Chapter 57: Vol. 2 – Episode 32
He asked Eustasia to do one thing.
“I want you to take care of training the other heroes that do not work with me directly. I want you to allocate the soldiers as well.”
Listening to Sungjin’s order, Ereka smiled.
Then Eustasia can keep her position as a general. That’s great.
But Jenna sighed.
Hmph. My queen. She doesn’t know…well, she can be good help, though.
Sungjin’s intelligence was superior without any question. But he needed the support of the military force to make his intelligence work even better.
He now had a huge territory, which meant it was possible he would have to fight multiple battles at the same time. It was clear he had to train a bigger team.
“You want me to be a great general for you?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t train them to fight against an unexpected case like you.”
“Regular but tough training would be enough.”
If she could do that, Sungjin would be able to concentrate on other things.
The military plan was just for a big fight; on a regular fight, it was important to be prepared with a regular training routine.
Eustasia smiled and answered.
“Okay. I used to be a general so doing the same thing, but for you, is something I can do.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it. I made an oath to serve you, so this is something I should do.”
“About that: thank you for your gesture, but I just need a teammate. I will be the leader, but I am not planning to be your boss.”
“Haha. Ereka told me about natural human rights. That is such an amazing idea,” said Eustasia nodding, thinking that she was able to understand his acts and words based on the idea.
Not mercy from the top, but a world where everyone has their own rights. It’s the right for the people to have hospitals and schools, to live like humans. She was surprised he was able to think of such a revolutionary idea.
Is it because he is from a fantasy world? It’s just surprising, and that makes him even more charming.
“But as you have your own methods, I have mine. Since I made an oath to serve you as my king, we are not equal. If I can save only one of us, I would save you without hesitation,” she explained that was the loyal knight’s duty. It was a strong comment told nonchalantly; it almost sounded like a joke.
But everyone there understood she was saying it with such flat emotion because the decision was engraved deep in her heart.
She would be a loyal servant, just like she was for her father Seyzo II, or even moreso. Everyone understood that she would serve him with loyalty and love.
For Sungjin, her heart and support was the biggest treasure he had won from the war.
“Hmm. But still be casual?”
“You want me to be formal? If you want me to, I will.”
“No no. This is good. We should be teammates.”
“Hehe. I will keep it casual.”
Unless it is a critical moment.
Eustasia hid her thoughts with her smile.
“Thanks.”
Sungjin knew that he wouldn’t be able to change her mind.
I shouldn’t let that kind of moment happen.
He accepted her offer in his own way and smiled.
“Although it is a bit late, I want you to reward me with two things since I promised to serve you.”
“Sure. I will do my best to give them to you if it’s realistic.”
“First, since you are my king, you should win.”
The defeat of the idealist is not just a failure of one person.
“You must win because it’s for the people who are following you, who are protected by you, and who died for you.”
She was s.h.i.+ning in an even brighter silver.
“You must win in every battle to come.”
Few victories were not enough.
“You need to keep winning until you stand on top to create a new world.”
That was her first demand.
She asked him to win to become the conqueror of this world and become a G.o.d called Arc Master and to start a new era.
“And for that end goal, you can use whatever you want from me.”
“Ha. That’s what I want.”
He smiled and accepted such a heavy duty.
Becoming an Arc Master was his ambition and being on top of the world with his victory was his instinct. It was the dream he had had since he had come into this world. Using the power he got from his victory to protect people was something he had decided a long time ago.
Sungjin had experienced abuse by power, so he knew how unfair and upsetting it could be. Therefore, Eustasia’s first demand was not even a reward; it was something that he wanted.
“What’s the second one?”
“I want to be your woman.”
He was the conqueror of the four kingdoms with the ability to achieve even bigger things. But this man suddenly lost his word.
“…what?”
“If you can make me one of your queens that would be nice, but I wouldn’t mind being your concubine.”
“Wait. Why?”
Sungjin wanted to ask why she wanted to become ‘his woman’.
“Because you are already conqueror of the four kingdoms. Although I’m from a good family -but just n.o.ble ones- being a concubine is not an unfair thing. I don’t want to ask for too much,” Eustasia answered, misunderstanding Sungjin’s question.
“No, not that part…I mean…why…marriage…”
“Why? Of course because I want to be yours.”
“But we’ve never dated.”
“What are you talking about? I know what kind of man you are. You made me dream with you, and I’ve decided to support you with my life.”
That was her decision as a general.
“Isn’t it natural to be your woman when I’m this devoted to you?”
Who else would she love when she decided to devote her everything for a man? She served Seyzo II as a general and a daughter, but she wanted to serve Sungjin as a general and a lover.
When she declared her reason, Ereka blushed.
Eustasia, I envy you.
Ereka had spent more time with Sungjin, but she was not able to be blunt like Eustasia. She barely asked him to marry her, and Ereka had no idea asking someone to marry her needed quite so much courage.
Sungjin realized that Eustasia was serious.
A marriage…
She didn’t mind being a concubine…
That meant she wouldn’t mind him doing whatever he wanted with her. Everyday, every morning, every night, whenever he wanted and whatever he wanted. She was telling him he could do whatever he wanted to fulfill his desire.
He was reminded of her fit body and in his imagination, they were already in the same bed, naked.
That’s it, huh? Now it’s my responsibility.
He was asking her to join him, to fight next to him, to protect this world where ninety-nine percent of people were abused. That’s why he had asked her to join him, but he said he wanted her. It was not her fault that she misunderstood his words.
Of course, as a man, he was attracted to her, even now.
Huh, this is…
He was flattered that an attractive woman was telling him that she wanted to devote everything to him. She was a strong, confident, and capable woman. She also had a warm heart for the people. If he wasn’t flattered, something was wrong with him.
Deep inside, his inner voice was telling him to accept this offer, but Sungjin ignored that inner voice and said:
“I’m flattered that you think of me so highly.”
He was very grateful and flattered
“But sorry, I can’t.”
“You told me you would, if realistic.”
“That is not.”
“Why? Am I not really attractive as a woman?”
“No. You are such an amazing woman.”
“Then why?”
“I want to concentrate on becoming an Arc Master. I don’t have time for a relations.h.i.+p.”
He was a leader who had a responsibility to lead his team; if he decided to have a relations.h.i.+p that would give him another responsibility as a man. A marriage would give him even more responsibilities, so the relations.h.i.+p was out of the question.
It was not only because he had to concentrate on becoming an Arc Master; there was one more reason.
Sungjin quickly looked at Ereka discreetly.
He refused her marriage proposal.
She said it is okay now, but I think she still likes me very much.
Although he was not sure because there was an unclear line between love as a lover and as a teammate. Both of them were precious teammates for him, and he had to lead both of them as a leader. If he decided to date one, the other would feel excluded. He couldn’t afford that risk. He decided to become an Arc Master and to treat his team fairly before entering a relations.h.i.+p.
“Oh. That is your decision.”
Eustasia sighed and then started to laugh.
“Okay. You didn’t even touch Ereka or even try to have a servant serve you in bed, so marriage was maybe a bit far fetched. Okay, I’ll take that request back.”
“Thanks.”
“But!”
Eustasia poked Sungjin’s chest with her finger.
“The game is on. I will make you fall in love with me and ask me to marry you.”
“Hmm.” Sungjin didn’t know how to respond to that and scratched his cheek.
“I lost in battle, but I will win your love.”
“Hahaha. Don’t try too hard.”
“Why? It’s always exciting to try to achieve the goal,” said Eustasia, laughing out loud.
Sungjin decided not to argue with her anymore.
This would be a tricky fight.
It was hard for him not making a move on such an attractive woman, but he had no plan to lose this game either.
* * *
While Sungjin was working on his grand plan looking at the map of the continent, the girls gathered in the tea room.
“Let’s compete to see who can win his heart first.”
Eustasia challenged Ereka.
“Let’s not cheat or trick the other, but let’s try to be as charming as possible and compete.” When Eustasia challenged, Ereka bit her lip.
No, we won.
Ereka was reminded of what Sungjin had said when he defeated Seyzo II. They really looked like they were connected, as if they were meant to be together.
Am I losing this game? Should I ask for Sungjin’s love? But I really love him more than she loves him.
Ereka shook her head and told Eustasia while pouring tea gracefully:
“No. I won’t compete.”
“What? Don’t lie to me; I know you love him.”
“I do. But that’s why I don’t want to compete.”
“Why?”
“Because Sungjin said he wants to concentrate on his goal. If I try to have his heart it would distract him.”
She wanted to support him from behind, providing whatever he needed. He was already fighting a difficult fight, and she didn’t want to burden him more.
She promised to protect him and share all his hards.h.i.+ps and pain. She didn’t want to make his life more difficult than it was.
She wanted to just be there for him, where he could reach her whenever he needed her.
She wanted to let him know that she was there whenever he needed her, not pus.h.i.+ng him.
“Then you would stay behind. I might become his first woman, and maybe he’ll never take you as his woman.”
Ereka hands trembled, and she spilled the water.
“Even if so…”
She continued putting her cup down on the table.
“I want to put Sungjin’s dream over mine. So my answer is still no.”
She wanted to make Sungjin’s life easier, even if that made her life more difficult with a broken heart. When Ereka made it clear that she wouldn’t compete, Eustasia tossed her silver hair.
“What do you mean not competing. That is so you, a siege warfare.”
She sprung out of her seat.
“That is a great tactic for a siege. Ten out of ten. But I hate to work behind the scenes, so I will keep moving forward. We’ll see who the winner will be.”
“I told you I wouldn’t compete!”
Jenna rolled her eyes with confusion thinking the world of adults is so complicated.
But inside, she was thinking…
Don’t worry my queen! I will not let that happen!
She was promising Ereka she would be her support.
Whether Sungjin wanted it or not, there was another war happening around him, and the girls sensed this war was going to get bigger and bigger as Sungjin conquered more countries and saved more people.
He was a man who would conquer the world. It was natural that there would be a lot of girls, and they were hoping that Sungjin would realize love was as joyful as victory.
But they didn’t know one thing: Sungjin didn’t take one of them not only because of his goal and victory but also because he wanted to treat them fairly.
The misunderstanding was building among them.
The demidevil of the battlefield had no strategy on managing his relations.h.i.+ps.
In the meantime, Sungjin was working hard on his plan with map of the continent.
Although he unified the four kingdoms, he was the weakest among the three forces of the continent.
He felt like he was Shu Han in Romance of the Three Kingdoms after losing Jingzhou or a dark horse in a soccer league, not a favorite.
But this was just a subjective difference in military force; he was sure that he would find another teammate to join him.
It’s okay. I made Eustasia join, and I will get more people.
With the combined power, he would defeat the abusive power and move forward.
I should unify this continent to do that then head to the center. This is only the beginning of my journey to become an Arc Master. I will win first place in this league of G.o.ds, Valhalla.
The battle result was reported to someone.
“Even the Infinite Desire was destroyed.”
On the floating chess board in front of him, white pieces pushed all the black pieces off. The broken chessboard repaired without any crack.
“Forgive..forgive me. It was out of my power.”
Count Satirus bowed down and couldn’t look at the person in front of him.
“You were too lazy to finish the situation there and left. I can’t forgive you twice.”
An invisible pressure crushed him.
“Ugh…ugh…give…give me…o…one more chance…”
With a bone crus.h.i.+ng sound, Count Satirus became a chunk of meat mixed with broken bones. The silhouette behind the water who got rid of the disappointing servant spoke with a quiet and low voice:
“The plan for codestruction was a failure. Tsk. I should sell it at a loss, but…”
Although he had lost a strong forbidden evil and secret treasure -the Ring of Infinite Desire- it didn’t seem to bother him too much.
The chess board reorganized the pieces itself.
“Good. I will use it as is.”