episode_0087

“I came to pick you up.”

Yoo-ho, who had his smile covered with his fan, pointed to the fully bloomed ice flower.

Zion was so flustered by the sudden appearance of the giants that he couldn’t move easily.

Strong people whose capabilities seem endless.

It is a sense that can read every movement of the fingers, every blink of the eyes, and even every breath.

‘Why are these guys here···?’

White Tiger Palace Guard Captain Argen Blizzard and Tigrova Chief Administrator Yuho.

Celebrities who are said to be close associates of Emperor Seolho, despite not having the last name Frozenheart.

That was why Zion was confused. Why did he come all the way to the White Tiger Palace to greet them and welcome them so warmly?

“That···.”

The girl was frozen stiff with tension.

Yuho approached with a gentle movement and woke Zion with a deep voice.

“Is the Great Emperor looking forward to this meeting?”

The first reason they came was because they couldn’t make their king wait.

The second reason is that if there is a guest who receives the favor and attention of King Seolho, all procedures are ignored and they are treated as a state guest.

If we fail to properly protect Zion, the honor of the Great Emperor Seolho, whom we have called upon, will be tarnished.

That is why those here are ready to protect their guests, even risking their lives if necessary.

Zion came to his senses at Yuho’s words.

I hastily prepared an example, recalling the things I had studied.

“Thank you···. Then excuse me.”

As he concludes his greeting, he returns the gun to its bag.

I took a step forward and sat down inside the ice flower. Yuho stood next to me with a bright smile on his face.

“There are many things to see in Seolagok (雪牙谷), but it is not in a good location, so it takes a lot of time to get to Baekho Palace.”

It means that we will reduce that gap.

Zion felt good, thinking that he could shorten the return time again.

Sharrruk───.

The ice petals gather and slowly close.

Looking around, I saw ice flowers blooming everywhere, completely swallowing up the captain of the guard and his soldiers.

“Are you uncomfortable or cold?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

Is it Yuho who handles this ice flower itself?

It was amazing. The temperature inside was just right, beyond what could be expected.

‘Are you moving?’

Yuho was standing still and passing the time, but he didn’t feel like he was moving after the petals closed.

No vibration or noise is felt.

“Hoohoo···.”

Yuho let out a small laugh as he saw Testarossa’s bloodline, which was different from what he had expected.

Zion’s appearance, unable to move his head and only cautiously rolling his eyes to express his curiosity, looked truly innocent.

“Arrived.”

“···!”

Zion opened his mouth slightly at the sight of the White Tiger Palace as the flower petals opened.

From Seolagok where the Sky Train arrived to the Baekho Palace in the capital. Has it already arrived that far?

Is Yuho satisfied with Zion’s transparent response?

He perked up his fox ears and folded the fan.

“I can’t do it everywhere, right?”

“Still, you’re amazing··· I didn’t even feel you moving.”

“Hoho! If the captain of the guards reacts like this, I’ll feel like using my strength.”

Argen Blizzard, who had caught their eye, was already waiting with his soldiers lined up with an expressionless face.

In the blink of an eye, a path was created for Zion to enter the White Tiger Palace.

“Okay, shall we go?”

“Yes···!”

Zion walked confidently, guided by Yuho.

This is where the real tiger’s den begins.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The capital of Tigrova remains the same as it was when Zion’s parents were there.

The location of the royal family’s residence had changed, and the Baekho Palace was a place that Zion had never seen before.

‘It’s wide.’

That’s my first impression of Zion.

Since I felt this way when I was fully grown, it was definitely bigger than the palace I used to play in when I was a child.

A huge door encountered at the end of the steps.

The door, made of an unknown metal, was covered in frost like a work of art.

“Please wait a moment. I would like to request an audience.”

The moment the captain of the guard took a step towards the huge door and was about to speak.

Someone who had read the noise inside struck the player with a solemn voice.

─ Come in.

The usual thing. The captain of the guards looked at the two gatekeepers.

“Open the door.”

At the command of the captain of the guard, the two men guarding the gate moved with their heads bowed.

───Kugugugu!!! The door opened and Zion saw a giant as big as a mountain sitting on a throne.

‘That guy···.’

The father of the lively water girl Noah Frozenheart and the current ruler of Tigrova.

One of the strongest, as many people agree.

Rex Frozenheart, the Snow Tiger Emperor.

I wonder if this is the same creature.

The momentum that rises unconsciously makes my whole body tremble.

I was convinced that if that man waved his fingers with murderous intent, I would die.

Still, the girl who had been waiting for this moment found courage.

He opened his mouth to speak politely during the silence.

“I···.”

“Enough. Enough with the annoying procedures. I hate etiquette, so take it easy.”

Seolho Daeje rested his chin on his hand that was like a pot lid and stared at Zion next to Yuho.

Was the judgment made with just a brief glance?

He raised the corners of his mouth enough to reveal his sharp molars.

“You really are Testarossa’s bloodline. You are definitely Weber’s child.”

When he heard his father’s name from the mouth of the Great King Seolho, Zion’s body trembled without him knowing it.

Yuho said that if there was anything he wanted to say to Zion, he could say it.

Zion spoke cautiously.

“Is it because I look like···?”

“The basis for my judgment is not appearance. It is because of the unique color that people of the same bloodline have.”

Did the people who came out to greet him know that and therefore did not ask him personal questions?

“If you’re curious about his appearance, let me answer your question: Sion Testarossa looks a lot like his parents, right? Captain of the Guard.”

Argen Blizzard nodded slightly in agreement.

Because both of us have vivid memories of seeing the Testarossa.

“This is the main point.”

Seolho Daeje only spat out a few words, but my gaze was stolen.

Zion sat on the throne, waiting quietly for him to open his mouth.

“Where have you been?”

“···.”

“On the day that Weber was sent to talk to his people, a large number of elf corpses were discovered in the coniferous forest.”

Zion felt his mouth go dry. His shoulders felt heavy.

It was clear that what he was revealing here would be the truth about the Tigrova elves.

That’s why I’m being as careful with my sentences as possible.

‘Tell the truth.’

I had no intention of lying in the first place.

Besides, I have a gut feeling that lying won’t work in front of them.

“I will tell you from the moment I remember.”

Zion revealed the events that had occurred to him while the ruler of Tigrova and his entourage watched.

I don’t think I’m without sin.

Because I sinned in the past when I did as I was told even though I had doubts.

“And···.”

Although he wasn’t a smooth talker, Zion did his best to explain without rationalizing himself.

He poured out everything, including the information that the elders had confessed.

The fact that I was able to escape from a crisis thanks to the friends I made when I went to Academy City.

“···That’s it.”

King Seolho and his entourage, who had listened to Zion’s story to the end, showed no sign of wavering.

Because I have experienced so many different things in life, I just accept the situation calmly rather than being shocked.

“Reverse Praise Society. Those bug-like things… What a disgusting name.”

Seolho Daeje scratched his thick neck with his hand and continued his thoughts briefly.

Most of it will be Yuho’s hard work, but he’s also got a lot to do, as he’s solved a long-held curiosity.

But this is not an issue to be discussed in front of guests.

Seolho Daeje decided to focus on communicating with the girl in front of him.

“Weber Testarossa is my best friend.”

“Have you known my father from the beginning···?”

Seolho Daeje stroked his beard at Zion’s words and snickered.

“We met once and that’s it.”

“···.”

“We met just once. That was the day we settled things. Still, we’re still friends.”

Does the number of meetings or the duration of the meetings matter?

If you just like each other, you’re just friends.

“I’m not trying to force myself to praise him because he’s my daughter, but Weber Testarossa was a great man.”

Seolho Daeje took off the animal skin from his wrist and showed the scar.

A round, punctured, then closed flesh hole. Anyone could tell that it was a bullet scar.

“I’ve never been wary of guns in my life. Until I met Weber.”

“···.”

“Leaving such a deep scar is one of the few joyful experiences in my life.”

The captain of the guard, who was standing still, seemed to sympathize with me.

Afterwards, Emperor Seolho recalled the time while touching his scar.

I informed him to keep my promise to my close friend who had come at the right time.

“It was a promise to Weber Testarossa that an elf from the Tigrova coniferous forest would be placed in a high position.”

The king’s gaze turns to the chief executive.

Yuho bowed to follow the order.

“Yuho. You can make a new seat. To protect Testarossa’s honor.”

“We will take action.”

A huge procedure that passed by in a flash in two sentences.

Zion spoke in an urgent voice.

“Okay, please wait a moment!”

“Oh my, do you have a seat in mind?”

To Yuho’s question, Zion answered that it wasn’t like that and showed curiosity first.

“···Was my identity still alive?”

As the Emperor Seolho’s gaze turned towards him, Yuho answered.

“If the missing period exceeds a certain period, you will naturally be considered dead. However, your status can still be saved, so I will update it immediately after the audience is over.”

“That’s right.”

Zion politely nodded in response to the gaze asking if that was a sufficient answer.

“Thank you···!”

This solves one of the biggest problems.

Tigrova is one of the three great powers that rule the academy city of Elysium.

If your status is revived, you can live in Academy City without any separate procedures or requests.

“Do you have anything else to say? Weber was quite talkative, too. Say what’s on your mind.”

Zion swallowed hard at Seolho Daeje’s words.

I brought up the most important thing.

“Thank you so much for offering me a seat. But I··· want to live in Academy City right now.”

In short, what this girl wants is freedom.

Everyone present smiled secretly at the sight of the girl who seemed to be greatly misunderstanding something.

“Testarossa’s child.”

“Yes···!”

“We are not bound by status. Everyone sits in Tigrova voluntarily. We do not intend to make you do annoying things just because you are in a high position.”

In conclusion, I would like to say that you should do it responsibly when you can.

He gives orders to Yuho again.

“Rather than giving me a low-level position, I’d rather give me an honorary position.”

“I will take action accordingly.”

The relief of finally keeping a promise.

Seolho Daeje exhaled and looked at the elf girl.

“Zion Testarossa.”

“Yes···!”

“You probably want to avenge your parents yourself.”

“Yes!”

Seolho Daeje nodded in satisfaction at the unwavering answer and said he would watch.

Gave Zion a background.

“From this point on, Zion Testarossa is under the protection of Tigrova. Remember that wherever you go and live proudly.”

“Thank you!”

“And get along well with our daughter. She has a lot to learn from than she has been taught.”

Let Zion show its best attitude.

Seolho Daeje continued nodding, and Yuho took a book out of his sleeve.

Zion accepted the book that was handed to him without even knowing what it meant.

The explanation continued.

“This is a ledger that calculates the personal inheritance left to Testarossa. Classify what you want to take and what you don’t want to take and tell Yuho.”

“This is my real specialty, so you can trust me. I will handle it for you at a reasonable price without any loss?”

Yuho smiled playfully and told her to spread it out.

Zion opened the account book with gratitude.

“?”

I was frozen in place at the first sight of the amount.

It was an unrealistic number to call money.

‘How many 0s are there?’

It is not something that can be counted by pointing with a finger in front of the eyes of the Great King Seolho.

Before showing her ugly appearance, the girl covered it up, saying she would carefully check the ledger.

I pictured Rohan and Clara in my head.