Chapter 20

Chapter 20

***

Rumors spread quickly among the northern demons.

What fate did the Giant Ant race face? Whose hand had the queen ant’s artifact…?

It was only a matter of time before this information that will make everyone feel envious and will make the people of the north shine, would be leaked everywhere.

So the sooner, the better.

Erden was ready to leave immediately.

“Underworld you said?”

The three grandmothers and other family members of the castle were surprised.

Erden is assuming that he would soon find a breakthrough.

But to go on an expedition to the underworld.

They have never imagined that.

“As I expected I have to stay here without him…”

When he leaves, Castle Halstead is now left without a Lord among the demons.

But she is even more worried about Erden.

“How could you have made a good decision?”

That’s what the old woman believed.

She thought it was their job to trust and support Erden.

Just like it’s been expected.

“It is a seven-year-long expedition, but I am ready for it. The items that are taken from here are useless in the underworld anyway.”

The day of departure has finally come.

The family of the castle all came out. She said good-bye to Erden and to the soldiers who will go along with him.

“There won’t be any chicken dish in the underworld that our Lord likes. I don’t think there’s a chicken at all.”

Casaro murmured anxiously.

“If you can’t take it, just come back. Even if you stay for breakfast the next day, we’ll all pretend we don’t know anything.”

“Even if it’s tomorrow morning or just right now.”

Bastian and Alexa also said. It was a humorous tone, but they couldn’t hide their sadness.

“Don’t worry.”

Erden said resolutely.

“Grandmothers are like my paternal grandmothers to me. I’ll come back strong and make you live better for the rest of your life.”

That remark of his eventually brought the grandmothers to tears. Alexa, Bastian, Casaro also hurriedly turned their heads and looked in the other direction.

Finally, Erden looked at Leticia.

“Please take care of this castle while I’m away. Also, please be healthy and stay strong.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Of course you can leave halfway, and the certificate I wrote is always valid. No one will force you to stay in this castle.”

Leticia put her hand in his arms instead of answering. She rummaged something.

What is it?

Everyone’s eyes gathered there.

Soon after, everyone was surprised to see the water gun pulled out in her small hand.

There was also a knot woven with colorful strings

It was a knot of origin.

Bastian, who first recommended it to Leticia, and the maids who taught her how to tie knots, had totally forgotten.

After being attacked by Giant Ant, she was busy holding a wedding ceremony.

After that, he had never dreamed that Leticia would have completed the knot by herself.

It was a real surprise.

Of course, it was Erden who was more surprised than anyone else. This is because it was totally unexpected.

‘Um….’

Leticia felt anxious a bit.

Everyone is paying attention because it is more interesting than she thought. Her face is burning again.

“The knot of origin?”

The sound of the knights further heightened the embarrassment she had.

This could never be called a knot of origin. It was made out of her clumsiness.

The corners of my ears are already flushed red. The knot is crumpled as she has pulled out some parts she had made out of mistake.

With Erden’s keen gaze, such clumsy parts looked like he is looking at it in every detail.

Leticia was even more ashamed due to it. But she couldn’t just back down now.

“I’m not good enough, but I still work hard.”

I hesitantly spoke.

“Nanny told me about it. I heard it’s a northern custom. If you put your own knot on your husband’s sword, you’ll be able to return safely from the battlefield.”

Leticia tied the knot she had made clumsily to the ring on Erden’s sword sheet. Two or three knots and a tight squeeze to make sure it will never be removed.

And said.

“I hope you come back safely.”

There was a moment of silence. Erden looked at Leticia out of unfamiliarity. Then he shifted his eyes and looked down at the knot.

“How can you be so precious…”

He looked like he was deeply moved. He couldn’t keep her words in her sleep, but he cleared his voice and said,

“Thank you very much.”

He bent his knees slightly to make eye contact with the smaller Leticia.

“Now that you’ve done this, Wife’s knot of origins will surely come true. That will happen seven years later from today, at the latest, by the time the full moon sets.”

She had a brief eye contact with him, who had a face covered with a mask.

He’s a monster. He might have some ugly eyes.

But at that moment, there was a sparkle of faith and kindness. She felt she saw a hint of light through the mask.

“It’s a promise okay?”

“It’s a promise.”

The two faced each other.

Halstead’s family looked at him with a smile, giving up their worries for a moment.

The innocent heart of a twelve-year-old girl, that has goodwill, looked like she wanted to drive out all the misfortunes that would come to their Lord.

“Then.”

Erden turned around and got on the horse he had prepared.

“Let’s go!”

The elite soldiers who decided to go to the expedition were also on horseback. He said goodbye to his family and relatives for the last time and has set off.

Leticia looked at her three grandmas.

They nodded their heads. As promised in advance, they all went up to the command tower.

Erden and the soldiers who had left the castle were seen running incessantly.

She looked until they disappeared far away, and the dust clouds they caused were completely gone.

Then they came down.

Alexa, Bastian, and Casaro faced each other.

“It’s about time.”

Alexa said.

Leticia and the three grandmothers headed to the command room in the heart of Halstead Castle.

There was a flagpole laid on the high table in the middle. It was a shredder that drew the power of artifacts.

It looks like a small altar made of white marble. There was a holy image carved on the bottom.

Decorated with small jewels.

Alexa put the queen ant’s pendant in the top entrance and twitched the handle on the side.

Clank.

There was a crack in the artifact.

As the shredder rotated slowly, the fog came out. It spread slowly and surrounded the castle.

Tarua’s fog.

Thanks to this mist that grinds an artifact, Halstead Castle is now briefly lost in everyone’s perception.

It was like a powerful curse.

The people of the castle are still able to interact with the outside world. It is also possible to buy and sell goods or baggage vans and to hire new workers.

However, the opponent will turn around, and quickly forget the name “Halstead.”

Even if Halstead’s castle happens to be a hot topic among humans and demons in the north, it will disappear to the other side of consciousness the next moment.”

The magnificent castle is soon completely enveloped in mist.

Leticia looked out the window.

The wind that blew within the mist flipped her red hair.

“Me too…”

Leticia murmured.

A firm resolution rose in his puffy eyes.

“I have to get strong, too!”