episode_0046

There was a strange atmosphere between Tia’s suspicious gaze coming out of the back door and Mars’s gaze looking at her with longing.

Since I didn’t know their relationship, it wasn’t easy for me to guess, but one thing I knew was that Mars liked her.

Because he had a pitiful look in his eyes, as if he was looking at a lover he had long since lost. I couldn’t be sure if it was true, but it was probably true.

I looked at Tia with that kind of guess and a ‘what if?’ feeling, but her eyes were the complete opposite of Mars’.

In fact, I didn’t expect it, so I nodded slightly and accepted it, but it would be a lie if I said I didn’t feel regretful that the easy way to persuade her was gone.

Tia’s gaze shifted to me, as if I was staring at her too intently.

I calmed my mind from the surprise of her fierce eyes and had a stare contest with her for a while. So she was Luca’s daughter after all.

She exuded a strength that was beyond admiration. She was incomparable to some of the newbies in the bar, and if she were to compete with Mars next to me, the outcome would be unknown.

“Tia. I have an important conversation with the prince right now, so stay in your room.”

“… Dad?”

Tia’s gaze shifted from me to Luca. She was looking at Luca with a more surprised expression than when she came in through the back door and saw us.

“No, Dad, what are you doing now!”

“What are you doing… Talking to the prince right now.”

“So why are you talking to this guy!”

Tia ran to Luca and quickly helped him up.

“Have you forgotten what this kid did to you? He made you step down! He was kicked out of the prince’s seat, so now why are you being polite to a guy who is nothing.”

“No matter what, I think it’s too harsh to speak to the prince.”

“Is it serious? This kid is serious! So don’t be polite to your dad either.”

The relationship between her and Mars was worse than expected. Mars didn’t refute her words. He just kept looking at her.

His eyes narrowed, filled with resentment and sorrow.

“So what are you here for? And what’s this guy?”

“Ah… Uh.”

Mars, who had come to his senses, opened his eyes and looked at me.

“This is Logz, an academy cadet who is working with me.”

“Tongue, partnership? This… this kid who looks like the root of all evil?”

“Oh. Even though he looks like this, his skills are definitely there.”

‘Isn’t that the right thing to do when no one is listening?’

“Then… You came here alone with her?”

“No way, that’s right. I thought it would be burdensome if too many came… ”

“What are you doing that’s so dangerous? No matter how much you’re screwed, think about your position and move, you idiot! Anyway, you’re still moving without thinking, whether it was before or now.”

“What… As you said, I’m already ruined, so what’s the use of worrying about that?”

“But you can’t go alone!”

‘…Just sleep.’

You looked like you were going to kill me earlier, but now you’re worried? Why is the atmosphere so lax?

As the conversation between the two continued, a strange feeling flowed. I took back everything I said earlier.

Tia also has feelings for Mars unconditionally. At first, her gaze was probably because of me.

It doesn’t seem like he likes it as much as Mars, but it doesn’t seem like he hates it either.

But is this guy Mars really stupid or just dull?

Mars, sitting next to me, had his head down like a child being scolded with a bitter expression. People are said to be indifferent to their own affairs, and this seems to be true.

‘I’ve only been hated by pretty girls…’

For a moment, I felt envious of Mars.

Some people have a hard time maintaining a relationship that is at least as good as a friend.

Who says that even an enemy is loved by a beautiful woman?

That’s why I think appearance is important.

As I was listening to their conversation while lamenting my situation, Luca naturally joined in between them.

“Thank goodness, Tia.”

“What?”

“I thought you hated the prince too.”

“What, what are you talking about! Are you blaming me?”

Luca noticed Tia’s bewilderment and smiled faintly.

“Dad wishes Tia could be close to the prince like before.”

“That’s not it, I said!”

Tia went straight into her room, grumbling, and slammed the door shut.

“I’m sorry, Prince. I’m a daughter who is not good at expressing her feelings… ”

“Why is Luca saying sorry? It’s right for Tia to scold me. I did something wrong enough to deserve resentment.”

“… If we get to know each other’s hearts someday, it’ll be okay.”

“Thank you for comforting me.”

“No. Then shouldn’t you go back now?”

“Right. Because time is time.”

“I’ll take you there. I miss seeing the kids after a long time.”

“I’m fine. But… I have something I want to ask… ”

“What is it?”

“Why did you bring the kids here at this time?”

“If you’re talking about Tia… Everyone in this neighborhood lives like mayflies, so I take care of the kids. But today, one of the kids’ parents couldn’t come due to some circumstances, so Tia brought them here.”

“Isn’t that too dangerous?”

“It’s okay, I didn’t raise my daughter to be weak enough to lose to anyone.”

“That’s right… You’re not wrong. You’re stronger than me, after all… ”

Mars muttered quietly, “I’m still worried,” so that Luca couldn’t hear, and left the hallway.

***

2 a.m.

There was one place that was still open for business when everyone else was asleep: a gloomy and sinister bar.

There was nothing particularly strange about this place, which was famous for having its lights on almost every day, even yesterday and the day before. Except that the voices heard inside were not joyous but angry.

Unlike usual, the captain’s shouts could be heard inside the bar.

“Captain! No!”

“Let go of this!!”

The inside of the bar was a total mess.

Broken bottles of liquor. A chair with one leg broken after hitting a wall.

“Aren’t you worried about the prince!!”

Jansro spoke to the shouting captain.

“I’m worried! But didn’t Ilya tell you, Commander? There must be a reason why you went without telling us.”

“Then you think it makes sense for you not to come until now?”

“That’s not it, but… It’s too dangerous for the captain to leave here. The captain is one of the people currently being chased by the palace. It’s best to leave it to the other soldiers for now.”

“I am the one who was ordered to protect Prince Mars.”

“… It was a long time ago.”

”Yeah. That was a year ago. But I swore I would keep it.”

The captain threw his strength again and pushed the soldiers away. Some soldiers were unable to overcome his strength and ended up crashing into the wall.

“You shouldn’t get excited here, Captain. Prince Mars will come back.”

It seemed like Jansro’s continued persuasion had worked. He stopped in his tracks as if the tank engine had stalled.

“I should have known when the prince who couldn’t even drink alcohol suddenly suggested drinking strong alcohol.”

“… Everyone was drunk at that time. It’s only natural that they didn’t realize it.”

“That may be true. But this is clearly my fault.”

“This is not the captain’s fault.”

The voice of the man who was holding his left arm tried to comfort him. However, the comfort seemed to have no effect on the captain.

“Thank you for the consolation, but this incident happened because I let my guard down. Honestly, I thought it would be okay if Logs couldn’t resist the strength. But… I didn’t think we could hold out until all of us collapsed.”

All the soldiers holding him lowered their heads at the regretful voice of the captain. It was the same for Jansro.

Only half of them opened their mouths in that situation.

“Deputy Commander, I know I shouldn’t be saying this, but… Prince Mars, of course, and haven’t we seen that guy Logz’s skills? It’s frustrating to have to trust that kid, but… He was stronger than me. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

What Ban said was true. Prince Mars’s skills were beyond words, and Logs’ skills were also among the top among us.

But there are exceptions to everything.

What if Sarago had set out to capture them himself? Could the two of them really defeat him, who had stopped a rebellion in the palace in just a few hours?

The answer is impossible.

Their soldiers outnumber us by nearly ten to one.

Is it right to keep waiting like this? Is it okay for a soldier to just sit there like this while the king is away?

“Half.”

The deputy commander called Ban in an unnaturally low voice. Naturally, Ban let go of the arm that was holding him back, and immediately started to sweat profusely.

“Yes, yes, Captain!”

“You have a point. I’ll calm down now, so you can leave me alone.”

“… Okay.”

At the irresistible tone of voice from the captain, Jansro instinctively pulled his arm away from him.

“Thank you.”

The commander smiled and turned around to look at the soldiers who were holding him back. Their uniforms were covered in dirt, indicating that they had all suffered.

Everyone lived a life steeped in alcohol, but the rest of their time was spent training and planning. It was impossible to deny that it was a difficult life to live without smoking and drinking.

“Looking back, we realized that we have accomplished nothing compared to all the hardships we have endured.”

“No, we just haven’t started yet for our future plans.”

“Do you all remember what the prince said to us when he came to see us?”

No soldier answered, but everyone remembered.

“Honestly, I was happy. The prince’s words gave me energy again when I was living a listless life. Wait. I will bring it.”

“Vice, Vice Captain… !”

Pot!

Before Yansro, who had missed the shot by a hair’s breadth, he saw the back of the captain leaving the bar. The distance was too great to catch him again.

Unlike the captain, Jansro did not look so welcoming when the prince came to visit. It was not that he hated or disliked him. It was just distrust.

‘Can he do it after running away once?’ Most soldiers, except for the unit commander, probably thought that way.

But such distrust has already been more than compensated for by his actions. He is the man who will become our new king.

At that time, everyone thought.

Even if the plan goes awry due to a fight with the guards here.

“Everyone! Follow the captain and find Prince Mars!!”

We must find him.

““Yes!!!””

Everyone rushed to the door after him. Then someone blocked the captain’s path.

bang!

The sound of walls colliding was heard as the two clashed, and everyone’s pupils dilated.

The fallen captain.

A person who stands still even after being attacked from the side and taking on a frontal assault. And not only that, a person who can defeat the deputy commander.

There is only one person in this world who can do that.

“Your one action almost ruined all the plans. Gourik.”

“… ”

“You’re still sitting there after seeing your senior… It seems like all the discipline has gone down while I was away.”

“Lu, Captain Luca… ?”

“Unfortunately, I am a civilian.”

“… ”

Gourik stares blankly at his face. Behind him, soldiers stare at Luca in the same way.

I was ready to cry as the two emotions of shock and emotion surged.

“Why does everyone look like they’ve seen a ghost?”

“Everyone is surprised to see you.”

Mars, who couldn’t stand to watch, spoke to him from behind. Luca seemed to know this as well, laughing heartily and gesturing to the soldiers in front of him.

“Long time no see, everyone.”