Everyone is Young Except for Me - Chapter 218

Chapter 218
The eerie tongue felt like it was suffocating his body. Park Muyeol felt a tremendous sense of pressure as he faced the dragon who never fell asleep that he only heard about in words. It was just like Hercules told him. The sight of hundreds of heads moving on the huge body was strange. The sharp claws exuded a force like it would tear everything apart. In short, the existence in front of him could only be defined with one word—‘Monster.’

It was hard to believe that Hercules killed this monster once. Of course, this was the child of ‘Ladon’ who was killed at the time, but it had grown so big it showed a huge presence. How on earth did Hercules deal with it? It was impossible to understand from Park Muyeol’s point of view.

“Ladon~ have you been well?”

“Swiiik—”

“It must be nice to see us.”

“Swiik— Swiiik—”

The women called Aegle and Erytheia greeted Ladon, but in Park Muyeol and Michael’s eyes, Ladon wasn’t happy at all. It was a ferocious predator facing prey.

“Go ahead and take out the silver bells if you don’t want to be eaten.”

At Arethusa’s words, Aegle and Erytheia each took out a small silver bell. It was the same for Arethusa. The three sisters started to shake the bells while looking at Ladon.

Rattle- rattle- rattle- 

The regularly swaying bells produced a beautiful sound that slowly permeated Ladon. The results were astounding.

“...It is asleep.”

“What is that thing?”

"How should I know?” Park Muyeol shrugged when he saw the sleeping Ladon. Michael was amazed by the sight in front of him and speculated on the identity of the silver bells, but there was no way for them to know.

“Go find it. This won’t last long. Ladon is someone who never sleeps so it will only last three minutes every time it rings. You must hurry.”

At her words, Park Muyeol and Michael hurried up to the golden apple tree. The first thing they saw were the golden apples there.

[Golden Apple of Tragedy]

[Rating: Myth

The fruit of the golden apple tree that Gaia, the original god, brought to the human world.

There is no disease that can’t be healed if it is eaten. Additionally, if eaten constantly, then one will become immortal.

However, there is a theory that most humans who covet it will face tragedy.

-Various diseases and wounds will be fully recovered.

-If more than 30 are consumed, your character’s status will rise to the rank of a ‘god.’]

‘It is amazing.’

Park Muyeol couldn’t see anything else. He could become a ‘god.’ This alone meant that the golden apple had tremendous value. The condition was that he needed to eat more than 30 apples, but it would be a ridiculous item if there wasn’t this limit.

“It would be better not to covet a golden apple.”

Arethusa floated in the air with folded arms and gave this small warning as she looked down at Park Muyeol and Michael. She watched their actions carefully while making such threats. If they showed even the slightest signs of stupidity then she would cut them down.

The search for the Star Fruit lasted around half an hour. The three sisters continued to wave the bell while helping them with their search.

“Is it really here? I don’t think I see anything.”

It was the same for Park Muyeol who was confused by Michael’s question. Hercules had said that he felt the energy of the Star Fruit from the location of the golden apple tree. However, he looked over the entire tree and couldn’t see anything similar, let alone the Star Fruit.

If so, where was it?

The three sisters had been glancing at them since a little while ago with irritated expressions. They would be charged as liars and killed if they did something wrong. Arethusa approached them with angry eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re deceiving us? I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you humans...”

“I found it!” Just then, Park Muyeol cried out and pointed to one place. The direction was a completely unexpected place. He hadn’t expected it to be hidden there. He quickly descended the tree and headed toward the Star Fruit. It was in the arms of Ladon, who had fallen asleep with closed eyes.

* * *

It was an hour later. I had my eyes closed and felt the carriage slowing down. I saw Edward blinking and opening his eyes from where he was sleeping across from me.

“Um, we’re almost there?” Edward asked Kerenos with blurry eyes.

“Yes, we’re almost there. Wake up now and wipe your saliva.” 

“Oh, yes.” Edward wiped his saliva with his sleeves.

I opened one of the carriage’s windows and looked outside. In the distance, I could see a great castle and the city center. It was a place where royalty didn’t seem to be lacking anything as they lived. After confirming our identity, we passed the checkpoint and finally got off the carriage.

A message welcomed us.

[Welcome to the Orca Kingdom.]

“Ah~ this air is refreshing!”

Edward stretched in a pleasant manner. I stretched my shoulders while the Sylphid Knights got off their horses and walked with tired bodies.

Kerenos asked Edward, “Are you going to stand as guarantor straight away?”

“Yes, let’s go right away. This is why we came.”

Stand as guarantor? I was startled and asked Edward, “What is that?”

Kerenos explained to me, “There are two ways for an immortal human to become a lord. One way is to establish great achievements and become favored by the king, gaining the status of a noble. The other way is to receive a guarantee from a noble in the kingdom.”

I hadn’t expected the word ‘guarantor’ to be so scary. A guarantee in this world was similar to the one in South Korea, but there were different aspects. It was scary.

“So how do you stand as a guarantor?”

“Well, it’s simple. The noble will give a guarantee that this person won’t betray the Orca Kingdom.”

“What happens if I betray the kingdom?”

“The two of you will naturally die. The person who gives the guarantee and the subject of the guarantee both.”

“......”

It felt like I was being forced to do this.

“It’s okay! Jackson won't betray anyone, right?” Edward looked up at me with infinite trust. It was nice that he trusted me, but it was also very burdensome. 

I wanted to make a joke to lighten the burden. “Who knows?”

“Gasp. Are you going to betray me?”

“Let me think about it.”

“No! You will hit me in the back?!”

I tried to hold back my laughter as I poked Kerenos. He seemed to understand my joke.

“Then shall we go get the guarantee? Of course, you might die. I will be by my lord’s side when you die.”

“K-Kerenos, wait a minute! Where are you going?”

“Trust me~ I might look like this, but I’m good at gambling.”

The Sylphid Knights smiled and followed Kerenos. I also followed. The only one who didn’t move was the little lord, Edward. Then I could hear the sound of footsteps behind me along with a loud voice. “You idiots!”

* * *

Park Muyeol moved carefully so that Ladon wouldn’t wake up. The giant dragon was curled up like a snake and this made it difficult for Park Muyeol.

“I never thought it would be here.”

He picked up the Star Fruit in front of him.

[Star Fruit]

[Grade: 1

Usage Restrictions: None.

You may contract with a first-grade constellation. The power to seal evil is contained.]

“...This is right.”

Park Muyeol looked at what he held in his hands with an emotional expression. How hard was it to find this? During this period of time, he must’ve killed thousands of monsters. The faces of the monsters that Park Muyeol killed flashed through his mind like a lantern.

“No, did Ladon have it?” Arethusa floated in the air and appeared behind Park Muyeol. She sighed as she alternated looking between Park Muyeol, the Star Fruit, and Ladon. “I think it must’ve mistaken it for its own egg.”

The place where Park Muyeol had pulled out the Star Fruit was Ladon’s basket of eggs. Ladon’s eggs and the Star Fruit that Park Muyeol was holding had many similarities. However, this was definitely a Star Fruit.

“Get out of here. Ladon will wake up soon.”

Park Muyeol nodded at Arethusa’s urging and escaped from Ladon’s grasp. He looked at the sleeping Ladon and smiled.

‘Be well, you bastard.’ 

However, was it because Park Muyeol went out too quickly?

“Swiiik!”

The time wasn’t up, but Ladon’s eyes abruptly opened. Ladon saw the Star Fruit in Park Muyeol’s hands and raised the one hundred heads in a startled manner.

"Kyaaaak!"

The startled Park Muyeol waved the sword sheath in his hand and reflexively tried to use Stick's Protection, but Arethusa appeared and used her whip to stop Ladon. It was only temporary, but Ladon paused for a moment.

“Run away quickly!” Arethusa shouted and Park Muyeol ran away. However, Arethusa’s power wasn’t enough to stop Ladon. It was because Ladon’s level was too high.

[Lv. 329 Insomniac Dragon Ladon] 

“Shit.”

Ladon’s momentum once again rose and poured toward Park Muyeol. Park Muyeol raised his power to strike at the 100 heads pouring toward him. Just then, a huge evil spirit flew from somewhere and blew away Ladon’s heads. It was Michael. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. Thank you for saving me.”

Park Muyeol nodded as he thanked Michael. Michael saw Ladon coming again. The pressure Ladon was giving off was very ferocious.

"Kyaaaak!"

Ladon’s teeth became sharper. The one hundred heads were preparing to breathe out a huge burst of flames. The three sisters quickly rang the silver bell, but it was useless. Ladon wasn’t listening.

“Sister, it isn’t working!” 

“Ladon is too agitated!”

“Damn!”

Arethusa was in agony. Was it necessary to hurt Ladon here? She could do it, but she couldn’t stop Ladon completely. However, she couldn’t kill the sacred dragon that the original god Gaia ordered to protect the golden apple tree.

Then at this moment, a voice was heard. “Stick's Protection.”

Arethusa paled as she heard the words that the man beside her murmured.