CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 75: THE RING [1]

As expected, Kael was right.

He was always right.

Taking a deep breath, his lips parted slightly:

"Can I ask who you are?"

"...If I said that I was a prince who had been trained to the point of death and rebirth since I was a child, would you believe me?"

"Sigh."

Receiving such a question, he couldn’t help but sigh.

"...It seems like you have no intention of telling me."

"..."

Erza didn’t reply, only directing his emerald eyes to the night sky outside.

To somewhere far away.

"Can I ask another question?"

"Go ahead."

"What is your purpose? Do you want to stop the war that is happening all over the world?"

It wasn’t that Kael didn’t believe what the game developer had said.

He just wanted to confirm.

"Oh? What an interesting question."

Receiving such a sudden and strange question, Erza turned his attention back to Kael.

Then, a meaningful, yet kind smile appeared on the prince’s lips.

"I always wish for the best for this world."

Kael paused for a long time when he saw that smile.

Because it was too pure and innocent.

"...Thank you."

Finally, he smiled back.

That was the answer Kael needed.

***

That night, no matter how hard he tried, he still couldn’t fall asleep.

"..."

Kael lay still, staring at the ceiling without saying anything.

’A billion sheep, a billion and one sheep, a billion and two sheep...’

He counted a lot of sheep, as well as tried everything he could think of, but none of them worked.

The pain from the battle just now was still too dreadful.

To the point that Kael couldn’t close his eyes.

Exhausted, he sat up, then walked towards the person on guard duty.

"...Can’t sleep?"

Darwin’s soft voice rang out.

"Yeah..."

Kael yawned, then sat down next to him.

"Thanks for keeping watch for us tonight."

"Haha, it’s nothing. This is all I can do. After all, you guys are the one working the most today."

In truth, he had thought that he and Darwin wouldn’t get along.

But who would have thought that now, they would be sitting and chatting like two friends?

"Huh?"

Suddenly, his eyes caught a golden ring shining on Darwin’s middle finger.

"What is that? A ring?"

Darwin glanced at the ring, then smiled.

A smile that didn’t mean anything.

"Yes, it’s a special ring."

"Oh! Special?"

Kael’s dormant curiosity was awakened.

"How special?"

Darwin, still holding that strange smile, glanced outside at the sky.

Tonight was a full moon.

How splendid.

Then, he closed his eyes.

As if remembering some distant past.

***

"Darwin, the king calls for you."

"Huh? Me?"

Darwin, now 15 years old, the prince’s closest bodyguard, asked in confusion.

"Yes, he called for you. So hurry up, don’t keep the king waiting."

"Yes."

Darwin then informed Erza Dicathen of the current situation.

Although the prince wanted to go with him, unfortunately, the king’s order only allowed Darwin to come alone.

...

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"...Come in."

From inside the king’s study, a deep voice rang out.

Creak...

The door slowly opened, and from outside, Darwin walked in.

"You called for me, Your Majesty?"

Darwin bowed deeply to the king, or Erza’s father.

"Yes."

The king stopped what he was doing, stood up from his chair, and slowly approached Darwin.

Each step he took exuded an extraordinary pressure, causing anyone to want to kneel down and submit to him instantly.

"You can raise your head now."

"Yes."

Darwin did not dare to disobey the king’s orders.

"...Do you remember how long it has been since you came to live in the palace?"

Without hesitation, he immediately replied:

"Yes sir, it has been 3 years, 4 months, and 19 days since the honorable prince Erza rescued me from that place and brought me here!"

The king smiled kindly.

"It’s good that you still remember the one who saved you was Erza."

"I will never forget what the prince did for me, your majesty!"

"...Does that mean you will always accompany it? No matter what kind of person it becomes, or if it encounters a really powerful enemy?"

"That is my mission!"

"...Are you also willing to die for Erza?"

"Of course, sir! My life belongs to him! So, if I can protect him, I am willing to sacrifice this humble life!"

Without even a moment to think, Darwin replied immediately.

A certain and determined light flashed in his eyes.

Darwin was not joking.

"Very well. I hope that when the time comes, you can fulfill your promise."

Then, from his pocket, the king took out a ring and held it out before Darwin.

Yes, it was something that would be with Darwin for the rest of his life.

"Take this."

"May I know what this is, your majesty?"

The king’s smile became even more gentle.

"In a way, this is the life of my son, Erza Dicathen, and the person you swore allegiance to until the end of your life."

***

After a while, Darwin opened his eyes.

This time, his gaze became more nostalgic.

"How is it? Have you thought it through?"

Beside him, Kael could no longer restrain himself.

He wanted to know what that ring was.

Darwin looked at him, smiling slightly.

"Sorry, I can’t tell you."

"Huh?"

He felt as if he was a deflated balloon.

"Can’t you even reveal a little?"

Darwin’s smile was still there.

"I’m sorry, but that really can’t be done."

Despite his disappointment, Kael’s feelings for him did not decrease at all.

On the contrary, he felt even more admiration for Darwin.

Because that meant he was a loyal person.

In other words, Darwin was someone who could be trusted.

***

The next morning.

Floor 27.

"Wait, stop."

Alaric, who had the strongest intuition among them, suddenly spoke up.

Not only that, this time, his expression looked really terrible.

Everyone followed suit, not asking any questions.

Part of it was because they trusted The King more after yesterday’s incident.

The other part was because... everyone also sensed that something was not right.

"What is it this time, Alaric?"

Kael approached him, asking warily.

"...Impossible. How could this happen..."

Alaric completely ignored his words.

His current mood was very different from his usual calm demeanor.

"Alaric! This is not like you at all! Calm down!"

Thankfully, this method worked.

"...I can sense that there are many people ahead. Far more than we can imagine."

"What?"

Kael gaped.

This could only mean one thing.

They’ve been discovered!

Damn it!

"Then we have to go back the old way quickly!"

However... The King didn’t move.

"...That’s impossible either."

"Why?"

"...Because there are more people behind us than in front of us."

"Huh?"

This time, not just Kael, but everyone was stunned.

If what Alaric said was true, then... they were completely surrounded.