17 Part 16
Hello all and welcome back to my story. Thank you all for reading, I hope you all enjoy.
Sung Jin woo POV
After splitting up from Alea I decided to visit the Helstea manor as it had been a while since I had seen everyone and I was told that they were all home. I wanted to walk the streets though because I enjoyed sightseeing and thought that I might miss something new.
I continued going down the bustling streets as I remembered how that used to be me, an ordinary person living there life freely. No hunters, no monsters, no monarchs, it would've been fun. I eventually reached the manor and walked inside to find it relatively empty, I was confused as I was told that they were home.
"Igris" I called for him.
"Yes, my liege" He responded.
"I thought you said that they were home" I said.
"They were, my liege" he said.
"There clearly not, find out where they are?" I said with a sigh.
"They had left for the market ten minutes ago, my liege" he said.
"And why didn't you tell me?" I asked getting irritated.
"You didn't ask" he said.
I sighed and left the house, I might as well go see the guild master whilst I'm here. Thankfully there were no issues getting to the guild as I was still annoyed at Igris and I would've probably killed someone. As I got there I noticed the increased number of people on the outside shouting, I noticed the guild master and the staff in front trying to calm them down.
It seemed that the guild master noticed me as well considering that he called out to me like he was in distress. This caused everyone to turn to me and because I didn't want to deal with them I released some of my aura to scare them. This worked out great as they separated and let me walk through them.
"What's the matter?" I asked at the scene of the shouting.
"Come in and I'll explain" he said before directing me to follow him.
We walked through the barren halls of the guild and up to the guild masters office, in which he sat down with a sigh of defeat.
"So what's the matter?" I asked noticing the bags under his eyes indicating a lack of sleep.
"The lances wants us to send multiple high ranked adventures to assist them in a 'highly classified operation'" he said mocking them.
"Oh I see, that's why they seemed annoyed" I said getting a clearer picture of their frustration.
"Why would they want adventurers though, wouldn't they prefer the knights who they have trust in?" I asked.
"Who knows, but they've ordered us to send out some adventures for them and no one wants to do it" he said clearly frustrated.
"Hmmm that seems annoying" I said wondering for alternative solutions.
"Yep, and it doesn't help that the highest ranked adventurer disappeared for months, leaving me in a tough spot" he said practically glaring at me.
"Sorry, I was preoccupied with important issues" I said remembering Alea.
"Fine, anyways your back now so how do you propose we solve this issue?" He asked
"Hmm me?" I asked.
"Your my highest ranked adventurer and you disappeared yet again for a long time leaving me in a political situation, so yes you" he said not giving me much room to argue back.
"Fine, how many do they want and what rank?" I asked going along with this new plan.
"They want 30 B ranks and 15 A ranks" he said.
"Hmmm... that seems like an unnecessary amount of adventurers" I said as I told my soldiers in Aleas shadow to find out why they want that many adventures.
"I know, I've been trying to negotiate with them about the amount, but they won't take any other amount" he said rubbing his temples in distress.
"Hmmm... what if only I go?" I asked as it would work out faster if only I went.
"That could be possible, I would have to ask them, but are you sure?" He asked me solemnly.
"Sure, what's the worst that could happen" I said before getting up and walking off.
I left the adventurers guild and continued walking down the street trying to pass time as everyone wasn't home yet. That was until I got a call from Beru about an issue, I was confused ad I had sent him to Alacrya to gather information. My journey was cut short as I returned home and used shadow exchange to get to Beru.
"My liege" Beru said as I appeared next to him causing him and my other soldiers to bow.
"What's the issue Beru?" I asked.
"The leaders of Alacrya seem to have sped up their plan of war and are training new soldiers by the second" he said.
"I see, they must've realised that I had killed one of their kind" I said surveying the area they had chosen to camp out.
It was on top of a building that overlooked a large palace in the centre of what looked like a large city. What I noticed though was the large amounts of soldiers that were stationed in front of this palace looking at a platform. Then came a dozen people dressed in smart clothes and had horns and red eyes.
"They must be the leaders" I said causing Beru to turn and look at them.
"My liege, let me slaughter them so they do not impede you in the future" he said practically begging for the opportunity to kill.
"This isn't our fight Beru, but don't worry, you'll have your chance at war later" I said noticing the hint of sadness on his face.
"Yes my liege, your kindness shall be kept safely in this ones he...
"Enough!" I shouted as I wondered if there was anything that can be used to erase memories.
"You have all done a good job though, for now return to my shadow" I said as they bowed and disappeared into my shadow.
"*sigh*... I wonder how you'll deal with this then Arthur" I said with a smile before turning around and opening a portal home.
Arthur's POV
We just came home from the market to meet a familiar face, a face that we hadn't seen in quite a while.
"Uncle Jin woo" I called out to him waving.
"Hey art" he said waving back.
"Jin woo" my parents said smiling.
"Seems like you are all doing well" he said as we sat down.
"Where have you been?" Mother asked him.
"I had important issues to deal with in the beast glades" he said as I looked suspiciously at him for any changes in facial expressions. This was because he normally told us regardless of what happened.
"I see, next time you could at least tell us if you are going to be away for some time" dad said with worry in his voice.
"Sure, but it's not like I injured myself whilst being out" he said retaining his signature nonchalant face.
"Just tell us, please" mom said.
"Okay" he said.
"Anyways, how long will you be spending home?" I asked trying to break up the awkward atmosphere.
"Well it depends on if the guild accepts my proposal, but I should be home for a while" he said as I continued trying to read him, and fail.
We continued to talk for a while until mom brought up something that I hadn't expected to come up and clearly neither did uncle Jin woo. "Don't you think it's time you get a lover, Jin woo?" She asked as the room went silent.
"I uhh what?" He asked confused as he couldn't find the right words.
"We've known you for around 10 years and you've been single all this time. You may not look like you've aged a day yet you are getting older" mom said again as I nearly burst out laughing.
"Oh look at this seems like the guild needs me" Jin woo said before getting up and going to leave.
"Oh no you don't" I said before moving around him and holding him down.
"Good job Art, now let's carry on with what we were talking about" mom said with a smile that seemed innocent yet terrifying.
"So tell me Jin woo, don't you think it's time you got yourself a lover?" She said smiling again.
"Honey, I don't think that he wants one" dad said trying to defend Jin woo.
"Shush, it doesn't matter, no one lives forever, he'll need to get one eventually" she said.
"Do you have anyone that you like, jin woo?" Mom said to him as the room looked at him again.
"Well I uhh... I'll answer but first Arthur you should really let go of me" he said directing the attention to me who's holding him down from the back.
"So you'll run away again" I said as I shook my head.
"No not that, it's because of a particular soldier of mine that is about to disobey my orders and rip you to shreds" he said directing to behind me.
I turned around to see a very angry looking tall ant like soldier that emitted a vast killing intent. I couldn't move under this intent as it grabbed my hands and moved me off uncle Jin woo whist my parents looked in shock at this.
"Told you so" he said as he got up and walked to the door and before leaving he told us his answer.
"Oh and Alice, I do have a lover" he said before leaving.
Sung Jin woo POV
That was infuriating to deal with, but thankfully I could leave. I left the house and traveled to the adventurer guild as the guild master wanted me. I presumed that it was about my proposal for only sending me to help the lances, so I made my way there quickly. After getting there I was led to the guild masters office and saw in it was one of the lances and a distressed guild master.
"So this is the S rank adventurer you spoke of, he doesn't seem like much" the male Lance said.
I evaluated him and he had the same condition Alea had where they were all white cores that seemed to be chained to something. Perhaps that was what gave them a boost in power, but it also seemed to have made them cocky as well. I didn't like the cocky attitude that he displayed so I released some of my aura and watched his face pale as his legs gave in and he was sent to the floor.
"How disappointing, you can't even stand up in the face of my aura" I said sitting down at the desk and retracting my aura so he could stand.
After he sat down we began to talk about the operation with the guild master which lasted around a few hours. We discussed where it would be and who else would be there, and to my surprise there where two other lances that are joining in. I did wonder who they where but didn't have the chance considering it was 'classified'.
As it ended I went home and checked to see how everyone was doing. Arthur was back at school, Alice and Ellie where out shopping, and Rey and Vincent where working. I then checked on Alea and saw how she was training with her regiment, and what made me smile was how domineering she looked whilst doing so. Another thing was how good at leadership was as they moved flawlessly at her command.
This went on for a while until she left and headed towards an office of some sorts. I was bored so I decided to drop by and used shadow exchange to appear behind her. "Hey" I called as she jumped and turned around and punched me.
"J-J-Jin woo, why are you here?" She asked.
"Seems like I'm not welcome here, guess I'll leave" I said smiling.
"No it's fine I was just confused" she said moving closer to me and resting on my chest.
"Seems like you've had a busy day" I said noticing the stacks of paper work on her desk.
"*sigh* ever since I've been back this morning I've had to deal with meetings and training my new soldiers, it's been exhausting" she said looking up at me.
"So anyways what are you doing here?" She said.
"I was wondering if you knew about this operation that the blond haired Lance is making me go on?" I asked remembering how arrogant he looked.
"Oh that, it's an operation in the south to get rid of a horde of high ranked monsters" she said.
"Great, is it only us two going there?" I asked thinking about the possibility of dealing with that obnoxious person for a few weeks.
"No, I'm going as well" she said as I smiled and sighed in relief at this.
"Good" I said kissing her on the forehead.
She blushed at this so I pulled her head closer to mine and kissed her on the lips, it was a deep passionate kiss that seemed to have lasted for ages. The worst part was when she pulled away from me. "I-I h-h-have work to do, we can do this later" she said burying her head in my chest.
"Okay" I said as she looked up and moved away from me as I smiled one last time before disappearing and going back to xyrus city.
After around a week or so I got a letter telling me to come to a specific location, and after getting there I noticed both Alea and the blond haired Lance waiting. I nodded at the blond haired Lance and winked at Alea as her face blushed, making me chuckle.
"Let's get going then" the blond haired Lance said as a large carriage appeared from the air and we all stepped onto it and left, heading south.
