LRAB #265 - I want to be a knight, I still have dreams
#265 - I want to be a knight, I still have dreams
As the violent explosion came from under the Sage's Tree, Natsuki Subaru's body flew freely in the sky and crashed heavily to the ground like a rag doll, Emilia cried out and rushed towards him.
Zunzun watched everything.
"...You really are going too far, kid."
"I don't understand what Mr. Puck is saying."
"You clearly noticed that time bomb long ago, but you still pretended not to know. Don't you think that's too much?"
"We're even in that regard."
The little cat's soft fists kept hitting his cheeks, the fluffy sensation was quite pleasant.
It didn't seem angry about it.
Originally, Puck hadn't noticed the time bomb hidden on the dragon carriage. It was Zunzun's frequent glances at the bottom of the carriage that made him suspicious.
There was no helping it, the place where the magic power gathered was too conspicuous, his attention was unconsciously drawn to it, even if he told himself not to look, he couldn't help it.
The reason for not reminding him was also very simple.
—No matter which world or time period, a hero saving a beauty will never be outdated, and this will also be an opportunity for them to reconcile.
"What does Mr. Puck think?"
"I..."
Puck stared at the man and woman in the distance, especially focusing his gaze on Natsuki Subaru lying in Emilia's arms. Don't let his constant joking fool you, the truth is that even now Puck has never approved of Natsuki Subaru.
That's right, never.
Because Puck prioritizes Emilia above all else, and Natsuki Subaru always makes Emilia sad, how could he truly approve of him?
"But even so, I can only protect her. Who told Lia to like him?"
"What's that?"
"An old father's mentality."
"Watching helplessly as your own little cabbage is taken by a pig?"
—!?
Puck's eyes widened. He was already very cute, and this appearance made him even cuter.
He seemed very surprised.
He didn't understand whether Zunzun admired Natsuki Subaru or hated him, even though he played a very crucial role in this hero saving the beauty act.
"Could it be that you hate Subaru?"
"No, quite the opposite. But you understand, there's such a thing as a 'frenemy' between men. Afraid that my brother is having a hard time, but also afraid that my brother is driving a Land Rover."
"I see, it's the damned jealousy of men."
Puck nodded seriously.
But in the end, he still chose to silently protect her, just like the contract he once made with Emilia—he would not interfere with her life and thoughts, only silently protect her, and once she died, he would begin to destroy the world.
By the way, the price of the contract is that Puck has the right to decide what clothes Emilia wears every day.
"Originally, I could have approved of Subaru through this incident, but thinking that it was premeditated, I'm unwilling to accept it."
"But you have to admit, Subaru is willing to bet his life for Emilia."
"...You're right."
Puck nodded seriously.
Then he waved his hand at Zunzun and floated towards the two of them, saying one last sentence before leaving.
"You seem to have an unbelievably strong affinity with spirits. I really don't know what will happen when those little guys bloom... I'm looking forward to it."
"Ah, you can look forward to it as much as you want."
Zunzun said with a smile.
The effect of the Divine Body was beyond imagination.
You must know that spirit mages have a limit to the number of contracts they can sign. If they exceed this number, the spirit mage will lose control and go crazy. Even Julius, who has the blessing of attracting spirits, can only contract with a maximum of 6 spirits.
Zunzun could feel that he was far from reaching his limit.
However, he no longer chose to continue signing contracts. 6 spirits of all attributes were already enough. If he signed too many spirits, it would instead dilute resources and delay the pace of development, which is the so-called 'biting off more than you can chew'.
At the same time, a voice came from behind him.
"To be praised by Great Puck, I seem to understand why Subaru would say that... No, when I saw that lightning magic, I should have frankly admitted it."
"...Julius?"
Turning his head, he found the Perfect Knight looking at him with a melancholy expression.
Julius was very melancholy. When Puck met him, he only said 'not bad' and then didn't say anything else.
However, the strongest existence among the world's four great spirits, perhaps, was so optimistic about Zunzun—a spirit mage who had just signed a contract. To say that he had no thoughts was purely self-deception.
"But..."
He looked at the once green grassland that had been destroyed beyond recognition, and sincerely said: "I also want to see how strong your spirits will become if they bloom."
That was an unconvinced fighting spirit, an expression of wanting to make a promise.
Zunzun wouldn't cowardly run away.
Faced with the challenge issued by the Perfect Knight, he gladly accepted and promised that after both sides' spirits had fully bloomed, they would try to see who was the stronger one.
"Speaking of which, is Lord Zunzun's lightning sword a new technique?"
"Oh, are you planning to steal my skills so quickly? It's not like that, actually..."
The two spirit mages exchanged ideas.
They both learned a lot from each other.
Because of the Witch Cult's attack, everyone had to stop and fight back. After annihilating the enemy, they began to reorganize under the Sage's Tree.
Ferris continuously healed the wounded.
Others carried the wounded onto the dragon carriage.
There were also many people who were at a loss for what to do with the fallen Sage's Tree. Normally, they should take the tree back, but now they simply didn't have enough manpower. In the end, they chose to temporarily abandon the tree here and gather manpower to take it back later.
When Natsuki Subaru learned that he might be convicted by the kingdom for destroying the tree, his expression was quite ugly, and he was well ridiculed by everyone.
And Zunzun was listening to Otto's complaints.
After all, not only was he left alone in the village to wait for reinforcements, but he also encountered the berserk Archbishop of Sloth, and then had a hearty off-road race in the forest. The level of thrill and excitement goes without saying.
Otto already regretted agreeing to be Zunzun's knight.
Indeed.
Zunzun felt a little sorry for forcing him so much.
You must know that some people, even if they have strong talents, will only stay in a small mountain village, living a lazy and peaceful life every day.
The newest and most complete novels are at Liu Jiu Shu Ba (69shuba) first!
—The Crimson Demons are like that.
So, since Otto was unwilling to be a knight, and Zunzun didn't want to force Otto, and he was about to leave this world.
Combining all these factors, he proposed a new plan.
"Otto, you don't have to be a knight anymore."
"...Eh?"
"After we go back, I will ask Reinhard to help you withdraw from your position in the Kingdom Knight Order and give you a large sum of money. Don't you like being a merchant? Then go pursue your dreams. With your qualifications, you will definitely become a top merchant. Or, I can introduce you to Anastasia? Mr. Russell of the Kingdom Merchant Guild is also an option."
Zunzun said a lot.
These were all excellent choices for Otto, and also the choices he had once dreamed of.
If he could get in touch with Anastasia or Russell, becoming a top merchant could be said to be effortless.
Moreover, Otto didn't necessarily have to participate in the royal selection. In a certain timeline, he became an excellent merchant and even had a transaction with the blackened Natsuki Subaru.
Under his arrangement, Otto could completely pursue his dreams.
However—
"What's that..."
"What?"
"You always say things like that on your own, insisting that I become a knight, and now you say you want me to become a merchant... What is that... What do you take me for, a toy to be discarded at will! ! ! ?"
Otto grabbed Zunzun's collar as if he could no longer suppress the anger in his heart.
His gray eyes widened, quite oppressive.
This guy was really incomprehensible. He was usually timid and cowardly like a scaredy-cat, but at times like this, he was super scary.
"So! It's all your fault, you messed up my life, you take responsibility for me!"
"Don't say things that are misleading!"
Zunzun grabbed his wrist and threw Otto to the ground with an over-the-shoulder throw, causing him to whimper in pain.
The two's exchange attracted the attention of others.
"Are you serious? I'm doing this for your own good."
"...What do you mean 'for my own good'? Didn't you also say that I had the talent to become a knight, saying it was for my own good!"
Ugh!
Unable to refute.
Otto shouted with a crying voice, causing Zunzun to be speechless for a moment. It seemed like he really did say that back then.
"Ah ah, I know, I know."
Scratching his head as if helplessly, Zunzun said very seriously: "If you give up this opportunity, you really won't be able to escape anymore."
"I want to be a knight, I still have dreams."
"Then you can't help it. Then, I will use you until you die."
"Yes! I'm happy to!"
Otto grabbed Zunzun's outstretched hand.
Otto was a merchant, but in reality, it was just a helpless move. When the nobles issued an assassination order, he had to leave his hometown and seek refuge with his father's acquaintance to become a merchant. Being a merchant or whatever didn't matter, it just depended on what his father's acquaintance did.
If he was a shoemaker, then he was a shoemaker, if he was a carpenter, then he was a carpenter.
There was no choice.
Fortunately, he actually had the talent for trading, so he could barely avoid losing money or only lose a little in extremely bad weather and various unexpected accidents.
But can someone who keeps losing money still be called a merchant?
He had been plagued by bad luck ever since he became a merchant 4 years ago. Even though he was reminded by Zunzun, he still insisted on buying a large amount of oil, leading to near bankruptcy.
Just when he was about to become a slave, Zunzun valued his talent and transformed him into a noble knight—even a knight of a royal selection candidate.
Then, how could he not dedicate everything to the person in front of him?
That's right!
What's wrong with dangerous things? Doesn't it better reflect his value!?
"Otto, you really are a masochist?"
"What?"
"Look, you clearly say no, but your body is very honest, and you're even happier with more excessive demands... Do you have that kind of fetish?"
"...That's not how it is ah ah ah! ! !"
Otto's scream echoed across the plain, eliciting laughter from others who were eavesdropping.