Early in the morning, Lee Hwan went to the blacksmith’s shop. Since the escape incident, the sword he had been with was drying out due to the battle at the Ermentas Cathedral. The humid air greeted him as he returned, feeling quite satisfied thanks to the p urchase of a decent knife.
“Welcome back, Lee Hwan.”
Absalom, holding bath supplies, greeted Lee Hwan. Crossing the room, Absalom set them down next to the tub. Inside the tub, steam rose from the warm water. Lee Hwan glanced at him briefly.
Absalom, who usually let his long hair down, was busy preparing for the bath with his hair tightly tied back. His flushed cheeks from the heat, wet hair sticking to his fair neck, were charming enough to send shivers down the spine. Lee Hwan unintentionally averted his gaze.
“Towels are here, razors are here. This is soap, lather it up for foam. Use this on your face and body after bathing. Oh, and…”
As Absalom explained each bath item, he suddenly blushed. He hesitated before continuing.
“Do you need assistance with bathing?”
Lee Hwan firmly shook his head.
“Get out.”
“Call me when you’re done.”
As soon as Absalom left, Lee Hwan swiftly removed his clothes and entered the tub. Whether it had been a while or not, his body and even his mood relaxed in the warm water.
Lee Hwan didn’t leave the room for long. It was impossible to boil such an amount of water and bring it up to the room in that short time. Perhaps it was magic. He pondered as he ran his fingers through his tangled hair.
Having Absalom by his side would definitely make things easier, not limited to just bathing. Lee Hwan, who hadn’t had the opportunity to learn the ways of the world due to fighting monsters, was delicately cared for and guided by Absalom. Without Absalom, this journey would have been much more difficult.
For now, let’s keep him by my side for that reason. If Absalom ever shows signs of betrayal again, then it will be enough to cast him aside. Lee Hwan concluded as he emerged from the tub.
After roughly drying himself and putting on clothes, he went to Absalom. When he knocked on the adjacent room’s door, Absalom appeared.
“Done? Then while I clean up the tub, you can rest in my room for a while… You didn’t apply lotion?”
Back in the palace, he used cosmetics to impress Lucian, but not anymore. Without a response, Lee Hwan passed Absalom and entered the room. Absalom, who sighed, approached Lee Hwan.
“Is it too much trouble?”
Seating Lee Hwan on the bed, Absalom brought a bottle of lotion. He glanced at Lee Hwan and then smoothed his hair. The wet strands quickly revealed his forehead.
“Just close your eyes for a moment…”
Absalom scooped some lotion into his hand as he spoke. Lee Hwan obediently closed his eyes. Soon, a refreshing fragrance approached. The lotion, which Lee Hwan thought would be cool, was surprisingly warm, perhaps due to Absalom’s body heat.
Chak-chak.
A faint sound echoed in the quiet room. With its warmth and gentle darkness, along with the rhythmic sound and the warmth touching his cheek, it was the perfect condition for falling asleep. Lee Hwan felt his heavy eyelids drooping. Absalom chuckled softly.
“I didn’t know you were so high-maintenance.”
“Noisy.”
“And prone to tantrums.”
Cute. A gentle whisper brushed Lee Hwan’s ear like a spring breeze.
A hand that had fallen from Lee Hwan’s face reached his shoulder. Lee Hwan lay down as the hand guided him.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Aera riffq j ilaaif ibcufg.”
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Qtfc Off Lkjc bqfcfv tlr fsfr jujlc, j ygluta iluta oliifv atf gbbw. Pa rffwfv ab yf wlvvjs. Cyrjibw kjr cbktfgf ab yf rffc. Off Lkjc uba eq ogbw atf yfv jcv tfjvfv ab tlr bkc gbbw.
There, he found Absalom. Absalom sat in a chair, gazing somewhere with a melancholic expression. Lee Hwan followed his gaze.
A bundle of black cloth lay on the floor. Amidst the wrapped cloth, faded gold reflected the midday sunlight. The first relic he held, aside from being made of gold and jewels, looked rather unimpressive.
Approaching it, Lee Hwan felt a peculiar sensation upon touching it. Unlike the first time when he lacked experience, this sensation resembled the certainty he felt when he judged the relic as authentic.
“Congratulations,” Absalom said, his face heavy despite his words. Lee Hwan carefully secured the relic and placed it deep in his belongings. Absalom, who had been watching, asked,
“Where to next?”
“…Roentner.”
“If it’s Roentner, there should be relics in the palace. If we’re going into the palace like this to investigate the situation, I’ll arrange for a servant position at least. It’s better for moving around…”
“No.”
This time, Lee Hwan went through the process of staying at the cathedral guesthouse because he couldn’t fully trust the information Absalom brought. However, he planned to act differently in the future.
“You might be able to bring back more detailed information than before. Based on that, I plan to infiltrate.”
It was better to finish it quickly and neatly. Intentionally, Lee Hwan added one more word.
“Please.”
“Of course. Don’t worry.”
Absalom’s face brightened noticeably. Lee Hwan swallowed his suspicion.
***
Lucian received knights and funds from Charles and immediately set off from the palace. His destination was the Shabri Mountains, where Lee Hwan had disappeared.
The group rode their horses without rest. They even swiftly defeated monsters they occasionally encountered. Fortunately, there were no major battles.
It wasn’t until the evening of the tenth day that they reached the foot of the Shabrie Mountains. Lucian, who stopped everyone, looked at the map. One of the knights asked him with an uneasy expression, “Are you planning to enter the mountains?”
It was a question filled with suspicion. Instead of answering, Lucian scanned the knights with cold eyes.
There were seven knights in total. Three, including Weibang, were originally those who had been guarding Lucian, while the remaining four were provided by Charles. The knight who had just asked was one of the latter.
Lucian turned his head away from them. The ignored knight’s face turned red with anger. However, Lucian didn’t pay him any attention. In fact, apart from one person, he didn’t even register anyone else in his mind.
He looked back at the map. His eyes scanned the surroundings of the mountains, not the mountains themselves.
Lucian didn’t know the power of the knights, nor did he feel constrained by their thoughts. Despite everyone saying, “Anyone would die in such a situation,” Lucian was convinced that Lee Hwan would have escaped from the mountains.
There were several villages around the mountains. Lucian’s delicate fingers pointed at a few of them. They were all reachable only through narrow and rugged paths.
“Do you think Alexander went there?” Weibang asked. Once again, Lucian didn’t respond.
Now, a person whom no one remembers the real name of, the Savior Knight. All the glory of the world rests in his hands. If he desires, building mountains of gold and silver or becoming the ruler of a nation would be possible.
Yet, such a person lived a secluded life as a wanderer. In that case, what should be his next move?
“Does the Fifth Prince believe that Alexander sacrificed his life but did not contact the palace? What do you think?”
This time, another knight provided by Charles asked. The tone implied questioning if Lee Hwan had betrayed the royal family. Even Lucian had no choice but to respond to such a question.
“Would someone who is injured consider the nearby geography? They could have headed anywhere. I simply considered the possibility and searched villages where the search party hadn’t gone. If he lost consciousness on a mountain path or in a barely reached village… Could the knights have contacted the palace?”
Contrary to his words, Lucian did not believe that Lee Hwan had lost consciousness. He pointed to one of the villages they had investigated.
“We’ll stay in a nearby village today and head here tomorrow.”
Despite Lucian’s assurance, the group failed to achieve any results. Even in the second village, they found no trace of Lee Hwan, so they headed to the third village.
“Some knights are quite dissatisfied,” Weibang whispered quietly. Lucian was not unaware of the situation.
They are the ones Charles provided for Lucian to use. It was clear that they were chosen not only for their skills as knights but also because they were expendable. Furthermore, Lucian was the one giving orders. For them, it was a situation where they couldn’t afford to harbor dissatisfaction.
“Do you think I’m doing something pointless, Weibang?”
“I believe there must be a reason for what you’re thinking, Lord Lucian.”
“Thank you.”
Lucian’s dry lips softened slightly. He had never neglected his grooming, realizing today that if his lips dried, they might crack and bleed.
Why go to such lengths? Lucian questioned himself. A faint realization writhed in a corner of his heart. But he didn’t yet have the courage to delve into it.
They arrived at the third village shortly. Lucian felt his heart pounding strangely. While the knights dispersed to inquire, he and Weibang headed to the inn. Perhaps because both of them had their shoulders covered with cloaks, the innkeeper responded in a relaxed tone.
“A young man in his twenties with black hair and brown eyes? Hmm, a common description… Besides, not everyone who enters the village comes to the inn, even if they’re outsiders.”
“He must have been quite injured.”
“Even if you say so…”
Seeing the owner’s face turning from puzzled to slightly annoyed, it was clear they truly didn’t know anything. Lucian, who had been standing back while Weibang and the owner spoke, bit his lip.
“If you’re not staying, then leave. Don’t disturb the business for no reason.”
The innkeeper’s tone turned harsh. Lucian, growing desperate, blurted out the impressions he had when he first saw Lee Hwan.
“Then, were there any unusual guests? Anyone noticeable or oddly dressed?”
“Where does this kid get off speaking so informally…”
The innkeeper’s face, initially angry, softened as if he were in a dream. Lucian gestured to Weibang.
“Who, exactly, are you thinking of right now?”
“It’s not someone that you’re looking for… But it was the first time I’ve ever seen such a beauty. Their face was whiter than snow, and their hair glistened like real silver. And their eyes… How can I describe them? Their deep blue eyes, like the bottom of a river, every time they looked at me, my heart…”
The innkeeper rhapsodized about the beauty’s appearance with a rapt expression. Despite all efforts, it seemed far from Lee Hwan, prompting Weibang to signal Lucian. However, Lucian was too preoccupied to notice.
“Silver hair and blue eyes…?”
A piece from the depths of his memory resurfaced.
It was not long after Lucian met Lee Hwan. At the time, Charles had assigned someone to monitor Lee Hwan’s every move. It was the information that person had relayed.
‘Lord Alexander has left the palace. He went to a tavern near the palace, drank until late at night, then returned.’
Initially, both Charles and Lucian feared there might be ulterior motives behind Lee Hwan’s actions. However, as the reports became more consistent, they began to relax.
The change in reports came around that time.
‘I made contact with a beautiful man with silver hair and deep blue eyes.’
This report, with an unexpected personal touch, put Lucian on edge. It was concerning for him, as someone involved in such matters, to encounter another beauty, especially after having tangled with Lee Hwan in the realm of beauties. Charles seemed to share similar concerns, as he demanded an investigation into the man.
However, Lucian had no recollection of the results of that investigation.
Was it something trivial that he had forgotten? If so, why did it suddenly come to mind now? Lucian grabbed Weibang’s sleeve, pulling him close. Weibang, understanding the significance, leaned in closer to Lucian’s lips.
“Silver hair and blue eyes. Remember? Surely you heard about when Alexander supposedly met him at the tavern… You were there too, weren’t you?”
“Huh?”
Weibang looked bewildered. Lucian grew anxious.
“Don’t you remember?”
Silver hair itself was extremely rare, so there was hardly a chance he could forget. Yet Weibang’s face suggested he was hearing the story for the first time.
“When exactly was this?”
“Well, you see…”
Lucian forgot his words. It wasn’t a memory.
“A dream…”
“Lucian?”
“Oh, no. Nothing.”
Lucian quickly changed the subject. As he turned back to the innkeeper, he asked, “What about the man? Was he alone?”
The innkeeper, who seemed lost in thought, suddenly snapped back to reality. Despite Lucian’s informal tone, which seemed so unsettling, he showed little reaction.
“Oh, now that you mention it, he did have companions. Yes. He was with a man with black hair. Quite distinct from the silver-haired beauty, so I remember.”
Found it. Lucian smiled with exhilaration.
***
TL/N: Hello everyone, it’s been 2 weeks since the last update of ‘ATRHIO,’ and I’m sorry that I didn’t announce it here in the last chapter because I had finals last month at the end of the month. I want to thank everyone who greeted me with good luck for my exams, although I didn’t reply to most of you. I appreciate it. While I’m on my small break, I bring something for you all: a new novel! It’s called ‘Surviving In A Broken World.’ The introduction really caught my attention, so I picked it up. Also, you can read it here on CG. Anyway, I hope you read this because it’s interesting, and thank you for waiting for the update!
Welcome back and thanks for the chapter!! <33
Thank you for chapter 🙂
Thanks for the chapter
Ugh this bastard just don’t wanna lose his status… or life 😏😏 he should be worried