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< That little thing >
“Oh my god···. What kind of technology is this···.”
Since boarding the steel carriage, Hawkin has been looking around and exclaiming in admiration like a child who has been given a new toy.
“This simple yet elegant design!”
“A chair that can be turned into a bed with the push of a button!”
“What is this hole that the wind blows through? Is it a temperature maintenance spell?”
“Huh! What the heck is this strange mirror… Is it a short-distance communication magic? The outside scenery is so clear!”
Of course, the carriages of kings and nobles were more extravagant.
But the steel carriage I was riding in now was not a carriage, it was something else entirely.
“Wow, there’s something like this in the world!”
The more excited the former court wizard became, the more embarrassed Princess Alina became.
“Ahem. I think there were plenty of carriages like this back home.”
At the princess’s words, Hawkin’s eyes widened as if he was wondering what kind of nonsense that was.
“Yes? Princess? Where in the duchy is such a precious carriage located…”
Tingling.
Under the princess’s sharp gaze, Hawkin realized his mistake belatedly.
“Well, of course, it’s nothing compared to the carriage the princess used to ride in.”
“···I’m glad you remember. Well, this carriage isn’t too bad of a ride.”
The princess glanced at the man and then turned her head to the side sheepishly.
The man chuckled at the sight.
It’s still early morning.
“Cool···.”
The sleep-deprived children were lying down on their sheets and sleeping – they had to wear earplugs because of the noisy wizard – but the princess and Hawkin were busy exploring the inside of the carriage.
Old knight Leonard volunteered to be his groom.
The man spoke while looking at Leonard’s back through the monitor installed inside the carriage.
“That old man. I heard he was poisoned. Is that okay?”
Hawkin answered with a slightly serious expression on his face.
“The poison has already been detoxified. However, given Leonard’s age, it will take a long time for him to recover…”
Leonard was a white-haired old man in his seventies.
From his life on the run from the palace to the poison he was addicted to, the old knight’s physical strength was greatly weakened.
Nevertheless, Leonard volunteered to be the groom.
“Even though I’m old, I can still do this kind of thing!”
Because of that stubbornness, the king eventually told him to do as he pleased.
The man clicked his tongue and said.
“Is he honest or ignorant···.”
Hawkin nodded and sighed.
“I’m planning on taking over soon. It’s no use telling you now···.”
“Well, you two can figure that out.”
The man turned his head and looked at the princess.
“But how did you end up going to that village?”
At the man’s question, the princess, who had been sitting upright on the other side, turned her head to the side.
“I don’t want to talk.”
Although she was in decline, she was still royalty in her country.
Being in this small space with a strange man and answering questions as if I was being interrogated was an uncomfortable and unpleasant experience.
Besides, that man was extremely arrogant towards himself.
‘How dare you act like that in front of me.’
The man was sitting in front of the princess, half-reclining his seat, crossing his legs, yawning without covering his mouth, and looking straight at her.
It was an unacceptable and barbaric attitude for a princess who had grown up observing and learning court etiquette.
The princess’s worries weren’t limited to that.
‘If that man has a beastly mind…’
As expected of a girl who was only 18 years old, the princess had a very rich imagination.
The princess buttoned up her collar. Her voice trembled slightly.
“···Just be faithful to your escort mission all the way to the Elf Forest.”
Since it was obvious what she was thinking, the man nodded with a smirk.
“Yes, yes. I understand, Princess.”
“···Please refrain from using sarcastic language.”
Although the tone was extremely rude, the princess had to be content with glaring.
The great man set some rules as a condition for taking the princess and her party to the Elf Forest.
First, don’t expect to be treated like royalty.
Second, you must follow his instructions unconditionally.
Third, when you arrive at the Elf Forest and meet the Elder, leave the royal seal as collateral.
The princess thought, fiddling with her empty pockets.
‘How did that man know I had the royal seal?’
The only people who knew about it were the deceased Abama and Emamama. Even Leonard and Hawkin did not know that she had the seal.
By now, the traitor Marquis Ormonde may have figured out that the seal in the palace is a fake.
The real seal was now in that man’s hands.
‘The seal must be returned.’
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The royal seal, the symbol of the Hicks dynasty, was not a simple seal.
Within it was the power to revive the fallen principality.
‘It’s all the better. Right now, the safest place is in that man’s arms…’
Princess Alina’s mind was complicated with various thoughts.
At that moment, the man who was half-lying and looking at the ceiling turned his head and looked at her.
“Princess. I have a question.”
“······.”
The princess pulled her collar up tighter. Every time the man spoke so abruptly, her heart pounded with nervousness.
“···Please try not to talk to me.”
Be that as it may, the man said what he wanted to say.
“What do we do when we get to the Elf Forest?”
“What does that mean?”
The man said, tossing and turning a little.
“Literally. Are you going to live there quietly from now on or···.”
The princess said, raising her eyes. It was a question not worth thinking about.
“I have no intention of living in hiding for the rest of my life! I will gather my strength, punish the traitors, and reclaim my country!”
As the last bloodline of a royal family that had lost its country, it was not a choice but a duty.
The man muttered, “I guess so.” and looked up at the ceiling again.
“······.”
For a while there was no word between the two.
Until the big man spoke out of the blue in passing.
“So you’re saying that you’re going to start a war. I don’t really recommend it.”
The princess glared at the man fiercely and said.
“So are you saying I should leave alone the person who killed my parents?”
The man didn’t even look at the princess. He supported his head with his hands clasped together, half-closed his eyes, and spoke in a slow voice.
“Who said anything? Do as you wish, princess. But if you live your life clinging to revenge and success, you’ll end up struggling and missing out on all the good times.”
“What is that···.”
The man yawned and continued speaking.
“Hmm. Just ignore it. I’m just nagging you because you’re my senior. In Korea, that’s called nagging.”
Life senior?
Princess Alina was dumbfounded.
Because the man looked at most like he was two or three years older than her.
“You are a lazy and optimistic person by nature.”
At that moment, the man raised his head and looked at the princess. He smiled and said.
“You see? That’s my life’s goal.”
The smile was so innocent that Princess Alina was momentarily speechless.
Step by step.
The carriage continued on. As dawn passed, the scenery outside the window gradually became more vivid.
The princess turned her head and looked out the window.
“······.”
···It was awkward.
In the end, this time, Princess Alina spoke to the man first.
I just happened to be curious about something.
“Why do you want to meet the wisest dragon?”
The wisest dragon. Abraxas.
The emperors and kings of the continent, the great wizards and knights.
Many other people have tried to meet Abraxas, but only a few have actually met him.
Abraxas’ whereabouts were shrouded in mystery, and even if you contacted him through his friends – for example, the elven elders – he might not meet you.
“Even if you ask him, he might not meet you.”
“You just have to arrange it.”
The man seemed to think that Abraxas would definitely meet him.
The princess was dumbfounded by his unfounded confidence, but she couldn’t suppress her curiosity.
“Why do you want to meet the wisest dragon?”
“I have a few questions to ask.”
“···what?”
The man, who had his eyes closed, opened them and looked at the princess.
“You’re more interested in me than I thought. You even ask me personal questions?”
“Wh, what! I’m not interested!”
Princess Alina turned her head in confusion. At the same time, she pulled the collar of her dress tighter.
“I say it again! Don’t talk to me first from now on!”
The reaction was exactly that of a teenage girl, so the man chuckled and closed his eyes again.
The carriage running along the forest path rattled slightly like a rocking chair.
The ergonomically designed seats were comfortable, and the temperature inside the carriage was always kept pleasant.
‘It was a good decision to bring Jang Young-shin.’
There’s even a moderately warm sunlight streaming in through the gaps in the windows.
It would have been a perfect trip, if only there were no interruptions.
“Stop-!!”
The man sighed and opened his closed eyes.
“It’s at moments like this that an intruder appears.”
Looking at the monitor connected to the outside camera, dozens of people and horses were seen approaching in front of us, raising a cloud of dust.
“Bandits? Or have we already been pursued?”
The princess and Hawkin’s faces turned pale at the man’s muttering.
Just then, Leonard’s voice was heard from outside the carriage.
“Princess! These are the hunting dogs of the Marquis of Ormond!”
“How come already···.”
The man muttered to himself as he watched the princess clench her fists so hard that they turned white.
“It won’t be boring if we hang out together. Kids! Get up!”
The man shook the two little ones awake.
“Wow···. It’s breakfast already···?”
Lily muttered as she pushed the sleep mask over her head.
Her face was swollen like a steamed bun from eating a late-night snack.
On the other hand, Jang Young-shin suddenly got up like a zombie,
“···I’m sleepy.”
dump.
Lie down on the road.
The man shook his head at the sight of the two peaceful little children.
“Don’t you guys have any sense of tension? There’s an enemy outside!”
But the person who said that didn’t seem too nervous.
Leonard’s urgent voice was heard again from outside the carriage.
“Princess! Hold on tight to the carriage, we will break through the enemy lines! I will protect you even at the cost of my own life, so don’t worry about anything….”
The old man finally woke Jang Yeong-shin up and said.
“Youngshin. First, stop the carriage.”
“···Uhm···. Yes.”
Jang Yeong-shin nodded with sleepy eyes. The boy took out the remote control and operated it simply, and as if by magic, the carriage stopped.
After a while, the old man, who was hesitating to get out of the carriage, saw the sight of a bewildered old knight swinging his whip wildly at the iron horse.
“Hey! Can’t we run right now!”
The man shivered in the chilly air as he spoke.
“Old man. Go inside and get some sleep. I’m going to rest here for a bit.”
Leonard turned to the old man and shouted. The old man looked more anxious than ever.
“What do you mean, you’re just resting! Are you saying you can’t see those enemies?”
The man shielded himself from the sunlight with his hand and watched his pursuers getting closer.
Doo doo doo doo doo!
The number was about fifty. They were all armed knights on horseback.
“How could I not see it? My eyesight is better.”
“Then let me ride again immediately! They are the knights of the duchy! They are not the bandits you fought yesterday!”
The man shook his head. It was obvious what would happen if he broke through them as Leonard had said.
“I don’t like getting scratches on the carriage. I don’t like cleaning up old people’s corpses either.”
“This guy!”
Even as the two men were struggling, dozens of horses were running toward the carriage.
“Surround them!”
The pursuers surrounded the carriage in an instant and drew their swords. Their movements were as precise as if they had practiced countless times.
Leonard’s expression darkened abruptly as he spotted one of his enemies.
“Why of all people···”
The man who stepped forward was a man in his mid-forties with a carefully groomed mustache.
“It’s been a while, Sir Leonard.”
Despite his polite tone, the mustachioed man’s mouth was filled with sneer.
“Did you change your job to a groom while I wasn’t seeing you? It suits you very well.”
Laughter spread among the knights surrounding the carriage.
The mustachioed man, looking around with satisfaction, continued speaking.
“Please hand over the woman in the carriage. By any chance… you haven’t touched her already, have you?”
“Shut up, you punk!”
Chae-Ang!
The excited knight drew his sword and shouted.
“Count Monchi! You dirty traitor! I will punish you today!”
Monchi smirked, stroking his moustache, which was usually his pride and joy.
“You are now a count. Unlike some who lost their titles and ran away like dogs, you have risen to fame.”
Slurp.
Count Monchi drew his sword and stepped forward.
“Hero Leonard. Ever since I was young, I thought your reputation was exaggerated. A knight who isn’t even a sword master is a hero… How pathetic.”
Wooooow!
Pure white mana flowed over Count Monchi’s sword. The mana completely enveloped the blade, forming a solid and sturdy form.
There was an outburst of admiration among the knights.
“Ohhhhh!”
Aura Blade.
A technique that only the ultimate swordsmen can use, that can cut anything in the world.
Count Monchi spoke, intoxicated by his own dazzling Auror Blade.
“If you’re a hero, this is what you should be like. I am the future of the duchy.”
Count Monchi was the only swordmaster in the Duchy of Hicks.
Born into a family that has produced outstanding knights for generations, he is a swordmaster who has become complete through the combination of full support and great talent.
He was that narcissistic and had a strong desire to show off.
Count Monchi dismounted from his horse and began walking towards Leonard.
“No one should come forward. I will personally cut off the hero’s head. And then···”
Monchi licked his lower lip with his tongue. He had been feeling hot for the past few days and it was hard to control himself.
“The woman in the carriage is mine.”
“This nooooooooooo!!”
Leonard drew his sword like lightning and charged.
But with his old and weakened body and the aftereffects of addiction, there was no way he could defeat the Sword Master.
Chae-Ang!
The sword flew away with a single stroke,
Choaack!
The armor was cut off by the sword,
Phew!
The old knight with three swords knelt before the enemy.
dump.
“Coolook···.”
Count Monchi’s sword was waiting like an executioner’s axe on Leonard’s neck, who was spitting out blood.
The old man muttered, looking back at the carriage as if making a will.
“Princess… Please get out of here quickly….”
Count Monchi stroked his moustache and spoke with a look of narcissism on his face.
“A worthless hero of the old days. He meets his end at the hands of a true hero of the new age. How about this? The tombstone should read….”
At that moment, Count Monchi instinctively swung his sword at the eerie sensation.
-Kyaaaaang!
Swords clashed, sparks flying. Count Monchi took a few steps back.
In the spot where he had been standing just a moment ago, a black-haired young man was standing there, licking his lips.
The man who had released [Hide] shook the blood droplets on the tip of his sword onto the floor.
“Tch. You’re a sword master, so you have good instincts.”
Count Monchi touched his face, his face turning pale.
Blood was flowing from the wound on his cheek.
It’s okay if you get hurt. You can always heal yourself.
But it’s not his beard that’s his pride.
“no way···.”
The ambush was barely averted, but part of his proud moustache was cut off.
“My, my beard!!”
In the meantime, the man applied a potion to Leonard’s wounds and administered first aid, then lifted him by the back of his neck and threw him towards the carriage.
WHEEK!
Leonard’s body, which had been flying in a parabolic arc, landed lightly on the roof of the carriage.
“It’s an expensive potion, so you won’t die.”
The man turned his head again and looked at Count Monchi.
The sword master that the duchy was proud of was walking towards me with a scary face that seemed like it came out of a dream.
In the meantime, one side of his beard was cut off and he looked ridiculous.
“Hey you… I don’t know who you are… but you won’t die nicely!!”
Wooooow!
Count Monchi’s Mana Blade shined even brighter.
“My Auror Blade will tear your soul to pieces!”
The man chuckled and raised his sword.
“What the hell has Auror Blade been acting like he’s so great all this time?”
“What? You don’t even know what you’re talking about…”
“That’s nothing.”
Wooooow!
Above the great man’s sword, an aura blade grew that was sharper than Count Monchi’s.
The man said, curling one corner of his mouth.
“Can I do it too?”
“!!”
The moment Count Monchi opened his eyes wide in shock, the great man suddenly rushed forward.
< That little thing > is the end
ⓒ Ganjjajang
