Chapter 153: I''ve already arrived

    Ruel lay on the bed.

    Tomorrow, he will have to leave Setiria.

    The tasks that needed completion before his departure weighed heavily on him, leaving him too exhausted to do anything but grumble.

    ‘I’m tired. Really tired.’

    Leo, who had been playing with the spirits, rushed over and climbed onto Ruel’s stomach.

    —You should change your clothes. Cassion will scold you if you don’t.

    “It’s fine. Let him be mad if he wants to.”

    —Has Ruel finished everything?

    “Maybe?”

    —This body has been bored all the time. You’re always talking to the magic knights, the regular knights, the barons, Cassion... You just keep talking.

    After a brief bout of complaints, Leo sulked and flopped weakly on Ruel’s stomach.

    —You don’t even play with this body anymore. Always busy talking to other humans.

    “I knew you’d say that. Cough, cough, but I used to play with you a lot. We built snowmen, had snowball fights, and climbed mountains.”

    —Those were the best times! Aris is busy too. This body is the only one not busy.

    Leo muttered sulkily but then perked up his ears.

    —And Ruel has not told this body what a birthday is.

    Leo crawled up to Ruel’s face with bright eyes.

    Ruel inhaled Breath before answering, “A birthday refers to the day you were born.”

    —When is this body’s birthday then?

    Even when Leo looked at him with sparkling eyes, Ruel couldn’t answer.

    After all, the first time he had seen Leo was in the Beast Forest, so he had no way of knowing how or when Leo had been born.

    “I don’t know.”

    —Ruel and this body are the same! We both don’t know our birthdays!

    Yet, it seemed that Leo had little interest in his own birthday, as his tail wagged with excitement, seemingly forgetting his earlier sulking.

    ‘Is being the same really that great?’

    Ruel enveloped the bouncing Leo with his shadow on the bed.

    Leo smiled brightly.

    It wasn’t for fun that he wrapped Leo up; previously, Jan had said that the energy of darkness could be food for great purifiers.

    So, whenever Ruel had the chance, he attempted to create shadows around Leo or envelop him in various ways, but he still didn’t know how Leo could consume it.

    “Do you still not know how to eat the darkness?”

    —This body feels the warmth of the darkness.

    Kuroo kuru.

    The spirits that were spread out in the room came rushing in, clinging to the shadows.

    At first, the spirits had been wary of the shadows, but now they treated them as their playground.

    “How about resting today to prepare for tomorrow?”

    Cassion’s voice drew Ruel’s attention.

    “You’re right.”

    “Ruel-nim.”

    “Speak.”

    “The Kingdom of Kran is very dangerous, unlike the Cyronian Kingdom.”

    The Kran Kingdom had a Red Ash executive, the monsters were on a rampage, and, most importantly, there was the Great Man.

    “I know.”

    Despite the dangers, Ruel knew he had to proceed, even if it felt like walking into a minefield unarmed.

    “You and Ganien will find a way.”

    “Are you saying this because you trust me, or are you just trying to pass the responsibility onto me?”

    Ruel stared at Cassion with a confused expression, not understanding what he meant.

    Cassion looked more serious than usual.

    Thinking about it, Ruel realized he probably hadn’t said that ‘thing’ to Cassion, considering it the most obvious thing in the world.

    Ruel thought Cassion might need more assurance from his perspective, so he sat up straight.

    “I’m not good with sentimental words; they make me feel awkward.”

    Previously, he hadn’t even properly conveyed to Leo how precious he was, just nodding his head instead.

    “So listen carefully.”

    Ruel took a deep breath, feeling the awkwardness creeping in.

    “Whatever you do, I hold the responsibility. I am your master.”

    Meeting Cassion’s gaze, Ruel spoke with conviction.

    “I trust you, Cassion.”

    “...”

    Cassion’s eyes slightly wavered.

    “Are you serious...?”

    “That’s enough. You’ve understood.”

    Ruel intervened, sensing Cassion might dwell on it too long. He wanted to prevent overthinking.

    “I am already a fish caught in the net.”

    Cassion, still looking surprised, responded to Ruel.

    “Even a fish in a net is still a fish. Well, that’s enough. If you have nothing more to say, you may leave.”

    “...”

    Even when Ruel waved his hand, Cassion stood there, stunned.

    It seemed he was deeply shocked.

    ‘Yeah, I admit this. He’s been working hard, so it’s understandable.’

    Ruel suppressed his growing impatience as he looked at Cassion.

    Then, as he inhaled Breath, he suddenly recalled something and asked Cassion.

    “Oh, what about the First Tomb of Setiria?”

    Cassion answered a beat late.

    “I dug up the grave as you instructed, but it was completely empty inside.”

    “Nothing at all? Not even a body?”

    “None. While I was digging, I found an old trace. The color of the soil was slightly different from the other tombs.This is just my guess, but it seems like someone had dug up the tomb before.”

    “You mean it was robbed?”

    Ruel asked in confusion.

    Although the First Tomb of Setiria was more elaborate than the rest, he didn’t expect everything, including the body, to be looted.

    “...!”

    Drianna scrutinized the faint traces of mana around Ruel and the small door, her gaze shifting between them.

    It appeared that all his mana had dissipated in a single swoop..

    “Could it be... that you made the door and crossed over, Ruel-nim?”

    “T-That’s right. So that Ruel can come over here as much as he wants....”

    “I need to move him to a safe place.”

    Drianna, suppressing her rising anxiety, glanced at Jan and carefully placed a Hold on Ruel.

    ***

    Ruel opened his eyes and quickly sat up, realizing he wasn’t in his own room.

    This was Banios’s room.

    “Doesn’t this situation feel all too familiar to you?” Cassion spoke with a sigh.

    As Ruel cautiously surveyed the room, his gaze met Tyson standing beside Cassion.

    It had become the same situation as before, before heading to Cyronian, except for the fact that Fran, who had been sitting next to Tyson, was now staring at him intensely.

    —Ruel!

    Ruel lowered his head as Leo rushed towards him.

    He truly felt ashamed of this incident.

    “I’m sorry.”

    “No, there’s no need to apologize; just the fact that nothing serious happened is enough,” Tyson smiled warmly, observing the mana swirling around Ruel.

    Ruel’s mana was replenishing at a more normal pace — so it was much quicker than before.

    He believed that even if Ruel were to open the door to the spirit’s house again, he wouldn’t collapse as he did that day.

    “Are you feeling dizzy or nauseous?” Fran’s tone was sharp.

    “No, I’m fine. I’m alright.” Ruel avoided meeting Fran’s eyes.

    “I had told you to be careful, as anything could happen in this brief time before joining the delegation to the Kran Kingdom.”

    “I know. I... I’m really sorry about this.”

    “Lord Ruel,” Fran called Ruel calmly, her anger having subsided by now, “When we meet again in the Kran Kingdom, I hope it will be with smiles. So, you must be careful while I’m away.”

    Ruel was doing something separately, though she didn’t know exactly what it was.

    It had to be something important yet simultaneously dangerous.

    Unable to ask what it was, Fran forced a bright smile as she said goodbye.

    “Don’t worry.”

    Although she knew that the words coming out of Ruel’s mouth were unreliable, she wanted to believe him once again.

    Fran stood up, knowing that the longer she stayed, the more rumors about Ruel’s condition would arise outside, so she decided it was best to leave.

    “Ruel-nim, you’re truly remarkable.”

    As soon as Fran left, Cassion spoke sarcastically.

    —Ruel has done nothing wrong.

    Leo observed the atmosphere carefully and said,

    —It was this body’s fault. If this body hadn’t insisted on going through the door, Ruel wouldn’t have...!

    Ruel hushed Leo, placing a hand over his mouth.

    It wasn’t Leo’s fault. This was due to his own lack of caution.

    “This time, I was the one at fault.”

    “I’m glad you understand your mistake. Please don’t open that door again.”

    Cassion said firmly.

    Though he had a rough idea of why Ruel had opened the door to the spirit’s house and why he was so interested in it, what good would it do if he collapsed this way?

    “You’ll be fine now,” Tyson interjected, breaking the tense silence, “Ruel, you are free to open the door to the Spirit’s house again.”

    Ruel looked surprised.

    “Tyson-nim?” Cassion raised his voice.

    “Have you not noticed the increase in Ruel’s mana compared to before?”

    Tyson’s words gave Cassion pause.

    “I learned that just protecting him isn’t the answer from the last experience.”

    Even now, if he closed his eyes, he could vividly recall the scene of Ruel climbing the mountain.

    Though his body was weak, he was a child capable of achieving anything.

    Tyson smiled at Ruel.

    “Go ahead and try anything.”

    “Yes, Uncle.”

    Regardless of Cassion’s sighs, Ruel couldn’t help but smile.

    “Ruel.”

    “Yes.”

    Ruel answered while petting Leo.

    “If anything happens, call for me.”

    “I will.”

    “Do not bear everything alone. If it becomes overwhelming, don’t hesitate to reach out to me anytime.”

    “Yes, Uncle.”

    Tyson felt reassured that Ruel’s smile was genuine as he walked towards the door.

    Before turning the handle, he glanced back at Ruel and waved lightly.

    “Then let’s ensure a safe reunion and take good care of yourself.”

    “I will return in good health.”

    Tyson seemed like he could repeat those words several times, but without any lingering feelings, he stepped outside.

    Slightly disappointed, Ruel cut off his lingering feelings by inhaling Breath.

    “Cassion.”

    “Yes.”

    Cassion’s voice had a slightly sharp edge to it.

    “Is it because of me that the appointment ceremony has been postponed again?”

    “You hit the nail on the head.”

    Ruel shared a smile with Cassion, who raised the corner of his mouth.

    He felt sorry, but King Brans would have handled everything on his own.

    “Let’s prepare. It’s time to depart.”

    Towards the Kran Kingdom.

    Author''s Thoughts

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