The Greatest Estate Developer - Chapter 400: Farewell (2)

[Hello, this is Lloyd. No, this is Kim Suho. You might be wondering what on earth I’m saying. I understand. It must be confusing. But it’s true. I’m only telling you now something I should have told you long ago, something I should have had the courage to say earlier.]

Rustle.

The Count of Frontera’s hand trembled.

The letter he was holding quivered along with his body.

The familiar handwriting appeared to shake.

The boy who had always lived with such spirit.

But now, he was gone.

It was a letter left behind by Lloyd.

[If you are reading this letter after everything has ended, it means I managed to succeed in my final attempt and returned home safely. But if you are reading this, then I’m afraid I’m no longer there. No one is exempt from the other side of the Gate of Reincarnation. Not me, and not the King of Hell.]

The Countess lowered her head.

The Count placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Their trembling eyes scanned the letter together.

[So, I am only telling you this now, through this letter. I should have told you sooner, and I should have had the courage to do it earlier, but I couldn’t. I was a coward. I’m sorry. Truly, I am.]

“…Phew.”

The Count could no longer hold back a deep sigh.

Sorry?

That’s not what you should be saying.

We should be the ones apologizing.

And thanking you endlessly.

Even saying it a hundred times wouldn’t be enough.

“My dear.”

The Countess looked into the Count’s eyes.

The Count nodded.

Their eyes returned to the letter.

[My real name is Kim Suho. I was born and raised in Seoul. I was just living a life in a small room there. How I ended up as Lloyd Frontera, I still don’t know. Honestly, one day I just woke up, and that’s how it was.]

The Count turned the page with a trembling hand.

[At first, I was bewildered. So, I lied without even realizing it. I pretended to be your son, to be Lloyd Frontera, and I kept living like that. I convinced myself it wasn’t my fault, just a cruel joke of fate, so I wasn’t to blame… I told myself that lie every day, and the lies piled up. Then, eventually, I met him. The real Lloyd.]

The couple’s eyes wavered.

[He had lost his body because of me and was wandering as a spirit in hell. The moment I met him, I realized it. Even if I didn’t intend it, the fact that he suffered because of me didn’t change. It broke my heart. But I decided not to show it. Because I felt that would be a hollow pretense, and I couldn’t stand myself for that. So, I didn’t.]

The letter, shaky in their hands, continued with Lloyd’s—no, Kim Suho’s—calm confession.

[I helped him in every way I could. Thankfully, he was able to pass through the Gate of Reincarnation. I don’t know what he was reincarnated as. I’m sorry for that. But he asked me to take good care of you both, to keep you informed about him. Maybe that’s why, on the eve of what could be my final battle, I’m leaving this letter to you both.]

The letter continued further.

[I won’t make excuses. I’m sorry. I’m even more sorry that I couldn’t bring myself to tell you directly until the end. Also, in my bedroom closet, there are several large blueprints stored. They are for use if this battle ends safely. They include designs for the dikes and aqueduct restoration at Lake Capua, as well as plans for the drainage work at the Marez reclamation site. There are also blueprints and anchoring plans to reinforce the slopes of Namaran City. The construction methods are detailed as well.]

Even in what could be his final letter, he did not forget to give instructions.

[It should be fine even without me. Our engineering corps is quite skilled now. So, I’ll keep this letter from being unnecessarily long. I’m sorry once again. Please give my regards to Julian and Javier. Tell the Queen as well. Take good care of Ppodong, Bangul, Hamang, Bibeong, and Ggoming. They’re good kids. That’s all… Father, Mother, thank you for everything.]

“…”

The Count’s eyes filled with tears.

The Countess buried her face in his shoulder.

Watching this, Javier bit his lower lip.

“That is all the letter I found in Lord Lloyd’s bedroom.”

“I see.”

“Yes.”

“Sir Asrahan.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“You were with that boy the whole time. No matter where he went.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“So, did you, perhaps, know something about this as well?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I thought so. But it’s fine. You must have believed in him, too. That he would tell the truth himself one day. Isn’t that so?”

“…”

Yes, that’s right.

That belief is what makes it so painful now.

I never imagined he would choose this method.

That he would sacrifice himself and jump into the Gate of Reincarnation.

If only I had known earlier.

If I had realized a bit sooner.

I would have given it my all in that final moment.

Or I would have thrown myself into the Gate of Reincarnation with the King of Hell.

“…”

But I couldn’t do that.

I promised countless times to protect Lloyd.

I swore I would do anything to protect that fake.

But in the end, at the last moment…

I relied on his sacrifice.

I couldn’t save him.

I could only watch his final moments.

But Javier showed no emotion.

Because, at this moment, the ones who were suffering the most were the Count and Countess.

Showing his sorrow in front of them would only be a selfish gesture, an undeserved absolution for a knight who failed to protect his loved one.

So, he decided not to show his sadness.

He vowed not to let his emotions shake him.

‘Because I have no right to grieve.’

He would endure.

The pain of that endurance.

That would be his penance for his incompetence.

“I’m sorry. I will take my leave now.”

“Yes, you should do that.”

Before it became more sorrowful.

Before the tears started to fall.

He stepped back from the Count and Countess, almost fleeing.

As he closed the door and turned away, he could hear the soft sobs of the Countess from the other side of the door. The Count’s voice, thick with tears, trying to comfort her.

He was a precious child.

A gift from heaven.

So, let’s keep him in our hearts forever.

That is the only thing we can give him in return.

Leaving behind the sobbing couple comforting each other, he walked out of the corridor.

“…Phew.”

He thought stepping into the night air might help him feel a little better.

But it didn’t seem to.

Even after leaving the mansion.

Even after looking up at the starry night sky.

Even after sighing and walking for what felt like forever.

The feeling of his heart being torn apart remained.

Then he found himself standing in front of a familiar yet strange gravestone.

A new gravestone made just yesterday, with no moss yet covering it.

It was only when he saw the person who had arrived there before him that he realized where he was.

“You’re here, Sir Asrahan.”

“…Your Majesty.”

Queen Alicia stood in front of the gravestone.

She wore a painful smile.

“No need for formalities here. Not in this place. This is not my space, but rather a place for this foolish man.”

The gravestone she was looking at.

The inscription on it was unfamiliar.

Here lies Lloyd Frontera, the eldest son of the Count of Frontera and a loyal servant of the Magentano royal family…

“…”

It felt strange.

Those words seemed so unfamiliar.

So unfamiliar that they felt unreal.

Why does this gravestone feel like a lie to me?

Or maybe… do I want to deny this reality altogether?

“And what about your injuries?”

“Thanks to your concern, I am recovering well.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Your kindness is…”

“No, don’t say that.”

Was she crying?

It seemed like it.

The Queen lowered her head, looking at the gravestone.

Her shoulders were trembling slightly.

Her fists were clenched tightly.

Perhaps it was because of what I was about to say.

Expressing deep gratitude.

Apologizing sincerely.

Thinking of the man who always smiled.

“Then I will take my leave now.”

He didn’t want to interrupt her mourning.

Once again, he left the cemetery, almost fleeing.

He walked aimlessly.

Without any destination.

Holding the emptiness in his heart, he just kept walking.

Like that day when he walked through the sunset with him.

On the same path where Lloyd had once asked what kind of man his father was.

But now he was walking alone.

And he couldn’t help but laugh.

“Damn.”

That’s the problem with nights like this.

Your face keeps getting wet.

There’s too much night dew.

And every time that happens, regrets come back to haunt you.

And the more regrets come to mind, the more you start to miss him.

‘Lord Lloyd.’

Suddenly, he wondered.

What happened to him?

The one I couldn’t protect—is he alright?

What kind of new life did he receive after jumping into the Gate of Reincarnation?

Did he receive a new life that was moderately affluent, worry-free, ordinary, and happy, as he always wished?

Hoping for that, he kept walking

.

He decided to check and jumped into the water.

His bandaged shoulder throbbed as if hit with a hammer.

But it didn’t matter.

Deeper.

Even deeper.

He pushed through the water all the way to the bottom.

There, the Orb of Truth awaited.

Just as the fake Lloyd—no, that man—had once done.

He placed his hand on the altar of the Orb.

[To receive a truthful answer from the Orb of Truth, you must disclose a secret truth about yourself, one that pertains to you alone and is known only to you.]

A voice resonated in his mind.

As expected.

‘I’ve never thought about a life without Lord Lloyd. Not even now, in this moment.’

He recited the prepared answer.

The response was immediate.

[In exchange for a truthful answer, you have willingly disclosed a secret truth about yourself, known only to you.]

The surface shone brightly.

The night sky above glowed even more vividly.

He asked his question.

‘What happened to Kim Suho’s soul after he jumped into the Gate of Reincarnation?’

He wanted to know.

He hoped for a good ending.

He waited with bated breath for the answer.

Finally, the answer came.

[Kim Suho’s soul, despite jumping into the Gate of Reincarnation, was not reincarnated.]

‘What?’

He froze involuntarily.

The Orb’s response continued.

[Instead of being reincarnated, he returned to his original body in Seoul, in the other dimension, in room 301 of the Sky House boarding house.]

‘…What?’

He was stunned.

It was unexpected.

‘Then his memories? The memories he had here?’

He asked urgently.

The answer came quickly.

[He retains all the memories he built up here. He also misses you and many others dearly. Therefore, if it were possible to traverse dimensions, it would also be possible to bring him back here.]

‘…’

It was an unbelievable answer.

He was too surprised.

Too overjoyed.

He couldn’t help but feel his heart pounding.

‘Then another question on a different topic. No, first, let me reveal something. I am thinking of Kim Suho right now, and I feel incredibly, overwhelmingly happy and excited.’

The response was immediate.

[In exchange for a truthful answer, you have willingly disclosed a secret truth about yourself, known only to you.]

Once again, the surface and the sky above it shone.

As soon as he confirmed this, he immediately asked.

‘Where is Dragon King Verkis?’

If anyone could do it, it would be him.

Dimensional travel—he could make it happen.

If that were possible, he could bring him back.

Bring the fake Lloyd—Kim Suho—back here.

Just like before.

Without any worries now.

He could live here again.

‘So please.’

He waited anxiously, hoping.

The answer came.

[Dragon King Verkis is currently taking a nap in the dark cavern of another dragon, Atrox, whose lair he stole on the highest peak of the Kuantara Mountains.]

The Kuantara Mountains.

Thankfully, it wasn’t too far away.

As soon as he heard the answer, he pushed through the water’s surface.

Without even drying off, he ran to his lord’s mansion.

He kicked open the door to the fake Lloyd’s bedroom.

“Sir Ggoming. And everyone.”

“G-Go… ming?”

“Ppo, Bang, Ha?”

Sir Ppodong, Sir Bangul, Sir Hamang, and Sir Ggoming, who had been lying around miserably after losing their master, turned to look at him.

He spoke to them.

“There is a way to bring Lord Lloyd back—no, to revive him. Let’s go. Quickly, with me.”

“Ppo, Bang, Ha, Ggo?”

“Hurry.”

He urged them on.

He pulled out a red sunflower seed that he had on hand.

He fed it to Sir Ggoming.

Then he mounted Sir Ggoming’s back with the others.

“The target is to the south. Quickly.”

“G-Ggoming!”

He urged the still-dazed Sir Ggoming.

They flew south.

They left the territory.

Crossed the mountains.

Crossed the plains and rivers.

After several hours of flying, they reached the Kuantara Mountains.

They spotted the entrance to the dragon’s lair near the highest peak.

The dark cavern the Orb of Truth had mentioned.

He led them inside.

The interior was befitting a dragon’s lair.

Various deadly traps bared their fangs.

But it didn’t matter.

They smashed through and pushed forward.

On the way, they saw a black dragon, knocked out cold.

It was probably the original owner of this lair.

Passing that, they reached the center of the lair.

Finally, they found it.

“…Korong?”

An old manticore, curled up in a bread loaf position, turned to look at him.

The loyal beast that always accompanied the Dragon King.

Next to it, Dragon King Verkis lay.

No, he was fast asleep.

He approached him.

“Sir Manticore, I apologize for the intrusion.”

“Korolong?”

“It is a matter of great importance to safely bring back Lloyd Frontera, who was under the Dragon King’s patronage.”

“Korong! Korolong!”

Had the old manticore read the earnestness in his eyes?

It moved aside without resistance.

He approached Dragon King Verkis.

He spoke to him.

“Mighty Dragon King Verkis, please awaken.”

“…Zzz.”

“Could you please open your eyes for just a moment?”

“…Snore.”

“I have an urgent request.”

“Ffff…”

“…”

This isn’t working.

He reached out.

Gently shook the Dragon King’s shoulder.

“It’ll only take a moment. It’s about someone you patronized.”

At first, he shook gently.

Then more firmly.

He shook the shoulder.

But Dragon King Verkis did not wake up.

No matter how much he shook him.

Even shouting into his ear didn’t work.

No ordinary stimulus seemed likely to wake him up.

“…”

If that’s the case, there’s only one answer.

Something more effective than shaking his shoulder or shouting.

A way to ensure he wakes up.

Screech—!

Activating the six-fold circle.

He raised his sword, drawing it from its scabbard.

Aimed straight at Dragon King Verkis’ head.