IRKUA - Chapter 1



At the beginning of summer, a wind bird came to Arhon, a remote territory in the east.

The wind bird created with the power of the spirit fluttered beautifully like a green flame, and the wind smelled of blood and ice.

It was clear that it came from the northern battlefield.

The soldier guarding the watchtower offered the wind bird to the lord's wife, Rune Helid.

Rune, who was watching the guard's training at the training ground, caressed the bird with an expressionless face. In an instant, the wind birds dispersed.

A thin strip of paper was left where the bird was. Rune unrolled the band paper under the gaze of the guards.

The news coming from the battlefield was rare, but the content was always the same.

The war is far from over, someone is missing, or something is needed, so please send it through the Lisger Guild...

However, the sentence written on the band paper was brief. Rune's eyes were slightly agitated.

"End of War. Human Allied Forces Victory."

She lifted her gaze from the band paper. Before they knew it, everyone in the training ground was looking at only one person, Rune Helid.

"The war is over."

Rune said briefly. The training ground became quiet.

Instead of explaining, he handed the band of paper to Zenon, the leader of the guard, as if to look at it for himself. Zenon threw away his sword and hastily unfolded his band paper.

One by one, the guardians gathered around her. Everyone cheered as they looked at the two words "End of War" with eyes of disbelief.

Rune hugged each other, stared dryly at his favorite guardians, and then left. Lares, the older castle manager, followed.

Lares was an old man who had been managing the lord's castle for three years.

Although he was old, he was healthy, and his skill in placing people in the right places was excellent, so he was trusted by Rune.

Lares looked around the noisy training ground and smiled kindly.

"I think the lord will return by the time it gets warmer."

Rune, who was climbing the stairs, stopped. The sight of the back facing the direction from which the wind bird flew was heavy and lonely.

Lares was standing behind her, so he couldn't tell what kind of expression Rune was looking at.

Three years ago, it was an unfortunate fact that most people knew that Drial Stein, the lord of Arhon who had gone off to war, did not love his wife, Rune Helid.

Some even said this. The reason Drial joined the war was because he didn't want to live with Rune. 

Unfortunately, that rumor wasn't entirely false.

Rune, who had been looking north, started walking again. Lares spoke as if he had seen Rune's expression.

"The Lord will be safe. He is the only human blessed by the God of War."

"I guess so."

It was an emotionless response, but Lares knew that that was not Rune's true intention.

Rune prayed to the Gods every day.

Even though she lived a busy life as an agent of the Lord, whenever she had time to rest, she would kneel down and put her hands together.

Run's wish was one.

The return of her husband, Drial. That was the only wish.

Rune finished climbing the stairs and looked back at Lares.

"We need to expedite the subjugation of monsters."

"Are you saying this suddenly?"

"Now that the war is over, the Arhon Knights will return in two months. Within that, we have to finish the work related to subjugating monsters. I don't want to disturb the knights who returned from the war by suppressing monsters. If the territory is quiet, it will be easier for them to rest."

"How far ahead do you want to?"

"One month."

"Well..."

Lares lamented but did not complain about changing the subjugation schedule. In any case, subjugation had nothing to do with Lares.

"The Guardians will die because of the decision you made now. Oh, and the mercenary unit we signed this time as well."

"Do you think it's possible to move forward?"

"If Madame tells them to do it, everyone else should do it. You know. Everyone is loyal to Madame and risking their lives."

Lares, slyly, went down the stairs to deliver the order.

Rune entered the office alone. As she closed the door, silence took over. 

Rune, who had been standing there quietly, leaned her back against the door. She had no strength in slowly sit down as if she was being weighed down by the silence of the room.

A small hand silently covered her face. It wasn't until she was alone that her hidden feelings were revealed.

As Lares said, Drial was blessed by the God of War, so even if he wanted to die on the battlefield, he would have had no choice but to live. He was sure to be safe.

"Drial, do you have to go?"

"You sound like you don't know why I'm competing."

"Sorry. I am..."

"I would rather die on the battlefield than spend the rest of my life as a couple with you."

"Drial..."

"I begged you countless times. Please don't choose me as your husband, don't tie me to this damn Arhon... But you somehow put me in this situation. You are no one else...!"

"Sorry. I'm so sorry, Drial...*

"How do you feel about ruining me after my father, Rune Helid?"

Rune dropped his hand and laughed self-deprecatingly. When she remembered the conversation they had the day before the competition, her senses returned.

Rune was thinking of divorcing Drial.

Drial left for the battlefield as if he were suicidal. He left without a sense of duty or justice, simply because he hated Rune Helid.

Therefore. Rune promised herself that she would divorce Drial when he returned, even if only to be forgiven for her mistakes. 

Although time has passed and cannot be undone, the mistakes of the past can be corrected through someone's sacrifice. Rune Helid considered the sacrifice to be her own.

She opened the locked drawer and took out the divorce papers she had written earlier.

As long as Drial approved, they could immediately become strangers. Rune assured Drial that she would also want a divorce.

It was when she made up her mind and closed the drawer...

There was a commotion outside the window. The noise was unusual for the guards to be making such a fuss over the news of the end of the war.

"Everyone go to your positions! Hurry and prepare the ballista!"

Soon, the bell announcing the monster's invasion echoed fiercely. Rune went out to the balcony. A gold dragon was flying leisurely over Arhon.

Seeing the dragon seemed to remind her of a nightmare from three years ago. The strong flapping of wings that created a gust of wind made Rune unconsciously touch her lower abdomen.

"It's a gold dragon. In the east, gold dragons are very rare monsters. It's a big deal that he showed up in Arhon."

Rune was startled by the sudden voice. Lares was standing on the balcony when Rune approached him.

Lares sat behind her back and looked up at the sky with squinted eyes. Even when the dragon attacked, the way he tilted his head was calm.

"There is a myth that gold dragons love gold and jewels. Did he come here after hearing rumors that Madam had amassed wealth?" 

"Well."

Rune watched the dragon's flight with cold eyes.

Dragons are powerful enough to blow up a castle, but gold dragons are relatively docile.

The gold dragon that suddenly appeared flew leisurely around the castle as if to prove that it was not interested in gold or people.

The flying figure didn't look aggressive, but the opponent was a dragon. She couldn't relax.

Fortunately, Arhon had been attacked by a dragon before, so they were well-defended.

Every time the gold dragon got close to the castle, the transparent shield shook. The installed magic tool was safely protecting Arhon.

People hoped the dragon would leave like this. However, the dragon persistently circled around the castle as if it had a purpose.

In the end, the guardians decided to use force to drive out the dragon. The crew installed a large ballista on the castle wall.

Rune, who was watching the busy scene, raised her chin. The bright sun dazzled her, but she did not take her eyes off the dragon.

Rune's eyes suddenly narrowed. She saw something on the dragon's back.

It was a person.

Lares spoke first.

"Madam, on the dragon's back..."

"There is someone."

Run sent a hand signal to stop the attack. The guards reacted in confusion but obeyed Rune's instruction.

A roar echoed from the sky as the ballista aimed at the dragon sank downwards. The sound was milder than she thought.

Rune fixed her gaze on the dragon's back, whether it howled or not. Because of the white sunlight, it was almost impossible to see the person riding on the dragon's back. At that time, the wind blew so strong that the hood covering the face of someone on the dragon was blown over.

Even though it was only a moment, Rune recognized the person.

"Disarm the magic tool."

Following Rune's instructions, Lares sent a hand signal to Zenon.

As the magic tools protecting the castle went off one by one, the dragon landed in the castle courtyard as if it had been waiting.

Finally, the person on the dragon's back stood up. Zenon only then discovered the person and opened his eyes wide.

"My Lord...?"

People who heard Zenon's muttering tilted their heads.

The servants working at the castle recognized Drial and cheered.

"Oh my God, my Lord...! The Lord is back...!"

The man who jumped down from under the dragon completely threw over his hood. As jet-black hair and golden eyes were revealed, people's expressions brightened.

Drial Stein, the Lord who left for the north to end the war with the frost giants, has returned.

The guardians ran with joy. Drial also greeted them with a smile.

There was no formality in hanging out with subordinates. Getting along well with a variety of people was also a common characteristic of the Wind Spiritualist.

Drial was instantly surrounded by several people. Rune watched the scene from the top of the stairs and then turned her back.

Her expression was calm, but her blue eyes were wet.

Lares followed her and looked closely.

"Madam, do you mind if you don't go see the lord?"

"If I go, it will only ruin the mood."

Lares could not deny those words. Drial hated Rune.

Lares smiled bitterly and watched Rune enter the castle alone. The area around Drial was full of life, but Rune was quiet as if she had sunk underwater.

Lares was overcome with regret as he remembered the time Rune had had to endure while protecting Arhon. Out of his mixed feelings, he innocently cast an accusing glance at Drial.

Drial was scanning the surroundings of the castle with his eyes. He seemed to be looking for someone.

Drial, who was carefully examining the top of the castle wall, smiled bitterly. He didn't seem to find who he was looking for.

Drial, who hid his mixed feelings, dealt with those who pretended to know him.

Lares looked at the scene and said.

"Hmm." 

He muttered.

The wind that leads to victory has returned to Arhon.

The wind returned safely...

Lares, who was concerned about the relationship between Rune and Drial, had a strange smile on his face.


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