Chapter 52 Part8 (2/2)

”Partner? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

”Once you've purified the Empire, you'll have to settle on the surface. You're not planning to live dangerously fighting monsters forever, are you? That's where I come in! I can offer you a lifelong job. So, for now... well, you'll see what I mean if you follow me.”

”What exactly are you talking about...”

She followed him, arriving at the grape vineyard directly connected to their wine factory. He could get there in a flash with the Heaven Door's Key. The atmosphere was completely different, but... Erian quickly noticed. There was no way she wouldn't.

”No, wait. This is... This is the vineyard I entrusted to you!”

[Welcome, Paul Zero... Oh, it's the Elf!]

[It's been a long time since I last saw a living, breathing Elf! Nice to meet you!]

Having noticed him, the Dryads flew towards him, but once they noticed Erian as well, they began to chatter. Whereas, Erian was dumbfounded at the sight of the Dryads.

”How is this possible? To think there were still spirits within the Empire...”

”Do you remember the Forest of Death? There were some Dryads resisting the curse there. I brought them here and cured them of the curse. Because of them, the grapes you raised grew even livelier than before.”

”The Forest of Death...”

”At the time, I remember us talking about it in the chatting channel. If that's the case, then that means you were already strong enough to get through the Forest of Death back then...”

”Well... yes.”

Lloyd smiled hollowly. He couldn't even feel his inferiority complex flare. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was in a completely different league.

When he realized how outcla.s.sed he was, something with him snapped. But he actually felt relieved. He'd had an urge to become stronger, and the undead curse had only intensified that urge, making him impatient. However, that impulse had disappeared right then and there.

'I was a fool. There's no need for me to be more 'hero-like' than someone else...'

Him not feeling frustrated or powerless was just an example of Lloyd's incredible mental fort.i.tude. Once he'd stopped comparing himself to Lee s.h.i.+n Woo and looked at himself objectively, he became able to do things at his own pace again.

If Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had known what Lloyd was thinking, then he'd say something like 'he's like a hero straight out of a fairy tale.'

”Wait, the energy from when I raised the grapes is still here!? No, it's not just here, but it's evolved!”

[Hey, Elf. Come over here! There's a place where the grapes aren't growing that well!]

[Spread your elvish energy! It's best if elves look after fruit!]

”I... I understand. Let's go together!”

Erian followed the Dryads and disappeared amidst the field of grape trees. With the Dryad's help, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had grown the grapes quite well, but he couldn't match up to an Elf; Elves were masters of the forest and fields, so if they were to intervene, then the quality of the grapes would skyrocket!

As a result, the value of the Kerr Century Elemental Brandy would rise as well. To think that the sole elf on the continent was looking over the grape trees; she was invaluable!

”So please do your best, Senior. They say that a half-elf is born with an elf's authority.”

”W-What's with you all of a sudden!? ...I-Is it that obvious?”

”It is that obvious.”

Even the most dim-witted of men possessed the ability to spot couples!

Compared to when he'd met them last, he felt something qualitatively different between the two of them. They'd taken at least another step forward. At any rate, if this happens, then...

”By the way, what do you think of one man marrying several women, Senior Lloyd?”

”You have to love one person to the very end. I believe that that's the best I can do as a person and as a man. ...Ahem, I suppose that's Erian right now.”

”Why are you not like a hero in this aspect... Err, never mind.”

It sounded like Lloyd was criticizing him, or at least, it came off that way. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo decided to change the subject.

”What do you think of Senior Prince?”

”Prince? She's a good friend. I told you before, didn't I? It would've been hard for me to endure without her.”

”I see.”

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo hesitated briefly, but then he glanced at Erian, who was going around the grape trees, and carefully whispered into Lloyd's ear.

”To be honest, Prince begged me to save you; she was even willing to do anything to ensure your safety.”

”Prince really cherishes me that much...?”

”Yes. And Prince is a girl. A girl who's been with you for a very long time.”

”She already told me, so I know that... Huh?”

Even the slow-witted Lloyd couldn't misunderstand when Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was spelling it out for him. Cold sweat flowed down his forehead.

”No, wait. There's no way... Don't joke around, s.h.i.+n Woo.”

”So you get it. Please think about it by yourself. You'll find an answer.”

”Hey, wait. Why are you telling me this now!?”

'Why now? I can't be the only one with girl troubles,' Lee s.h.i.+n Woo thought. However, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo didn't say anything aloud and merely gave him a thumbs up. Behind him, Lloyd was suffering from the truth that'd been laid bare. Serves him right.

</chapter>

<script>