They Say an Age Gap Like This Doesn’t Even Need Matching - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The mana around me surged violently, and a shadow suddenly dropped from the ceiling.
A highly suspicious man dressed entirely in black with his face covered.
Well, that’s what anyone who didn’t know him would think.
“Kei.”
An unmistakably familiar face to me.
Kei, my expedition team companion with exceptional abilities in concealment and infiltration.
I’ll spare myself the question of how he discovered this place in just a few days.
It wouldn’t have been difficult for him.
“How have you been?”
“Not well.”
He pulled down his mask and answered flatly.
“I’ve been harassed relentlessly these past few days.”
“Oh, is that so?”
That made sense.
Since Kei was originally the head of the Information Guild, people everywhere must have been in an uproar demanding he find out what had happened.
“Just as I thought.”
Kei’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“You were planning to somehow restore the kingdom’s condition by yourself and hold a victory celebration, weren’t you?”
Well, that was only natural.
What was this?
Why did it feel like I was being scolded?
Of course it was natural for them to resent me as their leader for this absurd situation that had unfolded over three hundred years, but this didn’t seem to be about that.
“Once you confirmed something was wrong, you should have come to find us first. Aren’t you thinking of the people who worry about you?”
“Why would you worry about me? If anything, I should be the one worrying about you all.”
Oh, now his eyebrows shot up too.
He was truly angry.
There’s nothing good about upsetting him. I need to smooth this over somehow.
“Everyone just desperately wanted to see their families again. And then this happens. I don’t know how I can face you all.”
I sighed and lowered my head.
It was meant to appease his anger, but it was also my genuine feeling.
“Kei, have you met your descendants? Is the guild still around?”
“Well, yes…”
“How are they? Are they doing well?”
“There are parts that frustrate me, but they’ve grown the guild quite well.”
“I see. That’s a relief.”
As I continued the conversation and glanced at his expression, his anger seemed to have eased somewhat.
“Commander.”
“Hmm?”
“At first it was shocking and hard to believe, but now everyone has accepted the reality.”
I found myself momentarily speechless, looking at him.
“From the moment I volunteered for the Expedition Team, I was prepared that I might never see my family again. Surviving without dying is a miracle in itself.”
“Kei, that’s….”
“No one resents you. I was just worried you’d be suffering alone. It was a bit disappointing that even in this situation, you wouldn’t think to rely on us.”
I see.
So that’s how they could see it.
I didn’t really understand. I couldn’t even begin to fathom it.
I have no family.
Even in my earliest memories, I was an orphan, and I’ve been alone ever since.
So while I could imagine the sorrow, despair, and emptiness they must have felt, I could never truly know it.
I would have accepted their resentment, even if they’d grabbed my collar and shaken me in anger.
Because I believed that was my role as their leader, and it was a responsibility I should bear.
But perhaps I was a little afraid.
All the time we’d spent together had accumulated, and they had become like family to me.
If I actually faced their eyes filled with hatred and resentment, I didn’t think I could remain unaffected.
Maybe that’s why….
I tried so hard to handle everything alone.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you. I’m just like that naturally. You’ve always supported me on your own.”
I shrugged as I spoke, and Kei let out a hollow laugh.
“Yeah, well. That’s true enough.”
Good.
His anger had definitely subsided.
“Let’s do this plan together.”
“How do you know what I’m about to do?”
“Doesn’t matter. Whatever it is, it’ll be reckless and thrilling anyway.”
“Really? You don’t care what it is?”
Would striking the enemy from behind and reforming Bardia really be fun for them?
“Yes, everyone agreed. We’re doing it.”
After all that suffering, they could want to rest, yet no one was thinking of retiring.
Then again, looking at Bardia’s current situation, even the founding heroes sleeping in their graves would rise up.
How much more so for those who volunteered for the Expedition Team with the resolve to sacrifice their lives to protect the survivors?
The fact that they haven’t already dropped a fireball is remarkable restraint.
“Alright. I’m fine with it.”
Just Kei’s participation alone would be an enormous help.
His abilities were perfectly optimized for behind-the-scenes work, and through the Information Guild run by his descendants, I could grasp the continental situation.
“We’ll avoid war if at all possible. You understand what I mean?”
“I naturally assumed you would do that, Commander.”
Kei shrugged.
In fact, with the Expedition Team’s military strength, turning the imperial capital of Cradian into a sea of fire would be easier.
But three hundred years ago, what we sought to protect wasn’t merely a single nation.
Whether the nation would be divided or how the power structure would change, the peaceful daily lives of ordinary people had to be preserved.
Those with power should fight those with power.
I couldn’t allow those who needed protection to be caught in our conflict.
“Then what should I do first?”
“Well….”
Just then, remembering what I needed, I spoke with brightened eyes.
“Let’s get undercover jobs.”
***
“Perfect, it’s flawless.”
I nodded as I surveyed the dramatically transformed space.
“Right, Chef?”
“Well, this is quite satisfactory.”
What I’d managed to extract from the Steward.
It was the kitchen!
There had originally been a cooking area, but it had fallen into disrepair from disuse, so I took this opportunity to restore it completely.
And so Kei took on a disguised position as the head chef of the Separate Palace.
‘It worked out perfectly—they needed a chef anyway.’
It wasn’t because I was tired of going back and forth to the Central Palace at mealtimes.
‘Without sufficient information on synthetic poisons, I can’t trust food prepared by someone else’s hands.’
Even the Crown Prince’s ‘love potion’ that he’d been planning to use—its whereabouts remain unknown.
I couldn’t know when or how someone might tamper with Elhart’s food.
Kei, whose retirement goal was running a pub, had excellent cooking skills.
‘He was called the revolutionary of beast cuisine.’
Everything was delicious except for the wyvern stew with leeks.
The ingredients here would be far superior, so there’s much to look forward to.
We decided to bring an assistant chef from the Information Guild run by Kei’s descendant.
Apparently, there’s so much to teach that he plans to keep his successor by his side and train them directly.
“Well then, let’s go introduce him now.”
Since he’s now part of the Separate Palace, I should introduce him.
“Very well. I was curious to see who you’d chosen, Commander.”
“You’ll be quite surprised.”
“In what way?”
“You’ll see when you meet him.”
I climbed the stairs with Kei, smiling confidently.
Before the second-floor bedroom, I’d normally entered without a second thought, but this time I even knocked politely.
“Elhart, can I come in?”
The door swung open before I’d even finished speaking.
As if he’d been pacing in front of it.
“Ser, where have you been all this….”
Elhart, who’d been pouring out words urgently, closed his mouth and stared at Kei standing behind me.
Kei let out an impressed “Oh…” and greeted him with an easy smile.
“Your Highness, I’m Kei, the head chef newly assigned to the Separate Palace.”
“I thought it would be good for you two to meet, so I brought him along.”
Elhart, who had been staring intently at Kei with a rigid expression, slowly nodded.
“…Pleased to meet you.”
‘…Something feels off about his reaction.’
A profound contemplation dwelled in Elhart’s eyes.
As if confronting a moment he had long prepared for.
As if finally meeting an existence he was destined to encounter.
“Come inside.”
“Yes, thank you.”
As I watched Elhart turn and enter the room with some bewilderment, Kei nudged me and mouthed something.
‘His face?’ he seemed to say.
“Wow, I was startled by how handsome he is.”
And the way he grinned meaningfully was utterly irritating.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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