60 – The Villainess is Worry
ㅡHow many times do you come to the theater?
ㅡ I can’t live without this. You said you would give me dessert instead.
ㅡ Then be sure to keep that promise.
—-Because the people around me are paying attention not to make noise, so be quiet.
I woke up feeling stuffy. I think she had a pleasant dream ⋯⋯.
I can’t quite remember. It’s because someone disturbed my sleep.
I can’t even bend over. Because Sael was hugging me instead of a doll.
“⋯⋯Shael.”
Shael, unmoving at my call. She’s a sleepy villainess, so she deserves it. I even woke up too early in the first place.
Normally I would let her sleep, but not now. If I wasted even the slightest amount of time, I wouldn’t be able to make the aura work.
Unless Duke Ezran uses an aura, I am the only one who can break Clie’s bracelet.
So I woke up Shael.
“⋯⋯Don’t wake me up.”
“Then put your arm away.”
As expected, there’s no way that wicked woman would listen to me. Rather, Shael buried her face in her arms while holding me tighter.
So he punished me.
aaah!
aaah!
* * *
After training for a while, I came to my room to pick up Shael to eat her meal.
Sael was reading her book. It was evident that she had made use of the Baslet family’s library.
“What book do you read?”
“This.”
Shael held out the book he was reading. A book about the devil. It was a story passed down like a legend in the world of this romance fantasy novel.
This is a familiar story. The movie I saw at the cinema that I went with Sael also dealt with the demon king.
“Why are you reading this?”
As soon as she saw the book, she asked. I never thought that the villainess would be interested in a story like this.
“⋯⋯Look here.”
Shael handed me the part he was reading. I read the part she pointed out.
ㅡThe demon king can even bring the dead back to life. Because it has the power to make anything happen. But for this, of course, there is a price.
“They say it can bring the dead back to life.”
“So what do you want to say?”
It was a story I didn’t have to wonder about. That legend can’t be true.
“⋯⋯You can bring the dead back to life.”
“Do you believe that?”
Shael nodded her head. Still, she wasn’t stupid enough to believe such a thing ⋯⋯.
“Everyone dies.”
“⋯.”
It is natural for people to die. But as soon as Shael heard me, she frowned. Was it because I was afraid of dying, so I was looking for a strange book like this?
“If you die, that is the end.”
“What, what can I do? You can’t stop dying.”
“Still…”
With Shael still unable to let go of her book, she headed to the Baslet Street restaurant.
“⋯.”
And the flowing silence. Because Duke Ezran, who usually ate with the knights, was eating alone.
Of course, this cannot be ignored. I sat with Shael in front of him.
“I’m glad you seem to be on good terms.”
“⋯⋯Yes, Duke.”
Shael said it before I could say it. How could that wicked woman be so polite?
It seems that the villainess has changed. No, maybe it was because he was afraid of Duke Ezran.
Because his face was hardened enough to make me question whether emotions even exist.
“Shael Azbel.”
“⋯⋯Yes.”
Duke Ezran’s cold voice. Sael trembled and answered. I too was nervous in my heart as I waited for Duke Ezran’s words.
“When are you going to get married? Eran is waiting for you.”
“⋯!”
The word that came out of Duke Ezran’s mouth was marriage. And what did you say Are you waiting for me to marry Shael?
I was prepared to marry Sael, but I hadn’t said this in front of Duke Ezran recently.
So, Duke Ezran is just hastening my marriage with Shael for no reason.
After hearing Duke Ezran’s words, Shael replied.
“Marriage⋯⋯.”
Shael kept quiet. I was sure What Shael said behind her back would be her refusal to marry.
But, as usual with the wicked woman, Sael made a statement that I had never thought of.
“I’ll do it soon.”
Those are the words from the mouth of the wicked woman? No, where did my doctor go in the first place?
Marriage is not something you do alone.
An absurd conversation. The conversation continued without me having time to intervene.
“Yes, you must have plans for children.”
“⋯.”
Silent Shael. Of course it can’t be. I spoke to Duke Ezran instead of Shael.
“I am thinking of one son and two daughters.”
Shael glared at me. But what about Because Sael also said something without asking my opinion.
“I see.”
“⋯.”
Another awkward silence ensued. Shael, who couldn’t stand the atmosphere, said something.
“Duke, have you heard of the Demon King?”
Anyway, the story about the demon king? I let out a deep sigh inside.
It seems that Duke Ezran was also very interested in the devil, but…
“It’s the Demon King.”
“Yes, the Demon King.”
“He has a very dirty personality. But at the same time, I am also grateful.”
“⋯.”
Shael tilted her head. Because Duke Ezran was talking as if he knew about the Demon King.
“⋯⋯ Then, do you know about the legend that the demon king can save people?”
“Are you referring to the legend that makes them go through countless trials instead?”
Shael nodded her head. We are talking about that ridiculous legend in such a serious atmosphere. At this point, even I am interested.
It’s a legend about the demon king.
As far as I know, it was a simple legend. Legend has it that if you pay a great price to save someone, you can turn back time and save that person.
For fun, they do a few favors. No matter how much they were paid, these were really kind acts for a demon lord.
So, of course, that is not the end. As expected of a demon lord, all sorts of trials are inflicted on them.
Thinking about the legend, Duke Ezran said with a frown. For the first time he saw his expression change.
“That legend…”
Duke Ezran’s words did not follow through. The awkward meal just started again.
* * *
Once again, the Baslet family’s training ground. I was still swinging my sword to contain the aura. Shael was observing me like that.
“⋯⋯Why are you working so hard?”
It has no choice but to be. Because time is running out
Although by the time Clie attacked the Azbel family, there was still some leeway…
There is no guarantee that this will happen unconditionally. We shouldn’t rule out the possibility that Clie will attack the Baslett family right now.
So I decided today is the last day. If you don’t succeed in the aura tonight and break the bracelet…
I was planning to somehow take Shael to a distant place and hide away for a while.
If Clie attacks the mansion, you can use the teleporter while the knights hold out…
I’m not sure if the knights of the Baslett family can buy me enough time.
“For the ⋯⋯ aura, you have to succeed somehow.”
Before swinging the sword, I chewed over Duke Ezran’s words again. Of course, it would be right to follow the advice given by the head of the famous swordsmanship family.
-‘⋯Put your image on the sword.’
That must be the only advice Duke Ezran gave me. But another memory came to mind.
—-Father, how on earth do you unfold your aura?
ㅡI use it while thinking of Daria.
ㅡMy mother said that she unfolds it while thinking of her father. Then should I think of Shael?
With Duke Ezran’s laughter, that memory ended. Shael looked at me and said.
“Why is that?”
“⋯⋯No.”
“You look sick. How about stopping and taking a break?”
“It’s okay. You can’t rest until you succeed.”
Ignoring his pounding head, I raised my sword.
“⋯⋯ Then, be sure to succeed this time.”
The sword he had lifted was still facing the sky. Because my head started pounding again.
ㅡThis time, be sure to succeed. Because I want some dessert.
ㅡHa, I don’t think I’ll ever succeed because of you.
ㅡWhat if I succeed? Would you like to make a bet?
—-The one who loses will grant the wish.
In my memory, I was also raising my sword to the sky. After that, he struck down his sword to cool down his anger at Shael.
The sword that cut through the air contained a blue aura.
ㅡ⋯⋯ the fuck?
Shael proudly sneers at me. And her memory is over.
“⋯.”
My head hurts. Great pain. But my sword was still looking up at the sky.
Based on the experience in that memory, he lowered his sword. Thinking of Shael, who was playing pranks on me and had a way of thinking that I couldn’t understand.
Chwaaagh!
A blue aura. The thing that I thought I would never be able to succeed in the end, was contained in my sword and cut through the air.
It was an aura worthy of being called that of a famous swordsman. I was immediately convinced. At this level, he could break Clie’s bracelet.
“Let’s go to my room.”
After taking Shael to my room, she took out Clie’s bracelet that she had hidden.
A bracelet of divine power that glows softly. Hoping that the prince hadn’t used the scroll of reinforcement, he took out his sword.
“⋯⋯Please.”
The moment of decision has finally arrived. The Baslet family’s aura. After putting the blue thing in the sword, I hit the bracelet.
Damn it!
As expected, the bracelet of holy power was not in a state where the strengthening scroll was used. A bracelet that started to crack before I knew it. I swung my sword again.
Clang!
It was the sound of a bracelet of holy power breaking. I let out a sigh of relief and sat down.
But that wasn’t all. The faint holy power left in the bracelet began to surround me.
I didn’t bother to avoid it. I didn’t know why, because I didn’t feel threatened.
I’m gradually losing consciousness due to the holy power, but I’m sure it’s not meant to harm me.
ㅡDoes this make sense?
—-What, what.
What you see is Shael and me. Those memories that were faint, started to come back again and again.
‘Is it the memory of Eran Baslett in the novel?’
That seems right. But before that…
I was sure. Memories of Eran Baslett, a character in the novel. And at the same time, that it is also my memory.