Episode 203
EPISODE.102
The royal ball that lasted for three nights ended safely. As time passed, the royal capital began to regain its form at a rapid pace.
Perhaps it was because the royal family was in good health with the prom. I don’t know if it’s because the buildings that had otherwise collapsed were restored in the blink of an eye
. thing.
And then another four months passed.
“Master.”
As Russell made a gesture, a voice came from inside.
“Come in.”
Kik-.
The door rattles open with well-oiled hinges.
“He said he would visit around noon, but he came right on time.”
Daria giggled as she watched Russell come inside.
“So, why did our youngest ask to see this teacher today…”
To her tilting her head curiously, Russell pulled out a document he had kept in his arms and submitted it.
“Hmm?”
It was a document with the title ‘Application for Study Abroad’.
“I thought it was quiet for a while, but it turns out to be an overseas study again.”
Daria turned the first page of the document with a smile as if she was used to it.
I asked, glancing lightly at the contents contained in it.
“Apart from studying abroad, did you tell Her Highness the Princess?”
Naturally, Russell nodded.
“of course. I visited the other day and got permission.”
Daria shrugged her shoulders with a meaningful look at the word that she had been allowed to do so.
“It should be done once or twice, so I think Her Highness gave up in moderation.”
crispy-.
He picked up the cookie in front of him and ate it, then added with a giggle.
“You’re going to shoot out like this and you’ll get naive on the first night of your wedding.”
Daria moved her fingertips toward Russell, who smiled bitterly as it wasn’t completely wrong.
Took-.
The bowl full of cookies was lightly pushed toward Russell.
“I baked it myself, would you like to try some?”
“thank you.”
I lifted the cookie with my fingertips and took a bite, and the chocolate chewed between the crispy baked dough.
And the savoryness felt through the gap and the crispness that is different from chocolate or dough.
‘Are these almonds?’
It was hard to believe that it was baked by hand, and it was as good as a professional bakery.
Daria murmured involuntarily as she watched Russell devouring a cookie in an instant.
“I wish I could have let him eat too…”
Regret and regret. A voice full of nostalgia dispersed in the air.
“yes?”
Daria shook her head at Russell, who hesitated and questioned him.
“No, nothing.”
As if to change the topic, he hurriedly moved his gaze to the papers in his hand.
“Rather than that, the destination this time is the third country. Akain is a country of trade…”
As its name suggests, Akain was a country where trade and exchanges developed.
It was also a place with a territory too small to be called a country.
‘Among the great lords of the kingdom, there are only a handful of people who have lands comparable to those of Akain.’
As he became a grand duke, even his own territory, which increased, reached about 60% of the land of Akain.
A size that deserves to be called a city-state rather than an ordinary country.
‘How can it be that what lies beneath the surface of such a small country is the continent’s greatest shadow?’
Recalling the information about Akain, Russell sued inwardly.
From gambling and pleasure to money laundering to drugs and slavery. That was the other side of Akain, who was famous for his commerce.
Surprisingly, that shadow allowed Akain to maintain its status as an independent nation from the surrounding powers.
‘As long as the shadowy hands from the neighboring countries are intertwined with Akain, even the empire won’t be able to touch it easily.’
Even if those who live in the shadows are crouching in the dark, there are also giants on the surface of the water among those who use that hand.
The culture of the shadows that deserves to eat away at the country is actually maintaining the country.
Merchant Akain was a truly ironic place.
Was it because I was conscious of that fact?
“It might be old-fashioned to tell you this, but… be careful.”
Daria gave a brief warning as she raised the stamp for the document.
“The darkness of those who live in the depths of the shadows is always deeper than expected.”
He has experience of contacting the dark side a few times while living a freelance life.
However, it would be a hasty judgment to make a hasty judgment about people in the shadows based only on that experience.
‘That would be true, if I compare the shade I met with water—.’
─It will be only the shallowest place.
What kind of darkness lurks in the depths of the deep sea is something you don’t know because you haven’t experienced it.
That’s why Russell nodded with a firm expression.
“I will write it down.”
“okay.”
Then thump.
The seal with Daria’s seal left a clear red mark.
It was the moment when Russell’s foreign research permission was dropped.
.
.
“Let’s see what else I need to take care of…”
After that, Russell’s movements were busy preparing to go abroad for a few days.
Of course, it wasn’t something very important, but whatever.
It was in the midst of such busyness that Muyaho visited Russell.
“Hey male. Are you going anywhere?”
Muyaho asked at the sight of Russell packing extra clothes and a water bottle, and he nodded as he swept a few unadorned robes into the subspace.
“yes. I’m thinking of going outside for some personal reasons.”
“If it’s personal… how much?”
“Um…”
Russell shook his head, counting the time period.
“I do not know. If it’s short, it seems like it will be over in three or four months, but if it takes a long time, you have to think about it for a year.”
“This profit!”
At Russell’s words, Muyaho jumped out of his seat and stood up.
Then, he ran in front of Russell like an arrow and said.
“Isn’t the promise different? cock!”
“A promise?”
“You promised to give me sparring opponents every time I go up to the capital, but you’re going to be away for so long!”
“If it’s Dalian, aren’t there other people besides me?”
I don’t know if it was because of Russell’s request or if something else happened.
Gillian Fulson, as well as Daria and Nicolo, often agreed to sparring with Muyaho.
But to come to him on a fictitious day and ask for sparring with such outstanding strong people.
When I asked, Muyaho lay flat on the spot.
Lying on Russell’s desk, he struggled like a herd, rolling his body around.
“Oh I don’t know. I don’t know! I mean, those guys aren’t as fun as your male counterparts. Have fun—!”
Compared to themselves who have been on the 7th circle for less than half a year, they are strong people who have been superhuman for over ten years.
There’s no fun with such strong people. Should I do this out of the blue?
While hesitating on how to react, Muyaho jumped up and raised his body.
“yes!”
match!
As if he had a good idea, he was clapping his feet and wagging his tail from side to side.
“How about doing this? cock?”
“…?”
“I’m going with you!”
Russell asked with a blank face, wondering if he had heard it wrong.
“Who…”
“This body!”
“With whom?”
“With you male!”
I thought it was a really good idea, but the way he was looking at himself with his arms crossed and a high-spirited look.
“Of course, I’m not trying to use this opportunity to cut in line or anything like that. The princess… Keun——because I made a promise with my sister.”
What is a cut-in and why do you call Hecate the eldest sister? If it were my age, Muyaho would definitely have more.
Russell thought to himself, putting aside some of the questions that popped into his head.
‘A count is an honorary position, so going with it would not be a big problem, but…’
I thought back and asked.
“Is it okay to leave the beastmen in the forest?”
“I think I’ve said it before, but the existence of the Beast King is quite different from the human king you think. Maybe if I said I was going on a trip outside for a while, everyone would think so, right?”
Russell sighed at the explanation he had heard.
Of course, strictly speaking, there was nothing bad about him.
Because she was one of the strongest among superhumans.
‘If Muyaho is with me, dangerous situations will be greatly reduced.’
Especially if you think about the place you have to go through Sangguk. Muyaho’s appearance is a little fried, but there was no major problem.
It was the same for him who had black hair and red eyes, so he had to disguise himself with an enchanted artifact.
Finishing his thoughts with a sigh, Russell nodded.
“Okay, but I’ll report it to you first.”
There was no particular reason to be rejected, but as one more superhuman level member was leaving the country, he had to report it.
“Oh, can I go with you!?”
Muyaho raised the corners of his mouth and smiled.
I thought I was going to have a good time, but I didn’t think it would be eaten!
But Russell’s words were not over yet.
“Of course there are conditions.”
“condition?”
“In any situation, please put my judgment first and act according to my words.”
He moved his jaw wildly, as if it was natural for Russell’s condition.
“Yep!”
It was only natural that he was not accustomed to human society yet.
“It doesn’t matter as long as you follow that.”
“i get it. cock. keep in mind.”
Feeling that the situation was roughly sorted out, Russell suddenly stopped and looked at Muyaho for a moment as he was about to pack up again.
“By the way…”
“Eh?”
One question that had been put off for a while raised its head.
“Why do you call Her Highness the eldest sister?”
“Uh uh uh….”
He hesitated for a moment before stuttering and avoiding Russell’s gaze.
He didn’t make eye contact and muttered softly as an excuse.
“It’s a promise between women. Male, you don’t have to know.”
It was a face no one wanted to talk about.
.
.
again a few days after that.
Muyaho asked Russell, who finished all preparations and exited the warp gate.
“So male. Where did you say we were going? Akkadian trade?”
“It is true that the first destination is Akkad, but I have no intention of staying there for long.”
The country of Akkad is just a gateway through which to enter the original destination. There was a different destination that was decided from the beginning.
“then?”
“We went through the Akkadian trade…”
said Russell, his eyes twinkling.
“I’m going to the Empire.”
dragon-swallowed wizard
