Akamir stared at Gorgon in silence.
The sudden news hit him hard, but it wasn't his feelings that were hurt.
It was the original bodies.
Asher's feelings.
'So, I do have some lingering feelings?'
Akamir drew in a deep breath to control himself.
"With whom?" he asked, staring at the head knight.
"The prince of the Aure kingdom," Gorgon replied calmly. "It was King Aldric who made the arrangements."
Akamir remembered the Aure kingdom.
It was the third kingdom ruled by humans along with the Krivos and Lythanis kingdoms.
"When?" he finally asked.
"In five days," Gorgon replied. "The engagement ceremony will be held at the capital city. The Duke wants you there."
Akamir's jaw clenched.
'Five days…'
Zia stepped forward, looking at him. "You don't have to go. We were promised a full month—"
"I know what you were promised," Gorgon said, voice firm. His eyes didn't leave Akamir.
"But the Duke doesn't send knights with crests unless he expects results. Or obedience."
Akamir chuckled. "Yeah. I understand it better than you think."
He turned, walking past Zia toward the modest house. "Give me three hours. Then we leave."
---
As soon as Akamir walked inside the room, he punched the wall hard.
The impact created a dent in the wall, but Akamir hardly looked at it.
"Fuck!"
He growled, rubbing his temples to alleviate the anger.
All the planning he did, everything he thought to do in the next half a month....
"It's all fucked up now."
He groaned, throwing himself on the bed.
The trade route he was planning to establish would take time.
The distance that was supposed to take almost a month was now completed in two days.
It was the fastest route from here to the Lythanis kingdom.
Akamir was sure he would have earned a lot of profit just from the import and export business.
'...What's the point now?'
He let out a long, tired sigh as he looked up.
Nayomi still floated close to him without saying a word.
"You knew this would happen**.** right?" Akamir asked, staring at the ghost.
"...Yes," she affirmed, looking at him. "Aldric learned Inara's plan and forced her to engage the Aure kingdom's Prince."
"You could have told me before." Akamir groaned in annoyance.
"It wouldn't have changed anything," she replied calmly. "And why are you so worked up anyway?"
"I needed time to establish everything," Akamir said, placing his hand over his eyes. "If I go now, I might never return."
"What are you saying?" Nayomi tilted her head in confusion. "You can always come back here."
Akamir slowly removed his hand from his face. "....What do you mean?"
She pointed at his face. "The crown you have. It can teleport you anywhere the Mimickers are present."
"....."
Akamir sat up slowly, staring at Nayomi as her words sank in.
"The crown… can do that?" he asked, voice quiet.
She nodded, arms folded beneath her sleeves. "It's linked to the mimic network. It can take you where they are."
The silence that followed was long.
Akamir's mind spun.
If he could teleport to where Mimickers existed… and if they spread through forests, towns, even the capital…
"…Then maybe it's not fucked up," he murmured.
Nayomi blinked. "Hm?"
Taking in a deep breath, Akamir willed to reach the Mimickers in the ancient palace where the treasures were.
A crown slowly formed over his head, resonating with his will.
Slowly, a portal formed right in front of him, glowing in an eerie crimson glow.
"Huff..."
Akamir took in a deep breath before he walked inside the portal.
The sensation of stepping through the portal was unlike anything Akamir had ever experienced.
It wasn't painful—just... wrong.
Like his body was turned inside out and folded into itself before unraveling again in the next heartbeat.
Akamir opened his eyes, finding himself in a place filled with treasures.
"...This is crazy."
Apparently, the crown was far more useful than he thought.
Putting aside his doubt and curiosity about how it works, Akamir began to walk.
Nayomi floated just beside him.
At the side of the place, there was a small ring which Akamir picked up.
Wearing it, Akamir felt a connection forming with it.
He closed his eyes, feeling the things that were placed inside the space ring.
The thing was packed with gold and silver bars along with some more miscellaneous items.
"This will do for now," Akamir mumbled, rubbing the ring.
"I am lending you my money," Nayomi said, her voice grumpy. "You will return everything back."
"Yeah, my lady." Akamir replied, half joking and half serious.
He wasn't very keen on taking her stuff anyways.
"Mind telling me what will happen in the engagement?" Akamir asked as he walked along the treasure. "I bet these types of events were mentioned in the novel."
Nayomi glanced at him.
"It was the first time Zaina met you," she said softly. "And the first time you abused her."
"....Why?" Akamir asked, making his way to where the weapons were. "Because of Inara's wedding?"
"Yes." She affirmed his words. "You humiliated the girl in front of everyone."
"...I see."
Akamir's fingers hovered over a beautifully sheathed black sword.
The hilt was made of Ure, runes etched into its grip.
Akamir picked it up and strapped it around his waist.
"Lucien's obsession with Zaina also starts at the engagement," Nayomi muttered. "Things will be messy."
Akamir nodded in agreement as he picked up an ordinary-looking hammer.
"What are you gonna do with this?" Nayomi asked as he stored it inside the space ring.
"A good secondary weapon," Akamir replied, glancing past the rest of the weapons.
"None of these are good," he muttered. "They'd eat too much mana or draw attention."
Nayomi floated beside him, arms crossed. "You sound like someone used to war."
Akamir just smiled and didn't say anything else.
He gave the place a quick scan, but nothing felt like something he would want.
'I could come back later.'
With that thought, he summoned one of the high-ranking Mimickers.
The Judge of Apathy.
"Master."
The blindfolded woman knelt in front of him, her voice deeply obedient.
"Guard this palace," he ordered. "Kill anyone who discovers it."
"Yes, master." She nodded softly.
"Alright. I will see you in a few days," Akamir said, taking a step back.
With a nod, he summoned the portal again and stepped through.
He stepped through, and once more, the world shifted.
Akamir found himself back in the his room.
'Well, that was exhausting.'
He took in a deep breath as he began to pack the rest of his things.
He didn't have much, as Zia must have taken care of most of it.
What Akamir took out carefully was the egg of the void fox.
"I'm still saying it," Nayomi mumbled, looking at him. "Just kill it already."
Akamir ignored her.
He wrapped the egg in a towel and gently placed it in his bag.
Then, with everything ready, he stepped outside.
Zia was already waiting.
"You're late," she said, though her voice lacked any true irritation.
"I had something to take care of," Akamir replied simply, hoisting the bag over his shoulder.
Gorgon stood a short distance away with the three knights who bore Duke Darvin's crest.
The knights he brought had also joined in.
All of them looked prepared to depart, horses already saddled and supplies loaded.
The head knight bowed his head slightly as Akamir approached.
"We'll depart at once, young lord," he said formally.
"Let's move," he said finally.
Akamir walked towards the carriage along with Zia.
He quickly settled inside as Nayomi just passed through it.
'It will take two days to reach the dukedom.'
Akamir let out a sigh as he leaned back comfortably.
And the one thing Akamir knew was his welcome won't be good.
Duke Darvin would be pissed as well.
'After all, his plans failed entirely depending on Inara.'
"....."
Akamir could already feel the headache coming his way.