7. Jealousy is my strength (44)
Traveling alone with an older person is always burdensome.
In particular, it was inevitable if it hadn’t been long since I met the other person, and the difference in status was far away. In this sense, ‘The Archwitch’ could be said to be one of the worst companions.
Aren’t they the only three masters on the continent?
Of course, I was not in a position to be ignored anywhere. The achievements of crushing the plots of the Dark Church several times and fighting against the followers of evil spirits were enough to make me a new star on the continent.
However, the woman walking next to me was the ‘Great Witch’.
A hero who has already saved the continent from the pit of destruction.
He couldn’t match me, who was just getting his reputation high. Even the emperor of the empire was a great man who had to do engineering.
Of course, as I stood next to him, I couldn’t help but feel nervous and anxious.
Yes, it should.
“Haaa… The sun is warm, so it’s free. Tell me a funny story.”
“It’s a destination soon anyway.”
The Archwitch was stretching with her hands clasped together, and I responded with a calm tone.
Oddly enough, there wasn’t even a loose tension between the two of us.
I didn’t even know if the experience of a few days accompanying the swordsmith was helpful. Or, memories from the future are affecting me too.
However, I was a little curious as to why the Archwitch didn’t take my attitude as a fault.
At first it was just a mistake.
I was surprised at the friendly attitude that came out of my mind, and I was even able to take a look at it. It was because she wondered what to do if she went against the archwitch’s planting.
But surprisingly, the Archwitch didn’t show any displeasure.
On the contrary, it was to the point of replying to my words as if it was nothing. Even now, isn’t there only boredom hanging over the great witch’s face?
Maybe it’s just that nature doesn’t like to assert authority.
Of course, there was no way I could read the archwitch’s mind. I didn’t feel any emotion in the woman’s cloudy pupils as she chewed on the smoking pipe.
Even so, what should I say?
It was strange to feel the feeling that was buried in the gestures and the tone of voice.
“Heh, Goyan bastard… Adults say it, but they don’t follow it.”
“How much fun it would be to listen to a little kid. I’d rather talk to someone who lives hundreds of years older than me… Gagging!”
right, do
The smoking pipe hit the back of my head and passed. The difference in height was significant, but it was a blow so fast that it was impossible to know how it hit and passed.
The smoking pipe, which had been lighting a fire, was hot. I had no choice but to let out a short scream from my mouth as I allowed the unexpected surprise attack.
I rubbed the back of my head and swallowed a moan. Before long, a look of protest was directed at the Archwitch.
Of course, the Archwitch didn’t even look at it.
He just bit into a smoke pipe and said, “Whoa,” and exhaled smoke like a sigh.
“… … Talking about your age from now on is prohibited.”
“No, the old swordsman didn’t say much when he was talking?”
“Is it my heart?”
In many ways, she was an unknown woman.
I can become a swordsman, but I can’t?
I felt sad inside, but what can I do?
I had no choice but to let go of the anger alone.
However, getting hit with a smoking pipe was not very rewarding.
“This is my story… … .”
The bitter smell of medicine tickled the tip of his nose along with his languid breath.
Suddenly, the woman’s pale green eyes were wide open. Where are the pupils that are out of focus heading?
At least not now.
The archwitch’s face became very bitter as she scanned the scenery from a long time ago.
“… … Fufu, it’s just a really boring story.”
“Aren’t there many saga stories you are proud of?”
“It’s the opposite. Full of regret.”
I said it like it was nothing, but I had to shut my mouth for a moment.
My eyes glanced over the archwitch’s mouth. There, there is a bittersweet new moon.
“Self-employment gain, causal retribution… No matter what you say, it won’t change the fact that it’s my fault. Actually, I’m not particularly heroic. Contrary to popular expectations… So it won’t be fun to listen to my story.”
“I still want to hear it.”
“Puh,” said the archwitch with a short laugh.
He seemed to think that I was doing something useless. Or, I thought it was a clumsy consolation.
My cute eyes turned to me. It was one of the few blatant favors the Archwitch showed.
“Puff! Little boy, are you still going to try to comfort me just because you’re a man? Don’t go overboard. I am, as much as you are concerned… … .”
“I did too.”
Now it was the archwitch’s turn to shut up.
At my simple confession, the woman who burst into laughter stopped moving. Like that or not, I just went on with what I wanted to say.
“I killed a lot. The people who were friends, the people who fought together… It must have been.”
It was a true heart without embellishment.
The emotions of raw, unprocessed things had a strange weight. Sometimes, he was afraid to carry that burden, so much so that he would lighten the mood by making jokes.
However, the opponent was a sage of Daesoorim.
It wasn’t to the point where I couldn’t carry that much weight.
Whoops, the sound of breathing that I don’t know if it’s a sigh was scattered along with the smoke.
“… … Have you ever heard of ‘Yeon(緣)’?”
“Is it similar to fate?”
“If it’s similar, it’s similar, if not, it’s not. Rather, it can be seen as a fluid concept.”
Then the archwitch drew a small circle with her index finger. At first glance, it seemed like nothing more than a hand game, but the imaginary circle soon expanded its diameter and floated five dots in the air.
Fire, water, sprout, metal, earth.
“In the five elements that make up all things, there is something called mutuality. Sometimes they coexist with each other, but sometimes they achieve contradiction… The same goes for people.”
Between those five poles, a dot of light was coming and going, bouncing and bouncing.
Perhaps that was the symbol of ‘human’.
“Life is different depending on time, luck, and even the inclination of each person you encounter. In Daesoorim, it is called ‘Keon(緣)’, which cannot be cut off or predicted… It is the continuous cross-sections of life that touches and continues.”
“It was a more esoteric concept.”
“Well, it’s just a difference in worldview… Anyway, the important fact is that no one can calculate the ramifications of my choices in these successive moments of life. There may be times when you regret the past and it may be painful… Unless you are a god, you cannot avoid making mistakes.”
“Then, maybe even the Archwitch… … .”
Even after spitting it out, it was a half question that I wanted to say, Oops.
I was wondering if I had touched a very sensitive part. Everyone has inner circumstances that they want to hide, and I was no exception.
How much worse would it be if he was a great sage who had lived for hundreds of years.
However, it soon became clear that my worries were unfounded.
“… … Heh, are you saying that?”
The expression on the archwitch’s face as she answered like that seemed devastated at first glance. It was a face that had even forgotten the word ‘hope’, worn out by the winds and waves of the years.
“Did you see it too? The pain that overwhelms this body without even trying… this is my punishment You will not be like this.”
why is it your fault
Before I could ask, the Archwitch closed her eyes tightly in the smoke.
I could see a slight strain in the hand holding the smoking pipe.
“If only I had made up my mind earlier… … .”
The remorse emanating from that voice is so pitiful.
I chose to keep my mouth shut. Unlike the Archwitch, I was still immature to handle someone’s sincerity.
What is a guy who can’t even control my heart properly?
Still, I felt uncomfortable not saying anything, so I cleared my throat and decided to change the subject.
“We will arrive at our destination soon.”
The Archwitch didn’t seem to want to express her feelings either.
The pupil of the woman, who quickly adjusted her complexion, looked around carefully. “Hmm,” the Archwitch asked me with a strange voice.
“Kid, how do you feel when you see it?”
“Yeah?”
I couldn’t help but tilt my head at the out of the blue question.
It was the same even if I was nervous about what it meant. No reaction was detected in this area.
The senses of a knight who has reached High Expert do not miss even the slightest breath.
If I hadn’t felt it, the area around here was safe.
It was just as I was about to say that.
The archwitch’s eyes looking at me were strange. It was like looking at a disciple who was about to take a test.
So I suddenly realized.
“… … That’s strange.”
“right?”
It was in the middle of the forest.
Of course, all kinds of creatures had to live. But, except for the trees and grass, I couldn’t even feel any breath.
too suspicious
The Archwitch continued her explanation with a satisfied smile.
“We don’t seem to be affected, but the goofballs would have turned away before they even got here. There’s a fairly secret barrier… It wasn’t until after I came in that I noticed.”
“Could it be?”
It was a surprising question.
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Just as swordsmiths have unrivaled knowledge and skills with swords, the Great Witch was good at sorcery and barriers. If such a person did not notice easily, it was clear that there was a considerable level of barriers.
Even so, the Archwitch remained calm.
“Don’t make a fuss. Unless I am the main body, there are limits… However, it is true that the level of barriers is surprisingly high.”
“Shall we stop first?”
It meant calling for support.
Then the archwitch groaned and groaned and fell into agony. Of course, the hesitation did not last long.
“No, it’s late… A passenger has already arrived.”
brief statement.
It was enough for my hand to go straight to my waist.