TSSAH 20

Chapter 20

“Rookie, where are you going?”

Senior Bono asked as I headed not toward the barracks, but in a different direction after night shift ended.

“I have somewhere to stop by before I sleep.”

“Is that so? I don’t know what it is, but get it done quickly and go to bed. You were pretty sick, weren’t you?”

“Yeah, I will. Good work, Senior Bono.”

“Sure, sure.”

I stood still for a moment, watching Senior Bono head off toward the barracks, then moved my feet.

It was an unfamiliar path I’d never walked once during the past year of going back and forth between the guard post and the barracks every day.

“You said east.”

After walking for a while along the narrow path that looped around the castle wall, a tall tower revealed itself, just as the seniors had said.

“It’s a whole crow heaven.”

On the branches of every tall tree, black crows sat in rows, watching me.

I hated those yellow eyes staring down at me as if they could actually think, even though they were just birds.

They reminded me of Killian Knox.

“You’re supposed to be nocturnal. It’s morning now, so you should be sleeping—why are you all just sitting there?”

Even at my provocation, the crows only tilted their heads and stayed put.

…Of course, crows shouldn’t actually answer back.

“Here I am, talking to birds now.”

Shaking my head, I kept walking toward the tower and came upon a low hill.

It seemed they’d built the tower on a hill so the messenger birds could find it more easily.

But a man was walking down from the upper path.

It was before work hours had even started—he must have been on his way out after sending a letter early in the morning.

‘Probably wrote a letter to his lover.’

I frowned, remembering Senior Bono snickering at me last night, treating me like a kid.

By then, the man had drawn closer, and as we passed each other on the narrow path—

*Clink.*

‘Huh?’

I stopped at the familiar sound and turned around.

Was it someone I knew?

But it was definitely a stranger.

The man was already far off, walking at a fairly quick pace.

“I’ve definitely heard that sound somewhere before.”

Contrary to my expectation that a place swarming with crows would be dirty and smelly, the Crow Tower was quite clean and quiet.

If it weren’t for the unusually high ceiling and the black feathers scattered here and there, I might have believed it was a small library.

‘Isn’t it a bit narrower than it looked from outside?’

Thinking it was a little strange, I went further inside, and a woman behind a wide counter, busy writing something down, greeted me with a bright smile.

“Welcome. Are you here to use the messenger service?”

“Ah, yes. How much does it cost?”

“Oh my, you must be a newbie.”

How did she know?

I’d already been living in Knox for about a year, so I wasn’t exactly a newbie—did my clothes look that brand new?

I was checking my uniform, which had white ash scattered here and there from sitting by the campfire all night, when the Crow Tower employee apologized.

“If that was rude of me, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m not a newbie, but this is my first time using the messenger service.”

“I see. We don’t charge any separate fee for Knox members here at the Crow Tower.”

“Ah.”

So that’s where the rookie vibes came from.

Still, the fact that it was free was quite surprising.

“What about long distances?”

“Long distances are the same.”

“Nice benefits.”

“However, you should keep in mind that it takes a bit longer than ordinary messenger services.”

“It takes longer?”

When I tilted my head, the employee gave a kind smile.

“Our crows can only go as far as the small Crow Towers scattered across each region. From there, another method is used to reach the recipient’s home. Also, since we send multiple messages in one bundle, even if you leave your letter with us today, it may take some time before the crow actually departs.”

After finishing her brief explanation, she wrinkled her nose playfully and added,

“For cost-saving purposes.”

“It’s free, so I don’t mind.”

It was a fairly reasonable and justifiable reason.

“Of course, if you’re lucky, it might arrive sooner than expected. If you tell me the name of the region you’re sending it to, I can let you know when it departs.”

“Hmm. Well…”

I’d come here on a whim, thinking there was something to it, but now that I was here, I had no one to send a crow to.

I considered just writing down some random address and sending it, when a suitable candidate came to mind.

“Is it possible to send it to another country, not the Empire?”

“Another… country?”

Sending letters abroad must not be common, as the employee hesitated for a moment before regaining her smile and answering.

“Of course. It’s just that, as I said, it may take a long time.”

“Time doesn’t matter.”

“Then the place you’re sending it to is…”

“The Krollin Kingdom.”

“That is a bit far.”

She nodded.

“But I didn’t write the letter in advance.”

“Those things happen when you’re in a hurry! There’s paper and pens over there, so feel free to use them.”

On the large table the employee guided me to, there was fairly high-quality paper and a quill pen.

I settled into a chair in the corner, thought for a moment, and wrote down my letter.

—

[Dear Clara,

How are you?

I’m doing well, so don’t worry too much.

A year has already passed as I’ve been busy adjusting after joining Knox.

Sorry for the late contact.

My new job is fine.

The seniors treat me well, and these days I’ve been sleeping well at night too.

How about you?

Are the flowers in the greenhouse blooming well again this year?

If you have time, please write back.

I’ll be waiting.

I hope this sudden contact didn’t startle you too much.

From Ruenelk Ains.

P.S. – Thanks to you, I finally finished that long-overdue homework.]

—

That woman would immediately know who sent it.

I blew on it to dry the ink, then folded the paper and put it in an envelope.

“Is there something to seal it with…”

Next to the provided paper and envelopes, there was conveniently a stamp for imprinting the Knox seal.

But what caught my eye was the candle placed next to the stamp.

The lit candle, ready to drip wax at any moment, somehow managed not to go out even in the occasional breeze.

Whenever the flame flickered uneasily, a faint white glow rippled around the wick.

“Haha.”

I laughed softly, picked up the candle, and tilted it over the envelope. With a heavy *tudok* sound, dark green wax dripped down.

I pressed the worn stamp firmly over it and lifted it—a clear Knox seal was imprinted.

Even the crow with its beak wide open.

“So that’s what it meant.”

I picked up the perfectly sealed letter and handed it to the Crow Tower employee.

“Please take good care of it. It’s a precious letter.”

“Of course! I’ll deliver it safely—”

Sorry, but I didn’t have time to hear the employee’s farewell to the end.

I still had one last thing to confirm.

—

***

—

On the Day of Earth, the end of the deadline Killian Knox had set.

Even after night fell and the time for night shift had passed, Senior Jake didn’t come to find me.

I’d already used the stomachache excuse—I wanted to ask what pretext he’d used to get me out of duty.

I didn’t wait any longer and immediately left the barracks.

Walking through the corridor so quiet it made the daytime bustle feel like a lie, I arrived at the third floor of the main building. As expected, all guard and knight personnel had been cleared away, and the office door was wide open.

It was a scene recreating that night, as if mocking me.

“You’re here.”

Killian Knox, standing alone by the office window, spoke even before I crossed the threshold.

“I didn’t want to get kidnapped again.”

At my response, something resembling a smile flickered in Killian Knox’s eyes.

“You’ve been busy running around for five days. Must have been fun.”

He gives me an absurd mission, and on top of that, stakes my life on it—and he asks if I had fun?

Killian Knox really is a bastard.

“Fun… yes. All thanks to Your Grace.”

At my unexpected answer, one of Killian Knox’s dark eyebrows rose.

He shouldn’t be surprised already.

Unlike last time I stood in this spot, when my heart pounded with fear and anger, today it beat fast with anticipation.

The anticipation of soon seeing that smug monster’s face freeze in surprise.

“I was rather bored, you know. I was regretting having given you five days for nothing.”

Killian Knox’s golden eyes glinted cruelly.

“So I hope the squad member’s visit will entertain me. If that answer disappoints me—”

His large, white hand picked up a glass filled with large chunks of ice.

“—I can always find other forms of amusement.”

Though I’m not sure if the squad member would enjoy them too.

The blatant killing intent he sent my way sent a chill down my spine.

It felt like invisible blades were poking at my skin.

But what was even more vicious was that it wasn’t outright murderous intent—it just flickered at the nape of my neck, like he was toying with his prey.

“So, shall you tell me now?”

Killian Knox tilted the transparent glass to his lips and asked.

Beyond it, what hung on his smooth lips was unmistakably mockery.

Whatever answer came out of my mouth, he intended to kill me.

If so, the only way for me to survive was to expose what he—and Knox—had so carefully hidden.

The real secret, one he never expected.

“Knox’s darkest secret is the crow.”

*Clink.*

The ice clinked against the glass in his momentarily frozen hand.

“The crow.”