[19] (EP-13.2) Does A Sheep Dream Of Freedom? #1

013 – Does A Sheep Dream Of Freedom? #1

At some point, my thoughts came to a conclusion that went something like this.

If this world was really like the novel.

Then I should never be swayed by the original story.

Tae-oh Gospel was a character who would get executed in the end. The same went for Aira.

If I only followed the events in the novel, it was clear that we would eventually face the guillotine. It would become an unavoidable fate.

If so, what should be done to avoid it?

It was simple.

I just had to do something that the ‘Tae-oh Gospel' in the novel would never do. And my thought ended up with this.

Give up some of what I had.

Tae-oh, that greedy fucker, would never do such a thing.

“… What?"

Aira couldn't seem to believe my request.

Seureureuk- She pulled me up from the bed while still hugging me.

“Tae-oh, what did you just say?”

In response to that question, I spoke more clearly this time.

“I, Tae-oh Gospel, will step down from my position as a Court Gardener.”

“…….”

Seuk-

Aira pushed me off her body. As a result, we sat face to face on the bed and just looked at each other.

Aira's expression was flat. I couldn't tell what she was thinking. Then, she frowned slightly.

“Tae-oh, you know what it means to quit your job at the court, right?”

“I know.”

“What are you going to do after leaving the court?”

“Now, that's—”

As I tried to explain, Aira suddenly interjected half a beat faster.

“Don't tell me you're going back to Elga and the Lioness Family? I knew you and Elga would occasionally meet and talk behind the scenes.”

Goooo-

Aira's hair stood upright. At the same time, everything in the house began to shake.

Well placed books on the shelves and kitchen wares like bowls started falling, the latter breaking into fragments.

Finally, these words came out of Aira's mouth.

“Did she seduce you? Did she trick you into starting a rebellion? I know that the Lioness Family has long been dissatisfied.”

This was going in a dangerous direction.

“Yeah, it’s probably the Lioness's who killed my brothers and sisters. Cowards!”

If Aira turned hostile to a backer like the Lioness Family, she would suffer fatal losses.

And no matter how powerful Aira was as a Magician, Elga was also a strong knight that could rival her.

If the two clashed, Aira would inevitably get injured. Seeing such an opportunity, there was no way the hyenas waiting in the side wouldn't take advantage of it.

But I knew that Aira would react like this.

It was, at least, within my expectation.

“This has nothing to do with Elga Lioness. I swear by the name of the Queen, this is my own dogmatic decision.”

“Your decision? Tae-oh, Tae-oh Gospel? Okay, let's say it is your own decision. But what can you do without me?”

"That's—"

“What can you do without me!?”

Damnit, let me talk! Holy fuck!!

“You're an orphan turned slave. You are nothing without me! Do you still not know that?”

Aira was half crazed.

Born as the youngest daughter of the Royal Family, she lived with everything she could ever have wanted, before finally succeeding the throne.

For her, the world was a display shelf within reach.

Whatever she desired, she got.

However, the experience of something getting taken away from her was foreign.

No, she lost her family one after another, so she might not be that unfamiliar…

“Tae-oh…”

Aira's eyes gradually lost their vitality, resembling those of a dead person. Only her lips continued spitting sharp words.

“I cared so much for you! How dare you betray my trust this way!? You are nothing without me!!!”

Even though I had watched all kinds of things, this was a bit heartbreaking to see.

“I am the Queen! Absolutely no one can leave my side without my permission! Even if it’s family or you!”

After all, I was Aira's slave.

Of course, she wanted to believe otherwise.

She didn’t even know what she was talking about right now.

Paching, jjaenggeurang-

Finally, the window broke because of her anger.

It was a high-quality glass with a barrier drawn on it. The glass wouldn't break under an elephant’s stomp, yet just her voice shattered it.

I was reminded of who I was dealing with…

The worst enemy who tormented the Villain Hunter the most, the Witch Queen Aira.

I had to defeat her on my own, without borrowing the hero's strength or the help of others.

I could do this!

I had been doing well so far.

Aira not ripping my head off immediately after what I said was already proof that I was half successful.

So, I decided to turn over my hand, which had gone all-in, one by one.

“Even if I quit my court job, it’s only for one year.”

"What?"

“I wish you could give me a year, just one year. I don't even know who I am. There are so many things I want to learn.”

“…….”

“To be of use to Aira-nim, it is necessary for me to polish myself. Because, I was a useless slave, just like Aira-nim said.”

Aira's hair, which was standing upright like a striking snake, began to sink down to her shoulders, perhaps feeling my sincerity.

“… You don't have to. Tae-oh, I never thought you were useless. You have always been my helper.”

Look at this.

What about your ramble just moments ago? You were not making sense.

But I did understand why.

Aira was currently out of her mind.

The only person she relied on in the Royal Palace was about to leave her. She naturally wanted to stop it somehow.

Even if it was done by putting me in an ill light.

Because Aira was clumsy.

"So…"

She was just a clumsy and broken girl.

Therefore, I was speaking to her, not as the Tae-oh that had been watching her for the past year.

Just human to human.

As Lee Seong-eum to Aira, I decided to tell her my true feelings for the first time.

"Come with me!"