So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

The carriages were impossibly grand, far too large and heavy to be pulled by just two horses each. The normal physics of weight and burden seemed not to apply, as the matched pairs of white stallions drew their massive loads with unnatural ease, their steps light and precise.

In other words, the carriages themselves were magically engineered, enchanted by skilled artificers to defy the natural laws of motion and mass. The subtle shimmer of arcane energy was visible to those who knew where to look, dancing along the wheels and chassis like heat waves on a summer road.

Which could mean only one thing - the owners of these carriages were either members of the realm's wealthiest merchant houses or high-ranking government officials. No one else could afford such a display of both material luxury and magical might in a single conveyance.

They always pass through the checkpoint first.

This time was no different. The carriages didn't even think about stopping in front of the people in line.

People moved aside without even daring to curse.

The carriages finally stopped in front of the checkpoint.

The soldiers were squinting their eyes to see whose carriages they were.

The coachman spoke first.

"These are the carriages of Margrave Sareb, Imperial Ambassador, Inspector, and External Minister."

"Ah."

"He is currently returning with the prince of the Solion Kingdom. We shall pass."

Surprisingly.

The gate guards have a 'principle'.

The principle is that they must at least check faces, except for the Emperor.

However, like many principles in the world.

Sometimes principles can be temporarily forgotten.

The soldiers didn't want to take responsibility or get on the bad side of important figures.

So they reported the situation to their commander on the wall.

The gate commander neither ordered them to let the carriages pass nor to proceed with inspection.

He literally came running down barefoot.

Honestly, he would have had time to put on shoes, so being barefoot was a kind of performance.

A performance showing how much the gate commander respects and admires Margrave Sareb.

He stood in front of the carriage and shouted loudly.

"I, Asada Jungin, greet the External Minister. Sa-lute!"

With the gate commander saluting, the soldiers couldn't just stand still.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Sa-lute!"

"Sa, sa-lute!"

The soldiers all saluted toward the closed carriage window.

And it's courtesy not to lower your hand until your superior acknowledges the salute.

The window didn't open, and the Margrave didn't acknowledge the salute.

An awkward silence lingered for a while.

Citizens whispered watching them maintain their salute.

Meanwhile, a small commotion occurred inside the carriage.

"...What should we do?"

"What do you mean? You practiced well."

'Will this really be okay?'

"Open it."

The carriage window creaked open.

The Margrave's face appeared in the window.

The snake tapped the Margrave's hand.

"Hmm..."

The Margrave nodded slightly.

The gate commander let out a sigh of relief.

"You've finally returned. We've been waiting for your return, Margrave."

"Hmm..." (nods)

"It must have been a tiring journey."

"Hmm..." (nods.)

The strategy of saying "hmm" and nodding with a serious expression was surprisingly successful.

The gate commander didn't notice anything strange.

The snake and Obern clapped quietly with bright faces.

However, things didn't go so smoothly.

"Perhaps our soldiers committed some rudeness..."

"Hmm..." (nods)

"Ah, yes? Eh? Really?"

"Hmm..." (nods)

An "uh oh" expression appeared on Obern's face.

However, they hadn't taught the Margrave how to shake his head no.

"Was it you!"

"No, it, it wasn't me!"

"How dare you, do you know who this is!"

The gate commander yelled at the soldiers.

"I apologize, Margrave. Please execute me!"

"Hmm..." (nods)

The snake peeked outside to see all the soldiers pressing their heads to the ground.

And the gate commander started making gestures of cutting his own neck with his sword.

He probably didn't actually want to die.

Finally, Rahan stepped in.

"The Margrave says he's tired, so we would appreciate if you could let us through."

"Ah, yes, please go right in!"

The gate commander who had been holding his sword to his neck quickly bowed.

The soldiers also got up and saluted once more.

Only then did a sigh of relief sound inside the carriage.

The snake patted the Margrave's hand.

'You still did well, Margrave.'

"Hmm..." (nods)

'Stop nodding now.'

"Hmm..." (nods)

The Margrave only stopped nodding when Isil was brought to him.

==

We went to a hotel called 'Suwooljang'.

Although there was Margrave Sareb's mansion in the inner city, it was too early to go there.

We dismissed all the cumbersome servants and large carriages.

Treating the Margrave's condition was the urgent priority.

There were many grand hotels in the inner city suitable for an Imperial Ambassador to stay at.

And among them were places where you could use an entire private building with a yard.

We took the room, charging it to the Margrave's name.

Although the hotel was extremely luxurious, we weren't given time for a hotel vacation.

'Dana has returned.'

Because Dana brought back a 'doctor' she knew.

The doctor was a small old man carrying a huge bag.

"What's this, you folks had this much money?"

He seemed surprised by the grandeur of the hotel we visited.

"Why replace a prosthetic arm in such an expensive place."

The identity of the goatee-bearded old man was none other than Rahan's 'prosthetic arm maker.'

However, he had more than one occupation.

"And where is the patient?"

An unlicensed doctor in the underworld.

That was the old man's main occupation.

I asked Dana.

'Can that old man really cure the Margrave?'

'Don't worry. He's someone whose skills are real.'

The old man's bag contained prosthetic parts and various medical tools.

"Old man. This is an advance payment for treatment."

Dana handed over ten gold coins.

The old man's mouth opened like a basket.

"Whoever it is, I'll treat them perfectly."

He made a bold promise.

Suddenly the Margrave burst out of the bathroom.

"Ubabababa!"

"Oh, you need to wear clothes!"

Until Obern chased after the naked running Margrave.

"...Isn't that Margrave Sareb?"

"Yes."

"Treat, that?"

"Yes."

"...Farewell."

The old man tried to return the gold coins, but.

"Let's begin the treatment."

Dana just coldly touched the sword at her waist.