Chapter 82: A Fool’s Love (1)[Revised]

[82] 13. A Fool’s Love (1)[Revised]

(In a forest swept by a cold wind,

Sheila paces around her tent, her face filled with worry.)

Sheila: *In the end, the last operation was a failure. All because of that cunning mage!

We’d think we’ve finally caught him, and then *poof* he’d vanish like a mirage with his damnable magic!

How could we possibly capture them with human hands? Even our mages are no better than incompetents compared to him… *

(A messenger enters)

Messenger: Captain, a letter from the Prince.

Sheila: A letter? From the Prince?

(Sheila snatches the letter from his hands.)

Sheila: Arriving in a month, he says? That villain? Oh Alain, why do you curse me so!

If that bastard comes, then that poor woman, she won’t be able to avoid death. Even that cunning mage’s magic will be useless before that demon.

Ah, what should I do… What should I do…

(Sheila starts pacing again. The messenger, sensing the mood, carefully exits.)

(A woman in a robe suddenly appears out of thin air.)

Woman: My child, do not worry so much.

Sheila: Oh God, am I seeing things? A woman, appearing from the shadows. I’ve never even heard of such magic.

Woman: Do not be afraid, child. I have come to help you.

Sheila: Help me? How could a bizarre being such as yourself help me?

(The woman pulls out a strange medal from her bosom and hands it to Sheila.)

Woman: 500 paces from here in the direction where the sun sets, buried underground, there lies my forgotten temple underground. Use this medal to imprison them.

Sheila: It seems this strange being doesn’t know about his cunning magic. The mage we’re chasing, he can travel through space. So how could we possibly trap him?

(The woman pulls out a small necklace from her bosom and hands it to Sheila.)

Woman: Do not fret. With this necklace, he won’t be able to use that trick of his.

Sheila: Truly? You’re saying that if I have this necklace, he won’t be able to travel through space anymore?

(The woman nods. However, Sheila frowns.)

Sheila: I can’t believe it! Fate is a fair scale, and it doesn’t grant us luck without a reason. Why would you give me these treasures for no reason?

(The woman smiles faintly.)

Woman: Do not doubt, my child. This is all for a greater cause. Simply do what you must.

(The woman disappears back into the shadows. Sheila, bewildered, frantically searches the shadows, but finds nothing.)

Sheila: Am I being tricked by a ghost? Has this summer heat melted my sanity?

No, it’s not a dream. I can feel the weight of the medal and necklace she gave me. That woman, she definitely was here just now! But how is this possible? Is that woman a devil?

(Sheila shakes her head.)

Sheila: No, it doesn’t matter. What does it matter if she’s a devil or an angel?

What matters is only one thing. To stop that person’s selfish obsession, and to give that poor person their ordinary life back.

And for that, I’d sell my soul to the devil a hundred times!

(Sheila exits, holding the medal and the necklace.)

***

Boredom, it is mankind’s greatest enemy.

Even the bravest of men, unfazed by torture, are helpless against it. And even a wise man, who’d mastered all the world’s knowledge, would succumb under it.

In the end, It is a force that will ultimately break down humanity, leading them to commit acts of foolishness.

Boredom is an irresistible force to humans.

Therefore, it was no surprise that Rosalia and Rem, on horseback, would begin a pointless argument.

Rosalia furrowed her brow and said,

“Again, if a dragon and a sandworm were to fight, the dragon would win.”

(TL Note: Sandworm. Ya know like from the dune.)

“What kind of bullshit is that? Of course the sandworm would win.”

Rem’s voice was raised high.

“Think about it, you tin can. If the sandworm bites the dragon’s legs, the dragon’s off to become dragon juice, you know?”

“Don’t say such foolish things. Dragons can fly. Why would they get their legs caught in the first place?”

At that moment, the horse stepped wrongly on some gravel and stumbled.

Rosalia instinctively wrapped her arms around Rem’s waist, who was steering the horse. Then, with a sullen expression, she snapped.

“And steer the horse properly.”

“Then why don’t you steer it, tin can.”

“… Didn’t we agree that you’d steer the horse in exchange for me taking the night watch yesterday?”

“Anyway!”

As soon as a topic unfavorable to him came up, Rem immediately changed the subject.

“What good is flying when the sandworm can just burrow into the ground? Sandworms attack by surprise, you know? Ambush?”

“If that’s the case, doesn’t dragons breathe fire from their mouths!”

“No, hey! Do you really think a sandworm is going to just stand there and take it? It’ll burrow into the ground immediately!”

A vein bulged on Rosalia’s forehead.

“Hey, You damn walking corpse! Did you replace your brain with steel too? Do you think a dragon would just stand there and quietly let itself get ambushed?”

“And there she goes again, your facade is slipping. I’m telling you, why don’t you just abandon that stiff, formal way of speaking?”

“If you didn’t get on my nerves so much…”

It was a strange, but at the same time, common quarrel.

Their voices might have been raised, but a hint of a smile lingered at the corners of their mouths. And though their gazes were sharp, there was a peculiar glint in their eyes.

Too rough to be called a conversation, but too pathetic to be called a fight.

A relationship that keeps repeating such acts, we call them ‘frenemies.’

“Wait.”

However, they were not only frenemies, but also fugitives.

Rem’s grinning face suddenly hardened. He pulled out a magical tool and waved it in the air.

[vealre]

It was as if a layer of paint had been removed from the world.

As the air melted away, what had been concealed was revealed.

A rope trap aimed at the horse,

A binding magic circle,

And a group of knights and a barbarian.

Sheila’s fierce gaze were fixed on Rem. Rem twisted his lips as he looked at the bracelet on Sheila’s wrist.

“A concealment magic tool, huh? You guys actually put in some effort this time. Though it was all for nothing since you got caught right away.”

“You…!”

“Don’t provoke them unnecessarily, Rem.”

Rosalia clicked her tongue and swiftly jumped off the horse. As Sheila’s murderous gaze landed on Rosalia, it softened.

“…Captain.”

“Persistent as ever, Sheila.”

Rosalia’s voice, on the other hand, was cold to the extreme.

“I must have told you countless times to stop chasing me.”

“…How could I not?”

Sheila’s voice strained with emotion.

“It’s a subordinate’s duty to correct a superior who’s blinded by her own obsession.”

“It’s a superior’s duty to correct a subordinate who thinks too highly of themselves and tries to lecture their superior.”

Rosalia’s hand went to the hilt of her sword.

“Stand down, Sheila.”

“…The Prince is coming.”

Rosalia’s shoulder trembled. Gaining confidence from that reaction, Sheila continued.

“The Prince will not let you live, Captain. So please…”

“Then I’ll die.”

A dismayed look appeared on Sheila’s face. Rosalia drew her sword, her expression stern.

“I think we’ve talked enough.”

“But, Captain…”

“This time, I agree with that woman, Ms. Knight,”

Feya, who had been silent, said, pushing Sheila aside with the flat of her axe. A fierce smile had spread across her face.

“If words don’t work, then we use steel.”

Rosalia frowned and lowered her sword. Just then, Rem, who had gotten off the horse, stood beside her, holding his magic tools.

“…Rem, how long until the teleportation is ready?”

“Ugh, at least seven minutes?”

“…Can’t you do it any faster?”

“How many times do I have to tell you? This is a one-person teleportation tool. I have to charge it twice. If it was just me, three minutes would be enough, understood?”

Rem snapped at her, and Rosalia, feeling a bit embarrassed, turned her gaze to the enemies. Sheila came and stood beside Feya, both glaring at Rosalia.

“…Everyone, prepare to charge!”

The knights’ swords and bows are pointed at Rem and Rosalia. At the same time, magic tools floated up from Rem’s arms.

“Charge!”

[utsd]

And then as their voices overlapped,

A fierce battle began.

…

…

…

“Rosalia!”

Seven minutes passed like a speeding arrow.

Rosalia, having parried a knight’s attack, turned to look at Rem, who was waving a glowing magic tool, his face painted with a grin.

It meant the teleportation was ready.

Rosalia kicked the abdomen of an approaching knight and sprinted toward Rem.

All she had to do was grab his hand.

The distance between them was just 30 meters.

Their escape seemed certain.

But long years of experience can sometimes bring sudden insights.

A sudden sense of uneasiness flashed through Rosalia’s mind.

The knights weren’t trying to stop her.

Of course, on the surface, it seemed like they were desperately trying to block her. The arrows flying towards her are proof.

But these knights were once her subordinates, and because of that, she could tell.

They weren’t trying to stop her ‘desperately’. Rather, they seemed to be conserving their energy.

As if they had some other goal in mind.

Rosalia suddenly stopped. Drawing her sword, she shouted.

“Rem! Wait, something’s wrong! Just wait a mo-…”

But her realization came too late.

*Fizzle-*

“Huh?”

Rem’s eyes, filled with bewilderment, turned to the magic tool that was now emitting smoke. A dumbstruck sound escaped Rosalia.

And someone did not miss that moment of opportunity.

“By Ailleyde!”

“…!”

Sheila tackled Rosalia, holding up a medal. Rosalia instinctively kicked Sheila, but Sheila gritted her teeth and clung to Rosalia.

And then, suddenly, the ground beneath them ‘vanished.’

A feeling of weightlessness enveloped their bodies.,

A premonition of a fall burned through her nerves.

Right before she fell, Rosalia turned her head to look at Rem.

Rem, his face pale as a sheet, was running toward her.

“Rem…!”

And, Rosalia and Sheila were swallowed by the earth.

***

Rem glared at the ground that had swallowed Rosalia. It was completely filled, as if nothing had ever happened.

“What in the world…”

“Finally, we’ve successfully separated them.”

Those words were followed by the chilling sound of a sword being drawn.

Rem, turning around, realized that he was in no position to be worried about others.

Knights, their eyes gleaming with killing intent, were approaching him.

They’d been conserving their energy for this very moment.

Even with two people, it had been a struggle just to buy time. And now his teleportation magic tool wasn’t working for some reason.

‘…This is fucked.’

Gritting his teeth, Rem tightened his grip on his magic tools.

It was then.

“Move, tin cans.”

Pushing through the knights, Feya appeared. Shoving aside a knight with the flat of her axe, she glared at Rem.

“Barbarian, just what on earth are you…”

*BANG-!*

Rem couldn’t exactly see what happened. Neither did the other knights.

All they knew was that in the next moment, the knight who had tried to block Feya was sprawled out on the ground.

Feya growled at the bewildered knights.

“Anyone who interferes from now on will end up meeting the same fate. Got it?”

The knights grimaced,

but they didn’t dare to move.

For the past two months, they had witnessed Feya’s prowess first hand. They knew well that if she were to become an enemy, they wouldn’t be able to stop her.

“…What are you doing?”

Rem eyed Feya suspiciously. Feya twisted her lips into a smirk and then casually rested her axe over her shoulder.

“First, I have an apology to make, mage.”

Rem’s confusion deepened.

“For taking you hostage when we first met. I was desperate then. I didn’t know how strong you were.”

“…Isn’t that apology a little late?”

“Better late than never. I’ve been regretting that incident quite a bit, I’m sorry.”

Feya shook her head as if she genuinely felt sorry. Rem couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at her.

“If you’re that sorry, then why not just let me go? Then I’ll forgive you. I’ll even buy you a drink.”

Feya let out a hearty laugh, but it soon turned into a bitter smile.

“Sorry, but I’ve already received a down payment. And, my pockets are a bit too empty to be paying penalties. Instead…”

Feya’s eyes gleamed.

“I have an offer for you.”

“…What is it?”

Feya pointed her axe at Rem.

“One-on-one. I’ll let you go if you win. If you lose… well, there’s no need to explain that, is there?”

“…How do I know you’ll keep your promise?”

“You really think you have a choice?”

Rem’s gaze turned to the knights who had stepped back. They were glaring at him with their hands firmly gripping the hilts of their swords.

“…I guess not.”

“Negotiation settled then.”

Rem spread out his magic tools again,

Feya lowered her axe.

The air tightened with tension.

Their gazes sharpened.

At that moment, Rem noticed something and smirked slyly.

“…You, all that apology and offer stuff was just an excuse. You just wanted to have a go at me, didn’t you?”

A feral grin spread across Feya’s lips.

Her eyes curved into crescents as shrugged her shoulders.

“…What can I say? You always teleport away whenever I feel like my blood is boiling. You have no idea how frustrating that is.”

Feya took a step forward, her face lit up with a huge smile.

“So this time, let’s have a proper fight, mage.”

Rem and Feya simultaneously charged at each other.