𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝟔
̇ȧ̇𝔴𝚎𝙗𝙨𝔱𝘰ṙ̇i̇̇𝕖𝕤.𝐜𝘰𝘮
「𝙉𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙮, 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨?」
From the moment I first saw her, there was something subtly suspicious about her, and now I know why.
I never picked up on it because I didn’t use sentiment on her.
No, wait, even if she was a princess, gardening alone on a lonely path, no one would have guessed, not just me.
While I was still trying to wrap my head around this unexpected revelation, Princess Laura had already finished her greeting.
And just like that, 10 minutes had passed, and I found myself face-to-face with Princess Laura and her royal guards, who had somehow found their way to our section.
“. . . Hello. We meet again like this.”
Everyone’s eyes were on me, and I frantically darted my eyes around, trying to make sense of this incomprehensible situation.
“. . . I’ve actually been looking for you for the past two days.”
“Me, Your Highness?”
“Yes. I wanted to properly thank you, and I had some questions. . . . . .”
Then, out of nowhere, she dropped a bombshell that completely blew my mind.
“Would you mind if I invited you to my residence for a short while?”
I think I’ll remember Jung Han-sol’s eyes, as if he was seeing the traitor of his life, for a long time.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
𝙖𝙬𝘦𝚋ṡ̇ṫ̇ᴏ𝕣𝘪𝙚𝔰.𝙘𝕠𝕞
Despite the grand invitation, I was led to a mansion near the academy.
Of course, even that mansion was much larger than what ordinary people would have, but at least it wasn’t as extravagant as I had imagined, which was a relief.
“I guess with my status, I can’t help but live separately from my classmates.”
“. . . I see. Do you get picked on a lot?”
“I can’t say that it doesn’t happen.”
There were royal guards stationed at regular intervals around the mansion, and as we went inside, a man who seemed to be of higher rank greeted us.
“Let me introduce you. This is Diego, who manages my personal guard.”
“Nice to meet you. I wouldn’t normally want to interrupt your conversation, but considering the circumstances, I’ll make an exception.”
I could definitely sense the aura of a strong fighter in his eyes.
My curiosity piqued, I immediately checked his information using my emotion skill.
Ding!
【Harvey Martinez】
▶Level 51
▶Ability Scores
【Stamina: B-】
【Spiritual power : B+】
【Spellcraft: A】
【Mental Strength: A-】
▶Traits (5/10)
【Revolutionary (A+)】
【Assimilation (A-)】
【Tool Crafting (B)】
【Deceiver (B-)】
【Precision Manipulation (C+)】
And then, I immediately felt a sense of incongruity.
「𝙒𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝘿𝙞𝙚𝙜𝙤? 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩?」
Of course, he could have been using an alias. However, as I looked through the rest of his information, it became increasingly suspicious.
He had a combination of traits that were highly unusual for someone in charge of protecting someone.
Sensing my serious expression, Laura quickly raised her hands and spoke.
“Ahem. Well, it’s not like this happens often, so you don’t need to be alarmed. We make sure to keep anyone suspicious away from the mansion.”
No, it seems like your mansion is already on the brink of a crisis.
I tried my best to hide my panic and listened to her words calmly.
“I’m not too worried. I’m a student of the academy, so I can protect myself.”
“. . . You’re quite resilient. I wish I could be more like that.”
Laura gave a somewhat bitter smile and led me to a guest room.
Her business with me was simple.
She wanted me to teach her the spell I used to give the Golden Leaf Herb the nutrients it needed.
“I just couldn’t seem to replicate it after seeing it once. . . . . .”
“Yes. I think I can help you with that.”
After all, it must have been an unfamiliar spell for her, especially since she was from another country.
It wasn’t particularly difficult, so I spent some time teaching her the spell.
Whoooosh.
In the midst of all this, Laura, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke up.
“Don’t you think flowers are amazing?”
“In what way?”
“No matter how much time passes, they always bloom every year and show off their beauty.”
As she said those words, I somehow felt a sense of longing in her expression.
I responded to her while casting the spell.
“I think humans aren’t so different.”
“. . . Really?”
“Yes. It’s just that the cycle is different when compared to flowers.”
It might not come for a lifetime, or it might come sooner than expected.
But isn’t that what makes it meaningful?
“No one knows when that time will come, but if you keep walking towards it with your own two feet, I’m sure you’ll be rewarded accordingly.”
As the sun began to set, Laura, who had become somewhat familiar with the spell, thanked me and saw me out.
“Diego, just in case, send someone to escort him to his hotel.”
“Yes, I will.”
Honestly, I didn’t want to, but I didn’t want to be rude and refuse her kindness, so I got into a vehicle with two royal guards and headed back to my hotel.
「𝘿𝙞𝙚𝙜𝙤. . . . . .」
His real name, which I checked with my emotion skill, was Harvey Martinez. Definitely suspicious, no matter how I think about it.
Perhaps, Yoo Ha-on’s opponent in this story might be him.
「𝙄𝙛 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣, 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬.」
After that, all the academy members are scheduled to return to Korea. If the invitation to this event is really a special scenario with hell difficulty, then something is bound to happen tomorrow.
「𝙄 𝙜𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙮𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙜𝙪𝙮.」
There’s no need to rush. First, I need to focus on my immediate goal.
And so, I waited for the night to come, when I would soon obtain the Lantern of the Glowing Night.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
ᴀ𝔴ᴇ𝐛𝘴ᴛ𝚘ʀ𝐢𝚎ṡ.ᴄȯ̇ṁ
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