Chapter 6: Reunion (3)
As soon as Kim Hyunwoo saw the Beast King arrive in the territory, he thought he must somehow keep her within the territory.
Even if it meant spending most of the wealth acquired through this Labyrinth Break.
Because he was certain that once the Beast King was recruited, there would definitely be much more he could do, even if it meant a significant consumption of resources.
However, at this moment, Kim Hyunwoo realized something as he saw the flood of notifications before his eyes.Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only
That recruiting her would not just make the reconstruction of the territory difficult but impossible.
That recruiting her would be like drinking from a poisoned chalice.
Just recruiting one person creates too many enemies.
Of course, the Merilda that Kim Hyunwoo saw was strong.
So strong that he found himself unwittingly gaping.
Moreover, according to the notification he saw, Merilda was not just a 5-star but had become a 5.5-star, as if the game had been updated or some additional system had been added.
But still, there were too many enemies to recruit her.
There are even kingdoms and clans that didnt exist in my time, and countless other territories in a hostile relationship, right?
Seeing the destructive relationships, Kim Hyunwoo involuntarily clicked his tongue, wondering what she had been doing since leaving the territory.
In fact, if this were all, Kim Hyunwoo might have seriously considered recruiting Merilda.
No, he might have even knelt right now.
Seeing what had come up, it seemed that Merildas affinity was maintained to some extent for some reason, but Kim Hyunwoo had no idea what she was thinking exactly.
However, Kim Hyunwoo did not do so for another reason besides the fact that Merilda had many enemies.
Caution
If you recruit the 5-star hero 'Beast King', her infamy as the Boss 'Red Eyes' will increase, negatively affecting the influx of territory residents.
If the territory's development level is high, you can nullify the infamy of the recruited hero.
['Red Eyes' Infamy: 1442]
[Lartania's Territory Development Level: -20]
Current Territory Influx Rate: -25%
New Territory Influx Rate: -1275%
Fundamentally, in the setting of Arteil, the biggest factor in the growth of a territory is its residents.
Taxes can be collected only if there are residents, and goods can be produced and basic infrastructure can be designed only if there are residents.
And such residents in Arteil are not randomly copied as the territory level rises, but the system involves slash-and-burn farmers or nomadic groups from outside settling down and gradually increasing.
But in such a situation, accepting Merilda and increasing the already -25% territory influx rate to -1275% was absolutely something Kim Hyunwoo, who had to reconstruct the territory, should not do.
-25% was a number Kim Hyunwoo could fully recover through obtaining this reward, but -1275% was not.
If the territory was like it used to be, I could have accepted her-
Kim Hyunwoo thought of the territory as it was in the past.
A time when the territory level was unimaginably higher than now, and the development level of the territory easily surpassed 5000 units in his memory.
If the territory was in its heyday, accepting Merilda would have only slightly reduced the territory influx rate without major issues, but he knew all that was in the past.
Indeed, I have to give her up.
Kim Hyunwoo, with a look of regret, glanced at Merilda and then at the earrings at her ears.
Maybe there will be a chance to recruit her once the territory develops later.
With that thought, he opened the in-game window created by Loria and began to operate something.
Merilda looked at Kim Hyunwoo with trembling eyes.
He, with a troubled expression as he looked at her, soon waved his fingers in the air and then,
Thud-
Soon a small box appeared in his right hand and he placed it in the frozen Merildas hand.
She dully looked down to check it.
It was a gift wrapped in a small box.
A small gift that she seemed to have seen sometime before.
Merilda raised her gaze again.
Still, what was visible was the troubled face of the Lord.
And then
Your earrings, theyve worn out quite a bit.
The Lords mouth opened.
However, Merilda could not properly respond to Kim Hyunwoos words.
She couldnt understand why he was suddenly giving her a gift.
No-
Actually, she understood.
Even if she didnt want to understand, her mind automatically grasped the meaning of his actions.
Is this the end?
The Lord
Meant it as a starting over.
It wasnt a gift for an apology or compliment to her.
That was obvious.
Merilda hadnt conveyed anything to the Lord yet.
She hadnt asked for forgiveness.
She hadnt admitted her fault.
Nor had she shown affection.
The words of farewell she heard from the Lord, her Master.
Those eyes.
That gesture.
The more she thought about it, the more it seemed to tear her heart apart.
Merilda, without realizing it, gripped her chest and clenched her fist.
!
However, soon after, she hurriedly relaxed her grip.
At the same time, she looked at the gift given by the Lord in her left hand.
Fortunately, the box was intact.
Unfortunately, the box was in her hand.
The Lords farewell gift was clearly in her hand, as if it wasnt a dream.
Unknowingly, Merilda gripped the gift and cried her heart out.
It felt like the last thing linking her to the Lord.
At the same time, hating the gift for symbolizing the end of their relationship, yet finding it precious.
She repeatedly checked the gift, clenching it as if with force while crying, then, startled, loosened her grip to ensure it was still there.
Fortunately, despite the many teardrops soaking the box, it still maintained its shape.
How much time had passed like this?
Merilda, stood up from her place.
No, it cant be.
Still shedding tears as if pouring out years worth at once, she stood up.
She,
as a wolf,
with red eyes
Merilda had no intention of giving up.
The Lord had returned.
She wanted to be forgiven somehow.
By any means necessary, even if it meant offering her life to a demon, she wanted to be forgiven.
She wanted to gain his affection.
She wanted to gain his favor.
But at the same time, Merilda knew.
If she kept throwing tantrums, he might disappear like the wind again, never to return.
She didnt want that.
At least for her, it was as good as a death sentence.
Therefore,
Theres hope.
Merilda murmured.
Her tearful eyes were looking at the gift.
A gift of farewell given by the Lord.
There will be.
He gave Merilda a gift.
If he truly hated her to the point of loathing, he would have pushed her away without a gift.
He would have hurled abuse at her.
Just like she, who was foolish ten years ago, would have done.
But the Lord gave her a gift.
Even if it surely meant farewell, it was now in Merildas hands.
Meaning, in the Lords heart, there still was, still had a small space enough to give her a farewell gift.
A very small bit of reluctance remained. Merilda judged.
No, she decided to think.
Then, there was one thing she had to do.
She had to help the Lord.
She had to help her Master.
She had to help with anything possible, to open a very small crack in a corner of his heart.
She didnt intend to make it obvious.
Just silently, she decided to do whatever she could.
If she continued to help the Master like that, and if the Master notices and shows her a very small bit of affection instead of a gift.
The wolf
Merilda, that would be enough.
Therefore,
With red eyes, Merilda looked at one place.
The place where the knight, who had blatantly mocked at the Masters death, had fled to.
