Chapter 20 - EPISODE 20 – DEVIL’S HAND (1) (1/2)
Terms used in this chapter (in case you didn’t know):
Oppa – what a female calls her biological older brother. It can also be used to call a male friend older than her within the boundary of 10 years.
The schedule went smoothly.
It’s been three days since the fairies’ night banquet.
In the carriage running towards Langesthei, Jude kept his eyes slightly open and looked at the front.
Cordelia and Dahlia sat close together, chatting in small voices.
‘They look like real sisters.’
I already knew that in Legend of Heroes 2, the relationship between the two were more than an escort warrior and an escort target. However, seeing it in reality now feels new to me.
‘It’s a relief.’
Cordelia wasn’t the only one worried about the troubles she continuously caused to Dahlia ever since the daytime runaway.
Back then, Cordelia had said this in my presence with a tearful face.
“What should I do if Dahlia hates me?”
It was her Cordelia self that was more than her being Yellow Storm too.
For Cordelia, Dahlia was not just an escort but a real older sister.
If you think that you are hated by such a person…
‘It’s a huge relief.’
Dahlia forgave Cordelia again this time. Of course, Dahlia was not an infinitely virtuous person, so she scolded Cordelia properly this time.
Recalling the image of Cordelia who was laughing after being scolded, Jude unwittingly smiled and turned his eyes to the side at that moment.
“Ufufu.”
Jude’s exclusive maid, Maja, was like a real older sister to him.
She was curiously watching Jude looking at Cordelia, and her elegant smile was reminiscent of the Fairy Queen.
She seemed to be holding back what she wanted to say.
‘Don’t talk to me, don’t talk to me.’
I could almost tell what she wanted to say.
Jude turned away from Maja’s gaze and closed his eyes.
And twenty minutes later, around the time Jude was blinking and about to fall asleep…
“Miss, we have arrived. This is Langesthei!”
Dahlia’s bright voice suddenly woke Jude up as he opened his eyes and looked around. Cordelia was sticking her head out of the carriage window.
“Wow, it’s real!”
It was Cordelia’s first time in Langesthei.
Of course, Yellow Storm had gone in the city back and forth dozens to a hundred times, but just as how Jude felt when he saw Cordelia and Dahlia, there was also an insurmountable gap between the game and reality for her.
“Young master should look too.”
When Maja suggested it, Jude rose from his seat pretending he couldn’t win against her and stuck his head out of the window on the other side.
“Wow.”
It was just as I saw in the game, but in a much grander and more realistic form.
The symbol of Langesthei was the huge gate with the 10-meter tall knight statues on the gate’s left and right.
People filled the wide road that could fit a couple of carriages at the same time.
At the sunlight that broke and scattered throughout the city, Jude took a deep breath.
‘Langesthei.’
It was the beginning city where Jude and Cordelia’s main scenarios started.
It was the same this time.
The form and timing were a little different, but the journey to create a new ending will also begin in this city.
‘Ah, I think I can hear the BGM.’
When you arrive at Langesthei back in the game, the merry theme song of Langesthei would then be playing.
As I came back to my seat casually humming, I heard Cordelia humming as well.
‘Hey, you too?’
‘Hey, me too.’
No more words were needed.
The two exchanged glances and laughed at the same time. Maja and Dahlia who were watching them were puzzled, but they eventually smiled pleasantly.
***
“First of all, I have to sell my father.”
No, this was not a human trafficking story.
It was a measure to stop the Devil’s Hand.
Jude had prepared an operation that was divided into three stages.
As soon as he arrived at Langesthei and took up quarters, instead of lying down, resting, or going shopping in the commercial district, he led his entire party, except for Maja, to the Knight Order’s headquarters in the center of the city.
‘The Order of the Blue Lion.’
The 12 families, led by the margrave, Count Hræsvelgr, were practically self-governing the north, but that did not mean it was an independent area of the kingdom.
In cities like Langesthei that do not belong to any of the 12 families, knights dispatched from the royal palace were in charge of public security.
“I’m the second son of Count Bayer, Mr. Jude Bayer. I would like to see the knight commander.”
“Yes?”
They were in the lobby of the building which was like that of the large top branches rather than the headquarters of the Knight Order.
Everyone was bewildered by what Jude had said in front of the squire, who seemed to be handling various applications.
“Young master?”
When Jun asked quietly, as if to replace Maja who was left in their lodgings, Jude raised his hand a little and explained it to the squire.
“My father, Count Bayer, wrote a letter to the knight commander. He told me to deliver it myself.”
When Jude spoke with a low voice, the squire of a similar age to him was surprised.
The name of Count Bayer, one of the ten swordmasters of the Sälen Kingdom, was a magical word that made the hearts of swordsmen jump, regardless of their nationality.
However, that Count Bayer had said that he had asked his son to personally deliver the letter, so it was enough to let Jude meet the commander without an appointment.
“Please wait for a moment.”
The squire hurriedly got up and went inside, and Jun asked again.
“Young master, was this a secret order of the Count?”
“It’s not to the point of secrecy.”
Jude said with a smile, and Cordelia tried hard to conceal her uneasy expression.
“Please come in. He said he would meet you right now.”
When the squire came back and spoke, Jude took a small deep breath and turned towards Cordelia.
She was the only one here who knew the truth, so she asked with an eye gesture.
‘Can you do it?’
‘I can do it.’
It was just the beginning.
The determined Jude told the party to wait and then followed the instructions of the squire to the knight commander’s office.
***
The story was simple.
Count Bayer accidentally bumped into a group of demon followers on his way back from the expedition, which resulted in the discovery of a document.
It was a cryptographic document, but when interpreted, pointed to a specific place in Langesthei.
“There was nothing else except for a listed place, so perhaps it’s got something to do with the demon followers.”
The Blue Lion’s commander, who was a typical middle-aged knight, Sir Barua nodded at Jude’s words.
He had always respected Count Bayer, and because the count was entangled with the demon followers, which can be said to be the kingdom’s enemies, it was necessary to search that place.
“Well, I understand. I’ll try to move as soon as possible.”
“Thank you. By the way…”
“What is it?”
“There is something I would like to ask for.”
“Tell me.”
“It’s an immature story, but can I come with you?”
“Mr. Bayer?”
“Yes, I’m ashamed to tell you, but I’ve always been in the house because of my illness, Gueumjulmaek, so I’ve never been involved in a proper family affair. So…at least, I would like to participate in this work that my father entrusted to me. What’s more, it’s the Order of the Blue Lion which my father usually praised in many ways, so I think I’ll have a lot to learn…”
As Jude spoke in an earnest tone, he caught a glimpse of Sir Barua’s reaction, which was not bad. Especially in the part where Count Bayer praised the Order of the Blue Lion, the corners of Sir Barua’s mouth was raised.
Of course, if Cordelia was here, rather than focusing on the illness, she would have commented on how good of a scammer he was.
In any case, Lord Barua hid his delight with a cough, and opened his mouth again.
“Hmm. But Mr. Bayer, it can be dangerous.”
“Yes, I will take the risk. Of course, if it gets really dangerous, I’ll take a step back with Count Bayer’s and Count Chase’s knights so that I won’t cause trouble for the Order of the Blue Lion.”
“Ah…indeed, there was a social gathering of the 12 families.”
Sir Barua nodded as if his thoughts had gone crazy over hearing Count Chase’s name too.
“Okay, I’ll allow you to accompany me. But like you said, you should just follow us. Do you understand?”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you very much.”
When Jude smiled broadly, Sir Barua also smiled pleasantly. Having a connection with Count Bayer in any way was quite a pleasure for any warrior.