Episode 116
EPISODE
.
A clear sound signaled that the floating stone had reached the desired floor.
Russell, who got off the top of it, moved toward his laboratory-cum-office.
‘It’s a guest…’
He was thinking about the owner of the visit application he had heard from the rookie wizard at the front desk.
Since the number of visitors is not one, it should be accurately called ‘guests’.
Of course, Russell already knew the identity of the guests.
Besides, this wasn’t the first time I visited.
‘I applied for a visit every time I went out to study abroad and came back.’
Russell, who arrived in front of the office within a short while, reached out his hand.
Click-.
I grabbed the handle and turned it to open the door.
‘There are still a few hours until the scheduled visit time, so I wonder if I’m doing something overdue.’
Thinking so, Russell entered the laboratory and took off his coat.
I picked up one of the stacks of papers piled on the desk.
Soon, in the midst of the silence, the sound of the pen tip moving and the turning of paper resounded without ceasing.
Sarak Sarak.
Sagagak-.
hours thereafter.
pierce-.
Listening to the ringing of the bell he had placed on the side of the desk, Russell raised his head buried in the paperwork.
It was a signal that the expected guest had arrived on the first floor of the tower.
Soon smart-.
Hearing a knock, Russell rose from his seat.
“It’s okay to come in.”
He opened the door directly from the inside.
Originally, this would not have been necessary. However, this visitor’s status was special.
The first thing I noticed when I opened the door was her glossy purple hair and eyes the same color as hers.
The atmosphere created by the harmony of the two overwhelms the attention of the people around them.
The identity of the scheduled visitors was Endymion’s first heir to the throne, Princess Hecate Latmos, and two knights who came out to escort her.
Of course, it was the visitors who felt burdened to Russell.
“It’s been a while. Sir Russell. I have been waiting for the day you return to the Tower of Flames.”
At the voice of the princess Hecate, who said that he had been waiting for his return, Russell immediately responded.
“Russell Raymond, Countess of the Kingdom, sees Her Highness.”
“Gwarye(過禮) is proportional(non-ritual). Didn’t you tell me that you didn’t need to be formal?”
Did it feel like he was a little distant? Hecate muttered with sullen eyes.
“I’m sure you’ve already guessed…”
Then he continued as he entered the office.
“…even though you know it’s my rudeness, the reason why I visited in such a hurry is because I want to hear about your adventures.”
As she said, she was the one who submitted the request for a visit whenever Russell returned from studying abroad.
The excuse was that I wanted to hear what happened during the study abroad.
Of course, from Hecate’s point of view, calling Russell was more convenient and easier.
However, it was clear that it was her own consideration to visit her in person.
As Hecate entered, the knights who followed followed her and entered the office.
As she entered, the images of the royal knights standing behind her were more clearly visible.
The knights who came together to escort her.
As they were familiar faces that they had seen several times before, as they were greeting each other with a wink, Hecate sat down accustomed to it and crossed her legs.
He showed a hint of anticipation and approached Russell.
“Come on, tell me what happened there. The place where you went out to study abroad this time was Underworld, right?”
Underworld.
It is not unusual for her to be curious as the information is not well known and only rumors abound.
However, it’s not just out of curiosity that she’s showing interest in her exoteric research.
‘Perhaps it’s to create a consensus with me.’
Even though she actually learned swordsmanship in order to have a conversation with herself, she took the time to study basic magic theory books.
“yes. majesty.”
Russell started talking, guessing Hecate’s inner thoughts.
“The Underworld…”
As the story began, Hecate listened intently to Russell’s story.
“Hmm.”
“hmm.”
“-It is indeed a mysterious place, as I have heard.”
In the middle, as if inserting a chuimsae, he spilled one word at a time.
furthermore.
The story of the Underworld and the dwarves was of interest not only to Hecate, but also to the two knights who followed.
Is it because
The escort knights were also listening unobtrusively to Russell’s story.
And finally, when Russell’s story is all over.
Hecate quietly closed her eyes.
Based on the story I just heard, I imagined the appearance of the Underworld in my own way and pursed my lips.
“Despite being built underground, it is an underground city of dwarves that has a wonderful night sky and a constant smell of iron and fire…” A
picture of the city, like an adventure story in an old story, was pictured in Hecate’s mind.
“If you have a chance, this is a place you want to visit at least once.”
Gathering her flowing hair behind her ears, she stared at Russell.
“Will the Lord guide me when the time comes?”
It was a way of speaking that was not straightforward, but even straight-forward.
‘Ugh-.’
That narration made Russell flinch involuntarily.
Of course, if you ask me if this aspect is bad, it wasn’t.
‘You’re being overly honest.’
Of course, this can also be said to be her charm.
In fact, even for Russell, it was not as burdensome as the first time.
“But…”
That was then.
Hecate, who was talking, suddenly asked with a coy look, resting her chin on one hand.
“Have you ever thought of me during this trip?”
It was Hecate who had already asked this question as if playing a prank whenever she had gone abroad to study a few times.
As before, it is a straight-forward way of speaking, but it is a story that is quite familiar to Russell.
However, even so, I couldn’t easily answer the question this time.
I kept my mouth shut.
‘Ugh-.’
In fact, it was because her face suddenly came to mind during this outing.
Like when a half-blooded elf was brought into the room, or when Io was brought into the room, or whatever.
“Sir Russell. Seeing your face red, if it wasn’t that you had a fever, then you must be ashamed.”
Did you notice such a sign?
“Aside from the fun of teasing him, I was worried that he might be a wooden man, but I’m glad he did.”
There was a hint of mischief in Hecate’s giggling voice.
“So far, my efforts have not been in vain.”
stinger-.
It was then.
The pocket watch strapped to her waist trembled.
Click-.
“Oh, the time has already come like this.”
She lifted her watch to check the time and clicked her tongue.
“Unfortunately, the story from here will have to be postponed to the next pleasure.”
He muttered in a sad voice and stood up from his seat.
“Then I’ll be looking forward to our next meeting.”
Leaving the office, Hecate’s ear lobe was somehow red like a ripe persimmon.
.
.
Putting down the research paper he was reading, Russell let out a long sigh.
“after-.”
I tried my best, but somehow I couldn’t concentrate.
It has to be.
All sorts of thoughts were rushing through my head as if a storm had fallen.
Of course, they were thoughts that started from a single thought.
‘Tsk’
In the end, Russell clicked his tongue and closed the research paper. I opened the window to ventilate and looked outside.
A gust of wind swayed Russell’s signature black hair gently, and Russell closed his eyes.
‘hmm.’
I thought about what happened today.
‘I can’t just avoid it forever.’
Because he knew at least that it was not the right attitude to just evade and put off answering for years.
Then, in the end, what you need to do is to make a decision as soon as possible-.
[Mission]
The answer to the princess’s heart.
Princess Hecate Latmos has been waiting for your answer for a long time.
Now it’s your turn to answer her.
[Reward]
Intermediate Magic Stone x2
Rings of Eros and Psyche (pair).
“crazy.”
Is this also a mission?
At the mission that popped out of nowhere, Russell spit out abusive words without even realizing it.
Because it felt like the contents of the mission were making fun of him.
However, at least there was nothing wrong with the content.
Russell bit his lower lip.
“…”
Maybe it was because his laboratory was located high up in the salt tower.
Open your eyes and lower your gaze a little.
The panoramic view of the royal capital was reflected at a glance under the brightly shining moon.
As if to show that it is literally a royal capital, it is a scene where the lights are lit everywhere even though it is night.
Endymion No matter where you go, no matter where you go on the continent, it won’t be easy to find a city where the night is as bright as this.
Including famous tourist attractions and the imperial capital that is said to be comparable to them, there are only ten or so.
Even within such a royal capital, the most brightly lit place was, without a doubt, the royal palace.
Russell murmured involuntarily, looking at the building of the palace, which was shining like daylight despite it being night.
“Are you looking at the same night sky?”
Suddenly, conscious of what he had said, he lowered his head.
‘Ugh-.’
He then covered his face with his palms.
No one would be watching, but his face was burning as if he had been splashed with hot water.
‘What…’
No matter how many people were around, she said such words without thinking.
Blaming himself, within a short time, Russell’s movements, which had been embarrassingly moving, stopped.
It was because my consciousness was fixed on one thought that passed through my head for a moment.
‘He said he spat it out without thinking?’
If so, he wondered if those words were his true intentions.
‘surely-.’
Even considering her status as a princess separately, it was clear that Hecate was an attractive woman.
Her honest and confident attitude and beautiful appearance were enough to ignite the hearts of many men.
Not only that, unlike the first time, where it was simply a crush.
It was also an undeniable fact that there were quite a few changes in Russell’s thoughts toward the princess.
“hmm.”
As the night deepens, so does the thought.
Russell’s troubles, which had begun to deepen, did not end until most of the lights on the royal road went out.
and the next day.
Russell personally submitted an application for an interview to the royal family.
The target of the interview was, of course, the princess Hecate Latmos.
dragon-swallowed wizard
