with a cold voice, different from her earlier tone.

Her indifferent attitude, as if she didn't want to talk, made Bao Wang shrug as if he was used to it.

"You're so cold. I don't know why you always seem to want to eat me. Isn't that right, 2nd Lord?"

"Who would like someone as vulgar as you? I've told you many times not to speak to me unnecessarily."

"Kuk! You're really something. You won't even back me up after we just fought."

Listening to their pointless conversation, I fell into deep thought.

How long do I have to watch this ridiculous performance?

'Are they trying to test me?'

Clank.

As the maid placed the last teacup by my side, I opened my tightly closed mouth.

"Grand Lord."

The maid's movement froze.

"When will you stop this pointless charade?"

All the lords looked at me in surprise, including 3rd Lord Tian Gong, who had not even glanced at me until now.

"..."

Finally, the maid removed her mask, took a step back, and burst into laughter.

"Daephon's disguise was said to be easily seen through, but it's been a while since we had such an interesting guest."

...Grand Lord Rashtein.

The ruler of all Caldric and the leader of the nine lords.

And one of the strongest characters in the Lasa universe.

Swoosh.

In an instant, her entire body was enveloped in a dark aura, and she transformed into a completely different person.

Her jet-black hair and eyes, and her dress, changed from a maid's uniform to a splendid dress.

She walked to the head of the round table, swaying the hem of her dress, and plopped into her seat.

Daephon, who had been standing near the entrance of the meeting room, was now standing behind her.

"Let's see, 4th Lord and 9th Lord are absent due to their own affairs."

The Grand Lord's gaze, which had been scanning the round table, turned to Shin-Tae.

"1st Lord, you must be quite busy, but thank you for participating."

Shin-Tae shook his head lightly.

"Not at all, Grand Lord. Attending the council of lords is a duty of a lord, unless it's an unavoidable matter."

The Grand Lord, with a faint smile, turned her gaze to Lei Hou.

"2nd Lord, you seem to have a lot to say."

"..."

"Are you well, Grand Lord."

Lei Hou bowed slightly and glanced at me before speaking.

"I find it difficult to understand the Grand Lord's intentions in allowing an outsider to attend the meeting."

"Haha, what intentions?"

The Grand Lord laughed and waved her hand.

"I just thought it would be a good opportunity since everyone is gathered."

...Appropriate? What is appropriate?

She clapped her hands to lighten the mood.

"Alright, let's start the meeting! The first agenda is the recruitment of new talent. I've heard a rough outline from the Chief Strategist."

The lords' attention refocused, and the Grand Lord smiled at me.

"First, I'd like to hear your name again."

"..."

"Ron."

Now it begins.

So far, there had been no special crisis, but I couldn't afford to relax.

The real test began the moment the Grand Lord appeared.

As Lei Hou said, what is the reason for bringing me, a complete outsider, to the council of lords and seating me here?

Surely, they're not trying to test my abilities by making me fight the lords...

"Good. So, Ron, what is your purpose for coming to Caldric?"

...Is this an interview?

The question was more ordinary than I expected, and I felt a bit deflated after being so tense.

I stared at her without immediately answering.

"Ah, of course, I know that the Chief Strategist was the one who first proposed it. What I'm curious about is why you were interested."

"..."

"To be honest, I'm quite surprised. For someone of your caliber to suddenly show up at the castle. If your goal was wealth and fame, you could achieve it anywhere with your abilities. So, there must be a special reason for coming to Caldric, right?"

Special reason? Bullshit.

I was just struggling to survive, and this was the dead end I was forced into. There's no such thing.

I know the Grand Lord's abilities.

I knew that there was no point in trying to fabricate an answer, so I decided to be honest.

"I don't have a specific purpose."

The Grand Lord narrowed her eyes, as if trying to gauge the meaning of my words.

"..."

"According to what I heard from Daephon, that's true. So, you're really just here out of simple curiosity?"

She smiled, nodding her head as if humming a tune, but she didn't look cute at all.

I knew the reality hidden within her was a monster nearly a thousand years old.

The form I saw now was just a polymorphed shell, not her true form.

'So, what's the main point?'

Surely, she didn't bring me here just to ask that one question.

This is where it really begins.

I remained tense, waiting for what would come next.

The Grand Lord spoke again.

"Ron, have you ever thought about becoming a lord?"