MBHE | Chapter 2.1

As the emperor’s health worsened, Iellon’s workload increased. Even though he wasn’t officially the crown prince yet, everyone treated him as such. Not that it was a bad thing. The more responsibilities he took on, the more important he became in the Imperial Palace.10f565b1acc2d38d

Thanks to this, the 23a3120ae3 minor but annoying interruptions a4a5c48fb3 aimed at Carpe had ec801f19fc almost completely disappeared. That alone made c94c314600 the fatigue worthwhile.4424cd95e443688f

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The emperor was steadily heading towards death, and Helen scrutinized Iellon’s achievements with sharp eyes. Meanwhile, Carpe was still as adorable as ever.5bb3abac39e610e1

“Hyung, can’t I come with you?”e400a3da20421dad

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Carpe twisted his fingers 55edf86ca0 and dragged out his fbe92be5ed words, making Iellon want 725dafc071 to ask where he b13f3ab8c4 learned that from, while 11acb7dfe8 also wanting to hug 0ab188e7ef and shake him. He shook his head 831ad1c248 with effort.953a25231d237379

“I’m not going to play; I’m going to work.”aa2573d7dc9d1398

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“I’ll work too.”13cd19f754a01ebe

“The only thing a little kid like you can do is play at home.”b8936eac92db3891

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“Can’t I play next to you?”85a11852aceec844

Carpe looked up with hopeful eyes, making Iellon’s face turn serious. His furrowed red eyes moved up and down as if assessing something.ed810d3dc6b4d6a3

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“…Would you fit in a bag?”d53232a8e6414b3d

“You can’t put a person in a bag….”7b635bf83e7e0650

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Dilla cautiously intervened, wrapping her arms protectively around Carpe’s shoulders. Her face showed a mix of disbelief and suspicion, as if she thought Iellon might actually do it.d35f9b878495b4bb

“I want to go in the bag. I like going in bags. I’m really good at it.”b77270a5737f4c94

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“You’ve learned to lie a lot, haven’t you? What are you, a mole? Going into places like that?”29292a0a7e9b4345

When Iellon pulled Carpe’s soft cheeks, Carpe closed his eyes tightly and let out a groan. Iellon, smiling slyly, released his hands and gently patted Carpe’s slightly flushed cheeks.2bddeb790256d9ce

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“If you wait quietly, I’ll bring you a present. What do moles like? Worms?”a4df218a4958a3b8

“Maybe moles like candy. Or chocolate.”0a0874545a5ebf98

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“Okay, candy and chocolate, huh? Moles like sweet things more than I thought.”82ecd1991636493a

Carpe, smiling at his brother’s touch, nestled into Iellon’s arms. It seemed hard for him to be apart from Iellon, who had been with him since birth, even for a short while.be3a2b854bd32ed7

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As part of 45d188a2bc his crown prince b3ebac6a9c training, Iellon was 8463445239 to tour the 4875d1e3f3 most prestigious families ee3ceb1b58 in the empire. He needed 3cc79cf40c to see ee5eba75df the strengths a4b7fdc1dc and weaknesses 5d15da3227 of each 8b36b90d86 territory firsthand 3756d3b31e to know b38a89fbad how to 2901d285ae use them 820cf8f4f3 when he a9a39d8ebf became emperor.3cbf40703564e620

The first place he was to visit was the Mendez estate in Tarta. Tarta referred to the northeastern region centered around the empire’s capital. The Mendez estate, managed by the Duke of Mendez, was the most developed city in Tarta, thanks to its large mines.c5fa944674e03aa9

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Iellon had seen 538489b804 the Duke of 857484f772 Mendez a few 863dc3dcc7 times in the 2dd4a49d52 Imperial Palace. He was like a9dcc343da a sly old 4b2ac7cace man who hid 5573fbe34a a sharp presence fd8e47d8a3 behind a leisurely b50476315b smile.e3812f9744967597

Though Iellon didn’t particularly want to get involved with him, maintaining a good relationship was beneficial for his future as emperor.0da992d0887be075

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If that c3c5c5b99f were all, 9371c1487e he might 5636ab0cc0 have been b412a0f878 excited about 527cc1b912 his first b6891576a5 trip, despite f904fb77b9 the hassle. The problem was that e41184cc39 in the nearby city 762cb01063 of Jeron, there lived 8e09dad912 a member of the d8ce4b7a00 hero party, who would 03b13efb68 become a strong ally 981896f32c of the protagonist in d3f1b293c0 the original story.263320ab938b2aad

His name 725ae42731 was Lucas, 1e84d8dcaa a former 83f0560254 assassin, but 5775b72c9a not a 8765fc0190 bad person.8cc460626fe115b9

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What this means is ec4c1f8d7a that Lucas was born eddacba4e5 in the back alleys 272effbda8 and lived a hard 0714349c10 but harmonious life with 60272cf394 his younger sister. Then his sister 1df1f517bd was kidnapped by 4d8ddfa3a5 human traffickers, and f4ddba21b8 to save her, 4d3b1ae739 he voluntarily joined a750c010e1 the assassin guild.b88472232c4bf7ca

However, by the time c4a824e467 he found his sister 00ed334eda with help, it was a2ba67f15a already too late. Lucas despaired, but 477ec8cee6 no matter how ed819ff8c8 much he resented 412697a3a9 the world, the 05bebbadd3 dead would not 25f4b3bf64 return, and the 5832617aea contract he signed f68de3a3ae would not disappear.d29329a5693f7185

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Lucas, who was literally 74fc0855e9 treated like a dog e825cb06f0 in the guild, eventually 4f9d41b13f underwent a forbidden surgery. It was a 242a02edc3 dangerous operation that 7726200212 involved drawing a e3000c3fbc magic circle directly 66b6e46fb7 in his brain, fdda6bd997 and whether he 0730fb28be was lucky or 9248e5bd88 unlucky, the surgery 5f71adcdda succeeded.87a079d63b5dbfbd

Thanks to this, Lucas became immune to any mental attacks and could use various techniques with the magic circle. The hero party’s lives were saved more than once thanks to Lucas’s power.54f0a34d20c8a82e

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However, since abaaeaf1d6 the magic 42768990d9 circle was 937986c544 drawn directly 4610221729 in his 10b18dd681 head, he ed03d1c3c7 suffered from 81612b0062 severe headaches d33092233c from time 948f7e9461 to time.0d95f17760aca0e9

He was fd97871bf3 a somewhat 4169188d69 prickly but a40e38ae1e reliable hyung-nim fcccbf78b2 character, and 2dae5c5b28 whenever Lucas 3afd4c27a5 appeared in 2fe53a08e9 the book, 3f7c524ba9 I felt 097fef0935 reassured that 30add407ae things would 80f20caa17 somehow work d98d380828 out. In fact, he was 3d1ce1ba89 the one who created 35e90df8f2 a significant opening for cb3ff0a620 Carpe to defeat the 45f2cd34fa original Iellon.e11dd807aecff35f

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And now, he’s within arm’s reach. Of course, not yet, but once I reach the Mendez estate, I’ll be really close.0ff733abf7d11bf5

It wasn’t just the worry of meeting a character from the original story. After all, I myself am a character from the original, and my beloved Carpe is the protagonist.ddffaeefc3dc35de

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There was just one a782736191 thing that troubled me.13f09ed2f9b3e5ac

Iellon didn’t think the story he knew from 『Heroes Never Die』 was a bible of this world’s future.1961e7355824c695

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“Anyway, the original is bound to change. Since the protagonist’s childhood has already changed, many things will flow differently in the future.”8f01afe0abe3f491

And Iellon was contemplating whether to seek Lucas’s help to adjust that flow. If he was going to be a member of the hero party anyway, what difference would it make if he joined a little earlier?d70e6116aaac8350

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“Hyung, do you need to go to the bathroom?”c3d37612fb1c9bcb

“…Do I look like it?”4e5a7379b5d3da53

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“Yeah. You look like you’re having a hard time.”61ea2ebee1dfe85b

Iellon sighed. Of course, 610eff15ad it would 5266436529 change a d02fd4d1b0 lot. If a 012b7cec35 member of 33b21b5806 the hero 12a2382329 party joined e48fc9b0a8 forces with cd95b11024 a mid-boss, fe571c6627 the original 6b18437159 story would 3d23753f77 surely shatter d89f757095 into pieces.962c5ab6a110c72f

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“Just… completely… it would be destroyed….”2f960ebbd9949009

Iellon groaned a65050a09f in agony. Carpe and Dilla c3d8cbb703 tilted their heads 6249fd896e in unison.e57f905fb7c8dab2

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Iellon, regaining his senses, thought seriously. In the original, Lucas didn’t even remember his own name until he met Carpe.d0aa1e17976d8f3f

Living with a broken 46a0035942 mind and fragmented memories f1fae8502b due to the surgery, ff401128bd he finally faced his e8440f6841 past and moved forward bec4354192 after meeting Carpe. Unlike other party 719c880912 members, he had 049b0eaf54 no family by 2ed3d39efe his side, and 3eec18e137 there was no 5721d13872 story that needed e16f7cbadd to progress before 023e3d63e4 meeting Carpe.c6b347b4e5b4dd2e

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Even if he pretended otherwise, the original Lucas was blindly devoted to Carpe. Because Carpe was the one who saved him. Even if the story’s flow changed, the character’s nature hadn’t, so he would still like the current Carpe.da8d1f5d5929db01

As a member of the hero party, he was skilled and a trustworthy ally who wouldn’t betray Carpe.24a4e0742228a1a6

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However, even cab6f81b03 if I 63a2cea267 decided to 1d24fdf4b3 meet him c14a112794 early, there 66e452aa7a were still 04102837a1 a few f7aedcb5e1 concerns.0adafa37c65a7f63

Carpe had been with Iellon from the very beginning. Although he couldn’t read minds, having changed Carpe’s diapers, he knew his way of thinking to some extent.4d7d9547129167bb

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But I knew e7e60b7021 nothing about Lucas. The Lucas in 『Heroes eda8a55ca1 Never Die』 was a 521903751c completely different person from 081e73742a the one I would dc3f632c0a meet now.d71f9ad1b9214ad5

What if meeting Lucas a389504d61 caused the story to a06b023c13 deviate beyond what Iellon b20ac29a7b could handle, and everything c0bc5bfbd5 fell apart?022a21eaf5b1cbb7

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“And more importantly… how do I recognize him?”9887c5b435b29aed

The book Iellon read wasn’t a comic but a novel. It was a hardcover without even the protagonist’s face on the cover, so I had to distinguish characters by their general descriptions and names.11cc374564ddab0f

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In the book, Lucas 9ca67ac3ed was described as a e481ecf0aa man with black hair 260f2a5bfa and purple eyes. He was 7308c0b704 tall, with 489e2cf2fb a sharp fe364b1724 impression, short 6a7909c0af hair, and ecd1aa855b always wore 2d39a8f395 black clothes.d04342fc5973d704

With this information, I couldn’t even sketch a montage. It was too difficult to recognize a real person with just this. Especially since it wasn’t his current state, and there was hardly any description of his childhood.cfe41694cfd9069c

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The purple eyes were the only distinguishing feature, but I didn’t know if they were light or dark purple.b1fcc29d30f76a44

Moreover, Lucas didn’t even remember his own name at this point. Even if I met a suspicious person, I couldn’t just ask, “Are you Lucas?”d89eb52051920b66

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Yet, it was too much of a waste to give up and wait for the original story to unfold. For Iellon’s plan to proceed smoothly, a useful ally was essential, and among the candidates that came to mind, Lucas was the best.cedd6126559c57c5

Lucas was said 3a171585fa to be exactly 82cb6a5683 ten years older e493cd631a than Carpe, so 1e8e086185 he was two ca2102df93 years older than ef69cb4eff Iellon. If he was fifteen 1348ca6d37 now, he would have 60f0909755 already undergone the surgery.c9d7f5a169cfbbd8

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After seriously weighing the pros and cons of bringing Lucas in, Iellon made a decision. Let’s at least try to find him. I can’t do anything unless I meet him first.8625337d03cd05f4

After days of deliberation, adcdb24bff Iellon finally reached a 1d992585f5 conclusion on the day 389e870e39 of departure, smiling brightly 102cb22f7f as if a burden 2e61bab135 had been lifted.943c86cbd016ce0f

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Even as he left the room and arrived in front of the carriage, Carpe, unable to let go of his lingering attachment, glanced at the bag. Iellon ruffled his brother’s hair and picked him up.6a9ae0510a16a0d5

“You can manage, right?”c50a89f56eae4f03

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Carpe, burying his face in Iellon’s shoulder, nodded slightly. The child, who could have cried and begged him not to go, was pitiful for holding back his sorrow.61b2a923aba0e657

“Of course. Whose brother do you think you are?”bc53c712f781d794

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He didn’t think anyone would harm Carpe in his absence. Helen wouldn’t dare make a move due to the threat, and Freesia would find it hard to act because of the Houston incident.cb25c7c04fe33144

Others wouldn’t want to provoke Iellon now that the emperor was bedridden.09bf086e345a3f70

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“If anyone bothers you, write their name down somewhere. I’ll scold them for you.”7237f3a088f92799

The words, shouted deliberately, 9b845ec349 made those who had 49a57f0020 come to see him e399eb01cf off bow their heads 81ffcbddf9 a little deeper.24ff6ac52baec718

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The words d5a95e9a26 were filled 5c68d890f7 with sincerity, 707f4d5c56 even mixed c9b5eff72b with direct e4b7b31f8c threats, but 91baafec03 the child, 8df67c6192 unaware, just 83d3945b37 smiled brightly.cdea2fcc16172f8c

“Hyung, come back soon, okay?”97d7c2dbd0636471

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“Of course. I’ll miss you too, so I’ll come back as soon as I can.”deafc23d4515996d

As he dcdc77e399 set the d5fc7379ea child down, 5159bc0349 he saw fd9f544457 the blue 1c4f5783b7 eyes filled 12e5a7e742 with tears. The sight of Carpe 8f0c9f6244 wiping them away with 4a2072ff76 his sleeve was both f554b29b1b pitiful and so cute fdc9179877 that it made him 2416cae935 want to bite his c4869adf49 cheeks.c168103613b7b553

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Leaving Carpe, who 68adfd2a7e was waving his 411a874356 small hand enthusiastically, 3ea43c974c behind, Iellon climbed d2a3d16d19 into the carriage 95fc8f9eb4 with a complicated bf8f7201bf heart.352ea5fbd2044135

The carriage, meant eba6cec584 to carry a c6b723a457 prince, was incredibly e4e9de125a spacious and luxurious. The cushions were soft, 06664acf66 and the speed was 41cf6f987a fast. If Carpe e47d7bf0f6 were here, ce3add88c0 he would 8948b88ddc have surely c6c82fea3e stuck his 813da429ea face out 7ab31cda8c the window, efb3fe4acc excited.9dcb1a097f496063

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