episode_0030

When I opened my eyes again, which had been closed, to the ash-colored light that burst out without any warning, right after subduing the Owlbear that the Crown Prince had left behind.

Before the eyes of the trio, a large force of troops armed with various types of armor that had not been there a moment ago was now in full view.

“What is this…?”

Aria blurted out the question without thinking and realized that her voice was ringing weakly as if she was speaking underwater.

“It seems like this space itself isn’t real.”

Rene, who was beside her, reached out his hand towards the knights lined up in front of her.

He said this while watching the sight of it passing through the air without any resistance.

“The testing space we were in was also, in a way, a fantasy realm… Should we call it a fantasy within a fantasy?”

“… It’s a strange thing to say, but I can’t deny it.”

Aria recalled a time when she had been in a similar situation to the current one.

Before going to the Northern Self-Restraint Conference.

I indirectly experienced the events that Eugene must have experienced in the world before his return through his dreams.

‘Come to think of it, the space where the class assignment test was conducted was also an imaginary space created through Eugene’s mana.’

What these two cases had in common was that the previous dream and the current phenomenon were related to it.

However, if there is a difference from before… .

This time, it seems she is not the only one experiencing this strange phenomenon.

Aria looked at Julian, who was looking around cautiously, and Rene, who was observing people with curiosity.

In particular, Aria’s gaze couldn’t help but linger on the saint’s side for a longer time.

‘I’d also like to ask about the rosary of that woman who reacted with the ring.’

No matter how much I thought about it, it wasn’t the right situation, so I decided to figure out how things were going.

“I think I know who these people are.”

At that moment, Julian, who had been looking around with his mouth shut, opened his mouth.

“Each of the gathered groups holds a flag, each with a symbol representing the Northern House engraved on it.”

As Julian pointed, he saw people dressed in similar attire, each holding a flag.

“The scenery of Daeseolsan, the troops of various families gathered together with full preparations… The people gathered here are the punitive force.”

The moment they finished speaking, they were pulled into the crowd by some irresistible force.

It was only when they arrived in front of a black-haired boy that they stopped.

Aria and Rene looked puzzled as they couldn’t tell who the child in front of them was.

Julian, who was nearby, opened his eyes wide and showed a different reaction from them.

“Eugene… ?”

The moment that name came out of my mouth.

Aria and Rene flinched reflexively.

“Hey, this cute little kid here is Eugene?”

Aria then pointed with her finger at the black-haired boy Julian claimed was Eugene, as if she couldn’t believe it.

“… Oh, this is what it looked like 10 years ago when I was still young.”

“Ha, but! The current Eugene is so different… ?”

In Aria’s head, the wild appearance of Eugene that she knew and the young-looking pretty boy in front of her just couldn’t come together.

Julian looked at her and replied in a dumbfounded tone, as if to ask if she was serious.

“Then? Did you know that this kid would be so rambunctious from the moment he was born? He just grew up like that as he got older.”

That was right.

Eugene also might have had a childhood before he met Aria that Aria doesn’t know about.

When Aria was at a loss after being hit by an undeniable truth.

“Hmm… Are you saying that this kid is really that person? He definitely has a cute charm that is different from before.”

Rene crouched down in front of the boy Eugene and stared intently into his face.

Or wave your palm in front of your face as if to check if you are really invisible.

He even pretended to pinch the ball, even though he couldn’t touch it.

“This, this, this saint! How dare you, without even knowing the subject, wag your tail at someone…!!”

Aria came to her senses and sparks flew from her eyes when she saw that sight.

However, the anger that seemed ready to explode at any moment had no choice but to be extinguished by the voice that suddenly interrupted.

-Eugene!

…because a child who looked exactly like the brown-haired figure right next to them appeared there.

***

At the entrance of Daeseol Mountain, troops from each clan in the north gathered.

Among them was a black-haired boy who looked very young compared to the people around him.

“Your Majesty, are you nervous?”

To that question, the boy, Eugene, shook his head.

“In particular, would the butler grandpa be any better? Even at that age, standing on the front lines. Maybe he can swing a sword.”

“Hehe, I can’t stand to see the Prince get a scratch on his body. Isn’t he a former knight commander?”

When two people are having a conversation that is almost like a joke.

A brown-haired boy quickly approached them.

“Eugene!”

Eugene frowned openly as he looked at the boy who suddenly spoke to him.

“… Julian? You were here too?”

To his question, the brown-haired boy, Julian, smiled brightly and nodded.

“Of course! You’re the same age as me, so what could be the problem?”

“… You’re weak. Unlike the front-line draft, the mop-up operation is not mandatory, so why did you participate?”

“Tsk! Not everyone is born strong enough to be ignorant like you. I’ve been trying hard too!”

Julian shows off the small muscles that occupy his forearms by rolling up his sleeves.

But to Eugene, that sight was just laughable.

I feel sorry for Julian, but when I think about it objectively, he has no talent.

He was a friend who couldn’t handle things properly even at that age.

I hope he doesn’t enter dangerous places with a reckless spirit of challenge.

But then the butler who was next to him came and whispered to Eugene.

“I understand that your friend is worried, but people need to gain various experiences to move on to the next step.”

“Even Grandpa… Okay. I don’t know anymore, so you figure it out.”

“Yeah, I got it! Just wait and see! This time, I’ll catch more demons than you and make my name known!”

When things didn’t go his way, Julian playfully said something to Eugene, who was looking a little upset.

“Oh, right. Eugene, can you spare some time after this cleanup operation is over?”

“… All of a sudden? Why are you doing this?”

“I have a kid I want to introduce to you. If it’s okay with you, I’d like you to be his friend.”

Unlike his usual playful and light-hearted demeanor that he is known for.

Eugene tilted his head at Julian’s serious expression as he spoke.

“Friend… Who is the other person?”

“That’s… a secret for now. I’ll tell you later when we get there.”

“What is that? Why are you asking me in the first place? You have a lot of friends.”

Although Julian was far from being the strength that was a virtue of the Northerners, he was loved by many thanks to his bright personality.

But still, I couldn’t understand why Eugene had to single me out and ask for such a favor.

“Well, it’s only natural since you’re my best friend, right?”

Eugene looks at Julian with a bewildered expression, asking why he is asking such a thing.

“… Since when did we become so close?”

“Huh? Isn’t that what I thought when we first met? At least that’s what I thought!”

“… … .”

Eugene couldn’t help but be bewildered by those straight eyes that showed not a single trace of falsehood.

Is it because of my social status as the successor to the Grand Duke’s family?

Or maybe it was just because I was simply not social.

Because other children of his age had a hard time approaching him or becoming close to him.

That’s why Julian, who approached me without hesitation and ignored the distance, felt unfamiliar.

“… Do whatever you want.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“A person who said he would meet you and introduce you.”

Let’s say that while turning our heads as something tickles our chest.

Julian opened his eyes wide as if he had never expected to be accepted so easily.

“… You promised!?”

He must have been so happy that he clenched his fists and jumped up and down on the spot.

Keep going until the knights of the Dustin family come to pick him up.

“Eugene! Thank you so much! You have to keep your promise!”

Even as I was being led by the knight, I couldn’t help but nod my head at the sight of Julian waving his hand.

“How are you, Confucius? You have a real friend. This old man could cry tears of joy.”

“… Keep quiet, Grandpa. Anyway, stop making a fuss.”

Even as he said that, Eugene’s gaze remained on Julian, who was moving away.

Keep going until he’s out of sight.