Chapter 266
Chapter 266
Pressuring Cellinne to get her consent was a good achievement.
Though it would be difficult right now, if he worked hard, these people would also open their hearts to him.
When Cellinne stepped forward to serve as a bridgehead, he would officially become part of Yurik's team.
Once that happened, he could change from a simple 'mountain village youth' to an 'assistant to the future king.'
Yurik couldn't avoid entering the royal family forever. Someday the current king would die, whether from old age or illness.
Yurik could ascend to the throne whenever he wanted.
When that happened, he would have to beg Yurik to include him in a diplomatic mission to cross over to Asgard.
The reason he chose this roundabout route was simple.
There was a world of difference between a civilian crossing borders without permission, And a state-recognized person crossing borders.
Think about it.
If footage of North and South Korean leaders stepping across the military demarcation line together was captured, it would be news with comments about North-South peace.
But if a civilian tried to cross the line, what would it be other than creating North-South tensions?
Since he hadn't lost his mind enough to overlook that yet,
He was wisely thinking of latching onto the connection called Yurik who was nearby.
What bothered him was that he didn't know Yurik's specific plans, so he didn't know when he could cross over to Asgard.
And whether he could act in a way that would please these people.
Actually, he wasn't too worried about the latter.
He had desperately tried to win favor with the snake-people before, so how hard could humans be?
So he should hurry and pressure Yurik to ascend to the throne.
Thinking comfortably like this, he sent Cellinne down from the room first,
And leisurely packed his luggage, missing breakfast time.
When he came out carrying Yurik's luggage instead, the carriage was already perfectly prepared.
It was as if when he opened the door, Yurik, who had been out all night and hadn't come back, was already sitting there.
"Surprising. How long have you been here?"
"......"
"Did you sleep in the carriage because you didn't want to come back after going out?"
"No, so be quiet."
So he had slept in the carriage.
He couldn't believe that someone of Yurik's height could sleep in such a small carriage, so he looked back and forth between the seat width and Yurik.
Then Yurik got irritated and pulled him inside, slamming the carriage door hard.
He lost his balance momentarily and fell onto the carriage seat, but Yurik didn't even look his way.
Look at this.
"Why are you being so obviously displeased? No matter how much you dislike someone, still."
"...Me? You?"
"That's right. If you treat me carelessly like this and other people become disappointed in you, what will you do? If rumors spread that Yurik treats much younger people roughly, it'll be big trouble."
"Why would rumors spread that you're younger than me?"
"Then wouldn't they? Look at my face and yours."
He still had the face of the supporting character he had possessed during his first regression.
But Yurik at the time when the story began was already a full-grown adult.
Though they had lived for similar total amounts of time, their starting points were different, so their appearances hadn't changed much.
Yurik looked him up and down, then muttered as if dumbfounded.
"When did you act like an older brother?"
"That was then and this is now. You're a prince, right? You should be careful about your conduct."
He offered advice as an elder. But Yurik turned his head away completely and paid no attention to him.
Ha. If he was going to become this twisted while they were apart, maybe he should have taken Yurik along when leaving the desert.
Recalling memories of the dutiful son Yurik who had enjoyed windsurfing in the desert with a bright smile, some inexplicable regret washed over him.
So they diligently traveled toward some unknown destination, pulling a carriage where only silence lingered.
And when night came again, there wasn't even a small village this time, so they had to make a campsite again.
After helping people who were busily setting up tents, monitoring Cellinne who had been strangely avoiding him since morning,
And listening to war stories while preparing dinner with Walter, a cozy dinner gathering was completed with everyone sitting together.
Everyone held steaming bowls and chatted.
He couldn't be left out, so he sat down and was naturally allocated a bowl.
Yurik stared at him intently with eyes asking why he was receiving food, but he pretended not to notice and accepted the meal.
Hot food and a small campfire making crackling sounds.
Smells and sounds that reminded him of memories of the seaside Theem'dra.
Rambling conversations heard softly in various voices.
He tried to immerse himself in the time people lived, paying attention to all of it.
While thoughtlessly mashing burned potatoes in his bowl,
He suddenly made eye contact with Evana sitting across from him.
"How's your body? It's not getting worse or anything, right? It looks like you're not eating anything."
"Not bad. Actually better."
"That's fortunate then. I was worried your stomach might still be upset."
Somehow Evana was on the kind side.
He probably thought so. Worrying about a complete stranger's health like this was difficult.
"I don't have much appetite. I'm sorry if it sounds presumptuous after riding in a carriage."
"You don't need to apologize for that. You just have weak stamina. Haven't you traveled far before?"
"No. Does traveling a lot improve stamina?"
Since he hadn't traveled since awakening from the seal, it wasn't a lie.
"Probably? There aren't many cases where you can use horses while traveling."
"Really?"
"Horses are expensive animals. Even among livestock."
Evana smiled. Hearing her words reminded him of something.
He thought he had bought a horse sometime long ago. How did he buy it then? How much was the horse?
Ah... wait, had he ever bought a horse? Really?
"I didn't know. I should think of people as wealthy travelers if they have horses while traveling."
"Similar. I remember you saying you knew how to ride horses, so I'm asking - who taught you?"
As soon as Evana finished speaking, Dardin put down his spoon.
It seemed Dardin's bowl also had burned potatoes stuck to the pot. Poor thing. Don't eat it, just throw it away.
"No one taught me, it was more practical learning."
"...Practical?"
"It was long ago so I don't remember well, but I recall desperately clinging to a horse's back. I was gripping the mane tightly like this."
What was the reason back then?
Why had he ridden a horse like that... he didn't know.
Anyway, at his answer, Evana silently raised her eyebrows then nodded. Her curiosity seemed satisfied.
"It must have been a small horse. Wild horses aren't common but they're not nonexistent, so, well. Try riding one later if you're okay with it."
"Whose horse?"
"Since each horse has a different personality, I'll pick a gentle one. Dardin's horse is probably the most docile. You're not still uncomfortable with him because he misunderstood you, are you?"
This time Dardin started coughing. He looked up frantically and glanced back and forth between him and Evana.
He thought for a moment, not knowing why Dardin was acting that way.
Ah, could this be...
Was this similar to how Cellinne had pushed him into Yurik's tent to make him and Yurik friendlier?
Evana also seemed to want him and Dardin to reconcile quickly, so she was saying this.
He thought he was fine with Dardin. Dardin might still not be okay with it.
"Not really... that's not the case. He apologized for that incident being a misunderstanding before. It was a reason I could understand too. I'm actually grateful."
"Grateful?"
"To all of you, not just Dardin. Actually, when I first came, I thought you might dislike me for being a stranger. But I felt good because everyone tried to treat me well."
Bailies stopped eating and stared at him like he was an alien,
Walter put his hand gently on his fierce pectorals with an expression like his heart was breaking.
Dardin and Evana were staring at him with faces so ambiguous he couldn't tell what they were thinking.
"So rather than parting someday, I have a wish to stay longer. Apart from employment or dismissal, I had forgotten how enjoyable it was to live with people."
Even Yurik put down his bowl and was looking at him.
Here, the only person turning away from him was...
"-I think it was more so because Cellinne treated me warmly from the beginning. What do you think, Cellinne?"
"Pfft!"
She had been gulping down soup full of ingredients and suddenly spat it out.
All for nothing after deliberately turning her head away to avoid him.
She flinched and looked back at him, then just smiled with her mouth when their eyes met.
Swallowing dryly while reading the mood was a bonus.
"I, I like it too! Oh, so good! H-how about we take one more person with us? He makes meals and helps pack luggage."
"The young lady is saying something good for once! If we send this young man out like this, he'll break a bone somewhere while struggling to survive. Even if he's going to leave, shouldn't we send him after he can at least take care of himself?"
Anyone could see Cellinne was doing awkward acting, but suddenly Walter joined in.
He didn't know the reason, but Walter seemed to be making a sincere argument.
"Make him exercise every morning! Ugh! Feed him well until he can lift a log, then send him off! Otherwise, how would he survive anywhere, being so skinny!"
"W-Walter Grandpa, well said- haha, ahahaha..."
Clap clap clap clap.
Cellinne's awkward laughter echoed through the campsite.
Bailies muttered.
"What bullshit..."
At those words, Cellinne's hollow clapping subsided.
Evana looked at Cellinne, who quickly became dejected, then spoke decisively.
"Well, I want to approach this cautiously. It's not that it's absolutely impossible, but I don't think it's something to decide so suddenly."
"I agree with Evana. Increasing personnel means travel becomes that much more troublesome. So it's a matter that needs careful consideration."
"B-but."
"Cellinne, besides, the decision for this matter lies with someone else, not us."
Evana slightly bowed her head toward Yurik.
Yurik didn't say anything, but his stiff expression and sharp gaze already meant 'denied.'
Cellinne stammered and sent him a desperate look.
Cellinne expressing with her whole body 'I really did as much as I could' was somewhat pitiful.
Yes, she had done what she could.
Then the remaining part was for him to handle.
"Ah, of course I'm very lacking. I didn't mean I wanted to become people like you. I'm sorry if I caused a misunderstanding."
"Really?"
"Yeah. As you said, I'm not particularly healthy, and I haven't studied much. What do I have to boast about? Of course, if there's anything I can help with, I'll help in any way."
Naturally. Naturally.
He continued speaking while putting his bowl down on his lap.
"If we part ways, that would be the end of it. Still, I was glad to come this far thanks to you all. I felt like my perspective was broadening. I think I'll be able to prepare for the future."
"It sounds like you have separate plans, Yesung."
"Didn't I mention it, Dardin?"
"What do you mean...?"
Dardin asked puzzledly.
After thinking briefly, he tried his best to seem thoughtless and blurted out.
"I guess I wasn't talking about it. I want to spend all my saved money traveling abroad. Going to Asgard, going to Cimmeria too. It would be fun, right?"
"Ah. Foreign travel is something worth dreaming about at least once. Though it's a bit dangerous in these times."
Dardin answered with some relief,
But as soon as the name 'Asgard' came up, a cold wind began blowing fiercely from Yurik's direction.
Among these people, only one knew the reason he had to go to Asgard.
Though he had said it in a roundabout way, what he was trying to tell Yurik was.
-Let's make a deal.
Just one sentence.
When Yurik suddenly stood up from his seat, Dardin, who was sitting next to him, flinched in surprise.
He thought Yurik was finally going to get angry at him in earnest. He steeled his heart thinking this.
Whatever Yurik said, there were limits to what could be said in a public setting.
So most criticism would be within expected range.
He, whom everyone was looking up at, said to him.
"Follow me."
...He corrected himself.
He hadn't expected a challenge to a fight.