Chapter 169 - Chapter 33: Victory (1/2)

Chapter 169 – Chapter 33: Victory

Curtis was a rainy and wet area, with the lizardmen residing in the swamp region. The lizardmen called the swamp area, Kalung Puoga, with many spectacular cities.

As there wasn’t much hard ground to build on, the lizardmen built on the swamps and lakes. It was obvious, but it was impossible to build ordinary buildings on a swamp or lake. Therefore, the buildings in Kalung Puoga had two forms.

One form was a ship. These were buildings in the form of large or small ships. Due to the chains connecting the ships, there was a sense of stability, just like standing on the ground.

The other form was a floating building. It was made by embedding long pillars into the swamp and then building on top of it. It was an ignorant way to use trees, but the area nearby was a forest. There were many giant trees in the forest, so there was no shortage of wood.

Carack walked along a bridge made of little ferry boats. It was a hot and humid area, so his whole body was sweaty. The lizardmen soaking in the swamp greeted Carack. They were the common people of Kalung Puoga, not soldiers of the Demon King’s Palace.

In-gong’s group had arrived in Kalung Puoga this morning, and it was now noon. This was the hottest time of the day, and it truly felt like it. There was no one who wasn’t sweating.

Normally, the trip would take four to five days, but In-gong’s group had made it in just two days. They had heard that In-gong’s group was coming, but the lizardman couldn’t help feeling astonishment and admiration.

“Those from the Demon King’s Palace are truly great.”

“I think so as well.”

Carack laughed at the admiration of the lizardmen soldiers who guided them around Kalung Puoga. There was great admiration for the ‘faster than the wind’ method. However, the soldiers who had experienced the ‘faster than the wind’ method for two days felt dislike for it, rather than admiration.

Kalung Puoga consisted of mainly one-storey buildings. Carack crossed a large building and arrived at a room.

“Princess, are you okay?”

Felicia, who was lying down in the middle of the room, replied loudly to Carack’s question,

“Do I look okay?”

“Well, it seems like you have a problem with the heat, rather than exhaustion.”

Like Carack, Felicia was sweaty. The dark elves’ high-exposure clothes didn’t help in stopping the heat of Kalung Puoga.

“Yes. It seems like you are getting used to this. Have you become stronger?”

“It seems so.”

She had become strong, but this time it was because In-gong had controlled the pace. There was no urgent reason, so he didn’t feel the need to drain Felicia.

“Carack, please have some of this.”

The sweating Delia handed out a drink in a large metal cup. It was a cold drink to cool him down.

“Thank you. Everywhere in the swamp is hot.”

Carack smiled after emptying the cup. Felicia stared at Delia’s red cheeks, wondering when her aide’s tastes had distorted, before asking something else.

“Shutra?”

They had arrived together, but she hadn’t seen him since. Felicia had collapsed as soon as she arrived at the accommodation. Carack replied with a laugh,

“He is talking to the officers. He wanted me to come and check on Princess. It is because Princess is very precious.”

“Hrmm, hrmm. You say that, but he won’t stop teasing his Noona.”

Felicia complained while covering her face with a fan. Carack chuckled when he saw her twitching ears.

“Princess’ face is truly bright. Indeed, a smiling face suits Princess better than a grim look. I think that all smiling women are pretty, but Princess seems especially beautiful.”

The compliments flowed out as naturally as water. The contents weren’t that unusual, but it was important that the speaker was an orc. Felicia smiled with admiration.

“Carack, you really are an orc, right?”

“I am an orc. I don’t know why you keep asking me this.”

“Carack is special.”

Delia replied in a soft voice, with a hint of pride mixed in it. Felicia resisted making a comment and changed the topic. A new visitor had come to chat; it was In-gong.

“Huh? You’re here already?”

“The talk ended quicker than expected.”

In-gong responded, and with the drink Delia handed him, he sat down in a chair situated opposite Felicia.

“How are you?”

“Not bad. What did you talk about?”

In-gong shrugged at Felicia’s question and then said,

“I just listened to the situation of the locals. I also heard some things about Victor hyung.”

Victor had headed to the northwest two days ago, leading a group of lizardmen. It was his mission to take control of the west while Anastasia recaptured the east. Therefore, there was no chance for In-gong’s party to meet him.

‘Well, there is no reason to encounter him.’

Victor was truly embarrassed by his work at Curtis, so it would just be uncomfortable meeting him.

‘He is a prince.’

He was also just as good-looking as Anastasia.

Then while In-gong was still thinking, Felicia asked,

“Is there something special?”

“No. The story is predictable. Victor left because he was embarrassed.”

“I can imagine.”

Felicia looked away and shrugged bitterly. It was at this moment that a lizardman, who had been guarding the entrance, entered the room at a quick pace.

“Your Highness. The priest has arrived. She wants to see Prince.”

His face and voice were quite excited. In-gong cocked his head and asked,

“Priest? From the inner sanctuary?”

“Yes, Your Highness. The priest of the Dragon Temple.”

Felicia’s eyes shone at the words, ‘Dragon Temple’. The Dragon Temple was the spiritual home of the lizardmen living in Curtis. The lizardmen, who believed themselves to be the dragon’s descendents, not only admired dragons but also made them objects of their faith. The Dragon Temple was located deep inside the forest and was the headquarters of their faith.