Boom! Kwung!
'I've become successful too. I can even make appointments with girls.'
Boohoo! Boohoo!
'Well, half of the appointments are just work-related talk, and the only serious ones are Gomsoon.'
Lee Han is neither a fool nor a dullard.
Although he had known Gomsoon's feelings for a long time, as he had said the day before, Leehan felt that her feelings were complicated.
‘In some ways, it could be a feeling that comes from gratitude and trust… .’
Pure emotions that come from being young.
Considering that he was at an age where it was difficult to distinguish between affection and admiration, Lee Han had a hard time accepting that feeling as affection unconditionally.
Rather, it was thought to be closer to longing.
That's why Lee Han didn't judge or accept those feelings hastily.
Because I don't want to hurt you by taking those delicate feelings lightly.
'I don't know if it's bigger, but not yet.'
When your precious disciple grows up and becomes independent, free from the longing for others, you will probably be able to truly know the answer.
So, even though Lee Han knew his disciple's feelings, he pretended not to know or took them seriously.
Just because you noticed it doesn’t mean you can take it lightly… .
'The child is so kind and wonderful.'
It was a decision that Lee Han made after serious consideration, not because he was young and immature, but because she was a woman who was too kind to him, and thanks to that, Lee Han wasn't overly excited about having a promise with a woman.
Just promise to take everything seriously.
Kwaaang!
“Phew….”
Lee Han let out a heavy breath, feeling slightly dissatisfied and relaxed, perhaps because he was too worried to focus on exercising.
“This isn’t even a warm-up.”
“Haha, our brother is still faithful. Are you thinning out the land?”
“… It’s just a way to exercise and earn some money. But why is the ‘King of Religion’ here, huh? He’s the one who’s high.”
“Oh, oh! Just speak to me in a friendly manner like you usually do, brother. When you call me that, I feel like I’m suddenly becoming distant.”
“Oh my, how can a mere commoner do something like that to such a high-ranking person?”
“Heh heh, this is really….”
It was Lee Han's mischievous remark, and [the new King] Raphael laughed heartily.
* * *
The vast eastern forest of the royal capital,
The forest, famous for its dense foliage, was also called the "Black Forest," a nickname given to it because it was always dark during the day due to the large and tall trees.
Because the soil's fertility was so strong, the trees grew at an incredible rate. Because of this, the trees in the forest could collide with each other and start a fire. Also, because the soil could be depleted too much, thinning was always in progress, but new trees were growing faster than people were pulling them out.
But now, these two people, Lee Han and Raphael, were having a conversation in a bright environment, not dark, even though they were in the black forest.
The reason this is possible is….
'Still a monster.'
Judia Pierre, the secretary and escort priest who followed Raphael to perform his duties.
Even she, who is usually expressionless, was left in awe at the sight that unfolded before her.
'Even if it doesn't work out, it'll probably be 1,200 trees.'
The trees were uprooted.
Most of them were dead or rotten trees that had not received enough sunlight, but even though they were dead, they were incredibly heavy and solid, and even their roots were deep in the ground, making it difficult to thin them out one by one.
And now, there were as many as 1,200 of those trees, all uprooted.
But looking at him, who was not even tired after uprooting that many trees, but rather just sweating a little, I started to feel tired.
Even if it wasn't possible, it means that they pulled out an average of 450 kg of trees like pulling out grass.
However, the person who actually did this just treated it as nothing special and continued the conversation indifferently.
"how have you been doing?"
“I couldn’t do it. At this age, I suddenly had a lot of work to do, so I couldn’t handle it. I feel like I want to retire right away, haha.”
“Can’t you retire? Even if you retire, the temple will just fall into ruin.”
“Haha! That’s a big deal. Isn’t that why you’re acting like a king, which you’re not fit for? If the temple collapses, that’ll be a big deal in its own right.”
“Then I guess I’m having a hard time buying it.”
“That's right.”
Crunch!
While they were talking, Lee Han lightly chopped down a tree with his bare hands and made a chair on the spot, which he gave to Raphael.
It was a kindness that was crude but respectful to adults, and Raphael bowed his head slightly in gratitude.
dump.
“Wow, you’re really talented, brother. It looks like it was made roughly, but it’s so comfortable.”
“I’ve done some carpentry work before. When I retire, I’ll do some light work to make a living… No, that’s not it. Why did you come here, sir?”
Lee Han-do quickly sat down on the chair he had just made and asked a question.
It was one thing to have come all the way to this distant eastern forest, but it was also one to wonder why the new king, who was having a hectic day as he had said, had come all the way here.
“I think we’ve come too far for a walk.”
Of course I didn't believe him when he said he had come for a walk.
Would you have just come all this way? You must have come for a purpose.
As expected.
“I think it would be right to start by apologizing.”
“…Shouldn’t we stop this? It’s so burdensome.”
Raphael, he bowed deeply for a moment and nodded his head.
He was already trembling because his old body was bent down like that, and Lee Han approached him and made him stand up, but his body was firm.
I could force him to wake up, but I couldn't force him because that would be like ignoring his true feelings.
“I know you’re young at heart, but your body isn’t. That’s why I say we shouldn’t do this. If we do something wrong, you’ll get hurt.”
“I just wanted to apologize like this, no, maybe I just wanted to feel better. The temple, no, we were truly sinful….”
“…The maid’s actions are not your fault.”
Lee Han shook his head, quickly explaining why he was doing this.
In the past, that is, for the past 50 years, the maid had asked the temple for help, but the temple ignored her.
They dismissed it as nothing serious and ignored the matter because she was a low-ranking nun.
Well, the temple may have its own excuses.
Either they were unable to approach due to the misfortune caused by the curse of a high-ranking demon, or they simply believed the words and had difficulty sending people… -.
“These are all petty excuses. It would have been possible to verify this at any time, and there are plenty of means to avoid the curse in the temple.”
“…….”
Yeah, that's exactly what I said.
The temple has no excuses.
I just 'didn't' check it.
Ignore. The temple did something that was tantamount to denying the very meaning of my existence.
“Even the inspiration didn’t know. I told him not to do that.”
“Not knowing is no excuse. He is a high-ranking demon, a high-ranking demon. But it is so pitiful that we have neglected such a demon for 50 years, no, 300 years. It is shameful to even raise our heads….”
"hmm."
“Our sins are so deep, so deep…….”
Raphael was reciting his sermons as if he were a sinner confessing his sins, and Lee Han understood why he was acting that way.
“No, well, I understand everything, but why are you doing this to me? I’m not a priest who hears confessions or anything.”
He shrugged his shoulders and said playfully.
It wasn't the right thing to say in this heavy atmosphere, but Lee Han didn't care.
That makes sense.
“The more you apologize, the more the maid will dislike you. So let’s stop this dull conversation.”
“…….”
“I heard that you even found the maid’s name and were very enthusiastic about making her a saint. Thank you. It would be advantageous for the temple to do it late, but you went ahead despite everyone else’s objections.”
“… I just did what I was supposed to do, but I feel embarrassed when I get praised for it.”
“Don’t do that. I know what you’re going through, sir, and that criminal knows that too. So stop apologizing. The ones who should be apologizing didn’t even apologize and went to hell. How can someone who’s innocent do that?”
“…….”
“I’m satisfied just to have found out your real name. It’s a pretty name.”
“…Haha, Brother Lee Han always teaches me.”
“I’m not teaching you anything, I’m just telling you what’s on my mind.”
“… … That’s what’s great.”
Raphael smiled faintly and lowered his head again, and Lee Han tried to raise him up again, telling him not to do that.
… … It was Lee Han who realized anew that sometimes sincerity, when taken to excess, can be more powerful than anything else.
* * *
Lee Han and Raphael chatted for a while.
If not for this opportunity, neither he nor I would have had time to talk, so we took this opportunity to let out all the stories that had been building up.
Thanks to this, Lee Han learned about various things.
Establishing a new education system, including improving the constitution of the temple, and even opening a theology department at the academy.
Besides,
“Why did you bring that criminal, or rather, that cuckoo red?”
“…The title seems a bit strange?”
“You’re a criminal, aren’t you? You betrayed Master Raphael and keep moving your nest here and there, just like a cuckoo.”
“…….”
Cuckoo Red is the fact that Pierre started again as a junior priest in the Inquisition.
“It will probably take ten years for the temple to be completely restored to normal. Of course, this is only the minimum, and I think we will have to establish more laws and principles to prevent something like the past from happening again.”
“Wouldn’t it take 50 years, not 10, to decide on something like that? So when are you going to retire?”
“Haha, but I have to do it anyway. I have to live a long life. It may take 100 years, not 50, but I will do it.”
"…really."
“In that sense, it would be great if there were a righteous and brave knight in the temple. How is it, Brother Lee Han, you are not interested…?”
"it's okay."
“Oh, that’s too bad. But if you have any thoughts, come to me anytime. The position of the Knight Commander will always be vacant.”
“What is the captain saying now…?”
I also received a scout offer.
“Oh, and the stone statue.”
“…….”
“We will manage it at the temple level. In order to transform it into a holy relic, we will have priests infuse it with divine power every day. If we do that, it will be designated as a national treasure that even the temple or royal family cannot touch. Hehe.”
“Ahem, that, that’s a good thing. But why are you telling me that? It has nothing to do with me.”
“Well? I just wanted to tell you. I think it would be good for you to know.”
"……greatness."
Even the future plans of the statue of the saint.
It was a time of fairly meaningful conversation, and as if to prove that time had passed quickly, the light disappeared and darkness began to fall.
It was not the darkness that came from the thick trees, but the darkness that truly came with the setting of the sun, and it was a sign that the time of our separation was approaching.
Checking out this sky… .
“… … So, what do you really want to say?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’ve become a sly snake because you’ve become the King of the Religion? You must have a favor to ask. That’s probably why you came all the way here.”
“…….”
“You wanted to apologize. You wanted to talk, really. But there’s something else, right? Your real purpose.”
“… There is nothing I can hide from you, brother.”
“It’s just because I have good hearing and a good sense of smell.”
As soon as Lee Han finished speaking, Raphael let out a soft, embarrassed laugh.
It seems like it's been a while since I've had an experience this clear.
As if a little embarrassed.
… but the shame was only temporary, and he, who had eliminated his hesitation,
“Brother, can you help me?”
I shamelessly asked for help.
To the most trustworthy man I know.
“What is it?”
“I got a piece of information.”
“?”
“Do you know the [Brass Knights]?”
“… in detail.”
“Haha!”
also….
'Coming to see this brother is the right thing to do.'
The knight's eyes, answering with such confidence, shone so brightly that they could pierce the darkness.
Like a furnace that melts everything.
