39. Shake it off and stand up
“…This is…”
Buddeuk — At the sound of the birds spurring and jumping up and down the trees with a roar, Argyle shrank and looked around.
Trees and grass. Bug. Bird. It’s faint, but it’s a trace of a wild beast that remains vaguely.
“…Forest?”
At the last moment, he managed to save his life by squeezing out most of the remaining wax and using Agato’s Gate, but because he failed to specify the correct coordinates, he fell to an unknown place.
I wonder if it’s fortunate that I didn’t fall into the top of the Songt Mountains or the pit of the Al Carte Volcano.
You don’t know. It might have fallen into Merden Forest.
In Argyll today, we know nothing about the surrounding geography.
You may think that you shouldn’t move hastily, but you never know when the location will be revealed to humans who sensed the traces of the Gate.
The old friends of the Mage Tower. Those damn old people are blind to any trace of mana.
I don’t know where it fell, but if I stay like this, I’ll be tracked down.
After Argyle checked that there was nothing wrong with his body, he got up and brushed his butt.
The beeswax pen in my hand had shrunk to the size of a finger.
The amount of beeswax had decreased enough to be counted by the number of drops. Only then will he not be able to use proper spells.
‘I have to conserve my strength… If I return to the Demon King’s Army and plan for the future…’
In order to prepare for defeat by the hero, all except for the monsters made of wax were sent back to their original state, so perhaps her older brother, Agato, also noticed the situation Argyle was in.
Argyle raised the wax pen to measure his remaining strength, then threw it down on the floor.
The wax pen rolled on the floor, and Argyle gnashed her teeth and breathed heavily.
“Whoa… The hero, that damn b*tch…!”
…With my current strength, it might be difficult to deal with the bandits.
She pulled up what was left of mana and wax.
The sticky beeswax flowed down Argyle’s hair, and Argyle’s purple hair, which was the symbol of the demon tribe, was dyed white before she knew it.
“This should be enough.”
At least, it won’t look like a demon in the eyes of other humans.
“To the west… To the west…”
If it is a land of humans, you will have to move west to rejoin the demon army.
The sun was slowly setting, and the blue sky was dyed vermilion.
Argyle hurried to her feet.
“Whew… I almost went…”
… She often returned to her steps, picking up the wax pen that had fallen on the floor.
* * *
“Austin… That…”
As I was sitting in my chair and staring blankly at the ceiling, Princess Alexis approached me.
“…Yes, princess. What are you doing?”
“It’s nothing… I replenished food and daily necessities. I’ll probably be able to leave right away tomorrow.”
“…Yes. Thank you for your effort Go in first and rest.”
After saying that, I quietly closed my eyes.
I tried to calmly organize my thoughts with my eyes and ears covered, but I guess I didn’t notice. The light of the lantern that pierces my eyelids and fills my vision with crimson light, I hated it today.
“…And… Austin.”
“Yes, please.”
As I answered roughly without opening my eyes, the sound of Princess Alexis feeling restless and stamping her feet reached her ears.
“Yes… The Marquis of Bordain said that he would award a reward for the subjugation before departure tomorrow morning. I came here to say thank you…”
“That’s, well…”
“I haven’t spoken to the Marquis of Bordain yet… Tomorrow morning, I think Austen will have to speak to me personally. The Marquis of Bordain also chose Austin as the person to be rewarded as a representative…”
Actually, regarding the subjugation reward, Mogdan’s rehabilitation treatment cost and prosthetic arm and leg were already discussed with the other party members.
Mog Dan is currently missing his right arm and left leg. He says he’s not receiving guests right now, but he’s also a decent blacksmith who runs the smithy anyway. It’s probably impossible to recover in the current state.
But… With that mountain of money I saw yesterday, maybe…
My hand was stroking the pommel of the sword hanging from my waist.
An exquisitely carved, lifelong masterpiece of Mogdan that shines mysteriously as if it were not of this world.
That day, the figure of Mogdan, who removed his completely crushed arm and handed me the sword that was lying underneath it, flickered before my eyes.
When I think of that scene, somehow, a smile naturally leaks out.
He usually treats it like a treasure, but he’s entrusting it to the guy who tried to steal it.
“…You stupid bastard…”
“N… Huh?”
“I’m talking to myself. Soliloquy…”
Is it because of Mogdan’s actions, who pushed me out of the cockpit to save me and left me alone and did my job until the end? When I witnessed Mogdan covered in blood, I thought he was really going crazy.
I think it’s because of me.
With my eyes closed, my consciousness slowly settles into the sea of memories.
– Hound… No, Austin… You don’t deserve to be called a hound, nor do you deserve to be called a hound…!
Holding the limp girl in her arms, a green-haired girl with puppy ears gleamed in front of her, staring at me ferociously.
– It’s because of you! Because of you, the lot…! Ugh…
Yes. It’s because of me.
– If you hadn’t been so stubborn, if at all you had made the decision to retreat sooner! Rott… Dina… Uhhhhh… You… Even with a bastard like you…!
The fact that Rott was killed in action, and the fact that he made Wyler cry because of it. The hero and the rest of the remnants began to rot, and Mogdan’s injuries were all me…
– Are you still qualified to be the leader?!
– What the hell are you doing?
“…Ah.”
It’s boring. Everything.
I slowly raised my eyelids and pulled out the jade-colored sword hanging from my waist.
If you scan the surface of the sword with your finger, the familiar yet cool feeling of the blade is transmitted to your fingertips.
Is that really the only way to kill him? Should I have used firestone?
Should I have drawn more attention and precisely calculated the timing of the swing and the timing of his run?
Catch his attention, test-run the crane, sit in the cockpit and swing a firestone at him.
If I had known that the result of a series of processes would ultimately make Mogdan’s state that way, I would have come up with another method.
“…ㅅtin…”
The reason he didn’t come out of the mine was, absurdly, ‘to protect the nest’.
A worm like that throws himself down to protect his people, what did I do when Mogdan was defeated?
“Eungstin…!”
Once upon a time when Rot fell, what did I do…
“…Austin!”
“N… Huh?”
At the sudden sound of Princess Alexis’ voice, I reflexively flinched and turned my head.
At the same time, the fluffy red hair snuggled into my arms, followed by the scent of fragrant lavender, tickled my nose.
“Austin… Calm down…”
“…Princess.”
Suddenly, it became as if I wasn’t hugging Princess Alexis, but Princess Alexis was hugging me.
Princess Alexis ran through my hair and met her eyes with mine.
A distance close enough that their noses touch.
“Austin. I’m not sure what you’re thinking, but it’s not Austin’s fault.”
“…Princess, but—”
“Austin.”
When I opened her mouth, Princess Alexis lightly placed her finger on my lips and smiled benevolently.
“Austin did his best. While not refusing to do hard work that others are reluctant to do…”
“Ah…”
“Do you remember the day you saved me in Merden Forest?”
How can I forget? It wasn’t the first meeting, but it was the day that sparked the relationship between Princess Alexis and me.
“If she hadn’t been to Austin then, I might not be where I am today.”
“……”
“Austin. You always, alone, try to get ahead of yourself. I don’t know what the hell happened to Austin until now…”
“Princess, I…”
“Trust the people around you, your colleagues, Austin. Trust us.”
Princess Alexis’ soft tone was warm enough to ease my stiff heart.
“Austin. I’m so glad you have me. Thanks for your efforts. “
With those words, the thoughts that were cluttering my head were washed away.
“The Princess… Could you… Say that… One more time… One more time… Can you…?”
“Austin… Good job. You did your best.”
Princess Alexis still brushed my hair with her soft touch.
It was the third tearful day of my man, Austin, in her life.
* * *
“Sir Austin. Do you need to go in such a hurry? I don’t want to stay a little longer…”
“hahahaha… We want to stay a little longer too, but as you know, we have other things to do…”
“Ah, really… Did I mention that there is a separate mission? I’ve been distracted lately… This is it, I said something rude.”
After replenishing food and daily necessities, we were seen off by the Marquis Bordin in front of the castle gate early in the morning.
“More than that, Sir Austin. I would like to thank you again for your hard work. Thanks to Lord Austin’s dedicated efforts, this place in Bellion was saved.”
“Oh… No. It’s not just me, it’s the result of joining forces with other party members.”
As I thought of Mogdan, who was still lying in bed, and unknowingly narrowed my eyebrows, the quick-witted Marquis of Bordain cleared his throat and called the attendant.
At that time, the attendant who had shown us the Golden Wave at the castle of the Marquis of Bordin brought the chest out again.
– Knocked up.
“Sir Austin. Even though you are nothing more than a commoner, you have saved my city and its citizens from the Witchbeast. It may be small, but please accept my sincerity.”
A huge amount of gold and silver treasures that would make my head spin are rolling in front of my eyes.
… Write—
“…Ah.”
Drooling, I unknowingly stretched out my hand toward the money, but soon came to my senses.
“…Marquis Bordain. In fact, among those who defeated the queen with me that day, there is one who is not here now.”
“Kuhmm… That’s right. Did you say Mogdan?”
“Yes. I am currently receiving treatment at the church… To that dwarf named Mogdan…”
It would be a lie if I said there was no hesitation. I turned my hand behind me and pinched the back of my hand.
To hesitate in a situation like this, it must be that I am quite a money bug.
“…I want you to give this money to Mogdan. He was the most… No, the most courageous dwarf I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Marquis Bordain, who had heard about Mog Dan’s activities from us, also nodded heavily and opened his mouth.
“Okay. On the honor of my family, I swear by one who gave his heart to iron. A dwarf named Mogdan will treat you with utmost hospitality more than anyone living in this city.”
“Thank you. I don’t mind, but I wonder if I could ask for an extra prosthetic arm and leg…”
“I’m not that tough. Don’t worry too much.”
Seeing the Marquis of Bordain smiling with tired eyes, I was relieved to climb into the carriage.
“Ah… Before that, Sir Austin. Will you be okay for a second?”
“…Yes?”
As I turned my head with an expression that did not understand English, the Marquis of Bordain handed me a small pouch the size of a fist.
As I slowly unwrapped the pocket I had received, I saw dozens of gold coins with a jingling sound.
“Anyway, don’t you need money to travel? My little courtesy Please accept it.”
“…Mrs. Bordain.”
Oh, really.
There are so many good people around me.
At the same time as the reins in Royman’s hand moved, the wagon’s wheels began to roll with a rattling—.
Spring passed before I knew it, and the warm wind of early summer blew and shook my hair here and there.
“Then, have a good trip! We wish you a successful mission! Next time you come to Bellion when you have time, I will throw you a grand banquet!”
With my precious companions, I waved toward the Marquis of Bordain, who was getting farther and farther away.
Suddenly, the Marquis of Bordain became as small as a knuckle, and I jumped up from my seat and looked at the Marquis of Bordain.
“Marquis!!! Thank you-!!!!!!”
“Tongue… Brother! Dangerous! Come on, take a seat!”
“Sir! Money! Money flows!”
“Austin! Don’t make a fuss and take a seat! You stupid bastard!”
From noble mtl dot com
No matter how difficult the situation may be, no matter when I want to give up, I think I can stand up again.
Because there are such good colleagues around me.
“Now then…”
What should I do first?
First of all, let’s start by ripping off Galran’s limbs and throwing them as dog food.
After that… Well, think about it on the way to the capital after f*cking up Galan.
Because our journey has just begun.