Chapter 28 - CHAPTER 28 – WITCH’S FOREST (1) (2/2)
“Well, that’s it for our harvest inspection, so let’s move on to our operational meeting.”
“You mean the way to the witch’s forest?”
“That’s right. It’s both in the north, but if we go straight to Count Hræsvelgr, we won’t pass by the witch’s forest. So we need to create a reason.”
Moreover, monsters even appeared in the witch’s forest.
We needed a pretty much good reason to convince the escorts who’d make the safety of our journey to Count Hræsvelgr’s territory their top priority.
“So, what do you have in mind? Seeing that you’re talking about it at this point, don’t you already have a plan?”
Cordelia was already familiar with Jude even before they came to Pleaides.
Jude wasn’t a person who’d bring up a story like this without having any plans.
Indeed, he had a plan, so Jude grinned and answered.
“Of course I have. Do you remember what I told you during our last information exchange meeting?”
“Uh…the story of playing another card to draw a big picture?”
“Yes, the time has come for a new Muan Sweet Water.”
It would be a new all-around excuse medicine following Gueumjulmaek.
A dark smile was drawn on Jude’s face.
***
“Did the Fairy Queen say that?”
“Yes, the Fairy Queen said that. The witch’s forest has an influential connection that will benefit Cordelia, so make sure to stop by if you need to go to the north.”
When Jude spoke with a very serious face, Lucas turned to Cordelia and she nodded while having the same serious face as Jude.
“I’m serious, Lord Lucas.”
It was indeed true that there was an event for Cordelia in the witch’s forest.
‘What are they going to do if we said the Fairy Queen said that? Are they going to check it? By what means?’
It was what Jude had said last night.
Jude and Cordelia met the Fairy Queen.
It was certainly true, and the Moonlight proved it.
‘No one else can meet the Fairy Queen.’
In the first place, the reason why the Fairy Queen’s night banquet was an exclusive event for Cordelia was simple.
The fairies invited Cordelia to their night banquet because they found her incredibly pretty and admirable.
Sylvia is the only other person we’ve met who has the potential too.
You need to have a beautiful girl, go to a fixed date, a fixed time, and a fixed place to take a bath.
Lucas and our party knew nothing about the date, time, and place, so there was no way for them to check even if they wanted to.
‘And we’re going to add something extra here. You know Lucas’ character settings, right?’
A heroic novel enthusiast.
He is a young 16-year-old boy who wants to live a life like the heroes in novels.
“When I close my eyes even now, the day I met the Fairy Queen vividly comes to my mind. It was a really fantastic and beautiful night.”
As Jude spoke with his eyes closed, Cordelia continued, covering her mouth with both hands.
“I-it’s a memory I’ll never forget.”
It was true.
It was a really crazy night where we got harassed by dozens of fairies.
Even now, Cordelia breaks into cold sweat when she closes her eyes and thinks of that time.
‘All right, it’s coming across to him.’
Jude slightly opened his eyes and peeked into Lucas’ eyes that became filled with various emotions.
Meeting a mysterious entity like the Fairy Queen was one of the classic situations in hero novels.
“Maybe we can have a similar experience this time.”
“That’s right. The Fairy Queen said it on purpose, so I’m sure we’ll have a mysterious experience.”
It was something like meeting the soul of a witch, so it was bound to be mysterious.
Although Cordelia’s acting ability was at the level of reading Korean books, her acting was more natural than usual because what they were talking about was a ‘fact’ in the first place.
“We may have to fight monsters like when we fought the Bicorn, but that’s also part of the adventure.”
“Oh my…I’m scared, Mr. Bayer.”
“It’s okay, Lady Cordelia. If anything happens, I’ll risk my life to protect you. Lord Lucas will also be with us.”
A knight protecting a beautiful lady.
Looking at Cordelia being scared but at the same time, looking forward to it, Lucas inhaled and swallowed his breath for a moment.
Lucas had already witnessed Cordelia’s true colors the other day, but even taking that into consideration, the current Cordelia is… to be precise, her pitiful yet incomparably beautiful appearance certainly had a tremendous power.
“Hmmm…it’s only natural that it’s a knight’s mission to protect the lady.”
When they saw the corner of Lucas’ mouth slightly raise as he politely answered, Jude and Cordelia thought at the same time.
‘That’s something he had always wanted to say.’
‘It’s a wish he wanted to achieve…a wish fulfillment.’
The two exchanged glances and gave the final blow.
“Lord Lucas, a heart-pounding adventure awaits us.”
“Ah…I’m getting excited because it’s like a heroic novel.”
Let’s go through the witch’s forest.
Let’s enjoy the adventure the Fairy Queen presented us.
Lucas swallowed deeply again.
Jude and Cordelia.
They’re two people who have already experienced a story-like adventure, such as defeating the Bicorn and meeting the Fairy Queen.
These two were now reaching out for a new adventure.
It was too much of a temptation to refuse.
“That…”
“That?”
“Wouldn’t it be dangerous?”
“It’ll be fine if we have escorts. And…I guess, a little risk is the real taste of adventure.”
‘A little risk is the real taste of adventure’ is a frequent line from the novel Biltwein the Hero.
Eventually, Lucas nodded with flushed cheeks.
“Okay. Let’s go through the witch’s forest for Lady Cordelia.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you very much, Lord Lucas. An exciting adventure awaits us.”
Cordelia made quite an unusual impressive performance, perhaps because she was influenced by the atmosphere.
And she wasn’t the only one who got into the mood.
Lucas’ cheeks twitched at the word ‘adventure’ once again, and he suddenly stood up from his seat as he said.
“I’ll be back after talking to my escorts. Both of you should also talk to your escorts.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be going then.”
As Lucas left his seat in a hurry, Jude and Cordelia exchanged looks before cheerfully bumping their fists together.