The faces of Basto, Bale, and Nordix went blank.

"Independent?"

"Mhm. Tie will just find Father — and everything will be fine. It won’t be like before anymore, asking Father to take care of her."

"......."

"Now everyone will live their own life."

The three of them looked at Tie with bewildered expressions.

But they could not ask a child why such thoughts had appeared in her mind.

"......You can’t cling to Father’s skirt your whole life."

Tie looked far too serious ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) and far too complicated for a four year old.

After a while, Bale shrugged.

"Well, as you like."

His voice became noticeably lighter.

"At four, it’s about time to become independent."

At that nonsense, Basto and Nordix widened their eyes.

But Bale continued with an unbothered expression:

"I grew up without parents from the age of two, kid."

"Really......?"

"Really."

"Then Tie is doing the right thing now too, becoming independent......?"

"Of course. Work properly as a mercenary, earn money. If you need adult strength — me, Basto, and old man Nordix are here. What’s the problem?"

Tie nodded seriously.

"Right. Tie is not just from the Quail Class of Hanbit Kindergarten anymore."

"......."

"Tie is now King of the Dead."

Having finished her inner oath, the child jumped up from her seat.

"Tie will work hard! From today!"

Bale, watching her with satisfaction, slipped a hand into his inner pocket.

And pulled out a crumpled sheet of paper and a pen.

"Since we’re talking about it — let’s write it down right away?"

"What?"

"A promissory note that you will never leave Agavert."

Tie’s eyes grew round.

That night.

Basto, who shared a room with Tie, tossed and turned all night. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Turning his head, he saw Astie sleeping peacefully in the neighboring bed.

White moonlight lay across her face.

Sometimes the girl frowned in her sleep, and Basto let out a quiet sigh.

"......It will work out somehow."

On the nightstand between the beds lay a sheet of paper covered in dense handwriting.

[Promissory Note]

Kim Astie, being a member and head of the squad , undertakes to conscientiously fulfill the following provisions.

— First, awareness of responsibility: I acknowledge responsibility for the tasks entrusted to me and my role in and undertake to carry them out conscientiously.

— Second, performance of duties: I undertake to perform all duties and responsibilities as King of the Dead.

— Third, restriction on departure: I agree that I may not leave the organization without the consent of seniors Bale Theodore, Basto Paerix, and Nordix Omen. (Never, under any circumstances.)

This promissory note is drawn up of the free will of Kim Astie. I understand the above provisions and undertake to observe them conscientiously.

Signed: Kim Astie (signature)

Address: Jongno gu, Republic of Korea, Seoul, Empire of Tallocium

The next morning, when the clear sun rose again.

"Time to move out."

Basto put on his cloak and turned toward the bed.

Tie, sitting on it, raised her hand high.

"Yes! Let’s go!"

She was neatly dressed in Agavert’s uniform.

Bale, leaning against the wall, said:

"Kid. Remember, you can’t behave like that there?"

Tie nodded, her face becoming majestic.

"Ahem. Insolence! How dare you call me kid before the sovereign!"

"......What sovereign?"

"That’s how kings refer to themselves! Tie is King of the Dead, so a king!"

Bale froze, then snorted.

"Suit yourself."

"Then let’s go."

Nordix stepped out of the room first.

Tie carefully put on her pink backpack and followed.

"By the way, kid. Why aren’t you summoning that black lizard again?"

Bale asked.

Tie hesitated.

"B-because maintaining a summon takes a lot of strength!"

In truth, that morning, when Basto went downstairs for food, Lucarion had woken briefly.

He looked tired, asked Tie shortly about the events of the past few days, and disappeared again.

Only telling her to eat and sleep well because he worries.

‘Kkamani is strange. Why does he worry about Tie.’

Tie, aside from the sadness about Father, felt perfectly fine.

"Seriously!"

she muttered under her breath as she stepped out of the inn.

But as soon as she took a step forward after Basto —

"Run! Everyone run!"

A man shot out of the alley like a bullet.

He almost knocked into Tie.

If Basto had not lifted her into his arms, she would have collided with him and rolled across the ground.

As Tie stared after him with wide eyes, several more people came running around the corner.

"Seradin is dead! The sacred domain is destroyed! At the western pier, a Magic Stone has appeared at the pier!"

The pier — that was by the sea.

‘A Magic Stone appeared in the sea......?’

Tie froze with her mouth open.

It was another piece of news like a lightning strike.

A Magic Stone.

One hundred and two years ago, on the peaceful continent, a mysterious tower had suddenly risen.

From the Magic Stone and the surrounding Rifts poured Magical Beasts, and when the Empire stood on the brink of destruction, the imperial house made a decision.

To abandon most of the territory except the Capital.

Gather the remaining knights and preserve at least the minimal territory — the Capital.

‘We will reclaim our lands! We will crush the Magical Beasts!’

However, soon mercenaries rising in various regions began to reclaim the lost lands.

After that, a civil war broke out in the Empire.

Mercenaries and local lords who had reclaimed their territories turned against the imperial house.

They believed they had been abandoned.

When attacks by Magical Beasts increased and the civil war was added to it, the imperial house had to make another decision.

‘We will expand the borders of the Capital!’

It was decided to enlarge the territory of the Capital.

‘I personally guarantee the safety of those who will live in the expanded Capital.’

Thus the number of Capital residents increased.

Even minor nobles from the outskirts became Capital nobles overnight.

Many were won over, but the imperial house never managed to restore its former authority.

Conflict between holy knights and mercenaries.

Confrontation between the Capital and the other regions continued.

Even those formally included in the Capital were in no hurry to swear loyalty.

The port of Pearlcity was one of such places.

‘How do you think Pearlcity survived! When the holy knights turned away, when the Emperor pretended nothing was happening, we survived with our last strength! And now suddenly we’re Capital citizens? When the land fell, we fought for our lives on boats — who do you take us for?!’

People moving to the Southern Continent and people arriving from there.

In Pearlcity, where there were always many newcomers, many mercenaries gathered, and naturally resentment toward the imperial house and holy knights was strong.

The imperial house wanted to regain Pearlcity’s favor.

Because it was a political and military hub.

A method was found.

‘On behalf of the Order we proclaim. In the coastal waters of Pearlcity a consecration will be performed, and the entire western sea is declared a sacred domain! From now on, the sacred domain will be under the protection of Seradin!’

A way to unite the residents of Pearlcity and regain their trust.

Use religion.

The Order used the local deity passed down in Pearlcity’s legends — Seradin.

‘After the consecration it seems there are fewer Magic Stones, don’t you think?’

‘Well, Pearlcity is a special city under the protection of the god Seradin.’

‘I always thought Seradin was just a children’s tale.......’

In reality the holy knights simply monitored the movement of Magic Stones around the area, but ordinary residents believed it was all thanks to the consecration.

That the local god Seradin truly existed and protected Pearlcity.

And therefore, no Magic Stone or Magical Beast could appear in the sea.

But.

"What? In the sea — what appeared?"

"A Magic Stone! My Lady! A Magic Stone has grown in the sea not far from the pier!"

The face of the newly appointed ruler of Pearlcity, Marchioness Marianna Weybril, turned pale.