Ch.330330. Kidnapping (4)

Darwood is almost powerless in most situations when not in a life-or-death crisis.

Just look at him now—he can’t even untie a simple rope by himself without any interference.

Which means…

He can focus on things he couldn’t do when his body was mobile.

For example, visiting an old friend he had almost completely forgotten about.

“-“

Darwood sighed deeply as he entered his mental landscape.

One thing became clearly noticeable as he walked through it.

Previously, it had been a desolate world without a single color, but now it felt somewhat different.

Gradually.

Gradually, but surely, there were now “colors” entering this world and revealing their presence.

It meant there were beings who had reached the core of his psyche. Unlike before, when he consciously kept pushing everything away.

“Well, isn’t this a face I haven’t seen in a while.”

And his mental landscape wasn’t solely his own.

There was a guest living with him.

Darwood let out a dry laugh as he looked at the figure sitting on the edge of a cliff-like formation he had created.

“I was just about to forget what you looked like, even your facial features. Impressive that you remembered to come find me, huh?”

“…Valkarsus.”

As Darwood silently sat down beside the Boy King who was gazing up at the sky, a voice tinged with amusement immediately followed.

“I see there’s been a change in your heart. I can tell just by looking.”

Valkarsus quietly murmured.

“You’ve truly found people precious to you, haven’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“Cherish them.”

His voice carried a deep resonance.

“No matter how much you miss those who are gone, nothing compares to treating them well while they’re still alive.”

“…”

These were the words of someone who had experienced losing all such people.

Though his tone was calm, the resonance within it was enough to make even Darwood fall silent.

Fortunately, the reason he had sought out Valkarsus after so long wasn’t far from this topic.

“Do you remember the promise you made when you first agreed to cooperate with me?”

“Hmm.”

The fundamental reason why the Boy King remained the Boy King.

He had promised cooperation to fulfill his desire for revenge against the person who had left his kingdom in the annals of history.

And Darwood had known the cause of this from the beginning.

“…It will be settled soon. With that language sorcerer as well.”

If he was going to fight the Luminary, it was inevitable that he would clash with that person too.

Darwood hadn’t heard the details of the past between Valkarsus and the Luminary. However, he clearly understood that this was the lifelong grudge this man had honed throughout the ages.

That was why he had recruited this person and left him alone for quite some time.

Despite all the crises they had faced, the reason he had deliberately kept such a powerful ally “researching” in a corner of his mental landscape was ultimately…

To sharpen a blade.

Small and sharp.

But one that would certainly cut deep when needed.

“How is the request I made coming along?”

In response to Darwood’s question, Valkarsus flicked his finger instead of answering.

A sigil of alchemy completed with a single stroke. As expected of Valkarsus, who had reached the realm of mastery in this field, he needed no separate preparation time.

And compared to that…

What followed was almost majestic.

-…

-…!

Sigils of various colors adorned the world.

A spiral rotating silently yet violently.

Like looking at the sea.

The sound of water droplets bursting through waves dyed in eye-piercing blue and snow-white foam.

The lines of currents, the touch of wind, placed stones, landscaping the infinite potential of things underwater.

And at the end of the “phenomenon” that unfolded after all these sigils were deployed—

“…”

Darwood took a deep breath and clutched his head.

It was a necessary measure to keep his mind from drifting away as soon as he anticipated the result.

Well.

What he had asked Valkarsus for, what Darwood had commissioned from him, was a dagger that could deliver a decisive blow to the Luminary and the Talker at the critical moment.

But what he saw now…

It felt like he had witnessed the limits of what the greatest alchemist in history could do when given enough time.

“Is this sufficient?”

“…”

More than sufficient.

“…This could probably kill even a demon, couldn’t it?”

“Surely not that far.”

Valkarsus replied with a bitter smile, but Darwood’s tone contained quite a bit of sincerity.

“Anyway, I appreciate such high praise. It feels like I haven’t disappointed a friend who visited after a long time.”

“…”

“…Why do you look so melancholic?”

“…Well. I just thought it would have been nice if everyone who dealt with me was even half as gentle as you.”

At Darwood’s words, Valkarsus also burst into a short laugh.

Soon after, he continued with a hint of concern beneath that laughter.

“But is it alright for you to be spending time with me like this?”

“Pardon?”

“You’re not the only one who’s been dragged in here, are you?”

“…No, well.”

He must be referring to the Demonic Vessels, but honestly, Darwood thought that his absence alone wouldn’t cause any major issues.

They might have prepared some traps, but as long as everyone kept their wits about them, they would surely survive on their own.

Besides, seeing that the Luminary himself said this was just an exploratory phase, it didn’t seem like he was seriously trying to harm them right now.

“-Well.”

However, in response to Darwood’s reaction, Valkarsus stroked his chin with a concerned expression.

“I’m not sure if the situation is as reassuring as you think.”

“What?”

“You seem to be under some misapprehension. People don’t always act under rational judgment. Especially if someone they admire so much has been kidnapped. This is probably quite a serious matter for them, and few people can act as calmly as you in extreme situations.”

After saying that, Valkarsus continued with a dubious expression.

“The probability of something major happening is low, as you say. But I think they could still find themselves in quite awkward situations.”

“…Awkward situations?”

“The true enemy might not be the one who invited them here, but themselves.”

And considering what was happening outside Darwood’s mental landscape right now.

Without a doubt, it was a statement worthy of a sage’s wisdom accumulated over a long life.

●

“-Hmm.”

Yuria Greyhaunter opened her eyes wide and looked around.

‘…How did I end up alone?’

Being separated from her sister and left alone like this was truly a rare situation.

Recently, she hadn’t had many instances where her mental state became unstable, so she didn’t immediately panic, but she couldn’t help feeling anxious.

She fidgeted with her scabbard while surveying her surroundings.

It was dim. Nothing was visible.

Someone had triggered another strange trap in the middle of their journey, causing the group to scatter, and as a result, she was left alone in here.

“…”

The situation had been so chaotic and confusing that it was hard to remember clearly, but she could recall bits and pieces of what had happened.

There had been a series of intense disagreements. Do it this way, do it that way, you’re wrong, I’m right.

Of course, given the bonds they had built so far, they didn’t fight to the point of severity, but the scenario of calmly cooperating to overcome this place seemed absent from everyone’s minds from the start.

“…Is it because Darwood isn’t here—”

Well. She suddenly felt that their compatibility with each other was extremely poor.

Everyone had strong self-awareness, but it seemed like they all lost their composure at once just at the possibility that something bad might happen to Darwood.

And.

Thinking about it, though it was an extremely unpleasant assumption, she strongly felt that this might be a malicious trap deliberately designed to make them fight each other from the beginning.

Your bonds aren’t as strong as you think. Not without that man.

As if it was prepared to deliberately hammer that into their heads—

‘—Enough with these strange thoughts.’

Thinking this, Yuria looked at the short sword in her hand.

What’s important is that Darwood has been kidnapped by bad people and is here now.

She just needed to stay calm, regain her composure, and move forward.

With that thought, Yuria calmly took her first step into the darkness.

And.

With a clicking sound, something mechanical began to turn where she had stepped.

“…”

At the sound that was ominous no matter how you heard it, Yuria reflexively raised her sword.

Simultaneously, something immediately sprang up from the spot she had stepped on.

“Waaaaaah!”

The scream Yuria let out while shedding a tear was truly magnificent.

“Waaaaaaaaah!”

But the scream of “something” that had sprung from the floor was equally bizarre and no less intense than hers.

And somehow…

There was a very familiar feeling emanating from that scream, causing Yuria to pause and look at the other party.

“…Huh?”

Before her eyes, holding a short sword.

Likewise, with a terrified face looking back at her.

“…Huh?”

There was “herself.”