Chapter 362. Extending the Vacation (2)

• Hey! Lloyd Frontera!

Suddenly, a shout pierced his eardrums.

The soul-filled cry of anger made Lloyd frown.

He quickly realized where the shout was coming from.

‘Whoa, what’s going on? Weren’t you enjoying your vacation?’

He asked toward the inside of his Mana Heart.

The former Spirit King Pantalaasa’s protest came back at the speed of light.

• Enjoying my vacation? I almost died!

‘What? Why?’

• Why, you ask? Are you seriously asking because you don’t know?

How upset and angry must he be to tremble and crack his voice like that? Lloyd felt puzzled.

Pantalaasa’s continued shout resolved his confusion.

• The heat that just poured into your Mana Heart! What the hell was that? I almost melted and disappeared!

‘What?’

• What, indeed!

‘Hmm. I’m not trying to make excuses, but I genuinely didn’t realize it. I’m sorry.’

Lloyd felt awkward inside, admitting that he had overlooked something.

‘Actually, I had planned to absorb the Eye of Summer for a while. So I proceeded according to the plan. Today was the day. But I forgot to tell you in advance. That’s my fault. I’m truly sorry.’

When you’ve done something wrong, it’s best to apologize cleanly.

Making excuses only makes things look worse.

Recalling this, Lloyd admitted his mistake frankly.

‘But are you okay?’

• Okay?

Pantalaasa replied with a thorny tone.

He was still grumpy, but Lloyd could feel he had calmed down a bit.

• I almost got obliterated. That was the hottest heat I’ve ever experienced.

‘But you didn’t die.’

• Are you mocking me?

‘No, I’m relieved.’

• It sounds like mockery.

‘If that’s how you take it, there’s nothing I can do.’

Lloyd shrugged awkwardly.

He had a rough idea of what Pantalaasa had gone through.

‘It’s like this, right? You were enjoying the perfect AC breeze, and suddenly, someone dumped hot water on you. Is that right?’

• I don’t know what an AC is, but the hot water part is accurate. So I want to know. Was this part of our deal?

‘Whoa, hold on. Deal? We never made such a deal.’

• What?

Pantalaasa hesitated.

Lloyd pinpointed the truth.

‘Really. You asked to stay in my Mana Heart, and I allowed it. But did I ever promise to maintain the exact conditions and environment of my Mana Heart? I don’t think so.’

• …….

‘It’s true that I should’ve informed you about what you’d experience today, and I apologize for that. But that doesn’t mean I broke any promises. I have a moral responsibility, but not a legal one. Understand?’

• Hah. This human…

Pantalaasa’s voice filled with anger again.

But Lloyd didn’t mind.

He had already apologized for his mistake.

He wasn’t planning to take further responsibility or offer more compensation.

Instead, he made a sincere offer of what he could do.

‘So, what do you want to do? My Mana Heart won’t return to being as cold as before. I’ve already absorbed the Eye of Summer. So, make a choice.’

• A choice?

‘Stay in my Mana Heart, or return to the Pantara Mountains.’

• …….

‘If you want, I can give up the Spirit King position you gave me and return it to you.’

Lloyd spoke honestly.

This was the best consideration he could offer.

‘It means you can go back to where you were originally. Everything will be restored. Of course, I’ll lose the help of the lower spirits managing the mountain railroads, so it’ll be a hassle to bring in additional personnel. But I think that’s a fair price for the trouble I caused you. What do you think?’

• …….

Lloyd’s unexpected, straightforward proposal.

Pantalaasa remained silent.

He calmed his anger.

He reflected on what he truly wanted in this situation.

The answer came surprisingly easily after a moment of thought.

• I refuse.

‘What? Refuse?’

• Yes. I don’t want to go back.

‘To the Pantara Mountains? Why?’

Lloyd tilted his head, puzzled.

He thought Pantalaasa would be happy to accept the offer to reclaim the Spirit King position.

Surprisingly, Pantalaasa firmly declined.

• Why, you ask? Because it’s too much of a waste to end my vacation here.

‘Huh?’

• Honestly, yes. This was my first rest and luxury in tens of millions of years. Actually, I haven’t even fully enjoyed it yet. I was just about to start enjoying it. But now you’re telling me to return to the Pantara Mountains… and resume the duties of the Spirit King… It feels unfair.

‘Ah.’

Pantalaasa’s lamenting complaint.

Lloyd immediately understood his feelings.

‘Yeah, I get it. It’s like being on vacation and getting an urgent call from work to come back immediately. Anyone would feel disappointed, unfair, and frustrated. Even Buddha, Jesus, or Gandhi would lose their temper and shout. It’s the same thing.’

• I don’t know who Buddha, Jesus, or Gandhi are, but it seems you understand my feelings. Yes, it feels too unfair to end my rare vacation and go back now. I don’t want that.

‘So, will you stay in my Mana Heart?’

• No.

‘What?’

• It’s too hot to live here now. But I also don’t want to return to the Pantara Mountains and end my vacation immediately. I don’t want either.

‘Then what do you want me to do?’

Lloyd clicked his tongue and asked.

Pantalaasa’s reply came quickly.

• Find me a place as cool and pleasant as your old Mana Heart.

‘Huh? If I find such a place, you’ll go there to enjoy the rest of your vacation?’

• Exactly. Is there such a place?

‘Hmm.’

Pantalaasa’s proposal wasn’t bad.

It seemed like both parties could be satisfied.

‘Then let’s see….’

Lloyd pumped his cerebral cortex.

Recalling records from the novel The Iron-Blooded Knight.

And places he had personally visited.

He thought of a place where Pantalaasa could stay comfortably.

The answer came quickly.

The coldest place in the world.

Among the places he had visited.

A place where Pantalaasa’s presence would also benefit the region.

‘Hmm, if you like it really cold, how about trying the Arctic?’

• The… Arctic?

Lloyd’s subtle suggestion made Pantalaasa’s heart thump with excitement.

♣

The result of the Arctic suggestion was beautiful.

It wasn’t just beautiful for Lloyd and Pantalaasa, but also for the mermaids of the Arctic Ocean.

Everyone was happy.

First of all, Pantalaasa was satisfied.

• I never knew such a beautiful place existed in the world!

The former Spirit King had never left the Pantara Mountains in tens of millions of years.

The only exception he had visited was Lloyd’s Mana Heart.

So upon arriving in the Arctic?

Pantalaasa was shocked.

Everywhere he looked, there was a sea covered with thin ice.

Countless icebergs spread out in every direction.

And the wind was so cold it felt like it was tearing off his skin!

It was beautiful.

Almost perfect.

There was just one small flaw.

• What’s that? There’s something strange in the sky.

Pantalaasa, who had been admiring the Arctic Ocean environment after leaving Lloyd’s Mana Heart, pointed to the sky.

There was a huge, glowing hole.

It was the Hellgate connected to hell.

Pantalaasa’s gaze turned harsh as he looked at the Hellgate.

• This place called the Arctic is wonderful. I love everything about it. Except for that. Why is there such an eyesore in this beautiful place? Why is there such a weird hole spewing hot air in this fantastic cold?

Apparently, the Hellgate was really bothering him.

Pantalaasa acted before Lloyd could say anything.

He gathered all his power and created a storm of cold.

He pushed back the hot wind coming from the Hellgate with the cold storm.

Like an air conditioner fighting against a heater.

He challenged it to see who would win.

And unexpectedly, he won.

The secret was simple.

He fixed the cold storm in front of the Hellgate.

Like creating a cold air curtain.

Neutralizing the hot air coming from the Hellgate with cold.

Thanks to that, the surrounding air became cooler.

That was enough.

The polar region, with its naturally high latitude and lack of sunlight.

Neutralizing the hot wind from the Hellgate alone was enough to bring down the rising temperature.

The Arctic warming caused by the Hellgate was finally resolved.

The mermaids were delighted.

Lloyd felt relieved watching them.

“…You say that, but you look like you’ve gotten rid of a troublesome problem.”

“More or less.”

Whooosh-!

Leaving the Arctic Ocean behind.

Lloyd shrugged on the back of Yongyongi’s hand.

He gave a shameless smile to Javier, who was glaring at him with narrowed eyes.

“But thanks to that, everyone’s happy, right?”

It was true.

Pantalaasa could continue his vacation in the Arctic’s cold.

The mermaids were freed from the Arctic warming issue that troubled them.

Lloyd was relieved of his guilt and burden regarding the Spirit King.

It was a win-win.

A miraculous result where everyone benefited.

“So now it’s time to pay our respects at the capital.”

“Respect?”

“To Her Majesty.”

It felt like the right time.

He had obtained the Eye of Summer, his initial goal.

Honestly, he no longer had business in the capital or with the queen.

‘Besides, now I need to find a way to prevent the restoration of fate phenomenon.’

Throughout the journey back to the capital.

While applying for an audience at the royal palace.

While walking to the audience chamber to meet the queen.

Lloyd thought about the restoration of fate phenomenon.

He pondered how to solve the dilemma that one of them, either he or Javier, had to die or disappear.

Of course, such thoughts and focus wouldn’t yield an easy answer.

‘But that’s okay.’

There was still time.

Based on the spoiler he had seen, he had about two years left before the restoration of fate phenomenon began in earnest.

So he could think more during that time.

He could ponder and contemplate harder.

Maybe, before the two years were up, he could find a solution.

A solution that didn’t require either of them to die or be sacrificed.

So that finally.

He could live the peaceful and leisurely life he had always dreamed of.

‘I really want that.’

He had lived a life of hardship.

At least since he became aware, it had always been that way.

So he wanted to live a normal life at least once.

A life without lacking, without worrying about tomorrow, enjoying life leisurely.

Looking back on his life with no regrets.

Facing a twilight of life that he could look back on and smile.

‘I will make it happen.’

Lloyd held a small wish carefully.

He reaffirmed his resolve.

For that dream life, he would work hard for the next two years.

No matter what, he wouldn’t waver or give up.

He could do it.

He was that kind of person.

Encouraging himself, he moved forward.

And he entered the queen’s office.

He was about to say goodbye, as he had no more business in the capital for a while. He planned to return to his territory.

“Lloyd Frontera, eldest son of the Frontera family, greets Her Majesty, the rightful ruler of Magentano.”

He opened with a greeting.

Carefully choosing words and preparing them so as not to offend the queen.

He planned to say his farewell right after her response.

He had decided that.

But the next moment.

When Queen Alicia turned towards him.

When her face showed a faint, welcoming smile.

Lloyd completely forgot the farewell words he had prepared.

“…”

Because the queen’s gaze towards him was warmer than he expected?

Because her smile was unexpectedly radiant?

No, none of that.

‘Wait?’

As Queen Alicia turned towards him.

That brief, simple action.

But in that movement, her left arm seemed awkward.

Like a person with lingering anesthesia.

Or as if experiencing slight paralysis.

But trying hard not to show it.

That subtle sign was clearly visible, albeit briefly.

At that moment, Lloyd suddenly remembered.

‘Left arm, paralysis symptoms.’

The last ending spoiler he had seen.

Queen Alicia experiencing paralysis in her left arm.

The moment he recalled that memory.

He had to realize.

He had to understand.

Unknowingly.

The cruel choice he thought still had time.

Had already crept up, right in front of his eyes.