The Ghost King's KeeperCh72 - 3rd world gets involved

Bonus Chapter

~ xRNM6U

Being caught in the whirlpool of mess, Ruzen had been questioned thrice over the scout incidence. Not that he minded playing guilty, but being questioned all the time made him grouchy and fussy. What made him even more grumpy was the fact that the King didn’t contact him after all the mess. And even the locals, who were supposed to disperse after the settlement of the skeleton dragon were still lingering like little rats. 

Not that Ruzen minded the much-needed noisy environment, or the warm days which made them agitated- well okay… he minded it so much that he almost kicked his master out to go and find the king so that his placement as a Keeper could be sped up. 

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3 days.  

That was the amount of time Ruzen spent holed up in his room with his reprieve being rumors and whispers from the crowd still gathered in the courtyard.  8ezBXV

Something was definitely wrong with the barrier since it seemed that patches were starting to appear all over the region. Who knows who originally found out, but now it was being talked about every minute. The local guards guarding the people couldn’t stop their mouths from whispering things, and so all they could do was glare at the whisperers silently. 

The reason why it caused so much chaos was not because the public feared their life, more than that it was a certain form of entertainment for the stifled families, since it got them busy with theories and conspiracies. 

At least Ruzen believed so, as he sat on his bed staring at the same old ceiling, definitely interested in listening to those whispers. It was entertaining to him as well. 

After all, with all that practice, he had honed his senses, sharpening them with his core energy. So why not use his powers when he felt like it? 

However, he couldn’t hear everything, according to his master his skills would develop over time if given proper care and practice, but he felt it was futile to keep stressing over the same thing every day, what he needed wasn’t practice, he needed proper guidance and peace of mind, which he wasn’t getting since he came for this competition. Clearly, even the competition came to a halt as if sensing his presence. His luck was really sour, wasn’t it? 

Ruzen sighed, turning to look at the table on the side, his master was hovering over a letter, glaring at something written on it, his lips trembling under pressure. For a minute Ruzen wondered if his master even knew how much time had gone by since he opened the letter. 

“What is it master? You have been staring at it since before lunch. I am not sure I can take any more of your silence. I am bored.” 

Overtime, Ruzen had gotten braver with his master… and in these 3 days under house arrest, he was getting even more obnoxious with his slurs.   XK2oNA

“Keep quiet you brat, I am trying to understand what is written here.” Master He’Da didn’t look even remotely appreciative of his disciple; his lips were twitching and his eyes were almost red. 

“Are you angry…?” 

Master He’Da didn’t respond to Ruzen, he was back to staring at the letter as if it had personally insulted him. Maybe it had. Ruzen could tell whatever was written there wasn’t anything pleasant. 

“…how can I help?” Still, it was his duty to help his master when he was in a pit.  g RJin

“J-Just keep quiet brat, for one second let me concentrate!” He’Da had never known having a disciple was this distracting. Why couldn’t the brat keep silent until he finished reading? 

“Wait, you have been reading it for so long, do you not understand what’s written there… or is it too long.” Ruzen settled for a tease. 

“Yes it is long, now keep shut.”  

Ruzen frowned, lying back down with a silent roll of his eyes. His master was so charming, no wonder he was a recluse.  BAjPhQ

He’Da didn’t mind his disciple’s huffing, because what he was reading made him mentally strained. Ruzen didn’t know who had visited to give this letter, he had been showering at that time. But He’Da had recognized the white uniform laced with scarlet prints. They were the king’s men, but also not. One could call them spirits. 3rd world’s envoys who were messengers from some unknown province.  

The 3rd world was vast, it was said that even Gods feared visiting that place. If not for the barrier that separated their world and the 3rd, He’Da was sure ‘humans’ would not exist. 3rd world beasts were naturally fearsome and dangerous. 

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What really bothered He’Da wasn’t the 3rd world envoy giving a letter to Ruzen, but that the Ghost King was involved. The letter was basically a contract between the King and Ruzen, approved by the higher authorities residing in 3rd world, the envoy had stressed on that before leaving. 

It shouldn’t be so.  73VC1g

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.

He’Da was sure that the ceremony involving the Keeper never got approved by any 3rd world higher authority. There was no way that any ceremony involving a cursed one would ever be considered by someone who never got involved in their world’s business.  

That is why He’Da was trying to read through the contract for better understanding. Something had to be different, for the 3rd world to approve it. But the words were in different language, He’Da only understood a few characters, and none of those characters spelled anything understandable. 

Until now, the contract talked about things like responsibility and fulfilment, respect and worship… things which were commonly spoken of in any Keeper-Kept contract. Yet, it was marked by the 3rd world dignitaries, an impossible and very suspicious feat. 

Gritting his teeth, He’Da stared at the characters written on the letter, maybe he would recall some strange language, or maybe they would make more sense if he kept staring…  Bs1L5P

Alas, it was odd how the letter held literal weight. He’Da had to exert force to keep the letter slipping from his hand. It was just a piece of paper, yet the gravity in the words forced him to consider it life threatening. Just what was his Disciple getting into?  

“Masterrrrr~” 

The whining made He’Da groan, his disciple, so naïve and cute, what was this king planning to do with him?  

Feeling the sharp stare directed his way, the master sighed, okay so his disciple wasn’t very naïve, but he was still young, and his ‘only’ disciple. As a master, how can he let his only disciple face early terror without taking precaution?  uxZwgX

“You want to read this letter?” He’Da was sure his disciple would jump at any chance he would get. But unfortunately, his disciple kept silent, staring still at He’Da with a strange look on his little face. 

“…what?” He’Da felt uneasy under the intensity of the stare, getting a nerve wrecking jolt from how those dark eyes flashed with some… emotion he couldn’t understand, couldn’t read. 

Not again. 

“Master,” the young voice spoke, “can it be that you are scared about something… you are sweating.” The calm tone was anything but considerate.   j5X0UI

“Who is scared you brat? Check again!” 

Ruzen tilted his head a little, mostly observing, “You are.” 

He’Da tensed, his disciple often got like this when he was very tired or restless. It happened rarely, but he saw it happen. Something about it always made him cautious. He wasn’t sure what it was, but Ruzen became unreadable when it happened. Or maybe his disciple just got too lost in observing, going into haze.  

“Are you blind you brat?” He’Da raised his voice to enact his part as the strict mentor. “Go to sleep if you are not interested in the letter. And who says I am scared? You better check your eyesight you brat!”  UAPQ6l

Ruzen blinked, then started to giggle, as if snapping out of whatever trance he was in. “Alright master, why so angry, I want to read it, give me it.” 

He’Da snorted, resting back on the arm chair a little unsettled. He didn’t show it but he was worried. The king had never hinted anything wrong with Ruzen… in the head, he wasn’t mentally sick. So why was it that he often went into this calm haze, all aware and scrutinizing. It was very unnatural whenever it happened. 

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

Ruzen otherwise was open to reading, he didn’t hide things and his expressions were lively. Only during his sudden hazes would he become blank, like a doll, unreadable, unsettling and dark. 

Surely, He’Da needn’t speak about it with the King? He didn’t think it was alarming yet. Still, he worried for his disciple.  iz4EOy

“A contract?” Ruzen leaned in to read over He’Da’s shoulder, mumbling, “Alright, that is a lot. Let me hold it master.” 

He’Da coughed, “No, read it as you are. Even I want to read it over.” 

“But you already read it…?” 

“I want to read it again.”  w0gEPD

Ruzen made a sound of ridicule, then went on his knees and leaned over again, “Strange language again. Hm, Declared consociates, abiding by rules of ancients and Higher authorities, the eligible will consummate their relation by the end of ju… jurikan huam. Passing worship to each, this 3rd world celebrates the income of fulfillment, responsible for acknowledgement of ‘they’, Modicren envoys the respectful passer as authenticated cultivator of harmony. Darkness subsides into choas, the world descends into righteousness… Master what exactly is all this.” 

Ruzen frowned, almost palming the letter, “I get why you were annoyed, but you looked so scare- I mean off… hm, wait what is written at the end of it… some fancy name? ‘To King Juadrian Aia Mozen’… it says?” 

He’Da was unaware that his disciple knew the characters, but what attracted his attention was the words that were written in there. To his understanding, there was nothing wrong with it, only the middle sentence may hold some suspicion but otherwise it was… clean. 

He’Da could only moan in silence.  5aXoRI

“Master… who is King Juadrian, where did you get this letter from? It says K-King Juandiran Aia Mozen. Do you hear me?” Ruzen rushed over as if he feared He’Da wouldn’t answer. 

“Yes, your kept’s name is… what you read. Out of respect we don’t speak his name, many don’t even know. We call him the ghost king for ease.” 

Ruzen became silent again, biting his lips, his eyes wide as they stared at the characters which were written over the letter. He seemed to be blushing? But there was a strange look in eyes. 

He’Da thought Ruzen was going into haze again, but shortly after the brat stood up in a hurry and rushed to bed, jumping on it and falling face first, screaming into the quilt. “Oi, what is wrong with you?”  P4p9hd

Ruzen groaned, “M-Master… nothing. I just realized I never asked for the King’s name, and- and isn’t that letter about me and the King? Although it didn’t say my name, I understood some part of it.” 

He’Da was still confused over his disciple’s strange antics. “Yes. Your ceremony will be held soon if we have received this letter. From what I know, such letters are generally marked with the contractee‘s blood.” 

Ruzen only mumbled a small acknowledgment, as He’Da went back to scrutinizing the letter for any hidden details. 

As his master started to frown again at the paper, Ruzen peeked over his elbows to take a look. His master was no longer paying him attention and that was what he wanted.  H7V3XK

Ruzen’s face was still burning as he glanced at the letter again. 

King Juadrian Aia Mozen. 

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

It was strange, how right after saying the King’s name, Ruzen had felt overwhelmed, strange, familiar and defiantly warm. 

But that warmth had started to heat his body with a rapid pace, his chest becoming rather small for his beating heart which tried to jump right out. It was unnatural, the reaction. And he rushed his master to clarify it for him.  zJXUZ8

As he suspected, it was the ghost king’s real name. 

King Juadrian Aia Mozen. 

Ruzen wanted to hide from that burn he felt in his body. It was only getting worse.  

He felt high, as if drunk and dizzy.  OCW4cr

He had jumped on the bed face down to hide his lower region. He had never felt like this before. Just saying a damn name he was aroused? 

Looking over his master, Ruzen wanted to kick him out. He was too hot and bothered to look for excuses right now. He thought of bitter things, ugly things, but his ‘thing’ was still half hard. Rapidly hardening even more. 

Flustered and uneasy, Ruzen suddenly felt frantic. It was eerie how speaking a name got him so high on hormones. W-What was happening? 

“Oi brat, come here and read out this line again, I think you made a mistake.”  irHyJP

‘Not now.’  

“Brat? Are you listening?” 

‘No. I can’t. Shut up master, now is not the time.’ 

“…Ruzen?”  yT58V4

‘Great.’ 

“Is something wrong? Are you… alright?” 

Ruzen slowly turned to look at his master, whose eyes were on him, and expression sober. Ruzen just knew his master wasn’t going anywhere until Ruzen spilled his gut.  

“Can you leave this room for a while? Come back by dinner.”  RLUKW1

He’Da frowned, looking down at him. “Why?” 

“I need to…” Ruzen gulped, “I need to take care of something.” He felt breathless, he was really hard down there.  

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How embarrassing. 

His master was still sitting there looking all puzzled, when a knock was heard on the door, and He’Da had to get up to see who it was.  2Yp4Pd

Ruzen cursed at his luck, if it was the white collared man or even some guard on petrol duty looking for interrogation again, he was in deep troubles. It would be so embarrassing to explain his situation. And all of it from just reading out a name. 

Although… if he was being honest, the name certainly sounded handsome. It somewhat matched the King well. 

King Juadrian Aia Mozen. 

Ruzen turned slightly to take a look at the door, expecting some guard as was his luck, but to his astonishment and horror. He saw blue robes, and the intricate silver lining on the ends.  tLQTnx

It was the King himself. 

He was here… he was here? 

The King didn’t wait for his master to speak, he came inside, his smoke like body solidifying. Then he looked at Ruzen and in a flurry of activity, shut the door with his master locked outside. 

Huh?  saZ90y

Wait. The King was here? 

“We heard your call.” The low voice polite as always. 

Ruzen gulped, his teeth clacking when he shut his mouth. He wondered if… saying the King’s name actually summoned him, or the silent whispering that he did in his own head. 

~ sxOT7n

A/N – Sorry for missing on updates, but first my hand got injured(it is healed now so all is good) and then I got ill as well(severe hypothyroidism which lead to irritable bowel syndrome and fatty liver). It will take more than a month to get well, but I am getting better with all the medication.

This was a bonus chapter, powered by kofi donations from Gofa and MyaLairis. 

Stay tuned for more :)) [and don’t worry, I will get better soon] Thank you for the comments and love!!!!