Chapter 145 – EPISODE 145 – ARKEMAN’S TREASURE (1)
Terms used in this chapter:
PvP – short for Player versus Player. A gaming term where two players/teams fight against each other.
At the crossroads between the seventh and eight peaks.
Jude sat next to Cordelia and was looking towards the eight peak when he suddenly spoke.
“They’re coming.”
He didn’t see them with his eyes. He had felt and confirmed it through sound.
Ever since he had opened the fifth door, his five senses and also his ability to sense the presence of people had remarkably improved, so he could sense anyone approaching from tens of meters away in such an unfrequented place.
‘Of course, it’s because I know in advance which direction they’ll be coming from, and that we’re waiting for them.’
Moreover, he had scattered some branches on the road where Princess Darianne and her group would come from in order to hear the sounds more clearly. So he would hear a sound if they stepped on it.
‘Anyway.’
Princess Darianne and her group were coming.
At Jude’s words, Cordelia p.r.i.c.ked her ears and then said in a slightly nervous voice.
“Isn’t this weird?”
“No, it’s not weird. It’s completely natural.”
“Ummm…”
She asked if it was weird, but he replied that it wasn’t really weird, so Cordelia thought it was strange.
Because they were pretending to be injured.
“Do we have to go this far?”
“We have to. And as I said before, it’s not just to appeal to everyone that we fought in a fierce battle.”
“I know, you want to lie about our real power, right?”
“Yes, not because of Princess Darianne and her group…but because of the enemies waiting for us in the royal capital.”
The more the enemies misjudge the power of Jude and Cordelia, the more favorable the fight on the royal capital would be for the two.
“Whether we like it or not, our history will be known to some extent through Princess Darianne’s group. It will be difficult if it is known that we are skilled enough to defeat a giant chimera without any injuries.”
“Hmm…I see.”
In PvP, it would become disadvantageous for one side if things like the number of items and treasures they have were known.
There was also the need to leak false information so that the enemies would misjudge the power of Jude and Cordelia.
“I’m just nervous because I can’t see.”
“It’s alright. I’m next to you, okay?”
“That’s why I’m nervous.”
Cordelia’s eyes were now covered with a bandage.
Their story was that she had temporarily lost her eyesight because of excessive magic usage, but regardless, she felt uncomfortable and nervous because she couldn’t see what was in front of her.
‘If we do this, I won’t be able to know the reaction of Princess Darianne’s group.’
But Jude seemed to be thinking something different, as he tightly held Cordelia’s hand and said.
“Don’t worry. I’ll hold your hands like this so that you won’t fall or b.u.mp into anything.”
“No, that’s not it…”
“Here they come. Shh!”
“Mmph!”
Cordelia immediately closed her mouth and pretended to be injured, and Jude looked ahead while feigning to be exhausted.
After a few seconds.
“Jude-orabeoni? Cordelia-unnie!”
Princess Darianne finally appeared and made a startled voice before running towards them.
“Your Highness. You came…”
Jude stood up from his seat and then groaned as he frowned, and Princess Darianne became even more surprised and asked.
“Does it hurt so much? W-what’s wrong with unnie’s eyes?!”
Jude had bloodied bandages wrapped around his arms, legs, and so on while Cordelia’s eyes were covered so she couldn’t even see anything.
Jude felt a bit guilty about Princess Darianne’s reaction, as her eyes quickly reddened as if she was going to cry at any moment, but he couldn’t say that they were just acting.
‘Let’s finish to the end what we’ve already started.’
Jude pushed away his thoughts and said as he skillfully acted.
“Please don’t worry too much about our injuries. We’ve already treated it.”
“B-but…”
“It’s alright, Your Highness. Please don’t worry too much.”
Although Cordelia spoke in a kind voice after Jude, Princess Darianne’s eyes became even more teary.
Because she was heartbroken to see Cordelia fumbling in the air as if she was looking for the princess.
“U-unnie…your eyes…”
“Ah, it’s okay. It’s a temporary condition. I used too much magic…and I was slightly, really slightly, hit by the chimera’s poison.
Cordelia ended her words with a smile, but Princess Darianne became gloomier at Cordelia’s appearance.
Cordelia had a harrowing and beautiful appearance when she said that she was okay out of her worry for Princess Darianne, even though she had been blinded by poison.
“Unnie…”
“It’s alright, Your Highness. Is Her Highness alright?”
At Cordelia’s question, Princess Darianne strongly nodded but soon said aloud.
“Yes, I wasn’t hurt at all.”
“That’s a relief. The knights…”
As Cordelia’s words trailed off, Princess Darianne quickly turned around and Sir Cornwell and his knights approached the three just in time.
“There are some with minor injuries, but no one is seriously injured. It’s all thanks to the information you gave us.”
“Haa…that’s a relief.”
She thought that it was worth it conveying various information about the dungeon to the princess’ group by saying that they had heard it from the Fairy Queen.
When Cordelia touched her chest as she sighed in relief, the knights were moved.
‘Angel.’
‘She’s a saint, a saint.’
She was sincerely worried about others even though she had suffered from an injury that caused her to lose her sight, even if it was temporary.
Not only did she have a beautiful face, but she also had a heart of gold.
In any case, at the time when everyone was focused on Cordelia…
Jude somehow felt lonely, so he spoke while very naturally acting like a wounded person.
“By the way…how did it go?”
Did you find the Seven-Colored Herb?
The expressions of Sir Cornwell and the knights hardened at Jude’s question, and Princess Darianne was on the verge of tears again.
It was as he expected.
‘Just as I thought.’
Sir Cornwell’s voice was then heard.
“We found the Seven-Colored Herb. But…there was only one that had grown enough to be useful… The rest were still young sprouts.”
“Then…”
“We could only dig one root.”
Sir Cornwell dejectedly answered with mixed feelings as he looked at Jude, and the knights turned their gazes away from Jude.
They had decided to split the Seven-Colored Herbs that they would acquire, but they only got one root.
They couldn’t just divide one root into two.
“Jude Bayer.”
Sir Cornwell closed his eyes for a while before he opened them and tried to continue his words, but Princess Darianne tugged at his arm at that moment.
She shook her head and said.
“No, Sir Cornwell. This…I have to be the one to say it.”
“Your Highness…”
Princess Darianne’s eyes were red as if she would shed tears at any moment, but she had a determined expression.
As a member of the royal family and as a representative of the group, she must be the one to speak.
Sir Cornwell felt sorry and happy at the same time at her straightforward behavior even though she was still young.
“I understand.”
Sir Cornwell took a step back, and Princess Darianne gulped and met eyes with Jude.
“Orabeoni.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“As Sir Cornwell said, we could only get one root of the Seven-Colored Herb. So… So…”
The words that should have followed.
The words conveying that she couldn’t give the Seven-Colored Herb to Jude and Cordelia.
But those words wouldn’t come out of her mouth.
Princess Darianne eventually began to seriously cry, and Cordelia was fl.u.s.tered at her crying.
“Princess?”
Princess Darianne finally shed her tears upon seeing Cordelia groping in the air again. And among the knights, those who were softhearted like Hunt were almost in tears too.
Then Jude knelt down on one knee.
“It’s okay, Your Highness.”
“Jude-orabeoni?”
“It cannot be helped if there’s only one root. It’s not Your Highness’ fault. So please don’t look so sorry. Take it with you. It’s really okay for me and Cordelia.”
When Jude kindly spoke, Princess Darianne bit her lips and Sir Cornwell shut his mouth.
Sir Cornwell had acted quite unfriendly with Jude until now, but that didn’t mean he really disliked Jude.
He only maintained the minimum vigilance he should have as an escort.
‘Jude Bayer…’
But it seemed that he couldn’t act unfriendly anymore.
Sir Cornwell thought that he himself couldn’t say something like ‘he was okay’ with such a selfless face.
Could he say to them to take the Seven-Colored Herb and smile while saying he was okay with it?
“B-but orabeoni and unnie are…badly hurt…”
Princess Darianne looked at the bandages wrapped around Jude’s arms and legs, and raised her head to look at Cordelia.
She ended up crying again at the appearance of Cordelia’s awkward and sad smile and the bandage that covered both her eyes.
“You two, you two…the Seven-Colored Herb…”
“Your Highness, it’s okay. It’s really okay.”
Cordelia quickly lowered her posture and hesitated for a while before she carefully opened her arms, and Princess Darianne hugged Cordelia.
“Unniiiie.”
“It’s okay. I’m not that hurt.”
Having said so far, Cordelia faced Princess Darianne again, and Jude opened his mouth.
“Your Highness, are you planning on giving the Seven-Colored Herb to Duke Spencer?”
“Sob… Yes, orabeoni.”
When Princess Darianne responded while in Cordelia’s arms, Jude continued.
“Yes, so all the more does Your Highness should take the Seven-Colored Herb. Because Duke Spencer is like a strong pillar that supports the royal family…and the Sälen Kingdom. Furthermore…”
Jude’s words slightly softened at the end, and he looked away as if thinking of someone. He then said as he looked at Princess Darianne again.
“Because Duke Spencer is Your Highness’ family. I also have people whom I really care about and love in my hometown. People who I care about like my life. Duke Spencer is such a person to Your Highness, right?”
“Yes.”
“So please take it. Please protect your family.”
Jude warmheartedly smiled, and Princess Darianne was about to cry again.
Sir Cornwell and the other knights looked at Jude with deeply moved faces.
‘He’s the example of a knight.’
‘As I thought, he is the child of Count Bayer, the Sword General…’
He was loyal to the royal family and thought of the country.
Moreover, he was worried about the feelings of Princess Darianne.
“I-is orabeoni really okay with it? The one who needs to be treated with the Seven-Colored Herb is…”
“It’s me.”
“Eh?”
“It’s me. My illness is not yet completely cured… I was thinking of getting the Seven-Colored Herb to help me. But it can’t be helped. I’ll put if off for the next opportunity.”
“W-wait. You aren’t healed yet?”
“Ah, I mean…I just feel some discomfort at times. But it’s usually fine. I still look very healthy now, right?”
Jude smiled and appealed that he was healthy by pulling off his sleeve to show off his muscles, but in the eyes of Princess Darianne, Sir Cornwell, and the knights, his muscles weren’t visible.
They could only see an ideal knight who deferred to the royal family and the princess even though he was ill.
‘Ah, how could there be someone like him?’
He took on the most dangerous mission of luring the chimera and also provided the most information about the dungeon.
But despite that, he generously gave up on the Seven-Colored Herb.
‘I have to admit it.’
‘He deserves to be with the angel.’
‘They’re good people.’
The knights looked at Jude with the same thoughts, and Sir Cornwell made up his mind and nodded before speaking.
“Jude Bayer. I’ll make sure to tell Duke Spencer about your loyalty.”
“Eh? No, you don’t have to…”
Sir Cornwell firmly shook his head when Jude said so with a surprised face.
Princess Darianne also clenched her fist and spoke.
“No, we have to tell him. I’ll also tell Daphne-unnie and Dion-orabeoni about you two. And…please accept this.”
What Princess Darianne took out of her arms was a small seal made of jade.
“That’s…”
“Yes, this is my seal. A token of my pledge to help the owner of the seal no matter what.”
Princess Darianne had actually questioned the need of it ever being used, but she still carried it according to royal tradition.
But now, she thought that it was fortunate that she had it.
Because she really wanted to express her grat.i.tude to them.
But instead of happily receiving the seal, Jude shook his head.
“No, it’s fine.”
“Orabeoni?”
Jude looked at Cordelia instead of answering right away, and Cordelia groped the air to find the small hand of Darianne before she slightly pushed it away.
“It’s okay, Your Highness. We did not hope for something like this. We don’t want to pressure Your Highness too much.”
“But…”
“It’s really okay. And there’s something that I want instead of the seal.”
“Eh?”
At her unexpected words, Princess Darianne widely opened her eyes, and Sir Cornwell frowned for a moment.
Is she now revealing her greed?
It’s not even anyone else but she herself?
Of course, what they did was worthy enough to ask for something…
But still.
Cordelia had yet to finish talking.
“Your Highness, do you know the story of Marie?”
“Eh? Uh…are you talking about the fairy tale?”
“Yes, Marie and Annie exchanged coins with each other as a token of their friendship.”
“Ah!”
Princess Darianne broadly smiled, and the faces of Sir Cornwell and his knights brightened up again.
“I think that’s enough. Umm…is asking for that too rude?”
“No, rather, I’d like to do that too. Do you think of me as a friend?”
“If you allow it.”
As Cordelia gently smiled, Princess Darianne unconsciously blushed.
Because Cordelia really looked like an angel.
And Sir Cornwell was in admiration again.
‘Ah…they’re ideal n.o.bles.’
How come both of them have such n.o.ble and beautiful hearts?
‘They’re really a fantasy couple.’
‘They look so good together.’
‘I have no choice but to admit it.’
‘Lady Cordelia is a real angel.’
Warm expressions spread on the faces of the knights, and Princess Darianne wiped away her tears and shyly smiled as she hugged Cordelia.
“I’ll give you the prettiest coin I have when we arrive at the inn.”
“Me too, Princess.”
It was a beautiful scene like a scene straight out of a story.
A satisfied smile appeared on Jude’s face.
***
“Hohoho, hohohoho.”
As soon as they entered the inn, or to be exact, their room on the second floor, Jude dramatically laughed, and Cordelia who was holding Jude’s hand because he was escorting her, pulled her hand away and clicked her tongue.
“My goodness, my scammer. Why are you so good?”
“Hey, what do you mean by scammer? Everything was real.”
Did they come forward to play the role of the bait who was the most in danger?
Yes, they really did come forward. Though they very easily defeated the chimera.
Did they need the Seven-Colored Herb but gave it up?
That was also true.
Because it was true that the Seven-Colored Herb was a mysterious herb that contained life energy.
Whether he ate it right away or carried it around in case of an emergency, he did give up on what could have been helpful to him, so it was true that he conceded.
“All according to plan.”
There was no need for them to worry about on how to get acquainted with Princess Daphne and Prince Dion now.
Furthermore, Duke Spencer, an influential member of the royal family, wouldn’t treat them unkindly.
“More than anything, we might meet the First Sword.”
The Sword Saint of Light, Rhun Froud.
He was said to be the strongest among the Ten Swordmasters and held the t.i.tle of the First Sword.
“He’s close to Duke Spencer, right?”
“He’s almost like an adopted son.”
Currently, the father of First Sword was the leader of the Knights of the Red Rose, the knights who served Duke Spencer.
First Sword also served as a member of the Knights of the Red Rose in his youth.
“Good, good. With this momentum, we’ll be able to save everyone in the royal capital!”
They would save the royal family by destroying the Devil’s Hand and the conspiracies of the Minister of Defense.
Cordelia spontaneously laughed when Jude spoke as he clenched his fist.
“Why?”
“No, it’s just funny.”
A scammer who does his best in scamming in order to save everyone.
‘As expected of my Jude.’
After taking off the bandage on her eyes, Cordelia smiled again as she looked at the coin she was tightly holding in her hand.
It was the prettiest silver coin that Princess Darianne chose and gave.
“So nice.”
“Who? My princess?”
“I mean, Princess Darianne.”
She was genuinely apologetic that she even cried.
At Cordelia’s words, Jude nodded too.
Although Jude was aware of Princess Darianne’s character through the game, he couldn’t help but be surprised when Princess Darianne shed tears.
‘Because she’s not like royalty.’
People who took the sacrifice and concession of others for granted.
In the first place, there were people like that because they were trash, but the situation was a bit different for the royalty.
‘Because they’re literally royalty.’
They had received the sacrifices and concessions of others since they were born as if it was as natural as breathing, so it was also natural for them to become numb to it.
Like how people usually didn’t understand the preciousness of air or water.
“Perhaps she’s the reincarnation of the Second Queen. When she was young, she was actually raised by the duke rather than the royal family.”
“But isn’t the duke technically royalty?”
“You’re right. He has the natural personality of an angel. Just like my princess.”
“Stop saying nonsense again and again and again.”
Jude laughed when Cordelia growled, and he sat down on the bed and said.
“Anyway, you did well. Princess Darianne was also happy to be friends with my princess.”
“Is it okay?”
“What is?”
“We didn’t get the seal.”
In fact, it was Cordelia’s ad-lib when she said to exchange friendship tokens instead of getting the seal.
Because she truly didn’t want to put a heavy burden on Princess Darianne.
“Why, are you worried about it now?”
“Yes…a little?”
She had arbitrarily done something without consulting him.
Doing things without consultation was certainly Jude’s specialty, so she really didn’t need to feel sorry about it, but the situation was different.
In a way, Cordelia had thrown out something that they could have greatly used.
“It’s okay. I was the first to refuse it.”
“What, you truly refused it? You didn’t reject it for some reason?”
“Hey, how exactly do you see me as? Do you think I’m the kind of person who’ll take the seal from Princess Darianne?”
“Yes.”
When Cordelia answered straight away without even hesitating, Jude looked hurt and Cordelia giggled.
“Well, if I have to say the truth, my Jude is a scammer but not a villain.”
“No, I’m not even a scammer in the first place.”
“Yes, Daddy. If you insist.”
Cordelia spiritlessly answered before she giggled again and sat next to Jude and said.
“Anyway, shall we just wait now?”
“Yes, let’s take a break and move at night.”
To Arkeman’s Dungeon.
To get Arkeman’s treasure hidden in a secret place.
And it was at that moment.
“Mr. Bayer, Lady Cordelia. Her Highness is waiting for you two downstairs.”
Jude immediately raised his voice to the knight’s polite voice that they heard from outside the door.
“Yes! We’ll be out soon!”
Perhaps she wanted to have a meal together.
“Uh, I have to cover my eyes with a bandage again.”
“Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll perfectly escort you. I’ll also feed you your food. Just be like a baby bird and be good in saying ‘ah’.”
“Let’s just say that my eyes are better now.”
“No, no, that doesn’t make sense. The princess is waiting, so let’s go.”
“Yes, yes.”
Cordelia covered her eyes with a bandage again and naturally extended her hand, and Jude smiled as he held her hand.
They had so naturally extended and held hands.
“Hmm, this is good.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Jude shrugged and left the room as he led Cordelia who had tilted her head.
And a few hours later.
When the night was deep, and everyone was asleep.
“Hold me tighter.”
“Tighter?”
“Yes, tighter.”
Cordelia, who was dressed in black, hugged tighter the neck of Jude who was also wearing black clothes, and Jude took a deep breath.
He used Twenty-Four Gale Steps that was based on Ninth Heaven’s Nine Doors.
They were now about to reach the completion stage of their plan.
“Let’s go, to Arkeman’s Dungeon.”
Jude said in a small voice and then kicked the ground.
He turned into a black gale and traversed the dark night.