Chapter: 178
Alsatine, surprised by the dramatic response, let out a laugh on his own as Nick slyly appeared next to him, handing over a towel.
Alsatine thanked him for his kindness and wiped the beer off his face.
“Sorry. I must have misheard something strange.”
Karl, who had been watching, awkwardly curled his lips up and rubbed the back of his neck.
“You didn’t mishear.”
“Are you saying I really asked if I enjoy being attacked by a girl?”
“Yep.”
“Why is that?”
Karl’s expression, furrowed in confusion, looked quite serious.
Like he really didn’t comprehend why he had to hear such a question.
“Why? Are you seriously asking that?”
“Of course! I’m a knight of the Allen Family. Just the suspicion itself is unpleasant.”
“… You really mean it?”
“Let me ask you in return. Why did you think of me that way?”
“Look at how you act around Lady Allen!”
Alsatine raised his voice for the first time, protesting against what Karl said.
“You actually like being treated like a dog by her! You even get sad when a derogatory term gets softened!”
“Aah. Is that what you’re talking about?”
“Finally got it, huh?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“What?!”
Hearing the question thrown back at him, Alsatine pressed his palm hard against his nose.
Does this guy really think he’s normal?!
He always thought he was a bit off, but this is serious!
“Why do you lack common sense even though you graduated as an elite from the Academy? Did you hit your head while working as a knight?!”
“No. I understood why you found it strange. It can definitely look that way.”
As Karl nodded, the mounting frustration pushed Alsatine to down his drink and shout.
“But what’s so wrong about it?!”
“Just listen to me. I’ll explain it.”
“Sigh. Alright, speak.”
“First, there’s something you need to know. It’s my dream. I wanted to be the ideal knight from the bard’s tales.”
Karl started recounting stories of knights he remembered.
The one who protected his master’s grave even after becoming a skeleton knight.
The one who always stood at the forefront of battle to fulfill his master’s wishes.
The one who kept his loyalty even as a prisoner and lost his head.
Among many others, Karl recounted the tales of knights that existed in songs.
“Do you know what their commonality is? They all had ideal masters.”
Karl didn’t have any desire to be the protagonist of a tragedy.
Even if his master’s incompetence highlighted the knight’s competence.
Because Karl wanted to achieve his aspiration, not earn sympathy.
“Think about it. Aside from her slightly rough tone, isn’t the lady closer to the ideal master?”
At first, Karl committing to serve Lucy wasn’t a matter of recognizing her.
He sought to repay the one who allowed him to forgive his unworthiness, not because he recognized or pledged loyalty to Lucy.
However, as he stayed by her side, his thoughts began to change.
She was someone who could throw away her life for others.
A person who could overcome hesitation if she thought it was necessary.
Someone who never knew surrender, even in the face of extreme situations.
She possessed talent that could overwhelm everyone at the Soul Academy, the best in the kingdom.
“At some point, I realized. The lady is the ideal master I dreamed of.”
What a miraculous occurrence, right?
The person he wanted to serve for atonement turned out to be the one who could fulfill his dream!
Even if Lucy lacked ability, Karl would have followed her. His gratitude was that immense.
Yet Lucy had something more than Karl ever desired.
She possessed the power to make his dreams come true!
So, how could he not be grateful!
How could he not value this connection!
Though Karl spoke passionately, Alsatine’s reaction was nonchalant.
“Yeah. I get that Lady Allen is who you had hoped for. But why are you happy about her mischievous tone and behavior?”
“Because it’s what the lady gives me!”
Lucy treating him like a dog meant she acknowledged him as her pet.
So it was only natural to be happy about it.
Lucy using derogatory terms she didn’t use on others meant she was treating him specially.
This too was something to be happy about.
“Do you understand? The context has flipped. I don’t enjoy being attacked by a girl. I’m happy simply because it’s what the lady does! This is loyalty, not some perverted desire!”
Seeing Karl declare this without a shred of embarrassment, Alsatine stared blankly at his face before taking another drink.
In the end, he was saying he was happy to be attacked by Lady Allen.
What’s the difference between that and being happy to be attacked by a girl?
Normal thinking just can’t comprehend this.
Haa. What a pity.
He looks fine and has great abilities, but what a shame inside.
Getting married is out of the question.
Unless he meets someone just like him, he’ll have to live alone forever.
Though Alsatine thought that, he didn’t voice it out loud.
This madman would probably say something like, “What’s wrong with living alone if I can protect the lady by her side?”
“Alright! I have answered properly. Now it’s my turn to ask.”
“Why did you come to this place following Lady Allen?”
Alsatine asked Karl while naturally using the magic packed in the ring he wore.
“… Hm. Is it a sound-blocking kind?”
“Well done. It’s a different kind of magic, so it’s tough to recognize.”
“It’s not about distinguishing by sight. It’s by hearing.”
Seeing Karl realize Nick’s breathing had vanished, Alsatine let out a laugh on his own.
This guy definitely has talents. He’s someone who works in the Underworld, yet he detected Nick waiting without a trace.
“Well, that’s enough. Answer the question.”
“It’s simple. The person I’m looking for is here.”
“Is it the one named Karia the lady mentioned?”
“Exactly. My mentor.”
Ironically, he had called her ‘auntie’ more often than ‘mentor’ when they were together.
Upon hearing that name, Karl crossed his arms.
“She must be someone important to you.”
“She’s the one who picked me up when I was dying in a trash heap.”
Alsatine chuckled as he shared tales from the past.
He was thrown away in the alley just after birth. Had to beg to survive as soon as he learned to walk. Beaten to death for not meeting his quota. Then he was picked up by chance.
“Most of what I have now was learned from that person.”
Was it because of the reunion he yearned for after so many years? Or perhaps because he was tipsy?
Alsatine’s mouth was lighter than usual as he recounted the past.
Hearing about this person named Karia, Karl muttered.
“What an amazing person.”
“Right? She once raided dungeons with Benedict Allen, you know.”
“… What?”
Seeing Karl’s face freeze, Alsatine chuckled and continued.
“I’m not joking. You’ll figure it out once you see her face.”
“The Karia who was called the Shadow of the Royal Palace was your mentor? Ha. You should tell believable lies.”
“I’m serious, though!”
Though Alsatine laughed as he told this, Karl showed no sign of belief.
Which was understandable. How could anyone believe someone who was once deemed a legend by Benedict would now reside with an informant in the back alleys?
Alsatine didn’t seem to expect his words to have any effect either, shrugging and shifting to share another memory.
*
The next day after taking a whole day to adjust my condition, I checked the items in my inventory again.
From now on, the place I’m headed is more dangerous than anywhere I’ve been before. After all, it’s the location where the Evil God governing fire is sealed.
In the worldview of the Soul Academy, there are many gods.
These gods are closer to the dimensional gods from the Greek and Roman myths rather than omniscient and omnipotent deities, so their behavior is quite human-like.
Usually, when many people gather, a group is formed, right? The gods of this worldview are no different.
There are groups formed around the sloppy perverted Armadi and the petty Agra.
The former, seeking the maintenance and stability of the world, while the latter wishes for the world to be destroyed at least once.
They sharply opposed each other to maintain their claims, and eventually, realizing that words would not suffice, they went to war.
In the end, the victorious Armadi side sealed the Evil Gods all over the world to conclude the war.
However, there was one thing the gods did not anticipate.
No matter how much they are sealed, they are still gods.
The powers they wield naturally influenced their surroundings, creating things that shouldn’t exist in the world.
That was the large dungeons.
They didn’t form because of Agra’s authority but because of the abnormal environment caused by the Evil God’s energy.
As long as the evil god was there, it was a place that would never disappear.
The moment the seal breaks, a disaster will begin in that location.
Do you understand why the quest to save Menestel was created?
Right now, there’s someone trying to break that seal.
The Sloppy God wants me to stop that.
The opponent I will face this time is stronger than any opponent I’ve faced before.
Nakrad? Compared to that guy, he’s so shoddy, it’s an insult to even compare them.
The alchemist? He may seem to have absolute power in his dungeon, but he’s someone Karl can handle well.
But this opponent is different. That guy could overwhelm Karl.
Can I take on such a monster?
Of course. That’s why I’m here, isn’t it?
That assumption held true only if I didn’t prepare anything.
Why would I bother to fight the opponent fairly?
It’s basic combat strategy to deliver the worst to the enemy and the best to the ally.
Hoo.
Having finished confirming my items, I stretched.
Alright. I’m ready to show the opponent just how much of a veteran gamer I am!
I’ll get this annoying task done quickly and then head over to Joy’s territory for some fun!
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