Chapter 178. Skull that repays the favor (2)
“So, did you feel immense gratitude to me for taking care of the skull?”
squeaking!
A little past midnight.
Until then, Lloyd, who had not been able to put out the candles in the dorm, pressed his eyes tightly with both hands.
I was tired.
He was running around all day.
Had a fierce fight with Hell Knight.
I had to use my simbeop all day long to give first aid to citizens.
At the end of that, I finally decided to take a break.
We had an unexpected guest.
A whopping 200 skeletons.
– Not to the extent of being grateful.
A skeleton soldier nodded his skull at Lloyd’s question.
Then he quickly wrote the answer on a piece of paper and showed it.
It’s like this guy is the leader of a bunch of skeletons.
Did you say that you can call yourself ‘Turtle Neck’?
Skeleton Soldier Turtle Neck held a piece of charcoal and wrote his own words.
– We were at a loss. It wasn’t enough that he died unfairly, only his skull was randomly buried in the cold ground. The body was used as a headless zombie.
“Ah, were you the zombie escorting the warlocks yesterday?”
– That’s right.
“Then now?”
– Most of the warlocks are dead. Cannavaro’s power was also restrained. Thanks to that, I was able to be freed from the curse. In the process, all the rotten flesh was gone, leaving only pure bones.
“Umm, then what about the zombies I destroyed?”
– There it is.
The turtle neck pointed to one side.
From there, two skeleton soldiers raised their hands.
– They are called square jaw and fifty shoulders in order from left to right.
“….”
– Those guys got it right the first time you attacked the warlock yesterday. The torso is gone.
“Oh, it was.”
– However, as the curse of the warlocks was lifted, all the bones that had been smashed and ground were restored. We also don’t know the detailed reason or principle.
“Are you lucky anyway?”
– That’s right.
Turtle Neck nodded again.
After removing the tightly packed paper, he used a lump of charcoal on a new piece of paper.
The story continued in black letters on white paper.
– After the curse was lifted, we gathered together. We discussed what to do from now on. In fact, the discussion did not take long. Because everyone was feeling it.
“What do you feel?”
Lloyd asked.
Turtle Neck tapped his skull with one hand.
– Our heads.
“skull?”
– yes. We were already feeling it. That someone had dug up our skulls that had been buried haphazardly. In addition, the fact that they do not throw it away and carefully preserve it.
“Did you hear what I was saying with the skull?”
– yes.
Turtle neck nodded again.
– Everyone heard. He respectfully bowed to our skulls every time he picked up a piece of jewelry. I don’t know what kind of harsh things they’ve been through, but I hope they rest in peace. Please, while telling me to rest forever.
“….”
Lloyd kept his mouth shut.
It was evidently something he said to himself whenever he dug up a skull.
At the time, I thought it was just a courtesy to the dead.
I felt sorry for those who were used by the black magician.
To bury it in a sunny place later.
I was just telling the story in my heart.
‘I didn’t know you were listening to that.’
I was a little proud.
At the same time, it was also embarrassing.
I suddenly remembered.
It was a winter when I was living in a gosiwon in Korea.
It was the day I received my daily wage at the site.
Then I saw it on the road.
The image of an old woman selling vegetables by the roadside, where the wind and snow is falling.
The only vegetables served were three or four colanders of herbs.
But you couldn’t sell any of them.
Without even the usual fur hat or gloves.
He was struggling to clean the snow that was piling up on the vegetables with his swollen hands.
It must have been because of how it looked.
I asked without knowing.
How much are all those vegetables?
Did you take out the envelope containing the daily allowance?
‘At that time, I thought I had done something crazy.’
Of course, he did a good job.
It was a very good deed, even if you think about it.
Instead, how much I regretted it after that evening.
Hogu.
fool.
idiot.
I blamed myself for not having such an idiot.
It was incomprehensible how much I regretted over the hunger I had to go through because I was short of tens of thousands of won.
It was from then.
Since then, there has been no excessive arrogance.
After experiencing hunger as a reward for being generous, it naturally became that way.
Good deeds are good, but let’s not go beyond our abilities.
I have lived with that promise.
It was like that until recently.
no, it still was.
The same was true of the skulls excavated to collect 200 jewels.
Just because it’s something you can handle on your own.
So I just didn’t throw it away.
It was just taken care of.
But I didn’t know that it would come back in this way.
“Ummm, so to conclude, do you want me to take all of you?”
– That’s right.
Skeleton soldier leader Turtle Neck nodded his skull and wrote an answer.
– If it weren’t for you, we still wouldn’t have gotten our heads back. Because the skull was enchanted and buried.
“is it.”
– yes.
“If you follow me, you will do a lot of work. Do you mind if I can’t rest comfortably in the grave?”
– We are endowed with life after death anyway. You cannot enjoy rest. While wandering in the wilderness, they will be subjugated by adventurers and troops. I’d rather live legally protected under the guidance of someone I trust like you.
“Oops. That makes sense. yes?”
Lloyd grinned.
I looked around.
There, Xaviel was sitting on the bed with sleepy eyes.
‘What the hell is this?’
Xaviel let out a deep sigh.
Originally, he was sleeping well.
Listening to Lloyd’s lullaby as usual.
It was a silver-haired knight who was lounging around in the land of perfect dreams.
Suddenly, the bedroom became a mess.
Lloyd’s voice continued to be heard.
The sound of something rattling became enormous.
Could it be an enemy?
My eyes suddenly opened.
When I saw the bedroom scene, I was horrified.
Anyone who wakes up and sees 200 skeletons filled with momentum to fill the dormitory will be astonished and excited.
If only Lloyd hadn’t informed me of the situation just in time.
It was the moment when he immediately rushed in and nearly destroyed the entire group of skeletons.
‘I never thought I’d see someone who would live and work and use the skeleton soldiers as laborers.’
That person is the young master he serves.
Another sigh came out of nowhere.
An employment contract passed between Lloyd and the skeleton soldiers over the sound of Xaviel’s silent sighs.
– What is this?
Skeleton Soldier Turtle Neck tilted his skull.
Lloyd replied as if it were natural.
“Employment contract.”
The corners of his lips curled up.
Even so, I had a lot of worries about the supply and demand of manpower.
It was a pity that there was no place to find an undead soldier even though he had the skill to control the undead.
[The number of undead soldiers that can be controlled: 200]
[The number of undead soldiers currently under control: 200]
‘So successful in securing unlimited unpaid workers.’
A rewarding message that comes to mind in front of your eyes.
Seeing this, Lloyd smiled happily.
♣
The next day Lloyd left the lodging as soon as the morning was bright.
The place he headed was the office of Count Namaran.
In his hand was a stack of rolled up papers.
It was the ‘Namaran slope stabilization construction plan’ and the blueprint.
‘Lululu Lulu.’
Thanks to the contract with the Skeleton Soldiers last night, the manpower supply problem was solved. Thanks to the constant surveying and designing even before the barrier crisis occurred, the construction schedule was also outlined.
Then there is no need to delay.
All you have to do is present the construction plans to Count Namaran. You can ask for cooperation in the materials needed for actual construction.
‘Then get the job done. Receive a hefty payment for construction work. Going back to the Prontera estate. A worry-free bee life awaits, with apartments and great sewers shining.’
This project is the last one.
You just need to do this right.
Then, you can always receive facility management fees from Namaran Territory.
That money will provide you with enough insurance to live on in the future.
‘Lululalalananana.’
A shrug of the shoulders.
A humming song flowed out, a mess of notes.
That’s how he went up to the count’s office, stepping on a happy tap dance to insert a straw for the execution of time and space.
And soon I had to face an unexpected situation in the office.
“Will you be my son-in-law?”
“….”
What else does this mean?
Lloyd looked at Count Namaran, feeling his own breathing grow salty.
The Count was coughing continuously as he wrapped himself in a thick blanket.
“Keuheum cool! Coke! Is my request too sudden?”
“Ah yes. little….”
“Actually, I didn’t know I would make such a request.”
The count had a wry smile on his haggard face.
“Lloyd Frontera, you can see my face right now, right? How do I look?”
“Hmm, you look a little unwell.”
“yes? So it is.”
Count’s sigh.
his words continued.
“It is because of this situation. It’s too hard. My body doesn’t feel like mine. The doctor said it would get better after a year of recuperation, but…well. Too much energy has been drained by the evil warlock’s tricks. So to be honest, I want to rest now.”
“yes?”
“Is it that surprising? haha. You say you want to rest. I mean retirement.”
Count Namaran laughed lightly.
“If I were just an ordinary old man, I wouldn’t be like this. I must have heard that you didn’t want to let go of your seat now. but i am someone He is the one who rules this city. But can I manage the city properly in such a state that I can’t even handle my own health? nope no. That’s not it. It will be a nuisance to everyone.”
“But Count.”
“I love this city. I gave my whole life for Namaran. So that’s it. If an old man like me, who has to focus on recuperation right now, holds on to such a high position, there will be problems with governance. I thought so. A much stronger, healthier, smarter person who can help our city. I want to hand over the rule of the city to such a person.”
“Hmmmm Count? I don’t think I gave you an honest answer earlier….”
“hmm?”
“You look incredibly correct now.”
“….”
“I think it wouldn’t be too much trouble if you jump up right away and run to the other side of the wall and come back.”
“Oh, this person.”
The Count burst out laughing.
Seeing that, Lloyd felt a strong sense of danger.
I didn’t get fed up with it.
Count Namaran seems rather stubborn today.
Could it be that he had a firm resolution of his own?
Lloyd’s premonition soon turned into reality.
It was with the call that Count Namaran had brought out towards the back of his office.
“I should have waited a long time, but now I want to come out.”
It was right after the Count had finished speaking.
The door to the office was opened.
A young lady named Nama appeared.
With a slightly flushed face, I lowered my head and calmly sat down next to the Count.
The Count gazed at his daughter with a pleased gaze.
Then he cast his gaze this way.
“How is it? Can you make a kite with this child? Also, please accept the governance of my city together.”
“….”
“This old man’s request.”
“….”
Count Namaran’s voice became earnest.
So Lloyd felt even more embarrassed.
‘Wow, I’m going crazy.’
I thought I had safely passed the Namaran barrier.
So, I was relieved that I just had to complete the construction perfectly.
I didn’t know that I would suddenly face such an unexpected emergency.
‘Did I make this achievement too big and grandiose?’
Lloyd felt the sweat seep through his palms.
It seems that he has really accomplished too much.
Because I saved the whole poem of Nama.
In the meantime, he even defeated Hell Knight.
He expected that there would be an unusual reciprocation, but he never dreamed that the Count would offer to give his daughter and the whole city to him.
It was a truly great proposal.
What if you just nod your head?
You can become a count who rules the city of Namaran right away.
In addition, if he later inherits the Frontera territory, he will rise to a tremendous position to rule over two counties.
‘but….’
I somehow hated it.
I didn’t like it very much.
Are you not greedy for power?
Or because you think you are too much for yourself?
It wasn’t.
‘It’s embarrassing.’
That was Lloyd’s honest feeling.
He also hated the marriage without love with the young lady of Nama.
Besides, ruling over two counties would only make your head hurt that much.
‘It’s hard just to manage the Frontera estate. complicated and difficult I just want to suck honey while spending the rest of my life quietly and prosperously in a small estate. But why is it such a mess because everyone can’t raise me?’
If you could choose your own genre of life, what would it be?
Lloyd would choose a calm routine without hesitation.
Or, I would choose a genre with a building owner enjoying his daily life while playing tangja tangja as the main character.
The quest for power too.
A near-miss adventure.
Overcoming a breathless disaster.
All were not to his liking.
I was tired.
It was all the more so because I had lived through a lot of hardships since Korea.
I really just wanted to live a peaceful and small life.
So it was.
‘I have to decline this offer.’
Lloyd made up his mind.
And pondered in my mind.
A natural way to decline Count Namaran’s offer.
At the same time, it is an appropriate justification to go ahead with a source blockade so that such a proposal cannot be made again.
Which would be good.
What excuse should I give to never make an offer like this again?
Lloyd’s troubled gaze suddenly reached the figure of Lady Nama.
Then it came to me naturally.
Iron Blooded Knight.
In that story, the desperate and heroic end that Lady Namaran met. The noble sacrifice she made for the city.
Maybe that was it.
“I know very well what the Count’s proposal means and what kind of cause it is. But sorry. I don’t think I can accept the offer to become the count’s son-in-law and rule the city.”
“…what?”
Count Namaran’s trembling gaze.
the Count asked.
“You turned down such a good offer. Do you really not know what I mean? What is the reason?”
It seemed very disconcerting.
That would be enough.
It was an offer to give both the daughter and the city.
It was also a tremendous proposal that an ordinary person would light up their eyes and beg for it to be done.
But not for Lloyd.
He looked at the count with calm eyes.
He answered politely with a serious face and voice.
“Because right here we have a ruler better suited to this city than I am.”
His hand was pointing at the young lady named Nama.
