Episode 82. The Master's Return
Bercheria's eyes took in the view of the cramped tower.
A cold wind blew, and a foul smell filled the air.
She belatedly let out the breath she'd been holding.
"Haa, haa."
Everyone stared at the gate, bewildered.
The moment the guest finally appeared, everyone, including Gerard, froze, unable to believe their eyes.
Lacrahan, Bercheria, and even Groovy.
The three of them were walking towards them.
It was the return of the Northern Master.
Bercheria's eyes took in the view of the cramped tower.
A cold wind blew, and a foul smell filled the air.
She belatedly let out the breath she'd been holding.
"Haa, haa."
Unable to muster the courage to face him, she closed her eyes and gasped for breath, as if she was about to burst. Her plump, white breasts, revealed above her dress, rose and fell repeatedly with the incoming and outgoing air.
"What the hell is going on?"
She felt dizzy and uneasy. Was she dreaming? Or was this reality?
Countless memories tangled in her mind, making it difficult to distinguish between reality and fiction. She remembered Lacrahan's cold eyes, his high nose, and the beautiful lines of his lips even when he wasn't smiling. Bercheria was definitely with him. Groovy had joined them, heading to the border village. But she couldn't understand why she was back in the tower now. She thought she destroyed the tower. Was it a mistake? What about my mother?
Thoughts beckoned, and despair surged in like a tidal wave. Perhaps she'd gone mad here, closing her eyes every day, chasing only the memories of the Awakened. Time itself was entangled, whipping her around haphazardly.
"You need to calm down. If you think calmly, you can solve it."
Bercheria, who had lived here her entire life, one day discovered the door to the tower she'd been imprisoned in was open. Her mother must have forgotten to close it. She escaped there, but was caught by the people. They said she was the daughter of a witch, the madwoman who lived in the tower. Bercheria had been struck by a rock thrown by them and fainted. It was Murk who saved her. He had said he had something to ask.
"Bercheria."
Bercheria opened her eyes and grabbed the hem of her dress. She slowly pulled it up. Then, a divine object, etched so clearly, appeared there.
"Ha."
She closed her eyes deeply, and finally, reality and the memories of the Awakened began to separate, and her sense of reality began to return. The image of the sacred object carved on the bridge seemed to tremble, urging Bercheria on.
“Lacrahan.”
Bercheria slowly stood up and, entranced, walked to the edge of the tower. The image of Lacrahan and her, perched on the railing, kissing, unfolded before her eyes like a painting. Then, the faces of Murk and Lacrahan appeared simultaneously, overlapping into a single figure.
Even if Bercheria could read the minds of the Awakened, she couldn’t see every last detail of their memories. That was impossible. Bercheria, who could only find the stories she needed, like an open book, couldn’t possibly have Murk figure imprinted in her memory.
Bercheria gazed up at the cloud-filled sky and whispered, “It’s been too long.”
When her tightly shut eyelids opened again, her gaze had sharpened.
“Even after all this time, you’re still a coward. Supreme Being.”
A gurgle. The once peaceful clouds began to squirm, like a dragon burping, and began to move toward Bercheria.
***
“Yes, this way!”
“Hurry up, hurry up!”
For the first time in a long time, the castle of Lacrahan was brimming with energy. The servants’ faces were vibrant, and their movements were filled with energy.
“Hahaha. Isn’t this a good morning?”
Wyatt laughed heartily even as he carried a heavy load. Alex, a knight, set his bag on the floor and said,
“Oh, what a refreshing morning, Captain. And this bag. It’s so light, I could carry it all day long.”
Thump. The bag Alex had set down made a tremendous noise, denting the floor. Jeffrey, who had been assisting him, burst out in hearty laughter and brushed the white horse’s fur.
“Hey, Alex, are you feeling strong today?”
There was a clear reason for everyone’s joy. This morning. Emperor Gerard had declared that he would return to the palace through the portal today. Because now the portal could be opened without Groovy. Of course, the Emperor hadn’t even realized Groovy was gone.
“Ahahaha. The weather is so nice. This is what makes the North great.”
Peace was finally coming to the North.
Alex, who was carrying luggage, suddenly lowered his voice and asked,
"Captain. If that Emperor leaves, the Grand Duke will return soon, right?"
Wyatt, who was scanning his surroundings with caterpillar-like eyebrows, also whispered softly.
"Isn't that obvious? Why aren't you coming now? It's all because of that situation, isn't it?"
As he was about to straighten his back after loading the luggage, he saw a welcoming face emerge from the entrance.
It was Gerard and his mistress, Lyone, dressed in unusually extravagant attire today.
"Are you ready?"
Gerard asked as he approached the carriage, and everyone answered in unison.
"Yes! Your Majesty, the Emperor!"
Gerard nodded with a satisfied expression at the shouts, which were full of the desire to get out quickly.
He then examined his own procession.
Dylan, who had just finished his inspection, spotted Gerard and bowed.
Seeing Gerard, who usually hesitated to come out until everything was ready, already waiting, it seemed he was terribly missing the imperial family.
"Your Majesty, are you out?"
"Ready?"
"All set."
"Very well, I'm returning to the palace."
Gerard was about to trudge to his carriage when a sudden thought struck him, causing him to turn back to Dylan.
"But Groovy?"
Dylan's brow furrowed slightly at Gerard's words, then straightened.
It was a movement no one would have noticed.
A few days ago, on the day they returned to Lacrahan Castle with the wild dogs.
Dylan had noticed Groovy's absence the moment he crossed the castle gate.
In fact, it would be more accurate to say he had noticed it all along.
Following them on horseback and carriage, his frail legs, having spent his entire life in prison, would have been a struggle.
Dylan knew, but pretended not to notice.
Gerard, already on edge after losing Bercheria, wouldn't have been surprised if he had killed Groovy on the spot.
"Poor kid."
For several days, Dylan had been carrying the boy around, perhaps unconsciously feeling sympathy for Groovy.
Perhaps he saw his own unfortunate childhood through Groovy.
In any case, simply ignoring him wasn't a violation of his beliefs or an Emperor's orders, so he didn't say anything.
"He hasn't been seen for days, so I think he's probably lost with the wild dogs."
"..."
Gerard was momentarily stunned, unable to grasp Dylan's meaning.
Then, so dumbfounded, he burst out laughing.
"What did you just say? What? What is he doing with the wild dogs? Why are you telling me that now?"
"...I thought he'd be back soon."
"You punk! Are you crazy?"
Gerard suddenly kicked Dylan in the shin.
Everyone preparing for the Emperor's return to the palace was forced to watch the comical scene of Gerard kicking Dylan's tall shin.
"Go find him! Find him now!"
Gerard felt like he was going crazy with frustration.
Thinking of his precious treasure trove, with just one empty spot, he grew even angrier. He consoled himself that even without Bercheria, the journey back to the palace wouldn't be so bad, as Groovy was there.
Of course, it would be nice to return to the palace with Bercheria right away, but he couldn't sit here forever waiting for her to return.
The North was already tiring.
For now, he just had to go home and plan the next story.
But Groovy had disappeared?
And now, after days, he didn't even know where he was.
"You're telling me to return to the palace with nothing? Really?"
When Gerard lashed out, the people of Lacrahan Castle froze.
They worried that the damned Emperor might never leave the North.
"Your Majesty."
Lyone snaked around the snarling Emperor.
She gently stroked Gerard's shoulder.
"Don't worry too much. Why don't you leave some people behind and go back? We'll find that blond child and return to Your Majesty the Emperor."
"Call that a word!"
The Emperor roared, and Lyone's feet faltered, stepping back.
He had never once shouted at her before.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor."
Then.
The sky darkened, and as if by magic, the protective aura vanished from everyone.
"...!"
Half a century ago.
Just as the energy of Bercheria that had enveloped this land evaporated.
“What!”
“What’s happening!”
Something unbelievable was happening.
At that moment, only one thought lingered in everyone’s mind.
“What happened to Bercheria and the Grand Duke!”
Pooh—
And then, as if waiting, a cheerful trumpet sound was heard.
It was a long trumpet call announcing the opening of the gate to Lacrahan’s castle.
“Who is it? Is His Highness the Grand Duke here?”
Alex, who was carrying luggage, suddenly lowered his voice and asked,
"Captain. If that Emperor leaves, the Grand Duke will return soon, right?"
Wyatt, who was scanning his surroundings with caterpillar-like eyebrows, also whispered softly.
"Isn't that obvious? Why aren't you coming now? It's all because of that situation, isn't it?"
As he was about to straighten his back after loading the luggage, he saw a welcoming face emerge from the entrance.
It was Gerard and his mistress, Lyone, dressed in unusually extravagant attire today.
"Are you ready?"
Gerard asked as he approached the carriage, and everyone answered in unison.
"Yes! Your Majesty, the Emperor!"
Gerard nodded with a satisfied expression at the shouts, which were full of the desire to get out quickly.
He then examined his own procession.
Dylan, who had just finished his inspection, spotted Gerard and bowed.
Seeing Gerard, who usually hesitated to come out until everything was ready, already waiting, it seemed he was terribly missing the imperial family.
"Your Majesty, are you out?"
"Ready?"
"All set."
"Very well, I'm returning to the palace."
Gerard was about to trudge to his carriage when a sudden thought struck him, causing him to turn back to Dylan.
"But Groovy?"
Dylan's brow furrowed slightly at Gerard's words, then straightened.
It was a movement no one would have noticed.
A few days ago, on the day they returned to Lacrahan Castle with the wild dogs.
Dylan had noticed Groovy's absence the moment he crossed the castle gate.
In fact, it would be more accurate to say he had noticed it all along.
Following them on horseback and carriage, his frail legs, having spent his entire life in prison, would have been a struggle.
Dylan knew, but pretended not to notice.
Gerard, already on edge after losing Bercheria, wouldn't have been surprised if he had killed Groovy on the spot.
"Poor kid."
For several days, Dylan had been carrying the boy around, perhaps unconsciously feeling sympathy for Groovy.
Perhaps he saw his own unfortunate childhood through Groovy.
In any case, simply ignoring him wasn't a violation of his beliefs or an Emperor's orders, so he didn't say anything.
"He hasn't been seen for days, so I think he's probably lost with the wild dogs."
"..."
Gerard was momentarily stunned, unable to grasp Dylan's meaning.
Then, so dumbfounded, he burst out laughing.
"What did you just say? What? What is he doing with the wild dogs? Why are you telling me that now?"
"...I thought he'd be back soon."
"You punk! Are you crazy?"
Gerard suddenly kicked Dylan in the shin.
Everyone preparing for the Emperor's return to the palace was forced to watch the comical scene of Gerard kicking Dylan's tall shin.
"Go find him! Find him now!"
Gerard felt like he was going crazy with frustration.
Thinking of his precious treasure trove, with just one empty spot, he grew even angrier. He consoled himself that even without Bercheria, the journey back to the palace wouldn't be so bad, as Groovy was there.
Of course, it would be nice to return to the palace with Bercheria right away, but he couldn't sit here forever waiting for her to return.
The North was already tiring.
For now, he just had to go home and plan the next story.
But Groovy had disappeared?
And now, after days, he didn't even know where he was.
"You're telling me to return to the palace with nothing? Really?"
When Gerard lashed out, the people of Lacrahan Castle froze.
They worried that the damned Emperor might never leave the North.
"Your Majesty."
Lyone snaked around the snarling Emperor.
She gently stroked Gerard's shoulder.
"Don't worry too much. Why don't you leave some people behind and go back? We'll find that blond child and return to Your Majesty the Emperor."
"Call that a word!"
The Emperor roared, and Lyone's feet faltered, stepping back.
He had never once shouted at her before.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor."
Then.
The sky darkened, and as if by magic, the protective aura vanished from everyone.
"...!"
Half a century ago.
Just as the energy of Bercheria that had enveloped this land evaporated.
“What!”
“What’s happening!”
Something unbelievable was happening.
At that moment, only one thought lingered in everyone’s mind.
“What happened to Bercheria and the Grand Duke!”
Pooh—
And then, as if waiting, a cheerful trumpet sound was heard.
It was a long trumpet call announcing the opening of the gate to Lacrahan’s castle.
“Who is it? Is His Highness the Grand Duke here?”
“Who would come in without permission? Is it really the Grand Duke?”
Everyone stared at the gate, bewildered.
The moment the guest finally appeared, everyone, including Gerard, froze, unable to believe their eyes.
Lacrahan, Bercheria, and even Groovy.
The three of them were walking towards them.
It was the return of the Northern Master.
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