Lying flat on his back, he stared up at the ceiling.
As expected of a grand castle representing Wales.
From the walls to the ceiling, there wasn't a single corner made carelessly.
Life really is impossible to predict.
All he'd planned was a quiet trip to Snowdonia National Park.
Yet somehow, he'd ended up infiltrating a bedroom in a side wing of Conwy Castle.
"Momo, you want to take this?!"
At some point she had manifested again.
Momo ran over to the wall and pointed at an old candlestick.
"This is super expensive! If we take it, we can add it to the private jet fund!"
"Hey now. No stealing, Momo. Well—stealing from bad people is fine."
"Then let's say the person who owns this castle is a Demon King!"
Jinhyuk swallowed dryly.
Turning normal people into Demon Kings just so she could steal from them…
She was scary.
If he left her alone, she looked ready to strip Conwy Castle bare.
He quickly grabbed Momo and flung her onto the bed.
"It's sooo soft!"
At least she couldn't steal the bed.
Near the door, Seira manifested.
She approached slowly and bowed with proper etiquette.
"Thank you, Master. It was a request that disrupted our original plan."
Buried Windsor of the Black Knights had rescued Aman Leonhardt.
And Sophia, who inherited the royal bloodline of the dynasty Aman founded.
When Seira heard this story, she had been deeply relieved.
She had said it was fortunate—she could save the bloodline her comrade had once tried so hard to protect.
"Hey, don't get all stiff on me."
Jinhyuk walked over and slung an arm around her shoulders.
"I'm always relying on you, Seira. That's a debt I can never repay. So just tell me whenever. I'll change the plan thirty million times if that's what it takes to help."
"Momo wants a favor too!"
"You too, Momo. Just say it. For you, I'll change the plan thirty million and one times."
"Wow! More than Seira!"
"Then what about meee!?"
"Kanchyo also gets thirty million and one."
"I don't like being tied with this little bun, but I can accept being co–number one!"
If he didn't match the numbers, Momo and Kanchyo would definitely start fighting over who ranked higher.
Jinhyuk had become a seasoned handler of these kid-like troublemakers.
Watching them, Seira smiled faintly.
What should she call this feeling?
Being with them stirred up an old memory—no, a cherished recollection.
Moments the captain of the Black Knights, Seira Kincayton, had once considered her happiest.
Jinhyuk, who had been playing with Momo and Kanchyo, turned his head.
He gazed quietly at Seira.
"You're worried about Sophia, aren't you?"
Seira gave a resigned nod.
She didn't know why.
But whenever she stood before Master Yoo Jinhyuk, she couldn't hide what was in her heart.
"You should say things like that honestly."
"I was hesitating… I felt like we were straying too far from our plan."
Her original intention had been to deliver Sophia to Conwy Castle, then head straight to Snowdonia.
But once she learned the truth behind the Windsor name, Seira wanted to help Sophia to the very end.
They were leaving to find the destination of the Black Knights.
She couldn't leave Seira behind at Conwy Castle, but neither could she drag her along while her heart was so unsettled.
"Hmmmmm."
Jinhyuk closed his eyes and rubbed his chin at incredible speed.
He had already decided: he would grant Seira's wish and help Sophia until the end.
But he couldn't delay clearing the legendary quest forever.
Until he cleared it, he couldn't climb the Tower of Myth.
Sophia's threat is Prince Widrick, and the only reason he's doing this insane thing is to become first in the line of succession.
There was no need to overthink it.
Jinhyuk snapped his fingers and opened his eyes.
In short: eliminate the danger named Widrick, ensure Sophia safely completes her succession, and all problems vanish.
He was just about to head straight to the main hall where everyone was gathered when—
Knock, knock.
Perfect timing.
"It's Olivia."
"Yup."
The door opened, and Olivia bowed deeply.
Since he had saved her life, she had become almost excessively polite.
No need to be that formal, really.
"Sorry to disturb you this late. Could you come with me?"
"Of course."
He had been planning to visit anyway—perfect timing.
Jinhyuk followed her down the corridor.
As he walked, he constantly looked around with restless curiosity.
Various patterns, decorations—everything looked amazing.
I should brag about this later.
He didn't know who would believe him, but still.
"Um…"
Walking ahead, Olivia carefully opened her mouth.
"Please speak comfortably. You don't need to be formal with me."
"Thank you."
Olivia took a small breath before continuing.
"When we reach the hall, Princess Sophia will say something. She'll offer transportation to Snowdonia and tell you to leave the castle."
"So Conwy Castle isn't safe anymore?"
"No… we've received word. Something strange is happening in London. Widrick is gathering troops through every connection he has. A storm will hit Conwy soon."
"Can't you ask the British government or other royal factions for help?"
"There is the Royal Knights who guard the monarchy. They're the strongest force under the Crown. But they won't help Princess Sophia. They only move under orders from the King. Even if Her Majesty Elisia is in a coma, she's alive. Until she wakes, they'll wait."
"That means… there's no hard evidence that Prince Widrick put her in a coma."
Olivia nodded, looking at Jinhyuk.
He grasped things frighteningly quickly.
A sharp kid.
"Widrick didn't kill Her Majesty for that reason as well. If the Queen dies, her will immediately passes the throne to Princess Sophia. Then the Royal Knights would follow Sophia instead. The entire situation would flip in an instant."
"And the government?"
"They stay neutral. The Crown and the government are meant to be separate. Interfering openly would look bad. Besides… many officials probably have hidden ties to Widrick. He's been preparing for the throne for a very long time."
In short, there was no help coming.
With only the people inside Conwy Castle, they would have to endure—and there was little chance of winning.
Olivia stopped walking.
She turned, took a deep breath, then faced Jinhyuk.
"It's shameless to ask this after you saved my life…"
She bowed 90 degrees.
"Could you stay in Conwy Castle? Could you… please help Princess Sophia?"
Her voice trembled with the weight of the plea.
It wasn't easy for her to ask this—but she had no choice.
Conwy Castle was isolated.
The Golden Lion Corps they relied on had been all but wiped out by the Joyfin Unit.
No matter how many remaining forces they gathered, they were nothing compared to Widrick's forces marching from London.
And then a Runner appeared.
In their desperate position, he was a glimmer of hope.
If they let this hope slip away, Conwy would be reduced to ashes—and the world would be fed a fabricated truth.
"I'm not royalty or a high-ranking official. I have nothing to offer. But I'll repay you however I can. I'll do anything. Whatever you command."
Some might ask why Olivia didn't simply run away.
But she couldn't.
It wasn't just loyalty.
She had been by Sophia's side since the princess was an infant.
Sophia was a beloved little sister to her—someone more precious than words.
A heartfelt plea.
Princess Sophia truly was blessed with good people.
"For now, I'm going to leave Conwy Castle."
Olivia squeezed her eyes shut.
Her heart fell into her stomach, but she tried not to show it.
It was the reasonable answer. The safe answer.
She raised her head, preparing to answer—when Jinhyuk continued.
"If I wait here, it'll take too long. I'm going to flip this whole situation in one move. The hall is this way, right?"
Smiling brightly, Jinhyuk strode forward.
He pushed open the door to the main hall where everyone had gathered.
Dozens of eyes turned to him.
They had been trapped in hopeless discussion for hours, unable to find a single solution.
"Sorry for the sudden interruption, but… would you all hear me out?"
With that bright, confident smile, Jinhyuk began to share the plan he'd devised on the way.
The one decisive move that could overturn everything.
Two hours later.
Thududududududu—
The thunderous roar of propellers shook through the headset.
Jinhyuk's eyes sparkled fiercely.
Of course they did.
This was his first time riding in a helicopter.
I thought only rich people got to ride these… Oh, right. Princess Sophia is rich.
Sitting on the edge of his seat, he leisurely admired London's nightscape.
Across from him, Olivia and Charles sat side by side—faces stiff, drenched in cold sweat.
—Bang!
Earlier, Jinhyuk had burst through the hall doors and explained his plan.
—What do you think?
No one had answered.
Naturally so.
He had proposed a method that could overturn their hopeless position in an instant:
They would bring Queen Elisia—currently lying unconscious in Windsor Castle—to Conwy Castle.
If the Queen awakened, revealed Widrick's crimes publicly, and passed the throne to Sophia, everything would be solved.
No one could refute the logic.
But no one could agree either.
It was logically perfect—but practically impossible.
—I can do it.
Jinhyuk had said it with absolute confidence.
All he asked for was one thing:
Get him as close to Windsor Castle as possible.
They'd tried to warn him: they couldn't land, couldn't even descend below a certain altitude.
But he only smiled and said it was fine.
Olivia and Charles exchanged a look.
They didn't speak, but they knew exactly what the other was thinking.
No matter how they looked at it, this was insanity.
Even after reaching the area around Windsor Castle, they were determined to convince him to turn back.
"Jinhyuk-nim!"
They spoke at the same time, ready to talk him down no matter what.
"…?!"
But Jinhyuk wasn't there.
Olivia and Charles slowly, creakily turned their heads—
There he was, standing at the very edge of the open helicopter door.
"W-wait… wai—!!"
They reached out too late.
Before they could grab him—
Jinhyuk leapt straight out of the helicopter.
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T/N:
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