Chapter 37: The Stroll

[ Name: Ren Arken

Age: 14

Race: Human

Strength: 500

Agility: 10, 000

Vitality: 2, 000

Mana: ~~~

Spiritual: ~~~

Intellect: 1, 000

Unique Skills:

-magic cards -appraisal -evil gaze -strengthen -leap -basic magics -fire magic -Fire Archmagic -illusion magic -water magic -light magic -nature magic -Grimoire of death -Real Clone [Heavenly Slime] -Eye of Wisdom -Sword God]

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—Grandaria Kingdom’s Royal Palace—

“What do you mean, Duke Baldwin?”

A cold voice that could pierce and instill fear in anyone’s heart sounded. The owner of the voice is the current ruler of the Grandaria kingdom, Queen Tiffania. As the queen’s son, the king’s whereabouts are unknown, the queen decided to sit on the throne herself.

In front of the ice-chilling queen, a bald old man is kneeling in front of her. His face is full of wrinkles, and he has long white mustache and beard. The queen can’t guess what expression the old man had right now, as he lowered his head deep to the ground.

“As I’ve said before, joining hands with the Gracefield kingdom will be the best option for us. As they’re known for their remarkable soldiers, they would be able to defend us and makes the other kingdom hesitates,” Said the prime minister calmly without minding the ice-chilling aura radiating from the queen.

They’re currently discussing the kingdom’s condition that gotten worse each day. Both Gracefield kingdom and Potterland kingdom had openly shown their willingness for war. The problem had reached the pinnacle to the point that war could break out at any moment.

But the queen steeled her stance, she’s decision is solid, the Grandaria kingdom won’t be asking the help of any kingdom, as the position of the king is being replaced by her, and lots of people will aim for the throne.

‘One of them is this bald old man in front of me though’ Thought the queen of Grandaria kingdom.

Joining hands with other kingdom is followed with a big risk, the risk of having a noble plotting together with another kingdom to snatch the throne is a risk that the queen couldn’t take.

“My decision will not change, I won’t join hands with those impure kingdoms,” Said the queen with a voice as firm her face.

“If you reject that option, then the last option would be searching for the king to take the throne soon. We should deploy our soldiers to find him,” said the prime minister.

“He’s too young, he has not enough experience to be a king yet, we’ll wait another year before we search for him, that is my royal decree,” The queen coldly said and stand from the throne, and went to her room.

As the queen left, the prime minister raises his head, his expression is now clearly visible, but if the queen saw the expression at the prime minister’s face right now, his head would be cut right away. It’s an expression of a lecher, an old fox, and a villain.

He walks to the throne and strokes the armrest.

“Both you and the queen soon will be mine…” Said the old man evilly.

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“Where are we going, big bro?” Asked Nash with a face full of smiles.

Strolling around the city already felt like having a fun vacation to another country for the kids, they stayed inside of the orphanage for too long that they look like country bumpkins.

Watching the enthusiastic kids somehow pains Oz’s heart. He wants to make them happy, but the situation is rather dangerous these days, and the atmosphere is getting tenser each day.

“We’re going to old man Owen’s place, and then we’ll go stroll the town and find a place to eat lunch, it will be my treat today,” Said Oz kindly to the kids.

“””Yeay!!!””” Shouted all of them.

All of the orphanage kids followed Oz for the stroll, there are only 27 kids at the orphanage, and all 27 of them followed Oz enthusiastically. Their smiles removed the tense atmosphere from the Coldmore city. People will occasionally stop to observe the lively and adorable kids and went back to their own business with a smile imprinted on their faces.

The kids have the unusual lively aura that is transmitted to others, anyone who passes the kids will get smiles imprinted on their faces.

“How lively, to think that these kids will change the atmosphere of the city with a normal stroll…” Said Elena, amazed.

“It could be said as a normal outcome. Because of the neighborhood kingdoms that started to invade our kingdom slowly, people’s wary had got heightened to the top, and the rumors that war could be broke anywhere and anytime makes them felt tense every day,” (Oz)

“They doubt each other because of that, especially to foreigners. Seeing the kids that walk without any worries and with a pure aura radiating from their faces soothes the heart of the people, in other words, it’s been a long time since they saw such pure and sincere smiles,” Explained Oz while he keeps on walking with his normal pace.

“Hm… Is that so?”

“Yup, ah! We’ve arrived!” Said Oz, they’ve arrived at Owen’s smithy, their trip feels fast because they are engrossed in conversation.

“Owen! You there?” Called Oz as he enters the smithy.

“Yo! Young man! What’s your business?” Asked Owen with his usual loud voice.

“I come for the thing I requested, old man Kyron told you my orders right?” Asked Oz.

“Ah! I remember! What unusual equipment you ordered to me kid, it’s the first time I made that suit!” Said Owen enthusiastically as he went inside the smithy room to take the item that Oz requested.

“Well, it’s more like a combination of a cloak and a suit, though. But it’s one damn good gear I made for you, kid, so you better don’t lose your life out there,” Owen’s voice became serious when he said those words. He put a bag filled with the equipment Oz requested.

“What do you know, Owen?”Asked Oz as he senses some weird feelings when he heard Owen’s words.

“Lower your voice, Ren. You’re taking a shady task from old man Kyron, right? If it’s not that, that busy old man won’t be coming here personally, relax, I’m on your side,” Said Owen with a shrug.

“Is that so, you have my thanks, Owen,” Said Oz as he took the bag and said: “I’ll treat you to something later, wish me luck,” and left the smithy.

The kids seem to become impatient as they waited for Oz outside, Oz apologizes because of the wait, and continue their trip.

“So? What’s inside that bag?” Asked Elena.

“Hm? Just some pieces of equipment I ordered,” Answered Oz indifferently.

“Hm…”

Even though Oz had answered Elena’s question, but Elena still feels that the answer Oz gave her is still too vague, and she’s unsatisfied with the answer.

“What is it?” Asked Oz as he’s disturbed by Elena’s gaze.

“Nothing… It’s just, maybe I need to decrease your food from now on, our money is getting tight, after all,” Elena said indifferently.

“Ugh…”

Oz let out a sigh.

“It’s the pieces of equipment necessary for old man Kyron’s request, I’m helping out your kingdom so please don’t decrease my portion,” Said Oz helplessly.

“Is that so? I’m just lying about decreasing your food, though. But since you told me what inside, maybe I’ll make some sweets for desserts tonight, it’s been a while anyway,” Said Elena cheerfully.

“Request, huh…” Mumbled Elena softly.

(She doesn’t seem to question it, huh. Does it mean that she knows about the whole matter?)

Oz observes Elena’s expression for a while, but it seems to be futile.

(I can’t read anything from this girl…)

“Big bro! Big bro!” Nash suddenly called out.

“We want the candies there, can we buy it!?” Asked Nash cheerfully as he pointed a candy shop.

“Yes, but don’t buy too much, or I’ll have no money to buy the lunch after this,” Answered Oz helplessly, he could only give a wry smile, seeing the bankruptcy alert in front of him.

(My payment… These kids do know the way to extort people)

Seeing Oz’s wry smile, Elena kindly smiled and said: “Why don’t you buy the double head candy there, all of you liked it right? And you can share in twos,”

“Thanks, Elena. I owe you one,”

“It’s fine, they love that candy anyway,” Answered Elena kindly.

(W-what a saint!!!)

Oz secretly praised Elena inside of his heart, tears almost fell as he thanked his money saver in front of him.

The trip went smoothly, even though the kids ate the lunch noisily and rowdy, the restaurant’s atmosphere got lightened up because of them. When they arrived at the orphanage, the kids immediately went to their own room to sleep because of the trip and their filled stomach.

Oz went to his room too, it’s still in the middle of the afternoon, but Oz had an appointment in the night with old man Kyron so he needs to use his time wisely. Oz went to his room using siesta as an excuse and sent his conscious to the goblin [king] clone.

Oz opens his eyes, his goblin [king] clone had already back at Tarot, he’s now sitting at Aegir’s home chair where he usually had meetings at.

“Eh?” (Oz)

“Ah! Are you back, Ren?” Geeta’s voice sounds out from the distance.

“Y-yea, why are you here? No, why am I here!?” Asked Oz, confused.

“Aegir asked me to wait for you back, so I wait while reading some books that I haven’t read yet,” Answered Geeta indifferently.

“Hm… Is that so? Okay then. What’s the status?” Asked Oz.

“The prisoners we freed, happily accepted our offer of joining us, they currently helping out at the construction of their houses. There are no problems until now, though.” (Geeta)

“How about the dwarves?” (Oz)

“Their presence greatly boosts out development, all of the constructions advance smoothly because of them, greatly reduce the duration of the usual works,” (Geeta)

“They taught the elves and the orcs about the ways of blacksmithing, and they personally take over all of the construction matters, they said that they’re going to make the biggest and the most gorgeous castle on the world,” (Geeta)

“Ah! I almost forgot! Brother-in-law asked me to report to you that they’ve found the thing that the demons are protecting at the war before,” (Geeta)

“What does he found?” (Oz)

“He said that he found a dungeon!” (Geeta)