Chapter 67. Scent (2)
I didn’t know that I liked coffee.
Nevertheless, they continued to give tea, not coffee, as gifts. They sent things like green tea with the scent of orchids, tea made from colorful dried chrysanthemums, and tea made by hand-growing small violets. I chose and sent some fragrant teas in the hope that I would be able to rest for a while in a comfortable scent rather than being intoxicated by the charred scent and being unable to fall asleep.
Did he understand my feelings or simply liked the car?
I didn’t know why, but Alan had a lot to say about cars. I liked the scent of this tea, the taste didn’t suit my taste at all, or Kalyan and Hina liked it so much that I gave them all without leaving any behind.
“The color is nice.”
It was the same this time too.
He didn’t show much of a reaction to the ‘gift’ he put so much effort into preparing, but he briefly expressed his appreciation for the tea that was given to him.
Instead of feeling disappointed, Eline just nodded and looked into the teacup.
“It’s tea made from a flower called amaranth. When I looked at it, it somehow reminded me of you, so I really liked it.”
Alan let out a laugh.
That was because Alan also had similar thoughts.
“I think I’m similar to you, Your Highness.”
“Oh, so does he.”
A tea made from dark pink flowers.
The color of the tea was lighter than the flowers. It was a beautiful pink color, like a ripe peach. So in some ways, it reminded me of the color of the middle of Alan’s hair or his neat eyebrows, and in some ways, it was similar to the color of Eline’s eyes. So, Eline couldn’t help but think of Alan, and Alan couldn’t help but think of Eline.
“I like the fact that the color is flashy but the taste isn’t.”
Alan opened his mouth after taking another sip of the pink tea that tasted light, like it was brewed from roasted oats.
“Is there anything you can share with me?”
“And you want to treat your new son to everything.”
Alan, with a soft smile, shook his head.
“This time it’s your daughter-in-law and granddaughter, Your Highness. They will be happy if you bring Rachel and Veronica and hand them to you, so if you have enough, please give them as much as you can.”
Not satisfied with just one cup, Eline happily responded when asked to give her tea as a gift, as if it were a given.
“Yes. I would say prepare a lot.”
It’s fortunate that I have a little more to give. In any case, Eline owes Alan a debt that she will never be able to get rid of even if she repays it for the rest of her life.
Alan, who just nodded without saying thank you, swallowed the pink tea again and opened his mouth.
“The more I taste it, the more surprising it is. The color is so colorful, but the taste is simple. I’ve had dried maple leaf tea from Secretia before, but it’s completely opposite to that.”
“I haven’t tried drinking maple leaves as tea. I guess they make tea with them too.”
“Yes. However, it doesn’t taste very mild. It tastes sour, astringent, sometimes sweet, and a mixture of various things, but it doesn’t suit my taste at all.”
“Bitter or sweet. Because you like those things.”
“Yes. However, it may not suit your taste, so if I have the chance sometime next time, I will treat you to it.”
Eline looked relieved.
When I first gave it to Alan, he didn’t show any reaction. I received whatever I sent, but that’s it. Nothing was said. After some time had passed, I sent a letter saying that I would write it well.
Before I knew it, Alan had made a promise. When I naturally say that I will come back next time, I feel like I have already been treated to tea.
“Yes. I look forward to it.”
Eline answered as if it was nothing and drank amaranth flower tea. And I closed my eyes for a moment.
It was a tea with a pretty and luxurious color on the outside, like a precious pink diamond, but the taste was very ordinary. Tea does not lose its shine if you raise it to the right temperature several times to remove moisture and then pat it with your hands to cool it down. A tea that manages to retain its simple taste even after being passed through so many hands.
I know that the process is not different just because it is a different flower car, but it is unusually similar to Elline and Alan.
Is it just because the colors resemble the two?
Maybe it’s because it resembles the difficult relationship between two people who, like flowers that fell on a gorgeous day, were barely able to start a conversation after struggling and drying out their worn-out hearts for a long time.
I couldn’t tell which of the two it was, so I closed my eyes for a moment and drank the tea. And after a while, I thought of a topic worth talking about and opened my mouth.
“So. You’re not going to tell me why you came here?”
“It’s hard to say.”
Actually, I came to meet the sea dragon Arnaizel.
Of course, there was only one reason why I wanted to meet Arnaizel. A fragment of the axis of time given by Calian. I felt at a loss trying to figure out how to use it on my own, so I decided to get some air and then when I met Arnaizel, I came to him with the intention of asking him just one question.
Isn’t Arnaizel originally a dragon that protects the ocean connected to the end of the sea in Rivern? Of course, he came to the seas of Secretia in search of Calian, and occasionally appeared in front of Secretia’s sailors, but he was more often found in Riverne. So I came to Rivern and wandered around the sea all day looking for Arnaizel, but in the end I couldn’t find him.
“Just take it as an old man coming to get some fresh air.”
Eline, who was somewhat familiar with the words spoken with a face half her age, smiled and responded.
“Well, the sea of Riverne does look nice.”
“Of course, it would be better than the sea of Secretia.”
“This is sad. No matter what, I can’t believe you hold a country that has no ties to you higher than this place.”
“If you look at it objectively, is there any other place with a better view than the sea of Secretia? Otherwise, the Great King of Secretia, who wanted to establish a country in a land with the sea, would have set up his base here.”
They say they don’t even know Kalyan’s identity. Even so, Allen, who had no intention of losing, spoke stubbornly.
“Yeah. You’re right.”
In the end, Eline, who had no choice but to lose to Alan, nodded. Then he remembered that he had something to say to Alan and looked towards him.
“It looks like Adelia is in Tensil right now. One of the wizards who was following Adelia here went to Tensil and got stomped on by our Sejak. It was very difficult to deceive the wizard’s eyes, so we couldn’t get any closer, but judging by the circumstances, Tensil is still there. “It doesn’t seem like it’s gone away.”
“Actually, is there any meaning to where he stays? He is a great man who could appear here or in Kairis right now if he so decides.”
“Still, it’s hard to ignore where you left your mark, isn’t it?”
“That is correct.”
“We will continue to notify you whenever anything is confirmed. So don’t just leave it as a decoration for an expensive revision. Please keep in touch.”
As Eline said this, she pointed to a crystal board on her desk.
Aside from the second crystal version that Calian and Chase each had, it was the remaining pair of the first crystal plate that was given to Alan.
“That’s right.”
As he looked at the revision, Alan remembered the gift he had received a while ago and stretched out his hand. And I unwrapped it with a leisurely hand. Eline, who was watching this, opened her mouth.
“I was negligent in taking care of it and Adelia had an accident, so I thought I needed compensation, so I asked you to make it. I hope you like it.”
Alan nodded and opened the box. And he looked a little surprised that it was more than he expected. This is because I saw in person the vast treasure trove of the Riverne Palace and knew at a glance what the items were made of.
Eline, who saw Alan’s face, spoke out of habit.
“That’s expensive.”
“… I thought you would have gotten some adamantium at most. You used more materials than I could have imagined.”
“So, didn’t I just say that it’s expensive? So don’t spread it around. Use it sparingly.”
A dark silver ring with a black tint and a bracelet made of dark red thin leather. A small, transparent black gem embedded on the inside of the ring and the seam of the bracelet.
A precious material that cannot be compared to the pink magic stone found inside a harpy’s egg or the pearl-colored magic stone made from the tears of a mermaid. It was a communication device made from dragon bones, skin, and heart. It is a reward given by Elinne after she found out that Adelia had destroyed everything that Calian and Kyrie previously had.
“When I was staying here, I asked you to give me that much, but you didn’t give it to me. You make three pairs of communication supplies at most with such precious materials.”
“I can’t give you a bigger one. Since it’s just a communication item, I’m just letting you make it as you please. The three pairs I gave you are all I have, and I can’t make any more. And if I try to make something bigger with those materials, even Sispanian won’t allow it. .”
Alan smiled slightly and nodded.
Materials that cannot be cut or processed unless they are the fangs or claws of the same dragon. I took three pairs of ‘communication supplies’ made of materials that even Adelia could never touch and put them in my pocket.
“Use it well. All you have to do is put it in the hands of Adelia, who has many things to face.”
I thought I should give all three pairs to Kalian.
No matter how precious an item is made of, what value could be greater than receiving it and seeing your favorite Kalyan? So I have to give it generously this time too.
* * *
That’s what I said.
‘I had a conversation like that with my teacher. What would happen if Master held that stone in his heart? But I couldn’t even imagine it. Honestly, isn’t it scary just to imagine it? Of course, shortly after that conversation, it was confirmed that Adelia had a stone in her heart. It seems like he did such an immature thing just out of curiosity, so I think it’s a blessing in disguise.’
I agreed with Kalian’s words.
It is fortunate among misfortunes that Adelia did not touch the stone with the intention of eradicating any one race or continent.
‘And we said something like that again. If I put that stone in my heart, how strong can I become? Will I be able to defeat the Master or aim my sword at Sispanian?’
…… That kind of stone.
This guy already has a record of sending murderous intentions towards Serenti. If that wasn’t enough, he was the one who barked as much as he could. This is a guy who calmly did something that can’t even be expressed by saying he’s crazy, with a healthy heart that didn’t have any foreign objects in it.
If the stone was already in his heart.
Serenti must have crossed the Seneu River without saying goodbye.
‘I guess so.’
‘yes. I thought so too.’
My younger brother, who knew himself very well, answered calmly.
That black stone.
A stone that allows ordinary swordsmen to use auras and wizards without effort to use dual-attribute magic. I was worried about what would happen when it entered the Sword Master or Archmage. We had a conversation. But I have never made an assumption that was slightly different from that.
Not an ordinary prosecutor. Not Sword Master.
If the minor duke or his brother’s taciturn knight gets it. If a knight who is on the verge of a sword path puts it into his heart.
– Kaaaaang!
What happens?
‘Is that stone that is also found in the Scary Prince’s heart common?’
‘I don’t think it’s a lot. why.’
‘No, no, that person is a crazy person standing next to a caring prince.’
‘…… okay.’
‘It’s in that person’s heart too.’
‘I told you not to look carelessly.’
‘i know. At that time, I was afraid that he would recognize it right away like the white-haired wizard, so I sent him a little bit of energy that would not cause suspicion, but he didn’t notice, so I took a look.’
To the point where I don’t even notice Hina scanning my body. However, his skills are good enough to drive Aila out. Rashid, who was probably a sword wielder similar to Dmirea or Kirie, had a stone planted in his heart.
In the current situation, what should we do to prevent Rashid from making a hasty move and from touching Kalyan any further? I thought about it for a while. And I made a decision.
To prevent Rashid from making a hasty move or touching Kalyan.
‘Pink-haired wizard.’
‘Your Majesty.’
‘I heard you use perfume.’
‘yes. That’s right… but has it bothered you this whole time? ‘If you do that,’
‘No. Do you have it now?’
‘yes. It’s in your pocket.’
‘Sell. To me.’
‘…… yes?’
‘right now.’
In order to prevent Rashid from making a hasty move or touching Kalyan, I have to make Rashid move hastily and touch me. So we have to face Kalian. Since he has good skills and even stones, the effect must be amazing.
Anyway, he can’t beat my brother.
never.
Even if you happen to think wrong, or even if you happen to miscalculate the difference in skill, it’s okay.
‘If something happens, the Duke will tell you to go back to the palace. Please send only Hina and my brother’s new subordinate, and have the division commander stand by. When the blue-haired vice commander comes, join us.’
‘yes. ‘I understand, Vice Commander.’
Because there are enough people here who would be ‘on the same side’. After making those calculations, I came to this position. And just as I thought, I scratched Rashid well and made him show his heavy heart.
Rashid immediately identified the weakness he should have hidden.
– Kaaang kaaang!
A sword that was transparent at first, then dark red, and eventually turned red. After shaking off the past, only the red color remained, a sword that was regrettable. It was now a black light.
Perhaps he wanted to gain a slightly more advantageous position with a sword that was immersed in darkness and not easily visible to the eye. Is it to scare Rashid due to Peer’s influence? Is it simply to use the same sword of light shown to Gray?
‘Did you risk your neck to check this?’
Or maybe he was just angry, I couldn’t tell.
Calian was now swinging it, turning it black.
– Kagagagang kaang!
– Quaaaang! Kagagak! Kang!
Rashid’s red sword that seems to cut through the darkness.
Calian’s sword that seems to have swallowed up all the darkness.
The two swords were intertwined and falling apart repeatedly. If it weren’t for the afterimage of the sword, it would move away at a speed so fast that it would be difficult to follow it about a dozen times in an instant. The sharp sound continued to a level that was difficult to perceive even with the ears.
At some point, Calian’s seal disappeared from sight. I had taken off my jacket and was wearing a black shirt and pants that fit my body perfectly, so I couldn’t even hear the fluttering of the fabric. It was only then that I realized that the faint sound I heard at the beginning of the fight was coming from Plantz’s jacket, which Calian had passed by. Of course, that wasn’t the important issue.
The important thing is that my younger brother is really running wild without making a sound, so even though he is not blinking at will, I can’t make out his movements at all.
– Kaaaang!
But it wasn’t Rashid.
A red light flickered from Rashid’s sword, which instantly twisted his body. Sparks could be seen bouncing between them. Only after that did I see Kalyan slashing his sword at Rashid in the air.
– Kaang kang kagagang!
His arms looked even whiter under the moonlight, his face showed no emotion, and his eyes, which stood out particularly well, constantly left white and red afterimages. And then disappeared again.
– Taaat!
Rashid kicked the floor. And once again, he swung his sword at Calian, who was floating in the air.
The sound of something heavy cutting through the air is heard a moment later. A horrifying cry follows as the blades aimed at each other fail to take what they want.
Rashid, holding the sword with both hands and striking Kalian’s sword with force, swung the sword once again. Then, instead of the pitch-black blade, a strong wind rose and pushed Rashid’s sword away. Kalian, who blocks the attack with magic rather than a sword, lunges at Rashid. The sword’s cry is heard once again.
Rashid, who let go of Kalian’s attack, quickly retrieved the sword, turned it over, and stabbed it sharply. Calian, who twisted his waist to avoid the attack, slashed away the red sword with a stinging energy. Kalian could have sent several swords that he often used, like memorized swords, to cut off Rashid’s head right away, but he didn’t do that.
Rashid cannot get rid of Kalyan, and Kalyan cannot get rid of Rashid by killing him right here and now. Because of this, they were fighting against each other while still hiding many things from each other.
Rashid jumped towards Kalyan.
Calian’s image appeared as if it were blurring.
– Kaang Kagagagang!
The two swords clashed several times in the air as if they had wings. Like a feather falling from a wing, the two swords lightly hit the ground and surface again, heading towards each other once again.
– Kaaang kaaaaang!
– Kagaga River Kang!
So many sword strikes took place in the sky and then again on the ground.
If the sword is sent, block it, if the opponent disappears, chase it, if it stabs you, dodge it, and if it tries to cut you, block it. When they touch each other, they compete for strength. Dozens or more battles continued without pause.
Then at some point.
– Ga-ga-ga-ga-gak!
The two blades collided again, making a sound I would never get used to. Rashid, who placed the blade on Kalian’s sword body, pushed his sword away as if sliding. Calian moved his sword and changed the direction of the sword heading towards his neck.
– Whoop!
Another long line of cracks appears on the wound that occurred while holding Aila. The thick smell of blood permeates the blowing hot wind.
Thump, thump, thud…
Dark red blood flowed down the arm that hung down for a moment. Whether it’s surprise, pain, or admiration. Something seemed to have grazed his face, but his red eyes were still the same.
Kalian, who had glanced at the long cut from Rashid’s sword, looked at Rashid with his still indifferent eyes. Rashid, with a long smile, finally opened his mouth.
“Are you paying me back?”
“Does it look like that?”
“It looks that way.”
“Then you will have paid back.”
They fought as if they were going to bite each other’s throats out at any moment, and Rashid, who had hurt them, smiled as if he had been hit.
A place where injuries are never fatal. That’s why the hurt was never intended. Because it appeared on Kalian’s arm. Because if he couldn’t kill him, he would have injured the royal body first, which should have been left intact.
Just as Rashid gained it from Eila, the possibility of ‘justifiable defense’ was given to Kalian this time.
– Kaaaaaaaa!
In complete silence, the screams of the two swords rang out again. Kalian’s murderous spirit, which he had not been careful to let go until now, covered Rashid’s entire body. It took Rashid’s breath away like a sandstorm in the desert that suddenly hit him.
Now I can kill Rashid.
– Ugh!
The red sword in Rashid’s hand gave off a slightly darker energy. Rashid shed even more of his well-hidden strength and rushed towards Kalian.
no.
He acted like he was going to rush at me.
Rashid, who was taking a step toward Kalyan, suddenly changed direction. Rashid moved like the wind, just like Kalyan did.
Toward Planz, not Kalian.
– Taaaat!
The light green eyes that were quietly watching the two’s battle with their arms hanging down were filled with dark green eyes. A handful of red swords are held in the hand.
Light green eyes move slightly. I look behind the green light.
I see red eyes. not moving.
Kalyan did not come.
…… under.
One corner of Planz’s mouth twitched up. The arm moves along with it.
Because I’ve seen so many attacks that change direction in an instant and rush at me. Because I had experienced enough to not be scared that the movement was directed towards me at some point.
– Kaaaaaaaa!
A sword of red light that flies forward.
I put it in front of me and held up a star. blocked. I threw away the sword that came at me again, countered it, twisted my waist to avoid it, and returned the attack.
Sinastar was not divided into two.
Even at this time when he handed over the power of death to Kalian, I had a feeling that Rashid would not have fully unleashed his power. Because I thought that if the other person was hiding something, shouldn’t I also hide it?
– Kaaang kagang kang!
The bright red eyes whose thoughts I could not read approached me again. There is a smile in those eyes. The bright red mouth moves as if whispering.
just now.
…… check. I think I said that.
This is the moment when Rashid’s mind was filled with distracting thoughts.
“I told you, Calian. Whose responsibility is it?”
Plantz’s mouth opened.
and.
– Kwasik!
There was a sound of bones being split.
A pounding black energy, thinner than the usual sword, pierced the lower part of Rashid’s neck.
okay.
I paid back the same damage that Aila had suffered. This was followed by another sound of flesh being torn apart. I paid back the same place. It dug into the side. twisted It was pulled out intact.
The smell of blood is carried in the hot wind.
“… My older brother.”
A chilling voice came out. With his teeth clenched, Rashid hears the threat of a wild beast that has stopped biting its prey by putting it on a leash.
“Why are you telling me to keep you alive?”
He said he would catch him in his own way, not this way, so he did not kill him, but only paid him back. Those red eyes full of life said so.
– Patter.
One step.
– Fighting.
– Fighting.
Two steps.
“I won’t forget the opportunity you gave me.”
And three steps.
– Drip, drip, drip.
Rashid stepped back.
Every time you take a step, the blood flowing down decreases. The wound heals.
“I’ll see you next time, Prince. And… Your Majesty, Crown Prince.”
Laugh.
Show courtesy.
– Flap!
Then, he flew to the back of the building where the Calian people were not gathered and disappeared. It continued little by little, leaving a trace of blood that was cut off before I knew it.
Planz looked at the floor in silence for a moment and then turned his head.
I looked at Kalian’s arm, which, unlike Rashid’s wound, was still dripping blood.
“Calian. Arm…”
“Hey.”
Plantz’s words were cut off.
– Whaaah!
I grabbed him by the collar.
Planz’s arbitrarily curved shirt pin gets stuck in his white palm. do not care.
“… Why does a bastard who has the brains to block a flying sword keep putting his head down?”
Red eyes came closer.
After looking at the bright red eyes that I felt were particularly prominent, I am now confident.
“To you. Brother, I told you. I told you too. Didn’t I? I think I did. I guess I dreamed it. Before I knew it, I was really thinking about it and mistaking it. Before I knew it, I had gone that crazy.”
“Calian.”
“I told you not to do that. Me too.”
The color of the blade was that way, not for any other reason, but because he was angry. It wasn’t just that, he was really angry.
“I. To my brother.”
The scent is overwhelming.
There is a bloody smell in the air.
