139 - 24 Hearts

Twenty-Four Hearts - Chapter 139 > Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive Chapter 4. Uron, the Land of Leisure and Culture --- Paaang! With a flash of light, three figures appeared on the circular stone platform. They were Yuda, Arhil, and Jeanne. Their eyes widened in surprise, their expressions bewildered at the sudden change in their surroundings. "Wo... wow!" Arhil voiced what Yuda wanted to exclaim. Teleportation was indeed a peculiar experience. They had used the magic stone given by Count Genue of Filoria, who had invited them to visit once they were done with their business in Regen. The sensation of floating was followed by the distortion of the surroundings, and in the blink of an eye, they found themselves in a different place. Yuda had heard that teleportation could make some people feel unwell, but thankfully all he experienced was a slight increase in heartbeat. "Is...is this for real?" Jeanne asked, her voice trembling, as it appeared to be her first teleportation experience. "Yes, Count Genue gave it to us in case of emergencies or when we wanted to visit Uron after our tasks in Regen. Didn't I mention it?" "...You did not." Jeanne let out a small grumble and closed her mouth, brow furrowed as if she was feeling unwell. Yuda remembered reading that closing one's eyes could alleviate discomfort due to sudden environmental change and suggested this to her. Jeanne obediently shut her eyes tightly, and at her side, Arhil blessed her with divine power. "I was thrilled by this unexpected surprise, much better than struggling for days. Isn't it?" Arhil continued cheerfully. "...True," Jeanne nodded, feeling better. It was intended to be a surprise, but Yuda genuinely forgot to inform them about the magic stone. He'd planned to use or give it if they were finished in Regen or if emergencies arose. "So if the Count who gave this magic stone is indeed from here, are we in Uron?" Jeanne asked. "Most likely." Yuda replied calmly. "Most likely...?" "Don't worry. I doubt the Count would give us a fake magic stone." Jeanne almost questioned Yuda's seemingly excessive trust but chose not to. Yuda, on his part, had used the stone with sincere confidence. As expected, the magic stone turned to dust and disappeared the moment the teleportation activated, being a consumable item that vanished after use. Before using it, he had checked just in case, though the chances were low. The holographic text displayed no anomalies. The destination was clearly labeled as "Estate owned by Count Lava in Uron," and appearing on the map afterward confirmed their presence next to Filoria, thus undeniably in Uron. "But aren't we too early?" Jeanne asked. "Indeed, Yuda. If you'd told us about the magic stone, we could have rested adequately." Yuda found himself speechless, knowing their words to be true, so he promptly apologized for not informing them earlier. As they were softly chattering, a maid who seemed to notice them while passing through the estate rushed over, lightly lifting her skirts. Yuda approached her with a soft smile as she stopped. "Excuse me..." But before Yuda could finish, the panting maid cut him off firmly, as if she had no time for his words. "How did you get in here? This is the estate of Count Lava, a high noble of Uron. Entering without permission, I've already called the guards! Do not attempt escape!" "No need. These are my guests." Before Yuda could figure out how to respond to the maid's words, the Count appeared and spoke. He seemed to have used a spell for short-distance teleportation, known as "Blink" in some games. "Long time no see, Count. Have you been well?" "I have, indeed. It's good to see you again," the Count replied warmly, extending his hand without any hint of annoyance at Yuda's early morning visit. As Yuda reached naturally to shake his hand, just like last time, the ring on the Count's hand resonated. Wuooong! Startled, Yuda let go, but the Count did not appear surprised, as if expecting it. He glanced briefly at the entity known as Valentine on his hand and chose not to mention the phenomenon. "It seems everything went smoothly in Regen. You appear to be in one piece." There were not many, but significant events had occurred. The chief of the Red Bear tribe, Quaik, was killed, as well as Kain, who tried to inherit the shard. A memorable night was spent with Isabelle, the Black Tree tribe's chief. However, Yuda had no intention of discussing these openly. "Yes, I was fortunate. While wandering the forest, I encountered the Black Tree tribe and got to experience their culture." "Ah, so you stayed with one of the great tribes then? Was it a good experience?" "Surprisingly, they seem to have exchanges with Baekjae Empire, everything you might expect was there. They even treated me hospitably, claiming I possessed qualities of a spirit from their tales." "Lucky indeed." "Did you stay with the Black Tree tribe, Count?" "No, I lived with the Ancient Tree tribe. There..." The Count glanced around at Jeanne, Arhil standing behind Yuda, and the waiting maid. He showed his palm to Yuda, signaling for a pause, then stepped to Yuda's side, changing their proximity. "I apologize for the late introduction, Miss Jeanne and Miss Arhil." "No, not at all. We should be the ones apologizing for visiting at such an early hour." Yuda felt a twinge of guilt seeing the Count still in his pajamas. After shaking hands with the two women, the Count turned back to Yuda. "Let's continue our conversation inside and have breakfast together." "It would be an honor if you would have us." "Then, follow me." Yuda, Jeanne, and Arhil prepared to follow the Count as he turned his back to lead the way. The Count glanced at the maid still bowing in place. "Aria." "Yes, my lord." "We have guests, so please inform the head chef to prepare a more substantial breakfast. And if the guards arrive, tell them it was a misunderstanding and apologize for me." "Yes, my lord." "Oh, and tell Sarah that she must join us for breakfast today." "Yes, my lord." The maid, still bowing, scurried away. As she left, the group followed the Count inside the grand estate. Upon entering the classic mansion, maids paused their cleaning to greet the Count. "Good morning, my lord." "You're doing well," the Count replied. He personally guided Yuda's group to a reception room. With a snap of his fingers, the pajamas he wore transformed into a spotless suit. It was a magical—no, an incredibly convenient spell. His disheveled hair was quickly tamed with a few swipes of his hand, forming a presentable style. Ready for guests in no time, he took a seat while Yuda, Arhil, and Jeanne sat together on a sofa. A maid soon entered to pour them tea. The Count took a sip from the steaming cup and naturally resumed the conversation. "So, I was at the point where I visited the Ancient Tree tribe, wasn't I?" "That's right." "The Ancient Tree tribe was rather lackluster for a major tribe. Everything about it was just plain. The only notable aspects were their hunting methods and festivals. I remember feeling so disappointed when I went to Regen, expecting more than there actually was. How about you? What were your impressions, Arhil, Jeanne? Did you find much to take away from the Black Tree tribe?" The three of them answered one by one, all sharing positive experiences. Even though they only participated in the festivals for a few hours, they found the towering wooden bonfires, traditional dances, drinking games, and conversations to be entirely new experiences. Moreover, they witnessed duels between owners of sacred swords and the current sorry state of shard bearers. These were an undoubtedly memorable part of their journey. When it came to sharing their reflections on Regen, Jeanne and Arhil tactfully left out any mention of the sacred sword or the fragments, simply stating they had participated in hunting the Orc tribe to observe their fighting styles. When they expressed that they had enjoyed their time, the Count teasingly asked, "Would you go there again?" Naturally, Arhil made a face of distaste, and Jeanne tightly pressed her lips together, silently conveying her reluctance. The Count chuckled. "You may have faced hardships in Regen, but there will be none such here in Uron. If you gained unforgettable memories from trials in Regen, you can expect to gain unforgettable joys here in Uron." The Count smiled confidently. Uron, the kingdom of leisure and culture, had more than enough to offer to create lasting memories. Finally, the Count's gaze shifted to Yuda. The Count recalled how the shard had resonated again during their handshake. If he didn't suffer any nightmares tonight, it would strongly suggest that the source of his continuous nightmares had indeed been the very fragment that had granted him power, glory, and wealth up until now. The fate of those who held the "Glory of Valentine" before often ended tragically, and considering the fate of its previous owner before the Count took possession, it seemed his end might be approaching too. Yet, perhaps a solution had been found—or at least, he hoped so. He looked toward Yuda Arshe and wished that this young man held the key to resolving it, continuing their conversation until breakfast was served. --- Author's Note --- Goodnight, everyone.