Chapter 15: Before the Beginning

Several days later.

The news of the King of Lin Qi’s unexpected death had already spread throughout every street and alley.

Everyone was deeply skeptical, but the King of Lin Qi’s last will and testament actually did mention his desire to make Princess Huan the next king.

And so, with favorable timing, advantages, and harmony, the ministers did not defy the former king’s will, and the people did not offer much resistance.

Step—

Step—

Step—

At the hour of Chen on the fifth day of the Cold Moon, the former great princess now wore a red robe, her hem trailing along the ground.

Step—

Step—

Step—

Step by step, she walked out of the palace.

She revealed her full appearance to the crowd.

“From this day forward, I am the King of Lin Qi!”

Unyielding.

Yao Xing smiled and personally placed the crown upon her head.

The moment the ruby crown was put on, it instantly transformed into the color of the light attribute.

The light attribute aura on Huan suddenly intensified, seeming stronger than ever before.

Without a word, Huan closed her eyes.

She sat upon the throne, overlooking the myriad forms of life in Lin Qi.

In the distance, a minister clenched his teeth as he looked at the new king on the stage.

But then, a great wind swept in like a wave.

The emblems on Lin Qi’s national walls all changed to a bright light attribute color.

“The kingdom’s territory agrees with the new king’s coronation?!”

“Doesn’t the Lin Qi emblem require some sort of alteration ceremony? Why did it change now?”

“It seems Lin Qi has accepted the new king’s existence…”

The people were completely convinced.

They all knelt down in worship.

Huan, on the high platform, was also shocked by this unexpected event.

But then, she calmed down.

“Everyone, neighboring countries are constantly in conflict, and the threat of the Demon King’s Seven Generals increases day by day. Here, as the King of Lin Qi, I declare:”

“Lin Qi shall stand eternal.”

With those words spoken, the light attribute magic on Huan intensified further, until Lin Qi’s entire barrier suddenly expanded twofold!

This also meant that Lin Qi’s territory had expanded that much in an instant.

Countless monsters wandering around Lin Qi were heavily burned and annihilated by the suddenly expanding light attribute barrier.

At this, not only were the people shocked, not only were the ministers astonished, not only was Yao Xing dumbfounded…

Even Huan herself was a bit panicked.

She had no idea she could do something to this extent.

“Hmph…”

Xu, who was watching all this from afar, simply smiled lightly.

Anuo beside him was also stunned: “Has Lin Qi become a big country in an instant?”

“Wow, long live the King of Lin Qi! Long live the King of Lin Qi!”

The heavily shocked citizens all prostrated themselves before Huan’s power.

Huan continued to talk about future plans, such as introducing more trade systems, attempting to take over dungeons, and expanding the adventurer industry.

Soon after, the coronation ceremony came to an end.

…..

‘Everything is so sudden…’

A week later, Yao Xing was strolling freely through the palace while eating fruit delivered by the maid.

This was the first time she felt the vastness of the palace, and also the first time she felt the beauty of the other world—so free.

But when she passed by the empty training ground, a sense of loneliness suddenly rose up.

‘I hope Yue wakes up soon…’

Nothing to do, no need to worry about death, and no need to worry about salvation.

That strange sense of ease instead made her somewhat uneasy.

Rustle—

Rustle—

She walked on that patch of grass.

Recalling the training scene of Huan and Yue that day.

“Things are different now…”

‘Huan is imprisoned on the throne, while Yue sleeps on a soft bed.’

“Both of them have lost their freedom.”

Thinking about this, Yao Xing let out a deep sigh, sat on the bench where she had watched that day, looking at the same view but with different feelings.

‘If Yue really doesn’t wake up for a long time…’

‘Then, according to Xu, I must extract pure dragon blood from one of the Demon King’s Seven Generals—the dragon clan.’

‘But that means I will experience countless restarts… and countless Bad Ends…’

She shook her head and patted her cheeks.

‘It’s okay, as long as my friends are fine, even if sacrifice is needed, I’ll do my best!’

…..

Inside the palace council hall.

The ministers had all withdrawn, leaving only Huan alone.

Though she had become king, she couldn’t help showing sadness.

Knock …

knock—

A few knocks sounded.

Huan immediately composed herself as king.

But upon seeing that it was Yao Xing, Huan smiled, and her composed demeanor somewhat crumbled.

“I’m sorry, Hero, there have been too many important matters lately. I couldn’t find time to see you…”

After hearing that, Yao Xing sat on one of the seats.

“It’s fine, no need to apologize.”

“…”

Huan lowered her head, her sadness overflowing.

Both were very clear about the purpose of this meeting.

In fact, the reason Huan hadn’t sought out Yao Xing for so long was that she feared that one thing.

“Hero… are you leaving…”

“Yes.”

Yao Xing nodded honestly.

“After all, to save Yue, I have to defeat one of the Demon King’s Seven Generals—the dragon clan.”

“And, I am the Hero, after all. I should also defeat the Demon King and bring peace to all.”

After hearing this, there was a moment of silence.

Huan choked up a little, but held it back as best she could, and could only say against her heart: “I hope you return soon… I hope you are safe… have a safe journey…”

“Huan.”

“We are friends, aren’t we?”

At those words, Huan looked up in shock, and the tears and reluctance in her eyes were clearly seen by Yao Xing.

“If there’s something you want to say, just say it…”

“And don’t call me Hero. There’s no need for honorifics…”

“Just call me Yao Xing, okay?”

These words were not a lecture.

But they inevitably made Huan feel a frightening familiarity.

Yao Xing’s figure overlapped with the unconscious Yue; both of them had spoken up to stop her when she was acting against her heart.

“Yao Xing…”

Tears couldn’t help but fall.

Huan’s reluctance could no longer be hidden.

The sadness that could not be buried even by gritting her teeth had already spilled from her eyes.

“I want to leave with you… I actually want to see the world too…”

“But… it was I who personally removed Father… and I caused Lin Qi to lose its king… so I must…”

The emotions she had suppressed for years could no longer be overcome by reason.

Underneath the sadness, the mask of gentleness was soaked through.

“If it weren’t for me… my sister wouldn’t be unconscious…”

“If it weren’t for me…”

Pat….

It wasn’t a slap, but Yao Xing gently brought her hand to tap against Huan’s palm.

“Don’t blame yourself. None of this is your fault.”

“The fact that you’re alive is already the best outcome for your sister and for me.”

Looking into Yao Xing’s eyes, Huan nodded with sobs.

“Actually… the moment you saved me… you were just like the storybooks I saw as a child…”

“You’re like the hero in the storybooks… impossible to track your whereabouts… but you always appear just in time when I’m in danger…”

‘Actually, I missed a few times…’

“I envy you so much… and I long to be like you… you are so free…”

“Huan…”

Before Yao Xing could say anything, Huan suddenly continued.

“I also really want to leave with you…”

“But I can’t leave…”

“I really… really…”

——!

Yao Xing decisively hugged Huan.

The momentary warmth made Huan’s eyes widen in shock, and her hands trembled as they placed on Yao Xing’s back.

Feeling Yao Xing’s warmth, feeling Yao Xing’s similarly sad breathing rhythm, feeling her similarly trembling hands.

“Huan, I promise you.”

“When I defeat the Demon King…”

“I will come for you!”

Each word fell, and the atmosphere became somewhat stiff.

But then a laugh suddenly came out.

Huan finally showed a smile, and Yao Xing also smiled sheepishly.

“Okay, I’ll be waiting for you.”

“I’ll be waiting for you!”

…..

After saying goodbye to everyone, Yao Xing boarded the carriage leaving Lin Qi.

She poked her head out of the carriage and looked toward the palace.

Though Huan was not there at the moment, her feelings had already arrived.

‘Goodbye, Lin Qi.’

Hyah….

The carriage began to move.

Yao Xing also reluctantly withdrew her gaze and focused on the carriage interior.

“Lin Qi has really become huge, and the atmosphere is completely different!”

Anuo was also sitting in the carriage, with Xu beside him.

That’s right, the two of them would accompany Yao Xing.

This journey was not without anything.

‘I saved Huan, Yue, and Anuo from the hands of the former King of Lin Qi.’

‘And made Lin Qi as peaceful and prosperous as it is now.’

Yao Xing smiled self-deprecatingly and exchanged a glance with Xu.

And then, the coachman asked: “Hero, where would you like to stop?”

Yao Xing unfolded the map and looked at the place Huan had specifically pointed out.

“Just drop us off at Mian Yang, please.”

“Alright, let’s go!”

‘According to Huan, although Mian Yang now has a powerful hero stationed there, the Demon King’s Army’s offensive has already invaded half of Mian Yang’s territory.’

‘That’s why Huan specifically asked me to go there to help.’

Yao Xing folded the map.