Chapter 204. Unexpected Encounters (1)
There are very rare moments when you realize that you are dreaming.
For example, it would be the moment when you encounter a being that is so foreign and vivid at the same time, even in a dream.
like right now
– Are you Lloyd Frontier?
“….”
Lloyd narrowed his eyes.
And I raised my head.
How would you feel if the burning Mount Everest spoke to you?
A huge flame giant stood in front of him.
His whole body was covered with blazing flames, and he was looking down this way with his eyes wide open from that distant place at a height that could pierce even the clouds.
‘Well, I have all these dreams.’
Still, it’s just a dream.
At least you won’t die from that fire giant.
Thinking so, Lloyd, relieved, loosened his shoulders.
“Yes, I am Lloyd.”
– lie.
“….”
– Kim Suho Did you think I didn’t know you?
“Uh, that.”
The answer was momentarily lacking.
Could that flame giant be his own conscience?
Isn’t that why he pushes away the real Lloyd and stabs himself with guilt for pretending to be him?
But fortunately that wasn’t the case.
said the flame giant.
– I am the one who sees the essence of the soul and the ruler of the flames. Nineteen Wardens of Purgatory. Helkaros, King of Hell.
like a thunderstorm
Or like a landslide hitting this side.
The king of hell continued his self-introduction that shook the whole world.
– And he is also the owner of Geolexius, the knight of hell who fell by your hand.
“Ah, you mean that hell night?
– Yes.
coo coo…!
The King of Hell, Helkaros, bowed down.
It feels like the mountain peaks are looking down this way.
Lloyd raised his head, trying to spread out his shoulders that were about to shrink.
I looked up at Helcaros.
“Is that why you came to me in my dream?”
– Yes, that’s right.
“You’re not asking for compensation, are you? It was clearly self-defense and the fault of both sides.”
– Both sides…fruit? self-defense?
“yes.”
Lloyd nodded.
He responded more and more loudly.
“Your subordinates and I were both impatient because we couldn’t eat each other, right? In that situation, you can’t impose unconditional responsibility on the surviving side just because someone hurt someone. Wouldn’t it?
– Do you think I came to you just to discuss responsibility?
“Then why did you come?”
Lloyd asked.
The king of hell, Helkaros, let out a laugh mixed with flames.
– I came to examine the qualities of a person worthy of hell.
“yes?”
What kind of nonsense is that?
Lloyd tilted his head.
The king of hell continued.
– I’ve been watching you with interest from the moment you dealt with Geolexius. However, I noticed something very special about you.
“You say it’s a special corner?”
– It was small. indescribably. The back end was dirty. To the point where I wonder if I can be treated like that. It was nasty. It reminds me of a mosquito that sucks blood in the middle of the night and hides under the bed to avoid angry humans.
“….”
Hey, why are you suddenly hitting a raw human bone?
Lloyd felt a deep sense of sadness.
The diss continued under the guise of praise from the King of Hell.
– Besides, it was elaborate. Like a mouse who always makes a corner to escape to. It was mean. Enough to tell the demons of hell to set an example. Is that all? that song. The song that makes you want to erase your ears as soon as you hear it. That amazing song that even made me feel skeptical about the days I lived as the king of hell.
“How about my song….”
– It was a song that I wanted to resonate 24 hours a day for tens of thousands of years in hell.
“why?”
– Only then will all the souls who have fallen into Hell struggle with even greater suffering.
“Hey, you’re not saying you’re going to use me as a live speaker for a broadcast from hell.”
– Why not?
“….”
– Truly coveted singing skills and voice. Besides, if it’s you, you’ll be able to play with and harass even the demons who protest against that song with all kinds of means. So what is it? Lloyd no Kim Soo-ho. Don’t you believe in me and don’t want to throw that talent away in hell?
Is there…!
Is…!
go…!
The thunderous sound of the King of Hell shook all the space in the dream.
It wasn’t just loud.
It was the kind of wave that grabbed the hair at the bottom of the soul and shook it randomly.
In front of the torrent of waves, Lloyd had to struggle not to be distorted.
And I opened my eyes.
“….”
Jjajajak Tweet!
The sound of birds chirping in the early summer morning.
A white curtain fluttered by the window on one side of the bedroom.
The sunlight seeping through them tickled his cheeks.
I felt the warmth.
Lloyd thought.
‘It’s a dog dream.’
The King of Hell is an ass.
what?
You’re going to use my song as a hell broadcast?
Then all the evil souls who fell into hell would struggle and suffer more fully?
‘The King of Hell is such a thrifty man.’
When I recalled the dream I had just had, I burst into laughter.
It was a dream that was so vivid that somehow it felt even more uncomfortable.
‘The subject of a dog’s dream is uselessly vivid.’
Lloyd’s shoulders trembled as he got out of bed.
Actually, it wasn’t that I didn’t care.
It must have been right after defeating Hell Knight Sir Geolexius in Namaran.
He also remembered the message that flashed before his eyes at the time.
It was then that this message came to mind.
[The King of Hell is admiring this tremendous feat you have shown. The ruler of hell, who lost his corps commander, began to pay attention to your talent and potential for base development.]
…Called.
“….”
Tsk.
let’s not think
It’s just a dog dream.
Even if the king of hell had an interest in you, wouldn’t he burn his will to recruit you because of your singing skills?
that such a thing would never happen
I wonder if that would really happen.
Lloyd let out a loud cough on purpose.
“Chemm! hmm!”
Soon a response came from outside the bedroom.
“Brother Lloyd? Are you awake?”
“uh. come in.”
A voice that greets the morning of ordinary everyday life first.
The maid, Emily, smiled bashfully and brought breakfast.
“You don’t have to ask. I didn’t wait too long today.”
“Uh, would I be embarrassed if I said I didn’t mean to ask?”
“I saw what you were doing.”
“okay. I was just about to ask.”
“Hehe. The soup today is delicious. Please eat.”
“Yeah thanks.”
Lloyd took a spoon.
hell is shit
I will enjoy this peaceful daily life for the rest of my life.
With that promise, Lloyd ate the soup deliciously.
And on the other hand, I thought.
‘It’s been about five days now.’
Serazade.
A sultan’s daughter who came across the desert to get a lullaby.
It had already been five days since he offered her the condition of enlisting in the Corps of Engineers in exchange for recording the lullaby.
‘It must be time to put an end to my worries.’
For the past five days, Serazade had been lost in thought all day.
Lloyd could feel it.
Sooner or later she will make a decision.
And whatever decision she makes, it won’t hurt her.
‘of course. If you enlist in the Corps of Engineers, you’re tying someone with the talent of a sword master to your side. If I refuse and go back to the Sultanate, the time to become a sword master will be greatly delayed.’
Neither side is a loss to you.
‘Then what kind of answer should I come up with?’
Chilled soup just right for you.
As he shot the remaining soup, Lloyd felt half curiosity and half anticipation.
♣
“Whoa.”
Can you tell me how you feel right now?
It’s half vague and half embarrassing.
Serazade defined his mood that way.
He sighed louder and raised his head.
Jjaejaejak jjjaejak.
I saw birds flying over the trees on a trail in the forest.
The blue sky and white clouds of early summer were also peeped through.
I thought it was a very beautiful place.
‘But to think I have to stay in a foreign country like this for five years.’
she felt helpless
Should I even go so far as to get a lullaby?
Should I invest up to 5 years of my life?
Besides, how would his father react if he made such a decision?
‘There will be an uproar.’
No wonder.
yourself someone
daughter of the sultan a country’s princess
Of course, she is the daughter of a concubine, not a queen.
Although she is only one of dozens of daughters.
Even so, the fact that she is the princess of the Sultanate remains unchanged.
so it was embarrassing
‘If you leave Ahinsha on your own, but if you join the Corps of Engineers in a foreign country for 5 years, the Sultan will…Whoa, it’s not expected.’
I’m sure there will be an uproar.
I didn’t even dare to anticipate the amount of uproar that would happen.
So it was even more embarrassing.
‘But I have to become a sword master.’
Because that is the only way to be recognized by the Sultan most certainly.
Once he reached the level of a sword master.
Because every story will be different.
‘If I think it’s an investment for that, it’s worth a try.’
need a lullaby
Without it, you will have to spend another hellish sleepless day.
That much would make it impossible to focus on swordsmanship training.
Growth will be slower.
The road to sword master will also be long.
‘Is it a choice between investing the time of five years while enduring the wrath of my father, or returning safely to Ahinsha and dealing with insomnia on my own?’
Serazade sighed heavily again.
Then, without realizing it, I stopped.
Over the bushes on the other side.
It was because he heard a sigh similar to his own not too far away.
“Whoa.”
“….”
who is it
This is on the outskirts of the Frontera Territory, quite far away.
It was said that it was a deep forest where not only private houses but also hunters did not enter.
So I thought it would be a good place to look back on my worries alone, so I went for a walk.
“….”
Serazade walked towards it.
Thanks to this, I was able to find the person who sighed shortly after.
‘Boys? No, I don’t think he’s a child.’
Across the bush her eyes are directed.
There was an ‘adult child’ with a childish face.
I wanted to be only 160 cm tall.
Curly orange hair.
The freckled cheeks under it are round.
Even the eyes that looked exceptionally clever gave a soft impression like a rabbit.
The petite physique suitable for his short stature further accentuated that mild feeling.
‘Who is it?’
Serazade’s eyes narrowed.
It was suspicious.
This was a deep forest, literally devoid of human beings.
But a boy like that who couldn’t even dare to fight, let alone fighting ability.
It was never a good fit.
In addition, there was a luxurious carriage and items that seemed to be the luggage of the party were placed around the boy.
‘Hmm what’s going on.’
First of all, it wasn’t a dangerous opponent.
Even in the boy’s posture and movements.
I couldn’t find any traces of learning swordsmanship.
It was then.
“Mr Julien!”
A man from the other side called the boy and hurriedly ran up.
Taking a deep breath, she stopped in front of the boy.
“Whoa hook. Did you wait a long time?”
“no. I’m fine. What about rocks?”
“It looks like it will be difficult today.”
The man wiped the sweat from his forehead and shook his head.
A look of embarrassment appeared on the face of the boy called Julien.
“is that so. That’s a big deal.”
“sorry. We’re trying hard to get rid of it, but….”
“Then shall I join you?”
“yes? no! what kind of words You may not. How dare we even ask for Julien-sama’s help in a matter like this?”
“Um, I’m fine. If so, it’s about rolling up your sleeves, clearing the mud, and pushing rocks.”
“That’s why we do it.”
“is that so….”
“yes.”
The man nodded resolutely.
Julien drooped his shoulders like a puppy in the rain.
“Anyway, I’m sorry. If I hadn’t been an academy second-class graduate, I wouldn’t have been gifted this wagon from the royal family. If it wasn’t for this carriage, I could have just walked to the manor from here. You wouldn’t have to suffer.”
“Oh no. What are you saying?”
The man waved his hand and said.
“You are an honorable second-class graduate. We, who serve such a person, are also feeling proud of doing honorable work. Besides, as you said, this carriage is a precious gift bestowed by the royal family. It is also an honor given to the next graduate.”
“Still, it’s just a carriage….”
“Don’t talk like that. We are really fine. Since ancient times, isn’t it an honorable tradition for graduates who have received this carriage from the royal family to ride it back to their hometown?”
“But I didn’t expect the road to collapse with such a sudden shower….”
“It wasn’t Julien who destroyed the road, was it? Don’t beat yourself up too much. The collapsed mountain road is quite muddy and the rock blocking the road is a little bigger than I thought, but it’s okay. If I put in a little effort today, I can clean it up enough.”
“Why don’t we send someone to the manor to inform them of the situation? It’s not too far….”
“You don’t have to do that. Please also take a look at our faces. we can solve it To that end, we are going to accompany Julien-nim.”
“Then I’m helping out….”
“Please wait patiently. You don’t even have to apologize.”
The man smiled happily.
The whole body of such a man was covered with mud.
Even so, she seemed to genuinely enjoy assisting a boy named Julien.
To Serazade, the appearance of such a boy and man left a deep impression on him.
“….”
it’s julien
While listening to the story from beyond the bush, it suddenly came to my mind.
It must have been the last few days I had been staying at Count Frontera’s mansion.
Several times I overheard the stories the servants and maids were having fun talking about.
He said there was a second son, Lloyd’s younger brother, in this family.
I was pretty smart.
He had accomplished the feat of graduating from the second place at the Royal Capital Academy.
So, he said that he would return to the manor within a few days.
‘Is that boy or man the second son?’
The image is much younger than I thought.
And it sounds like you’re in a pretty tough situation.
‘Certainly there was a heavy shower two days ago.’
It was a torrent of rain that had been pouring for the first time in a while.
However, because of the rain, part of the mountain road seemed to have collapsed and been cut off.
That’s why he was put in a situation where he couldn’t move with the wagon bestowed by the royal family.
‘This might be of benefit to me.’
Serazade’s mind became busy.
A broken mountain road.
A large rock that is difficult to clear.
Because of that, Julien and the others are stranded.
But what if you help Julien?
‘Lloyd Frontera. You could ask him to record a lullaby more comfortably. It’s because I’m in a situation where I’ve been kind to my younger brother.’
This gives them an advantage in negotiations.
So, this is a clear opportunity.
‘good. Let’s help.’
Serazade finished the calculation.
I woke up in the bush.
He openly broke his hiding and approached over the bush.
I talked to Julien.
“excuse me.”
“Mom!”
“….”
“I was surprised. Who are you?”
Maybe it’s because this side showed up too slowly and started talking?
Julien opened his eyes wide in surprise.
Seeing that scene, Serazade suddenly thought without even realizing it.
This guy is somehow like a fluffy baby rabbit.
