This Emperor Is Running a Marriage Scam - Chapter 58

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 58

 

‘Actually, maybe monsters aren’t that scary after all?’

 

Gates outside the Northern Region might actually be nothing special—something even civilians could handle easily.

 

‘Since it’s a novel, maybe they exaggerated things to make the protagonists look more impressive.’

 

But I’m not the author, so I can’t know for sure.

 

Even if my guess was right, it was clear that a woman and child couldn’t handle it alone.

 

Still, thanks to the two people’s attitude of acting like it was no big deal, my heart gradually calmed down.

 

That’s when Kimarise asked.

 

“Where did the monster and that unidentified creature come from?”

 

“We encountered them at the rocky coastline filled with large, jagged rocks if you go straight that way.”

 

After hearing my story about how it was in pillar form, then spread out as sand or became a lump of mud, Kimarise nodded.

 

“Hmm, I’d have to see it directly to be sure, but I think it sounds like a rock mole.”

 

“A, a rock mole?”

 

It was a name I’d never heard before.

 

“There’s such a thing?”

 

“Yes, they’re extremely rare so they’re not well known, and due to their living habits, they’re hardly ever seen by people.”

 

Kimarise described what rock moles looked like.

 

“Rock moles have button-like eyes and sprouts growing from their heads. They can’t speak, but some communication is possible.”

 

“Ah! That’s right! It matches perfectly!”

 

Baron also seemed to understand now, tapping his fist against his palm.

 

“Ah, so that was a rock mole.”

 

“Yes. You were really lucky.”

 

Kimarise continued explaining about rock moles.

 

As I had expected, rock moles live by eating monsters, and they’re only friendly to people they see for the first time in their lives.

 

“Since it helped rather than attacked, I think that rock mole was seeing Hailey and Baron for the first time.”

 

It was somewhat bewildering content. But in a fantasy world, I suppose such things were possible.

 

Kimarise looked toward the coastline where the rock mole had disappeared, then eventually nodded.

 

“Anyway, if that’s the case, it’ll appear again soon.”

 

“Again…?”

 

“Yes. Since it ate a monster in this area.”

 

It would wait for more monsters to appear nearby and catch and eat them as soon as they showed up.

 

With those words, hope arose in me.

 

“Huh? Then this area will automatically become safe? Without needing to move?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

It was really good news!

 

Then Kimarise added something.

 

“However, the important thing to note is that word can’t get out that there’s a rock mole here.”

 

When I opened my eyes wide in confusion, Kimarise smiled.

 

“Rock moles are monsters too, when you think about it. Rare animals are bound to be hunted somehow.”

 

“Oh my goodness!”

 

To think that the rock mole, our lifesaver, would be put in danger instead. That absolutely couldn’t happen.

 

Startled, I clasped my hands together and pleaded with Raven and Kimarise.

 

“You’ll keep it a secret just between us, right? It absolutely must be kept secret.”

 

Raven and Kimarise readily nodded.

 

“Thank you.”

 

When I felt relieved, Raven and Kimarise said to rest now and went back.

 

After waving goodbye to them, I took a deep breath.

 

Now it was time to go find The Lord and report that I’d seen a monster.

 

‘There might be more monsters around.’

 

Raven and Kimarise acted like it was no big deal, but if a civilian like me encountered one alone without knowing anything, it would be terrible.

 

Thinking about The Lord’s tendency to not actively step forward even when the children were kidnapped made me a bit nervous.

 

But when monsters appear in a domain, The Lord is required to request help from the Imperial Palace. That’s the Empire’s law and The Lord’s duty.

 

On one hand, I was also excited.

 

‘Maybe I’ll get to see the original Bloden and the Order of Sentinels!’

 

* * *

 

Taking advantage of the time when Hailey was fast asleep, Baron came outside the house and his eyes began glowing red.

 

Baron had returned to being Bloden.

 

Bloden checked Hailey’s Farm.

 

A snowman-shaped pile of rocks sat between the furrows. It was Camen, who had reduced his size to fit perfectly between the furrows, removing newly sprouted weeds.

 

Bloden quietly watched Camen’s appearance.

 

Unlike fixing the house or instantly plowing and clearing the rocky field, pulling weeds took quite a bit of time. Since he had to be careful not to damage the crops and only deal with weeds that grew anew each day, it required meticulous effort.

 

Bloden knew this too, but… watching it seemed a bit strange.

 

He had said to remove weeds when they ‘grew.’ Not to pull them as soon as tiny sprouts appeared.

 

In other words, it only needed to be done once every few days, but since that command, Bloden and Hailey hadn’t seen even a trace of weeds.

 

‘Should I call him back later and tell him to come out only then?’

 

After thinking for a moment, Bloden decided to just leave it be.

 

Camen seemed to be enjoying pulling the weed sprouts in his own way.

 

‘Since Nuna has gotten acquainted with him now.’

 

Camen planned to gradually make himself visible to her. That way he could use him like a bodyguard in emergencies.

 

Now Bloden began walking slowly toward the place where they had encountered the monster during the day.

 

After three steps, Ignis followed and began lighting the way ahead, and after three more steps, Raven and Kimarise followed like black smoke and revealed themselves.

 

With the appearance of the two spirits, Bloden recalled what had happened during the day.

 

Today Bloden had truly given the greatest performance of his life. He had pretended to fear a low-grade monster that was no different from a gnat, even forcing himself to shed tears.

 

To show natural behavior to someone who would risk their life for him required at least that much.

 

But what was Raven and Kimarise’s reaction?

 

“Your acting turned out to be useless.”

 

At Bloden’s cold voice, Raven and Kimarise coughed awkwardly a few times.

 

The two had acted as hard as they could in their own way.

 

But the opponent was a Mantis Sickle Fox. For them, it was something they could suffocate to death just by pressuring it with their gaze.

 

To act afraid of such a monster—that was really difficult.

 

“We’re, we’re sorry, Your Majesty. We tried our best but it seems we were lacking.”

 

Raven quickly apologized and hastily changed the subject.

 

“Your Majesty, shouldn’t we punish The Lord’s negligence?”

 

Bloden didn’t answer immediately and recalled the day’s events again.

 

Bloden and Kimarise could share thoughts and vision. And Kimarise had been with Raven.

 

Thanks to this, Bloden didn’t need to separately explain the situation to Raven.

 

Hailey didn’t know, but Raven coming outside during the day wasn’t a coincidence either.

 

While Camen was catching the monster, Kimarise, who was sharing senses and thoughts with Bloden, immediately informed Raven of the situation.

 

Receiving Bloden’s thoughts through Kimarise, Raven deliberately came out first to pretend to assess the situation, then called Kimarise at the appropriate timing and had him cover for Camen’s identity.

 

It would feel unnatural for young Baron to explain alone every time Hailey encountered an elemental.

 

Thanks to this, they had perfectly disguised Camen’s identity and made it so it wouldn’t be strange whenever he appeared before Hailey again.

 

All that remained was to reassure Hailey so she could rest, then secretly find and eliminate the Gate without her knowing.

 

But Hailey moved, saying she had to inform The Lord since even the most trivial monster could be dangerous to someone like her.

 

Even though she told Baron to rest at home since it would be hard for him.

 

Here Bloden realized something. That Raven and Kimarise’s acting had been terrible.

 

Separate from that, he couldn’t let Hailey go alone.

 

‘What if the Lord and Kelite’s Princess try to bully her!’

 

In the end, he followed along, saying he was scared to be alone at home.

 

However, contrary to Bloden’s worries, Hailey wasn’t bullied at all.

 

The Lord didn’t even meet Hailey, let alone open the manor’s doors for her.

 

So Hailey informed the soldier standing guard at the manor about the monster’s appearance and had him relay it to the Lord.

 

But the response that came back was unworthy of a lord.

 

‘There can’t be any monsters in this domain. If you had encountered a monster, you wouldn’t be alive right now. If you cause chaos in the domain with false rumors, I will punish you severely.’

 

While delivering the Lord’s threat, the soldiers also mocked Hailey.

 

‘Imperial Law protects the domain’s people, not people like you, Miss.’

 

‘Where did you see some nonsense and come here making a fuss? Don’t act up, and if you’re scared, just leave the domain.’

 

‘I’m telling you it’s real. It was over there, in that direction. You could just go check.’

 

‘Check what? The fact that you’re alive proves there’s no such thing.’

 

No one listened to Hailey’s words.

 

And Baron took in the faces of the soldiers who were treating Hailey disrespectfully, then quietly called Camen and gave him an order.

 

To stuff stones in the mouths of anyone who spoke rudely to Hailey.

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