episode_0225

Episode 225: The Second Banquet (1)

A gentle breeze softly blows. Following it, a sense of dread envelops the entire body, and bizarre laughter and screams are heard from everywhere.

Amidst it, Ariel slowly moved her steps and asked Kyle.

“Are you really sure it’s okay…?”

“Yes, it’s okay.”

“But something feels strange… Caw!”

At that moment, something unknown brushed the back of her neck. Ariel was startled and grabbed Kyle’s arm. She closed her eyes tightly and only let go of him after the feeling disappeared.

“W, what was that just now?!”

“Well… I didn’t see it either, so I don’t know.”

“Don’t lie, tell me quickly! And release this seal too…”

Then, something touched Ariel’s skin again. This time, pressure was felt on her ankle. At that moment, Ariel screamed and collapsed. She was so surprised that tears even welled up in her eyes.

Originally, Ariel wasn’t someone who would be this frightened. However, her royal abilities were temporarily restricted, and her senses were dulled.

Moreover, Kyle had blocked Ariel’s mana usage, saying it would make it more fun. Because of that, her senses weren’t expanded with mana. In other words, Ariel was currently no different from an ordinary person.

Meanwhile, the undead wandering around the amusement park were more real than the real thing, and since they were made only to scare, it was no wonder Ariel was so surprised.

After seeing some form disappear into the ground, Ariel said tearfully.

“K, Kyle, stop joking around and release me…”

“Are you having a hard time, Princess?”

“Yees, I’m having a hard time…”

“But aren’t you enjoying it? It seems like you’re properly enjoying the amusement park.”

“…It’s not fun. I don’t feel like I’m enjoying it at all.”

No, in fact, the fun is overflowing.

The feeling of her hands and feet shrinking, the fear that permeates her whole body, the cold sweat running down her back. It felt like she was truly enjoying the theme of this amusement park.

Moreover, the fear felt in an environment disguised as an ordinary person who can’t handle mana, not a body trained as a knight, was on a different level. It’s just too much of it that’s the problem.

“Alright, that’s it.”

“Hoo…”

The senses returning properly. Only then did Ariel let out a sigh of relief. And she tried to figure out the identity of the monster that grabbed her earlier, and Ariel looked at Kyle.

“Kyle.”

“What is it, Princess?”

“Tell me honestly. That thing just now, you did that, didn’t you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Ariel immediately used mind reading at Kyle’s denial. Fun, that feeling was conveyed to Ariel. Seeing that he had no intention of hiding it at all, she pouted.

“That was really bad. Teasing people like that.”

Ariel was unnecessarily more angry at the sight of him answering with a smile instead of words. But that was only for a moment. She didn’t express any more complaints because she saw the consideration to imprint a pleasant experience.

Anyway, after that, the two diligently went around various places in the amusement park. They went to a place called the haunted house and also watched the parade.

Of course, they got hungry in the middle and had a late lunch at the restaurant. That was also enjoyable. The restaurant and food concepts were also matched to the theme, so the visual satisfaction was high.

As they spent time like that, it was already 6 p.m. It became night. It was almost time for the amusement park to close, so Ariel prepared to leave.

“Did you have a good day today?”

Ariel smiled brightly and answered.

“Yes, I had a good time.”

A day spent as an ordinary 19-year-old girl, free from the sense of duty as a royal, was really fun. Especially since it was with Kyle.

If such an opportunity arises later, she wanted to come again.

“I’m glad you were satisfied.”

“Thank you. For giving me a fun day.”

“It’s nothing. More than that, now that the date is over…”

Kyle looked somewhere and continued to speak.

“It’s my turn to hear my answer as promised. Let’s go.”

Saying that, Kyle led Ariel to a certain place.

***

The place I led Ariel to was the basement of the amusement park.

“This is…”

“It’s a resting space and passageway for the amusement park staff.”

Since the ground is so complicated, they created a space in the basement. Here, they can rest during shift changes, eat, or move to different locations.

“Follow me. There’s something I want to show you.”

“Okay.”

Ariel followed me without complaint. Of course, this place is for staff only, so we wore the same clothes as them. No one suspected us.

The basement itself wasn’t that special. It strongly felt like a space for rest.

But our destination isn’t here. It’s just a passing path. I headed deeper than that, to the bottom where the core technology that maintains the amusement park is located. This was a place where even the staff were prohibited from entering.

Arriving nearby, I said to her.

“From here on, you have to be careful not to get caught.”

Ariel nodded in response, and I created a small gap in the floor. Then, I put my body into the gap.

Thud, we fell onto a platform close to the ceiling. The movements of the trained me and Ariel didn’t make any small noises. Then, some sound was heard.

-Move faster!

-Hurry up! At least by tomorrow…!

Orders being shouted. Not just one, but several.

After that, the vibrations of people running busily are transmitted. At least over a thousand footsteps. This level of noise should be transmitted to the ground, but due to the barrier, no sound was transmitted to the outside at all.

“What is this…!”

“Shhh.”

I calmed her down, who was surprised, and moved a little further inside. Then, an even more surprising sight unfolded.

Knights standing in rows, fully armed. Their level is at least mid-Expert. Those at the very front were Masters.

It didn’t end there, but thousands of soldiers were also moving. Some were carrying boxes containing weapons and magical tools, and some were preparing to go out to war like the knights.

Ariel recognized which group they belonged to as soon as she saw them.

“That person is a knight of the Leman family, and that person is…. Why are imperial knights here…”

Ariel couldn’t close her mouth at the familiar faces seen everywhere. Especially after seeing that there was also an Imperial Knights unit, she was shocked and stunned.

Only after a long time did Ariel ask me. Even then, she still had a face that hadn’t escaped from the shock.

“Kyle… tell me. What, what is going on…?”

“What does this sight look like to you, Princess?”

She said in a trembling voice.

“It looks like war, preparation for war.”

Ariel, who had experienced the war with monsters and the war with gods. There was no way she, who had experienced two wars, wouldn’t know the meaning of this sight.

I spread out a barrier to prevent the sound from leaking out and said.

“That’s right. They are preparing for war.”

“Who are they going to war with…? The Empire is peaceful. There hasn’t been an incident that could cause a war. The only thing is the black magician who attacks the continent from time to time, but they are quiet. Who on earth, for what reason…”

“Princess.”

I called Ariel softly. And then asked quietly again.

“Who does this incident look like the work of?”

I lead her to find the answer herself. Ariel, who heard my words, closed her eyes and pondered. After thinking deeply amidst the noise coming from all directions, she opened her mouth and said.

“Leian, is it?”

I smiled and nodded at the correct answer.

“That’s correct. Leian Tianis, the guy currently imprisoned in the underground prison, is the culprit.”

“How is that possible? That prison restricts the abilities of the imperial family. He wouldn’t be able to use his power, so how…”

I turned my gaze downwards and said.

“Princess. The blood of the imperial family is more special than you think. Do you think that such blood would be affected by such a seal?”

It’s ridiculous that only the imperial family awakens special powers. In the first place, Kiran Tianis, no, Korean Choi Jeong-soo, is just an ordinary person.

“Besides, he’s a member of the imperial family. Just like you were given, there will be various authorities, and if I were him, I would have built up power through those authorities. Don’t you, and the other members of the imperial family, have at least one?”

In the end, the imperial family is the emperor’s child. Having been born as a member of the imperial family, they must fight with their family to ascend to the throne someday. That is the fate of the imperial family.

So all the members of the imperial family will secretly gather strength for that day, and Ariel is no different.

“…That’s right. I also have one hidden away.”

“That’s right. And Leian will have hidden away more power than you can imagine. Because he’s originally that kind of guy.”

Second Prince Leian Tianis. One of the mid-bosses of ‘Akacheonma’. That villain has the power to destroy an entire country.

And if the current situation and my expectations are correct, he will have more power than his ability.

I turned my head and looked at Ariel. Whether she was fed up with Leian Tianis’ actions, or angry at herself for not noticing this, she was trembling.

“Kyle. How long have you known about this…?”

“I knew from the beginning. I was constantly monitoring the capital. From the first day he was imprisoned, he was moving noisily under the ground. Today, yesterday, even a week ago. According to Leian’s orders.”

“Then… why didn’t you tell me, or if not me, why didn’t you inform someone else in advance? You could have told someone else and stopped the war!”

She shouted in anger. I could fully understand Ariel’s anger.

War inevitably creates sacrifices and creates someone’s misfortune. If I had moved first the moment I realized it, I could have prevented such an unfortunate event.

Ariel quietly suppressed her anger and said.

“We have to tell them now. Tell Father and come up with a plan…”

“Princess.”

“Don’t stop me. There’s no time for this. Hurry…”

Ariel shook off my hand and tried to leave in a hurry. I grabbed her arm again and called her.

“Ariel.”

She flinched for a moment and stopped her actions. Taking advantage of that gap, I led her and made her face me.

“Ariel.”

“……”

“Don’t avoid my gaze, look at me.”

She, who had been trying to avoid my gaze, raised her head at my call. As we faced each other, I then continued to speak.

“This war will end without any problems, without any damage.”

“How, how are you going to end it…? They’ve already completed their war preparations. Even if we prepare from now…”

That was true. The opponent had already completed all preparations. Even if we defend from now on, it would be too late, and we who have many targets to protect are at a disadvantage.

Clack, I snapped my fingers instead of speaking. Then, those hidden in the darkness revealed themselves. Those with cat ears and tails. They were the Black Cat Clan, a subgroup of the beast people of the Holy Kingdom, who specialize in assassination and stealth.

“I’ve already prepared. I’m a person from Arden, and Arden is a friend of the Imperial Family. I’ll never let you and your family get hurt. So Ariel.”

“Yes, Kyle…”

“Trust me. This war will end more easily and faster. You understand?”

She stared silently into my eyes. I don’t know what she felt in them, but she nodded and said.

“I’ll trust you, Kyle.”

“Thank you, Ariel.”

I held Ariel’s hand tightly. Her slightly trembling hand trembled less.

‘Ariel Tianis.’

The main character of this world, and the woman who will become empress. Although Kyle Arden’s body still hates you, I will definitely protect you from death. Just like I did with the other main characters.

After that, we came out of the amusement park basement and headed to each other’s homes.

***

Two days later.

A banquet was held in the Imperial Palace.