Level 0 Master

Chapter 38: Vol. 2 - Episode 13

Chapter 9

In that critical situation, Sungjin seemed to be calm. Ereka glanced at Sungjin, who had just finished his training and was now heading to take a shower.

That's Sungjin's odor.

She was able to smell Sungjin's body odor from a distance.

Sungjin, you really look… calm and confident now.

He didn't look like someone who was about to have a difficult fight. Sungjin looked like when he was preparing for his fight with the three knights, and more confident than when he was preparing for his fight with the Blood Ruler. Everyone was worried, but he looked so confident because he had already done his planning.

Your confidence makes me look forward to this fight rather than be anxious about it.

Everyone was saying that it was over for Sungjin, but she was actually curious as to how Sungjin would overcome this clear challenge and win. She trusted him that much.

Then, maybe it would be okay to tell him.

She didn't tell him this because she thought it would be inappropriate to tell someone this when they were about to fight in a war…

"Well, Sungjin."

"Huh?" he stopped and answered.

"There's something I need to tell you."

"Tell me."

"Actually… in five days…"

"In five days…?"

Sungjin looked at Ereka with confusion.

The battle against the alliance of the three kingdoms was in fifteen days. He couldn't think of any event in five days.

"We have a… dessert… festival. Artisans from all around the country come to sell cakes, pies, and ice-cream…"

Ereka was blushing when she was telling Sungjin about it.

"And?"

"Last year, there was no dessert festival due to many reasons. So this year, many people are looking forward to it. But also, some are saying that we shouldn't have one because the battle against the three kingdoms is eminent. But if we do have it… it would be something to help us forget about the war for a short amount of time."

"Hmmm. Do we need a lot of money for that?"

"Not really. We have enough for it."

"Then let them have the festival."

"Would that be okay?"

"What I like about this world compared to mine is that a war is not an 'all-out war.' So let them enjoy the festival. And don't forget to tell them that I will win for sure, so don't worry and just enjoy."

Looking at Sungjin's confidence, Ereka put her hands together.

"Then, well… I know you are busy preparing for the battle… but why don't you take a day off?"

"Should we go together?" Sungjin asked Ereka before she asked him.

"Would that be okay?"

Ereka sounded worried, but her eyes were shining with happiness.

"It's okay. Let's go together. You are right, I should take a day off."

"Then can I prepare something for our disguises?"

"Huh? Oh, sure."

Sungjin understood Ereka right away. If the ruler of the country "officially" participated in the festival, the common people wouldn't be able to enjoy it comfortably.

She is always very considerate.

"Okay. See you later."

Oh. It's a date with Sungjin. It's been a while. It's a date!

Ereka started to run with excitement, and Sungjin smiled while looking at her.

She is just a little girl when she is like that. She must be happily thinking of those sweet desserts.

Ereka bumped into a pillar.

Huh?

Ereka stood up quickly and apologized.

"Sorry." And then she started to run again.

Haha.

Sungjin shrugged his shoulders and then went to shower.

…

The festival day came, and Sungjin and Ereka were disguised as commoners; they wore magical accessories that changed their hair color.

Walking next to Sungjin like a good girl, Ereka couldn't stop looking at Sungjin's arm.

Wouldn't it be too much to if I tried to walk arm-in-arm with you?

She was worried that he would think that was too much to do.

Because they were not lovers yet.

Or maybe just hold hands…

Sungjin walked next to her without knowing her wishes.

Well, you said you wouldn't date me, so it that won't happen.

Ereka gave up her hopes to hold his hand and sighed.

There were a lot of people trying to promote their desserts.

"Come and taste our brand new chocolate mousse!"

"Raspberry cookies!"

"There are many different things," Sungjin commented.

"Yes. This festival started when my late father was ruling. It started as a small festival, but now it has become a very big one."

"Okay. Would you like to taste something?"

"Huh? I… Oh… well… the strawberry cake of the great general, Igren… or… maybe the 25 assorted cookies of Sugrain… I guess those are my favorites."

"Hmm. Are they out today?" Sungjin asked her.

"Oh, both are out today. But they only have a limited supply, and they're set up at the same time on opposite sides of the festival… Okay. Let's do this."

"Huh? Do what?"

"I will go and get the strawberry cake. You go and get the box of cookies, and then we can meet up."

"Oh, that…"

"Then we can have both," said Sungjin thinking he was being a gentleman.

I should do this much for Ereka.

"Sure. Let's do that."

Ereka smiled.

I'd rather be with you than have cookies.

Sungjin was an evil god on the battlefield, but he didn't know what was going on in a girl's mind. But she still decided to follow his suggestion because she understood that Sungjin was doing his best to make her happy.

This is your kind gesture to a teammate, not a lover, but I'm happy with this for now.

Ereka headed to the other end of the festival while Sungjin was about to line up.

"Now, we'll start to sell Igren's limited-edition strawberry cake. Due to the limited number of cakes, one person can only buy two.

As soon as the seller announced the sale, people gathered to make a line. Sungjin found his spot in the line as well.

With his power, he could have called the great general to the castle and tell him to make some for him.

But where's the fun in that?

He waited, and finally, it was his turn.

"Let me get two of them."

"Sure. Two cakes. You are the last one, now they're sold out."

When the seller said they were sold out, the people behind Sungjin started to sigh.

"Oh, no!"

"Ugh."

Listening to the people sighing behind him, Sungjin still took the two cakes.

Ereka told me she loves it. Maybe Jenna does as well?

It was a perfect item for the party planned for this afternoon.

"Wait! Sell them to me! Both of them. Or at least just one!"

There was a person behind him who was desperately asking him to sell the cake.

I know this voice.

He turned around to have a look at the person.

"Huh? Wait, you are!"

Sungjin recognized her, and his eyes started to shine sharply.

She was disguised, but he was able to recognize her. It was Eustasia.

"Who… are you?"

She turned around when she recognized his face.

"Don't worry, I will not exile you."

"Ugh… Yes, it's me," said Eustasia.

"What brought you here?" Sungjin was curious.

Unlike on the earth, in Valhalla, the heroes were not allowed to fight outside of the battlefield. But this was not an absolute rule, so there were ways to punish others without killing them. That meant, there was a great risk when sneaking in the enemy's territory before a battle.

"Of… of course to prepare for the battle. I'm not here for fun!"

"But this is a dessert festival. There is no arsenal nor a training room."

"…"

Unlike her confident self, who was the greatest general of the four kingdoms, Eustasia avoided his eye contact. She was murmuring something to answer him, but her voice was so quiet he couldn't even hear it.

Sungjin couldn't understand the situation. He tried but was not able to comprehend what kind of military benefit she was looking for.

But why is she here, really? To meet a spy here? Is that something that she has to do?

She turned her head and answered.

"I hope you are not a person who will blackmail me with this."

"Blackmail you?"

Sungjin still couldn't understand what she was talking about.

"Don't pretend! Don't tell anyone that the great general was sneaking into the enemy's festival to find a cake."

"But you told me you were scouting? Are you joking?"

"I'm not. Ugh!"

Eustasia stepped back, regretting that she told him the truth.

Why him again.

She glared at him fiercely. She had numerous fights, but she was not able to calm down after her fight with Sungjin. She tried her best not to, but she couldn't stop thinking about him.

She was trying to tell herself that it is natural because he was such a strong enemy who defeated her in a duel, but that didn't help to calm her down.

Before the important battle ahead, she couldn't sleep well when she heard that the dessert festival was opening again this year.

I wanted to enjoy one day where nobody would recognize me.

But Sungjin spotted her. He looked at the cake boxed in his hands.

So, that was it? Why are girls so crazy about sweets?

This was a difficult question for him to answer.

"Okay. Take one."

"What do you mean?"

"I've got two."

"You are giving one to your enemy?"

"I don't consider you an enemy," Sungjin responded flatly.

"Huh? Don't you know that we are about to have a battle?"

They looked at each other.

Eustasia glared at him fiercely, but Sungjin was looking at her without any anger.

"Yeah, I consider you a rival. A rival, but I still want to have you on my team eventually."

They clearly had different ways to solve problems.

Although their points of view on realty were different, and they were fighting on different sides, they still had the same empathy for people who were abused, and they both wanted to help those people.

Moreover, her extraordinary ability was something he needed to prepare for the fights to come.

"Don't you remember that I said no?"

"I will give you another offer as the unifier of the four kingdoms."

Sungjin wasn't going to change his mind.

I will defeat you over and over again to make you join my team.

"Dream on."

"Your prejudices are not a bad thing for me."

"Hmph. I don't need this cake; I just came here during my short break to see if I could find something for my subordinates."

A short break?

Sungjin wanted to ask her if it was really a "short" break to cross the border to come here. That would make sense if she used a Portal Stone, but that was quite pricey just for some desserts.

"But if you insist, I will take it for you," Eustasia said.

"Oh, sure. Take it."

Eustasia snatched the cake box from Sungjin.

"But let me be clear, I wouldn't go easy on you because of this."

"I wouldn't expect that from you."

"You will be killed miserably when you become a prisoner."

"That won't happen, but thank you for your concern."

"Concern? I will make a petition to the king for your execution."

"Last time you told me to be yours, didn't you?" Sungjin retorted.

"Now, I know you are not someone I can handle." Eustasia pointed at his chest with her index finger.

But he was indeed not someone she could handle.

"Now I'm convinced that you are just trouble. To protect my country and the power balance of our continent, I will destroy you."

A man like this would shake the world. He was a man who could destroy the balance among countries.

He was just a man, but his strength equaled that of a country. She thought that this would be her last chance to finish him off.

"Thanks for the cake. I will execute you without pain to thank you."

Before Seyzo II starts torturing you.

"Thanks, but that won't be necessary."

"Bye," Eustasia said quickly and left.

Looking at her leave, Sungjin couldn't help but smile to himself.

See you soon. You are my next team member. It won't be easy, but I won't give up.

…

Not long after that, Ereka came back to join Sungjin.

"Sungjin. I've got cookies."

"Great. I've got a cake. And…"

Sungjin decided not to tell Ereka that he'd met Eustasia because Eustasia didn't want to tell anyone that she was here.

"Do you want anything else?"

"Not for now. Let's hang out together and look around."

Ereka had a gentle smile on her face. She actually didn't care about the desserts, but she was happy that Sungjin had gotten it for her.

I'm happy enough for now.

Actually, she saw Sungjin talking to Eustasia, but she decided not to ask about it.

She was able to confirm that Sungjin was interested in Eustasia very much.

But… although you want to bring her onto your team, that doesn't mean you don't want me. So I'm happy enough.

She approached Sungjin closer and said, "Let's have a look at what else they have. I hope we find something you like as well."

"Sure."

A war was coming, so it was important to enjoy this short moment in peace.

I'm glad we came. Both Ereka and Eustasia like these things.

He didn't know that it was more important for them that they were with him and that they received something from him. He was not sharp when it came to these kinds of things.