episode_0040

“Hey, kids?”

“… ”

“You’re not pretending to sleep, are you?”

“… ”

No one answered my question. Only the men’s breathing filled the room. Are you okay?

At least for today, I think I’ll be okay. Of course, I don’t know if I’ll be alive tomorrow.

I burst out laughing and blankly stared at the moon floating alone. Old memories came back to me.

Not a memory like the usual, but the day I went up to the rooftop alone and saw the stars and the moon with my own eyes for the first time.

As the light looked down at me, time passed slowly. As I leisurely looked up at the sky, the fatigue from the tiring and difficult days was relieved.

From that day on, the moon became a little resting place for me.

I never got tired of looking at the moon, even after several years. Maybe it was because the moon was floating in the clear sky.

I took the watch out of my pocket and checked the time. It was just past ten o’clock.

‘Did something happen while I was away?’

I think I went to bed too early.

The clock was working fine until this morning, so it’s hard to say it’s broken. The second hand is still moving properly. You slept past 11 yesterday, so why did you go to bed so early today?

As soon as I started to wonder, another question arose: Who brought me here?

Ilia… wouldn’t be. In the first place, I never said anything about living in the palace.

But to say that I came alone…

I’m not that trustworthy.

Then who? I looked at the kids sleeping on the bed, wondering. Ah…

I figured out why kids fall asleep so quickly.

They must have used up their energy to get me. They must have been tired just from looking for me in this big city.

I smiled and went back to bed. I thought to myself, “I’m going to shake off all the fatigue and work hard again tomorrow.”

Then he slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Drumroll.

“?”

A loud snoring sound could be heard in the quiet room. This was okay.

… Grumble!

‘… it’s okay’

Drumroll!!

“No, it’s not okay.”

I got out of bed and looked at where the sound came from.

The culprit of that loud noise was Adrian. I knew it.

Every time he took a breath, the room was filled with snoring. I wish he had just kept sleeping…

Why are you up and struggling… You’re really unlucky.

This noise.

No matter how much I think about it, it won’t end in a few minutes. It’s not too late anyway.

Let’s go for a walk.

So I got out of bed and looked at the table where my luggage was.

‘… There’s no need to take it with you.’

I’m just going to go for a walk anyway.

I stretched and left the room naked.

It was colder outside than I had imagined. I regret coming out naked. But more than that…

Where is outside?

As someone who has been to the palace once, I can understand why it is so spacious. But this is just too much.

And I didn’t know it in the morning, but this place is scarier than I thought.

Like a labyrinth.

I kept walking.

Because I know the way.

Thud thud.

‘I really hate this kind of thing…’

The atmosphere was so dark and gloomy that I wondered if this was really the palace. Should I go back now?

I stood there quietly and looked down the long hallway.

Thud thud.

‘…’

Who is it?

At the end of the long corridor, a man walks alone, holding a candle. Is he a servant?

no.

This uselessly strong life. That appearance painted with superficiality.

It’s definitely not the case.

‘Run away?’

No, you can’t show your back to that guy.

Asking for help… it’s too risky to show hostility first when you don’t have a sword.

I took a deep breath and slowly moved forward.

Thud thud.

The man’s footsteps and mine hit the floor so hard that it gave me goosebumps. The closer I got to him, the more uncomfortable I felt.

In that atmosphere, I instinctively clenched my fists. It was a familiar atmosphere that I had felt in the morning.

he is.

Heresy…

“I thought you were a guest… but you were Asbel’s escort.”

“… ”

The man standing before me was the king of this country, Sarah Irmas.

I couldn’t see his eyes, but I could tell by the candlelight that he was smiling. But I had no idea what he was thinking.

Every time the candle flickers in the wind, his shadow sways, as if the devil is coming out.

I slowly lowered my fist.

“Guests… I guess there’s someone coming at this hour.”

Sarah answered my question without a trace of embarrassment, her voice full of pretense and evil.

“I like the night, you know. Did I bother you?”

“No, I apologize for being late at night.”

“It’s okay.”

‘I guess it won’t work.’

There were so many strange things about what he said.

The phrase ‘I thought you were a guest’ means that he didn’t know who I was.

In other words, he is an uninvited guest.

But why did the king, who was not even a guard, come alone to greet the uninvited guest? Naturally, I was puzzled.

Just thinking about the vigilance the guards showed toward us in the morning, there are more than a few things that are incomprehensible.

As he was looking at him with such suspicion, the king opened his mouth again without making any movement.

“Since you asked, I have something to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“I didn’t show up at the banquet today… Can you tell me why?”

‘banquet?’

Was there a banquet?

“I couldn’t attend because I had something to do.”

“Is that so? That’s too bad.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t participate.”

“… It’s okay.”

The king’s eyes, hidden in the darkness, appeared for a moment in the light of the candles. Those eyes were filled with rage and resentment.

That sight gave me goosebumps.

“Oh, by the way. Where are you going at this hour?”

“I couldn’t sleep so I came out for a walk. Did I bother you?”

“… No, I was just coming out.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, then I’ll stop here.”

“Please come in comfortably.”

I sent him a letter. There was a few seconds of meaningless silence. Soon the king passed me by.

I waited until his figure disappeared into the darkness. He was indeed an unpleasant person.

‘Should I go back and wake the kids?’

… I don’t think that’s necessary. It’s just a feeling for now.

Let’s not wake up the tired kids when we’re not sure.

After confirming that the king’s back had completely disappeared, I walked down the hallway again to take a walk.

After that, I left the palace and arrived at the garden without any problems.

The garden was ordinary.

It was a garden with absolutely nothing strange about it.

Of course, except for the presence of some foreign substances.

“I didn’t know I would be greeted like this as soon as I came out.”

“… How did you notice?”

“If you don’t know how to live like that, how can you use it?”

About fifteen people came out from behind the trees, holding various types of weapons in their hands.

‘I’m screwed.’

There are this many?

I couldn’t help but be surprised at the sheer number of people, which was far greater than my expectations of two or three. Who would come in such a large group to assassinate someone?

“Let’s end this quickly.”

The assassins rushed at me without giving me a chance to calm down. This is foul play!

I tried to avoid their attacks as much as possible, but it was still impossible to avoid them all.

The scars increased as the fight continued due to the unfamiliar dark space and the number of enemies.

Still, I managed to avoid the vital spot and buy myself some time to think. Can I escape from here?

No, then the answer is simple.

Then catch them one by one.

‘Since it’s come to this, let’s try an escort mission.’

and.

One person first!

puck!

I dodged the attack of the one who came in alone in their indiscriminate attack pattern and struck the back of the neck hard.

He fell down without any resistance.

As he fell, he picked up the dagger that was thrown upward and aimed it at the assassins.

“You bastard!”

“Be careful, it’s just the beginning.”

“What…!”

Pot!

I stabbed the dagger into the lower jaw of the man in front of me, and continued to do so to prevent them from responding.

Quick and agile.

I hit their weak point.

The number of assassins quickly dwindled. They were dying more easily than expected.

As if they’re not used to the dark. What are they doing?

Clap! Clap! Clap!

That question was answered really quickly.

“I didn’t know you could get rid of the guards so easily.”

In the midst of a standoff with the assassin, or rather the few remaining guards.

At the garden entrance, Sarago and his men walked towards me.

“My perfect plan was blocked by a useless priest… This is the blunder of my life.”

“… ”

“Aren’t you surprised by my identity?”

“Isn’t it more amazing that you know my identity?”

“You underestimated yourself too much. Oh, come to think of it, all your friends were surprised by my true identity.”

I gripped the dagger tightly at his unreadable, evil smile.

“What did you do to the kids?”

“Wow, I didn’t do anything. I just put a little magic on the food they ate.”

“… ”

“Don’t be so angry. You’re already dead.”

Are you planning to kill me?

I guess so.

Because I look like the weakest of the knights escorting the priest.

“Hey, King.”

“If you have something to say, please say it. I am a compassionate person.”

“That went well.”

I let go of the dagger I was holding.

“Yeah, giving up is good too… !”

And he pointed to the king in front of him.

“Don’t touch my friends and stay still. Or I’ll kill you.”

“Catch that guy!”

[privilege) liberation]

Pot!

When they ran towards me.

I had already disappeared from that place.

***

I don’t remember what happened after that.

I think I just collapsed in the alley at the end from exhaustion…

“We will fix this ruined country!!”

oh—!!!

When I woke up, I saw several men in military uniforms.

‘… I don’t have that kind of taste.’