< Chapter 5 - The Devil's Hand #3 >
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social.
Just hearing the name brought to mind a small gathering held at a bar, but when the main participants were children of the twelve northern families, the scale changed.
The Northern Twelve Clans’ social gathering was not just a gathering of children, but a kind of banquet attended by many people.
A variety of people attended the annual gathering, including those who wanted to form a relationship with the twelve northern families, influential figures from Langest, and famous people that the children had always been interested in.
At this point, the social gathering was one of the big events that was anticipated every year in the social circles around Langest, and whether or not one was invited to the social gathering was also evaluated differently in the social circles.
Anyway, that’s why.
“”and.””
Uther and Cordelia came out of their respective rooms and faced each other in the living room, purely impressed.
This is because the peerless boy and girl put all their effort into dressing up to attend the banquet, creating a truly eye-opening beauty.
‘pretty.’
If the Cordelia I saw in the valley was as mysterious as a fairy, the Cordelia of now was as beautiful as a goddess.
Her slightly curly, pinkish red hair not only flowed softly but also sparkled, and her white skin was full of life.
What she’s wearing is a red dress.
Cordelia, who usually looked a bit younger than her age because of her bright expression, wore a mature red dress that fully revealed her shoulders, and her hidden, captivating beauty came to life.
The width of the skirt was quite narrow, unlike usual, but the sharp angles of Cordelia’s long, slender legs were revealed here and there, captivating people.
Of course, Uder was also great.
It had only been a month, but thanks to the various elixirs given by Count Chase and the strength gained from the Thousand-Muji Body, his previously skinny body had improved rapidly.
With his naturally good physique and improved body shape, the so-called suit-loving style began to take off, and here, Yuder proved that the face is the completion of all fashion.
Strong yet mysterious green eyes set between soft facial lines.
As the two stared at each other for a moment, Dahlia and Maia, who had also lost their minds, soon exchanged glances with happy smiles.
‘You’re doing quite well.’
‘You are the one.’
‘Actually, I really like the hanger.’
‘This side too.’
Either way, both of them were very satisfied.
Moreover, the thought that the two of them would now enter the banquet hall together brought a smile to my lips.
Should I hurry up and say I want to see other people’s reactions?
“Okay, let’s go now.”
“Your Majesty, you must escort me.”
“Oh, uh.”
When Uther, urged by Maia, reached out his hand to Cordelia, she, who had been dazed, suddenly came to her senses and took Uther’s hand.
‘Wow, seriously. I would have been nervous if it weren’t for the outboxer.’
‘You too? Me too.’
The two people exchanged glances, smiled as if they were not alike, and then climbed onto the carriage, passing the knights who could not hide their admiration.
“after.”
“under.”
Maia and Dahlia were planning to ride in a different carriage, as it was a small carriage operated within Langeste, rather than the large four-wheeled carriage they had been riding on during their trip.
Thanks to that, when they were left alone, Uther and Cordelia immediately collapsed.
“You’ve really decorated it.”
“You too?”
Cordelia, who had been laughing and snorting, looked back at herself and chuckled.
“why?”
“Because she’s pretty. Cordelia is the prettiest after all.”
“Oh, narcissism. Don’t do that in front of others.”
“Well, it’s true that Cordelia is pretty. Do you think she’s pretty too?”
“Well, it’s pretty… but that’s fortunate.”
“what?”
“I was completely shocked when I saw you using the third person.”
My heart was pounding as I watched the yellow storm, because it was something that shouldn’t have happened.
Looking at Cordelia laughing and snorting, Uder sighed in relief and straightened his posture as he spoke.
“Anyway, let’s not lose our minds too much. It’s an important day.”
“Did you get some rest? You had a hard time yesterday.”
Yesterday was a hard day.
Strictly speaking, it’s not level 4, but rather level 3.5.
At Cordelia’s question, Uder looked sad for a moment as he remembered yesterday’s events, but soon smiled brightly.
“Well, it was worth the effort. Actually, it would be best not to use it at all.”
If things were going well, there would be nothing to write about.
Cordelia nodded as if agreeing with Uther’s words and reached out to him again.
“Just stay still for a moment.”
“uh?”
“Stay here, please.”
Yuder became nervous without realizing it because he approached him with a serious face, but he soon realized his purpose.
“The tie is crooked.”
Cordelia, who had been holding onto the bow tie that Yuder was wearing, touched it several times before finally smiling in satisfaction.
“Okay, that’s it. That’s perfect.”
Cordelia tapped Uther’s chest, making a thud sound, and sat back down, causing Uther to cough in vain.
“Ahem.”
“Why, are you embarrassed?”
“What a surprise.”
“Looking at it this way, does it have a cute side?”
Hehehe, how can I say that her smiling face resembles the Fairy Queen?
“Let’s focus, focus. Today is a really important day. You know?”
“know.”
It was the same as when I went to find the Raize River.
It was a situation where I was complaining more because of the tension.
Yuder, who had finally caught his breath, looked back out the carriage window.
The sun was slowly setting, spreading a red glow.
&
The gathering place was a famous restaurant in Langest, which was financed by the Count Hresvelg family.
Even though the social gathering hadn’t started yet, the banquet hall was bustling, and there were a few places where people were particularly crowded.
‘Children of the twelve northern families.’
Lucas Hresvelg, the successor to Hresvelg, the head of the 12 families and the host of this gathering.
Sylvia Crossbell, the daughter of the Crossbell Count family, who boasts enormous wealth.
Among the children of the 12 families gathered here today, these two people stood out in particular, and as if to prove this, the crowd around them was packed with people who had gathered to at least have a word with them.
‘Well, there are some kids who are left out.’
Even though there were 12 families, not all of them had equal strength.
On the left wall, a gloomy-looking girl stood with a daunting expression between her escort knights, clearly the Viola of the Langues Countess.
I was a child who spent most of the year in the mansion, and in my own room at that. Because I had social phobia, I couldn’t speak properly in places where people gathered.
‘If I survive, I will become Cordelia’s good friend.’
To be exact, we were like sisters.
Uder turned his gaze elsewhere again.
The twin brothers of the Count Dahut family were glaring at Lucas with discontented eyes, while Felix Duran of the Marquis Duran family, the oldest member of this gathering, was sending a hot gaze at Sylvia.
Here, including Uder and Cordelia, there were a total of 8 children from 12 families who attended this gathering.
“Oh, Miss Cordelia. Is the person next to you your fiancé, Prince Juder Bayer?”
When Yuder heard a voice from the side, he turned around reflexively and saw a young nobleman from Langest talking to Cordelia.
Cordelia looked at the young man with eyes that seemed to have vague memories, but soon smiled brightly and began reading her Korean language book as usual.
“This is my fiancé, Prince Juder Bayer.”
“Oh! As expected! The Bayer Counts!”
The banquet hall was in an uproar at the appearance of a new face, Yuder, who had never appeared at an official event before.
“The author?”
“A beauty beyond the rumors.”
“For something called the Count’s agony, it looks fine?”
“Are you feeling better?”
It was a time when people were whispering in small voices here and there.
As the children of the twelve families who had been scattered began to walk towards Uther and Cordelia, a path opened up like the Red Sea parting.
Cordelia focused her gaze on Viola, who was approaching from afar, and Jude glanced at his twin brother, who was approaching with a stern voice, and at Felix, who would not be attending the social gatherings next year, before looking towards Lucas and Sylvia.
‘They both really stand out.’
While Cordelia still retained her girlishness, Sylvia, despite being only a year older, had a mature look in her eyes and even in her small gestures. Of course, her curvaceous body was also included.
She had long, sky-blue hair and was wearing a dress as white as snow. Her blue eyes were full of curiosity as she looked at Uther and Cordelia.
And Lucas Hresvelg.
The most important person today, the blond Honam-ah, confidently approached Bomu-do. Although she was sixteen years old, a year younger than Yu-de, she was much taller, so it seemed like there was almost a head difference between them.
His body was also extremely strong because he had trained since childhood.
“It’s been a while, Cordelia.”
“It’s been a while, Sister Sylvia.”
When Sylvia spoke with a smile, Cordelia responded with a slight blush on her cheeks.
Sylvia’s beauty was so captivating that even other women would fall in love with her.
‘But it’s surprisingly bearable?’
Even though I had mentally prepared myself to lose my mind, it was surprisingly, how should I put it, like watching a Hollywood actress in a movie?
‘I might have gotten used to peerless beauties.’
To be exact, she was a peerless beauty.
Anyway, thanks to that, Yuder was able to maintain his composure in front of the beautiful Sylvia and introduce himself with dignity.
“I am Juder Bayer of the Bayer Counts. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Me too, Prince Uder. I was very curious about who Cordelia’s fiancé would be.”
Sylvia, with an elegant smile, looked at Yuder with a slightly observing gaze, but unfortunately, now was not the time to talk to Sylvia.
After leaving Sylvia’s opponent to Cordelia, Juder looked at Lucas, who had come close enough to greet her.
As expected, Lucas spoke first.
“I am Lucas Hresvelg of the House of Hresvelg.”
He held out his hand as if asking for a handshake, but his blue eyes showed no particular emotion.
It’s not that they’re indifferent, it’s just that they feel like they’re welcoming new guests?
‘Well, it’s rumored that Yuder couldn’t learn martial arts because of his chronic illness.’
As someone born with great talent for swordsmanship, Lucas was the type of person who enjoyed becoming stronger itself, and because of that, he had a bad habit of changing the level of interest in someone based on whether they were strong or not.
‘I thought so… right?’
One reason why Yuder paid attention to Lucas, aside from this recent social gathering attack incident.
‘Playable character.’
Playable characters Uther and Cordelia are reincarnations of Outboxer 009 and Yellow Storm, respectively.
So what about the other playable characters?
Could Lucas also be the reincarnation of someone – say, the 3rd ranked person on the server?
‘If you just look at the eyes, it’s not true.’
If the opponent was also a ranker in Heroes Chronicle 2, he would have had similar thoughts.
Moreover, Lucas did not feel the slightest bit of the mysterious feeling he had felt when he first met Cordelia.
‘Ugh, I can’t help it.’
I have no choice but to experiment, just like when I first met Cordelia.
“This is Jude Bayer of the Counts of Bayer.”
Uther smiled brightly, took Lucas’ hand, and leaned forward slightly as he spoke.
“Hey, you too?”
“Prince Yude?”
Lucas, who was shaking hands, narrowed his eyes and looked at Yuder strangely.
That makes sense. What are you talking about all of a sudden, without shaking hands?
“Ah… um, no. I guess I was just talking nonsense. My syllables haven’t fully recovered yet….”
“Ah… Is it because of a chronic illness?”
“It was embarrassing. It’s getting better, so this won’t happen again.”
“No, it’s because of an illness. I hope you get well soon.”
Lucas smiled coolly, as expected of a Honam person, and Cordelia, who was watching from the side, spoke with her eyes.
‘Even if it’s Muandan water, isn’t it too much?’
“Ahem.”
Since he had nothing to say, Uder tried to hide his embarrassment by coughing in vain.
‘Still, there are results.’
Lucas was not a ranker in Heroes Chronicles 2.
I didn’t have any special feelings when I met Cordelia, and I was genuinely taken aback by what she said just now.
‘I don’t know if it’s unfortunate or fortunate.’
There were pros and cons to both being a ranker and not being a ranker.
‘Because there are more than one or two playable characters.’
There are more than ten playable characters in Heroes Chronicle 2.
What would happen if more than ten rankers started to move with different ideas?
There was no guarantee that the rankers would unite as one in mind and purpose as Uther and Cordelia.
Furthermore, he did not enter Hero Chronicles 2 as a ranker, but rather lived as a character in Hero Chronicles 2 and then awakened his memories as a ranker.
Among the playable characters, there are villains and even demon followers, so they could potentially become formidable enemies that stand in the way of Uther and Cordelia.
“This is Felix Duran.”
“This is Yuder Bayer.”
He then exchanged greetings, albeit formally, with the children of the other twelve families.
The twins of Count Dahut, who have a burning desire to oppose Felix and Lucas, who are obsessed with Sylvia, are characters who do not have much influence on the general situation whether they live or die in the social gathering attack event.
‘Of course, if possible, I plan to save them all.’
While chatting casually, Yuder looked around the banquet hall.
There were six wizards in total, including the four wizards who had been persuaded on the first day and the two who had newly joined, scattered around, and it seemed as if each wizard had been assigned an area to cover under the command of Ronin, the leader.
In addition to them, there were six knights from the Knights of the Blue Lion sent by Lord Barua and the escorts brought by each of the twelve families, so there were over thirty knights guarding the various parts of the banquet hall.
‘This is much better than the original.’
Now the only question is when they will invade.
Since Yuder himself had already shaken up the board a lot, there was no guarantee that he would attack at the same time as the original.
‘In the game, they just said ‘time has passed’.’
And time passed.
About an hour had passed since the banquet began.
Suddenly, the music playing in the banquet hall changed, and Uther and Cordelia realized that it was time to come.
‘Dance time.’
Because it was a scene that was also depicted in Heroes Chronicles 2.
If you played as Lucas, you danced with Sylvia, and if you played as Cordelia, you danced with Lucas.
But today was different.
‘Can you feel it?’
‘I feel it.’
The gazes of Maia and Dahlia looking this way with eyes full of longing.
In particular, Dahlia’s gaze was harsh as she had been treated harshly to create time for just the two of them.
Actually, it wasn’t just those two.
Everyone in the banquet hall was very interested in the engaged couple who were appearing together for the first time – and that too from 12 families.
“Miss Cordelia, would you do me the honor of joining us?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Cordelia answered with an awkward smile, and small cheers and applause could be heard around her.
Cordelia spoke softly as she moved to the center of the naturally created stage.
“Hey, do you know how to dance?”
“What’s wrong with me? I’m a man born with a natural talent for magic.”
Uder answered with a smile, placed his hand on Cordelia’s waist, and gently grabbed her hand as she flinched for a moment.
“Let’s go.”
“joy.”
Cordelia, who laughed as expected of the daughter of Count Chase, gave herself over to Uther, and the two began to move in a gentle rhythm.
No, I was going to start.
Boom!
The entire building shook with a loud noise. Uther and Cordelia lost their balance for a moment and quickly looked away, leaning on each other.
Loud noise, explosion, smoke.
“Whoa!”
Dozens of masked men burst in, smashing through balcony windows and walls, accompanied by belated screams.
At the same time, the guards stationed everywhere also drew their swords.
“miss!”
“master!”
It wasn’t just Dahlia and Maia. The escorts each called out the names of those they were serving, and fights broke out everywhere.
Just a moment.
Uther and Cordelia had the same thought at the same time. They turned their gazes toward the one who had been following them as they walked toward the center of the banquet hall to dance.
“Lucas!”
Lucas Hresvelg.
He, standing over there, like a master swordsman, drew his sword and tried to confront the current situation.
And one person.
Their eyes crossed as they both looked at Lucas.
Beyond the broken wall.
There stood Mine Minos.
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< Chapter 5 - The Devil's Hand #3 > End
