“Huh, it’s going to be difficult.”
Luke tugged at the string on his back, sweating profusely. The elastic string pulled taut and pulled the nine heads tied behind it.
Nine heads came along, making elongated lines in the snow.
‘It’s fortunate that his tendons are strong.’
When I first caught the hydra, I thought a lot about how to move the nine heads. Shall we cut a tree and lay it down in a cylindrical shape? Or will it roll like a hoop?
All of my trials have been unsuccessful. Because it was hilly in the north, it was difficult to lay down the log itself, and it was difficult to roll the nine heads one by one.
-Damn it, it’s better to just move it by force.
In the end, Luke just made a rope out of Hydra sinew and tied the nine heads together. Then, carrying it on my shoulder, I carried it all the way here.
There is no easy way to move it, so is there any other way? As a result, it took a long time to move even after catching it early.
“Whoa, everything is here!”
An exhausted Luke looked up at the top of the hill. Quite a bit of time had already passed, and all the other candidates except for Luke had gathered.
“Don’t just watch, help.”
Luke, who grumbled at the nobles who were staring blankly at him, pulled the string again. It takes dozens of minutes just to go up the steep hill.
In the meantime, the nobles just stared blankly at Luke, stunned.
“You caught the hydra. Evidence here!”
“… … .”
A way of speaking that broke even the formality that was usually reserved for just scratching the surface of a watermelon. However, no one was able to find fault with the way he spoke.
It was because everyone was stunned by the unrealistic sight in front of them.
“Northern nobles?”
“… … .”
“I heard you caught a hydra.”
“… … .”
“Look! everyone!”
“ah… … !”
After a loud voice rang out, the nobles barely turned their heads. Even that was a stiff movement like a broken wooden doll.
Viscount Thorvern tried to speak somehow, but his tongue seldom moved as he intended.
“Su, good job… So this… what the hell is this… … .”
“Calm down.”
Paaang.
The air burst in front of Viscount Thorburn’s eyes. It was because Luke clapped his hands in front of his eyes. Only after the deafening bell sounded did the Viscount come to his senses.
“Ugh, uhm. I’m sorry. You made a fool of yourself.”
“It is enough to know. Will you accept it as evidence?”
“I admit it. Admit it.”
“Then you passed the test. I will go to rest.”
Luke laughed and headed to his camp. It’s not a bad reaction, but I was too tired to enjoy looking at it now.
‘No matter what we do, let’s take a good rest.’
I was desperate for warm bath water, proper cooking, and a soft bed. Even after Luke disappeared, the nobles couldn’t open their mouths.
* * *
That night. The northern nobles, Ragnar, and Logain gathered together. All candidates were excluded, but two were exceptions because there was no other representative of the barbarians.
In the midst of heavy silence, Marquis Serge opened his mouth.
“I think the second test is over.”
“… … .”
No one answered. Even the Marquis, who would normally have been offended by it, was now overwhelmed by the atmosphere. The lips that were parted when he spoke were very heavy.
“When will the third test begin? … .”
“… … .”
I managed to get the word out, but I couldn’t bring myself to finish it. Because at this moment, everyone shared a single proposition in the corner of their heads.
‘Do I need to take this test?’
I understand that the third test is the last one. But isn’t the gap widened too much in the first and second tests?
‘It’s the dragon’s heart, so only one person can pass through it, so even so… … .’
‘Even in dragon hunting, which evaluates individual capabilities, it’s been a while.’
Luke Bernstein. That easterner who claimed to be of northerner blood produced overwhelming results. The biggest problem now was the overwhelming difference.
What would happen if Luke was eliminated in the third test? If he is mortally wounded or dies enough to be unable to act as a king. So if someone else becomes king.
‘There will be an uproar. He’s the lucky one who ate the king.’
‘It’s not a gap that can be overturned with just one test.’
‘Honestly, I won’t admit it even if it’s like me.’
Not just nobles. All northerners would react the same way. The territories belonging to the empire, and the savage tribes living beyond the snowfield.
What is the meaning of taking the third test in this situation? I don’t know if I didn’t elect the king by overturning the test itself.
‘That’s why I can’t just give up and quit now.’
The Marquis sighed deeply. Even if the king is confirmed, it is not good to end the test here.
Nine out of ten, there will be back remarks like ‘It wasn’t a proper election’ later. To prevent such a thing from happening, the examination had to be completed through due process.
“Tell me about the third test, Warchief.”
When the Marquis managed to speak, Ragnar answered without opening his eyes.
“There is only one final test for a true warrior.”
“… Is it a duel?”
“Yes.”
The nobles nodded in agreement. Dueling is a test method recognized by everyone from the distant past to the present. Isn’t it much more the north that worships military force.
If it had been a different test rather than a duel, he would have been rather puzzled. However, the Marquis and his faction went in with their faces rotting.
‘Damn it, a duel is dangerous.’
Excluding Dorian, who was eliminated, Carol had the worst fighting skills among the candidates. Luke and Ragnar are out of the question. They are even suspicious of being human.
Logain is the lieutenant of the savage tribe, where everything revolves around warriors, and Bjorn is a lord from the border who has stopped such savage tribes several times.
The Marquis cleared his throat and somehow found an excuse.
“Keuheum, the numbers don’t seem right for a duel.”
“Your heir will be given a bye. You are the weakest one.”
“Besides, the other candidates’ injuries haven’t healed yet!”
“Isn’t it enough to take a week off after pouring the potion?”
“That, and dueling is an outdated way… … .”
Ragnar blinked and looked at the Marquis. What is this asshole talking about? expression. Even other nobles had similar eyes.
With all opinions refuted, the Marquis sank as it were. Ragnar clicked his tongue and spoke to the nobles.
“As I just said, after a week’s rest, we’ll take the third test. Any other opinions?”
“… … .”
There was no answer. After the meeting, the nobles dispersed. Everyone’s head was complicated because the future was the most important point.
* * *
‘Am I going to break my dream like this?’
After the meeting, Ragnar looked up at the sky and muttered to himself. It was Ragnar himself who faced the current situation better than anyone else.
‘It was too late to be recognized by the Northerners who already belonged to the Empire.’
A good warrior, you can be a respectable enemy. However, there will be no reaction to wanting to follow behind or serve as king.
Because I couldn’t show enough performance. Even if he became king in this situation, he would only face tremendous resistance from the northerners belonging to the empire.
‘The one closest to the throne right now is that guy.’
A person whom he considered his nemesis from the beginning. Obviously, as a human being, the vessel would have been great, but the military force would have been terrible, but before he knew it, he appeared as an opponent that even he could not defeat.
If left as it is, he will be the king. It shouldn’t be. Northerners’ affairs are to be decided by northerners. After thinking for a moment, Ragnar opened his mouth.
“Logaine.”
“Yes, Warchief.”
“What would you do if you were the warchief?”
“… … !”
Loghain looked at the warchief with startled eyes. Even with that look in his eyes, Ragnar said calmly.
“It’s not to test you. Be honest. What would you do if you became warchief? How will you lead the North?”
“I-I… … .”
Surprised, Loghaine muttered for a long time before lowering her head.
“I’m just following the warchief’s wishes.”
“is it.”
Ragnar sighed. It is not a voice made for the sake of living or modesty. couldn’t find the answer Rogaine was such a man.
He was perfect as an adjutant, but he had no vision to lead anyone as a monarch.
‘Even if I risk my life and perish with him, what remains will be destruction.’
Having discarded his last resort, Ragnar looked up at the sky again. Should I live my life serving another king like this? Is he fit for my king?
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find an answer. Then there was only one way left.
“I need to meet him.”
* * *
“Ragnar is here?”
“Yes, lord.”
Luke, who had been drinking wine for the first time in a while, tilted his head. weird. I don’t know if it’s broad daylight, but I’m not the kind of person who would ask to be alone at night like this.
“i get it. Say you’ll see me soon.”
“Master, it is dangerous.”
“Does that sound even when I see the hydra I caught?”
“That and this are separate.”
Ray was adamant. Obviously, that hydra is dangerous even if Bruno and Ray attack at the same time. However, superhumans always die from minor carelessness.
“I will be the escort. Let’s go together.”
“done.”
“Lord.”
“I don’t know where else, but this is the North.”
It is a land that is particularly obsessed with men, macho, and warriors. However, if you go with an escort next to you to greet guests, your likability will go down.
‘Above all, Ragnar is not in the mood to assassinate.’
The forager at the top of the forage pyramid is Ragnar. I wouldn’t do something as petty as an assassination even if I felt ashamed of myself.
“… Call me if anything dangerous happens.”
“Because it’s okay.”
Luke, who reassured Ray who clings to the end, went outside. I saw Ragnar with his arms crossed at a distance.
As we got closer, Ragnar muttered with a complicated expression.
“Here you are.”
“You called.”
“hmm.”
At Luke’s objection, Ragnar blushed and cleared his throat. Seeing the bullsh*t, he seemed quite nervous.
“Tell me what you called. It’s not nice to see two candidates whispering.”
“Simple. I wanted to ask you.”
“what?”
“What do you want to do when you become the king of the north?”
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Indeed, that was understandable enough. Because Luke was already half recognized as a king by the people around him.
“Please answer honestly, without lies. I only came to hear it.”
Sparks flew in Ragnar’s eyes. It’s like he won’t forgive you if you talk nonsense. Luke laughed.
Patience is good. However, Ragnar was making a big mistake. Because what Luke was aiming for was not the position of king.
“Well, I hadn’t thought of that. I have no intention of becoming King of the North.”
“what?”
“What I am aiming for is higher.”
Luke pointed to the sky. Ragnar’s expression, which he did not understand for a moment, became ambiguous. As if frustrated, Luke’s finger turned elsewhere.
“So over there.”
“there… … ?”
Ragnar turned his head. The place where the castle of the Marquis of Serge is located. And the largest trade network in the north connected to the capital of the empire. At that moment, a thunderbolt struck Ragnar’s head.
There is only one higher than the king. The supreme seat that governs the entire continent, not just the northern part. The ruler of all peoples who are served by everyone in the empire.
‘Emperor.’
The man in front of me was trying to become an emperor.
Kaisar