RODH Chapter 56

56.

“Ahem!”

At the sound of Seor’s cough, Ian looked up.

After momentarily moving out of sync with Nevan, Ian soon slipped out of his arms.

“Is everyone alright?”

“You were the one I was most worried about.”

“To be honest, I thought I was going to die too.”

“Waaah, my lord!”

Bain ran up and hugged Ian tightly.

“Ow, my arm. Bain, I hurt my arm. Bain!”

“I really thought something happened to you, my lord. Waaah, ugh!”

“I’m not dead. Don’t go sending me off just yet.”

It was meant as a joke, but that only seemed to trigger Bain further, and he burst into tears.

At the commotion, Frigg stopped his work and came out to ask,

“Who are these people?”

His eyes were wary, just like when he first saw Ian.

Ian, having pried Bain off, introduced everyone.

Then Frigg said something rather unexpected.

“Lord Ian, if you intend to choose the manliest of men, you must have them arm wrestle.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“In any case, the king of arm wrestling is the finest man.”

“Ah, right…”

“Well then, I’ll return to my work. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Yes.”

Ian responded politely, but he had no intention of bothering Frigg.

That was because he’d heard that refining Hollowknight takes at least ten days and nights.

“So basically, he’s telling us to keep quiet and stay out of the way?”

“Your Highness.”

Peter tried to calm the sarcastic Seor.

What’s that bastard’s problem this time?

Ian simply ignored Seor and told everyone to rest.

Immediately, five alphas arranged themselves around Ian like a magic circle.

Bain whispered softly,

“Um… my lord, did we do something wrong?”

“Of course not. They’re just being childish.”

It was surprising to see Nevan included among them, but he was probably just in shock.

Still, having dominant alphas positioned at every angle was certainly an uncomfortable situation.

Ian said,

“I’m going to wash up.”

“Is there anywhere to wash here?”

“There’s a hot spring.”

“A hot spring?”

“There’s a spot where Happy bathes.”

“You mean that wyvern?”

“Yes. If you don’t like it, don’t come in.”

Ian wouldn’t have minded if they came in as a group, but for some reason, it was as if an unspoken rule had formed—no one dared to follow him into the bath.

Except for one.

“Eh? Why can’t I go in?”

“If you come in, I’ll kill you.”

“Then I’ll show you the sky.”

“I’ll use you as an experiment subject.”

“……”

Bain was officially banned from entering.

“My l-o-o-o-o-rd…”

From afar, Bain’s wailing could be heard.

---

Splash—.

I stepped forward through the hazy steam.

The hot water made the blood surge from my toes to my fingertips.

That’s when I saw something.

[Beware of slibbery rock.]

“Pfft.”

A sign wedged between the rocks made me want to correct its spelling.

Did Frigg write this?

I chuckled briefly, then quietly sank into the real hot spring—alone, under a night sky filled with stars.

Now and then, shooting stars passed through the constellation-scattered heavens.

I prayed for my family’s health and for the well-being of my love.

I had been genuinely happy when Nevan embraced me.

It felt impossible not to love someone who worried for me as deeply as the snow in Ferost falls.

At the same time, a little fear stirred within me.

I wondered if I was getting ahead of myself.

Though we had exchanged letters often and had grown close, Nevan and I were not officially in a relationship.

It was more of a mutually beneficial connection.

After all, I was the one even the Great Sage had acknowledged as the bringer of spring.

I submerged myself up to my nose and blew bubbles.

What does Nevan really think of me?

And the Emperor… is he digging into my background because I’m the bringer of spring? Because I might lend my strength to the North?

I stayed in the bath until my head started to throb and only then finally stepped out.

As I moved toward the camp, the smell of food reached me.

And there he was—Seor—holding a heavy cast-iron pan like it was nothing.

“You’re back?”

He looked like someone who’d grown up pampered in the imperial palace, yet he cooked surprisingly well.

But watching him grill meat with that familiar imperial manner… it unsettled me.

“Take a seat.”

“Your Highness, allow me to help.”

Seor’s admirer, Peter, stepped in to assist, and before long, the meal was ready, including Frigg’s portion.

It was boiled potatoes with a touch of salt and grilled, smoked ham.

I delivered Frigg’s food and returned to my seat.

“Thank you for the meal.”

“Eat plenty.”

I wanted to eat in peace, but I could feel eyes constantly on my cheek.

Lifting my gaze, I found Seor staring at me.

Under the glow of the bonfire, his golden eyes gleamed brilliantly—almost oppressively.

“Is something wrong?”

“Nothing. You just look nice when you eat.”

“……”

With that one line, Seor managed to turn the entire atmosphere frigid.

If Peter hadn’t jumped in to change the topic, we’d have spent the whole meal in awkward silence.

Peter suggested everyone rest and recharge while they could.

Then Seor turned to Nevan and asked,

“Is it true that the Demon Lord is awakening?”

“Yes. The northern mages say the signs perfectly match everything they found at Goheon.”

“What happens… if the Demon Lord awakens?”

A silence followed, broken only by the crackle of burning wood.

Nevan spoke.

“Everything will fall apart. If we assume the worst of the worst…”

“And what exactly is that?”

“Death.”

Nevan didn’t sugarcoat it.

“The Demon Lord is a monster of pure destruction. Records say it crawled out when a rift formed between this world and the demon realm, and it exists solely to destroy.”

Communication? Impossible.

No one knows why, but it’s said to drive other monsters berserk and trample everything that lives.

“A walking catastrophe.”

Seor swept his hand over his forehead, his expression grave.

I quietly ate the potato on my plate, deep in thought.

The monster I saw in my dream…

It had been a deep violet, and only two people had barely managed to stop it from descending the mountain.

Could Nevan fend off that monster on his own?

The more I thought about it, the more impossible it seemed—and I sank into gloom.

Sensing this, Lucian came over and placed a piece of meat on my plate.

“When you’re worried, you have to eat more.”

“I’m full.”

“Tch. What, is it going to kill you to just accept it?”

I couldn’t help but smile at how much moodier Lucian had become lately.

“You smiled, didn’t you? Just now, because of me…”

“Ahem! How dare you talk about liking or disliking me right in front of me!”

“Exactly! Lord Lucian, you’re jumping to conclusions!”

“Shut up! Ian hasn’t said anything yet! Ian, come on, say something! You do like me, right?”

“……”

I truly didn’t want to say a single thing.

---

Frigg’s work continued for three days and nights.

Every time the blade rang out with a clang-clang as he hammered it, Ian felt as if the hairs on his head were bristling.

He recalled what the Great Sage had said.

“All you need to do is finish the sword and deliver it to the Grand Duke. If you go beyond that…”

You’ll probably die, right?

It was a matter of life and death.

The Great Sage had half-lost his mind from living too long, but Ian hadn’t.

“What happens if I die again? Will I come back to life?”

The same thoughts that crossed his mind when he was captured by the wyvern returned now.

More than that—what would happen to Nevan?

Would Nevan survive?

It wasn’t like he’d face the Demon Lord alone, but if the Emperor were to extend his claws again…

His head throbbed with so many worries that he couldn’t sleep properly.

In the end, Ian, with dark circles under his eyes, volunteered to take the night watch.

Sometimes Peter was there, sometimes Alvis, but none of them could ease Ian’s troubled mind.

On the fifth day, unable to overcome his exhaustion, Ian fell into a deep sleep while sitting upright.

“My lord.”

When Bain tried to care for him, Seor—who was on watch—raised a hand to stop him.

“What is it that you—?”

“Who’s there!”

Seor suddenly shouted sharply, and the figures hidden behind the bushes fled into the distance.

Someone had been spying on them.

Before Seor could even chase them down, they were caught by Lucian, Alvis, and Nevan.

“Do you have any idea where you are…?”

In his indignation, Seor yanked off their masks.

And saw familiar faces.

“You lot…!”

“Your Highness!”

Peter rushed over as he understood the situation.

“What, they’re on your side?”

Lucian scoffed.

Alvis looked like he was expecting a proper explanation.

Seor’s golden eyes shook violently.

These were the Emperor’s men.

“Of course you can’t explain it, can you?”

“What are you implying, Lord Lucian?”

“That this is all happening without your knowledge. Isn’t that right, Peter?”

Lucian pointed to Peter, and Seor turned to him.

“Is it true?”

“Your Highness, I…”

“I asked if it’s true!”

“You’ll wake Lord Ian. Please lower your voice.”

“Peter… damn it.”

Seor turned red when he saw another figure being dragged over by Nevan.

If it was Nevan, he would know.

The North, alongside the Empire, possessed an unmatched intelligence network.

“You know, don’t you? Why His Majesty sent people to shadow Ian?”

Unlike Lucian, Seor didn’t bother telling Peter to explain—it was clear he didn’t want to hear it from him.

Instead, he stated it plainly.

“How you interpret this depends entirely on what you think.”

“My thoughts haven’t changed. Is there anyone who treasures Ian as much as I do?”