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EPISODE 223 – JABBERWOCK (4)
Myriad Shapeshifter Jabberwock.
One of the future Seven Major Calamities.
But not anymore.
They defeated it before it became a calamity.
“Yahoo-yahoo!”
Cordelia jumped in place – no, she began to hop as she rejoiced, while Jude quickly ran to Cordelia.
The Shades that filled the area began to disappear like smoke perhaps because of Jabberwock’s defeat, so they no longer had anything to worry about.
“We won.”
“Yeah! We won!”
Cordelia exclaimed with a big smile and hugged Jude’s neck. Jude felt like he was rewarded and hurriedly drew closer to her, kissing her head.
“Eh?”
“We won.”
And you’re the one who hugged me first to begin with.
At Jude’s gaze, Cordelia quietly looked at him before she smiled again.
“Okay! I’ll allow it. I’ll let you off just this once.”
‘I actually want to do a bit more now.’
Jude held back his innermost thoughts as he lightly pinched Cordelia’s cheek once and immediately spoke.
“How did you do it?”
“What?”
“How did you persuade the Fairy Queen? You came earlier than I thought.”
The situation was so urgent that Jude was not able to come up with a plan on how to persuade the Fairy Queen and the fairies.
In short, it was all because of Cordelia’s abilities that she was able to return so quickly.
How in the world did you do it?
“Hehe, are you curious?”
“Yes, I’m curious.”
“Are you ready to be surprised?”
“I am very much ready to be surprised.”
“Hmph, it’s not fun if I just say it, so try to guess it. What do you think I did?”
How did she do it?
How does Cordelia usually behave?
“You threatened to explode everything?”
What immediately came to his mind was an explosion.
But Cordelia frowned and shook her head.
“Do I look that stupid? If I do that, I’ll end up as the spring fairies’ enemy.”
She was right.
Even if the fairies were childish, they were likely to respond very seriously if their lives or residence were threatened.
If she had really threatened them with something like an explosion, even if she had achieved their goal, it would have taken much longer than now, and as Cordelia had said, she would have become an enemy of the spring fairies.
“Then how? Did you give them chocolate and then asked for it?”
“Hehe, that’s not true either.”
Because the fairies were like children.
It was possible to roughly get one wish if she gave them chocolate, but if there were two wishes, the fairies would begin to bargain.
She had kept some chocolate just in case, but if she had just gone and offered it, it would have taken a while to negotiate.
“Hmm
”
“Oh, is my scammer agonizing over it? You can’t figure out what I did? Is that it?”
When the highly excited Cordelia smiled and puffed up her chest, Jude finally raised his hands and said.
“I surrender, I surrender. I don’t know. Please tell me how you did it.”
“Hmph, you should beg me a bit more, a bit more.”
Cordelia raised her chin and hmphed, so Jude pondered for a little more.
Because he saw that Cordelia was anxious to talk about it.
So he thought of teasing her a bit.
“Well, then I’ll keep thinking about it.”
“Eh?”
“I’ll think about it for a day and tell you my answer tomorrow. Don’t talk about it then. Spoilers are not allowed, okay?”
“A-a day?”
“Yes, a day. No, how about a week at most? I’ll ask in a week, so don’t tell me until then.”
In response to Jude’s counterattack, Cordelia wiggled her fingers and stomped her feet repeatedly, and the always sly Jude made a face expressing that he was not really interested.
“Eueueu
 it can’t be helped. I don’t want you to suffer for a week, so I’ll tell you now.”
“No, it’s all right. I’ll think about it. It’s okay if you don’t tell me.”
“Nooo
”
But Jude was adamant.
So Cordelia became even more anxious and was forced to eventually groan.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“N-no, I’m not? I’ll let just it pass, okay.”
But she couldn’t. Judging by her facial expression, Jude could tell that she was inwardly frustrated and distressed.
Therefore, Jude threw her a lifeline.
“I’ll think about it if you kiss me on the cheek.”
“What?”
“I’ll listen to you if you kiss me on the cheek.”
“Hey, do you think I’m stupid?”
“Then don’t tell me. Forget about the week, you don’t even need to tell me about it for the rest of your life.”
Jude shrugged and Cordelia’s toes wriggled inside her shoes before she stepped on Jude’s feet.
“I hate you! I hate you!”
“Really?”
“You’re so mean.”
Cordelia acted like the Fairy Queen before she pulled Jude by the collar and kissed his cheek.
“Is that fine?”
“Yes, that’s fine. That’s fine.”
Cordelia unconsciously smiled when Jude smiled and said that.
“Hey, do you like it that much?”
“Yes, I like it.”
She couldn’t get angry because of that.
Moreover, Jude’s response was quick.
“Then, countess. Hurry up and tell me. I’m actually curious about it.”
“F*cking b*stard.”
“That’s an expression of affection, right?”
“You great f*cking b*stard.”
Cordelia cursed as much as she could and hmphed before she began talking.
“So what happened is
”
Cordelia first started the story with a sullen expression, but she soon began to imitate the fairies with an excited face.
As if she was a child who got a certificate at school and returned home to talk about what happened.
“And that’s what happened.”
Having finished her story, Cordelia glanced at Jude before she smiled.
Because Jude had a stunned expression.
“Wow, seriously? Did you really do that?”
“Yes, I did. That’s why I got the Great Protection of the Four Seasons and Almas.”
Cordelia boasted again and summoned Almas by swinging her hand.
Almas was an icy blue blade that could be stored or taken out of the user’s body whenever it was needed.
“What the hell.”
It was like the student surpassed her teacher.
Frankly, Jude was surprised.
He never expected that Cordelia, who used to have a hard time in acting because she spoke in monotone, would grow up to this extent.
Jude clapped his hands loudly out of his heartfelt admiration.
“I respect you. You were really amazing.”
“Hehe, compliment me a little more. No, praise me more.”
“You’re really great and amazing. It’s not an exaggeration to say that you have a PhD in Fairy Psychology. I’m impressed.”
It was a truly clever scheme.
Not only did she completely take complete control of the self-centered and childish fairies, but she also left without the fairies bearing any grudges of her, even though she had ripped them off.
“As expected of Cordelia. You are indeed Cordelia, the pride of Legend of Heroes.”
“Hehehe.”
Cordelia was in a good mood because of the continued praise, but at the same time, she was blushing from embarrassment.
And a few minutes after Jude and Cordelia fell into their own world.
Princess Leica watched them at first, but as their story continued to grow longer, she was forced to interrupt them.
“Anyway, we won.”
At the words of Princess Leica who squeezed her face in between the two, Cordelia stepped back in surprise while Jude quickly reached out and supported her waist.
“We’ve defeated Jabberwock. No one can deny that.”
Princess Leica suddenly smiled after saying that.
Even though the two people were flirting right in front of her, or that Cordelia had threatened the fairies in the process, both were still amazing people anyway.
“Moreover, no one died. It’s a complete victory.”
Jude was a little amazed at Princess Leica’s words this time.
Because it meant that no one had died despite the fact that their strength was halved by Jabberwock’s powerful mental attacks.
Now that he saw it, there was no one with serious injuries.
‘As expected of having a Sword Master as your neighbor.’
Skills didn’t just grow by investing time, so none of the people here seemed to have reached the level of the Ten Great Swordmasters, but it did not change the fact that everyone was at least a master.
To begin with, the Ten Great Swordmasters was a position that only selected those who have reached the level of a superhuman.
“Congratulations.”
Princess Leica giggled at Jude’s words.
Because it was funny that the person who led their victory was the one congratulating them.
“Yes, we have won, so let’s celebrate together. The two of you, don’t just celebrate on your own.”
Cordelia blushed at Princess Leica’s words, while Jude tightly held Cordelia’s hand and signaled with his eyes to Princess Leica.
“Let’s begin.”
“It’s embarrassing if we start like this.”
Princess Leica giggled before she raised Mistilteinn high and shouted.
“We’ve repulsed the monster, Myriad Shapeshifter Jabberwock! No, we completely destroyed it! It’s our victory!”
“Uoooooooh!”
The elven knights cheered in response to Princess Leica’s cry.
Because Jabberwock had become a much more powerful being than what was written on the royal family’s records, but their punitive force did not simply repulse it as they even completely destroyed it like what Princess Leica had just said.
It was a really great achievement.
‘The humans did almost everything, but even so, the princess was the leader of the punitive force.’
A deep smile appeared on Midas’ face.
After all, this incident would strengthen Princess Leica’s authority.
‘I like them.’
But at the same time, he was vigilant.
The humans were still young.
He didn’t know their exact ages, but they seemed to be of the same age as Princess Leica based on elven ages, so he wondered how the two were so strong.
Just like Sir Cornwell who escorted Princess Darianne, Midas was grateful to Jude and Cordelia, but also couldn’t let his guard down.
However, the elven knights were purely grateful to Jude and Cordelia.
In particular, it was no exaggeration to say that the way they looked at Jude had completely changed.
Because Princess Leica had ran alone to Jude and stuck in between the two before they began to talk about this and that.
Jude’s contribution was enormous, but for the elves, the human Jude was not a competitor but a stranger whom they could comfortably praise.
Most of them had pure admiration and gratitude for him, without having any other malicious thoughts.
After all, they remained alive because of the two’s help.
“Count August Bayer and Countess August Chase.”
“You can just call us Jude and Cordelia.”
When Cordelia spoke, Princess Leica nodded and said again.
“Then, Jude and Cordelia. We will now return to the palace in the center of the Forest of Eternity. Would you like to come with us? I would like to convey your contributions not only to the king, but also to all the elves in the Forest of Eternity.”
It was an invitation to the elven kingdom.
It was also done by the crown princess herself.
‘Should we go?’
‘We’ll go of course, right?’
Their trip to the south would be delayed a little, but the elven kingdom was a place worth visiting.
In the game, the elven kingdom was only accessible after it collapsed, so there was no opportunity for them to see what the elven kingdom normally looked like.
‘They won’t send us off empty-handed, right?’
‘We’re the heroes who defeated a legendary monster after all, right?’
‘We also saved her life.’
‘Come to think of it, we’ve done a lot, so we should be rewarded a lot too, right?’
‘So we have to accept it. We have to get as much as we can when we’re presented with the opportunity to do so.’
‘Those are some wise words. I admit it.’
Jude and Cordelia snickered and exchanged dark smiles before they turned to Princess Leica and said.
“It’s an honor to be invited.”
“We are most grateful.”
When the two politely thanked her, Princess Leica stared at Cordelia with a slightly strange look.
Because even now, she remembered the incomprehensible way Cordelia had threatened the fairies.
“Good, then we’ll conduct an investigation into this and make sure that Jabberwock is completely destroyed in the cursed land, so we’ll camp nearby today and leave by tomorrow afternoon.”
It was already late.
The sun would set in two more hours.
“We’ll take your word for it.”
“Yes, you did a great job today.”
Princess Leica complimented them like a princess before she looked around and ordered once again.
“Retrieve the remains of Jabberwock and withdraw! Shades might still show up, so don’t let your guard down!”
“Yes! Your Highness!”
The elven knights answered loudly and began to move, while Jude and Cordelia looked at each other again and smiled.
Just by looking at each other’s faces made the two smile.
***
The investigation into the cursed land went without a hitch.
Because Myriad Shapeshifter Jabberwock had completely disappeared.
“The darkness of the cursed land itself is being lifted.”
Until now, the darkness of the cursed land was not lifted because Jabberwock eventually revived after being subjugated, but now, it seemed that everyone’s morale and not just the darkness in the ground were being lifted.
Perhaps after a few days, the place would be full of life just like the rest of the Forest of Eternity.
“The Shades won’t appear anymore then.”
“Yes, our people will be able to reside here, as well as near the lake of the spring fairies.”
In fact, there were some high-quality mineral veins in the cursed land.
If they could rebuild the mineral veins that had been left unattended because of Jabberwock and the Shades, it would be a huge gain for the entire kingdom.
“Did you find out the reason why Jabberwock suddenly became stronger?”
“Well, unfortunately
 we couldn’t find any clues to that.”
Princess Leica furrowed her brows in response to Midas’ answer, but she quickly loosened her expression.
“Well, Jabberwock is gone anyway. Perhaps it’s not someone’s fault but just became strong on its own. We shouldn’t worry much about it.”
“Yes, Your Highness. It would be better to take some time to investigate it rather than be impatient.”
“You’re right.”
Princess Leica nodded and asked again after checking the time by looking at the sun’s shadow.
“How are Jude and Cordelia?”
“They’re searching the cursed land.”
“Will they tell us if they find something?”
“Maybe.”
As a result of observing the two over the past night, Midas concluded that it was okay to trust the two for now.
“Let’s get ready to go back. Vanessa, tell the knights to pack up.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
When Vanessa left the tent with Midas, Princess Leica sat down and drooped her shoulders.
Because she could relax now that the tension was over and that she could really go back this time.
‘Strangely, I’m looking forward to it.’
On what would happen after she takes the two to the kingdom.
Because after more than 500 years, they would be the first humans to visit the royal palace in the Forest of Eternity.
Moreover, they were like heroes out of a fairytale.
‘It’ll be interesting.’
Will Kelthur like them too?
Princess Leica smiled when she recalled her younger brother’s face.
Without even knowing what would happen as a result of taking the two to the royal palace.