Okay, so now… … .”
After naming him Kira like that.
Suho’s gaze turned to the side.
Even though the Jisan Prison incident was solved, there was a reason why Suho was still staying nearby.
Waeeeeeeeng-
This guy right here.
It was because of Queen Bee Arsha who accidentally found out Suho’s true identity.
[Guardian, my true self has long since left this place. So… … Even if you search for me like this, it’s just a waste of time… … Kkuuk.]
As Berga tightened his grip on Arsha, Arsha’s doll-sized body began to crumble.
But it was all just smoke.
The clone body is an empty shell created by swarming several bees, connected only mentally to the main body.
She didn’t feel any pain because the empty shell was a little crushed.
[Your Majesty, we must find her and kill her at all costs. If this queen bee were to collude with the Apostles of Itarim in the future, it would be a serious problem.]
Ber had a serious expression on his face.
When Suho revealed his shadow powers while fighting with all his might against Harmakan.
Arsha, who happened to be nearby, also noticed Suho’s true identity.
So the moment Suho kills Harmakan and the instance dungeon is canceled.
He immediately released all the shadow soldiers in all directions to search for Arsha’s body.
However, even though they mobilized everyone, including Essil and Gray, who had excellent senses, finding Arsha’s body was not an easy task.
The reason for this was none other than the fact that the entire area was covered in dense forests and mountains.
Because there are so many flying insects living in the forest, Pocheon City was the optimal environment for bees to hide.
Tch.
Suho eventually clicked his tongue and gave up on finding Arsha’s body.
That doesn’t mean I gave up.
Catching and killing them would be the easiest and best way, but there was a second way.
‘Maybe this is better.’
“Arsha.”
Suho looked straight into Arsha’s small eyes and asked directly.
“Are you wondering why you can sense Quresha’s energy from me right now?”
Shudder.
“Actually, if I had put my mind to it, I could have run away a long time ago.”
Arsha’s small body trembled as she was struck by those words.
And then I looked up at Suho’s face with an awkward expression.
[You knew… … so you did.]
As Suho said, Arsha’s clone could have split into numerous punishments and escaped at any moment.
But why is Arsha still here, being held captive by Ber’s hands?
“Even though it doesn’t matter if I die since I’m a clone anyway, there’s no reason for me to volunteer to reduce the number of my subordinates.”
And Suho had guessed the reason all along.
“You must be wondering what exactly my relationship is with Quresha?”
[… … Phew. As expected, it’s Suho-nim.]
At those words, Arsha finally let out a soft sigh and poured out her heart.
[Yes, that’s true.]
Arsha’s voice was shaking with tension.
Arsha has lived for a very long time to become a descendant of Quresha, the king of bugs and lord of plagues.
But for some reason, I could feel a faint hint of Quresha’s energy coming from Suho, and I was extremely flustered.
Of course, the energy was so weak that only other insects could notice it, like a kind of pheromone.
‘… … It definitely wasn’t like this when we first met.’
Arsha recalled the moment when she first met Suho.
Until then, only the smell of a beast was vibrating from Suho’s body.
‘So, of course, I thought he was a descendant of the Fang Lord… … .’
But the problem came after that.
When Suho fought with his spearman, Lee Min-seong, he felt not only the scent of a beast, but also another energy.
The poisonous aura was surging from his entire body.
But at that time, Arsha had not thought that the poisonous aura was actually Quresha’s aura.
‘I just thought it was poison from immigration.’
but.
The moment I saw Suho up close again today.
Arsha was convinced.
[Suho, are you perhaps… … .]
“for a moment.”
Suho interrupted Arsha mid-sentence and spoke firmly.
“It’s not hard to satisfy your curiosity. It’s not really a big secret.”
At those words, Arsha’s eyes sparkled with anticipation for a moment.
But Suho, seeing that reaction, continued speaking with a mischievous smile.
“But you know, even if I answer honestly, would you believe me?”
[… … .]
At those words, Arsha closed her mouth with a serious expression.
From my own experience, humans are a species that can lie without any hesitation.
Even those lies were so clever that they went far beyond the level of mimicry that insects use to deceive their enemies.
“therefore.”
Suho smiled meaningfully and added one condition.
“How about we make a ‘pledge of fidelity’ together?”
[… … ?!]
Arsha’s eyes widened at those words.
[How do you, a human, know about the ‘Oath of Faithfulness’?]
Oath of faithfulness.
It was a covenant that even rulers and monarchs could never deviate from, and that they could never lie to each other until the contract was broken.
[That’s because this body taught me.]
Berga raised the corners of his mouth in pride.
These days, whenever Ber Suho goes to bed, he has a hobby of telling him old stories by his bedside.
This is a kind of instinct as an ant.
Just like ants bring food to the larvae and feed them until they become adults.
Because Ber still regarded Suho as a larva that needed to be cared for, he was anxious to teach him anything whenever he had the chance.
[Huh. Okay. If it’s for the sake of our mutual trust… ]
Arsha eventually accepted Suho’s offer.
But there was a problem.
[But how do you intend to make the oath of fidelity? The oath of fidelity cannot be used unless one has the power of a ruler or a monarch… … .]
“That’s no problem.”
Suho opened his eyes and smiled.
“Right, Quresha?”
Then, as if waiting, an answer came from far away.
Tiring!
[The King of Bugs, the Lord of Plagues, casts ‘Oath of Faithfulness (Bargain)’.] [If you accept the ‘Oath of Faithfulness (Bargain)’, those who accept it cannot lie to each other.] [Do you accept the ‘Oath of Faithfulness (Bargain)’?] (Y/N)
[… … !]
At that moment, Arsha shuddered in shock.
Suddenly, the energy of the dead Quresha spread through the guardian and gave him compulsion!
[Oh, how did this happen… …! This is Quresha-sama’s… …? You are as expected!]
Suho forced her to answer with a meaningful look in his eyes as she was flustered.
“Now, swear to me.”
[I swear, every day.]
Then Suho also chose to accept.
At that moment.
Tiring!
[The ‘Oath of Fidelity (Bargain)’ has been made.] [The acceptors cannot lie to each other until the contract is broken by mutual consent.] [The King of Bugs, the Lord of Plagues, looks on with great satisfaction at this situation.]
Even as Quresha, who usually disliked being protected, he couldn’t help but welcome this situation.
This meant that Suho had decided not to kill Arsha, who had a high chance of becoming his descendant.
‘Let’s see if we can tell the real truth.’
Suho opened his mouth to confirm the validity of this oath.
“I’m sobbing… … .”
It worked well.
The moment I was about to tell a lie, my mouth was forcibly shut.
Only then did Suho feel satisfied and asked Arsha.
“Okay, let’s get started. Arsha, what do you want to know about me?”
[Did Suho become the priest of Quresha?]
It was Arsa who asked the question as if he had been waiting.
Suho nodded obediently.
“That’s right. I became a priest of the King of Bugs, the Lord of Plagues, and received the protection of Quresha.”
[also,!]
At that moment, Arsha asked Suho with earnest eyes.
[Then please take me to him… … !]
“Okay, now it’s my turn.”
Arsha couldn’t help but feel nervous at the expression on Suho’s face as he cut her off so firmly.
“I have so many questions for you.”
[… … Ask me anything. I’ll answer everything.]
Arsha bowed her head obediently.
The role of the priests is to choose the next king.
Only by looking good to Suho could he inherit Quresha’s power.
“Then let me ask you. Arsha, are you an apostle of Itarim, or are you in league with Itarim?”
[No, absolutely not.]
“Then, do you have any intention of taking Itarim’s side later?”
[No, that will never happen again.]
Arsha’s tone was firm.
[All I want is to succeed Quresha as the king of bugs. I can assure you that no one who calls themselves a descendant of a monarch like me will side with the foreigners.]
“Why is that? Isn’t there a possibility that there are exceptions?”
[Of course… … I cannot represent all races, but the purpose of the aliens is to devour all the remaining magic power in our world. The moment their purpose is achieved, we will all become a handful of mana and become their food.]
And that’s something no one wants.
Suho nodded, rubbing his chin.
“Hmm. So that means there’s no need for us to fight amongst ourselves.”
[That’s right. So please give me… … .]
“But you see. When you say ‘we’, aren’t humans included?”
[… … .]
Arsha’s mouth was forced shut for a moment at Suho’s question.
Then he sighed and opened his mouth again.
[Yes, I intend to kill and use humans whenever necessary in the future.]
“Then I guess I have to kill you.”
Creepy.
Now that she knew that Suho’s words were sincere, Arsha couldn’t help but feel fear.
Now, Suho was a descendant of the Shadow Lord and was also wearing the protection of Quresha.
If he tried to kill himself in earnest, he would eventually be caught by him and killed.
[Now, wait a minute! From now on, I promise to only kill those humans who are defined as villains!]
“Then, you could frame him as a villain first and then kill him? Human law is imperfect.”
[… … What should I do then? If you tell me, I will obey whatever you say.]
In the end, Arsha completely gave up on Suho.
Then, he looked at Suho with the most compassionate eyes and made an earnest request.
[If you will, I will become your slave. Even if I inherit the power of Quresha, I will serve you forever until I die.]
“… … That’s an interesting thing to say.”
Stand tall at that word.
Suddenly, an incredible killing intent burst out from Suho.
[Use ‘Skill: Survive’.]
Phew!
[Whoa… … !]
Arsha became lost in thought and screamed at his overwhelming murderous intent, which was even imbued with Quresha’s protection.
Suho’s black eyes, which seemed to resemble a vast abyss, looked down at Arsha with an arrogant gaze.
“Until you die? Aren’t you basically a colony of countless bees? If even one bee dies, that oath will be broken immediately.”
[I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I absolutely did not mean to do something like that!]
“Really? Then show yourself in front of me right now.”
[That, that’s… … .]
“Why? You don’t like it?”
Suho asked with a smile on his face.
“Are you scared? Are you afraid that I will kill you right away?”
[Will you promise not to… kill me?]
“No, I intend to kill you at any time.”
[… … .]
“But I promise I won’t kill you if you don’t go against my will.”
[Such an unreasonable promise… … .]
“If you don’t like it, you will live forever as a mere insect, not as a descendant of Quresha.”
[… … .]
Arsha felt a deep sense of despair at those words.
The truth is… …I knew it from the beginning.
The fact that this conversation is absolutely detrimental to you.
Right now, Suho was the absolute best.
Arsha had something she desperately wanted from Suho, but Suho had nothing he wanted from Arsha.
Rather, if there is something I wish for, it would be Arsha’s death.
So I had no choice but to endure this kind of one-sided bullying.
Of course, if you follow that bullying obediently, you will definitely be rewarded.
‘Because I can become the king of bugs that I so desperately wanted to be.’
So, Arsha’s answer was decided from the beginning.
Finally, Arsha nodded with an expression of extreme humiliation and despair.
[Oh, I see… … .]
“hmm?”
[Keeec?]
But then it happened.
“… … !”
[… … !]
sudden!
Suho and Arsha, and even Harmakan who was receiving treatment from Ber and Eolchare.
They all opened their eyes wide at the same time and turned their heads to look in the same direction.
[Your Majesty!] [Someone is coming!]
Wheaaa …
Someone with incredible magical powers was running towards us at high speed along the ridge!
But that power is… … !
[S-Class!]
“Could it be Hwang Dong-soo?!”
The second reason why Suho still remained in this area.
It was because there was a possibility that Dong-suk Hwang’s younger brother Dong-su Hwang would hear the news and appear here.
“Everyone, get in first!”
The moment all the shadow soldiers disappeared at Suho’s command.
Boom-!
Finally, ‘he’ arrived in front of Suho.
But he wasn’t Hwang Dong-su.
“What a horrible smell of blood!”
As soon as he found Suho, he unleashed a ferocious aura from his entire body and struck Suho with his white, furry fist without warning.
Kwaaang-!
“… … !”
He bared his teeth and roared at Suho, who had hastily dodged the attack.
Groan!
“Avoiding this? You, you’re truly a villain!”
“Oh, no?”
He’s a guardian.
