TL/N: Advanced Lock Chapter Price has resumed to normal price as of June 5, 2024
Ariel.
It was a name he'd definitely heard before.
‘Where have I heard that name before?'
Otto racked his memory, trying to recall where exactly he'd heard the name.
And the result.
‘I knew something was off when you started having a one-sided love, which is so unlike you! That elf lady would have been a hundred times better!'
‘A-Ariel?'
‘What is this! Isn't it because you got involved with the wrong woman that we all ended up in this situation!'
‘I-I'm sorry about that…'Otto recalled that the name Ariel had been mentioned when Kairos and the soul knights were talking, and he looked at Ariel again.
‘She said she's 666 years old, The timing roughly matches.'
So Otto asked Ariel.
"Uh, by any chance."
“What?”
"Do you happen to know Kairos?"
In that moment.
*Chills!*
Ariel's expression turned ominous.
“What about that idiot asshole?"
Elves are the race of the forest.
As a race that loves nature and peace, they tend to have very gentle and kind personalities.
However, looking at Ariel's behavior, way of speaking, and expressions, she didn't seem remotely like an elf.
“Idiot, asshole?”
“Yes, asshole.”
“Is it that bad? Haha, hahahaha.”
"Yeah, that idiot bastard."
Ariel said, sharply.
“The asshole of the world. Dumbass. Asshole. Jerk. Moron. Acts all manly but doesn't have a single ounce of substance."
"….."
"Not only did he lose the empire he built to his so-called sworn brother, but he also disappeared who knows where…."
Ariel stopped speaking at that point and shut her mouth tightly.
*Tremble!*
She was so angry, her body was shaking like an aspen tree.
“Wait.”
“Huh?”
"Why are you suddenly bringing him up to me?"
Ariel asked Otto suspiciously.
"Do you know something?"
“Uh, well. I mean.”
Otto hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
He had brought it up, but Ariel's reaction was so terrifying that he wondered if he should say anything at all.
However, having already mentioned Kairos, he couldn't just brush it off and say it was nothing.
Given Ariel's personality, it didn't seem like she would let it go easily.
If anything, she would persistently press him about it.
"What's going on? Why are you suddenly bringing up that bastard Kairos to me?"
“Can I talk to you privately for a minute?”
Otto spoke cautiously, glancing around.
‘We can't talk about it here when Argonne is in the same area.'
Talking about Kairos wasn't something that could be done in a crowded place like this.
Especially not with the Argonne lurking around.
"Are you suggesting we talk somewhere quiet?"
“Yes.”
“Sure.”
So Otto and Ariel moved to a quieter spot for their conversation.
Fortunately, the Empire had set aside rooms for the banquet guests to talk in private, so there was no shortage of suitable places for quiet conversation.
* * * * Read in GalaxyTranslation97 Website * * * *
* patreon.com/SchattenTranslations *
At the same time.
Kairos and his group were in the midst of an active rebellion in the Kingdom of Loredin.
Kairos and the Soul Knights were able to take control of the Loredin Kingdom very quickly, thanks to their past experiences.
Overthrowing the lords who exploit the people, defeating the royal army, distributing food, and rallying them to form an army.
Since this was something Kairos and the soul knights did as easily as eating in their past lives, the process felt completely natural.
It's like they were born to incite rebellion.
“General!”
“The General is here!"
“The General is our hope!”
The people of the occupied territory called Kairos the general, showing fervent support and cheering, but also following him.
For the people exhausted by long famine and royal tyranny, Kairos seemed like a savior descended from the heavens.
“I promise.”
Kairos spoke to the cheering crowd.
"I promise to ensure that this winter, you will enjoy warm homes and plenty of delicious bread and meat."
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“Hail, General Kairos!”
“Hurrah!”
The people erupted in joy, believing Kairos's words.
"Now, let's forget about war for a moment and enjoy some good times together. What are you waiting for? Bring wine and meat to our feast!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Kairos, joining the others, enjoyed the wine and meat in a lighthearted manner.
“Hahaha! You're quite the lad! Here, have a drink!”
“Thank you, General!”
Such a sight of Kairos was by no means a facade concocted to win over public sentiment.
Kairos himself enjoyed gatherings and was modest and anti-authoritarian by nature.
Therefore, it was only natural for the common people or even the soldiers to enjoy drinking with him, as if it were a second nature.
But the thoughts of the common people were different.
‘Good heavens! The general is having a drink with us!'
‘How can such a distinguished person like him socialize with lowly folks like us! Oh my!'
The common people were greatly impressed by Kairos's humble demeanor and became even more devoted to him.
Thanks to this, the public sentiment in the areas controlled by Kairos was very positive, and the morale of the army was also very high.
Young people were eager to enlist in the army led by Kairos and fight against the Royal Army of Loredin.
There were so many applicants that he could only accept those he could immediately send into battle.
Kairos's ability to captivate the public sentiment was truly remarkable.
Being naturally charismatic and outgoing, he had a charm that drew people to him effortlessly.
"Ah, great! Indeed, alcohol tastes best when drank on the damn battlefield! HAHAHA!
As Kairos indulged in a drinking session with his soldiers as usual, he suddenly shivered at the sudden chill that came upon him.
*Chills!*
It was night, but a bone chilling chill in the middle of summer?
‘What is this?'
Kairos couldn't understand why he was shivering all of a sudden.
‘Do I have a cold?'
But there was no such thing as a cold in Kairos' vocabulary.
Throughout his past and present life, Kairos had never caught a cold, and he didn't know the first thing about it.
‘Heheh. Why am I shivering?'
But only for a moment.
“General! My arm is falling off!”
“Phew! Sorry! Pour me a drink!”
“Yes, General!”
Kairos thought it was no big deal and focused back on the drinking party.
Unaware of who Otto was meeting in the Imperial Palace of the Arad Empire.
* * * * Read in GalaxyTranslation97 Website * * * *
* patreon.com/SchattenTranslations *
Shortly after they moved away.
“Now tell me everything.”
Ariel folded her arms and looked at Otto, as if telling him to start talking.
“Well, I mean.”
Otto replied.
“What's your relationship with Kairos?”
“What kind of relationship?”
“I heard something.”
“What did you hear? A young kid, no more than a couple years old at the very least.”, Ariel grilled Otto while glaring at him.
“And if a kid who's not even a few years old knows something, why couldn't you say anything about Kairos?”
“Hmmm.”
After a moment of thought, Ariel spoke.
"There's no relationship to speak of. We weren't close or anything."
“Huh…?”
“I was in love with Kairos once upon a time, though we never became involved because he wouldn't accept my feelings and avoided me.”
“Ah.”
“That Stupid Bastard! He threw away his innocence for that bitch from the Beatrice House when he could have had a girl like me, and he ended up getting his life ruined by her!”
Ariel bristled at the very thought, her anger rising.
‘This elder sister is a real piece of work!'
A chill ran down Otto's spine at the sight of Ariel's fury.
“Haha. Hahaha.”
“So what's your reason for bringing up Kairos?”
“That's….”
Otto said cautiously.
“Kairos is alive.”
“What?”
A question mark appeared on Ariel's face.
“You mean he's… alive?”
“Yes.”
“You're lying.”
Ariel denied Otto's words.
“It's been 450 years, how is that bastard still alive?”
"So what happened was."
Otto explained to Ariel about his connection with Kairos.
“Is… Is that… really true? That Kairos, that bastard… is alive?”
Ariel asked Otto again, her voice shaking as if she couldn't believe it.
"Is he really alive? Can we meet again?"
“Yes.”
“Kairos… Kairos is alive….”
Ariel's eyes reddened, and tears trickled freely down her cheeks.¹
“Huhu. Huhuhu.”
Ariel broke down.
‘Oh my.'
Otto looked at Ariel like that, and realized just how pure and tender her heart was.
It happened over 450 years ago, but to think she would still shed tears and miss Kairos like that.
“Take it easy.”
Otto comforted Ariel.
“Look, you can see him again now. I don't know what it was like before, but it's going to be different this time.”
“Huehuk.”
“It's ok, you'll see, I'll set things up so you can meet again….”
“I'll kill that fucker.”
"……!"
“I'm going to kill him.”
Ariel snarled.
With a tear-streaked face, she ground her teeth towards Kairos, looking incredibly fierce.
‘D-Did I just make a mistake?'
Otto questioned, wondering if he had made a mistake in telling Ariel about Kairos.
Seeing Ariel's fury, he was sure Kairos was going to have a hell of a time keeping up with her.
‘No, that's not right. He used to tease me whenever he was bored. Hmph. Let's see him get what he deserves.'
Otto remembered Kairos's ridicule of him, and reconsidered.
Kairos had always made fun of him, saying that he'd get caught by his fiancée, that he'd never be able to raise his head, that he'd never be able to do anything.
Kairos had been accumulating karma so faithfully, he was in no position to complain with Otto if Ariel was going to strip him bare.
‘Go ahead and die. Hehehe.'
Otto chuckled, already relishing the thought of Kairos' suffering.
“Anyway, you should keep this to yourself.”
Otto cautioned Ariel.
“Keep in mind, that bastard Argonne is in the same place as us right now.”
“Got it.”
Ariel nodded her head.
"That damn Argonne bastard, I want to tear him to pieces right now, but I'll hold back for now."
“That's a great mindset.”
“Because I'm going to rip that Kairos bastard to shreds first.”
"T-That's right. Hahaha."
With Otto feeling overwhelmed by Ariel's ferocity, he scratched the back of his head nervously and made a sheepish expression.
"But…."
“What?”
“Why do you like Kairos so much?”
Otto was curious about it.
What's so good about a bumbling, uneducated, alcoholic, and clueless old man who only knows how to drink all day.
“You have to ask?”
Ariel snorted back at Otto with a smirk.
“Because he's fucking hot.”
After hearing the response, Otto resolved not to bring up this issue again with Ariel.
* * * * Read in GalaxyTranslation97 Website * * * *
* patreon.com/SchattenTranslations *
Meanwhile, while Otto was talking to Ariel, the ballroom scene was still alive with dancing.
People of all ages and sexes were dancing, switching partners.
It wasn't because of any impure intentions, but because of the culture itself, people socialized by dancing with different people and engaging in small talk.
In the midst of this socializing, Argonne the Great hovered by Elise's side, waiting for an opportunity to approach her.
Then the opportunity came.
He waited for Elise to finish dancing with Conrad, the patriarch of House Kuntachi, before casually approaching her.
“Your Highness, Grand Duke Conrad.”
Emperor Argonne smiled as he bowed to Conrad.
"Could you kindly yield the lady to me?"
"Oh? Aren't you Julius? Nice to see you here. So, you want to dance with my granddaughter in law?
“Haha, I just wanted to extend my greetings on this occasion."
“I suppose, why not? Hehehe.”
Conrad, fully aware of Argonne's true identity, pretended not to know and allowed him to dance with Elise.
“My Lady.”
Seizing the opportunity, Argonne held out his hand to Elise.
“I am Julius from Oberhauser Trading Company, and would you like to dance with me?”
And Elise replied……
“No.”
** ** **
TL/N:
1. This was supposed to be Ariel's eye reddened, and tears flowed down like chicken droppings(shit).
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter