Another peaceful day at the Desmunt villa in the West.

The Desmunt family, gathered around a large table, was engaged in a discussion with more serious expressions than ever before.

"Everyone must have prepared."

"I plan to push for one opinion."

"Eeeek... I have two."

"I've thought of one."

"Phew... I'm nervous."

Darbav had a more serious expression than when he was planning the subjugation operation.

He carried the weight of knowing that someone's life could change with a single choice, and also the joy of knowing that his opinion would bring a smile to someone's face.

"Hmmmmm..."

The young lady was also holding her ground, pouting her lips.

Kyle was the same.

"Someone's life is at stake. We need to think seriously, not joke around."

Rosanna was the same.

"I'll have to name it as if it were my own daughter."

The reason the members of the Desmunt family gathered here today was for one thing. Namely.

[Naming a Pet.]

They had gathered here to name the beast that would become a new member of the Desmunts.

"Octo...pus...?"

After patting the head of the bewildered beast, I spoke to the Desmunt family in a heavy voice.

"From now on, we will have a time to name the new member of the Desmunts, the beast of the West."

When its name was called, the beast, as if in a good mood, wiggled its hair and roared.

"Octopuuuuuus!!!"

It was good to see its enthusiastic appearance.

I was worried it might like the name 'beast', but fortunately, I was relieved that it didn't have much of a problem with changing its name.

'No, did it not have a name in the first place?'

I don't know.

"The beast's original name is 'Kraken'. It's not an exact name because it was given by the residents of the West."

After a light introduction, I looked at those sitting in the chairs and said.

"Anyone who has thought of a better name than 'Kraken', please raise your hand and speak."

"Me! I'll speak first!"

"Alright."

As if she had been waiting, the young lady raised her hand as soon as my words ended. The smile on her face seemed to indicate that she had thought of a brilliant name.

"Uhehehehe! I'll name it...!"

Considering her usually violent behavior, others might think the young lady would come up with a heinous name, but knowing her warm heart, I was confident she would come up with a friendly and decent name.

Something like 'Pinky'.

Or 'Jjukku' from jjukumi (webfoot octopus).

Or a nickname like 'Moonjji'.

'I'm looking forward to it.'

I looked at the young lady with a pleased smile, and the young lady, hiding her twitching lips, confidently said the name of the beast she had thought of.

"Haemultang (Seafood Stew)!"

"...?"

I had a blank expression on my face at the words of the young lady, who had named it a warm name befitting a warm-hearted person.

"What?"

"Multangie!"

"...?"

I calmly asked the young lady, who had named it a name that would be even more delicious with ramen noodles, for its meaning. Because even if it sounded strange, it would be good if it had a cool meaning.

"Why did you name it 'Haemultang'?"

"Ung? It's an octopus."

"Yes."

"Then boiling it is the most delicious way to eat it."

As the young lady's brutal words fell, the beast's eyes widened and it was shaking its head.

"Moooooooon...!"

'Is it a rejection.'

At the beast's firm will, I expressed my rejection to the young lady. No matter how you looked at it, it didn't seem like a cute name.

"Rejected."

"Eeeek?"

"Haemultang is too brutal."

"Eeeeeeeeek! Then Sookhoe (Parboiled Octopus)!"

"That's even more brutal."

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!"

Swoosh.

Darbav, who had been listening quietly, said with a serious expression.

"How about Shinseollo (Royal Hot Pot)."

"...?"

"Since it just came out of the sea, I think the name Shinseollo, meaning fresh, would be good..."

"Kuh... Can I still not follow my father..."

"Keep up the good work, Kyle."

"...I will do my best."

Why are you nodding.

I let out a hollow laugh as I saw Kyle nodding his head as if he had been struck, exclaiming in admiration. Following Haemultang with Shinseollo, the disastrous naming sense was bleak.

"That's rejected too."

"Why. The meaning and the feel of it roll off the tongue, what's not to like. I think it's better than Haemultang."

"Eeeeeeeeeek!!!!!"

"It's the name of a food."

"...Was it a food name? I just thought it was fresh because it just came from the sea."

"...Your naming sense is brutal."

Darbav hung his head in disappointment and clenched his fist.

"How frustrating..."

No decent names came up.

Kyle's was 'Chomuchim (Seasoned Octopus)'.

-I named it Chomuchim with the meaning that I hope it runs around in the meadows. How is it.

-Rejected.

Rosanna's was 'Bokkeum (Stir-fried)'.

-That name has nothing to do with the beast.

-I just thought of it because I'm good at stir-fried dishes.

-Didn't you say you would name it as if it were your own daughter...?

-Our Olivia's fetal name was Dolmengie (Pebble)...?

-Moooooooon....?!

-Anyway, rejected.

-Then how about Horongie?

-...???

-Is this not it?

And Gomtangie.

-Gom...? (Gomtang - Beef Bone Soup)

-Gomtang?

-Gom. Gom. Gom.

-No. It's bad to be territorial just because you're the first pet.

-Gooom...

The disastrous naming sense brought tears to the beast's eyes.

All of them were names related to cooking. Everyone was naming a living creature, and they were joking around.

"Moooooooon..."

As if my thoughts were right, the beast made a sad face and hung its head. As if it would surely meet a terrible end if it had to live with the names they gave it.

As if to say not to worry, I placed my hand on the beast's head and gave a meaningful smile. Because in times like this, the transmigrator had to step up.

"Then I will decide."

The beast looked up at me with shining eyes, as if moved by my reliable appearance.

"It breaks my heart that everyone only thinks of the new family as food."

"Ahem..."

"Eeeek!!!"

"How embarrassing."

"Still, I think Shinseollo isn't bad."

-Gom.

I have seen many animals in my past life.

A cat named 'Eogurie' because it had an unfair face, and common names in the countryside like 'Nureongie' or 'Dolsunie'.

For me, who remembers the names of many pets like an encyclopedia, naming an octopus was a very easy task.

"It's an octopus."

There was no need to think hard.

"It's large compared to other octopuses and has the characteristic of understanding human speech, but isn't it still cute?"

"Eeeek! I'm cuter!"

"That's right. Because the cutest thing in the world is the young lady."

"Heehee... that's right."

"So..."

I said with a smile full of conviction.

"Tangtangie (Live Octopus)."

"Mooooooooooooooooooooooon...!!!!"

The beast had a look of having lost the world.

*

At the same time the Desmunt members were discussing the beast's name.

"..."

A cold wind was blowing in the Wolfgang mansion.

"What are you going to do."

The Crown Prince was rubbing his dry forehead with a dark expression in Wolfgang's office.

Because everything had come to naught.

The great cause of bringing down the Desmunts.

Wolfgang's goal of swallowing a large power to advance into the capital had also failed and collapsed, which was only bleak.

"..."

Silence swallows another silence.

A cold atmosphere where any word would become poison was swallowing and tightening their hearts.

The Crown Prince muttered to himself.

Although it was a monologue, the words were directed at Wolfgang Louis.

"With this incident, the Bellian family will gain influence in the West and the capital."

"..."

"It depends on how the Desmunts report it, but the moment they brought in the Bellians, it means they are giving them power."

"..."

"The Desmunts will also become a monster. They made a condition to return the power they barely took away in exchange for subduing the beast, so it's obvious how they will run wild when they get it back."

"..."

"They will begin a purge."

"..."

"A purge of all the families that opposed the Desmunts..."

It was bleak.

Because of the thought of the storm to come.

"I was too stupid."

"..."

"If I had reached out to another family instead of Wolfgang, at least this result would not have happened."

-Grind...

"Well... I'll get a good scolding from my father for this."

Wolfgang Louis held his broken arm and only listened to the Crown Prince's monologue in silence.

Because no matter what insults he suffered, the words coming out of the Crown Prince's mouth were not lies but the truth.

The Crown Prince let out a hollow laugh and said to Wolfgang.

"Marquis."

"...Yes."

"You have a son?"

"..."

"I have many younger siblings."

"...Your Highness!"

"How about helping in this way."

The moment the Crown Prince's words ended.

-Knock knock knock.

"Marquis!!!"

Wolfgang's butler opened the door to the office without knocking.

Wolfgang's eyes bulged at the butler's inappropriate behavior and he opened his mouth. Because he had committed an impiety in the worst of situations.

"Butler.... What are you doing right now...! His Highness is here, and you didn't even knock!"

"It's an emergency."

Wolfgang's butler, who was panting heavily, said to Wolfgang Louis with trembling eyes.

"The slave auction house... has been attacked."

"...What?"

"And..."

The moment the butler's words fell, the Crown Prince's eyes began to tremble violently.

"The ledger has disappeared."

I don't dwell on the past.

That's what regret is.

I know that no matter how much I worry and dwell on what has already happened, it won't change, so I don't bother thinking about it.

This was the crown prince's thought, and his optimistic attitude, as he appeared in the novel.

The crown prince was a person who looked to the future without being bound by the past. He saw his alliance with Wolfgang, Mikhail's enemy, and the invasion of the East by the heretic apostle because of his choice, as stepping stones to a better future.

But what if....

"Hmm~"

If what had passed was too big to be resolved with a mental victory, wouldn't a great deal of regret remain? I thought cautiously.

If one choice had created the risk of ruining his entire life, wouldn't he have no choice but to regret it?

In the dark back alleys of the West, where evening had fallen.

I, having stretched slightly, was waiting for someone in the darkness. Because there was something I had to do before leaving the West.

Of course, I also had to see the young lady's bikini.

Seeing the young lady's bikini was the most important thing, but I, who had to do the next most important thing, was checking the time and waiting for a friend.

"I hope he brought it safely."

Although he was a little scary to be called a friend.

"Hmm..."

The West, being a place of open trade, sold many things.

It was a place where the commercial sphere was exceptionally developed compared to other regions, where one could buy spices, eastern goods, or expensive items that were not easily seen in the capital, at a low price.

A place where many people pass through.

A place where foreign traders pass through.

At the same time, things that should not fall into human hands could also be obtained in the West.

For example, 'drugs' that should not be touched, or unlicensed 'weapons'. Of course, 'poison' was also sold.

And the most fluidly moving product in this underworld was 'slaves'. A product that could be used as a meat shield by binding a life.

"..."

The moon rises brightly.

As always.

An eerie aura was circulating in the western streets where darkness had fallen. And the sound of the frozen sea melting could also be heard, not knowing my feelings after an impressive day.

The West is definitely a beautiful place.

With its beautiful sea.

The West, filled with people's laughter, had reasons why many nobles would seek it out as a resort.

Although it is not recognized because of the endless underworld behind its bright appearance....

No matter how much darkness blooms in the western sky.

No matter how much hatred blooms.

This place, where hope blooms the next day, is a place loved by the people of the West.

-Clack.

Space distorts.

As if the visitor was greeting me, the space distorted and the surrounding space was changing bizarrely.

The walls that filled the four sides were breaking into pieces, and the moon that shone in the night sky was also turning into countless pieces, announcing its visit.

'He's here.'

-Clack.

I smiled slightly and bowed my head at the sight of someone cautiously stepping out from the distorted wall. Because I was happy to see the friend I had promised to meet.

"It's been a long time."

I didn't know what kind of information my friend would bring, but a smile bloomed on my lips at the visit of her who always brought results beyond my expectations.

"Lady Elysia."

"Ah... Saint! Today too, the halo in front of my eyes..."

"..."

An awkward expression formed on my face at Elysia's words. The word 'saint' was something I was never used to hearing. It seemed to have gotten even stranger.

Because it was strange for me, who was far from the standard of righteousness, to be called a saint.

I quickly helped up Elysia, who had knelt on one knee, and spoke.

"You don't have to be so formal. I'm neither a saint nor a god."

"To me, you are a benefactor and a light."

"Haha... tsk...! You did a splendid job with the West."

"It is far from enough to express the Saint's anger. I wanted to freeze the entire West, but I ask for your forgiveness for the sin of this lacking servant's insufficient power, which only allowed me to do this much."

"No. This is enough for now."

Before getting to the main point, I asked Elysia.

"Have you found the sibling of the Apostle of Temperance?"

At the question, Elysia shook her head and gave a negative answer.

"It seems they have already fled. I searched for all those related to the Archbishop of Slander and gathered information, but their tracks were cut off from the time I came to the capital."

"That's a shame…."

"I apologize for not being able to meet the Saint's expectations."

"No."

What have I even done?

Elysia, who had bowed her head sullenly, took out a worn notebook from her bosom and said.

"I have brought what the Saint requested."

I received the notebook Elysia handed me and smiled with satisfaction. I knew she would eventually bring it.

It was a notebook with many people's names written in it.

A ledger filled with the names of many people, from the nobles of the capital to commoners and merchants.

I closed the notebook and asked Elysia.

"The siblings I mentioned before.... were they alive?"

"Are you referring to the beastmen?"

"Yes."

"I found them."

I nodded and expressed my gratitude.

It begins now.

The downfall of the crown prince.

The life of the crown prince, who had been on a winning streak in the novel, now began to climb the stairs of adversity.

The first step.

['Kaar' tribe beastmen. 2 people]

Bidder: Leogard Theo

Was losing his sword.

I, with a cruel smile, said to Elysia.

"Shall we start melting the ice now?"

"I would like to... a little more of the Saint's anger..."

"It's fine. I think I've punished them enough."

"...Urgh. I understand."

The harm to innocent residents had to stop at this point, and since I had caused enough trouble, I took the ledger Elysia gave me and walked towards Darvav.

Because Darvav would make much better use of the ledger than I, a commoner.

Before that...

Just one more stop.

*

The crown prince was cornering Wolfgang with trembling eyes.

"What is the meaning of this, Marquess!?"

"It's fine. It's a matter our family can handle."

"I heard the ledger is missing...!"

"It's a forged ledger...!"

"Shut up!"

The crown prince had planned to buy slaves to create his own vassals. Strong slaves who would be loyal to his words and not betray him. And 'Kaar' tribe beastmen with excellent combat abilities at that.

But... everything was exposed.

A secret that he, as the crown prince, should not have been caught with was exposed. If the one who had this weakness was a faction hostile to the imperial family, the matter would become even bigger.

The crown prince, who was extremely anxious about what had happened, began to pack his clothes with trembling eyes.

"Your Highness!"

Wolfgang grabbed the crown prince, who was blindly leaving the mansion, and shouted. Where are you going now?

The crown prince, who had grabbed his overcoat, answered Wolfgang in a cold voice.

"I'm going to the auction house right now."

"It's dangerous...!"

"Shut up, Marquess."

"..."

"Don't test my patience."

·

The crown prince, who had arrived at the underground auction house, was looking at the empty iron cage with trembling eyes.

"...Ah..."

Everything was gone.

The beastmen he had planned to make his soldiers, and the slaves in the slave trader's house were all gone without a trace, and a messy scene greeted them.

The soldiers were all drooling and unconscious, and only a cold chill surrounded them.

And in the middle of it all.

"What brings you here?"

A man with red hair was standing in the middle of the auction house.

"Your Highness."

The crown prince ground his teeth at the sight of Ricardo. He didn't know why this guy was here, how he knew the geography of this place, or the whereabouts of the ledger.

Many possibilities cross his mind.

Ricardo approached the crown prince with a face that said he really didn't know and spoke.

"I was taking a walk when someone asked for help, so I came to see... is it the same for you, Your Highness?"

"No, I came to investigate after receiving a report that there was an illegal place in the West."

"Ah... an undercover investigation."

The crown prince's eyes, which see the truth, were burning.

"Speak honestly."

"..."

"Did you orchestrate all of this? Or are you the owner of this place?"

"Me?"

Ricardo let out a hollow laugh and shrugged.

"Why would I do something like this? I'm just a mere commoner."

"..."

"On the contrary, I find you suspicious, Your Highness...?"

A sneer was in Ricardo's eyes. The most frightening thing was that the eyes that could only be possessed by one who had obtained the qualities of an emperor... were pointing to the truth.

Not a lie, but the truth.

Ricardo was sneering at him as if playing with him. As if he knew everything.

"Whether my words are lies or not, you would know better, wouldn't you, Your Highness?"

"..."

"Why are you making that face?"

"..."

"Could it be..."

Ricardo smiled slightly and said to the crown prince.

"Is there a reason why I shouldn't be here?"

"..."

A chill ran down his spine.

Because he had no way of knowing how much Ricardo knew, or what he had.

"I believe in your honesty, Your Highness."

"..."

"I believe in the honesty of Wolfgang, who is responsible for the well-being of the West."

"..."

Ricardo smiled slightly and passed them by.

And.

"Go in!!!!"

The western guards pushed the crown prince's shoulder and began to raid the auction house.

"Oh, by the way, I was the one who reported it."

"..."

"I thought it would be good..."

-Grasp.

"if someone worse than me disappeared."