66 – Those who Followed
“Boss, do you have a moment?”
“I’m busy with work…”
“Director. I have something very important to tell you.”
“Can you say it tomorrow?”
“Minister. The weather is nice today. After work, shall we take a walk…?”
“I’m sorry. I need to walk my pet at home.”
Rejection.
And again, rejection.
Up until now, Yulia has been rejected a total of 27 times for non-work related requests.
They say that even a tree will fall if its chopped for ten times, but Ascalt doesn’t topple even after 27 chops. Sometimes she wished she could just hack him down with an axe, but no.
On the surface, Yulia appeared to be flawless.
However, this was not a natural quality, but one she had gained through hundreds of attempts and training.
She was still not matured.
As evidence for submission to the court, she still cuddled up with a bunny doll while sleeping.
“He rejected me once again.”
“Is it because my hair is a mess today? Or is it because the thoughtless things I’ve said disturbed him?”
I can’t be sure.
I wish someone could answer me.
The rabbit doll gaze at Yulia without saying a word.
Its black eyes seemed to say, ‘So what?’
Yulia slapped the rabbit doll.
-“You idiot. The best thing for a man is to fall head over heels. Just sweep him off his feet.”
A voice echoed.
A voice that had always echoed in her head ever since a certain point.
A mysterious woman who claims to be ‘Yulia Barba’.
-“Do you know how popular that man is? If you just pull a ticket and wait politely, you’ll have a chance when you’re a hundred. hahahahaha.”
“Last Christmas Eve, I answered as you said and it rather made him resentful.”
-“It seems like his sister likes you? The best way is to win over the family first.”
This woman claims she’s from the future.
And in that future, the emperor and crown prince are dead, and she claims she has become the next emperor. She tells about the empire she claimed to govern.
-“Shall I tell you a fun story? Your mother is actually……”
“Stop it. Don’t mess with my head.”
The first time she heard the voice, Yulia tried all means. She went to the white horse magic tower and visited the church, but she could not find any cure.
-“Because I am you. Yulia Barba. The tyrant emperor. You cut off the necks of the servants you didn’t like and obtained whatever you desired…… Ah, he couldn’t get it after all.”
“Are you talking about Ascal?”
-“Yes. No matter how much treasure you gave him, and tempted him, he never fell for you. You will probably end up the same as me.”
“Hah.”
-“You’re going up north this time. Instead, entrust your body to me just once. After all, I’m your senior, aren’t I? I’ll show you the right way to win over Ascal. He is weak to gradual pushing. That’s Ascal for you.
“I refuse.”
-“Even though he stole your first kiss.”
“……”
-“Just give me a single coin. Right? You and I are the same. From the age of six. Ah, you were so cute then. If you hadn’t forced yourself into this state, already……
Yulia remembered her first encounter with Ascal.
It was before she even understood what the emotion of love was.
Very young Ascal approached Yulia―
Yulia’s vision suddenly blacked out, lost in memories.
When she opened her eyes, she could no longer move.
-“What are you…”
“It’s a player substitution. “
From Noble mtl dot com
Yulia Barba, looking in the mirror, smiled languidly.
Inside a narrow cave.
Two men and women are entangled.
Yulia Barba pushed Askal.
“I told you. You’re mine, even in death.”
She was confident and brimming with arrogance.
Seeing Askal’s surprise, Yulia Barba wore a triumphant grin.
Although it may seem insignificant, Yulia Barba utilized not one, but two skills.
The first.
A narrow cave where even the breath of the other person could be heard.
In this unique setting, one can’t help but become conscious of the other person. A carefully chosen spot by Yulia Barba.
And for the second, she tripped the opponent suddenly in the confined space, increasing the tension.
Finally, perfect commentary.
Yulia Barba admired her own sense. It was a flawless technique. She was convinced that Askal was half down.
“Stay still……”
The Lia that Askal knew was not that kind of woman.
Always considerate of others, Lia was a hard worker who meticulously checked everything and constantly pushed herself. It was sometimes frightening.
Julia Barba looked at Askal with an air of someone who had figured something out and spoke.
“Hmm. Did you finally realize something? Askal Devere.”
“Yes, you’re…”
“Right. I am…”
Askal glared at Julia Barba.
“Lia has been possessed. She must have picked up this evil spirit on our trip to the forest. I’m sorry I didn’t notice it before, Lia.”
“?”
Askal took out the dark flame he’d bought to exorcise the spirit. It was a specialty from the north.
Shhiiing!
He sprayed the dark flame towards Julia Barba.
“Begone! Evil spirit! Leave Lia’s body at once!”
“It’s in my eyes, my eyes! Wait!”
Julia Barba was in pain.
It was extremely effective.
Askal sprayed more of the dark flame.
Each spray cost him 10% of his monthly salary, but it was worth it for Lia’s safety.
“I, I am Julia Barba! Who are you calling an evil spirit!”
“Lia is not as reckless as you. She is always prudent and considerate of others.”
“What’s the point of being considerate? It’s all useless. You, you ended up…”
Askal clicked his tongue.
So, this is a malicious spirit. Being preachy to others isn’t good either. But behaving like this is a surefire way to become a loner.
Swoosh!
Askal sprayed the dark flame once again.
“Fine, good! Go ahead, do as you please! Let’s see how it turns out well! I am offended!”
It was like a line from a third-rate villain.
And Julia Barba, who had been blocking the dark flame, suddenly froze after huddling down and covering her head with both hands, as if she were dead.
“Lia?”
Askal asked cautiously.
A response came after a slight delay.
“……Yes. Have you been well, Mr. Aksal?”
Her voice and tone were different.
The Lia we knew was back.
A sigh of relief escaped Aksal’s lips.
“My eyes are stinging. Would you wipe them for me?”
“I’m sorry.”
Aksal pulled out a handkerchief, an essential item for the nobility.
And he carefully wiped Lia’s eyes as she sat with her head raised. Her eyes were a bit red, perhaps from stinging too much.
“I’m sorry I didn’t notice sooner. I’ll go find Susiya as soon as I return to the appraisal department.”
“It’s not your fault. I’m sorry for causing trouble.”
Lia bowed her head slightly.
A tear seemed to be close, seeing Lia’s composure. Just how hard it had been without Lia’s support. You only know the value of what is precious to you when you lose it.
“You rejected the frost giant’s proposal.”
“Yeah. He was purer than I thought.”
“What did you talk about with her?”
What Lia was probably asking about was the conversation he had with the frost giant when he went down beneath the city walls.
“He said he had someone he needed to reply to. And he seemed to accept that.”
His response was automatic.
Aksal himself wasn’t sure why he had said that.
All he could remember was that moment.
“Mr. Aksal, I am happy these days. Every day, when I get off work, taking a ride in your car, doing my work, and see the evening sunset, I feel satisfied, thinking that today was another faithful day.”
Lia looked at Aksal with her still reddish eyes.
“The evaluation department staff also feel like family to me. Mr. Aksal, Mr. Cain, Mr. Devan, Ms. Susiya, they are now people I can’t lose.”
Lia put her hand on her chest.
“But, I keep feeling greedy. I keep feeling this bad sentiment of wanting to monopolize this happiness. This deep feeling in the heart does not want anyone to snatch it away. It wants to monopolize it forever. Am I a bad girl?”
“Anyone can harbor such feelings. What’s important is whether or not you consider the other’s feelings.”
“Indeed. If you ignore the other’s feelings, you would become a tyrant.”
Aksal looked at Lia for a moment before pulling out a string and tying Lia’s hair.
“See, I’ve gotten a little more skilled.”
“It’s better than before.”
Lia laughed.
“People around us will start to be worried. Let’s get out of here now.”
“Alright…just a moment.”
As Ascal arose and dusted off his clothes, he discovered something.
The iridescent ore embedded in the cave.
“Do you know what this is, Lia?”
Lia, who assumed the role of the explainer, responded.
“It’s the legendary Rainbow Stone. I never expected it to be here in the north. Such an unbelievable stroke of luck, Ascal.”
Lia laughed, still seeming somewhat in disbelief.
Ascal and Lia left the cave.
And as soon as they returned to the Empire…
“hahahahaha! I’m escaping from the Empire! This Flying Squirrel Wing, a secret project, will finally take flight!”
In the distance Burns Stein, who was flying through the sky and declaring his escape from the Empire, was drawing attention.
“Develop this! Develop that! And once we develop it, there’s always something not to their liking, something else they want added. Am I a minister or a slave? If they want work done, they need to provide a proper staff, even local markets have more employees than us. Even the new-hires are suspicious!”
Burns Stein vented his longstanding frustrations while raising his middle finger in the air.
It was the Flying f*ck.
‘I guess he’s had a hard time too. I understand how he’s feeling.’
Ascal nodded sympathetically.
Sadly, however, Burns Stein chose his timing poorly.
“Fetch him.”
Aser Devru, the head of the Emperor’s Hounds, which consisted only of the most elite, loosened his body.
And after running up the castle wall, he ascended to the highest point by leaping from one landmark to another. It felt like witnessing a scene from a video game.
One final giant leap.
Like an eagle, he caught Burns Stein mid-air.
The northern spectators began to clap with pure admiration.
Ascal also joined in the applause.
‘Tsk tsk. Just yelling about escaping from the Empire doesn’t mean you can actually do it. If you just rush blindly forward fueled by determination, you’ll never escape even after a hundred years pass.’
Thus, Ascal commented.
“No, no, no, no!”
Duke Felix exclaimed.
“Let’s pretend we didn’t see anything.”
“Please, just think of it as a moment of madness for our unfortunate friend.”
“Hmm.”
Askal pulled out a rainbow stone from his backpack.
First, he reported to the Duke Felix, the owner of the territory, who coolly transferred the ownership to Askal.
“Hey. Burnstein. Look at what I’ve found.”
“Where did you get this!!! If we have this, we can create things that we only had designs for until now.”
Burnstein’s eyes lit up.
It felt like it could become an annual event.