novelVol. 1 - Ep. 15
| ← Ch.014 | Ch.016 → |
Clang.
After a moment, the dungeon door opened. Imprisoned virgins shivered with fear, wondering who would be dragged out today. But the one who entered through the door was not the Blood Ruler spreading the smell of death nor the three horny knights. It was their savior with a golden halo.
"I know what you've been through. I'm sorry, I couldn't come earlier."
"Your... Highness?"
"Your Highness... did you defeat them?"
"Your Highness! Your Highness!"
The girls found their strength again and surrounded the princess to kneel and cry.
Seeing their haggard faces and bare bodies on the cold, dirty prison floor, Ereka cried.
When the late king was the ruler, this used to be a real prison where the real sinners were imprisoned and punished. But now, the Blood Ruler dishonored this place and imprisoned innocent people to abuse them.
She couldn't let this be repeated.
"I'm happy to see you okay during this time of sorrow."
"Your Highness..."
A woman in a rug grabbed Ereka's dress. Looking at the grubby woman, Ereka greeted her with a smile.
"Oh, Lady Narnia. You're okay!"
"You remember... my name..."
"Of course. When I visited Charity Hospital, you showed me around. I was worried about you."
"Your Highness..."
Her name was Narnia, not number 29. She burst into tears.
"Now. Everyone go back to your place. Now... from now on... I will not let this happen again."
Ereka comforted every one of them.
Looking at that scene, Sungjin was proud. If the words "hope" and "salvation" had a body, this must be it. This was a perfect example.
Yes, this was a true victory.
What he used to play on earth were e-sports games, but in this world, it was a war of victory or defeat. That meant that his choices had bigger consequences. He was able to do as much good as he was able to do evil.
The feeling of achievement was better, and of course, the reward and the honor following the victory were great. But those were not the only things he got from their victory.
He was also able to protect and save many people. There were people who were imprisoned in order to become sacrifices. And above all... there was a girl who abandoned her happiness to save them.
Beautiful.
Sungjin admired Ereka, who was comforting everyone. Her graceful smile as a royal princess was also the bright smile of a girl. Her tearful devotion as a ruler all concentrated in one person—she was beautiful.
And Sungjin protected that beautiful flower, which made him feel more proud and feel like this was the greatest victory ever.
In the world where a game was a war and not a sport, he realized how glorious victory could be.
Hm. This was tasteful.
He won in a battle where the destiny of a kingdom was at stake. There were other bigger words such as "honor, " "pride, " "self-respect" or "glory" that were better suited for his victory, but he summed it up as a tasteful experience and smiled.
After saving people, Ereka took Sungjin to another place—the state coffers of the castle.
When Ereka unlocked the magic spell, the coffers were full of gold bars and gold coins.
"Is everything pure gold?"
"Yes."
Sungjin estimated the quantity. One gold bar was 1kg. Comparing this to the things on earth was impossible, but one bar was worth at least 40-50 thousand dollars.
"200 thousand gold bars... is there a similar amount of gold coins?"
He was speechless when he estimated the total worth of around two billion dollars.
When one won first place in the world on earth, the prize would be 1/10, 000 of what he was looking at. Even if he took additional income into account, the best would be 1/1, 000.
This was the next level of a national budget.
"Yes, we won this over thanks to you. Half of this is yours."
"Half... ?"
"To continue your journey to become an Arc Master, you will need a lot of money. This is yours."
Half was one billion dollars, and in front of an unrealistic figure, he shook his head,
Living off the insurance money from his parents and having a ten-dollar chicken was a luxury for him. This was too much for him. If he were a normal high school student, he would have lost his mind.
But he quickly refocused.
Yes, this is a national budget, and the battle I fought was an internal war.
He was not just a gamer but a commander who was commanding in the middle of an internal war.
On earth, a national budget was normally a few dozen billion dollars, give or take, depending on the country's economy. The taxes from ten million people would be around one billion dollars. Having half of the kingdom meant that.
Ha. Look at me. I said I would become an Arc Master, and now I am realizing what that would be.
When he saw the people he saved and now when he saw the countless gold bars, he realized again that this was not a game, but a war between kingdoms. He didn't know what to do with this enormous amount of money.
Sungjin took one gold bar into his pocket as a souvenir. That was already worth tens of thousands of dollars.
And the rest...
"You can do whatever you please."
"What? But..."
"I told you from the beginning. I will titularly become an owner of half of the kingdom, but you will be the sole ruler. The army of the Blood Ruler retreated, but the people's livelihoods must be still miserable. Use it to take care of them."
"Will it be... okay?"
"First things first. I will get the rest after you manage everything."
Sungjin was reminded of the weary people that were freed from the prison. Becoming an Arc Master meant he would defeat kingdoms, which also meant that he would get political and financial power to control this enormous budget.
He didn't decide where to use it yet. But he wouldn't forget to use it to save people.
Looking at Sungjin, Ereka's heartbeat started to rush again.
You... really are a man of your word.
He promised to give her sole rulership, but she didn't expect him to keep his promise in front of gold.
He was really a man of his word.
She slowly approached Sungjin.
Huh?
When her clear and beautiful eyes came close to him, he lost his next thought for a moment. That moment, she kissed him on his cheek.
Huh!
Sungjin, who was cool in front of the massive amount of money, froze due to her actions. He didn't know how to explain the warm and tingling feeling spreading out from his cheek.
Anyways, this was the first time for him.
While his brain stopped functioning, Ereka stepped back blushing.
"Oh... don't think that this is strange. I was following the traditional manner... as a princess... I showed my appreciation to the knight who saved the kingdom. There was... no other intention."
"Ah, I got it. Hahaha, " answered Sungjin a little stupidly. This was completely out of his character.
"Yes. There was no other intention... then... I will leave you to it..." Ereka stuttered then ran away.
Without looking her way, she bumped into a wall on the right. And then, ran towards the left only to bump into a wall on that side too.
Sungjin vacantly stared at Ereka running zig-zag on the straight corridor.
Hm. Well... she said it was a gesture to thank me... it was a traditional manner... don't try to think about it too much. Hahaha.
Sungjin put his mind together with an awkward smile. But... the warm feeling remained.
On that day, Sungjin freed many people, and by giving up his gold, he provided enough food and hospitals to take care of them.
He deserved to have pride that he saved many people. His reward for that was his self-respect, the many people's appreciation and... a special appreciation from a girl.
* * *
Chapter 8
The next day, Ereka prepared Sungjin's breakfast after finishing up her morning duties for the castle and the territory.
That became a morning routine.
She prepared amazing food as usual... but holding the spatula, her mind was elsewhere.
Ahh. Sungjin was so cool yesterday.
Deep inside, she had given up, but he saved her with one single letter. He was a strong, charming man despite the fact he had no level.
I did something way too bold because of his charm... no... it was according to the tradition. There was no other intention.
That was the right level of appreciation. But... she didn't understand why she was blushing every time she was reminded of that moment.
He was not just strong. He had an incomparable character with the other high-level heroes. No other hero from any other kingdom tried to save her from the tyranny of the Blood Ruler. The three knights gave their loyalty to the Blood Ruler.
It was only Sungjin... who fought against the strong enemy to save her.
On top of that, he forgave Rittier's rudeness without hesitation and gave an enormous amount of gold to save the people. He is so manly.
Crackle. Crackle.
Her fried eggs were becoming coal, but she was still thinking of Sungjin.
What should I do to make him like it?
He seemed like a meat lover.
What if he hates me because I gave him something he doesn't like?
She thought that whenever necessary, it was better to have people take bitter medicine even if they didn't like it.
But what if he hates me because of that... ? If not hate, what if he thinks I'm boring... ?
Ha. What about the herbal medicine? He said that it was too bitter and that he didn't like it.
What if he got angry or bored with her when she insisted he take it? She thought that she was doing what she was supposed to do, but she couldn't understand why she was so worried.
Ereka couldn't comprehend the reason.
Her eggs became charcoal, and they ruined the frying pan.
Ha. First, I'll serve him his breakfast...
Then she finally realized what was going on in the kitchen. She burned the frying pan, the pot boiled over and smoke from the oven filled up the kitchen.
"Huh... Oh my god... What did I do?!"
She moved quickly to clean up the mess with a frown on her face, but it was too late.
During breakfast, Sungjin didn't know how to react with his breakfast that was so different from usual. Some food was burnt, while some were uncooked. The presentation was a luxury.
"Huh?"
He was not the complaining type, but since someone who used to be a good chef made this many mistakes, he was rather worried.
"I'm sorry. I will prepare your lunch properly."
Ereka dropped her head and apologized over and over again.
"No. It's ok. We've all woken up on the wrong side of the bed once or twice."
"No. Let me prepare your lunch properly."
"Don't worry about it."
Sungjin briefly thought maybe it was that time of the month, but he was polite enough not to ask such a question to a woman. He started to have his breakfast.
"Ah, but this is okay, " Sungjin complimented the fresh salad, although the presentation was not so tasteful.
"Is it?"
Ereka's eyes were shining with happiness. She was truly happy at least one thing pleased Sungjin.
Ah, thank god.
That was really good news. She was so relieved and happy. His comment made her happy again, just like magic.
Okay. I will make his lunch well.
* * *
After breakfast, Ereka walked with an elated mood and a beating heart.
Ah ah, Sungjin.
She brought him disastrous food, but Sungjin was nice to her instead of complaining.
And he found one good thing to cheer me up. I should really treat him with a nice lunch. What else does he like?
Ereka wanted to know everything about Sungjin.
Do you have a favorite color? What is your favorite flower?
And... what she really wanted to know the most was...
Did you... have a... lover... back in your... world?
When she summoned him, she thought he was one of those people who violated and had numerous women, but now knowing that he was the opposite of that, she wanted to know.
What if he had a lover... ?
She sighed.
Of course, he had one.
A charming guy like that, there must have been a line of girls waiting for him.
But how many...
She was curious, really curious, but she didn't have the courage to ask him. She wanted to know the truth, but she was too scared to listen to his answer.
Ha... what should I do... ?
After sighing for a while, she shook her head.
Silly me. What am I thinking? The war is not over.
When the Blood Ruler returns awakened, her kingdom will be in danger.
She only just recovered half of the kingdom; the people living in the other half were still suffering.
I need to focus on victory.
Supporting Sungjin to come up with a brilliant strategy was her job, not worrying about his past lovers.
Yes. No matter how many women he's had, he is still my savior. I need to support him to stay on the top of the game while training myself as a knight.
Curiosity was not a part of her duties.
Yes, I need to train my mind. My mind.
She walked into the practice room with her spear.
Ha.
She hit a block of wood, and the wood returned to her. Repeating that numerous times, a few dozen pieces of wood started to attack her from every direction.
She kept hitting them without using her Heroic Power to train herself. It was impossible to level up outside of the battlefield. But martial arts skills could still be trained.
In real situations, victory and defeat were decided by the skills given by God, but training herself in martial arts was better than nothing.
She tried to concentrate.
Concentrate... concentrate...
While she was trying to concentrate, Sungjin and Jenna entered the practice room.
"Oh, the princess is there."
"Huh? She started early."
"She is good, don't you think?"
"I agree. She is good."
Sungjin nodded.
Moving rapidly with a spear, Ereka's movement looked like a beautiful dance rather than just a fight. It was a martial art and a dance at the same time. It was powerful yet beautiful and practical but also ritual.
Gosh, you are looking at me. I don't know what to do.
Although she gave up being a girl a long time ago... but for some unknown reason, she didn't want to show herself like that.
Her spear lost its balance, and a piece of wood struck her shoulder.
Huh! What am I thinking? That doesn't matter. Concentrate!
"Huh? The princess made a mistake. That's rare."
"Hm, no one can be perfect all the time."
"Hehehe. But don't you think the princess with her spear is really beautiful? Other people say women are supposed to wear dresses and not armor, but I think she is beautiful and cool!"
"Ah, I agree with you."
A blooming flower in a dancing ball was beautiful, but the princess who was sweating from training to protect her people was equally beautiful.
"But... Hm..." Sungjin didn't finish his sentence.
What she really liked was cooking and dolls, but seeing her give up her favorite things and wear armor instead made him feel sorry for her. But that was not something he could say to someone who was trying her best.
Ereka couldn't stop listening to their conversation.
Why didn't he finish his sentence?
Three pieces of wood struck her.
Ouch. What I'm I doing, listening to other people's conversation in the middle of my training.
She corrected the grip of her spear.
There's no reason to be flattered. Sungjin is not a guy who would say bad things to someone in their face. Even if he thinks I'm ugly, he is generous enough to compliment me.
Ereka gave up her dresses for armor and decided not to pursue beauty. She thought it was not right for those things to linger as a ruler.
Now, I need to concentrate...
"Huh. You are not on top of your game today."
"We had a huge fight yesterday. It is okay to relax a bit."
"Hehe. You have a point. Ah, right. Sungjin Oppa."
"Hm?"
"How's the princess compare to all the girls you used to have in your world? Is she pretty like them?" with twinkling eyes and a flapping tail, Jenna asked Sungjin innocently.
"Cough."
What is this kid thinking about?
"Why in the world you think I was a womanizer?"
Ereka couldn't stop paying attention to his words.
"Huh? Because Grandpa told me you were a level 0 extra here but looking at your ability, you used to be the ultimate king of your world and will become one in this world as well. So we should treat you accordingly."
"To correct that, I've never even dated a girl."
"Really?"
At that moment, Ereka lowered her spear thoughtlessly and turned to ask Sungjin something
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