Greg (4)

For the children, Levi is an overwhelming force.

On their first day at the mansion.

Levi’s authority, experienced like an initiation.

Everyone except Hwaryon feared it, and.

Immediately succumbed and conformed to her hierarchy.

Even if all the children combined their strength.

No, even if they gathered the strength of the Douglan Expedition, Yuria, and Sir Recid.

It would be impossible to oppose Levi alone.

The children knew this well, so.

“Our help?”

They wondered how they could be of help to Levi.

“Yes, I need all of your help.”

“What kind of help?”

“Many of the servants here and I have to leave the mansion for a while. During that time, you need to guard the house well.”

The children’s eyes sparkled.

Except for Elyssia who lived in an orphanage attached to the church, they all had lived in places that were embarrassing to call homes.

So the meaning of home was special to them.

“Some insolent ones are targeting the mansion. But there’s no need to worry. They’re weaklings you can handle at your level.”

“Are they people trying to harm Ethan-nim?”

Greg asked seriously.

Levi answered with a light smile.

“Looks like you’ve made up your mind?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve grown in a good direction. But your deduction just now was wrong.”

Levi pulled up a chair, sat down, and continued.

“There are few beings in the world who can dare to oppose Ethan-nim. But if we are faithful servants, shouldn’t we prevent dirty and noisy flies from flying near our master in advance?”

Insignificant opponents that He doesn’t even need to deal with personally.

Levi explained that their duty was to block such things in advance.

“He is struggling every day for a bigger and grander purpose. We’ve all received His grace, so let’s do our best to repay Him, even if we’re lacking.”

“Yes! I’ll help Oppa!”

“What kind of bastards are they? Just tell me.”

“Nom nom nom.”

“Then I’ll check the mansion’s defense facilities!”

“I’ll stand by in a constant state of tension, ready to deploy at any time.”

While everyone was pledging to do so.

“Um, I can’t fight…”

Elyssia, who was far from violence, timidly raised her hand.

Of course, Levi didn’t scold Elyssia.

“It’s okay. Your mission will be something else.”

He didn’t force Elyssia to learn swordsmanship or combat-related skills.

He just let Elyssia’s inherent potential unfold naturally.

Having watched this right beside her, Levi.

“Don’t worry too much. Just act as usual.”

“Okay…”

She gently stroked Elyssia’s long white hair to calm her.

“Hwarin.”

“Yes.”

“Take good care of the children while I’m gone.”

“I always take good care of them. And there won’t be any danger.”

Hwarin pointed at Elkar behind her with her thumb and said.

“I can pull my own weight now.”

• Isn’t it me who’s pulling the weight rather than you…

  “You talk too much. Should I just contract with a higher spirit and terminate the contract with this impudent wolf?”

• …I was going to say that, but of course spirits can’t act in foreign lands without a medium contractor, so your opinion is extremely reasonable, my great contractor.

  Hwarin, born with high spirit resonance ability enough to easily handle mid-rank spirits.

  Now she’s skilled enough to have even the gatekeeper of the Great Forest wrapped around her finger.

  Levi smirked.

  “There won’t be any danger. Oros.”

  “Yes, Miss.”

  “You don’t all need to follow. You, Milik, and Shulos stay at the mansion and focus on your usual duties, and ask the children for help if it becomes unmanageable.”

  “I receive your order.”

  Leaving the rest to them.

  Levi left quietly overnight with the special forces.

In a dark forest.

Inside a large cabin where not a single light entered, it was dark even though it was morning.

There, an old man with white hair flowing down to his knees quietly thought.

‘It was a contract containing the restraints of mana and holy power.’

‘It was a humiliating compromise, but.’

‘It was a 3-step retreat for a 5-step advance.’

‘Hundreds of years have passed since the previous generation endured humiliation and went into seclusion.’

• Crunch.

  The old man who was rolling two round stones in his hand suddenly applied force, and.

  The two pebbles shattered into pieces and spilled onto the floor.

  “Special Forces Commander.”

  “Y-Yes, Your Majesty.”

  Even though his head was already on the floor.

  The Special Forces Commander desperately pressed his forehead to the ground.

  “Report the reason why Levia’s reports have become infrequent.”

  “W-Well, it must be because things outside have become urgent…”

• Thud.

  A thin dagger, like a fork, flew and stuck into his thigh.

  A delicate technique that avoided arteries and bones to maximize pain instead of causing fatal wounds.

  The Special Forces Commander’s face turned pale.

  But he desperately covered his mouth.

  This was a solemn place where one couldn’t even easily scream.

  “Say it again.”

  “Y-Your servant truly doesn’t know.”

• Thud.

  Another one flew into the opposite thigh.

  The Special Forces Commander trembled but swallowed his scream.

  Regardless, the old man spoke as if he was pathetic.

  “The Special Forces Commander’s order was to assist the Imperial Princess and be busy ensuring nothing was lacking in all matters. That was the order I gave you.”

  “Th-That is correct.”

  “Then why were you so negligent in your duty to monitor Levia by her side?”

  “Th-The Imperial Princess. Because she ordered so…”

  “Levia did?”

  The old man’s wrinkled brow furrowed even more.

  “Why would Levia?”

  It wasn’t a question for the Special Forces Commander.

  It was him asking himself.

  And to him who couldn’t understand, an old man on the left quietly suggested.

  “Your Majesty, how about entrusting this to the Third Elder?”

  The Third Elder referred to the Imperial Intelligence Chief.

  He was also a master of torture and interrogation.

  “Are you suggesting I replace the Special Forces Commander just to hear a word or two more?”

  But the old man refused.

  Because not a single person had survived the Third Elder’s torture.

  If the Special Forces Commander dies, a new one must be appointed.

  But managing the affairs of these insects was a very troublesome and tasteless task, and.

  It had long been entrusted entirely to Levia.

  ‘It’s nonsense for me to do it myself.’

  Instead, he decided to summon the Imperial Princess directly to hear the whole story.

  If she had received the news in time.

  And if there were no major incidents.

  ‘It should be about time for her to arrive.’

  The old man thought so and grinned.

  Because he sensed a familiar energy heading this way.

Soon, the door opened wide, and.

Someone walked in with clicking footsteps.

“Have you been well?”

“I have not been comfortable.”

Levi had arrived.

Ethan read the letter he had read before again.

[I have some business to attend to in my hometown for a while. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in person.]

Two days ago.

Levi disappeared suddenly without a word.

It was exactly the same as last time.

‘That time too, she said she was going to her hometown for a while.’

Levi’s hometown.

The Forbidden Forest.

It was the only area in <Isilium Legend Maker> that Ethan didn’t know about.

It was a strange region where even characters with the highest specs in game history would die instantly if they entered the forest.

‘Although Levi and the servants say it’s fine because they’re residents of the Forbidden Forest.’

Honestly, he was worried.

‘I should ask when she comes back.’

What kind of place it is.

What kind of people live there.

Looking back, Ethan didn’t know much about Levi.

No, it would be fair to say he knew nothing.

Her favorite food?

Don’t know.

Family relationships?

Never heard about it.

Stories about her hometown?

Only heard that they don’t welcome outsiders.

Other than that, there was no information about Levi at all.

He had seduced Levi with a one-time skill that was essentially a hypnosis app received as a special reward.

In a way, it was a very natural story.

In the case of other children, Ethan checked their information multiple times and acted to change their fate heading towards bad endings.

By checking the children’s stories and waiting for them to open their hearts, or approaching them first when needed.

But there was no need to do that with Levi.

Because she had a skill that made her blindly follow Ethan.

‘This is completely…’

Isn’t this no different from being a slave, just that she herself wasn’t aware of it?

Ethan reflected, concluding that his treatment of his first ward had been a bit excessive.

While doing so.

• Knock knock.

  “Yes, who is it?”

  “The hangers-on who just eat food.”

  “Don’t say that. What do you mean hangers-on.”

  Dusty and the other Douglan Expedition members came to visit.

  “It’s late at night, but can we talk for a moment?”

  “Of course. Please sit down.”

  Dusty, Osten, and Slan sat on the sofa.

  The three seemed to have planned something as they exchanged glances and opened their mouths simultaneously.

  “We’re leaving.”

  “…Pardon?”

  At their sudden declaration that they were leaving.

  Ethan froze for a moment.

  ‘Don’t tell me that talk about being hangers-on who just eat food was…’

  Did they feel guilty about staying here without any compensation?

  Ethan hurriedly waved his hands and said.

  “I’ve never once thought that you were a burden. You can stay as long as you want.”

  “Kekeke, see? Osten, Slan. You bet 3 gold coins each, didn’t you?”

  “Tch.”

  “Such a consistent young man. Here you go.”

  To Ethan, who had a question mark floating above his head.

  Dusty, who pocketed six gold coins, laughed and said.

  “It was a joke, a joke. We made a little bet.”

  “I thought I had burdened you…”

  “You’re so good to us that it’s burdensome. Ah, that’s a joke too. But the part about leaving is true.”

  “Pardon?”

  Slan answered instead.

  “It was comfortable. Too comfortable. That was the problem.”

  “People like us aren’t meant to live comfortably for life.”

  “Then…”

  Dusty said with a warm smile.

  “Where should a labyrinth expedition be? In the labyrinth.”

  “At first I thought it was just me, but Dusty and Osten also looked visibly tired even though they were clearly resting.”

  “A peaceful daily life… doesn’t seem to suit us.”

  They had lived their lives as a profession exploring labyrinths, crossing between life and death with like-minded companions.

  Having been away from the labyrinth that had become a part of their lives and living a comfortable life recently, it was natural to feel out of place.

  “Then what you said about wanting to retire after rescuing the Magi couple…”

  “Well, isn’t it similar to how farmers grumble ‘I’m dying~’ every day while plowing the fields but still keep on living? My father was like that. Now I’m doing the same.”

  ‘Since they’re Ponya’s benefactors, I hoped they could spend the rest of their lives comfortably.’

  But Ethan had no right to stop their choice.

  “I understand. When are you planning to depart?”

  “As soon as day breaks tomorrow. We’ve already packed our bags.”

  “We’re not leaving forever, so don’t worry. We’ll come back and show our faces occasionally.”

  It wasn’t an eternal farewell, but.

  It would be a lie to say there were no feelings of regret.

  But then.

  Suddenly a good idea came to mind.

  ‘Right, should I hold a simple farewell party?’

  “Do you have time now?”

  “That’s fine. Why?”

  Ethan took the Douglan Expedition to the basement.

  Then.

  “I-Is this all alcohol?”

  “Wow~ I don’t want to leave now.”

  “…Should have shown us the basement before we brought it up.”

  When he showed them the wine cellar that the mansion’s previous owner had collected in abundance.

  The reaction was very good.

  “Please take out as much as you want.”

  “Really? You won’t regret it?”

  “Hey, you human. Getting excited over alcohol, what are you…”

  “Wouldn’t you get excited if it were you? There are dozens of bottles of Heikel wine from the kingdom era stacked up! You can’t find this anywhere else!”

  A farewell party for the Douglan Expedition, overflowing with alcohol, food, and laughter, began.

At the same time.

The children were busy moving around.

“There are quite a lot of them.”

This was because the servants led by Oros detected threats around the mansion.

But no one panicked.

“Defense system activation complete!”

“I’ve put a noise-canceling barrier around the mansion. There won’t be anything to disturb Ethan-nim’s sleep.”

“I’m ready too! What are you going to do, unni?”

“I’ll stay at the mansion with Elkar. I have to take care of Elyssia too.”

Ponya joined with a well-maintained greatsword.

Finally.

“Wow…”

Receiving admiration from the children.

Greg arrived wearing a blue uniform.

“Cool!”

“Did you get it from Ethan-nim?”

“No, this is from my master.”

It was a spare Republic military uniform he received from his master, tailored to fit Greg.

• Someday, for a noble cause, no, just when you need to wear neat clothes. Wear it then.

  And thinking that the time his master spoke of had come, Greg.

  “I’m ready.”

  With both his clothes and heart tightly fastened.

  He drew his rapier with determination.