NOVEL NEXT chapter 32
32 – Here and There (1)
“A circular crack…”
“Is there really such a thing?”
“Anastasia is not the type of woman who sets traps or schemes secretly. Don’t worry.”
Inside the rattling carriage, two women sat facing each other, engaged in conversation.
“But I’m still worried… What should we do?”
The woman in a neat dress let out a sigh, her voice tinged with anxiety.
The length of her sigh caused the tips of her blonde hair, which had been clinging to her cheek, to sway slightly.
“That’s why I told you not to worry. If that country wants to wage war, they’ll come straight at us, not like this.”
“Is that really the case?”
“That’s what I heard. Anyway, you worry too much, it’s not good for you.”
The woman in a dress comforted the woman in the formal attire and laughed.
The situation where the host comforted the guest was rather amusing.
They were messengers from the Dacia Empire heading towards Galia.”
Buma. It’s a term used to refer to a man who married a princess of a country, a son-in-law of the king.
Naturally, it’s not a word used in everyday life, and it’s even rare to see it used in historical dramas.
However, people from all directions call me Buma.
This is because rumors have secretly spread about my marriage to Mari.
It felt very unfamiliar and burdensome.
I had a strong feeling of being swept along with the flow.
“Do you use vibrations?”
Imperial Palace Training Ground.
Unlike a few days ago, there was only one person watching me, and the training officer asked.
Outside the training ground was a low fence, and Mari was sitting on it.
It was a fence that had openings in all four directions.
“Yes. Training officer, you’ve experienced it once, but…”
I trailed off, lightly tapping the floor of the training ground with my toes.
The floor of the training ground trembled because I had used my awakening ability.
It felt as if there had been an earthquake.
“Put simply, I use vibrations.”
I knew very little about the principles of vibrations. I had tried to research it on the internet, but it was too difficult and complex, so I gave up. It was because it was too scientific for me to understand.
“I see. Vibrations,” the training officer stroked his chin as if he understood roughly.
“Yes. Normally, I can generate strong vibrations on my saliva or fingertips to stab or strike my opponents. I can also use vibrations to shake the ground and disrupt balance, as I did just now.”
Dealing with sudden ground tremors is difficult. Right now, the vibrations were weak, and I could only feel a slight tremor. In a real fight, I could make the vibrations much stronger. I could pierce my opponent’s body or internal organs with my saliva or strike them with vibrations.
It was like using a crude form of martial arts that could occasionally be seen in martial arts novels.
“It’s a very tricky ability, especially for people like me, who fight in close combat.”
“Yes, it is. It’s especially challenging for those who have to fight up close.”
It worked reasonably well against opponents who attacked from a distance, but it was even more effective against those who engaged in close combat, like the training officer.
When a sword and a vibrating needle clashed, the grip weakened, and the vibrations flowing from underfoot could disrupt one’s stance.
All the people who had witnessed the duel between me and the Vice Commander would probably think so.
So, it was only natural for the Vice Commander himself to be demanding.
“After all, it seems like those who can perform long-range attacks, like magicians, have an advantage. Nevertheless, magicians can easily cut your throat up close…”
The Vice Commander casually mentioned throat-cutting, bowing his head.
Mari, who was listening, nodded in agreement, as if empathizing.
In an instant, a chill ran through me, making my whole body shiver.
“Well, anyway, I’m really thankful for you both coming today. Thanks to you, I’ve had a valuable time.”
The Vice Commander put his still slightly trembling hand on his chest and bowed.
It was the aftermath of studying how to respond slowly a while ago, trying to figure out how to match his moves during the duel.
I also bowed politely, having had a very beneficial time.
At the moment, this seemed to be the only way to express gratitude.
“Um! Anyway, will you come again tomorrow?”
The Vice Commander straightened up and alternately looked at me and Mari, asking.
Even if he got my permission, Mari also needed to agree to come to the training grounds.
At least, that’s the impression I got from the Vice Commander.
“I’m fine with it. What about you, Mari?”
“Me? I’m okay with it too. It’s helpful in many ways to gain experience.”
I said that, and Mari agreed.
“Thank you. I’ll make sure to use the experience I gained this time to protect our country.”
The Vice Commander replied in a stern voice and turned his back, leaving the training grounds.
“Stiff, isn’t he?”
Mari came over to me and casually spoke, leaning on me like usual, with a grin.
“Yeah, he is… But he seems like an amazing person.”
“He really is. If we consider their abilities, he’s even stronger than the Commander.”
“Is that so?”
I thought that the Commander of the Knights was naturally the strongest within the order.
The vice captain being stronger was quite unexpected.
“Yeah, but the current captain is a suitable person for the position. Their abilities are top-notch.”
“Oh…”
I nodded in admiration.
It seemed that there was no conflict in what Mari was saying. If a subordinate’s abilities are too exceptional, it can sometimes lead to the leader feeling threatened.
We left the training grounds and made our way back to the palace.
There was no reason to stay at the training grounds any longer.
“By the way, do you feel a bit stifled being in the palace all the time? Would you like to go outside?”
Walking side by side, Mari subtly tugged at my arm and asked.
It seemed like she wanted to go outside rather than stay in the palace.
I happened to be feeling a bit stifled as well, so her suggestion was quite appealing.
“Sure, why not. Can we?”
“What’s stopping us? It’s my country, my palace.”
“What about the guards?”
“Shihu is my guard, and I’m Shihu’s guard. Do we really need anyone else?”
It sounded reasonable in a way.
I couldn’t quite make a decision, so my head unconsciously tilted to the side.
Besides, the capital was relatively safe, and with a little caution, it should be fine.
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, so let’s go. Okay?”
Mari hugged my arm and pleaded.
Her subtly pleading eyes were touching, so I nodded without even realizing it.
—
It’s been over two months, and still no news.
Seo Haneul sighed while looking at Yoo Sihu’s car in the garage of the mansion.
They had moved it to the mansion for easier maintenance after Yoo Sihu requested it.
Thanks to that, the car was easier to manage, and Seo Haneul felt closer to Yoo Sihu.
“Next month…”
She muttered, thinking about the prisoners Yoo Sihu had mentioned.
She had to prepare jobs for those who would come out of the prison one by one.
Now, should she go for a visit? Or wait until the end of the term.
Seo Haneul contemplated, turning her head this way and that.
“Hmm…”
Seo Haneul stared piercingly at the driver’s seat, entrusted to her by Yu Sihu, and then walked towards the door.
She took out the key from her pants pocket, opened the door, and sat in the driver’s seat.
As she reclined in the plush driver’s seat, she couldn’t help but feel like she was hugging Yu Sihu.
It was a pity that the scent had faded, but…
“Hey. What are you doing there?”
Seo Haneul was about to close her eyes to rest when a low and sharp voice cut through her ears.
As a result, she was startled and opened her eyes.
“What’s going on here?!”
“I came to visit. Why are you so surprised?”
“I was half-asleep, and then your voice suddenly came out. It’s only natural to be surprised.”
Ahem. Seo Haneul cleared her throat and tried to calm her racing heart.
Even as she got out of the car and closed the door, her heart continued to beat wildly.
Suspicious. She wondered if Iyeoreum had noticed something, but soon, her suspicious gaze was averted.
After all, there was no point in doubting, and there was no need to push on the same side for no reason.
“Yeah. That’s possible.”
“Yes. It’s possible. But why did you come?”
“Me? I was wondering if Sihu hadn’t come.”
About two months since Yu Sihu left for the demilitarized zone.
Seo Haneul and Iyeoreum had been taking care of his house and car while waiting for his return.
They had wondered if he might have died since there was still no news, but the two women didn’t seem too worried.
The belief stemmed from personally experiencing Yoo Si-hoo’s ability.
So there were no missing person reports, and even if someone disappeared for months, it remained quiet.
Sometimes, I was curious about what he was doing, but only momentarily.
I followed the order to turn off my interest and wait faithfully.
Looking at the summer sky with a slight smile, I turned my head as if it were amusing and said,
“Right. You know that the gate will be closed in two days, right?”
“Yes, I know.”
The external image hasn’t declined significantly or fallen into ruin.
Furthermore, the active hunters were still the same.
So, if the guild was assigned a gate within their designated area, they still had the authority to handle it themselves.
The closing attack on the gate was a result of that authority and part of their daily routine.
The gate was estimated to be B-class, so there didn’t seem to be any significant danger.
The problem was Nam Bora, who became completely hysterical after Marie’s heartbreaking incident.