Chapter 236
The wastrel Lloyd Frontera.
He was a mess.
His personality, his words, his thoughts.
There wasn’t a single sincere corner to be found.
He was always sloppy and self-centered, constantly ruining both his surroundings and himself.
And he always thought this:
The Frontera Estate.
A boring, shabby countryside.
He pitied himself for being born in such a place and having to rot away there.
So he was always angry.
That his family wasn’t a bit more distinguished.
That he wanted more but couldn’t have it as he pleased.
He was resentful, felt wronged, and was hot-tempered.
He vented his soaring anger on those around him.
He hurled abuse at maids and struck servants.
He acted willfully even toward his family, including his parents.
And he drank.
When he was drunk, he felt better.
It was the only comfort he knew.
So he drank more and more.
That day was no different.
He drank at the tavern until he was unconscious.
As he drank, resentment surged again and his temper flared.
His memory after that wasn’t clear.
He’d probably smashed things.
Overturning, throwing, smashing, stomping on the tavern’s tables, chairs, and other furnishings as he pleased.
In the middle of it, the tavern owner had sobbed.
Please don’t do this.
He remembered shaking the owner off when the man clung to him as if pleading.
He remembered glaring and raising his fist—and the owner flinching, shoulders shrinking.
He’d found it amusing, like watching a pathetic bug.
He chuckled as he returned to the mansion, the memory lingering.
He threw himself onto the bed like that.
He fell asleep.
That was his last memory.
His last memory of having a physical body.
‘After that… that bastard…’
The specter of the wastrel Lloyd trembled his eyelids.
He cast an empty gaze.
There, his physical body was.
Even now, he couldn’t forget what happened that morning.
How could he?
The moment he suddenly became a specter.
The memory of seeing that other bastard, who’d stolen his body, open his eyes and rise from the bed.
‘……’
That morning, that bastard calmly conversing with Javier.
That bastard, who wasn’t satisfied with stealing his body and went on living while pretending to be him.
Seeing it made his vision flash red.
No—honestly, he was scared.
He was flustered and afraid.
Why had his body been taken so suddenly?
Why had he become like a ghost?
He couldn’t understand anything. He couldn’t do anything.
That’s right.
He was powerless.
He just wanted his body back.
So he followed the bastard around twenty-four hours a day.
When the bastard slept, when he ate—every hour of every day.
He tried everything he could think of to take his body back.
He wanted to drive out the fake bastard pretending to be him.
He wanted his own body back.
But it was impossible.
Every attempt ended in failure.
Until when?
Until that fake bastard defeated the Giga Titan in Cremo City, collapsed, woke up, and was reunited with his parents.
‘……’
But once he collapsed.
Once he became like a vegetable.
He was sure he’d succeed this time.
But that failed too.
Not only did it fail, he had to watch his own parents run over, sobbing, and embrace that bastard.
The expression on their faces—genuine worry.
The look in their eyes as they checked on that bastard’s wellbeing with trembling fingertips.
Seeing it, his spirit went slack.
‘……’
Bewilderment.
A sense of deprivation.
Defeat.
And… regret, wondering why he’d lived such a ruined life.
Only then did he truly understand.
There was no room for excuses.
Because he’d seen it—during the nearly one year he spent clinging to that fake bastard who stole his body and lived as him.
How hard that bastard worked.
How desperately he struggled.
How much he lived thinking and planning.
He’d seen it more clearly, in more detail, than anyone else.
Even if he wanted to make excuses, he couldn’t.
‘I just… lived blaming only our family for being hopeless.’
That bastard was different.
He’d simply inherited this body as it was.
He’d been saddled with a hopeless family and a mountain of debt on top of it.
And he acted as if all of that were heaven-sent conditions, as if it were nothing.
He earned money with a tenacity unimaginable.
He worked so hard you’d wonder if a person could even live like that.
Sometimes, he didn’t even avoid danger himself.
Like that, he completely changed the way everyone looked at him—everyone whose gaze Lloyd himself had dragged into the gutter with his wastrel behavior.
It was something he never would’ve dared to dream of.
Since he’d seen it all so clearly, he couldn’t make excuses.
He had no choice but to admit defeat.
That it was probably better his body had been taken.
And after seeing his parents crying as they embraced that fake…
He ended up thinking there was nothing left to do.
So he left.
Mingling among the dead, he came to the underworld.
He fell into Hell and sought out Hell Castle.
But there, he was driven out without even receiving judgment.
The reason was simple.
‘Because I’m neither dead nor alive.’
His body had been taken, but that body wasn’t dead.
So he wasn’t dead.
But he also wasn’t in a state of having a physical body.
So he wasn’t living, either.
In other words, he was a kind of spiritual refugee.
A stateless person.
A drifting spirit, neither alive nor dead.
A specter that belonged to neither this world nor the underworld.
That was the situation he was in.
So that’s why.
From then on, he hid and lived here, in a corner of Hell.
There was no other way.
The Satans were terrifying.
If they caught him, his very soul would be annihilated.
He had to live in hiding, trembling with anxiety, praying he wouldn’t catch a Satan’s eye.
How long had he lived like that?
He didn’t know.
In Hell, there were no seasonal changes.
He just hid and survived, day after day.
Every moment was equally hellish.
Still, he didn’t regret it too much.
Because he thought it was punishment that fit someone who’d lived so recklessly.
But now?
For the first time, the wastrel Lloyd regretted coming down to Hell.
Because that fake Lloyd was right there, in plain sight, where he was looking.
‘I gave up on getting my body back, and now that damn bastard has already kicked the bucket and come up here?’
This was Hell.
And yet that bastard was already here!
‘That idiot bastard, for real!’
The specter of the wastrel Lloyd seethed.
Regret for giving up so pointlessly surged like a torrent.
Soon, the dam of patience broke.
– Hey!
He shouted roughly and sprang up.
He charged straight at Lloyd.
– If you’re already dead, then die by my hand now, you bastard!
The wastrel Lloyd rushed in and swung his fist.
And Lloyd?
He felt absurd.
“…What is this.”
He’d been inspecting a place where the roadbed construction had just finished.
And out of nowhere, a specter popped up and threw a punch at him.
He thought it was insane.
‘The Satans are even groveling before me, and a mere specter dares?’
Swish.
Lloyd lightly shifted his steps.
Although he usually avoided fights, in truth he was also on the verge of reaching the advanced level of Sword Expert.
As such, dodging a mere specter’s punch was effortless.
Counterattacking was just as easy.
Thud!
Lloyd dodged and extended his hand.
Slap! Crack!
He struck the specter’s cheek.
With a crisp sound, the specter’s head whipped aside.
Lloyd didn’t stop there.
Thud!
He drove his shoulder into the staggering specter’s waist while hooking the back of his knee and yanking.
Then he shifted his weight forward.
– Wha, wha?
The specter crashed onto his back.
Lloyd pressed his right knee into the specter’s solar plexus.
He pinned the specter’s arms with his left leg and right hand.
He gripped the specter’s neck with his left hand.
Perfect suppression.
‘Whew. What is this, really.’
Lloyd snorted a laugh.
‘Maybe it’s some Hell resident opposing reckless railway development or something.’
‘Then do I have to play the role of the unscrupulous developer again?’
A frivolous thought flashed through his head.
Then he looked properly at the specter’s face.
At that moment, he flinched without thinking.
“Huh?”
A dumbfounded sound slipped out on its own.
“Lloyd Frontera?”
– …You recognize me now, you bastard?
“…….”
It was real.
It was so sudden it was hard to believe, but—
The specter pinned beneath him, struggling and glaring up, was clearly Lloyd Frontera.
The moment he saw him, Lloyd couldn’t not know.
He felt it instinctively.
Even though the specter’s face was a little blurry.
Even though it was half-transparent, making the features hard to discern.
Even so, the moment he saw him, he could be sure.
‘…What. How am I supposed to react?’
For a moment, he was completely thrown.
He’d never imagined he would run into the wastrel Lloyd Frontera in a place like this.
It wasn’t just surprise.
It felt exactly like being caught doing something wrong.
Even though it wasn’t intentional, he had stolen this man’s body.
This was the victim whose life had been taken from him.
The existence that had pricked at his conscience all along.
And now he’d suddenly encountered him with no preparation at all.
But Lloyd quickly pulled himself together.
‘Don’t panic. Let’s grasp the situation first.’
Once he calmed his mind, he straightened his expression.
He asked the wastrel Lloyd Frontera:
“Why are you here?”
– That’s what I want to ask, you bastard?
As expected, there was no polite answer.
The wastrel Lloyd Frontera’s gaze turned murderous.
– Why have you already died and come up to Hell?
“Me? Died?”
– Yeah.
“Die what die, me?”
So that bastard thought he was dead.
Lloyd answered to clear up the misunderstanding.
“I’m not dead.”
– What?
“I said I’m not dead.”
– What nonsense. Why is someone who isn’t dead in Hell!
“Because of a construction contract I made with the King of Hell after receiving a request from a certain dragon. I’m here to work.”
– …Huh?
“You can think of it as a business trip.”
– ……
What was this?
The wastrel Lloyd felt absurd.
Receiving a request from a dragon and signing a construction contract with the King of Hell?
A dumbfounded question slipped out on its own.
– You… just what have you been doing with my body?
“Just, you know, living hard?”
– ……
“Then why are you here?”
– Why! Because of you!
The wastrel Lloyd flared up.
– I was living just fine! But because of you, I! Ugh!
That was how it began.
The wastrel Lloyd shouted frantically.
He poured out everything he’d experienced from the day his body was first taken.
Arguing, protesting, shouting.
Indignant, complaining, lamenting.
Pleading, begging, clinging.
– ……So, please help me. Huh? I don’t want to be here. I’m sick of living as a specter who can’t go anywhere. Huh? Please, at least let me be reborn or something!
“…….”
– It’s because of you. That I became a specter, neither dead nor alive—it’s all because you stole my body. So why are you the only one living well? Huh? What did I do wrong!
“…….”
– Take responsibility! Take responsibility! Do something about me!
“…Whew.”
Lloyd let out a heavy sigh.
The wastrel Lloyd, pinned beneath him, clung desperately.
Hearing what he’d been through, Lloyd couldn’t help feeling a little sorry.
‘To become a specter who can neither die nor live.’
To end up belonging to neither this world nor the underworld.
He’d never imagined the guy was living in such a state.
‘He’s become completely stateless.’
Now that he thought it through, the situation made sense.
And that made it awkward.
He felt sorry.
He felt regretful.
But—
“Just how do you want me to help? Is there a way?”
– You’re the one who’s supposed to help, so find a way!
“…….”
– That’s how the servants and maids in our house were! Even without me saying anything, they did things perfectly! Isn’t that natural?
“Uh, no it’s not.”
Another deep sigh slipped out.
He felt sorry and regretful, but—
This wastrel Lloyd Frontera guy.
Even as a specter, he couldn’t let go of his entitled nature.
“First, listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”
Lloyd stared straight into the wastrel Lloyd’s eyes.
“One. You’re the one asking me for a favor. Don’t shout, and don’t throw tantrums. You’re not a child.”
– ……
“Two. Let’s sort out how we address each other first.”
– What?
“How we address each other. You don’t know?”
– Of course I know, but why do we have to do that? I’m Lloyd. You’re the fake.
“I’m Lloyd too.”
– What nonsense? You fake, having the nerve.
“Then are you going to keep calling me fake?”
– Of course.
“Then I won’t help you.”
– What?
“It’s offensive.”
– ……
The wastrel Lloyd unconsciously swallowed.
He remembered.
‘Right. This fake bastard—he’s incredibly petty and holds grudges.’
It was something he’d often felt while tailing him for nearly a year after his body was taken.
But actually talking to him face-to-face?
The pettiness hit far harder than it ever had as an observer.
Trying to hide his bewilderment, the wastrel Lloyd asked:
– Th-then what do you suggest?
“Let’s decide cleanly with rock-paper-scissors. Winner gets Lloyd. Loser gets Frontera. How about it?”
– What kind of ridiculous—
“Scissors…”
– Hey, are you in your right mind?
“If you don’t throw, you lose. Rock…”
– Ah, seriously!
“Paper.”
Snap!
The two Lloyds extended their hands.
Lloyd had scissors.
The wastrel Lloyd had paper.
A satisfied smile spread across Lloyd’s lips.
“Good. Since I won, I’ll be Lloyd.”
– Haa, crazy. Not content with stealing my body, now you steal my name too?
“At least I’m calling you by your last name, Frontera.”
– …Damn it. Then at least let me go now.
Frontera grumbled.
Lloyd’s gaze turned subtly bitter.
‘Whew. I do feel pretty sorry.’
Stealing the body hadn’t been intentional.
He hadn’t wanted it. He hadn’t chosen it.
It was simply something that happened.
But the fact that it had completely split their fates was undeniable.
‘I prospered. That bastard became a specter. Tsk.’
He hadn’t done it on purpose, but he still felt sorry.
Of course, he wasn’t unconditionally sorry.
He also had a point.
‘Even if I hadn’t taken the body… about a year and five months later, he would’ve died miserably in a tavern backroom.’
That was the fate Lloyd Frontera met in Iron Blooded Knight.
It was also what would definitely have happened if he hadn’t taken the body.
And Lloyd Frontera wasn’t the only one.
‘The Baron couple who are now Counts, and even Julian…’
The whole family had been slated for a tragic end—suicide and murder.
If it weren’t for him, that would’ve been their fate.
Looking at it that way…
At the very least, he’d also been a benefactor to Lloyd Frontera’s family.
‘Whew. I’d like to offset the body-stealing incident with that.’
That was his honest feeling.
He wondered if he really had to help this guy.
On top of that, it was bothersome.
But his conscience still ached.
He didn’t think he could just ignore it.
Especially when he thought of the Count couple who had always treated him well.
‘I’ve been acting as their son. But if I ignore their real son in trouble? If I pretend I don’t see him? Whew. That would be truly wicked.’
With that, he made up his mind.
He spoke.
“Hey, Frontera. Listen carefully. I understand your situation, and I understand what you want. But right now, it’s difficult for me to help you.”
– What? You bastard, really—
“Don’t curse, and listen to me to the end. I’m busy right now. The construction project I got from the King of Hell is in full swing. So first, let me finish the work I started. I don’t know how to help you this very moment, either.”
– …That’s true, but.
“Right. While I finish the construction project, I’ll look for a way to help you. Got it? So for the time being, get into my pocket and stay quiet.”
– Your pocket?
“Yeah.”
Frontera looked puzzled.
Lloyd snorted.
“You’re a specter, so you can shrink, right?”
– If you let me go, it’s possible.
“Then shrink down and hole up in my pocket for a while.”
– Why should I do that?
“It’s giving you a chance to stay safe until the construction is finished. Or do you want to get caught by the Satans and get annihilated?”
– ……
“You get why I’m offering, right?”
– Ugh, damn it. Fine, I get it, so just let me go already.
Frontera grumbled like he was chewing on the words.
Lloyd released him.
Newly freed, Frontera reluctantly shrank himself down.
Lloyd introduced him to the friends inside his pocket.
“Ppodong? Bangul? Hamang? Ggoming? This friend here is called Frontera. Don’t hit him or bully him, and get along well, okay?”
“Ppo? Bang? Ha? Ggo?”
Ppodong, Bangul, Hamang, and Ggoming had been napping inside the pocket.
All four opened their eyes wide when they saw Frontera’s form.
A specter that looked just like Lloyd, yet slightly different.
They were clearly curious.
Frontera, on the other hand, was horrified.
– ……Waaah! What are these furballs!
“What do you mean? They’re the ones you’ll be bunking with for a while. You said you stuck with me for about a year, right? Then you should’ve seen all of them except Ggoming.”
– Hey! What does seeing them have to do with anything! Why do I have to stay with these things!
“You don’t like it? Should I throw you to the Satans, then?”
– ……
“You dislike that more, don’t you?”
– ……
“Behave. Don’t go getting on their bad side for no reason.”
Lloyd ended with a bitter smile.
‘On their bad side’—it seemed it had already happened.
The four fantasy species were glaring with narrowed eyes, all because of Frontera’s earlier remark calling them “these things.”
But Lloyd didn’t mind.
“Alright, then. Get in.”
– Wait, wait a minute!
“Buttoning up now~”
– ……Hey! You jerk!
Lloyd shoved Frontera into the pocket.
Then he clicked the pocket button shut with smug finality.
A moment later, the sounds of a scuffle came from inside the pocket.
It seemed the four fantasy species were diligently “patting” Frontera.
‘Whew. I’ve bought some time this way, at least.’
Lloyd let out a deep sigh.
Honestly, he had no clue how to help Frontera, the specter of the wastrel.
‘Well, at least I didn’t make any grand promises. I only said I’d look for a way.’
He’d left himself a little wiggle room.
If it turned out he couldn’t help, he could always say, ‘I tried, but I couldn’t find a way.’
‘Besides, hiding him in the pocket for now is better. That way, Javier won’t find out about this guy’s existence.’
Javier, who believed he was Lloyd.
What if Javier saw the specter of the real Lloyd Frontera?
What if he realized the truth like that?
Lloyd had no idea how Javier would react.
Frankly, he couldn’t even imagine it.
So for now, hiding Frontera was probably the best course of action.
Just as Lloyd was thinking that—
“Lloyd-nim? Why are you sighing so deeply like that?”
Truly, without any forewarning or presence at all.
So naturally and suddenly it made him jump.
Javier’s question came from right behind him.