episode_0068

3 days into heading to the capital, Hyeon Gyeong.

After about 3 days, it seemed like Baek-ryeon and Seol-rin’s stamina had reached its limit.

Their speed noticeably decreased, so I suggested they rest for a while, but they shook their heads.

“You’ll die trying to save Baek-ho.”

“I can still endure….”

“I’m okay…, really!….”

“Stubborn….”

I sighed, watching them, clearly exhausted but refusing to rest, and looked at Baek-ho, who was nestled in my arms.

As if to prove that she was still alive, I could feel a faint heartbeat and warmth in my arms.

But despite that, Baek-ho hadn’t woken up once in the past 3 days.

At this point, I couldn’t help but wonder if she was really Sleeping Beauty, as she was in such a deep sleep.

Of course…, it’s not a simple situation like in that fairy tale, where the prince kisses the princess and she wakes up to a happy ending.

Besides…, it’s harder than I thought to run at a higher speed while trying not to burden her.

“Haa…, haa….”

“Heeup…, heeup….”

How long had we been running?

From behind me, Baek-ryeon and Seol-rin, who were following me, started breathing heavily with exhaustion.

In addition, I confirmed that it was getting dark and stopped walking.

“Let’s stop here for today.”

“I can still go further!….”

“No. You won’t be able to handle it if we run any further. Let’s stop here and camp for the night.”

Baek-ryeon and Seol-rin looked at me with dissatisfied eyes, but they were aware that their stamina was at its limit, so they stopped arguing and just sat down. They were so exhausted that their clothes were soaked with sweat, and they kept panting.

“You wouldn’t have been able to run much further in that state.”

“Umm….”

“Haaht…, haa….”

I carefully handed Baek-ho over to Baek-ryeon, trying to be gentle.

Seeing that they couldn’t make eye contact with me, they must have felt guilty.

With my hands free, I took out the camping equipment from my inventory and set it up.

‘…This thing lasts a really long time.’

It was camping equipment that I bought from a general store called Galea in the Roman Kingdom.

Because of the nature of the inventory, which preserves things as if time has stopped, but also because it’s quite sturdy, it’s still as good as new even though I’ve been using it for quite a while.

“Camping preparations are done, so lay Baek-ho down inside. And you guys should get some rest too.”

“Understood.”

“Okay.”

I put the women inside the tent and started preparing dinner outside.

【Samadhi Arson】

Whoosh!

By the way, this 【Samadhi Arson】 technique. It’s really useful for starting fires.

After starting the fire, I started cooking casually.

Actually, it’s more like a mixed stew where I just throw in whatever ingredients I have, but it still tastes pretty good.

Even Seol-rin, despite her appearance, admitted that it tasted good.

“Now all that’s left is to boil it…. Next is….”

I took out the remaining elixirs.

Then I went inside the tent and handed the elixirs to Seol-rin.

“It’s still a relief. Baek-ho would have been in considerable danger if it weren’t for these elixirs.”

“Um…. We keep getting help from you, Master….”

“Good, if you know that.”

“But there are more elixirs than usual?”

Prescribing the right amount of elixirs to Baek-ho was Seol-rin’s job, so she tilted her head at the larger amount of elixirs than usual, and I said lightly.

“Those are for you guys. Eat them and circulate your energy.”

“?!”

“Oh, no! Isn’t that the elixir to maintain the condition of Baek-ho, Master! You can’t be eating that!….”

Seol-rin was startled, and Baek-ryeon shook her head, saying that she couldn’t.

I flicked Baek-ryeon on the forehead.

“Agh?!”

“The faster you guys move, the more likely Baek-ho is to survive. Can you even arrive on time at this rate? You’ve only been running for about 3 days, and I keep hearing you gasping for breath every time you run.”

“Th, that’s….”

“Besides, I’m not telling you to eat them without thinking. Considering the current speed, if we can maintain it, we can arrive at Hyeon Gyeong in no time. There are still enough elixirs, so if you think about the future, it’ll be much more helpful if you eat them and get stronger.”

At my logical words, Baek-ryeon seemed to have nothing more to say and closed her mouth, looking at the elixirs.

In addition, Seol-rin, who accurately knew the value of these elixirs, glanced at me and said.

“Ar, are you really sure we can eat them?”

“Didn’t you hear me?”

“No, I heard you…. I told you before. These elixirs…, they’re so rare and amazing that even the clan leader or sect leader can barely see them. I’m wondering if it’s okay for me, not you, to eat such precious things….”

Unnecessary worries….

I tried eating them all at first.

But most of the elixirs were only used for recovery.

I don’t know if it’s because my vessel has become so large that these elixirs can no longer expand it, or what.

In other words, I don’t get stronger even if I eat them.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already passed the stage where I get stronger with things like that.”

“Re, really?”

“Yeah. So you guys eat them. And take a shower. You stink of sweat.”

“?!”

“!!”

* * *

As expected, it was worth feeding them the elixirs, as Baek-ryeon and Seol-rin’s speed became very stable.

Of course, as a celebration of their stability, as soon as I increased the speed further, I started hearing groaning sounds, but their endurance had improved quite a bit, so they could continue running at a higher speed than the 3 days before they ate the elixirs, and eventually, 3 days later, we were able to arrive at the capital of Righteousness, Hyeon Gyeong.

As soon as we arrived at Hyeon Gyeong, the first thing we did was head to the palace.

“Stop! Who are you!”

“The daughter of the Baek family! It’s Baek-ryeon!”

“!”

Perhaps because we came in such a hurry, our appearances, or rather, mine was fine, but Baek-ryeon and Seol-rin’s appearances were quite a mess.

That’s why the soldiers stopped us and blocked our way, but they were startled by Baek-ryeon’s shout and looked at her.

“The daughter of the Baek family?…. Nonsense! There’s no way someone like that would be in such a beggar’s state….”

Swish

“I don’t want to say much. Open the gate right now.”

It was fast.

At a speed that people would only see as a flash, Baek-ryeon cut down the spears that the soldiers were holding.

The soldiers belatedly realized the situation and shouted in surprise.

“Wh, what are you doing!”

“Su, support!! Tell them that some lunatics have arrived inside!”

“I didn’t want to do it violently….”

Baek-ryeon gritted her teeth and placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.

But in that tense situation, several figures suddenly approached quickly.

“Stop.”

Several people appeared, as if to surround us.

And the one who seemed to be the leader among them took a step forward and blocked the space between the soldiers and Baek-ryeon.

“Th, the Baek-ho unit!….”

If it’s the Baek-ho unit…, it’s the one that Baek-ryeon used to belong to….

Then are the other guys around them all from the Baek-ho unit? They certainly look formidable.

Of course, Baek-ryeon, who has been trained in various ways, looks stronger.

“It’s been a while. Baek-ryeon.”

“Jang-san! It’s been a while!….”

“I have many stories I want to share with you, but judging from your appearance, it seems like you don’t have the time to talk in depth right now.”

Saying that, the man wearing a bamboo hat, Jang-san, looked at me….

More precisely, he looked at the woman I was holding.

“His Majesty wants to meet Baek-ryeon, so I hope you’ll open the gate.”

“A, understood!”

“And, we’ll take that person, so can you hand her over to us?”

Jang-san looked at me and said.

Instead of answering him, I looked at Baek-ryeon.

“What do you want to do?”

“Commander Jang-san is someone you can trust. And…, it seems like he already knows the reason why we came here.”

“Well, just looking at the timing of his appearance….”

I handed Baek-ho over to him.

He carefully accepted Baek-ho and looked at us, saying.

“I’ll entrust this person to the royal physician, so please rest assured and meet His Majesty. Hong-ah, would you guide Baek-ryeon and her party?”

“Understood.”

A female member with reddish black hair stood in front of us.

“I’m Hong-ah. It’s been a while, Baek-ryeon.”

“It’s been a while. You seem to have gotten stronger.”

“I was going to say the same thing.”

Hong-ah glanced at me and Seol-rin, who were standing on either side of Baek-ryeon, and said.

“Please follow me.”

* * *

The Righteousness Palace has the feeling of a Joseon Dynasty palace. As a concept of a complex of several buildings, we headed to the king’s residence under the guidance of Hong-ah.

“This is it. You are the only ones who are allowed to set foot in His Majesty’s residence, so you can go inside. The rest…, Baek-ryeon will know.”

“Yeah. Thank you for guiding us, Hong-ah.”

Baek-ryeon nodded at Hong-ah’s words.

So we followed Baek-ryeon and walked inside the building.

“To be more precise, this is where His Majesty does his work.”

“Work….”

And at the end of our walk, we could see.

“Welcome. And it’s been a while, Baek-ryeon.”

“I greet Your Majesty.”

A woman with black hair flowing down, wearing a vivid and gorgeous red dress with gold embroidery.

“I am the Queen of this country, Righteousness, Jin-ahn. You will probably only be staying here for a short time, but please be comfortable while you are here.”

She raised the corners of her mouth and said.