Living As the Villainess Queen

Kasser paced along the perimeter, maintaining a cautious distance from the imposing walls of the city. A sleek black leopard trailed silently behind him.

“Is it an impenetrable barrier?” he wondered aloud.

He had made numerous attempts to breach the defenses of the Holy City, trying everything from walking to running and even jumping. As the king themselves, as warriors, and as soldiers exerted every effort, each endeavor yielded the same result. Even when various objects of differing weights, sizes, and materials were hurled towards the walls, they met with the same impervious resistance. Hwansu’s attempt to startle the horse and ride towards the barrier ended in vain as well.

Halting his steps, Kasser noticed a vibrant red object wedged in a crevice of the stone beneath his feet. It was a lark seed.

There are lark seeds here too, he mused to himself.

Given that lark seeds were typically found in areas where larks recently appeared, their presence near the capital was unusual. Nonetheless, as long as the monster remained ensconced within the Holy City, this seed would remain unbroken.

He picked up the seed and tossed it lightly in his hand, repeating the gesture absentmindedly. Then, with a sudden resolve, he flung the seed towards the Holy City. His eyes widened as he watched it sail through the air before landing within the confines of the barrier.

Now standing approximately a hundred paces away from the Holy City, Kasser attempted to approach the seeds scattered on the ground, only to find himself thwarted by the unyielding barrier. The inexplicable phenomenon persisted, leaving the gap unchanged.

Resigned, he plucked a small stone resembling a seed from the ground and hurled it towards the city, witnessing its futile bounce against the invisible barrier. Unpacking the bag of seeds he had brought along to feed Hwansu, he extracted one and launched it towards the Holy City, noting its proximity to the previously thrown seed.

As he prepared to make another attempt, a crackling sound diverted his attention. Abu, the Hwansu, regarded him with a disgruntled expression, his tail thumping against the ground impatiently.

Observing Abu’s disappointment at the tossed seed, Kasser pondered the mystery of the lark seeds and their peculiar behavior.

“Abu, go in there. If you succeed, I’ll give you this,” Kasser instructed, offering the seed as a reward.

However, Abu seemed reluctant to comply, perhaps considering the endeavor futile after previous failed attempts. Reluctantly, he took his stance and dashed towards the capital, only to circle around it fruitlessly. Returning to Kasser’s side, he protested with an even louder thump of his tail.

Kasser clicked his tongue in frustration, regarding the defiant Hwansu. Though he had once believed otherwise, witnessing the behavior of other kings’ Hwansus made it clear that none were as spirited and stubborn as Abu.

“Abu’s like a rubber ball, resilient and smart. Coaxing and soothing are the most effective with him,” Eugene’s words echoed in Kasser’s mind as he generously tossed seeds to the spirited Hwansu.

Pop!

Startled, Kasser glanced upward to see fireworks illuminating the distant sky. With the kings dispersed, each seeking their own path into the capital, only Richard remained behind. He stationed himself near the gate of the Holy City, ready to signal any change.

“Abu!” Kasser called, leaping onto the Hwansu’s back and urging him toward the city gate.

Meanwhile, Richard received a report from a warrior indicating that the gate of the Holy City had opened. Rushing to verify the information, he found the gate indeed ajar, with two figures emerging. Without hesitation, he ordered the flare to be ignited to alert the others.

The distance from the city gate to the kings’ meeting room tent was short. Before the other kings arrived, envoys from Sang-je approached Richard.

Clad in white cloth adorned with golden embroidery, the envoys bowed respectfully.

“May Mahar’s blessing be eternal upon the King who enters the great temple,” they intoned solemnly.

It was a glimmer of hope that the congregation responded in some manner. The frustration had been palpable during this prolonged ordeal. Understanding Sang-je’s intentions was crucial for devising a plan, yet unraveling the true motive behind the strange spell that encased the Holy City remained elusive.

However, Richard’s expression darkened as he observed the envoys, a sense of unease settling in his gut. The moment he drew close enough to recognize their youthful faces, he felt a wave of perplexity wash over him. These envoys were mere boys and girls who had yet to reach adulthood.

Richard could discern the sinister intent behind Sang-je’s choice of messengers. No matter what provocation the children might offer to incite the kings’ anger, harming them would be unthinkable. Sang-je would undoubtedly exploit any harm inflicted upon the young envoys, leveraging it to manipulate public opinion in the capital.

How cunning and dangerous you are. That monster has absorbed the most malevolent aspects of humanity, Richard thought bitterly.

As the other kings arrived one by one, their expressions mirrored Richard’s dismay upon laying eyes on the envoys. Riner, who had traveled the farthest, greeted the scene with a scowl when briefed on the situation.

“Recite the oracle, or whatever it is,” Riner demanded tersely.

The boy and girl paled under the intense scrutiny of the six kings. Despite their efforts to maintain composure, their bodies quivered with nervous tension. With trembling hands, the boy extracted the contents from the large envelope he carried and began to recite.

“We embarked on a long journey to reach the great temple… Sacred poetry, warriors of God…”

“I can’t hear you. Give it to me!” Riner interrupted brusquely, snatching the paper from the boy’s trembling grasp.

“The Great Temple, ah, that’s enough bullshit. The holy warriors of God gathered in front of God’s fortress without hesitation to travel a long way. Who can say that they are God’s warriors?”

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