Chapter 15 Holy land

“Does my King have this kind of hobby?” At the middle of the night, a certain wagon can be seen travelling through the darkness. “I do not get what you mean by that”

Currently King, Rumia and one of the horsemen Pestilence are taking their trip via a wagon. “King… who’s this person” Rumia shyly asks King. “Do not worry Rumia, this person does not bite” “What! That’s rude!” Pestilence loudly retorted at what King said.

“There’s no need to be loud, we might attract unnecessary enemy” King said. Pestilence just shakes his shoulder off and muttered. “As if they can do anything about us”

“Well, since it will going to be a long ride, I will introduce you my companion. Pestil—Pestil, Pestil this is Rumia” King said. “You should’ve given me a much cooler name” Pestilence muttered. “Are you friends with King?” Rumia asked.

Pestilence that’s known as Pestil looks glance at her with a smile and said. “Yes, we are the best of buddies” Rumia’s violet eyes sparks in bewilderment. “Even King has a friend!?” She said. Pestil put a smile on his face, making sure it is not crumbling.

“O-of course we’re friends right?” He said as he looks at King, but King did not pay any heeds and focus his eyes on the road.

“That’s unfair, you’ve treated your horsemen coldly but you act more than a father when it comes to this child” Pestil grumbled. “Well, it can’t be help. Since Rumia and I have a contract, I can’t afford to treat her lightly” King said.

While the two of them are speak, Rumia can only look in confusion as she doesn’t know what they are talking about.

“Heeh, is that so” Pestil said. He then look at Rumia and said. “So you like King?” “Eh?” It took more than a second for Rumia to comprehend the question. “EH?!” “Shhh, King might hear us you know” Pestil said.

I can already hear you, you know? King thought but he decided to ignore the two since it doesn’t concern him. “So what’s the reason why you like King?” Pestil teasingly said.

“A-No, i-it’s just… I like h-how he looks calm even though the situation is te-terrible and he looks s-strong…” Rumia said as she put her hands on her reddened face.

“Hehehehe, Rumia you looks so cute, even that King will be fascinated when he see you in that state” Pestil said while smiling. This action causes Rumia to go to the back in the wagon and lay down. “Stop teasing her, she’s just a kid” King muttered.

“Hohoho, so my King is aware?” Pestil said. “Of course, I know that Rumia is harboring some kind of admiration to me” King replied. “It’s not just admiration though” Pestil muttered.

“Do not worry about it, it will fade sooner or later” King said. “My King, I think you should not comment on things that you didn’t experience firsthand” Pestil replied.

“………I see” King said. Pestil has a point, since King has to trade of something in order to gain his power, he is now unable to feel lust and love, but Pestilence and the other horsemen knows that it is more than feeling that lost to King.

“My King, is the Tyrant still pestering you?” Pestil asked. Tyrant, it’s the name of King’s father. “No, in fact I found it quite strange. Mostly he will whisper something like, ‘rip his head off or break his neck’ every time I encounter living beings” King said.

Pestil just close his eye lids and let what King has just said earlier. “That old man… so do you think it’s because of the Heroes?” Pestil asked.

“Most likely, in that void where it feels like a hundred years has passed, Father never talk to me or let his presence be perceive” King said. “How did this happen? It’s nearly impossible for a soul contract to be torn apart”

“I do not know, but it is thanks to those Heroes that I can finally enjoy the reminding time that is left in me” King said. “You say that, but you’re going to live until the fourth generation of this girl dies out” Pestil said as she points out at Rumia.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

“Mouh Pestil, what are you saying towards King? You better not be leaking any information” She said as she crawls out to King.

“Man, if Death see this… they will be an abomination” Pestil whispered. “But what happened to Patrick and the others I wonder?” Rumia asked.

“I do not know, do you remember Rumia?” King asked Rumia as he looks at her. “Umm… Umm…” Rumia close her both eyes and tries to remember the event.

“There’s an ogre… bunch of them… then, then, Patrick said that we should get out… and then we encounter this Pestil on the way…” “This Pestil?” Pestil butted in.

“And then” Rumia continued. “That’s it… I hope Patrick and the others are Okay” She sighed. “It is Okay Rumia, you remember those advance arrows? It can kill a dozen of ogre that alone” King said as he tries to encourage Rumia.

“You’re right… Owaahhh… I’m sleepy” Rumia muttered as she throw a fleeting glance at King. “Go ahead” King said. Rumia nodded and use King’s laps as a pillow. “Owaahhh, my King I’m sleepy” Pestil said as he imitate Rumia. “You’re a lich, lich does not need any sleep” King said.

“Tehee” Pestil said as he tilts her head and slightly hit it with his head with his hand. “You know Pestilence” King said. “What?” Pestil respond. “I can feel every emotion you want to express, I can feel that you’re smiling or something” “And” Pestil said.

King looks at Pestil and said. “Can you tell me how you do that? How can you express your emotion so freely when you’re wearing a mask?” That’s right. Pestil is still wearing his mask that resembles crow.

“Hahaha, I don’t know it myself but you know, as the time goes on everything will look natural on you” He said. “I still do not get it” King said as he turns his heads to the roads.

“So, my King is a merchant huh? Where’s the item then?” Pestil said as he glances at the back. “It was bought, since most of them are made of metal, they are all bought” King replied.

“So what are you going to sell now?” Pestil said. “I am going to do what Rumia has planned, where going to switch to sell spices and such” He said. Pestil stopped his movement and look at King. “I also use spice you know?” Pestil said.

“I know that” “Of course you know, I stock them in the nose of my mask” Pestil said as he point out at the beak of his mask. “Keeps the rotten smell from getting me” He said.

“Where the hell did you get that mask anyway? I do not saw you wearing things like that in the first place, it only begun when the Heroes starts appearing” King said. “That, the funny thing is I only wear this because it looks cool. I’ve only known that this mask existed because of the Heroes” Pestil said.

“And now? Does the mask have a sentimental value now?” King said. “Yeah, and the best benefits of wearing this is people won’t come to you and ask for a fight” He said.

“You look like some sort of evil entity when you wear that” King said. “Haaah… So where are we going anyway?” Pestil asked.

“Ah, we’re going to the religion capital of this Empire, the Tebrar” “Eh? You’re gonna mess them up a bit?” “Of course not, I have no such hobby. What I only want to see is what the Heroes did to our world”

“Then I’m going to take off the mask huh?” Pestil said while scratching his head. “Not really, we could leave you at the carriage” “N-no thank you” Pestil replied.

“Then we are going to the Tebrar, I will use the sin of sloth now” King said. A portal appeared in their front along with the wild breeze of air. “My King does not really change, using your sin here and there, just like the good old times” Pestil said.

As they enter the portal, the view that they saw earlier is completely changed, they are now walking in the white brick road. “It is all good” King murmured.

They could see a white monolith that reaches the sky. “Who is the one that invade this place again?” King asked. “Ah, I think it’s War. War always has an issue with the religions and such” “I see…”

After sometime, a group of soldier approaches them. “Wait!” One of them said. Pestil immediately hid in the back when he saw the soldiers.

“What is it?” King said with a calm smirk. “Who are you?” The man who seems the captain of the group questioned King.

“Well, I am just a beginning merchant” King said as he took out his license and show it to the captain. “Fumu, I see… Then who’s the man behind?” The captain said, it look likes he noticed the movement of Pestil from the distance.

And then, from the back, a man who’s in his middle twenties come out, he has a white long hair that’s tied into his back. His stretched eye that gives him a friendly looks suit with his appearance.

“Ah, King, I think we left the buckle shield in the village” The man said in a carefree manner. “It’s alright” King said. The captain looks at the two with a suspicious gaze. King noticed it and said. “Ah, he is just my assistant, his name is Pestil”

“Nice to meet you” Pestil gently bowed at them. After a minute, the captain gave his approval and let the carriage enter the city. When they finally gained some distance to the captain, King suddenly spoke.

“I could just use the sin of lust you know?” “No, the old man is just doing his job, there’s no need for that” Pestil replied.

“You are so soft on humans” King said. “You know I’m a lich right? Means I’m a former human so I can sort of understand them, and don’t call me soft when you have a little girl on your side” Pestil retorted.

King didn’t replied and just run the horse. Am I gone soft? It is true that I take care of Rumia but… it is because she is needed in my business… or is it? King pondered as the carriage travels.