Chapter 156

[Javier Asrahan has discovered a new side of you today and feels a small sense of respect.]

[Javier Asrahan is deeply impressed by your ideas and ambitions.]

[Javier Asrahan now sees you in a new light.]

[Javier Asrahan’s favorability toward you has increased by +15.]

[Current relationship with Javier Asrahan: +23]

[You have gained 270 RP for a major improvement in your relationship with a key individual.]

[Current RP: 3,140]

[Your intimacy level with Javier Asrahan has increased from <Casual Interest> to <Casual Affection>.]

[As a bonus for the intimacy level-up, you have gained an additional 100 RP.]

[Current RP: 3,240]

‘Whoa.’

Lloyd quickly read through the shimmering messages floating in front of him.

As he read, a smile naturally crept across his face.

With a slightly mischievous look, he glanced at the back of Javier’s head in front of him.

“Hey, does it feel good?”

“……What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Did my words move you or something?”

“Don’t even expect that. Never. Absolutely not. Not in this lifetime.”

Maybe it was just his imagination, but Javier’s headshake seemed a bit more emphatic than usual today. Or maybe it was just an illusion on Lloyd’s part that he looked even more serious than normal.

Javier’s cold and sharp voice followed.

“There’s nothing to be moved about. Feeling moved by someone who recklessly throws himself into danger while forgetting his position and importance? Absurd. And for the record, I am not your brother.”

“Why not? You’re five years younger than me.”

“That simply means I’m young. And full of energy.”

“Hey, in five years you’ll be my age.”

“And by then, you’ll be five years older.”

“……Cough.”

“In any case, I have no intention of treating you like a brother based on mere physical age. You can drop such pointless expectations right now.”

“So you’re drawing the line, huh?”

“That’s the relationship we’ve always had.”

Still the same cold tone.

Listening to him only made Lloyd smile more.

He couldn’t help but point it out.

“But for someone saying that, your actions say otherwise.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re holding my sleeve right now.”

“……”

“You’ve been like this since earlier. Ever since I first got on Ggoming’s back.”

“……”

“Don’t tell me you’re holding on because you’re afraid I might fall?”

“You’re mistaken.”

“Mistaken?”

“I feel like grabbing you by the collar for what you did today, but my hand can’t quite reach that far.”

“Ah, so you’re gripping my sleeve instead?”

“……”

“Well, I mean, I am kind of precious and respectable, right?”

“……”

“Aw, you’re such a good guy, my dear Javier.”

“Shall I just push you off right now?”

“Really? Are you serious?”

“I only hope this height is enough to make it quick. You’re annoyingly resilient—like a cockroach.”

“That almost sounded sincere.”

“Of course it was.”

“……”

Even as their banter continued, Javier never let go of Lloyd’s sleeve.

Almost as if he were worried Lloyd might really fall at any moment.

Thanks to that, Lloyd could safely look down below.

The gorge spread beneath Ggoming’s wings was collapsing entirely.

Tens of thousands of tons of soil and rock were pouring into it, and intermittent explosions erupted within the massive destruction.

Undead Mastodons were being crushed under the falling debris, their bodies bursting in violent corpse explosions.

Each blast triggered secondary and tertiary landslides in succession.

‘At this rate, there’s no way any of them survived.’

Complete annihilation.

Or rather, burial.

They circled above the gorge several more times just to be sure.

He watched carefully for any sign of movement.

Thankfully, not a single Undead Mastodon was left alive.

From the front, Javier spoke.

“I overheard the fleeing workers earlier. They said those Undead Mastodons came from underground, didn’t they?”

“Yeah.”

Lloyd recalled what had happened earlier.

The pit they dug to install the sludge treatment facility.

The countless Mastodon corpses buried underground.

“They weren’t just randomly buried either. They were neatly laid to rest.”

“Most likely the work of the necromancer who created them.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

Lloyd nodded.

“But who could it be? Do you have any guesses?”

“None at all.”

Javier replied calmly.

“I can’t think of anyone specific. Necromancers are difficult to find to begin with.”

“Hmm. Could it be related to that one we took care of before?”

“The dark mage who kidnapped our soldiers in the Eastern Mountains?”

“Yeah. The one who helped build that ice storage for the orc tribe. You remember?”

“Of course.”

Javier nodded.

“It might be the work of a necromancer connected to him. But it’s too early to conclude that.”

“Yeah, I know. It’d be jumping to conclusions.”

“I agree.”

Lloyd stared down at the ruined gorge with a troubled look.

He couldn’t figure it out at all.

Who created the Undead Mastodons?

Why had they been buried near the estate?

‘Did I just happen to dig up something they were storing, or was this all part of some plot against our territory? There isn’t even a clue to start with.’

Even when recalling the novel *The Iron-Blooded Knight*, there was nothing like this.

Hundreds of Undead Mastodons buried in the wasteland north of Frontera Estate.

It never happened in the story.

Of course it didn’t.

In the novel, the monster domino effect near Frontera Estate never occurred. The Mastodon herd from beyond the Eastern Mountains never migrated here.

‘Tch. Still, I can’t just ignore this.’

One way or another, this was a potential source of trouble.

If the necromancer had buried those Mastodons merely for storage, then Lloyd had just unearthed and destroyed them.

The necromancer might demand compensation.

Or hold a grudge.

If, on the other hand, they were buried there as part of a plot to harm the estate, that would be even worse.

Either way, it was a future problem waiting to happen.

“Click.”

But for now, there was too much immediate work to handle.

He had to clean up the aftermath of today’s incident.

He had to continue with the great sewer construction.

And he had to find clues about this mysterious necromancer along the way.

For now, the priority was clear.

“Let’s go. That way.”

First, he needed to check on Bibeong, who fainted after blocking the initial explosion.

Lloyd pointed eastward.

Ggoming’s wings beat faster.

♣

Fortunately, Bibeong was safe.

His enormous body had taken the brunt of the explosion.

Even a corpse explosion that close couldn’t bring him down.

Aside from a few singed patches of fur and a mild concussion, he was fine.

“So, Bangul?”

“Bangul?”

“I think it’d be great if you could look after Bibeong.”

“Ppabangul? Bangul?”

“Oh? You think Hamang would make a better nurse? That if he poured some water over him, it’d wash off the burnt fur and help him wake up?”

“Bangul! Ppabangul!”

“Hmm, but I disagree.”

“Bangul?”

“Bibeong’s not that badly hurt anyway.”

“Bangul?”

“I think having you by his side will be much more comforting than water.”

“Ppabangul? Bangul? Bangul?”

“I’m serious. Trust me. You’re more than capable of that.”

“Bangul?”

Bangul tilted her head all the way to the end.

Lloyd patted her head and guided her to Bibeong’s side.

And his prediction came true.

“Bibeong! Bibibeng! Bibeong!”

As soon as Bibeong woke and saw Bangul beside him, he went wild.

He insisted he was fine.

That the explosion was nothing.

That burnt fur could be fixed with a little spit.

That the concussion didn’t even happen.

He just felt a little sleepy, that’s all.

Then he suddenly sprang up, trying to look tough.

Only to be scolded mercilessly by Bangul.

“Bangul! Ppabangul!”

She said patients should rest.

If he didn’t, she’d stop taking care of him.

And at that, Bibeong immediately lay back down like lightning.

“Bibibeng!”

The grin hanging from his mouth said it all.

He didn’t need any more concern.

After that, Lloyd kept busy.

He respectfully gathered the remains of the six fallen White Spear Knights.

He spent several days cleaning up the site of the disaster.

From the pit where they found the Undead Mastodons, to the collapsed gorge—he checked everything thoroughly, searching for any clues about the necromancer.

But even after days of work, there was nothing.

“Well, don’t push yourself too hard. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you came back safe.”

Click.

Was this his first proper dinner in days?

Lloyd looked down at the plate the countess set before him.

Then spoke quietly.

“This feels a little different from what you said earlier.”

“What do you mean?”

“You told me, ‘Even if you’re busy, have a quick bite before you go,’ and pulled me here, right?”

“I did.”

“So I came, expecting something quick to eat.”

“Right.”

“Then what’s this mountain of food piled higher than the Eastern Mountains’ tallest peak doing on my plate?”

“Hmm, did I not prepare enough?”

“No, I’m just worried my stomach might burst if I try to finish it.”

“Don’t worry. There’s plenty more if you want seconds.”

“……”

So basically, shut up and eat.

It’d almost be more comforting if she just said that out loud.

Lloyd stared at his plate, utterly defeated.

The plate was enormous—about fifty centimeters across.

It wasn’t a plate at all, really. It was a tray.

And it was overflowing with food of every kind.

Like a first-timer at a buffet.

Or a food challenge spread for a mukbang streamer.

Salads, sausages, eggs, steaks, cured meats, bread, noodles with sauce, mashed potatoes, buttered goose, fragrant steamed salmon, creamy corn, and breaded fried chicken.

The plate was so full it could feed an army five times over.

“……I don’t think I can eat all this.”

“That’s fine. Take your time.”

“Uh, if I take my time, this might take ten days.”

It was a bit of a problem.

He had a lot of work piled up.

He needed to finish cleaning the site before sunset.

He wanted to review tomorrow’s section in advance.

He was exhausted, wanted nothing more than to sleep—but work came first.

Yet the countess, who surely knew all that, insisted all the more firmly today.

“I know. I know how busy you are. That you’re itching to get back to work.”

“Then maybe I’ll just eat this one sausage and—”

“If I don’t do this much, when else would I get to see you like this?”

“……”

“Your father’s worried too, you know. He says you’re pushing yourself too hard. Trying to bear everything alone.”

“……”

“So please, listen to your mother for once. Eat well. Rest well. Give yourself—and those who follow you—a little time to breathe.”

“……”

Her voice sank softly, like it was soaking into his chest.

And before he knew it, the countess had reached out.

She gently took his hands in hers.

Her tone was warm, full of concern.

Like she was patting his back.

Like she was soothing a weary heart.

“So sit down, my son.”

“……Yes, ma’am.”

For some reason, a memory from middle school suddenly surfaced.

A weekend evening, his mom telling him to eat before heading to cram school.

What did he say back then?

Maybe something like—“No, I’m fine. I’m busy.”

‘Even though I wasn’t actually going to cram school.’

He was supposed to meet friends at a PC café instead.

He’d ignored his mom’s words and rushed out the door.

Later, he found a crumpled 10,000 won bill in his jacket pocket.

She’d secretly tucked it in, so he wouldn’t go hungry outside.

“……”

I should’ve listened to her that time.

But why did the countess’s face now overlap with his mom’s?

Was it the same look in their eyes?

Or was it just because he missed those days?

Lloyd furrowed his nose slightly and sat down.

He began eating, slowly, carefully.

He didn’t say anything. Just chewed each bite thoughtfully.

As if savoring the warmth of a meal he’d once turned down.

As if making up for an old regret.

He didn’t cry.

He wasn’t holding anything back either.

And yet, strangely enough—

The food tasted just a little saltier than usual.