episode_0122

“It smells like Vivian. Here.”

Kati spoke in a whisper and lightly touched the corner of my lips with her thumb.

“… … .”

I remembered what happened earlier when I was laying Vivian down.

that… . If you really want to ask, am I a victim?

Vivian being drunk and making jokes was like a joke.

I don’t know what was building up in her mind, but she didn’t really mean it, but Vivian made a mistake because she was drunk?

I feel unfair too, man.

No, it’s strange that I feel unfair to you and give an explanation… .

“Hmm… .”

I couldn’t say that.

If I said that, it felt like something, something would happen.

I’m not sure what that’s about.

Anyway, I felt like something big was about to happen.

“Whew… .”

Katy slightly lowered her head and let out a sticky breath.

She lowered her eyebrows and looked at me with sad and slightly pained eyes.

And then.

“Sorry… .”

He said and buried his face in my shoulder.

Katy’s body trembled slightly as she hugged me tightly.

“… Are you crying?”

“… … .”

“Hey, why suddenly… .”

Kati leaned against me and shook her face.

Even though I denied it, my body continued to tremble slightly and the strength in which he held me gradually became stronger.

It was also easy to see that crying made breathing difficult.

After talking for a few minutes, Kati raised her head again.

He said he didn’t cry, but the area around his eyes became puffy and red.

“I don’t cry.”

“… … .”

“Why are you crying?”

Kati, who was licking her lips as if she were about to say something, spoke like a sigh.

“Waiting… It’s so hard… .”

“What… .”

I was about to ask him what he was waiting for, but he closed his mouth.

Summer is coming to an end, and after fall, the war will begin.

However, it is unknown how long it will take from the start of the war until the Demon King is killed again.

“You… I want to monopolize it… . Why are there so many enemies around… .”

“Enemy?”

Are there a lot of enemies around?

… Fruit warriors?

“What is the enemy? Heroes are just warriors. Of course, it’s true that he’s an important person to me, but that’s different. It’s different from you.”

“How are you different from me?”

“Well, you said it… .”

“Word?”

“That… . No, wait. To begin with, they don’t have hearts like you.”

“… … .”

Kati stared at me without saying a word.

“Master.”

Then, he suddenly brought his face closer to me.

This is the distance where the scent of your breath can be blatantly reached.

A short gap between the lips.

It’s so dangerous that it looks like someone might touch it if they lift their chin.

She presses our foreheads together and looks into my eyes with cat eyes.

“Don’t provoke me.”

What did I provoke? .

“I’m still barely holding it in.”

Phew.

Kati sighed deeply, frowned slightly, and muttered as she passed by.

“Should I do it? .”

“What?”

“No. Nothing.”

Kati’s eyes kept going down and up again.

The pink tongue slowly licked his lips and then entered again.

Kati looked at me with moist eyes and called me again.

“Master.”

“Why.”

“I’m drunk.”

“It seems so.”

At first, I thought it was okay, but I wondered if they were doing this on purpose.

But I quickly changed my mind.

Anyway, I’m not the kind of guy who can rub against someone so closely with a sober mind.

“So. Please think of today’s incident as a mistake and forget it.”

Kati said, wiping my lips with her thumb.

It was a somewhat bitter voice.

“… How could I forget something like this?”

Is it possible to forget this shocking sight?

Perhaps because he understood differently, Katy perked up his ears and tilted his head.

“Are you saying you won’t forget what happened with me?”

“Why do you interpret it that way?”

“Wrong?”

“Logically speaking, this is correct… . No, it’s not wrong, it’s different!”

“Hmm… .”

Kati looks at me intently.

Their faces are so close that I can still feel their breath.

As he sits on top of me and holds me so close, I can even feel his body temperature.

They’re both wearing clothes, and they’re warm.

I guess I had a fever because I was drunk.

“It’s really hard to bear, but… . I’ll be patient a little longer. I’ll be satisfied with this today… .”

Saying that, Kati brought her left hand to her mouth and kissed it.

To be exact, the white subordinate ring on the ring finger of the left hand.

-Chuh… .

With a sticky sound, Kati’s soft pink lips pressed against the ring and fell.

Even as he kissed the ring, his gaze was defiantly fixed on me.

-Chuck… .

Kati’s kiss didn’t end.

As if licking the ring with moist lips, as if coveting it, as if to devour it.

-Jjueup… .

He rubs his lips against the ring, making a sticky sound.

Yet, his gaze on me never leaves.

A thin line of saliva stretched between my wet lips and the ring and then fell.

“… … .”

After kissing the ring, Katy buried her head on my shoulder again.

“I’m sorry about today… .”

I was once again drawn by Katy’s tail and was forced to stroke her back.

‘No matter what, the frustrating situation will get better if we kill the demon lord quickly.’

The time of war cannot be brought forward arbitrarily.

War in itself is a very big chaos.

There is no way to know what will change with just one small change.

‘There’s nothing good about going outside the flow I know. It may change to your advantage, but you cannot ignore the probability of it changing to your disadvantage.’

However, strengthening the empire and humanity before the war is more likely to bring about favorable changes rather than unfavorable changes.

I’ve always acted like that.

‘Fruit growth is good, but… . It would be a good idea to drastically increase the overall power.’

The matter related to the Manager Guild acquisition that Marie talked about.

The name Philip was also revealed, so there is nothing that cannot be done.

‘First, we need to get the land and train the fruits more systematically and reliably. Don’t let Kati hide anymore. We can proceed with the guild takeover at the same time.’

Whether you know my thoughts or not.

Kati, who was leaning on my shoulder and reflecting, raised her head, looked at me, and tilted her head like a cat again.

“nyang?”

Although he was smiling, it was not an easy smile.

*

The next morning.

I woke up early and made some hangover soup.

They must have smelled the smell and started to walk out of the tent one by one.

The first one to come out was Mercy.

“Maanaeu… .”

“What are you saying?”

“Muahahahahah… .”

“Eat and wake up.”

“Huh… .”

Mercy sat down and drank the soup.

You probably don’t even remember what happened yesterday.

It’s like that every time.

Next came Kati.

“Master.”

“Yes. Are you okay inside?”

“Yes. What about the owner?”

“I have no reason not to be okay with it.”

Kati sat down next to Mercy and ate the soup.

Next, three fruits walked out.

“Hello… .”

“Good morning… .”

“Hmm, it smells good?”

Unlike Vivian and Helena, who were having a hard time wondering if they were still drunk, Lucia was fine.

“Do you think Lucia is okay?”

“Yes. what… . Surprisingly, you look fine?”

“Do you even remember?”

“A little? It’s a little blurry since Vivian left.”

Vivian and Helena sat in silence and ate the soup.

“I will eat well… .”

After eating some hot soup, their expressions became much more relaxed.

Lucia, who was holding a spoon, spoke in passing.

“I’m so glad. Because I clearly remember Vivian’s atrocities.”

Startle.

Vivian stopped spooning at those words.

Her eyes trembled uneasily as she looked at Lucia.

“Well, I… . Something happened yesterday… . Did you do it? ?”

Lucia smiled and answered.

“It was cute.”

Of course there was no answer.

Vivian looked at me wanting an explanation, but I had nothing to say.

‘I’m an adult too… .’

I shook off the image of Vivian lying down with a blush on my mind.

“Ugh… . Well, what is it… ! What on earth have I done? yes… ?”

“I said it was cute?”

“Not that… !”

Lucia hummed and savored the soup, and Vivian was anxious but ate the soup.

“Do you remember Helena?”

Helena, who was eating absentmindedly, shook her head.

“I’m not sure… . When I came to, I was sleeping with Mercy… . Maybe I have something… .”

“Don’t worry. Helena was very calm.”

“Is that so…? .”

Helena sighed softly, as if relieved.

Vivian, on the other hand, was more anxious.

“Me, what did I do… ! I’m curious too… !”

“Hmm. Being cute to other people?”

Lucia answered calmly.

“Ae, aegyo… ?”

Vivian’s hands were shaking.

“Well, I am… ? Really… ?”

It seemed unbelievable, but it was absolutely true.

Lucia didn’t tell me any more.

I made eye contact with another person, Kati, who was just as fine as Lucia.

asked telepathically.

‘Seeing as you’re fine, I guess you don’t remember either?’

How can you be so calm after doing something like that?

Of course I don’t remember… .

[no.]

… uh?

[I remember everything.]

‘what?’

[I was just drunk so my true feelings came out. Alcohol may make people more honest.]

It’s absurd for a moment.

I wanted to applaud Kati’s confidence and shamelessness.

It’s truly amazing.

How can they do that?

‘But your true intentions… .’

[That is also something to consider.]

‘What are you doing… . Oh, no. ‘Don’t answer.’

*

When Superbia returned, it was very noisy.

It was because of the activities of the fruit warriors.

From monthly manager magazines to small newsletters.

From bulletin boards where warriors’ stories are written to people’s mouths.

There was no place where their names and activities did not come up and down.

It was worth it.

Until now, most of the activities of the warriors had been passed down through word of mouth.

Someone said that, or whatever.

It was rare to actually see the scene in person and tell it about it.

However, in this official warrior exam, more than hundreds of people watched the battle.

They were enthusiastic, angry, sad, cheered, and immersed in the battle in real time.

It was inevitable that the rumor would spread more violently.

“Ugh… .”

Vivian couldn’t come to her senses due to the crowd of people.

I’ve only just become an official warrior, but the fact that I’m getting this much attention probably has some influence on me.

There is still a lot of talk about what to call this party.

Is it Ian Party or Phillip Party?

Or maybe it was Vivian’s party that came in first.

I didn’t worry about the name because it wasn’t that important.

We arrived at the Manager’s Guild before we knew it.

“Vivian, Helena, Lucia. The three of you have been promoted to C-class warriors and official warriors starting today.”

The receptionist, neatly dressed in uniform, greeted me formally, handing me a new warrior certificate.

“Congratulations. I wish you good luck in the future.”

Vivian’s eyes sparkled like a child, Helena held her certificate high, and Lucia smiled in satisfaction.

By the time the party was promoted to official warriors.

A call came from the emperor.

There were two matters.

The territory to be given to me has been decided.

Warp portal technology had been completed, and a request was made to participate in the opening ceremony.

It is said that at the opening ceremony, estates will be given and even titles will be awarded.

*

“Ian. To you, who have devoted yourself as a pillar of the empire, I bestow the title of count in the name of Julian Apostata Humil, and this is the empire’s answer and expectation to your devotion.”

“I will be loyal.”

I knelt down on one knee in front of the emperor and spoke.

The suit and fur coat that only nobles would wear are quite stuffy.

The emperor moved his sword over my body.

Top of head, left shoulder, right shoulder, top of head.

The ceremony ended with a total of 4 touches.

Then, Seonghwang came to me and blessed me.

“I have no doubt that the blessings of light will be with the second apostle, Ian, and that your footsteps will guide the lost kindling and wandering ash.”

At this event, it was even announced that I was the second apostle.

“Thank you.”

After saying hello, I stood up.

This is the basilica at the highest point in Julian’s Palace.

It is a position used by the imperial family to announce important matters to the people of the empire.

Because it was a wide open space, the blue sky of late summer was spreading out.

The surrounding area was full of not only the youngest princess Grace and other children of the emperor and their families whom she had only met in person, but also palace butlers and maids, as well as nobles and royal family members visiting from other places.

They all gave me bright smiles and applauded.

‘You’ll be tired from now on.’

And down the stairs.

“─!”

There was a crowd making noise that was difficult to capture.

The crowd seen from above was so dense that it looked like a swarm of ants.

In fact, my ceremony is not important enough to require a public hall.

The key today is the commercialization of warp portals.

That day has come.

I raised my head again and looked at my companions in the front row of the nobles’ seats.

Kati, Mercy, Vivian, Helena, Lucia.

What was so thrilling was that Mercy, Strawberry, and Orange even had bright eyes.

Kati and Lucia just smiled happily.

I smiled and waved briefly.

“Then from now on. The first warp portal will be implemented!”

The imperial spokesperson shouted, and Iris, who had been waiting, came out and explained.

It was completely consistent with how I knew it worked.

It’s something like that where you can synchronize the wave frequency of the magic stone that creates the warp portal with that of other warp portals, or something like that.

I don’t know the detailed principles either.

After Iris’s explanation, I went down the stairs with the emperor and nobles.

This is because the first warp portal was outside the main gate of the imperial palace.

The cheers of the people of the empire, divided like the Red Sea, seemed deafening.

Among them, there were quite a few who recognized me and my warriors.

“Cute Vivian-!”

“Helena! A strong party shield-!”

“Lucia! Please take a look here!”

The group of people following closely next to me looked awkward, but occasionally waved their hands.

However, Vivian muttered softly so that only I could hear.

“Why am I such a cutie? .”

“Really?”

The noble marched to the main gate of the imperial palace, and there was the warp portal I knew about.

An oval-shaped mass of mana that shimmers with translucent blue light.

The spokesperson spoke into the video mirror in his hand.

“Now.”

As soon as the signal was given, Aegis soldiers armed with brass-colored armor walked out of the warp portal.

Appearing with them was Crown Prince Ediphus, dressed in uniform.

‘I wondered why I couldn’t see it, and I guess it was because of this.’

Ediphus, who appeared majestically among the Aegis, bowed in various directions around him.

Next, Edipus personally preached his hopes and aspirations regarding the future war between the empire, humanity, and even demons.

And just like that, the award ceremony and the warp portal opening ceremony ended.

“Ian.”

The emperor approached me first.

“Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“I’m going to be busy from now on.”

“I will do what I have always done.”

“If you rule the land as you have done, the imperial family will be in danger.”

It was a heavy joke that was difficult to laugh at and only the emperor could tell.

“For more details, let me know. I will be your helper in the future.”

The emperor introduced the man beside him.

He was an old gentleman dressed in a neat tuxedo, with his hair and beard neatly trimmed.

“It is an honor to meet you. Sir Ian. My name is ‘Charles Van Jericha’. From now on, I will be the head butler of the castle where the king will stay and will be the acting authority.”

“… Jerry ha?”

The Jeriha of the operation to recapture Jeriha?

When was the first SS-class dungeon to appear?

‘Doesn’t having the last name Jerry mean you’re royalty?’

Charles must have sensed my question and nodded.

“Yes. I owe my life to Sir Ian. I will serve you with all my heart.”

is it.

It seems like he wants to repay the help he received from me.

I’ll have to listen more to find out the details.

“War is not far away.”

The emperor spoke in passing.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Yes. … Before that, just a moment, is it okay?”

The emperor nodded.

I went to a place away from other people for a while and talked to him.

“What’s going on?”

“Trying to turn the beastman to the human side.”

“Hmm… .”

You probably understood what I meant when I mentioned ‘beast people’ instead of magic people.

“You’re reckless. Is it in the future you saw?”

“… no. It wasn’t in the future I saw. However, I hope it exists in the future I see.”

“A man called a prophet says something interesting. I know you are a great person, but prejudice is not something that can be easily broken.”

“I know. So, I would like to start from my own land first.”

“Huh… .”

The emperor stroked his chin and said.

“You are now the owner of your land. Although it is a vassal state of the empire.”

“Yes.”

“Talk to Charles and discuss enacting related laws. It will be difficult to support, but it will be possible to at least tolerate it.”

“Thank you.”

“However. There must be a strong backlash from Seonghwa Church.”

“I have a method in mind.”

“Yes. The mouse was worried about the cat. I look forward to it in the future.”

After saying goodbye, we went back to the warp portal where Charles and the group were waiting.

“Do you want to go?”

Charles asked.

I glanced around at the group before answering.

“Yes. Let’s take a look. What kind of place is it?”

Charles smiled gently and approached the portal manager.

“Former Crescent Territory. Please adjust it to the current Ian command.”

“Yes!”

The management soon adjusted the portal’s frequency.

I led my group and Charles, and was the first to step into the portal.

My vision was tinted with blue light.