Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 324
◈ 324. [Side Story] Hwayangyeonhwa (花樣年華)) (6)
It was a few days later that Lucas came to his senses..
The Geohan prosecutor who was caring for Lucas cried out and shouted..
“young master! You're awake.!”
“Mason… … mister?”
Lucas struggled to get up his bandaged body..
It was the mansion of the McGregor family. Returning home after such a long time was unfamiliar, but I also couldn't understand the current situation..
“how did i get here……?”
Although my memories are blurry due to the aftermath of Beast Painting,.
The mission failed, and Ash discovered his betrayal and had to be killed..
How do you live... … Are you back home?.
“His Highness Prince Ash ordered someone to send you here! The injury was roughly healed, but I was so worried because he was unconscious for several days.…….”
Mason whimpered in an awkward way for his size. Lucas, who was blinking blankly, asked urgently:.
“Was there any other message??!”
“Ah, that is... … Still, Prince Ash's letter is here..”
Lucas urgently read the letter Mason gave him. The content was simple.
- go away. forever.
“…….”
Lucas closed his eyes tightly, folded the letter and put it in his arms..
I took a deep breath, gathered myself, and turned my head to Mason next to me..
“How did Mr. Mason……?”
The assassination of Ash failed. It wouldn't have been surprising if Fernandez had killed all the McGregor family members who were hostages..
“His Majesty Fernández released us all.!”
“Even though I failed……?”
“Here, this is a letter from His Highness Fernández. Please read it once..”
When Lucas opened it, it read:.
- Your dedication so far has become meaningless due to the failure of this mission..
- Still, in recognition of your hard work, I will spare your family and repay half of your remaining debt..
- I still think highly of your talent. If you want to pay off the remaining debt,…….
Kkukit.
Lucas roughly crumpled the letter and eventually tore it into pieces. Mason, who was looking at Lucas in surprise, asked awkwardly:.
“What are you going to do now, master??”
“……I have to live.”
Lucas pulled the dry corners of his mouth and smiled..
The boy's smile, which seemed like an innocent puppy, suddenly.
“Even if the world ends, people must live.”
It turned out to be a little like that of a wolf..
***
Lucas disposed of the McGregor family's mansion and estate..
Still, he didn't have enough money to repay the debt, so he ended up selling off his swordsmanship dojo, his family's secret book, and even the swords that had been handed down as heirlooms..
The MacGregor family's secret book and treasured sword were surprisingly quite expensive..
The day the family mansion was sold and the sign for the swordsmanship was taken down..
Gasol and his loyalists who served the McGregor family until the end all burst into tears. Lucas hugged each of them once..
“I'm sorry for making you suffer until the end. Everyone, live well..”
But even Mason, who wanted to stay by his side, forced everyone to leave..
Sell everything down to the last speck of dust and pay off your debt..
Lucas became penniless..
Now all that was left in his hand was the handle of a sword with a broken blade. The sword Ash gave me is now only a pitiful hilt..
“…….”
Lucas, who was quietly looking down at the hilt of the sword, took it in his arms and began trudging away..
I had nothing more to lose anyway.
The place to go was decided.
***
“You're so shameless.”
Ash's Villa.
Even though it was midday, Ash was sitting on a chair in a dark room with thick curtains drawn, sipping hard liquor from a glass..
The ashtray next to me was full of extinguished cigarette butts..
“Speaking of traitors, how did you decide to show your face to me again??”
I can't believe he's fifteen years old, he's like an old man who has aged to the core... … Ash sneered with decadent and haggard eyes..
dump.
Lucas quietly knelt before him..
“Give me a chance to atone.”
“expiation? How are you going to atone??”
“I will be your dog. If you want me to bark, I will bark, and if you want me to kill you, I will kill you..”
“Are you telling me to bring back a dog that has already bitten its owner??”
“If a stray dog bites its owner, it must be killed. But Your Majesty saved me, right?.”
Ash sneered and stood up..
“The reason I spared you was because your betrayal didn't mean much. Whether you betrayed me or not, my mother would have died in the end, and sooner or later I would have become this damned bastard.…….”
Pour the remaining alcohol into your mouth and click! Ash put down his glass and smiled gloomily..
“…… And there's no point in kicking you out of here. Because you are with me on my cursed journey no matter what. Oh my, it's happening again like this.”
“Are you taking it back??”
“I gave you a chance to escape. But it was you who came back. So, now I will pamper you until you die..”
Although he couldn't quite understand what Ash was saying, Lucas was listening quietly..
“To be a dog that strictly follows my words. If you do something wrong, you will be killed according to your wish..”
“I hope so.”
I am a dog.
Dogs don't question what their owners say.
“……Let me tell you in advance. I will become more and more broken..”
Ash brushed back his tangled hair..
“My soul is so worn out, the cracks are wide open. Right now, it's just after the regression, so it's still maintaining its shape, but as time goes by, it'll fall into pieces..”
“…….”
“I'll forget people's names, I'll forget what I was doing, and eventually I'll forget my purpose. So, Howie, don't tell me. remember clearly.”
Lucas didn't want to understand.
However, I remembered the following words:.
“The year I turn twenty-three, I have to go to Crossroads. To start my last game.”
8 years from now.
The master said we should head to the southern end of the world..
There was a chessboard on the table next to Ash. There were no other pieces on it, only the white and black king..
On that barren chessboard - Ash picked up another piece that had fallen on the floor and put it up..
widely!
Knight).
The white knight stands before the king.
“If I forget, you lead me. I believe it.”
At that moment, a question appeared in Lucas' mind..
I wasn't going to question it, but I was convinced I had to ask it now..
Not for his own curiosity, but for Ash's sake..
“……Can I ask you one thing??”
“Are you asking questions as soon as you bring them back in? A guy with no hair.”
Ash clicked his tongue but nodded. Lucas asked slowly..
“What is the reason you want to play that ‘game’??”
Then Ash's eyes widened..
His eyes, which had been dull and dull, suddenly sparkled brightly..
“That's right... … Of course, there's only one reason.”
At that moment, Lucas saw.
Like rain pouring down on a land that was horribly divided..
A smile soaked in the fatigue of time turns into a bright smile like that of a fifteen-year-old boy - the sight of it on Ash's lips..
Only then did Lucas become convinced..
ah. this person is,
No matter how much he changes, in the end he is the same person I used to serve..
Smiling brightly - Ash said.
“It's to save this world.”
***
Ash went out with Lucas..
The destination the carriage was heading to was Count Wintersilver. Serenade ran out barefoot at Ash's visit..
“Husband!”
Serenade came running after a month and hugged Ash. Ash stood still..
“After Empress Dustia's funeral, he came out of nowhere... … The girl was worried. Are you feeling okay??”
Serenade, who was looking at Ash's dry, tear-filled face, soon noticed the smell of alcohol and cigarettes coming from Ash's body..
Serenade, who didn't know what to do, cautiously opened her mouth..
“Husband. I completely understand that you feel discouraged, but alcohol and cigarettes are harmful to your body..”
“Sorry, Serenade. I didn't come to listen to your nagging..”
“Please come inside first. I will bring you some warm tea. If there's anything I can do to comfort you…….”
“I don't need any comfort from you.”
Ash spat out coldly and gave a light chin..
“Give me the money. Because I have something to use.”
“yes? money… … This is it?”
“If you're the heir of a merchant family, you probably have money to spend. Give it to me quickly.”
Ash gestured arrogantly and smiled, an evil sneer on his small face..
“If you have any good alcohol, bring a bottle..”
“…….”
Serenade's face became a broken face..
However, he quietly returned to his house, and within a few minutes, he came back carrying a small wooden box and a bottle of alcohol..
“In this box... … It contains items I have been collecting since I was young. I collected it to use when I got married to my husband, and this alcohol is-”
Ash didn't listen anymore and snatched the wooden box and bottle from Serenade's hands..
After half-heartedly opening the wooden box and seeing that it was full of jewels, I turned around..
“thank you. I'll write well.”
“ah…….”
“I'll come again next time, so prepare this much again. got it?”
Serenade looked devastated as Ash walked away without even looking back..
Lucas, who was looking at this scene while breaking out in a cold sweat, bowed to Serenade and then hurriedly chased after Ash..
As Ash got back into the carriage, Serenade cried out..
“Husband!”
“…….”
“If money, alcohol, or anything else can help you feel better, I will prepare it for you. therefore…….”
Serenade barely suppressed her tears and smiled sadly..
“Please, don't be in too much pain. It hurts the girl more.”
“…….”
“Please visit me anytime, my friend. The girl will be waiting. Here, forever…….”
Ash quietly got into the carriage and started it..
The Wintersilver family's mansion quickly moved away. Serenade was still standing there with her bare feet, waving her hand slightly..
When Serenade disappeared from sight, only then did Ash open his mouth..
“It's not that great?”
“yes?”
“It's about first love. It might get dull after this much time, but it still makes my heart ache..”
Ash opened the wooden box Serenade gave him..
The jewels I had carefully collected one by one in preparation for my wedding sparkled..
“I guess I could get used to this... … Ha, right.”
Ash smiled bitterly, looked away and closed the wooden box. And she looked out her window with dark eyes.
After a long moment of silence, Ash let out a cold voice again..
“More money, and… … I need more connections.”
Lucas didn't ask.
Why do you need that money? Why do you need those connections?.
What are Ash's actions for?.
“There's nothing I can do because I have no fucking foundation. This time too…….”
However, Lucas suddenly thought about it..
This boy smiles dangerously, as if he could break down at any moment..
“Should I become the empire’s best bastard??”
Even when immersed in darkness, it still seems to radiate light..
Like backlight.
***
8Years have passed.
Ash and Lucas reached the Crossroads.
And then the final game begins.
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