176
First snow
“Director, why are you like that? What happened?”
Gesher Wind of the Eastern Management Bureau turned his gaze to Sinan Halina’s question.
There was Avery, dressed more fully than usual.
However, I couldn’t say anything because it was related to Selena, the director of the Central Management Bureau.
“I don’t know. I guess it’s cold.”
“Well, the temperature control device broke down during the last incident···.”
Sinan nodded to Halina’s muttering. The imperial palace was turned upside down as the supply plane escaped.
Starting with the elevator, everything from the temperature control device to the big things collapsed, but the biggest problem of all was-.
‘The supplier is dead.’
If it were normal, I would have just roughly subdued them and turned them around, but since it was a gray tower succession ceremony, there were too many eyes watching.
For that reason a general meeting was held and Gesher Wind was brought in to fill the number of members.
Gesher Wind glanced around. The heads of each bureau, as well as high-ranking officials from the imperial family, were all gathered there.
At that moment, the door opened and people in splendid armor came in. The captain of the imperial knights, who rarely showed up, was at the forefront.
It was obvious who the Imperial Knight Commander was guarding. Everyone stood up and paid their respects.
He was the crown prince who took care of affairs on behalf of the emperor who was lying in bed.
The crown prince, sitting at the head of the table, made a slight gesture. Even though it was his first time attending a meeting, he seemed natural.
“Then let’s begin.”
“I bow deeply to the Crown Prince,” declared the Minister of the Household, Will Strahm, in a low voice.
‘The sword has no master.’
Gesher Wind muttered quietly as he looked around.
“We had a feeder that had never caused any trouble before start moving out of its place.”
The Minister of the Interior emphasized that “not a single problem has occurred,” seemingly implying that the mistake was caused by external factors rather than a problem with the supply unit.
‘It’s starting to turn.’
The meeting went as expected.
“I heard that the genitals were pulled out. The genitals of the supplier are connected to the compensation room, so wouldn’t the problem have occurred in the compensation room?”
“The management of the compensation room was thorough. The surviving imperial knight testified that the condition of the supply machine was not good. Was there a problem with the management?”
The conversation quickly exchanged words as if they had prepared for it. It was a fight to shift responsibility.
Gesher Wind thought it was fortunate that the Eastern Management Agency was there. The Eastern Management Agency, which had no presence, had no place in this incident.
I thought so-.
“I am Avery, the director of the Eastern Management Agency.”
Avery stood up, his face pale and pale, like someone drowning in water.
‘···This is fucked.’
Gesher Wind bit his lip tightly.
Instinctively, I looked at Selena’s face. Selena’s beautiful forehead, slightly off center, was slightly wrinkled.
“To make up for the sluggishness of last quarter, we have over a hundred devils to harvest this quarter, and the absence of a supply machine in this situation is a big problem.”
Someone muttered quietly, ‘Who doesn’t know that?’
“What’s important now is not finding the cause, but restoring the supply. The previous supply didn’t have a good yield either.”
Avery’s eyes were fixed on Selena.
Selena’s face crumpled slightly. Avery’s eyes lit up as he looked at her.
‘This guy is really crazy.’
Avery seemed to see this meeting as an opportunity. When else would an Eastern Director meet with such a person?
Gulp, Gesher Wind grabbed Sinan Halina’s hand in anxiety and got hit with a snap!
“What are you trying to say?”
The Minister of the Interior asked in a voice full of discomfort.
“There is a demon who can replace him – no, who will perform better. The Demon of Despair in the West.”
Avery got straight to the point.
It was the devil in the report about Selena. It seemed like he was trying to draw attention to Selena’s mistakes.
“The Demon of Despair is not good enough to be a feeder.”
The Western Director answered curtly.
“At first, the supply of the previous prayers was insufficient. It was possible because I received strength from Him.”
There was laughter here and there. There was also a clicking of the tongue asking who put such a young child in the position of director.
at that time.
“Quiet.”
Everyone closed their mouths and bowed their heads at the crown prince’s soft words.
“The demons of despair have the same roots.”
Although the words were incomprehensible, sighs and exclamations of admiration burst out from all over.
Gesher Wind also roughly matched the mood.
Avery’s face also relaxed.
Gesher Wind looked at Selena.
Avery’s scheme really puts Central Administration Director Selena in a difficult position…
‘···You’re laughing, aren’t you?’
Selena was smiling brightly. It was the same smile I had seen in the elevator, but the atmosphere she gave off was completely different.
Gesher Wind quickly closed his eyes at the murderousness in that smile.
“To collect the demons of despair.”
No one questioned the crown prince’s quiet command.
***
‘You’re finally back.’
Nova looked up at Aaron, who was standing in front of her.
Although there was faith that Aaron would return, it was also unsettling as this was the longest period of absence he had ever been out of.
Baron Fullfoot also asked Nova about Aaron every day.
I was glad that Aaron returned safely, but…
“Why Inquisitor Joanna Ethan?”
Nova frowned at the woman behind Aaron.
Inquisitor Joanna Ethan, who was as tall as any man, was right behind Aaron.
Nova couldn’t understand the situation at the moment.
“I don’t know either.”
Nova’s brow furrowed at Aaron’s short answer.
Does it make sense for a grown woman to cling to a man?
But I couldn’t say anything about Aaron’s indifferent attitude.
“this.”
Aaron held out a crumpled piece of paper.
It was a vacation certificate that Nova had given me. There was a little bit of blood on it, which made me very suspicious of where he had gone on vacation.
“It’s been a long time.”
Nova asked, taking care of him.
“Because things are taking a long time.”
“Where did you go?”
“capital.”
Nova’s brow furrowed at Aaron’s answer. This was Cassadic, the easternmost point.
It was impossible to go and come back in a week. However, Aaron had no reason to lie.
Nova nodded and took out the paper she had prepared. It was a paper that summarized what had happened at Cassidy while Aaron was away.
Nova, who was about to hand it over, glanced at Inquisitor Joanna Ethan and read it himself.
“I visited from the top of Gyarot. The purpose was to demand the return of the looted goods.”
“You won.”
Nova sighed softly at Aaron’s short answer.
I don’t know how the words ‘You won’ came out right away in the story above, but it was even more absurd that it was true.
The upper rank of Gyarrot seemed to be planning to persuade Baron Fullfoot, so he visited with more items than usual.
Fullfoot firmly refused, and the returning Gyarrot top group naturally got into an argument with the strong Aaron top group.
“We were completely defeated under Vermunt’s command.”
In a way, it was an obvious result.
According to the information, the main personnel of the upper ranks of Aaron were all the heritage of the Kingdom of Byzant.
Moreover, the man named Vermunt and the woman named Sophia were said to be of general origin, so it was natural that they would not be able to compete with them even if they were the grand prize.
“Further contact has been made with Viscount Bonita, and a contingent has set out to supply supplies to the Castle of Byzant.”
“I see.”
Nova frowned at Aaron’s uninspiring answer and continued speaking.
“The Cathedic branch of the White Tower is under construction. According to the Swallows, the construction of the tower is more urgent than the sewers, so we had no choice. It won’t take as long as we thought······.”
Although it was a case of a secretary reporting to a mere security chief, Nova didn’t feel anything strange.
Aaron, who had listened to the report until the end, scratched his cheek and slowly opened his mouth.
“The palace has collapsed.”
“······what?”
A stupid answer came out of Nova’s mouth.
“The palace has collapsed.”
“I’m not asking because I couldn’t hear it… No, why the palace!”
“They say a demon came out of the palace.”
“······devil?”
“Oh, a devil. They say it was a huge devil…”
Nova’s eyes narrowed even further at Aaron’s subtle tone.
Aaron going to the capital, the palace suddenly collapsing, Aaron’s subtle way of speaking. An unbelievable hypothesis came to mind when I combined the three.
“······No?”
There was no answer. Just as Nova was about to urge him on, Aaron reached into his pocket as if trying to take something out.
Then, Inquisitor Joanna’s eyes widened. Inquisitor Joanna looked at Aaron, tiptoeing slightly.
Aaron pressed his finger against Inquisitor Joanna Ethan’s forehead.
‘What is this guy doing out and about?’
Nova’s eyes sharpened at how close they looked.
Then Aaron pulled a long piece of cloth out from inside his armor.
It was a very luxurious dress worn by nobles. Aaron threw it lightly to Nova as if he was throwing bread.
Nova, who had received the dress by chance, blinked for a moment. It was an extremely luxurious dress.
The way she took it out was a little strange, but Nova had to use all her strength to keep her lips from melting at the beautiful sight of the dress.
“It’s a souvenir.”
Nova nodded without raising her head and only moving her neck.
Aaron said something after that, but Nova didn’t hear it because she was so focused on the dress.
He just kept nodding his head.
As Aaron left the room, Nova quickly called Blossom. With Blossom’s help, she put on the dress-.
Nova realized that Aaron greatly overestimated her.
“It’s okay. If you tie it like this…!”
Blossom hastily tied the front of her dress, but the dress flowed down without resistance.
Nova squeezed her eyes shut and stuffed a handful of walnuts into her mouth.
***
‘Good.’
The top of the Gyarrot moved faster than expected, but with Choco and Brock Lesnar, it seemed like it was blocked smoothly.
‘It’s bigger than I thought.’
I nodded as I looked around. Perhaps because of the statue’s effect, there were more visitors than before.
The Cassadic coin was growing by itself.
Knock knock.
“Didn’t you just eat it? There isn’t any left now.”
Call.
“Even if you write an impression, it really doesn’t exist.”
Call!
“There really isn’t any.”
Lunggyeop’s head dropped. Lunggyeop kept poking my neck, wondering if the cake he had brought to the five eldest sons really tasted good.
The guy had already eaten five pieces of cake. It should have been ‘moderate’, but he had no self-control at all.
Even though there was no cake, Lunggeup held onto the leather belt of the breastplate and did not let go.
‘Are you trying to keep it from popping out?’
The week I was away must have been tough for him, because he seemed worried that I might run away again. His face was also quite pale.
‘I got fired as soon as I became the vice-abbot.’
The abbot who became the father of the second abbot must have felt betrayed.
I clicked my tongue and walked. I was heading to the under-construction tower.
If Park Dae-gari goes wild again, the Cassadic coin could plummet, so we had to check in advance.
“It’s Aaron! Aaron is back!”
“Aaron is here!!”
The guys who saw me from all over the place ran around screaming. I responded by shaking my fist at them.
‘You’ve built a lot.’
I was a little impressed by the rather tall tower. It was built in a hurry, so it was a bit ambiguous to call it a tower.
Rather than the rooftop…
‘It looks like a very well-made Cheomseongdae.’
It was just a pile of neatly cut stones in a circular shape. If you went inside, it seemed like you would be able to see the stars in the sky very well.
A bald dwarf was shouting loudly, and men were busily carrying stones.
The most outstanding of them is-.
“It’s okay! I’ll take it! Everyone, get out of the way! Get out of the way!”
Park Daegari was even more energetic. Park Daegari was running around with a stone tied to his body.
‘You found your niche.’
It was a better option than studying magic with that head. With that level of skill, I was sure I would be treated the best at any construction site.
‘Has Yeongju given up on it?’
Well, how can you stop Park Dae-gari from climbing the wall with his bare hands every night?
“You’re here! Brother!”
Nod.
I clicked my tongue at the nodding of the head in greeting towards me.
“The Painful Wizard is inside!”
One of the stonemasons pointed inward.
‘······The Wizard of Pain?’
It was a very fancy title, but I could tell immediately who it was referring to.
As we entered Cheomseongdae, we saw Kkwobarou, a female magician, and Kanna.
Kanna, who discovered me, jumped up and ran towards me at a fast pace.
It seemed like he hadn’t stopped exercising while I was away, as he was moving very fast. However, his large eyes filled with tears caught my eye.
Bean. Kanna, who had been attached to my leg, looked up at me. Kanna, who had been gaping for a moment, quickly poured out her words.
“I also built the walls… and now I can do the triple lightning strike, and I also carved the magic spell for the magic tower, and that, and this… and I can also put lightning in ice, and….”
Kanna quickly stretched out her words in a voice full of moisture. I scratched my cheek at her desperate voice.
Most of them were more eccentricities than achievements, but I couldn’t bring myself to point them out.
“Well done.”
I pressed Kanna’s round head with as much force as I could.
“I also prepared the sewer site with Vivian, and I also made the ice that Hana asked for, and I also received an additional knight from Namaiyad, and I also made a Deokgu statue with Hana and sold it, and also-.”
Kanna continued to whine, the corners of her lips slightly raised.
‘Have you grown a bit taller?’
He pressed his round head once more. Kanna nodded vigorously and closed her mouth.
“You’re back.”
Kuobarou spoke in a solemn voice. He glanced at the female magician next to him and saw that her gaze was strange.
‘He doesn’t seem to know, though.’
I clicked my tongue at the bastard’s insensibility.
“What is that? Those creepy eyes.”
“Your eyes are uglier.”
“······?”
Kuobarou frowned. He muttered for a moment as if trying to understand the conversation, then shook his head.
“How’s the progress?”
“It will soon be over, just taking the form of the original purpose.”
It certainly looked worse once you got inside. It looked pretty nice from the outside, but inside it was just a Cheomseongdae observatory covered in graffiti.
“I engraved that. This is a mana fusion spell. It is used to change the direction of mana and cut the connected mana strings. In the case of mana, from the moment it enters a person·········.”
Kanna started babbling again. I nodded as if I understood the somewhat incomprehensible and difficult story.
Then she started to chatter even more excitedly. Kanna explained the magic circles one by one as if she was bragging about her summer homework.
I just let it slide and applauded.
When I glanced back, I saw that the slaughtered person had just peeked his head out of the door, having run away at some point. To the slaughtered person, Kanna’s story seemed like a worship service.
The Kuobarou and the female wizard nodded their heads repeatedly with sparkling eyes in admiration.
Kkwobarou even muttered softly, ‘Kanna, Kanna.’
Anyway, I was glad that Kanna seemed to be doing well.
“I see. That’s great.”
I nodded, desperately holding back a yawn.
“And this is a mana joint for direct connection of mana. It was originally used to extract mana from high-ranking monsters that contained mana, but now Vivian’s mana is becoming increasingly difficult to handle, so I decided to use it.”
Kanna described the ominous-looking object in a slightly sullen voice.
‘······This to Park Dae-gari?’
It was something that looked like an outlet. Two large, sharp needles sticking out of it, and a thick, long cord extending from them.
It was a truly medieval design that looked like it would hurt no matter where you put it.
“Where do I put that?”
“I’ll put it in the heart! Mana spreads from the heart.”
‘Then won’t I die?’
I scratched my cheek at Kanna’s lively answer. I wondered if I should tell her that putting something like that in her heart would kill her.
“If you put something like that in… isn’t it dangerous?”
“Oh, it’s okay. I applied some basilisk venom.”
Kuabarou shook his head at my question.
‘I see.’
I nodded at Kkwobarou’s explanation. Since Basilisk venom has paralyzing and hemostatic properties, it seemed like it would be okay to inject it into the heart.
It was quite an expensive item, but it seemed like he managed to get it.
“Aaron! You’re back!”
At that moment, Park Dae-ga-ri, who had a hole in his heart, came in, greeting us cheerfully.
The head of the park, covered in mud from hard work, waved its hands vigorously. Judging from the sound of the air tearing, it seemed to be very happy.
‘You can be beautiful in that state.’
I gave a small exclamation of admiration.
“That’s good. The primary preparations are done, so let’s take the test.”
Kuobarou spoke briefly and gestured to Park Daegari. Park Daegari jumped up and approached him.
“Is there something heavy? Just leave it to me!”
“Please sit over here.”
Kuobarou pointed to a chair that looked menacing. It looked like it was going to be used for torture, but Park Daegari quickly sat down on the chair.
The female sorceress handed the outlet to Kuabarou.
Kuobarou grabbed the outlet and took a deep breath.
The outlet that sticks out next.
It was a very natural flow.
I hurriedly raised my hand to stop him.
“what?”
“I need to wash first.”
I clicked my tongue at the sight of them trying to drill a hole in my heart without even performing basic disinfection.
“Huh? What are you trying to do? Ah!”
The person in question, Park Dae-gari, seemed not to have even been notified of the surgery. Park Dae-gari’s eyes widened when he saw the outlet.
“I will implant this into my heart. Then, Kanna will be able to use the filtered mana, and it will be easier to handle the mana than before. There will also be more ways to use it.”
“Huh?! On my chest?! No!”
Park’s head flinched in surprise.
“It’s okay. Baron Fullfoot agrees.”
“It’s my chest! What does my father’s consent have to do with it!”
“You said Baron Fullfoot agreed?”
The female wizard and the goblin asked back as if they really didn’t know.
Park Dae-gari, whose face was sad, looked at Kanna.
“It’s something that needs to be done, Vivian.”
Kanna answered with a crumpled face, as if her cheek had been pinched.
Park Dae-gari, who had been crying, laughed brightly at Kanna’s words. The corners of his mouth trembled, but it was his usual bright smile.
“I will! Hmph! I’m perfectly healthy! I’ll be fine!”
Park Dae-gari took a deep breath and closed his eyes tightly.
“It’ll be over soon.”
Kuobarou fixed the outlet.
A natural progression that continues again.
The outlet was pushed out, Kanna shut her eyes tightly, and the corners of Park Daegari’s mouth trembled.
“The plague… Disinfect it.”
I hurriedly grabbed the outlet.
Trying to poke a hole in your heart while your whole body is covered in mud-.
‘Ignorant bastards.’
I clicked my tongue and spoke to Kanna. Kanna moved her hand and casted a washing spell.
Whether my magical powers had improved or not, the things that had been buried were no longer scattered, but gathered in one spot.
Park’s head was fluffy, but his clothes were in poor condition, perhaps because he had worn them so roughly.
Then I took something suitable out of my pocket and held it out to him in his scrubs.
“Change your clothes.”
Park Daegari’s eyes grew wide. His originally large eyes had grown so large that they took up half of his face.
It was amazing that a person’s eyes could be this big.
I checked the end of the outlet. It was clean, as if he was aware of the tool.
Knock knock. When I lowered my head, Kanna was holding out both her hands. Her eyes looked like they wanted something.
I handed him the dress I had bought for the children. Kanna’s face brightened.
Kanna nodded several times and disappeared somewhere to change her clothes. I don’t know why Kanna changed, but I didn’t bother to stop her.
I examined the chair. I tapped it lightly with my finger and it seemed to be made of high-purity iron.
“Hey, fire.”
Guobarou’s face crumpled. He glanced at the female sorceress, bit his lip, and raised his palm.
“Squeak······.”
A fireball formed in the air with a small gasp. It was smaller than before, but the heat was still there.
As I said, the guy wiped the chair with a fireball. It was warm, so it seemed to have been disinfected. Then, the female wizard cooled the chair with ice magic.
A moment later, Park Dae-gari, wearing a dress, sat down on the chair.
“Okay… Please take good care of me! Aaron! I trust you!”
Park said with a slightly trembling voice, although he was still smiling.
“Don’t worry. I’m confident I can stab a heart.”
It was one of my few strengths. Park Dae-gari’s face became even more pale as my encouragement was not enough. The corners of Park Dae-gari’s mouth trembled.
“Stinging.”
I lifted my dress slightly and then plugged the outlet in. I felt some resistance, but the tip of the outlet was so sharp that it went in easily.
“Ah… I’m not mentally ready yet! Wait! Wait! Just take a breath….”
“It’s over.”
I said, taking my hand off the outlet. There was no blood flowing around because the basilisk venom had been applied. It wouldn’t have hurt either.
“······Huh? There’s a hole in my chest···.”
Park Dae-gari muttered, looking down at the outlet with blank eyes.
At that moment, the outlet flashed. A blindingly bright light filled the space.
I clenched my teeth under pressure that was stronger than the last time I was out of control.
The outlet was connected to a large box, an elaborate box with glass tubes in it.
Kanna held the box and closed her eyes. Her mouth was pursed and her eyebrows furrowed as if she was concentrating. Her expression was serious.
The light that passed through the box reached Kanna. Kanna’s purple hair rose into the air. Each hair fluttered as if it had life.
Light shot out from the tips of the hair. Each hair moved slowly, adjusting the direction of the light. Each hair adjusted its own magic circle.
It was a sight that was hard to believe even when I saw it.
The magic circles that had been illuminated hummed deeply. The pressure was incomparable to that of the time of the Quanbao.
In contrast to Park Daegari’s increasingly relaxed face, Kanna’s face is wrinkled and veins are rising.
I clenched my teeth and grabbed the hilt of the knife.
The magic circles resonated. There was no sound, but it was so loud that it felt like my eardrums were going to burst.
I counted to three in my head as Kanna looked tired.
‘one.’
The magic circles began to resonate and shake the surroundings. Kanna’s hair fluttered and her closed eyes trembled.
‘···two.’
The magic circles emitted light. The rays of light pouring from the magic circles gathered in one direction.
‘Tsk.’
I clicked my tongue and adjusted my grip on the knife handle.
First, the box···.
At that moment, the light gathered at one point and shot upward.
A pillar of brilliant light appeared as if it would pierce the sky. I stopped swinging my sword under the intense pressure.
Kanna’s face was more desperate than ever.
A brighter Kanna than before came to mind.
Anyone who looked at it could see that it was Park Daegari’s influence.
I chewed my lip, looking back and forth between Park Daegari and Kanna.
The huge pillar of light was dazzling to my eyes, but I didn’t close my eyes.
I just adjusted the handle of the sword and glared at the pillar of light.
A long time passed and the halo of light gradually diminished.
Kanna’s face, with her head relaxed as if she had been sleeping soundly, and her veins bulged out.
I hurriedly held Kanna, who had let go of the hilt of her sword and collapsed. Kanna snored in my arms. I was relieved to hear her faint breathing.
At that moment, something fell from above.
I raised my head at the cold sensation hitting my forehead.
White snowflakes were falling heavily.
Like the North… no, it was an even thicker eye.
One of them fell on Kanna’s forehead-.
‘hmm······.’
I let out a sigh at the awkward smile on my face engraved in the snowflakes.
It was truly a splendid first snow.
***
“It is said that the palace was destroyed by demons. It has been confirmed that it occurred in the outer war, not the civil war where His Majesty the Emperor resides.”
‘It can’t be. It can’t be. It can’t be.’
At Nova’s report, which was brighter than usual, Pulpouts closed his eyes tightly and continued to repeat to himself.
However, as always, the anxiety whispered, inflating its size.
It just so happened that while Aaron was away for a long time, the palace, which had been intact during that time, collapsed.
‘No. That can’t be. Even if it’s Aaron… Well, he was only gone for a week.’
Fullfoot thought desperately. Then Nova’s clothes caught his eye.
Nova, who usually wore shabby shirts, was wearing a dress for some reason. And a very fancy dress at that.
Even the front was very richly decorated with ribbons. The fact that Nova was suddenly wearing a dress-.
‘Did you get it as a gift from Aaron?’
My anxiety grew. To get such a fancy dress, I had to order it separately or go to a big city.
‘Yes, Aaron went to the big city of Palhartan!’
Considering the distance, it was clear that he had gone to the big city of Palhartan. It was Pulpouts who had gone to Palhartan to buy something for his ex-wife.
Pulphutz nodded. Aaron had gone to the large city of Palhartan.
However, I had no choice but to admit it.
When Aaron returned, Nova brought him news from the palace. A gorgeous dress… It was a truth he could not ignore.
Fullfoot pressed both of his temples.
Just then, the door opened wide and Vivian came in.
Vivian’s face, which had been pale recently, looked bright as if she had had a good night’s sleep.
“Oops! You were in a meeting! Sorry!”
Vivian’s lively appearance made Pulpouts’ anxiety go away.
Pulpouts shook his head slightly and called Vivian.
Vivian came running over. Vivian, who said that dresses were uncomfortable, was wearing a neat dress, unlike her usual style.
‘Was there a dress like this?’
It seemed like the wife had bought it separately.
“Did something good happen? You look happy.”
Pullputs asked, trying to hold back the corners of his lips that were about to fall.
“Ah! Aaron···.”
At that moment, the unexpected name that came out of Vivian’s mouth aggravated the anxiety that was barely suppressed.
Vivian continued, smiling so brightly that it brightened the world.
“I feel so relieved after having two holes drilled in my chest!”
The seal in Pulpouts’ hand fell off.
