16 Episode 8. The Sword Garden (1)

"No, why didn't you tell me in advance that there were side effects on transformation?”

An hour has passed since the unofficial trio of Looncandel was formed.

Outside the inn, the Black Kings were busily preparing for their departure, and the three sat round on the floor and chatted.

"Little one, you've been sleeping for a thousand years. Will your hair harden or not? Huh? I forgot. And it's been so long since the transformation, it's been hard to maintain."

"You crazy dragon. You almost became a cat!”

A privilege, transformation, granted only to dragons.

It's clearly more of a privilege, but it's an ability that doesn't go so far as to call it "blessing. This is because there are some extremely fatal constraints.

First of all, dragons in transformations are very weak.

If you turn into a cat, you can only have as much combat power as a cat. The same applies to a lion, fish, or bird.

Secondly, if the transformation continues for more than a certain period of time, the dragon cannot return to its original form by itself.

At that stage, the dragon's ego slowly disappears and becomes a normal animal.

"Whoa... I was freaked out, too. In the past. I turned into a fish, enjoyed a game, and then I laughed for a couple of hundred years when I saw a guy caught by a fisherman because I was coming back. By the way, the plague. I could've been that way.”

"Hahaha! Oh, my God, there's such a foolish purpose......Uh."

Gilly, who laughed unconsciously, wiped off his face.

"Sorry, Master. Mr. Murakan."

"Strawberry pie. Why all of a sudden after a good laugh?"

"I had a big laugh during the escort."

"No, strawberry pie, what golem are you? A person could smile, huh? Hey! Kid! How the hell did you treat your nanny?"

"Mu, Mr. Murakan. You've always been very nice to me."

"Tell me if that evil little boy is going to treat you recklessly in the future. I'll kick your ass.”

Very, very good, very good...….

Jean smiled lightly, thinking so. It's been a long time since I've seen Gilly so full of life.

"But Murakan. It doesn't matter how you transform into a human being?"

"Uh. There's no big constraint on human transformation. It's more comfortable. When it's your real self, you'll never stop using your mana. Maintaining a big body requires strength."

"Why is there no limit to human transformation?”

"Gods have been considerate of our dragons. We're just like humans when we're born. The dragon looks like it's a little bit of a problem with breeding species or relieving various needs.….”

"Yes, that's it."

As if he had made a very funny joke on his own, Murakhan even smiled at Cuhel to himself. And to her surprise, Gilly almost had a cramp in her lips trying to hold back her laughter.

Let's not.

Although such a word came to mind in a moment, Jin did not hate this strange party that was suddenly formed.

No, I was very pleased. It is always good to have a reliable colleague who can share secrets.

"Anyway, we're about to leave. Make a change again.”

Murakan grumbled and turned into a cat. Until Jean was fully grown, this transformation was to continue for some time.

* * *

For the next two days, the Black Royal Army transported the very finely defeated group to the capital of the Kingdom of Midell. It was no exaggeration to say that it was not a mercenary squad, but a dignified escort of a full-time knights squad.

On the way, it was hard to understand that a black cat that I found on the street got caught in the convoy.

The Black Kings understood that the young king also had a warm-hearted childlike aspect.

"Thanks for your hard work, Murka, commander of the Third Army of the Black Royal Army. We'll pay for the additional request in the future at Looncandel's main house."

"For us, this mission was a good experience, Gilly. I look forward to the future of your young Looncandel.”

While Gilly and Murka exchanged greetings, Jean was far away with Murakan on her shoulder.

"By the way, Gilly McLoran."

"Speak, Murkah."

"It's a rude question, but I can't help but ask because I've seen you fight. I was in a situation where I had to eat a knife, and I was so respectful. Why would the McLoran family...….”

Gilly's expression darkened. Murka gave a dry hand, coughing in vain.

"I'm sorry. I want to shut my mouth 10 seconds ago."

"It's all right, then, bye."

As soon as the Black Kings left, Gilly breathed a long sigh. Soon after fixing her expression, she took Jean and Murakan to Mitel's mobile gateway management office.

"Nice to meet you. It's the gateway to Mitel. Please show me your ID."

Gilly put out a dagger engraved with the symbol of Looncandel and "black sword."

"Oh! You were the authority of Looncandel. I'm honored to meet you. You're going to Calone in the Hufester Union, aren't you?”

Kalon was the home of Looncandel, where the "Garden of the Sword" was located. Hufester was also, in effect, a united country under Looncandel's rule.

"Yes."

"Come this way. I'd like to give you a special seat."

Mitel is also a land of Looncandel, as it is included in the Hufester Union. The mobile gate manager looked as if he was very honored to guide the Jin group.

"Wait two hours, and you'll be there in a blink of an eye. Have a comfortable trip."

Mitel's waiting room for the express transit gate is as colorful as the reception room for most aristocrats. There were no other guests at the special.

Jean took out a transcription note, burying herself on a soft sofa. Studying whenever I had spare time was a habit that I had during my wizard years.

"Ha, Master."

"Why?"

"To be honest, I'm a little worried about this nanny. The master is the contractor of God, but the identity of Murakan. I don't know if I can cover up the family somehow, but...….”

"Magic?"

"Yes, because I won't tolerate anyone in Looncandel."

"Don't worry. I hope you can hide...….”

Then, someone opened the door of the waiting room.

It was a boy who looked like a nobleman. The boy has pale copper skin and is about a span taller than the camp and is accompanied by two guards.

And as soon as they come in.

There was a sudden surge of tension in the tranquil waiting room. Gilly and the boy's entourage began to stare at each other.

Suddenly. Since Looncandel and Jipple met in one place, it was natural that this atmosphere was formed.

They're jipples, aren't they? Who is it?'

Jean calmly opened the boy's face and thought. Although he looks familiar, it was difficult to know exactly who he was because he didn't see many people close to him in his previous life.

"Somehow I didn't want to go to Hufester. I guess he was trying to run into these bad guys here.”

The boy, far away from Jean, muttered loudly. The guards were now giving a blatant look to Jean as well as Gilly.

It is quite a childish provocation.

Gilly's neck had a blood clot, but Jean decided to watch. So Gilly stayed still, too.

"Meow."

Murakan, who turned into a cat, whirled between them, as if the situation were pleasant.

"Oh, but the cat you raise is cute. I don't want that coward to raise him. Come here, UZZZZZ."

"Nyang!"

a Murakan held in the arms of a boy. He left his body to the boy's touch for a while, and then...….

"Argh!"

Suddenly, he pulled up his claws and scratched the boy's nose and quickly slipped out of his arms. When Jin saw it, he burst into laughter.

"큭!"

"Sixth Master!"

The moment the guards put their hands on their waists to pull out the sword, the boy raised his hand to restrain them.

"Oh, it's all right. It's just a little scratch. It's not a person, it's an animal. You got in trouble for picking a fight.”

The boy who stood up after wiping his nose.

"......and, however stupid it is to pull the sword out in front of Looncandel."

The boy shrugged his shoulders and looked at the losing side.

'Not scared, but calm. No, you don't even care about me?’

It was intended that the boy provoked Jean childishly as soon as he entered the special seat.

It was because I wondered what kind of sprout the youngest Looncandel had just come out of the storm. And the boy came to a conclusion.

"Gin Looncandel. What a funny fellow?"

The boy approached Jean and reached out his hand.

"I'm Veradine Zipple. I've just said a few words because I wanted to ask, and I apologize formally."

Veradine Zipple!

Upon hearing his name, Jean realized why the boy's face was familiar.

In his previous life, Veradin became a nine-star wizard in his thirties, and was a strong candidate for the next household name of the Zipple. As a great celebrity, Jindo has seen his face in the newsletter.

He was an idol of young wizards with his skills, personality, and background.

For Jin, who had just become a five-star wizard at the time, Veradin was a push-and-go figure.

"Really? I was just wondering what kind of guy you were, and I'm glad you weren't a very stupid one."

"Hooh, what did you rate me that way?"

"If you let your men draw their swords, even if it was a joke. You would have had to walk around Hufester without a attendant. You'd be missing a couple of fingers."

"Haha, that's a funny joke."

"Do you think you're kidding?"

Veradin, who confirmed Jean's chilly gaze, flinched in a flash.

"......well, good. That's great, but I'll give you a tip as a senior of similar Jersey. Don't cut your fingers if you meet another jiffle later and experience something rather unpleasant. Wouldn't each family be too tired?”

It's a story in mind that if you do that, there could be a war.

Veradin was a sincere counsel.

"That's a funny joke, Veradin Zipple."

"Well, why? If we and Looncandel fight bloodily whenever there's a minor problem, the world won't be left alone. I meant to ask you to think about the people who are suffering from war.”

"My father, Siron Looncandel. And your father Kellyak Zipple."

Jean smiled slightly and said the latter.

"Do you think they're gonna move the whole family around in a children's fight?”

Veradin's eyes grew bigger when he heard the story. He looked like he had a blow.

"If I had cut off your fingers today, there would have been no war between Looncandel and Zipple. It's a matter of paying for gold bars or thousands of them."

Veradin, who blinked his eyes, nodded still.

"You're learning an unexpected lesson. I'll make sure to pay this debt later."

"Never mind later, pay me back now."

"How?"

"I'd like you to stay quiet until the mobile gate is activated. Don't disturb my rest."