◈ 441. [Side Story] All The Kings
.
I poured a drink into a glass.
A simple snack with clear sake with low alcohol content.
I brought it to drink with you when I meet Mu-myeong today.
Anonymous was accepted without hesitation. We each swallowed our glasses without saying a word.
“Good.”
Anonymous smiled faintly and set the glass down.
“I don’t enjoy drinking, but the scent of alcohol has the power to bring back beautiful memories from the past.”
“What memories?”
“It was a prosperous time before the country became like this.”
Moo-myeong closed her eyes for a moment and smelled the scent of an empty wine glass.
“Memories tend to be glorified, but this country at that time… It was beautiful.”
Slowly opening her eyes, she looked around.
“… But it’s all like a midnight dream. After all these years, all that remains is this darkness.”
A dungeon that is sunk at the bottom of a lake and wrapped in pitch black darkness.
That this place was once the most powerful kingdom of magic in the world, and that the woman in front of him was the legitimate successor to that kingdom.
How many people in the world do you know and how many do you trust?
‘I am.’
okay.
I know and I believe
I filled her glass with new wine. Then, on the table where the wine glass was placed, he took out what he had brought to his bosom and held it out.
“Today first… I’m here to give this back.”
It was a shard of light split like a puzzle piece.
[The Princess’ Soul Fragment].
Nameless fragmented his own soul, set it on fire, and scattered it all over the Lake Kingdom.
This flame was the last light to light up the city locked in darkness.
And these fragments fulfilled their role and were recovered after I drove the darkness out of the city through occupation wars.
After I returned, I conducted occupation wars in my spare time, and now I have occupied all dungeons up to District 4.
There have been quite a few pieces of souls gathered in the meantime. That’s why I kept visiting to give back to the nameless.
“These are the fragments of your soul that I have collected over the years. Now take it.”
“… .”
Moo-myeong looked at the pieces in disbelief and then faced me.
“But Ash, I lent you to stabilize your soul… .”
“I am fine now.”
I smiled.
“Having been missing for half a year, defining who I am… found me So it’s okay now.”
“… indeed.”
Anonymous looked into my eyes and smiled.
“You have already regained the light of your soul. Great job Ash.”
Anonymous reached out and patted my shoulder.
I’ve never had an older sister, but wouldn’t it be like this if she complimented me?
In front of me who was embarrassed, Nameless retrieved a piece of his soul with a gentle touch.
“Then thank you for returning it.”
Fire-
Soul fragments emitted their own light and disappeared into obscurity as if permeating.
The pale face of an unknown person brightened a little. She laughed out loud too.
“Thank you Ash. I think I will live a little.”
“What are you thankful for? It’s yours in the first place.”
Pouring a drink into my glass, I shrugged.
“I will gradually return it to you when I occupy another area in the future and retrieve your soul fragment.”
Why did Anonymous fall into the final boss – the [Sleepless Lake Princess]?
The process and cause are still unknown.
But I will do anything to stop it.
It’s not just because the final boss is strong. It’s not just because she was involved in the true ending.
I also want to save nameless. That’s why.
‘Current clue is [Princess’ Soul Fragment]… … .’
There is no guarantee that she won’t be reduced to the final boss by collecting all of these. however.
If there is anything I can do, I will continue.
“… thanks.”
Anonymous put a hand on his chest.
“Maybe it’s because I got it back after hundreds of years, but it feels strange even though it’s my soul.”
Moo-Myeong closed her eyes for a moment and caught her breath.
“… If you drive away all the darkness from this city and take back every piece of me I’ve been broken into. Then, can I go back to who I was before this place became like this?”
“… .”
“This country is the way it was in those days… Can I go back?”
“no.”
I flatly denied it.
“I can’t go back or live as I was then.”
I smiled at the nameless who looked at me with slightly surprised eyes.
“Hasn’t it been five hundred years? We must move on to the next era.”
“… .”
“The world will change, Musk. Do you want to live as the new queen of the new Lake Kingdom?”
Moo-myeong, who was absent-minded as if he had been hit by a hammer in the back of the head, said,
“… haha. I never thought about it.”
Then, he burst out laughing.
“I always thought only of getting back to the old look, to a new era… I never thought of going after that.”
“It’s a very what-if story.”
But one of the funniest things in the world is to drink kimchi soup before eating rice cake.
“Really when this whole nightmare is over and a new era comes. And if you become the king of this lake kingdom.”
“… .”
“Then you… What kind of king do you want to be?”
“… king.”
Anonymous stared blankly into space.
“Right. I even imagined that at one time. It’s already a story from the distant past.”
“You can just imagine. how is it?”
Moomyeong closed his eyes for a moment and pondered,
“… Although the sparkling dream I had certainly had my own ideal royal road. I can’t remember.”
I had a hunch.
she is lying
Her straight turquoise gaze was unmistakably looking at her own ideal.
However, she did not reveal her royal road until she lied that she did not remember.
Why?
“One day, if my kingdom comes out of this darkness. If only the day would come when the brilliant sunlight of the outside world would finally reach the bottom of this lake, not the artificial flames that burned my soul.”
maybe anonymous.
Maybe I’m already giving up because that day won’t come… … .
“I’ll be sure to tell you then, Ash. what kind of king I wanted to be.”
Moo-myeong turned the question around after laughing bitterly.
“Then are you Ash?”
“huh?”
“What kind of king do you want to be?”
“… uh?”
“When all monsters disappear and peace comes to this place… … What are you going to do then?”
This time I was dazed.
After the ending –
It was a story I had never thought of. Because my thoughts were always focused only on safely clearing these three years.
But already in the middle of the second year.
The third year will soon come,
and after the battle with Fernandez and the battle with the remaining Nightmare Corps commanders, the final battle with the Demon King… … .
Yes. It’s an ending.
‘After that?’
This isn’t a game in the first place. It’s a complete reality.
I am Ash himself, who only has memories of the classics.
so… Even after the ending, I have to live on.
The game statistics settlement window does not appear, and the word staff roll does not flow does not come to mind. Life goes on.
“Aren’t you also qualified as a prince?”
Anonymous smiled softly.
“What kind of king do you want to be?”
“… .”
I closed my mouth and squeezed the glass tightly.
I have no intention of avoiding it. I have no intention of pretending to be naive.
Now that the rumor that 1st Prince Lark is dead is spreading.
If I fight against 2nd Prince Fernandez and win.
The next throne of the Empire- Needless to say, it is in the hands of the 3rd prince, I, Ash.
Yes. I didn’t have to mention it, but I didn’t say it… … Declaring war on Fernandez is tantamount to casting a vote saying that I, too, will aim for the throne.
And if I ever get the throne… … .
“… I am.”
After closing your eyes and organizing your thoughts.
I smiled and opened my mouth.
I was able to speak comfortably because I was unknown to anyone else.
“The royal road I want to walk is… … .”
***
the next day.
cross road. North Gate.
Step-Dak-
Dag- Dozens of deer rode their riders inside with a peaceful hooting sound.
Those who climbed on top of the deer without a saddle were the elves.
The fairy queen-Skuld, who climbed the tallest white deer at the forefront, looked around the city and admired it.
“It’s only been a few months. The city is pretty… … It has improved.”
All kinds of new buildings, including new barracks, were going up quickly all over the city.
The pace of the city’s development was staggering. It wasn’t just a matter of building technology or the influx of people.
‘Why are so many people flocking to the city on the front line to stop the monsters… … .’
Skuld, who was looking at the unique appearance of a rapidly growing human city, smiled and looked around.
“I heard that the missing Prince Ash has returned, but something must be moving fast. sister?”
“Yes… I guess so… … .”
“Oh my dear sister. Why are you so awkward? Is it because I dressed up my sister?”
“No, not that… .”
Belldandy broke out in a cold sweat.
I’m sure he’s dressed up in elven manners, but that’s not the problem… … .
grunt.
Currently, Belldandi’s left hand was handcuffed, and the handcuff was connected to Skuld’s right hand.
Skuld covered his mouth and laughed, shaking the handcuffs around his wrists.
“Ah, because of these handcuffs? There’s nothing you can do about it, right? Because my sister keeps trying to run away.”
“… .”
“Because if you try to run away one more time, you will not only have your wrists tied, but your entire body will be tied to me. You know that.”
Then, Belldandi screamed loudly.
“No, I just wanted you to leave it alone! why me… … I put you in the position of Vice-Queen!”
On top of Belldandy’s head was a crown of white twigs, smaller than Skuld’s, but of a similar shape.
Skuld, who fixed Belldandy’s crooked crown, smiled brightly.
“My sister has the lineage of the fairy royal family. I deserve it.”
“What qualifications! I left the country for a hundred years and wandered around… … !”
“The Holy Grail for that hundred years… You’ve been looking for a sapling that can become the world tree of the next era. Then you should be treated like this.”
“So that… .”
“Ah, okay! Let’s go quickly.”
Skuld whispered softly as he drove the deer towards the crossroads.
“Something big enough to turn the world upside down will happen soon, sister.”
“… .”
“It is difficult for me alone. Please help me right next to you.”
“Grunt, okay… .”
However, having lived as a warrior in the field for the rest of my life, this kind of commitment was awkward.
Belldandi suppressed the urge to run away immediately and moved alongside his brother.
“Welcome, my queen. And the elves.”
In front of the elves, a woman with aqua-colored hair and a neat suit – Serenade appeared.
Serenade, who showed polite manners, guided with businesslike clean smiles and hand gestures.
“I was waiting. Come this way.”
The place where Serenade led the elves was a newly built hotel.
It was unbelievable that it was built in such a remote area. It was a neat and sophisticated facility. Not only Skuld, but also Belldandy was frightened.
“Does the Kaiju Frontline need a luxury hotel like this?”
“His Highness the Prince wants to turn this Crossroad into a tourist city.”
“Tourism city… ? Cross Road… … ?”
Skuld put on an expression of astonishment.
How can people come to a city like this where monsters are infested? … ?
There may be demand for a few thrill-seekers, but it is only natural that people will be reluctant to visit as long as the threat of a monster exists.
‘Anyway, I don’t know if the prince is extraordinary or a little crazy.’
Serenade guided Skuld, who shook his head.
“The banquet hall is this way. Come.”
The other elves under his command remained with the deer, and only Skuld and Berdandi entered the banquet hall.
And as soon as I entered the neatly decorated banquet hall-
“Save the dwarves!”
Kelly Bay, the Dwarven artisan who had arrived first, screamed and jumped out.
“Kelly Bay? What happen?”
When the bewildered Belldandy stopped Kelly Bay and asked, Kelly Bay trembled and gestured toward the inside of the banquet hall.
“Ah son! my son!”
“yes? If it’s your son… … Are you talking about the Dwarf King?”
“okay! That damn bastard son of a bitch!”
Kelly Bay let out a desperate scream.
“You mean you’re trying to kill me!” It’s
scary to finish talking
.
The youngest son of Kellibey, the Dwarf King, appeared from the inside of the banquet hall, spewing out a terrifying life force.
