Ch.48Unjust Fate (4)

After ending the call, Leo stood blankly for a moment before pulling out a cross-shaped necklace from inside his clothes.

He stared intently at the necklace for a few minutes, then muttered something.

“I thought there wasn’t a bigger sucker in this world than the captain, but turns out there’s someone even worse.”

Leo gazed affectionately at the necklace again in silence before speaking.

“Accepting reality or dreaming of ideals. Which one is more right?”

Then he chuckled and said:

“Why am I even worrying about this stuff?”

Leo put the necklace he had been clutching back inside his clothes and spoke calmly.

“It’s not like I can go anywhere anyway.”

Leo headed toward the tent to continue designing his magic. As soon as he entered, he spoke to the Dragon Master.

“Your disciple was impressive.”

“…Have you caught a cold or something?”

“So why did you pull this stunt anyway?”

“I merely wanted to give my disciple some practical experience.”

“Thanks to you, your disciple might experience her first death in her first real battle.”

Leo returned to his seat and continued designing magic while conversing with the Dragon Master.

“I gave her about five teleport scrolls for emergency escape, so there’s absolutely no way she’ll die.”

“Isn’t that being overprotective?”

“I think it’s less extreme than sending a Saint.”

Silence fell over the tent for a moment, but it wasn’t long before the Dragon Master broke it.

“So, do you think they can pull it off?”

“Theoretically, they can. With Rebecca by their side, it would be strange if they failed.”

“Then why did you try to stop them from going?”

“They all lack experience, so there are too many variables.”

As Leo continued to show signs of anxiety, the Dragon Master questioned him curiously.

“Even so, aren’t you worrying too much?”

“What would someone like you, who only researches magic in your room, know about real combat?”

“I’ve experienced real combat at least…”

“If you haven’t spent about 10 years on the battlefield, just shut up.”

The Dragon Master glared fiercely at Leo after being cut off, but Leo ignored him and mockingly said:

“If you don’t know, why not just stay quiet instead of trying to butt in?”

“…”

“Does that sting? If you’re upset, why don’t you go spend 10 years on the front lines of a battlefield too?”

“…Let’s just get back to designing the magic. We still have a long way to go.”

“I think it’ll be finished by tomorrow evening at the latest.”

“Didn’t you just say variables always exist? So let’s finish as quickly as possible.”

With that, the two focused on designing magic again.

***

Rebecca was successfully persuaded. Although it was closer to one-sided intimidation, I managed to convince her nonetheless.

Here’s how I persuaded her…

‘I was taken hostage, and Leo almost died. I died too.’

‘Then we should escape first…’

‘There’s a traitor inside the base. So we can’t escape.’

‘…How do you know that?’

‘Leo told me. And he also told me how we can all survive.’

I just lied.

Even if I made up a plausible excuse, there would still be flaws somewhere. So why not just tell a lie without any flaws?

Of course, this lie is also full of holes. If Rebecca points them out…

‘I only heard it from Leo, so I don’t know much either.’

I’ll just deny knowing. Leo might get angry later when he finds out, but since it’s a lie for his sake, it should be fine.

And if things get dangerous, I can always threaten to reveal past events.

“So the plan is to take out the enemy leader?”

“Yes.”

“That’s strange… Leo wouldn’t come up with such a flimsy plan…”

“He was probably busy designing magic.”

Ha-eun gives me a sharp look from the side, but I’m already used to such glances.

My intentions are good, at least. So she’ll probably understand.

“So is there a way to find where the enemy boss is?”

“We can track them by following the unique energy of black magic.”

Fortunately, I won’t have to just stand by and watch. Now we just need to find the mastermind and take them down.

“So where is the enemy boss?”

“Please wait a moment.”

Rebecca assumed a prayer position with her hands clasped together, and after a brief moment, she spoke with suspicion.

“I can sense black magic energy from the underground ruins over there.”

Rebecca pointed to ruins that were quite far from here.

“…Aren’t those ruins where high-ranking demons are supposed to be?”

“That’s right.”

Unfortunately, I won’t just be standing by and watching. Now we need to break through those demon hordes to take down the mastermind.

Of course they’d be there if they can control demon hordes. Why would they be somewhere without demons around?

Should we ambush them when the demon forces invade and there are no troops left to protect them?

But there are 100,000 demons over there. I’m not confident in hiding from so many eyes.

Then suddenly, a question occurred to me.

“But don’t you think it’s strange that we can’t see any demons? If there are 100,000 of them, why does it feel so empty?”

100,000 is truly a terrifying number. It should be enough to completely cover this entire area and more.

But right now, it’s too quiet. We occasionally see one or two demons, but there’s no sign of them gathering anywhere.

“The number is definitely correct. But the demonic energy feels like it’s concentrated in one spot.”

“Where exactly do you sense this energy?”

“From underground in those ruins.”

“…How big must that underground be to hide all those demons?”

“I’m not sure either. But they’re definitely all gathered there.”

Rebecca spoke with a puzzled tone, but there was certainty in her voice.

“Alright. Let’s head there.”

Honestly, I can’t believe it. How could there possibly be space for 100,000 demons plus people in the underground ruins?

Even in this world full of impossible things, this is truly unbelievable.

But we have no other leads. So we need to go there, clutching at straws.

I hope there’s some hope waiting for us there…

***

I think I understand why Leo longed for human warmth so much.

It’s really damn cold here. Moreover, the temperature seems to drop even further as we approach the ruins, and snowstorms rage fiercely.

In such cold weather, sticking together is the best way to maintain body temperature.

The human warmth Leo talked about probably wasn’t referring to this, but it’s still human warmth, so it’s fine.

Anyway, I’m being carried on Rebecca’s back. Thanks to her, I can maintain a normal body temperature.

“Senior, isn’t it a bit pathetic that your stamina runs out after barely 30 minutes of walking?”

“…”

“A muscular senior like you being carried by a woman, don’t you have any pride as a man?”

“…Since I’m neither muscular nor a man right now, I think my pride is intact.”

“I wonder where the charismatic senior I used to know went…”

Thanks to Ha-eun, I’ve suffered tremendous psychological damage. But it’s okay, I can recover everything once I return to my male body.

The way I’m acting now must be because of… female hormones? Anyway, that must be it.

“It’s okay. People naturally change frequently.”

“…You don’t need to comfort me.”

“Even though Lite has changed into a fragile body, you’re still really good at housework! So have confidence.”

“Just leave me alone, please…”

Such compliments don’t make me happy at all. Rather, they make me feel like I’m being mocked.

I didn’t want to change into this miserable body. I was forced to change.

But I just need to endure for three more weeks. After defeating the Demon King in three weeks, I’ll be free from this body.

“But are you sure the enemy boss is really there?”

We’ve almost reached the ruins, but there aren’t many demons visible around. In fact, we’ve encountered fewer than ten demons on our way here.

At this point, I’m starting to suspect it might be a trap.

“They’re definitely there. The black magic energy beneath us is so intense it’s nauseating.”

“But doesn’t something seem off? How could all 100,000 demons be in there?”

“I don’t know either. But they’re definitely there.”

Her voice was filled with certainty, as if she had seen it herself.

We should head in there. It should be fine since we can escape immediately if it gets dangerous.

“Please put me down now.”

“What if you collapse again like before?”

“Do you really think I can’t even walk this much?”

“Yes.”

“Honestly, senior, you’re extremely weak.”

“…”

They say if you stay quiet, you’ll get at least half of what you want. That’s clearly a lie. Otherwise, why do I get hit even when I stay quiet?

Anyway, this is all the fault of the Goddess who changed me into this body. It’s definitely not my fault.

I wonder if we can really defeat the enemy? I’ve been acting emotionally until now, but as my head clears, anxiety starts to creep in.

If they’re capable of doing something like this, they must be strong too. Can I win?

With Rebecca beside me, it should be fine, and we can always escape if needed. So I shouldn’t worry too much.

With that, we entered the ruins.