116 – Hero King (4)
Peace had come to the Tesnoka Territory.
After the battle in which Kim Hyun-woo participated, although it didn’t completely end in ruin, there were no longer soldiers scattered and coming to the Tesnoka Territory without a commander.
Instead, most of them became immigrants, discarding their weapons and armor, while a few became marauders and scattered.
In addition, Randon had also locked the gates, perhaps because it was difficult to move any longer, bringing a little inconvenience to the Norba Kingdom, but peace had arrived.
During that short period of peace, the Tesnoka Territory recovered from the damages at an astonishing speed.
And so, when the territory was rapidly restored and the Tesnoka region had returned sufficiently to its original state, if not entirely, by that time.
“I meet the envoy of the Holy Empire.”
“I meet a noble soul untouched by evil.”
Rania could meet the figure from the Holy Empire who had come to the Tesnoka region.
Glancing, she saw a woman with golden hair, bowing her head in the pure white robe symbolizing nobility, and following her, a procession of a knight appearing several times larger than an ordinary person.
“First, may we go inside to hear the detailed story?”
She spoke to Rania, and soon she led the envoy of the Holy Empire and one knight to her office, gradually recounting the story that had unfolded until now.
And.
“…The rise of demons is indeed a very undesirable event. And to think there are humans who have accepted the power of the demons.”
After hearing Rania’s entire story, she erased her gentle expression and muttered with a serious expression.
In agreement with her words, Rania nodded her head in response.
“I also think so. If the Lord of Lartania hadn’t helped, I wonder what would have happened…”
And then.
A pause.
The envoy, who until a moment ago had been continuing her thoughts, looked at Rania with a slightly surprised expression.
“Why are you saying that?”
Although Rania responded somewhat awkwardly to the envoy’s reaction, the envoy, after staring at her for a while with a vacant expression, spoke.
“Could it be, you mentioned Lartania?”
She threw the question, and to that, Rania nodded her head.
“Yes. That’s correct, but…?”
“Excuse me, but didn’t the Larthania Territory decline and disappear a few years after the lord disappeared ten years ago?”
The envoy of the imperial kingdom inquired.
In that moment, Rania, who had lived her whole life on a secluded island in the eastern part of the continent, except for when the demons appeared, wondered how these people knew about Larthania. But she quickly responded.
“That is correct, but recently the lord of Larthania has returned.”
“…Returned?”
“Yes. After the lord of Larthania returned, the territory revived. It’s not as prosperous as it was ten years ago, of course, but it is recovering at a remarkable speed.”
The envoy gave Rania a slightly bewildered expression in response to her answer.
Observing the blue eyes that contained a variety of emotions, Rania, who had been wearing a puzzled expression, said,
“May I ask one more thing?”
“Yes.”
“Is the name of the lord of Larthania who has returned now, Kim Hyun-woo?”
He nodded his head.
And then.
…
Rania could see it.
A bright flower blooming at the corner of the envoy’s mouth, which had appeared very gentle just a moment ago.
And.
“…That’s truly good news. Isn’t it, Melan?”
“That’s right. Congratulations on his return, Holy Maiden. It’s something we couldn’t have expected.”
In response to their continued conversation, Rania, who had been momentarily dazed, unknowingly widened her eyes.
That’s understandable because a moment ago, an extraordinary name had burst forth from the Holy Knight’s mouth.
The name ‘Saintess,’ a title higher in status than the Pope in the Holy Empire, practically surpassing the address of ‘King’ in the Kingdom.
Therefore,
“Saintess, you say?”
“Oh, I didn’t properly introduce myself. I apologize.”
As Lania opened her mouth with a perplexed expression, the envoy of the Holy Empire, or rather, the Saintess, who belatedly looked at Lania, smiled.
“I am Amelin, one of the seven Saintesses of the Holy Empire, and I am permitted the title of Savior from the heavens.”
She introduced herself.
####
Late at night, when Kim Hyunwoo was asleep.
A presence infiltrated the skies of Lartania.
Along with it, a notification window appeared in front of Kim Hyunwoo’s eyes, but due to the warmth of the thick blanket that had become even cozier in the colder weather lately, he was completely pulled into a deeper slumber, oblivious to the notification.
Thus, while Kim Hyunwoo was asleep, Merilda, who had arrived at the Castle of the Duke in an instant, wasted no time and immediately entered the castle.
Taking a very light breath, Merilda turned the doorknob.
And,
“Huh?”
“What?”
She saw it.
The moment when Lyn, who had arrived earlier than her, was trying to pick up the teleportation scroll lying on the desk in the office.
“…”
“…”
A fleeting moment.
Merilda’s gaze shifted from Lyn to the scroll, and vice versa, Lyn’s gaze shifted from Merilda to the scroll.
And.
Crack!
From Noble mtl dot com
Their silent fight began.
Merilda’s hand swiftly struck Lyn’s hand, which was trying to grab the teleportation scroll.
The scroll floated in the air, held by Lyn’s hand.
Without missing a beat, Merilda immediately jumped to grab the scroll.
“But-!?”
As if it was impossible, Lyn grabbed Merilda’s tail, pulling her back and rushing towards the scroll.
“Gotcha!”
Merilda held onto Lyn’s leg, her face contorted in pain.
With that, the two began their silent fight within the castle.
After some time had passed.
“Let go of this!”
“You let go first…!”
Merilda and Rin glared at each other, each clutching the other’s hair.
“Let go!”
“You told me to let go first!”
They bickered in hushed voices, lest Kim Hyun-woo overhear.
But Merilda and Rin held onto each other’s hair firmly, as if they had no intention of letting go.
Finally, after a while of holding onto each other’s hair, they said:
“…Let’s have a ceasefire.”
“A ceasefire?”
“Yeah, when we count to three, we’ll let go of each other’s hair. Then we can talk calmly.”
Merilda, who eventually accepted Rin’s proposal, seemed to be embracing change.
“One.”
“Two.”
“Three! Yaaah!”
As if they hadn’t even considered letting go of each other’s hands, Merilda and Rin pulled each other’s hair even harder.
They glared at each other.
“Ugh!”
Now, as if to say “let things go as they may,” they both threw themselves towards the teleportation scroll lying on the ground, still holding onto each other’s hair.
Thinking they had grabbed the scroll, Merilda and Rin moved their hands without hesitation.
Snap!
“Ah.”
“Ah.”
The teleportation scroll tore apart.
####
“Master, the Lord of Lartania will be moving in your direction shortly.”
The crimson salamander seemed to faint upon hearing Adriah’s words for the first time.
It was understandable; when the crimson salamander had initially requested Adriah to make this scroll, the conversation was solely about creating a scroll for the master to use in dangerous situations. So, the crimson salamander never imagined that Adriah would play a prank with the teleportation scroll and end up inside its lair within two weeks.
However, since Adriah had already handed over the teleportation scroll in front of the crimson salamander, there was no turning back. Without delay, she began preparations.
She covered all the pictures that were plastered all over the walls of the lair with magic, creating an atmosphere akin to a chilly cave. In addition, she meticulously adorned the surroundings with various spells and illusions.
Furthermore, Adriah had gone above and beyond, discussing with him step by step what she should say and how to apologize when she faced Kim Hyunwoo about two weeks ago. Not to mention, she practically analyzed his reactions like data, even creating a strategy guide based on how he would respond.
The result?
At this point, about a week later, Adriah’s lair had completely transformed.
All the pictures of Kim Hyunwoo that were undoubtedly covering every inch of the room were now hidden. In their place, an interior with a calm and peaceful atmosphere had been created.
In addition to that, thinking that she might be able to talk this time, the crimson salamander entered into an additional contract to allow Adriah to see its situation.
In other words, all preparations were complete.
Therefore, with a fearful yet excited heart, Adriah gazed at the space where Kim Hyunwoo would appear.
Shortly after a certain amount of time passed.
Wuuung-!
Observing the unmistakable surge of magical waves,
“He’s coming…!”
[Um…isn’t it too early for that?]
Saryong and Adriah looked at each other and expressed contrasting opinions, then in the next moment, she could see it.
“Ah.”
“Ah.”
“Ah.”
[Ah.]
Appearing on the teleportation scroll, Merilda and Lynn were holding each other by the hair.
“…”
…Saryong’s heart shattered.