Chapter 85: A Fool’s Love (4)[Revised]

[85] 13. A Fool’s Love (4)[Revised]

The fire that had burned down her hometown had also burned away her dreams.

The flames of reality had long since died down, turned to ashes. But in her dreams, the flames still cast a long light over the dark evening sky. And it was the same with the blood and the corpses.

The newlyweds screamed as they’re burned alive, and her parents, mutilated, are impaled on poles.

An endless hell, her dreams repeating, and repeating, and repeating again.

But, now, for the first time, new blood was spilled in her dreams.

It was a man, half machine, half white wood.

His lips, the only part completely made of flesh.

Those lips spoke with a cruel smile.

“So, goodbye.”

Rosalia woke up from her dream.

“You’re awake?”

Her eyes, still heavy with sleep, darted to the side. A woman in a robe was sipping tea.

“Your clothes are drying. As for your armor… I know how to clean it, but I’ve never actually done it myself. I’ll bring you some oil and cloths later.”

Confusion clouded Rosalia’s face.

After struggling to organize her thoughts for a while, she finally asked with furrowed brows.

“…Who are you?”

“Oh, right. I haven’t introduced myself yet.”

The woman in the robe placed a hand on her chest.

“My name is Skuld, the all-knowing witch.”

“…The all-knowing witch?”

“Yes, the one you were trying to meet.”

“Why are you here? But Rem, he…”

Her mouth clamped shut as soon as she spoke his name. Memories from before she lost consciousness came flooding back.

The image of Rem smiling at her as the arrow pierced him.

“Rem.”

Rosalia hurriedly sat up.

“…!”

However, she suddenly felt dizzy and slumped back down on the bed. Rosalia’s eyes turned to her own trembling hands.

“My body…”

“Don’t worry, it’s just from overexerting yourself. You’ll be fine.”

Skuld said, pulling the blanket over Rosalia.

“Just stay in bed for a day. I’ll bring you something light to eat…”

“I can’t do that.”

Skuld looked at Rosalia’s hand, which had grabbed her wrist. Rosalia, looking up at her, said,

“I appreciate your offer, but I have something I must do right now. By any chance, do you have any stimulants or potions that could restore my energy? I’ll pay you handsomely, of course.”

The words came pouring out.

At first glance, it sounded like she was pleading.

Nonetheless, Skuld remained silent.

She simply stared at Rosalia with a slight frown.

How much time had passed like that.

Just as Rosalia’s impatience was reaching its peak.

“Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

Skuld suddenly sat on the edge of the bed. Rosalia nodded, though still confused.

“What’s your goal?”

It was a rather random question.

“…My goal?”

Skuld nodded.

“Doesn’t everyone have one? The most important thing in their life, or something they really want to achieve?”

“…I do, but I can’t tell you. I swore an oath to never…”

“To fix the Dragon King’s Essence and then expose that fake prince?”

Rosalia’s eyes widened.

“How did you…?”

“I told you, I’m the all-knowing witch.”

Skuld tapped her head with her finger. Then, resting her chin on her hand, she looked at Rosalia with a suspicious look in her eyes.

“But, it’s strange, isn’t it?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Why are you trying to rescue Rem?”

For the first time, a hardened expression appeared on Rosalia’s face.

“It’s only natural, saving a companion…”

“You saw Rem’s last moments too.”

At those words, the memory of that arrow taking root in his body struck her like a lightning bolt.

Rosalia’s face paled.

“And your subordinate, Sheila, is gradually losing her self-control. She always had a rather extreme personality, but…”

“…That’s enough.”

Still Skuld said coldly,

“The chances of Rem being alive are low.”

It was a truth that she’d been trying to ignore.

“And yet you’re saying you’re going to rescue him? You already found a way to fix the Dragon King’s Essence.”

By now, Rosalia’s eyes fell. The truth she’d been trying to avoid was now weighing heavily on her heart.

“If, as you said, the mission is all that matters, then what you should be doing now is not rescuing Rem.”

“So I’ll ask you again,”

Rosalia’s gloomy face was reflected in Skuld’s blue eyes.

“Rosalia, what is it that you truly desire?”

A heavy silence fell over the room.

A silence so heavy that it felt like you could hear thoughts clashing if you listened closely.

Skuld sensed the silence would continue, so she stood up.

“I’ll leave you alone, so please think carefully.”

She walked towards the door.

“…The mission comes first.”

Just as she was reaching for the door, Skuld turned around.

“That’s why I must rescue Rem all the more.”

Rosalia’s face was devoid of the usual conviction. It was an expression closer to hesitation, and her voice was weak.

“Rem… he’s a very skilled mage. His contribution to this mission is immeasurable. That’s why… He’s crucial to this mission.”

Those words seemed intended more to convince herself than Skuld. But the more she spoke, the quieter her voice became.

As if she knew that what she was saying was a lie.

“So I have to rescue him.”

Even so, her last utterances were firm.

Skuld stared at Rosalia, then finally sighed.

“Haa… Next time, try to be a bit more honest with yourself.”

“Next time…?”

“First of all, let me tell you this in advance. Rem’s alive, surprisingly.”

“…!”

Did Rosalia even realize how much her face had brightened at that moment?

Skuld swallowed down a sigh and walked towards a bookshelf. Pulling out a map, she spread it on the table.

“And they’ll be passing through here in two weeks. Of course, along with the Central Knights’ First Division.”

“R-Really? How did you know…”

“It’s not like they call me the all-knowing witch for nothing, you know?”

Skuld placed her hand on her chest with a proud expression. But soon, she smiled gently at Rosalia.

“So please, just get some rest. I won’t charge you for the lodging.”

“…Why are you helping me?”

It was a late question, but a necessary one. Rosalia asked, with a hint of wariness.

“You have no reason to be this kind to me, do you?”

“I’m doing this because I *do* have a reason.”

Skuld pulled out a medal from her bosom.

It was the very same medal Sheila had used to imprison her.

Looking at it, Skuld smiled bitterly.

“It seems like my former superior is involved in your matters.”

***

Two weeks had passed since Rem had woken up.

And Feya’s plan was already falling apart.

“Ah, you’re here?”

As soon as she entered the tent, Rem greeted her with a big smile.

“Just wait a moment! I’ll get your meal ready!”

Before she could stop him, he was already setting food on the table.

Stew, grilled meat, rye bread, and wine.

It was a rather luxurious spread for a campsite. He had even already poured the wine into glasses.

“I begged the quartermaster and managed to get a lot of good stuff today.”

“…Rem, I’ll say it again, there’s no need for you to do this…”

“I feel uncomfortable if I don’t do at least something.”

Rem’s innocent smile made it impossible for Feya to speak. Then, as if he had just remembered something, he added,

“Oh, and I also cleaned up a bit.”

At those words, Feya’s eyes darted around the inside of the tent. The messy sight from before was gone. Everything was neatly organized.

“O-Of course…! I didn’t touch any of those sensitive things! Really!”

Feya hadn’t said anything, but Rem blushed and shook his head vigorously on his own.

Feya suddenly felt dizzy.

“That… it doesn’t matter. Let’s eat the stew first. The stew will get cold.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

He answered enthusiastically,

but instead of picking up his spoon, he just stared at Feya.

He was waiting for her to eat first.

Feya, swallowing down a sigh, took a spoonful of stew. Only then did Rem start eating. Watching him, Feya thought to herself once again,

*This wasn’t what I had planned.*

Her original plan was quite simple.

First, secretly let him go as promised.

Second, fight him again when he reunited with Rosalia.

Third, if they both survived, have a drink together.

It was an extremely simple plan. By her calculations, she thought it was a fool-proof plan.

But…

“Um, um, did I do something wrong…?”

When Feya stared at him intently, anxiety instantly appeared on Rem’s face.

When she was young, Feya had once raised a small fox. She loved it so much that she would share her food even when she was starving.

Of course, in the end, it had been turned into a pool of blood by her father.

Anyway.

Rem reminded Feya of that fox. Mainly because he seemed so fragile, as if he would die if she flicked him.

How could such a powerful mage become such a fragile man?

Feya couldn’t think of a way to get him out of here safely.

… Honestly, even if he did manage to escape, she wasn’t sure if he could survive on his own in the forest.

If only she knew Rosalia’s whereabouts, then she’d just hand him over to her. But that bitch, she had vanished without a trace, as if she’d fallen into the earth or ascended to the heavens…

She didn’t even know how to get Rem’s memories back… To begin with, she hardly knew anything about Rem…

‘This is fucked.’

“Feya? Is there something wrong with the stew…”

“No, it’s delicious. I’m just… thinking about something.”

Only after those words did Rem’s anxious expression relax.

“That’s a relief… I was worried I might have messed up the seasoning…”

Rem patted his chest and smiled brightly.

Yes, a *bright* smile,

from that annoying mage.

And it suited him so well that it was even more unsettling.

What kind of cruel joke is this…

No, forget it.

Pointless worries are just a waste of time.

Feya decided to just eat her meal.

…And for the record, the food was so delicious it was almost ridiculous.

***

After they finished eating,

Rem stood up, holding the dishes, as if waiting for her to finish.

“I’ll be back soon, just wait a moment…”

“No, no, hold on.”

Rem looked at her, confused, and Feya shook her head, rubbing her temple.

“I’ll do the dishes. Just leave them.”

Feya might be a rude person, but she wasn’t shameless. She didn’t feel comfortable treating him or an enemy like a servant.

…And most of all, it was horrifying to see the man who had defeated her act like a housewife.

It felt like having a terrible dream after drinking too much the night before.

Feya narrowed her brows and said,

“You don’t have to do the dishes or cook.”

“But if I don’t do at least this much…”

The conversation was about to turn into a broken record again. Feya decided to just quickly change the subject.

“And take your shirt off. I need to check your wounds.”

“Ah, yes, yes…”

He slowly took off his shirt, revealing the bandages that covered his upper body. Feya took out a dagger and cut the bandages.

The horrifying scars left by the Memory Tree’s roots came into view.

“…They’re healing well.”

It was just as Feya muttered to herself.

Of course, there would be a terrible scar, but the wounds were healing well. There was no sign of infection either.

At this rate, he’ll be able to remove the bandages before the month was over. Thinking that was at least some good news, Feya picked up a jar of ointment.

“Feya Danderlion.”

It was then, as Feya was rewrapping the bandages, that a cold voice came from outside the tent.

“The Captain wants to see you.”

*Sheila? Suddenly?*

Feya was puzzled, but she nodded.

“Right, wait a moment.”

She quickly finished wrapping the bandages and picked up her axe. Then, before stepping out of the tent, she turned back to Rem and said,

“And, uh… just leave the dishes. Don’t prepare dinner either, I’ll just get something from the quartermaster.”

“Ah, yes…”

Rem nodded obediently, but Feya didn’t believe him. It wasn’t the first time he’d said that, only to then do the opposite.

*Maybe I should just tell him that I’ve already eaten outside.*

Feya swallowed down a sigh and turned back.

“Th-Then… have a safe trip…”

… *I’ll never get used to him saying that greeting, no matter how many times I was beaten to death.* She thought to herself.