The Desire to Hide (8)

“The King announced his full support for the coalition. Of course, support doubled.”

Julia spoke in a voice full of pride.

Matter of course. His contribution in killing all four blades could not be ignored.

In fact, it is said that the coalition is a force that supports the king, so those who keep the king in check cannot easily oppose it.

“Thanks to that, the palace is very noisy. There is division among the nobles as well.”

“Shit. “They’re hiding behind and doing all sorts of things like rats.”

“I understand you look at it negatively, but there’s nothing you can do about it. “Politics is easy yet difficult.”

I knew little about the conflicts within the palace.

Since Julia is in charge of all those annoying things, the stress must be enormous.

Feeling sorry for her, I filled her glass with wine.

“By the way, where have Schnella and Colin gone?”

“Everyone is busy with work. “I just have to eat and then go back.”

“What. “Let’s have a party when we return to the capital.”

“Wait at least a week. Then I will open it very grandly.”

“It’s a shame to hold a grand opening. All you have to do is drink too much alcohol at a bar.”

Catalina grumbled and pounded the table.

I heard that when you go out on the streets, you can’t even go to bars because of the crowds.

‘So is it particularly polarizing today?’

Even when I saw him blowing on a bottle of wine, I didn’t think about stopping him.

Malcolm, who usually pretended to stop him, stayed still.

“Anyway, everyone, please stay quiet. If possible, don’t go outside.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Julia continued eating, hiding her tiredness.

Forced eating rather than enjoying food.

I felt a little sorry that the workload increased because of me.

However, contrary to feeling sorry, there was one more thing to do.

‘We have to reveal Kayla’s identity.’

In any case, he couldn’t hide his identity once his identity was discovered by Max and the Knights.

Of course, I asked Max and the knights to keep it a secret, but rumors have a way of leaking out somewhere.

I decided to announce it in advance, right before defeating the Demon King.

“Julia. “I have one thing to say.”

“Okay. What’s going on?”

Julia lightly sipping wine.

I took a breath and held Kayla’s hand next to me.

For a moment, I felt a stinging gaze, but I ignored it and continued speaking.

“I’ve never really talked about Kayla before. Right?”

Then Julia’s reaction changed suddenly.

His tired expression became lively, and he looked at Kayla with eyes full of curiosity.

Kayla flinched, perhaps because the gaze was burdensome, but held her hand tightly.

This has already been discussed with Kayla.

Before the king announces Kayla’s identity, he decides to let people around her know her identity.

In particular, I had to tell Julia, who had helped me a lot so far.

“Let me tell you why Kayla has always been wearing a robe.”

“I thought you would tell me someday, but something suddenly occurred to me?”

“…There was a good reason for that.”

As Kayla’s robe was slowly removed, black horns appeared on her head.

Julia looked at Kayla blankly with a surprised expression.

A moment of silence.

Kayla couldn’t raise her head with a nervous expression.

“What the hell? “Why on earth is Yongin here?”

“There have been too many circumstances so far.”

He told me roughly what had happened since he first met Kayla.

Julia put down her spoon and listened to the story with a serious expression.

“Half a year ago, there was a report that the Demon King’s army was discovered near the capital. But there was also news that he suddenly appeared.”

“Okay. It will be right then.”

“I thought it was because there were so many false reports, but it couldn’t have been possible that the three of you wiped out the Demon King’s army. It doesn’t make sense.”

To be exact, it wasn’t Kayla and I, but Erina that wiped out most of them.

It was definitely me and Kayla who defeated Alfred, the Demon King’s executive.

After that, he headed to Nostel Snow Mountain, defeated the snow woman, and caught the eye of Julia.

“There were many parties that suddenly grew, but you guys were definitely different.”

Adventurers who have never been known before.

He appeared as if he had been hiding somewhere and slaughtered the Demon King’s army.

In particular, Kayla looked suspicious as she was always wearing a robe.

Of course, Julia also had doubts, but she couldn’t make any predictions.

At that time, trust was not as strong as it is now.

“Employee. Yongin. “I heard a lot of rumors, but… “

While saying those words, Julia glanced at Kayla.

Always humble tone of voice and passive attitude.

It is the exact opposite of Yongin’s notoriety known to the world.

“Kyla is different from other dragons.”

“Okay. “It’s not as real as it looks.”

Catalina, who was watching quietly, also added a word.

I don’t know if he’s trying to help or if he’s arguing.

When Yulia heard those words, she also relaxed a lot.

“It’s very different from what I thought. “I heard that all dragons are arrogant.”

Kayla, the center of the story, was restless and clinging to me.

Looking at that, who could imagine such an arrogant and rude attitude?

“And the dragon knight. “I thought he was a legend.”

Julia nodded as if she finally understood.

How could an ordinary human become strong in such a short period of time? It was impossible.

However, with Yongin’s protection and help, it is entirely possible.

Julia smiled and took a sip of wine, as if all her doubts had been resolved.

“Dragon knights and dragons, elves and demigods. “A truly incredible group of members have gathered.”

“Okay. “It just happened to be like that.”

Actually, I thought so because Tyria was the colleague I had in mind from the beginning.

It was with Yeriel’s help that Kayla joined, and she had no idea that Celica would become a demigod.

I can’t say it was all a coincidence, but I could definitely say I was lucky.

“Then how is he?”

Suddenly Catalina turned her gaze elsewhere.

Likewise, Erina sat next to me and kept her mouth shut.

As all eyes gathered, he wrinkled his face as if he was displeased.

“Isn’t there something about him too? “Not a human, but a vampire.”

“What a vampire. No matter what, don’t bring in a fictional race.”

“No, it really could be. No matter how much I think about it, it doesn’t look like a human.”

Then, Julia shook her head with her mouth shut, as if to spare her words.

What Catalina said was empty nonsense, but it was worthy of suspicion.

A being stronger than the dragon knight, dragon man, elf, and demigod.

Is it easy to believe that he is an ordinary human being?

But Erina is definitely human.

The only difference was that it was a character I created.

“Erina is an ordinary human being.”

“You don’t know that. “If you think about the people he’s brought in so far, he might be hiding his identity.”

I didn’t even want to respond, so I put down my spoon and started fighting with people.

Even Julia couldn’t make eye contact properly.

My colleagues were equally nervous and watching.

Before the atmosphere became strange, Julia turned to another topic.

“Anyway, who else knows that Kayla is a dragon?”

“Me and my colleagues. Catalina and Malcolm. Marx and his associates. “It’s like this.”

“Did you get caught on this expedition?”

“Okay. “I couldn’t hide it.”

“So what do you want to do? Do you want to hide Kayla’s identity like this? “I’ll help you if you want.”

“No. It’s the opposite. “I want to let the world know who she is.”

Yulia’s expression suddenly became grim at my words.

Perhaps because I had a lot to think about, I closed my mouth for a moment and got lost in thought.

“Ha… Damn it.”

I drank drink after drink with a resigned expression.

The expression of fatigue and worry doubled was clearly visible on his face.

“I regret forming the alliance for the first time.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“It’s nothing for you to be sorry about.” “It’s just like that.”

Julia didn’t say anything, perhaps because she knew that it wasn’t something she could blame me for.

He grumbled in an expression of self-reproach after realizing that he had just pulled the bomb on himself.

“I plan to get help from the king.”

“…Sincerely? Are you going to announce Kayla’s identity to the entire kingdom?”

“Okay. Kayla wants dragons and humans to come together.”

“That’s not easy. Honestly, it’s the Yong people’s self-employment.”

“Maybe dragons can change like Kayla.”

While the argument stopped for a moment, the meal was over.

Both Julia and I seemed to have a lot to say, but we kept quiet.

Is it because I had a gut feeling that if we continued to argue now, we might end up staying up all night?

Julia slowly stood up and spoke.

“Later, let’s talk later.” “I’m too busy right now.”

“Okay. I understand.”

“So please stay still until I come back.”

Julia got up from her seat in a chaotic atmosphere.

When I tried to go outside and see him off, he shouted at me again.

“Don’t do anything this time, just stay still.”

“I said I understand.”

“Do not leave the capital suddenly, do not send strange letters to the King, and do not make a fuss in the streets…”

“Okay. I understand. “I really won’t do anything in the mansion.”

“I will trust you just one more time. Please keep my faith.”

After reassuring her for a while, I finally got her to take a step back.

After Yulia left, in a chaotic atmosphere.

“What. Give me some more alcohol. “I came all the way here today to drink heavily.”

Catalina shook her glass in dissatisfaction.

Should I just do what she said and spend some time drinking?

Meanwhile, Catalina approached Kayla and forcibly handed her a drink.

I started to feel like I was going to have a drinking game with Kayla again.

“Master…”

“Are you okay. You can do whatever you want.”

“Then let’s just have a drink.”

After receiving my permission, Kayla seemed to have made up her mind and took a drink and sat down at the table.

The party continued until Catalina collapsed from alcohol poisoning.