episode_0209
by fnovelpia“And on my way to the Holy Land, I stopped by here and met you!”
Arphia’s long story has come to an end.
Even though I learned the details, my thoughts were not easily organized. Rather, I was only confused.
Let’s think about it one by one.
Narsha came to see me not long after I left Noktar.
Considering the time, that means she followed me right after I left the Brian household.
Without telling my family. That’s why Count Brian pointed me out as the culprit.
‘The upper echelons of the Reaper were operating under my name?’
I knew of the existence of the above.
A new group that suddenly appeared and quickly began to increase its power by using elves.
I never dreamed that it would be a collaboration between Narsha and Arpia.
No, more than that.
‘While the owner was working hard, they were having fun playing tycoon among themselves?’
I was holding back on doing what I wanted to do too!
Like ungrateful slaves.
No.
They are not my slaves.
Let’s not get confused.
“You. What on earth were you thinking when you called yourself the queen’s husband? Do you know that it caused chaos in elf society?”
“Hahaha. Somehow it happened.”
“… Do you like the Queen?”
“No way. I’ve never met you before. I just lied because I needed to have a friendly conversation. I have no ulterior motives.”
“Okay then.”
I found out why Arphia went on a trip.
It was because of me.
No, I feel wronged too. That snow elf was just joking around, so what if I really believed it?
There is nothing else to believe.
“Sometimes when I see elves acting up, they’re worse than dwarves.”
“What?”
“Just kidding.”
For a moment, Arphia’s eyes became murderous.
That’s right. This one’s an elf too.
You don’t like being compared to dwarves.
You can’t do this recklessly.
‘Next is Asiason… .’
Just thinking about it makes my neck hurt.
When I told him to follow me if he really couldn’t do it, he said it was okay, but I never thought he would freeze his own body.
‘They say it’s hibernation, but in reality it’s eternal sleep.’
If this is the case, Isenggar will not be able to return.
I have to finish work and go.
If I leave it like this, I feel like I’ll never wake up.
“Haa… .”
These troublemaking slaves can’t let their guard down for even a moment.
Even the liberated ones are like this, so what about Elise?
The orbit must be returned to its original state as soon as possible.
“How is it? Was it a good thing I came? If it weren’t for me, it would’ve been a big problem?”
Arphia asked, slightly lowering her head.
With eyes that were very much expecting something.
“Yes. If it weren’t for Ms. Arphia, my neck would have been cut off and hung in the square by now.”
“Hehehe. You can praise me more. Since it’s you, I’ll specially allow you to touch my ears.”
Arpia smiling brightly.
Looking at it, it seemed like spring had come, but unfortunately, there was no time to leisurely laze around.
“Miss Arphia, didn’t you say the spirits were trembling?”
Arphia clicked her tongue briefly, perhaps disappointed that her ears weren’t touched.
“Yeah. The spirits were running away from the direction I was going. I smelled blood. Even if that wasn’t the case, I knew something was up.”
Arphia looked across the sky.
The sky where the Holy Land was was as red as blood. The red energy was gradually expanding its territory.
“Is it related to you? Didn’t you say you went to the Holy Land?”
“That’s right. I was there a few days ago, but there was an accident. I think I’ll have to stop by somewhere else for a while.”
“Where are you going?”
“Vestiayo.”
At that moment, I had the illusion that the surrounding temperature had dropped.
No, it wasn’t an illusion. The ice spirits reacted to Arphia’s emotions and were emitting a cool aura.
Arpia’s gaze was sharp as she looked at me. Arpia spoke with her voice as low as possible.
“Vestia? Again?”
“Yes. I have someone I absolutely have to meet.”
“That fox?”
“No, but if you go, won’t you meet me? … Why is that?”
What did I do wrong?
Was there anything that went wrong in the conversation just now?
It wasn’t that complicated of a conversation.
I have no idea what it is.
Thud!
Arphia grabbed my wrist.
It gave me a lot of strength.
“Vestia? No. You can never go there.”
***
For Arphia, the reunion with Karami was like a drop of rain in a drought.
If a flower that was withering and dying meets the rain and blooms again, it would feel just like this.
It’s been almost a year since I broke up with Karami.
For Arphia, it was a wait that felt like a thousand years.
What a difficult time it was.
I carved scars into his jade-like skin with my own hands, giving him a reason to be by my side.
I smoked cigarettes and even took drugs, which I thought had absolutely nothing to do with it, and endured it. It was the only way to relieve my loneliness.
Now, it has gotten to the point where I can’t go about my daily life even if I don’t smoke for even a single day. Even though I am an archer, I have a hard time shooting arrows.
‘But you’re going to Vestia?’
Bestia.
The source of all these problems.
If Karami hadn’t gone to Vestia, this wouldn’t have happened.
I once told myself firmly that if I could go back to that day, I would never sleep and would hold onto Karami.
Fortunately, the opportunity came to the current Arpia, not the Arpia of the past.
“You can never go.”
Didn’t they say that partings are sweeter when there’s a reunion?
Of course, as Karami said, it’s nice to meet again after falling apart, but one foolish act is enough. I have no intention of repeating it twice.
“Um, why? Did I do something wrong?”
“You told me you were going to Bestia, but you didn’t come back and wandered off somewhere else.”
“It’s true that I went to Bestia. I finished my business and went to do other business.”
“Are you kidding me right now? Then you should come back and ask permission before you go again.”
“Are there any masters who live with their slaves while receiving permission?”
Arphia kept her mouth shut.
It was a correct theory, but now it didn’t matter to Arpia at all. The corners of his mouth curled up crookedly.
“You know what? Thanks to someone breaking it, there’s no contract between us anymore. What can you do if I can’t go?”
“I can’t do anything.”
“And yet you insist on going?”
“Because there are slaves waiting for my help.”
Arphia bit her lip.
Sadness came over me. I hated Karami for going somewhere else without caring about the condition of myself right in front of me.
Arphia took off the bandages that had been tightly wrapping her arm.
“See? These scars?”
Scratches and cuts filled his arms.
Wounds that have never been shown to anyone.
It was a sign of self-harm.
Even though he could have been cured by the water spirit, he didn’t. By the time the wound had healed with the high elven healing power, he was already self-harming again.
“You said you’d free me from my pain. I’m in pain. I’m in so much pain. So don’t go anywhere and stay by my side. Okay?”
“Arpia sheep.”
“Will you stay by my side? Will you keep your promise?”
At some point, a mad smile appeared on Arphia’s lips without her even realizing it.
Karami expressed his discomfort at the sight of Arphia pleading in front of him.
I guess I followed suit because that’s what other kids did, but I never thought about harming myself.
What kind of slave was Arphia in the first place?
Arphia, who suffers forever.
A child who was kidnapped, abused, and sold in the slave market with low value. Before such a tragedy could occur, Arphia was rescued by ambushing the mercenaries.
But as fate would have it, Arphia ended up covered in wounds. And by her own hand.
I have no idea what, where, or how went wrong.
‘I can’t ignore this.’
It’s a situation that can’t be ignored in the first place. As Arphia said, Karami currently has no means of getting her away.
“Can’t we go to Bestia together?”
“… … .”
“Okay. Let’s go to Bestia later. Let’s play together.”
Only then did Arphia rejoice.
He reacted immediately, as if he had been waiting for it.
“Is that so?”
Karami sighed inwardly.
The time spent riding a carriage or playing with Arphia and riding her spirit is similar.
You just need to please Arpia a little. If he’s satisfied, he’ll send you too.
There was a time when Karami thought that way too.
“But Master was hiding some expensive stuff, right? So Narsha and I sold them all. Master’s expression was so funny at that time?”
In a quiet forest.
They were buying necessary supplies from nearby cities and were camping out there anyway.
A bonfire burning crackling and charmingly.
The two were lying on sleeping bags in a makeshift tent. The tent was so cramped that they were close enough that their arms could almost touch.
Why do we have to put up with this inconvenience?
Karami was planning to tie up the inn, but she had no choice due to Arphia’s strong insistence. She said camping in the forest was quite pleasant.
Elf, I guess so.
It was an unfamiliar bed for Karami.
Sometimes I flinched at the illusion that there were bugs crawling on me.
Fortunately, there was no need for a separate night watch.
Because the spirits protect them.
However, the problem was that my ears were itchy because of Arpia chattering nonstop next to me.
“This reminds me of sleeping at the Master’s house. Isn’t that right?”
“I was scared. I thought I would never wake up from my sleep.”
“… Did you really think so?”
“Of course not. Even now, I’m worried that if I wake up there’ll be an arrow stuck in my neck.”
“… I want to cut it.”
Arphia turned her back on Karami.
“That’s crooked… .”
“You’re not upset?”
You’re upset.
Well, thanks to that, my hearing was saved.
Then, as I was looking at Arpia, suddenly.
“Doesn’t an elf’s ears get pressed when he lies on his side?”
There is something like that.
When a person with broad shoulders lies on his or her side, his or her head does not touch the pillow.
So will the long-eared elves fold their ears one by one?
Unfortunately, Arphia didn’t answer so I couldn’t find out.
***
A tent where only shallow breathing can be heard.
Arphia sat up as soon as a rustling sound was heard.
“Master. Okay?”
There was no answer.
The sound of breathing that could be heard was also constant.
I’m sure he was sleeping.
Arphia, who confirmed that Karami was sleeping, carefully left the tent so as not to wake him.
I staggered badly as I came out of the tent, but I managed to avoid falling.
Outside, fire spirits were chatting by the campfire to keep the fire going.
Arphia put her hand in, took out one of the chattering spirits, and went into the forest.
Hands that tremble without any will.
In extreme anxiety, Arphia bit her fingers until they hurt.
Familiar withdrawal symptoms.
I should have taken the medicine a long time ago, but I missed the chance because I was stuck to Karami.
Arphia, leaning back against the tree, rummaged through her pockets, took out the ingredients, and made a cigarette with her skillful hands.
Just looking at the finished cigarette brought a sense of relief.
Just put it in your mouth and light it with the fire spirit.
“What are you doing now?”
It’s the end… .
Karami, who was supposed to be sleeping, appeared from behind.
If it was Arphia’s keen hearing, there was no way she would have missed it, but she was so focused on the medicine.
Karami’s black eyes cast a cold gaze in the darkness.
“Miss Arphia. Are you smoking right now?”
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