Chapter 16: Sacred Rod (1)
During a night when the very bright moon had hidden the stars.
Cordelia sat under the dark blue night sky, and with her beautiful face like that of an angel, she spoke.
“F*ck, f*ck, f*ck.”
“The use of abusive language is subject to sanctions.”
“What is this crazy bastard saying?”
“Yes, what you’re saying is an exclamation, not a curse. Anyhow, decide quickly already.”
Cordelia wasn’t the only one sitting under the fantastic moonlight.
The two were in a place deep in the mountains.
They faced each other at the place where the sound of the valley river’s ripples were heard.
Cordelia was almost about to cry, and as her shoulders drooped, she asked.
“Hey, do we really have to do this?”
“You have to do it. You have to.”
Cordelia’s main scenario was harsh from the start.
They needed to completely defend and not just hinder the Devil’s Hand’s attack on the social gathering. And so, a holy relic that possessed a power that is incompatible with the demons is needed. One such relic was the sacred rod, Moonlight.
“Yellow Storm.”
“Why.”
When Yellow Storm answered in a lifeless manner, Jude coughed once and approached her. He placed his hands over her shoulders and said with a serious face and voice.
“Only you can do it. Only you can do this.”
“…even if you say it nicely, your nature remains the same.”
“Err, if you don’t like it, you can stop. Is this my event? It’s your event.”
The event to get the sacred rod was for Cordelia only.
“F*ck, I really hate the game crew.”
Cordelia spit out curses again. She was in low spirits, so she was starting to give up resisting.
Jude felt a mix of various emotions as let out a sigh and tapped Cordelia’s shoulders again.
“If you’re going to do it, let’s get ready. We don’t have time. We have to do our best, but we can’t miss the event because we missed the timing, right?
“Haa…I’d rather die than suffer. Yes, I’ll do it. I’ll do it very perfectly.”
Jude smiled and gave her a thumbs up. He then took a step back and looked at the night sky again.
It was the incident on the road to Langesthei two days ago that started all of this.
***
A day after leaving Count Bayer.
Their travel schedule was generous in the first place, so the party was not in a hurry.
The group advanced slowly to give the horses time to get some rest during breaks. During the times the group stopped and rested, Maja and Dahlia would go out of the carriage and take a break.
Their reason was to get out of the stuffy carriage and breathe some fresh air. The truth though, was to give both Jude and Cordelia some time alone together.
“How should I say, we’re very considerate?”
“They’re a really good couple. Doesn’t it make you want to cheer for them?”
At Dahlia’s self-praise of being considerate, Maja replied with a smile.
The hearts of the two were the same.
In the first place, the promise to come out and make time for the two whenever the carriage stopped was not something the two servants had discussed in advance.
It naturally happened because of the consideration of the maid and escort who really thought of their masters.
Sitting in the shade of a tree, Dahlia took the offered teacup from Maja. She was laughing ‘Ufufu’ before she continued her talk.
“Originally, they were a good-looking man and woman who got along well, but…their relationship has suddenly improved since last month?”
“Yes, especially at the daytime runaway…no, after they’ve had their time alone together.”
“Ha, I’m only telling you this…but just before, the young lady was feeling a little hurt. So, I was really worried, but I guess it was a good thing now because it could’ve been worse in the future.”
“Oh my goodness, the young lady too?”
When Maja blinked as if she was surprised, Dahlia spoke along with an ‘Aha!’ exclamation.
“Come to think of it, even the young master at that time was feeling troubled too?”
“Yes, a little…”
In fact, Maja was just talking nonsense and making a fuss. Dahlia is an escort of Jude’s fiancée, so she shouldn’t be revealing things about her master in a friendly manner because of Dahlia’s position.
Dahlia was in the same situation too.
When Cordelia was feeling “hurt” a month ago, the young lady had done a lot of nonsensical stuff as well as spilled a storm of curses that surprised all those who were listening.
‘What it was really back then…’
A pretty lady that looked like a doll was pouring out such vulgar curses out of her mouth.
Indeed, it was a sight she would never want to see again.
“But it worked out really well. The young master’s body is getting better, and they’re going to the social gathering together.”
“You’re right.”
After they looked at each other, the laughing maid and escort gazed at the carriage again.
What are the two people inside talking about?
Is it just their imaginations that the two were smiling cutely and exchanging sweet words of love?
“Hey, be humane and ‘pay’ properly?”
“Eh, your father gave me this, who do I have to ‘pay’?”
T/N: ‘pay’ – they’re talking about the paying system “n?” that I explained in the previous chapter.
“It’s the money my father gave me to buy me something delicious.”
“Yes, I’ll properly budget it and buy you something delicious.”
Cordelia and Jude was having an unsatisfactory conversation about the stuffed money bag that Count Chase had given before the trip.
The magical carriage boasted of a comfortable ride even if it ran on the road. However, they were stuck inside for so long that they felt frustrated, and thus, they did some stretching exercises.
‘But it’s better than playing the fiancée role in front of everyone.’
Even though it was a bit frustrating, it was much easier and better for the two to be alone together, like their current situation.
“Moving on…let’s have a productive conversation now.”
“What? Like the future schedule?”
“Yes, schedule. Especially…what’s going to happen in the future…about that.”
It was a month after Jude awakened his memories as Outboxer009.
Jude had already confirmed several times that this world is almost the same as Legend of Heroes 2.
However, only the elements that make up the world have been confirmed so far.
Those that just exist, such as people, terrain, history, and objects.
‘Will the story itself proceed just like the Legend of Heroes 2?’
Of course, it would’ve been like the original story if it were to proceed.
If Jude and Cordelia intervene in this and that, the story itself would change due to the so-called butterfly effect.
But even so, “what’s going to happen” had a lot of meaning.
“First of all, our departure date is almost the same as that of Cordelia in the original.”
“If it goes exactly the same as the game…”
“The bridge at the front of the road we’re going on now has collapsed, and the road is blocked.”
In the original work, there were two options.
Take a detour by using the mountain path or go south to get a boat for the river.
In Cordelia’s main scenario, it was the first multiple choice option that a player would encounter.
And most of those who were stagnant water chose the detour option.
“That’s the only way to get the hidden event.”
“Ugh.”
At the time Jude spoke, Cordelia had an unwilling expression.
It was because of the contents of the hidden event.
But it was then.
“Young master, there’s an issue I have to report. Would you mind for a moment?”
A young knight’s voice came from outside the carriage.
It was a knight named “Jun” whom Count Bayer assigned as one of the escorts for the trip. Jun had made quite a brilliant contribution to the expedition recently despite it being his first campaign.
“Yes, I don’t mind.”
“Excuse me for a moment.”
When Jude responded, Jun opened the carriage door.
For a moment, he glanced at Jude and Cordelia sitting face to face, before looking back at Jude and continuing his words.
“There were some people coming back from the road ahead, so I asked them, and they said that the bridge has collapsed, and that the road is blocked. It couldn’t be helped, but I think we should take a detour.”
‘As expected.’
Something happened.
Jude glanced back at Cordelia, who frowned and nodded her head.
“All right. Then are we going to take the mountain road?”
“Yes, Mr. Bayer is knowledgeable of the nearby geography.”
“Because it was my first trip, I did some studying in advance.”
“Ah…indeed. Yes, we’re going to take the mountain road as young master had said. I’m afraid the schedule will be delayed by a day or so…but I think it’s the best we can do right now.”
“Let’s do that. There’s plenty of time in the original schedule, so we can afford not to hurry.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Jun’s face was stiff at first when he began reporting to Jude, but as Jude appeared to be decent and kind, his expression eventually loosened.
He seemed to like Jude more now.
“I look forward to working with you, then.”
“Okay. Although the road we’ll use is off our itinerary, we won’t have any problems with the safety of the two of you.”
Jun, who declared proudly as a knight, bowed again to Jude and Cordelia and closed the carriage door.
And immediately after, Jude said to Cordelia.
“It happened.”
Like in the game, the road was blocked, and a detour was taken.
The significant of this event was quite great. The basic conditions for beginning the hidden event were falling into place.
Cordelia stretched her shoulders and said.
“Hey, by the way.”
“Yeah.”
“In the game, the event automatically occurs when you go to the mountain road and head to a certain area, right?”
“Yes.”
“But even if we head to a certain area, the event won’t occur automatically here, right?”
“Of course it won’t occur.”
Legend of Heroes 2 was a game with a very high degree of freedom, but it was still a ‘story RPG.’
In other words, when certain events occurred, the characters were supposed to take certain actions that were out of the player’s control.
But in reality, their situation was different.
There was no way for him to suddenly move his body spontaneously and recite a set line just because he went to a certain area.
‘If that exists, it’s a problem.’
In any case, the important thing was to trigger the event.
If so, what they should do.
How can they trigger an event in the game and get the same rewards?
It was actually a simple problem.
Both Jude and Cordelia already knew the answer.
“You have to recreate the event.”
As they had watched in Legend of Heroes 2, they had to perform certain actions in certain places.
As if like they were performing a play.
“Please do a good acting, Yellow Storm.”
Jude winked and Cordelia raised her middle finger.
And two days later, the time of the hidden event finally arrived.
***
“F*ck, f*ck, f*ck.”
“The use of abusive language…”
“Fahk, fahk, fahk.”
“Ok, I give up. It would be good if you could focus on acting because you’ve relaxed your mind by cursing.”
They were near a valley where one can pass by while on the mountain route.
Jude, who had kept his back on the cursing Cordelia, opened a watch he received from Ga?l and counted the remaining time left.
‘It was midnight when the event started.’
Dahlia’s bedtime was from 11 pm to 1 am, and in these two hours, only Jude and Cordelia were here.
It was the only time possible for them.
Maja was a maid in the first place so she was out of the night vigil, and if they asked the other knights to give them time alone, it would not have worked.
‘The current time is 11:50.’
There were only 10 minutes left until the event started.
“Are you ready?”
“W-wait! If you look back, I’ll kill you.”
“You’re all dressed up anyway.”
“F*ck. All right, you can turn around now.”
When Cordelia gave her permission, Jude turned around and unconsciously let out his admiration.
“Wow.”
He was honestly surprised.
He had known before that she was pretty, but he just realized that again.
Before Jude’s eyes, Cordelia was wearing only a large towel, and she stood barefoot with her hair untied.
‘Of course she’s wearing clothes under the towel.’
Still, Jude was speechless.
Standing with her hair down under the fantastic moonlight, Cordelia was so beautiful that it was such a mysterious sight.
“If you laugh, I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you if you turn your eyes around. If you even keep looking at me, I’ll kill you.”
Of course, if she hadn’t opened her mouth.
“Hey, where the hell do you want me to look then?”
“I don’t know…anyway, I’ll start now, so hide well. Okay?”
“I understand, ma’am.”
The two exchanged glances, and afterwards, they took a deep breath and moved to their respective designated positions.
This was the beginning of the event.
After using the mountain path, Cordelia finds a valley with a river during her journey. Around midnight, away from people’s eyes, she took a bath in the river to wash off the sweat.
‘Should I call it…the fanservice event?’
In fact, there was a similar event for Jude too.
In Cordelia’s event, she was taking a bath while singing against the beauty of the moonlight, but…
“Ah, the water’s f*cking cold. Are you crazy? Why would I even go into the valley river in the middle of autumn and not in summer?”
Cordelia dipped her feet slightly in the water and shuddered. Jude, who hid in the bushes, sent the sign while in a miserable mood.
It was a sign telling her to begin singing.
“Ha, really. Cordelia’s totally crazy.”
Cordelia, who was criticizing her game character ‘Cordelia’, shuddered in the water and opened her lips as she looked at the moon.
In fact, at this point she could understand why Cordelia was singing.
When she went into the wide valley river alone in the darkness of night, she knew Jude was looking at her, but she was still scared.
How should she say it… ‘It feels like something’s about to pop out of the water?’ is what she thought.
If she didn’t sing, she wouldn’t be able to withstand it.
“Twinkle twinkle little star~ Shining beautifully~”
When Cordelia began to sing in a timid manner, Jude sent a sign again.
It was a sign to sing the original song, but Yellow Storm was not Outboxer009. How was she supposed to memorize a song that had briefly played in the event?
‘It’s roughly the same as a song about stars, so it should work.’
How long has it been since she continued to sing with that thought?
Beyond that, under the fantasy moonlight, there were those who responded to the song.
T/N: What Cordelia is singing is the Korean version of the children’s song Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. The lyrics are:
Source: Mamalisa
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