n a faraway place, far from the chaos surrounding Jean,
Clark had just awakened, having finished his trial… and resolved his troubles successfully.
He exited the hall as usual, wearing a mocking smile. His eyes gleamed with a mix of arrogance and irony, and though he possessed no actual energy, an unseen aura clung to him...
Just a single look from him was enough to terrify the continent's strongest mages.
Standing by the gate was Alyssa von Bach, her beauty radiant, clad in an elegant gown, her long hair swaying with the wind...
Her gaze was sharp, and her face bore the look of a woman who had waited far too long.
Alyssa (raising an eyebrow, sarcastically):
"They told me to wait for you… and I did. But you were two hours late—sleeping and pampering yourself, while I stood here like an idiot."
Clark (laughing as he approached, his body language odd, as if his limbs resisted him):
"The trial ran late. But no matter… at least I'm here now. I killed some foolish prince who thought he could challenge me. Slipped out of that mess like a hair from dough."
"A lesson to every idiot who dares—challenge me, and you'll get slapped three times across the face."
To his surprise, Alyssa walked past him coldly, raising her hand in a dismissive, sarcastic wave.
Alyssa:
"Yes, yes. You're very powerful, Your Majesty. Now let's go to the Ghoul Forest."
In his mind, Clark screamed:
"Huh? Did this idi—this wench just speak to me, like that? Does she not know who I am?"
As they walked, Alyssa began speaking in a calm tone:
Alyssa:
"So, you're a friend of Jean's?"
Clark (unbothered):
"Yes… I met him. That fool betrayed me."
Alyssa chuckled and pointed at him mockingly:
"Left you in quite a hilarious situation. Oh, by the way, he was with me last night."
Clark (coldly):
"Right. While you were having fun, I was enjoying myself tearing apart that brainless prince."
Alyssa (leaning lightly against a tree trunk):
"I didn't hear much about what you actually did."
Clark (boasting):
"Of course not. They'd cover it up. A scandal like that would shake the imperial family's reputation."
Alyssa:
"Stop circling around it. Just tell me—what did you do?"
Suddenly, Clark's expression shifted. His gaze flared with silent fury. His face tensed, and his voice darkened:
Clark:
"I held back the first time… but if you keep pushing, I won't stay quiet. Understood?"
Alyssa laughed mercilessly, her eyes gleaming with sarcasm:
"Oh? So you're one of those cowards who hit women? What a fool… so shallow. You've got none of the nobleman's grace."
"You're like the warlords of Cheng—what do they call them? Demonic Path? Maybe you'll lead them someday."
The scene was humiliating.
Clark's face froze like stone. He'd been slapped with words and couldn't reply—choosing silence.
Alyssa (mocking):
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? Say something."
Inside, rage twisted within him like fire under his ribs. But he held it down—barely.
Alyssa (laughing):
"Did you challenge that prince to some sadistic gamble? You and your friend—just alike, completely insane."
Clark (quietly):
"Yes… we are."
She stopped suddenly and said:
"I'll go change. Wait ten minutes, then we'll head out to cleanse the Ghoul Forest."
Clark sat on a stone bench, gazing at the sky with a blank, cold look… the aura around him was faint, yet suffocating—like the numb calm before a storm.
Ten minutes later, Alyssa emerged—wearing light armor and a purple silk shawl over her shoulder.
In her mind, she observed him curiously:
"What a strange man… handsome, with clear charisma. But an idiot. Can't talk. Arrogant to the point of nausea. Will he fall for someone as beautiful as me? Or is he dumber than I thought?"
But she was startled by his sarcastic remark, as he stared at her with a half-smile:
Clark:
"Hahaha… just ten minutes to put on that armor and cover yourself with that ridiculous shawl? Women these days…"
Alyssa's face turned red. Her aura flared. She raised her hand silently—how dare he?
That shawl… was a gift from her dearest friend.
Clark stood up slowly, removing his formal coat and tossing the collar aside.
His gaze was defiant, his posture straight—as if to say:
"Let's see what you've got…"
---
Alyssa calmed down, jaw clenched, eyes avoiding his as she said:
"This time, I'll let it go."
She stepped in close, eyes burning with the urge to kill, brows furrowed, gaze like knives. Clark turned his face away, smiling awkwardly with half-closed eyes and a slight unease:
Clark:
"Alright, alright. But why are you so close? People are starting to watch..."
Alyssa (shouting, cheeks red with fury, eyes crackling):
"Pervert!"
Then slapped him hard across the face.
Clark (startled, hand on his cheek, eyes wide, lips parted in shock):
"What the hell?! What did I even do to you?!"
Alyssa turned away, lips tight, gaze arrogant. She didn't look at him, as if saying: "I don't speak to perverts."
Clark (raising a brow, narrowing his eyes in irritation):
"Perfect… surrounded by children. My life's spiraling straight into hell."
Alyssa mounted her horse with fluid grace, lips pressed, eyes watching the horizon:
"Looks like everyone's late. Let's go, just the two of us. They'll catch up eventually."
Clark (snorting, one side of his mouth lifting in a dry smirk):
"No thanks. Want to get us into more trouble? Let's wait—it won't kill us."
Alyssa left him behind, riding confidently with her back straight:
"If you want to come, then come. But if you want to stay here like a coward waiting for others to guard your ass—then I'm not your type."
Clark (laughing loudly, eyes wide, tilting his head back):
"Hahaha! This idiot thinks I'm a coward."
He mounted his horse and followed her. He didn't care about the ghouls. His face remained calm, cold—as if nothing mattered.
He thought to himself:
"Honestly… no matter how strong the Goblin Chief is, he won't match the Overlord of the Undead Army."
As they rode through the city streets, Alyssa's face remained calm, but curiosity burned in her eyes:
Alyssa:
"So… how powerful was that Undead Army? Was it really as terrible as they say—or just rumors and myths?"
Clark (his expression clouded, as if reliving it, eyes tired, jaw tense):
"It was real. And exhausting. Maybe their only weakness was a fatal one.
When their dumb leader set the forest on fire, they started attacking the flames—crying, calling out names…
It was truly horrifying. Whoever created that army… was a devil in every sense of the word."
Alyssa (her face suddenly distant, brows drawn together as if recalling something long buried):
"Is there really such a thing as good and evil?"
Clark (slowly turning his eyes toward her, brows raised, voice low):
"No… even evil, if we're being realistic, is a dumb concept.
If you think about the motives of any so-called villain, it's always self-serving, right?
Life is stagnation and escape… everything we do—whether struggle, war, or conquest—is just running from a reality we imagined."
"Example: 'I must conquer this nation so my people don't die or become enslaved'—when in reality, he doesn't care about his people. He just fears losing his throne. Fears dying.
It's escape. Either you step on others—or they step on you."
Alyssa (her gaze suddenly sorrowful, eyes cast downward in deep thought, her brow furrowed):
Clark's words touched something buried in her—the memory of that village…
Where her childhood friend died.
That attack… was just an escape from reality.
Even she—if she were queen—would've ordered their execution too, fearing they'd rebel.
Clark (his eyes staring into the void, face as if confessing a sin):
"Let me tell you one more thing…
All emotions are lies.
Love is just a fabricated illusion to soften the heart."
---
---
Clark (his eyes staring into the void, face like one delivering a confession):
"Let me tell you something else…
All emotions are lies.
Love is just a fabrication, made to soften hearts.
Really, in our world—there's everything:
Magic, betrayal, lies, a brother sleeping with his brother's wife, and then another, and another…
Everything… except love.
Because a man can walk away.
A woman can walk away.
There is no comfort in our world—only struggle.
The struggle of the weak.
That's the truth."
Alyssa (looked at him with serious eyes, her expression steady, though tinged with slight anger):
"I don't agree with you.
Emotions do exist…
Don't judge love by your own failed experience, Clark."
Clark (a sarcastic smile returning to his face, his eyes half-lidded):
"I remember fragments of my past—nothing more than fog.
Even describing them is difficult.
But I'm not wrong…
This life really is full of darkness.
You just happen to live in your tall castle, blind to how miserable life truly is."
---
In a faraway place, far from the chaos surrounding Jean,
Clark had just awakened, having finished his trial… and resolved his troubles successfully.
He exited the hall as usual, wearing a mocking smile. His eyes gleamed with a mix of arrogance and irony, and though he possessed no actual energy, an unseen aura clung to him...
Just a single look from him was enough to terrify the continent's strongest mages.
Standing by the gate was Alyssa von Bach, her beauty radiant, clad in an elegant gown, her long hair swaying with the wind...
Her gaze was sharp, and her face bore the look of a woman who had waited far too long.
Alyssa (raising an eyebrow, sarcastically):
"They told me to wait for you… and I did. But you were two hours late—sleeping and pampering yourself, while I stood here like an idiot."
Clark (laughing as he approached, his body language odd, as if his limbs resisted him):
"The trial ran late. But no matter… at least I'm here now. I killed some foolish prince who thought he could challenge me. Slipped out of that mess like a hair from dough."
"A lesson to every idiot who dares—challenge me, and you'll get slapped three times across the face."
To his surprise, Alyssa walked past him coldly, raising her hand in a dismissive, sarcastic wave.
Alyssa:
"Yes, yes. You're very powerful, Your Majesty. Now let's go to the Ghoul Forest."
In his mind, Clark screamed:
"Huh? Did this idi—this wench just speak to me, like that? Does she not know who I am?"
As they walked, Alyssa began speaking in a calm tone:
Alyssa:
"So, you're a friend of Jean's?"
Clark (unbothered):
"Yes… I met him. That fool betrayed me."
Alyssa chuckled and pointed at him mockingly:
"Left you in quite a hilarious situation. Oh, by the way, he was with me last night."
Clark (coldly):
"Right. While you were having fun, I was enjoying myself tearing apart that brainless prince."
Alyssa (leaning lightly against a tree trunk):
"I didn't hear much about what you actually did."
Clark (boasting):
"Of course not. They'd cover it up. A scandal like that would shake the imperial family's reputation."
Alyssa:
"Stop circling around it. Just tell me—what did you do?"
Suddenly, Clark's expression shifted. His gaze flared with silent fury. His face tensed, and his voice darkened:
Clark:
"I held back the first time… but if you keep pushing, I won't stay quiet. Understood?"
Alyssa laughed mercilessly, her eyes gleaming with sarcasm:
"Oh? So you're one of those cowards who hit women? What a fool… so shallow. You've got none of the nobleman's grace."
"You're like the warlords of Cheng—what do they call them? Demonic Path? Maybe you'll lead them someday."
The scene was humiliating.
Clark's face froze like stone. He'd been slapped with words and couldn't reply—choosing silence.
Alyssa (mocking):
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? Say something."
Inside, rage twisted within him like fire under his ribs. But he held it down—barely.
Alyssa (laughing):
"Did you challenge that prince to some sadistic gamble? You and your friend—just alike, completely insane."
Clark (quietly):
"Yes… we are."
She stopped suddenly and said:
"I'll go change. Wait ten minutes, then we'll head out to cleanse the Ghoul Forest."
Clark sat on a stone bench, gazing at the sky with a blank, cold look… the aura around him was faint, yet suffocating—like the numb calm before a storm.
Ten minutes later, Alyssa emerged—wearing light armor and a purple silk shawl over her shoulder.
In her mind, she observed him curiously:
"What a strange man… handsome, with clear charisma. But an idiot. Can't talk. Arrogant to the point of nausea. Will he fall for someone as beautiful as me? Or is he dumber than I thought?"
But she was startled by his sarcastic remark, as he stared at her with a half-smile:
Clark:
"Hahaha… just ten minutes to put on that armor and cover yourself with that ridiculous shawl? Women these days…"
Alyssa's face turned red. Her aura flared. She raised her hand silently—how dare he?
That shawl… was a gift from her dearest friend.
Clark stood up slowly, removing his formal coat and tossing the collar aside.
His gaze was defiant, his posture straight—as if to say:
"Let's see what you've got…"
---
Alyssa calmed down, jaw clenched, eyes avoiding his as she said:
"This time, I'll let it go."
She stepped in close, eyes burning with the urge to kill, brows furrowed, gaze like knives. Clark turned his face away, smiling awkwardly with half-closed eyes and a slight unease:
Clark:
"Alright, alright. But why are you so close? People are starting to watch..."
Alyssa (shouting, cheeks red with fury, eyes crackling):
"Pervert!"
Then slapped him hard across the face.
Clark (startled, hand on his cheek, eyes wide, lips parted in shock):
"What the hell?! What did I even do to you?!"
Alyssa turned away, lips tight, gaze arrogant. She didn't look at him, as if saying: "I don't speak to perverts."
Clark (raising a brow, narrowing his eyes in irritation):
"Perfect… surrounded by children. My life's spiraling straight into hell."
Alyssa mounted her horse with fluid grace, lips pressed, eyes watching the horizon:
"Looks like everyone's late. Let's go, just the two of us. They'll catch up eventually."
Clark (snorting, one side of his mouth lifting in a dry smirk):
"No thanks. Want to get us into more trouble? Let's wait—it won't kill us."
Alyssa left him behind, riding confidently with her back straight:
"If you want to come, then come. But if you want to stay here like a coward waiting for others to guard your ass—then I'm not your type."
Clark (laughing loudly, eyes wide, tilting his head back):
"Hahaha! This idiot thinks I'm a coward."
He mounted his horse and followed her. He didn't care about the ghouls. His face remained calm, cold—as if nothing mattered.
He thought to himself:
"Honestly… no matter how strong the Goblin Chief is, he won't match the Overlord of the Undead Army."
As they rode through the city streets, Alyssa's face remained calm, but curiosity burned in her eyes:
Alyssa:
"So… how powerful was that Undead Army? Was it really as terrible as they say—or just rumors and myths?"
Clark (his expression clouded, as if reliving it, eyes tired, jaw tense):
"It was real. And exhausting. Maybe their only weakness was a fatal one.
When their dumb leader set the forest on fire, they started attacking the flames—crying, calling out names…
It was truly horrifying. Whoever created that army… was a devil in every sense of the word."
Alyssa (her face suddenly distant, brows drawn together as if recalling something long buried):
"Is there really such a thing as good and evil?"
Clark (slowly turning his eyes toward her, brows raised, voice low):
"No… even evil, if we're being realistic, is a dumb concept.
If you think about the motives of any so-called villain, it's always self-serving, right?
Life is stagnation and escape… everything we do—whether struggle, war, or conquest—is just running from a reality we imagined."
"Example: 'I must conquer this nation so my people don't die or become enslaved'—when in reality, he doesn't care about his people. He just fears losing his throne. Fears dying.
It's escape. Either you step on others—or they step on you."
Alyssa (her gaze suddenly sorrowful, eyes cast downward in deep thought, her brow furrowed):
Clark's words touched something buried in her—the memory of that village…
Where her childhood friend died.
That attack… was just an escape from reality.
Even she—if she were queen—would've ordered their execution too, fearing they'd rebel.
Clark (his eyes staring into the void, face as if confessing a sin):
"Let me tell you one more thing…
All emotions are lies.
Love is just a fabricated illusion to soften the heart."
---