episode_0021

The distance between the unreachable ceiling and the floor.

The expensive chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

And the king of this country sitting across from me.

Lucador Felcia.

Next to him, his wife and the 3rd princess, Asbel Felcia, who was the protagonist of this ball.

“I can see in your eyes that you know why we called you here.”

I have a rough idea… but honestly, it feels unfair.

I didn’t sleep just because I wanted to… although it was nice.

And I’m the one who captured one of the troublesome heretics that this country was so worried about.

Is this treatment justified?

As I silently debated my grievances, the king spoke up again.

“Let’s get straight to the point.”

‘Please spare me!!’

I really didn’t…

“I am moved by your courage and sense of justice and I personally intend to reward you.”

Huh? So, sleeping in the princess’s room…

Wow!! I’m innocent!!

A sigh of relief escaped me.

I really thought I was going to be executed with the seriousness that didn’t seem like a reward.

“Do you have any requests? Anything, just say it.”

Money! Honor! Friends! Anything.

My father, who was standing between my mother and me, spoke up.

“Apologies, Your Majesty. We simply did what was necessary.”

‘?’

“Hehe, indeed from a priestly lineage. But I want to give you something personally, so speak up.”

At that moment, my mother spoke up instead. Yes, if it’s my mother!

“Receiving a reward was not our intention. To us, the fact that someone survived because of this action is our reward.”

‘Huh?’

I was puzzled, but I didn’t argue with their choice.

All I wanted was to be acknowledged by my parents.

But thinking about it again, it still doesn’t make sense.

-Logz Avantche, sentenced to death for worrying the princess.

If worrying leads to death, then everyone in this world would die!

That’s just sick.

As I cursed the butler who had aimed a sword at me this morning, the king spoke to me.

“Logz Avantche.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Am I caught?

“As a hero who saved many people yesterday, it would be rude not to ask. Do you have nothing you desire?”

Of course, I do.

The most urgent being the perception of me here.

But it’s better to refuse here. There’s no need to appear ungrateful when my parents trust me.

“I have nothing…”

Just before I could refuse.

A message appeared in the status window.

[Kraverk’s fang demands the food it didn’t eat yesterday.]

‘Ah… right.’

I had forgotten about it after being knocked out yesterday, so I didn’t eat it.

And yesterday, I realized for sure.

These two swords are dangerous.

I thought they were fine lately and let my guard down. But my skills are still far from enough.

[Kraverk’s fang demands the food it didn’t eat yesterday.]

“Stop it! Why should I give in to someone who didn’t listen to me yesterday?”

[Kraverk’s fang demands the food it didn’t eat yesterday.]

“It’s not getting through.”

The sword is looking at me like I’m not even a decent animal.

“What’s the matter, Logz Avantche?”

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I have one request.”

“Go on! Speak up.”

“I would like you to give me the Aster we caught yesterday.”

“What?”

The expressions of the surrounding courtiers twisted. It was an unreasonable request from me.

Still, it’s too much. Even though I look like this, I’m a hero. Can’t you hide your expressions?

As I observed the courtiers and glanced at my parents, my parents were also surprised.

‘But it doesn’t seem like they’re angry about receiving a reward.’

It seems that you were surprised by the content.

I smiled calmly and opened my mouth again.

“Your Majesty, with the current technology, we probably won’t be able to kill Aster.”

This time, the stares of the surrounding magicians were uncomfortable.

The king also understood this and spoke to me.

“Oh… are you trying to say that the skills of the magicians in the palace are not good enough?”

“That’s not it, Your Majesty! I simply expressed my concern that there is a dangerous heretic in Your Majesty’s palace, which is revered and respected by all the people.”

“Um… continue.”

“For me, this country is a unique treasure. No, it is a place of even greater value. If there is someone who could threaten Your Majesty’s safety, the owner of such a place, how can I just stand by and watch?”

I placed the fang of Kraberck that I had tied to my waist on the ground and made my final statement.

“I will kill him with this sword as soon as possible. So, I hope you trust me and leave it to me.”

All the courtiers and magicians nearby began to murmur.

Of course, I couldn’t persuade the high-ranking courtiers and magicians with such a speech.

It was natural that they were not convinced from the beginning.

This speech was not meant to persuade them.

From the start, they were excluded from the target of my speech.

Who would approve of the words of a brat who just entered the Academy?

No matter what I said, they would have opposed it.

So, the only person I need to persuade is the king.

If I were just a normal academy student, he would have rejected me.

But can he reject me now, with the title of ‘hero’ written behind me?

No, he wouldn’t reject me, even thinking about the future.

And he doesn’t think the king is foolish enough to refuse to deal with the current headache, the heretic.

Finally.

“After much consideration, I will speak to you on behalf of my heart.”

No matter how familiar it may be.

People are weak to praise.

“If it is a good deed that will not cause harm, I will allow it. However, everything must be resolved within this palace.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

***

“I will say it again. If there is even a slight risk, it must be stopped immediately. And if there is any sign of betrayal, it will be an immediate execution.”

“I understand.”

No, I killed him. Why would I betray him?

This is why it’s tough being a fool.

Even though I received the title of hero, I was not trusted.

Profit…

The palace guard opened the door.

In front of me, Aster, who I had defeated, had his head displayed on the table. It’s creepy to see it like this.

But.

“Where is the rest of the body?”

To my question, the palace guard answered without hiding his annoyance.

“When we arrived at the scene, only the head was left.”

‘…’

Even though I’m a brat, that’s too much.

He’s blatantly disrespecting me.

I could really kill him.

The palace guard closed the door.

In this narrow room.

Only Aster and I remained.

I sat on the chair opposite him and smiled quietly.

“It seems that if the soul is not intact, you can’t use your skills, right?”

“I’ll kill you…”

“Harsh. Surely you don’t think I can’t kill you, do you?”

“Shut up.”

He can’t hide his expression.

He’s trying to maintain a neutral expression, but his eyes are shaking.

“I know you think I can’t kill you. It’s not that I can’t kill you, I just haven’t killed you yet. I have to get permission first.”

Once again, his expression changed. He didn’t say anything, but I could tell.

The doubt that I could really kill him.

And the fear that I might actually die.

I took out the fang of Kraberck that I had tied to my side and showed it to him.

[The fang of Kraberck emits a strong aura.]

The doubt probably turned into certainty the moment he felt this aura.

Right.

“Death.”

Aster broke out in a cold sweat, his pupils dilating.

Whether he liked it or not.

I am only making a choice that benefits both of us.

I stood up from my seat with a sword in hand.

“Wait! My base is in the city of Artaern!”

“Huh?”

“Are you threatening me to find out about my base? I said. So please…”

“What are you talking about.”

“…”

“I just came to kill you.”

Aster let out a bitter laugh.

“Damn…did you deceive me?!”

Uh…I didn’t intend to do that. I feel sorry for cutting you.

But still, I have no choice.

Just like a predator eating its prey.

Killing you is the natural order of things.

“But I’ll make it easy for you to die, so live well in hell.”

As I extended the sword towards Aster’s remaining head.

[Kraverk’s fangs smile]

A black object emerged from the sword and began to envelop his head.

“Wait!! I don’t want this! I can’t die yet!!! The plan has just begun and I can’t die!!!!!! Please let me live…!”

With a final struggle, Aster screamed, but the black object swallowed him mercilessly.

[Close to privilege]

[Privilege) Liberation]

[Can use full physical abilities for up to 2 minutes]

“Up to 2 minutes…”

If it goes beyond that, does the right to leave the body transfer to the sword?

Bang!

A tremendous noise was heard from the entrance. Who is it?

Could it be the heretics?

It’s not an impossible guess.

They lost one of their most powerful members. That alone was enough reason for the heretics to attack the royal palace.

But isn’t this too soon?

With doubts in mind, I cautiously pulled the door handle.

Click!

In an instant, everyone in front of me aimed their spears at me.

But they were not dressed as heretics, but in familiar attire.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

They were palace guards…

The flimsy wall almost gave way.

I sheathed the sword I was holding and spoke to them.

“What is it.”

“We felt a powerful dark magic inside. What did you do?”

“Oh…right.”

As I hesitated to answer, the guards’ authority became sharper. But I’m a count too, so this treatment…

Ha…the guards seem to have forgotten, my true nature is a fool.

And now, I’m not in front of the king, so there’s no need to be formal.

I raised my head after cutting my throat.

“What are you doing now?”

They ignored me anyway.

There’s nothing to gain or lose by treating them badly.

“I asked who you were aiming the spears at.”

The guards, taken aback, bravely spoke up.

“If we feel a sense of betrayal, we were told to kill.”

“So who betrayed you?”

“I’m telling you again, we felt an unknown dark magic here.”

“Are you sure?”

“It’s the feeling of the palace’s top mage.”

“Is that so. Then go and tell that mage.”

I confidently approached the guards who were aiming their spears.

They stepped back in fear.

But I didn’t stop and continued to approach them.

And when the distance between me and the guard who initially ignored me closed.

I said.

“You can’t distinguish between enemy magic and ally magic.”

“…”

“Oh, and go tell the mage that Aster’s base is in the city of Artaern.”

The guard who turned his gaze away from my sly smile opened his mouth slightly.

“Understood.”

“Then hurry up and go.”

With a single word from me, the guards behind quickly moved to the sides to create a path. Even so, my anger wasn’t dissipating.

Taking a deep breath, I whispered into the ear of the guard who had ignored me.

“I remember your face.”

In a different situation, this could have been a compliment. Unfortunately, that’s not the case now.

The guard turned his head to me, wearing the same expression Aster had earlier.

“I should have expected this.”

Ignoring the guards, I continued forward.

“Come to think of it, I didn’t see Steven today.”

…I should probably say it’s okay if it’s okay.