입양딸 역할을 지나치게 잘해버렸다 179화

The North Gate of Winter Castle.

A commotion erupted there.

“Open the north gate.”

“Who do you think you are to give orders?”

“Me?”

The big guy with red hair let out a snicker. “I’m the Commander of the South Gate.”

“The South Gate Commander… you mean the guy who’s bad with directions, Kaiser?”

The North Gate of Winter Castle is the place most closely connected to ‘Where the Eye Shines.’ The knights there are a select group, all elite warriors.

Even with the appearance of the Mercenary King Kaiser, nobody was particularly surprised.

“This is the North Gate.”

“I know.” “Are you lost or what?”

“I came to the North Gate, not the South Gate.”

“Why?”

“Anyway, if you want it open, then just open it.”

“What if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll hit you until it opens?”

“If you can.”

“I’ll smash your head to open it.”

Kaiser stopped mid-sentence and suddenly thought of Viola’s face.

“Hey, Captain Arkan. Do you think Viola would be upset if I cause a ruckus here?”

“Don’t casually mention the name of the Iron-Blooded Saint. She is the honor of Winter Castle.”

Kaiser laughed heartily. “You’re a good guy.”

Captain Arkan of the North Gate was flabbergasted. He couldn’t keep up with Kaiser’s flow of conversation.

“Oh, right. I have this.”

It was the Silver Star Medal. Hixson used Kaiser’s medal well and then returned it to him.

The Silver Star Medal was the highest honor bestowed by the Emperor and also a pass that allowed free travel across the continent.

“Why in the world do you want to go to ‘Where the Eye Shines’?”

“More like I’m heading there.”

Kaiser coughed lightly. “Viola keeps it a secret.”

“A secret about what?”

“When, where, with whom, what, how, and why.”

It was known that Viola had held secret discussions in Heron’s study. It was revealed that she was heading to ‘Where the Eye Shines,’ but the specific goals were still unknown.

So Kaiser made a decision. “If I wait with a tent outside, won’t I meet her eventually?”

Captain Arkan couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity. “So you plan to camp on the border of ‘Where the Eye Shines’ without any help from the castle?”

“Exactly.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“I’m completely sane.”

“You could just wait at the North Gate instead.”

“I have a feeling she’ll move in secret.

Waiting here seems more certain.”

Arkan finally threw up his hands in surrender. “They say if Kaiser’s ignorance isn’t the second worst, it’s truly pitiful.”

“Is that a compliment?”

… “It is a compliment.”

“Alright, you good kid. I’m off.

In any case, I couldn’t stop Kaiser who possessed the Silver Star Medal. Kaiser set up a tent outside the North Gate and began to camp.

He endured three days and nights without sleep.

‘Just wait until you sneak away.

Viola was small and precious.

So I had to go with her and protect her. ‘Huh?’

Suddenly, ‘Did I just feel a breeze?’

In a moment of distraction, I felt a strange wind blow. There was a faint scent of a person lingering.

‘Did I misjudge?’

I turned my gaze towards ‘Where the Eye Shines.’ There was no presence to be felt at all.

Just as I was feeling a bit puzzled, the North Gate opened.

Kaiser broke into a wide smile.

“Viola!”

I couldn’t let her go alone.

*

Medea felt very disappointed.

Hera felt the same.

“Please do your best with what you can handle, sisters.”

After comforting her two sisters, Viola exited the Duke’s Mansion. “Violaaaaaa!”

A boy with a dagger came running. His name was Bichen.

“Where are you going?”

“To train.”

“Then let’s go together!”

“No way.”

“Why?”

“It’s a secret training. I’m going to train at ‘Where the Eye Shines.’”

“I wanted to go there too.”

“Not this time.”

“I don’t want to be apart from Viola!”

Bichen looked at Viola with wide, innocent eyes. Unable to help it, Viola smiled. “Huh? Why are you laughing?”

“Just because I thought you’ve changed a lot.”

The shadow of Bellatu had turned into a cute fifth child.

‘Bichen is proof that I’m changing the world.’

I placed my hand on Bichen’s head. He flinched for a moment.

“Were you trying to attack? Well, the crown of the head is a weak point. If you poke it, I’ll die.”

“That’s not it.”

Viola chuckled lightly. “I’m glad you’ve changed.”

“Have I changed?”

“Yep, a lot.”

“How have I changed?”

“You’ve become kind.”

“Then, Bichen is kind.”

Bichen’s eyes narrowed. “So if anyone bullies Viola, I’ll kill them.”

“Kill… them?”

… Huh? That seems a bit off.

Actually, there was no one bullying Viola, but in Bichen’s imaginary world, such a person seemed to exist.

“Yep, I’ll kill that guy. Then you’d be happy, right?”

Bichen smiled brightly, completely oblivious to Viola’s feelings. “I’ll make them die in the most painful way.”

… “Thank you.” Viola spent a while comforting Bichen. ‘Wow, it’s tough to start like this.’

It was good to have the people of Winter Castle on my side, but it felt a bit excessive. Clumsy Elcina of the Magic Tower and former Miracle Cleric Elbato also came out to meet us.

When it was announced that Viola was heading to train at ‘Where the Eye Shines,’ the residents of Winter Castle gathered at the North Gate.

“I’ll be back.”

A huge crowd had gathered. They had formed into one mob, chanting ‘Iron-Blooded Saint,’ and Viola felt her face flush, unable to even look at them. Even her ignoring them became a source of excitement for them. Indeed, it was a proud and arrogant appearance befitting the rulers of Winter Castle.

Captain Arkan shouted loudly.

“Open the North Gate.”

The various magical spells inscribed on the North Gate were released, and the North Gate, connected to ‘Where the Eye Shines,’ began to open. At the same time, a blizzard swept in.

The bone-chilling cold hit, but Viola didn’t feel that cold.

The Master Mage’s dress effortlessly shielded her from the harsh cold.

A giant figure emerged through the blizzard.

“Hohoho, I have been waiting here.”

It was a massive shadow. “I can’t let my small and precious friend go alone…”

Boom! With a sound, the giant fell.

Someone dragged the giant along. Viola opened her mouth.

“Master?”

“Yes.”

“Did you ambush the Mercenary King?”

“Yes.”

“What if you get counterattacked?”

“Kaiser has probably slept through five nights, right?

Besides, all his attention is on his disciple, leaving many openings.” No matter how strong a martial artist, one must never let their guard down in front of an assassin. In the end, Kaiser was caught off guard and fell asleep.

“He’ll probably sleep soundly for a week.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“No problem. It’s just something to make a living.”

Thanks to Sheilan, Kaiser would soon be headed back to the South Gate. Kaiser’s absence itself would be valuable information for ‘Heat Wind.’

Outwardly, Viola was heading off to train at ‘Where the Eye Shines.’

She didn’t want to create any other variables. Kaiser abruptly jumped up.

“Viola! Small! Precious!”

Sheilan’s face stiffened. “Didn’t I inject enough sleeping toxin to reach 720 times the lethal dose?”

Viola momentarily doubted her ears. 720 times the lethal dose?

“Master, I think I just heard something incredibly dangerous.”

“It’s nothing to worry about.”

Sheilan smiled sweetly. That expression resembled someone who had just come back from a luxurious trip, peaceful and serene. Fortunately, Kaiser fell again with a thud!

Sheilan dragged Kaiser along, saying.

“Disciple, train well. I’ll be waiting.”

Sheilan waved goodbye as he moved away. Zeno spoke.

“Princess, shall we set off now?”

The group was minimal. Zeno and Tundra decided to accompany her.

Since horses would struggle to survive in ‘Where the Eye Shines,’ the three decided to walk.

Viola and her party began walking toward ‘Where the Eye Shines.’

‘It’s so blinding I can’t see ahead.’

The blizzard was that intense. Viola, Zeno, and Tundra tied themselves together with a magical rope.

“We’re heading to the Yeti Village.”

To enter the ‘Sacred Ground of the Ancient Warriors,’ they absolutely needed the help of the Yetis. They were the guides who led humans to the ‘Sacred Ground of the Ancient Warriors.’ “We know the way, but we must be prepared for occasional monster attacks….”

Zeno tilted his head. “I don’t sense any monsters at all, Tundra, how about you?”

“It seems there are no monsters nearby.”

A faint scent of blood pricked Tundra’s nose. His sense of smell had long surpassed that of a human. Although ‘Where the Eye Shines’ was erasing traces of monsters in real-time, his keen senses detected the streaks of slaughter. ‘There was slaughter.

A vision of sheer massacre etched itself in his mind. ‘If this were not ‘Where the Eye Shines,’ there would have been thousands of monster corpses scattered around here. ‘A dangerous smell is present.’

It was uncertain what would unfold before reaching the Yeti Village. The blizzard was so heavy that voices could not be carried through the storm.

Tundra infused mana into his voice.

“Princess, I’ll take the lead.”

He stepped forward, shielding Viola from the blizzard.

“I’m not trying to protect the princess.”

Viola didn’t need anyone’s protection. From Tundra’s perspective, Viola was a martial artist.

“I just want to bear the brunt of the blizzard for you.

I trained for this purpose.” Strangely enough, Tundra standing in front of her brought peace around Viola. The biting blizzard that had been striking her disappeared.

Only Violas’s surroundings felt like that.

‘It’s warm.’

Indeed, it was the power of the protagonist inside the shadow of Bellatu. The resistance against the violent blizzard didn’t even register.

It was calm and serene.

At that point, Viola began to feel something strange.

‘This is odd.’

It wouldn’t be strange if there were dozens of monster attacks. It felt unbelievably peaceful.

Viola and her companions continued walking, following Zeno’s guidance.

Viola walked with such peace that she began questioning if this truly was ‘Where the Eye Shines.’

‘It’s suspiciously peaceful.’

Zeno’s voice rang out. “We’ll soon arrive at the Yeti Village.”

And at that moment, another voice of ‘a human’ reached them. “What a coincidence to meet here. How very serendipitous.”