Chapter 342: Crying wolf (1)
‘It was an enthusiastic performance! Fuck!’
I had been telling many lies so far, but even I was surprised by my acting this time around.
I was so focused that my body was soaked with sweat. It was a scene that suited the expression of putting a soul in acting very well.
From the middle, it was actually painful, so no other expression would be necessary.
As I turned my eyeballs as if I had become a really sick person, I could see Elena’s face, looking at me with her moistened eyes.
The same went for the others. It knew it might have seemed a bit exaggerated, but the more I thought about it, the more appropriate it was. It seemed like it would be okay to pass it over as a simple happening and go quietly, but as it was a sensitive period, even such a small incident would be unacceptable.
A discarded cigarette fire could eventually spread to a large fire.
My previous action was first aid by putting out a small ember with a fire extinguisher.
‘Very good. Very good! This is Light Kiyoung. Yes. Absolutely.’
Light Kiyoung must remain forever as Light Kiyoung, and this shield must be constantly maintained.
I wanted to pay tribute to myself, who had managed to escape the crisis with my momentary wits and rising acting skills.
Of course, even amidst joy, I thought I couldn’t help but feel a little bitter. Belial’s expression of “a man with a disgusting soul” was completely correct.
I comforted myself bitterly that it wasn’t, but I couldn’t completely deny what he said.
‘It’s not enough to vomit, though.’
I was hurt a little bit.
‘The nausea was too much.’
However, immediately after this, I shook my head.
What did the soul matter? It didn’t mean that transcendental beings would reward you just because it was clean.
Anyway, the part that I thought was fortunate was that Elena didn’t show much doubt about me.
Instead, it felt like she completely believed in me. Anyone could see that the expression on her face seems worried. Of course, she seemed to be in pain, being next to me, but she was still smiling widely.
However, I couldn’t appreciate her face for long. It was because I had to endure the smacking of Jung Hayan’s body that ran straight in.
“Waaaah. Oppa. Oppaa…”
Her face was filled with tears and a runny nose as if she was really surprised.
The situation was not different for Park Deokgu, too, and Kim Hyunsung exhaled his breath and grabbed his chest.
Until now, I was just pretending not to know, so all I had to do was to show that I wanted to find out the truth.
“What the hell… happened?”
“H-Hyung-nim, are you really okay?”
“Ah… Right. I’m okay, Deokgu.”
“Are you really okay? Are you really not in pain?”
“I’m fine. I’m really fine. I’m sorry for worrying you. And that I hid it… I’m sorry.”
“Gasp…”
“… “
Once again, thanks to Park Deokgu, it had definitely become burdensome.
He didn’t talk as if he choked, but looking at other people’s faces, I couldn’t do this twice. Many people had gathered, and even Oscar looked worried.
“Are you feeling better? Honorary Cardinal.”
“Yes. The pain is gone. I showed you something I shouldn’t. I looked so stupid. Haha.”
“You don’t have to say that.”
“More importantly, Oscar-ssi, just now…”
“Princess Elena of the Kingdom of Eberia helped.”
“Elena’s… help?”
It was natural to look doubtful. Light Kiyoung, who was being tortured by the demon, did not notice why this pain had gone.
Oscar slowly got up and bowed to Elena, and I began to look even more embarrassed.
“Come to think of it, the situation was so urgent that I couldn’t even greet you. I’m Oscar, Elena. The State will never forget the help you gave today. Thank you again. Sincerely.”
“I’m Elena Eberia. You don’t have to lower your head, Oscar. I just did what I had to do. I wasn’t asking for compensation. I was helping the hero, and it’s a mission given to me.
“What are you talking about…?”
“Honorary Cardinal, it is Elena-nim who stabilized the Cardinal in a dangerous state.”
“Is that true?”
When I asked her back, I could see Elena looking at me. “Yes. I don’t know what happened, but I was the one who stabilized Lee Kiyoung’s condition.”
“So… can you explain this?”
“Of course. Honorary Cardinal, you may feel absurd to hear this, but I hope that you do not misunderstand and listen.”
“Okay.”
Elena slowly nodded and immediately continued talking.
It wasn’t exactly the same as I expected, but some parts matched. In summary, it looked like this.
After that day, the aftereffects remained in me, and the place where the aftereffect remained was not actually the body.
Although she said boring things about souls and everything, seeing that the State’s priests nodded, they seemed to think there was a possibility.
‘Good.’
No matter how they thought about this, they couldn’t find any abnormalities in my body, so it was simply natural to turn the arrow to the other side. It may sound absurd to these people, to think that there was a problem with the soul, but the people here had actually confirmed that I had recovered.
It was not unreasonable to nod at Elena’s remarks. I wasn’t the only one who knew the high elves’ traditions.
Anyway, as the story continued, more and more people began to nod. There was no need to explain that I was also included in the group.
“It’s hard to believe, but… now it’s a bit clear.”
“Yes. It is no exaggeration to say that the current Honorary Cardinal’s soul is on the verge of breaking down. I have never seen such a pure, disgusting soul.”
“Then what about now that the treatment is over?”
“I didn’t do any treatment, Honorary Cardinal.”
“What?”
“I was simply alleviating the suffering of the Honorary Cardinal. Sorry to disappoint you, but no real treatment has been done. The erosion is still going on… and with my weak strength, I couldn’t get rid of the disgusting energy surrounding the Honorary Cardinal in a short time. I had simply done some first aid. Yes. It was all about simply giving first aid. Nothing has changed from before.”
It was then that the voice of Kim Hyunsung, who was still listening, was heard.
He had to be interested. It was probably the most important thing for him.
“Then, do you mean he may continue to show seizure symptoms in the future?”
“I hate to disappoint you, but it’s very likely. Of course, if he receives proper treatment and management, his condition can improve slightly, but even that is not clear… It’s a good idea to find some other way. I hate to say this, but maybe the time is running out.”
“T-Then what about our Hyung-nim? He has to keep living like this, you mean? No, you mean he could die?”
“…”
“…”
“It won’t be, Deokgu. My condition seems to be getting better little by little…”
“No, how can you judge that? Who knows if one day this will happen again? Er… E-excuse me, but can’t Elena keep watching Hyung-nim every time he gets sick? I-I will do whatever I can. P-please…”
“That’s not possible.”
It wasn’t Eberia’s elven princess who stopped Park Deokgu, but an attendant who had come with her.
This was a natural reaction.
No matter how much my life depended on it, Elena was still a noble high elf born after thousands of years, and even a country’s princess.
It was unreasonable to be a healer for the soul of some dog shit. There may be room for compromise to some extent, but there was a high possibility that even that would not work.
‘I’m comfortable with this, too.’
Of course, this was also a comfortable setting for me.
If she kept sticking to me, there was a high possibility would soon blossom.
There was the problem with Jung Hayan, and I didn’t want anyone knowing my whereabouts anymore.
For whatever reason, there was no way to let Elena from the Elven Kingdom do that. As expected, he started talking seriously again.
“Princess Elena is the body that must protect the kingdom.”
“B-But…”
“That’s right, Deokgu. It’s not right to ask an unreasonable request because there is a difference in our positions. Please forget what Deokgu just said. Everyone, I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
“No. It’s not that, Honorary Cardinal.”
“I’m sorry?”
When I realized the sense of responsibility in Elena’s face, I thought that something had gone slightly twisted.
“I will not return to the kingdom.”
“…Yes?”
“As Park Deokgu said, I will continue to remain with the Honorary Cardinal and take care of the wounds. I shouldn’t let the hero of light die like this.”
“Elena-nim, what are you saying?!”
“I have already made a decision, Ludwig. I will tell my mother and father as well. I will continue to be with him.”
‘What bullshit is this again?’
“You can’t.”
“It’s not up to you, nor anyone else to decide. If it’s my position that’s holding me back, I’ll be happy to take them off. I think you understand what I’m talking about.”
“Elena, please refrain from reckless remarks. Do you know what you’re saying?”
“Ludwig, it’s not the position that matters to me.”
“Why…?”
“I have received a revelation. I’m absolutely not mistaken. I really got a revelation from Elune. I also had a role to play in the continental crisis. It is no coincidence that I am here.”
“…”
“…”
As the two elves looked at each other for a long time, the room’s atmosphere became heavier.
‘Why is she suddenly saying about some kind of revelation?’
“It was inevitable that I met these heroes today.”
‘So what bullshit are you talking about?’
“I also had a role.”
I couldn’t figure out what she was talking about. It seemed as if she had definitely misunderstood something.
It was even more flustering because I didn’t know if it would benefit me, or damage me.
“I came here to save you, Honorary Cardinal.”
‘This crazy…’
It was such a sight to see her bowing to me.
I didn’t know what that revelation was, but I was assured that she would soon put me in trouble.
‘I’m having a headache… Ah…’