episode_0140

The carriage standing at the edge of the forest was a piece of art in itself. Crafted intricately from deep and richly colored wood, its surface was meticulously polished to a shine. The tiger emblem engraved on the carriage door exuded a strong presence that captivated people’s gazes.

The finely drawn image of the tiger was so vivid that some children displayed expressions of fear. The tiger’s eyes were embedded with jewels of a more radiant hue than pumpkin-colored gems, sparkling as if alive when hit by light. A golden belt wrapped around it in a consistent pattern, adding to the grandeur and nobility of the carriage.

The horse pulling the carriage was no exception to the splendor. Its black fur was as soft as silk, gleaming with luster. It was larger than any horse seen before.

The magnificent carriage unmistakably revealed its ownership by a powerful noble household. Wherever the carriage passed, people would feel awe towards the wealth and power of that family. While it might be a great honor for some, for Lian, it was simply burdensome.

‘Is this… how a poor noblewoman feels?’

Isn’t there a scene like this in morning dramas? The son of a wealthy family arriving in a splendid carriage in front of the company, shouting, “Hey, get in!”

Seeing the dazzling carriage, it was easy to understand the flustered faces of heroines hesitating in front of it.

‘Am I allowed to ride this?’

The knight approached Lian, realizing his initial assumptions were correct.

With a belt around his waist and sturdy adventurer boots on his legs, dressed in practical attire suitable for mercenaries or adventurers, Lian’s beautiful appearance and subtly flowing dignity contrasted starkly with the glamorous carriage, yet somehow complemented it.

‘Ah, truly, like father, like daughter!’

The knight exclaimed, his eyes shining with admiration, soon captivated by a strange sense of duty.

‘I must escort her properly!’

Approaching the carriage with a calm and graceful demeanor, the knight opened the carriage door. Lian involuntarily stepped back, as if taken aback.

Thud.

Gracefully approaching and opening the carriage door, Lian trembled as if Pandora’s box had been opened.

“Please, come in.”

“Oh, yes, of course…”

It felt as if she had entered a clothing store and a shop assistant warmly greeted her. It was incredibly overwhelming. Lian awkwardly smiled and boarded the carriage.

The interior of the carriage, as lavish as it appeared from the outside, was meticulously decorated with a delicate touch. It boasted ample space, adorned with luxurious velvet and soft silk, providing passengers with ultimate comfort and elegance.

The seats of the carriage were covered with wide, plush cushions, ensuring the utmost comfort even during long journeys. The seat colors comprised deep black and gold embroidery, emphasizing a noble taste.

Though small, the carriage windows were well-designed, each adorned with heavy curtains for privacy as needed.

On one side of the carriage, a small desk and next to it, an elegant cabinet were placed. The cabinet provided space to store various items and documents that might be needed during travel.

“This is my spot!”

Following Lian into the carriage, Jess grumbled as he threw himself onto the soft seat. He then curled up, moving back and forth, but the seat was spacious enough to accommodate his movements.

“Noah, we all have to write together, so don’t fidget too much.”

Noah, who boarded the ship after, firmly scolded Jess with a resolute expression. In response, Jess made a sound of dismay and sat up straight. Her drooping ears were adorable.

“Aren’t you going to sit, Oppa?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I should sit.”

Belatedly regaining his composure, he settled in a secluded spot and sat down. Then…

“Um… Iris?”

“Yeah?”

“Since there’s more space here, would it be okay if I sit next to you?”

Iris smoothly sat on Lian’s lap. In the meantime, Iris had grown significantly taller, her height now matching Lian’s eye level.

“If I sit here… is it not allowed?”

“Ugh…”

With tearful eyes gazing up as if about to burst into tears, Lian bit his tongue slightly, letting out a groan.

“Not allowed…?”

As the physical distance between Iris and Lian lessened, upon seeing Iris’s beautiful face approaching so closely, Lian suddenly realized. Looking into her enchanting eyes, akin to a golden sunset embroidered in the summer sky, he felt captivated.

Just as his pursed lips were about to respond, something intervened between Lian and Iris.

“Huh?”

Noah’s hand, marked with calluses and small scars, was separating the two. Lian’s gaze slid to the owner of the hand.

“What are you two… doing?”

Noah’s face was flushed like a blazing fire. Watching his face, scenes from the past overlapped. Lian’s face also began to redden intensely.

Thud.

With narrowed eyes, Iris alternated her gaze between her brother and Noah before removing the hand covering her eyes. She then decisively embraced her brother’s shoulders, speaking with an innocent face.

“You’re just separating siblings, right?”

“W-What…! What siblings stick to each other like that!”

Knowing well that Noah and Nero were siblings, Noah understood how absurd the situation was. Speechless with disbelief, Noah struggled to articulate his thoughts. Meanwhile, Jess climbed onto the seat, sprawling like a dog, contracting and dilating her pupils.

At the end of her gaze, there was Lian, wearing an awkward expression. Swishing her shoulders lightly as if a cat ready to pounce on its prey, she pursed her lips and swayed.

Pop!

“Joo-in-nim!”

“Whoa!”

…!

Jess pounced on Lian as if to cover her completely. The perfect triangle they formed shattered. Lily and Nero, who were about to board the last carriage, quietly stepped back from the chaotic scene that unfolded 3 seconds ago.

“Let’s take another carriage.”

“That sounds like a good idea…”

“The other carriage is larger, so those four can ride here, and the rest can take the rear carriage. It’s better not to squeeze in here and risk getting hurt.”

As Lily suggested, the carriage that had reached this point was not just one but two. Both looked similar from the outside, but the one Lian boarded was slightly more extravagant. The interior structure of the front carriage was more luxurious and spacious.

Inside the carriage, using magic tools to surpass physical limits, the space had expanded. Thanks to this, it could accommodate around twenty passengers. Most of the organization members on board either marveled at the setup or found themselves unable to settle comfortably in the luxurious seats.

“Then let’s depart!”

Accompanied by the carriage, the groom raised his voice, and the mercenary group that came with them surrounded the carriage. The knight glanced at the ten mercenaries thoughtfully.

‘Brown Wolf Mercenary Corps, deeply faithful and skilled mercenaries with quite a high price tag… But considering the situation of escorting a noble, it seems too modest. Why did His Excellency send mercenaries instead of a knight?’

Having confirmed the dispatch order he sent, it was undoubtedly a splendid carriage. Despite finding the long-lost heir, sending mercenaries instead of a knight was hard to comprehend. Nevertheless, he was a loyal knight.

‘Well, there must be some reason.’

He nodded heavily and mounted the horse brought by the mercenaries.

Clip-clop.

A black horse with a massive build and sturdy muscles, unlike ordinary horses, was the knight’s partner. It seemed pleased to see each other after a long time, lightly shaking its head and showing a smile. The knight patted the horse’s neck.

Thud-thud.

The carriage and horse began to move forward slowly. Since all the mercenaries were riding horses, the speed was not slow.

“Safe travels!”

“Ahaha… My Lord…”

“May the light be with you!”

“You scum, are you playing with lives?”

“Be gone, seeds of death!”

Behind the departing carriage, the sounds of Life Faction and Death Faction clashing fiercely echoed.

Inside the carriage, Lian, who was trying to calm down Jess leaping around like a dog on a walk and Noah and Iris fighting, heard a voice from outside, then sighed dryly against the carriage wall. As a result, Jess’s commotion and the two’s argument abruptly stopped.

She lowered her hand slightly.

“L-Lian, where does it hurt? If you’re in pain, speak up! Let’s stop the carriage for a moment….!”

“Brother, where does it hurt? Who made you hurt?”

“Sniff sniff, Lian, are you hurt? Shall I lick it for you?”

Jess, sensing through scent that Lian was physically fine, put on an innocent puppy-like expression to fulfill his desires. When three beautiful women approached him, Lian’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘Wait a minute. Why are we the only ones in this carriage?’

Lian realized that the situation had taken a strange turn, but the carriage had already left.