Theseos casually sat down on the windowsill.

The King of the Dead, half-buried in the bed, opened his mouth wide.

"Through the window...! How...?!"

Theseos shrugged dryly.

"What is so strange about that."

The thought of speaking with the King of the Dead alone had come to him earlier that day.

He wanted to find out what was hidden behind that appearance, so right after dinner he left the Luminel mansion.

Contrary to expectations, neither his father nor his brothers stopped him.

Instead, they straightened his clothes and gently said:

"We will see each other again."

After questioning Rio, he waited in the King of the Dead’s room for a while, then suddenly thought:

‘That poisonous one might cause trouble again.’

That mercenary named Bale—would he really react calmly if he saw him inside the King of the Dead’s room?

He did not understand why they treated their leader like that, but the members of Agavert were excessively protective of the King of the Dead.

The one who raised the dead and rained down attacks like a meteor shower was treated like a treasure.

In any case, he changed his plan.

Instead of waiting inside, he let out a heavy sigh and decided to hide behind the mansion.

If he ran into someone inside, it could create problems.

When he sensed the presence of the King of the Dead and climbed the wall, even he thought it was absurd.

But who was to blame.

He had brought all of this upon himself.

He was the one who started the sword duel, driven by his twisted sense of rivalry.

And he was the one who had been saved when he was on the brink of death.

Right now, learning the identity of the King of the Dead mattered more than anything to him, so he had no choice but to see it through.

"You."

he said.

The King of the Dead had already hugged a pillow and was staring at him.

"Mm...?"

"Who are you, really?"

The King of the Dead’s eyes widened.

"My... my identity...?"

"Everyone except me and my people knows it. What are you hiding?"

The King of the Dead’s eyes began to dart around.

The trembling hands clearly showed how flustered he was.

Theseos narrowed his eyes.

‘Just as I thought. It was hidden from me on purpose.’

But why?

He fell silent.

Because all his past actions toward the King of the Dead resurfaced in his mind.

And yet, the other still treated him kindly.

More than that, not long ago he had even said:

"Tie... likes uncle."

Words soft as an overripe peach.

Theseos exhaled shortly.

"I know that between us... there have been things. No..."

"..."

"It is more accurate to say—I caused all of it. I admit it."

The King of the Dead silently looked at him.

"But no matter what. Right now, I am the Vice Squad Leader of Agavert."

"..."

"And you think it is normal that the Vice Squad Leader does not know the true face of the leader?"

In the silence of the room, the sound of swallowing echoed clearly.

Theseos waited patiently for an answer.

But as expected, after some time the King of the Dead shook his head.

"I... cannot."

"What?"

"Tie... even if dies—will not say!"

Theseos’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

As expected.

The King of the Dead was not going to reveal the identity so easily.

But Theseos did not have time.

Who knew when the others would come rushing in.

If a third person appeared, getting an answer would become even harder.

And the King of the Dead would simply slip away.

In the end, Theseos pushed himself off the windowsill.

He dragged a chair over and sat in front of the bed.

"Everyone knows. You just do not want to tell me, right?"

The King of the Dead nodded.

Theseos held his breath for a moment.

Then he deliberately let out a sigh.

"...That hurts."

The King of the Dead’s eyes widened.

"Yes, I behaved like a complete bastard. But I thought you trusted me, since you made me the Vice Squad Leader."

"Mm...?"

"I did not know how my own family lived for years. But you seem to have been close with them."

"Th-that is...!"

"But you will not tell me. That means you do not trust me. Even though we are supposedly one family. You just see me as different. In the end, it is what I expected."

"W-what?! No!"

Theseos gave a bitter smile.

"I understand it myself. Who in their right mind would like me."

"...!"

The King of the Dead suddenly jumped up and ran toward him.

But upon reaching the edge of the bed, he staggered badly.

Theseos instinctively stood up and caught him.

An awkward silence filled the room.

The King of the Dead’s green eyes trembled.

"Tie not because does not like uncle...!"

At that cry, Theseos’s lips parted slightly.

But he quickly regained himself and smirked again.

"Enough. The more we talk, the more pathetic I sound."

"N-not like that!"

The King of the Dead anxiously searched his face.

Under that intense gaze, Theseos thought:

‘There it is. It works.’

That the King of the Dead felt affection toward him was obvious.

Not only had he been saved when he tried to kill him, he had even been accepted into the squad.

And after that, he had come to him every day himself, climbing over the fence.

"If Tie says..."

he murmured quietly.

Interest flickered in Theseos’s eyes.

"If you say—what?"

"You... will not leave Agavert?"

Done.

Theseos barely held back a smile.

And answered calmly:

"I am not planning to leave. I made that decision to fulfill the oath on the Covenant Ring. That is something else."

The King of the Dead nodded uncertainly.

But Theseos’s words were sincere.

He did not want to create a new squad.

And life without the status of leader was not that bad.

Following the King of the Dead—strangely enough—was acceptable.

And today with his family...

"Ahem. In any case, I will not leave."

The King of the Dead nodded and slowly stepped back.

Only then did Theseos realize he was still holding his hand.

The other sat down on the edge of the bed with a serious face.

After a moment, Theseos also sat back down on the chair.

Some ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) time passed.

Finally, the King of the Dead spoke in a barely audible voice:

"In truth... I am a child."

Theseos frowned.

He had expected anything.

A confession, or the true form revealing itself.

But the King of the Dead only scratched his head and, looking at him awkwardly, continued:

"In truth... Tie did not disguise at all. Just a child. Four years old."

"Haha."

Theseos let out a laugh without meaning to.

Of course.

He had underestimated him.

Pretending to be caught, only to mock him...

"Tie came to find Papa... and then suddenly got power..." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

The King of the Dead’s lips trembled.

He looked at Theseos—and suddenly began to cry.

"If too much power—the church takes... And people will use Tie..."

"..."

He sobbed harder.

"So Grandpa Nordix, oppa Bale, and Uncle Basto made Tie hide power... Now must live here... if they find out Tie just a child—big trouble..."

Theseos blinked slowly.

As if time around him had slowed.

‘Have you lost your mind?! Why put that on her!’

‘If I kill you today—I become the top mercenary again!’

‘Bastard, die!’

Scenes from that day flashed through his mind.

The thin wrist where he had placed the Covenant Ring.

His strike at the King of the Dead, who had run toward him in fear.

And—

"..."

Even after losing consciousness, he had not stopped maintaining the disguise.

Theseos slowly stood up.

And without looking away, stared at Astie.

Then abruptly turned his head.

Staggering, he walked out of the room.

"What the hell are you doing here!"

Bale, passing by, pointed at him, but Theseos silently went down the stairs.

Returning to his room, he—

"Leader! W-what is happening?!"

—slammed his head full force into the nearest wall.