episode_0027

“…Eun-in, I have something to ask.”

“What’s on your mind, Yeongam?”

“Well, did anything happen last night by any chance? That weirdo Karl… seems a bit off today for some reason.”

Looking at Karl following behind Dwarf Stroheim’s words, his demeanor did indeed seem a bit off.

Normally, he would be spewing all sorts of vulgarities at the priestess and me, complaining that the travel atmosphere had become too dull.

He was exuding an enlightened sage-like aura, just smiling warmly.

…He’s already crazy, so does that make him look even more insane because of my mood?

I slowed down my walking pace and closed the distance with him.

Then, I sharply jabbed his side, still wearing that cozy expression.

“Cough?!”

After being jabbed in the side, Karl returned to his original self.

I held onto his side, looking down at him as he groaned.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you hurting somewhere? Why do you look like you’ve lost your underwear?”

Chuckling, I touched his forehead with my hand.

…No fever, so why is he acting like this? Did he go into heat yesterday and hook up with someone?

It feels like that kind of situation.

As I removed my hand from his forehead, I noticed his dazed expression.

Karl soon widened the distance between us, shaking his head helplessly.

“You’re clueless whether you’re asleep or awake.”

“What nonsense is that?”

“Forget it, my mouth hurts just talking about it. I wish you’d reflect on what you did.”

He sighed, walked away into the distance, leaving me pondering his words.

“Reflect on what I did?”

I recalled what I did to Karl.

Yeah, I warned him because his sage-like expression bothered me.

And then, I poked his side and touched his forehead.

What’s the problem with that?

I was just checking on my companion’s well-being.

When I shot a sharp glance at Karl, who was leading the group, Veldem approached me, chuckling.

“Why are you making such a scary face again?”

“Just Karl said something strange and ran off. Nothing to worry about.”

“He sure likes throwing unsettling remarks. You’ll get used to it.”

“I don’t really want to get used to it.”

“Well, nothing much we can do about that. By the way, Witch.”

Veldem, working his biceps with a hefty dumbbell, looked around the peaceful wilderness strangely before speaking.

“Don’t you find it suspicious around here? There have been almost no battles for several days, which you must know well as a witch. But there hasn’t been a single attack in this area. It’s like… arriving in a metropolis, a paradise.”

“How far to Paradise?”

“Probably two days if short, three if long.”

No battles with only two to three days left until arrival.

Is this intentional or just a coincidence?

As I pondered, something tripped my foot.

Immediately looking down, I saw a burnt soldier’s sword.

Upon seeing it, I nodded, gazing up at the sky.

“There’s only one reason for this.”

“Hmm?”

Veldem expressed doubt, but I ignored him and requested the priestess to strengthen the protective barrier with all her holy power.

“Use all your sanctity to make the shield as strong as possible.”

“Why?”

“If they come, they’ll come hard. If you don’t want to die right now.”

The surroundings were so quiet that not even the sound of ants could be heard.

If this place rivals Paradise in peace, there is one more place that matches it.

“Didn’t I say yesterday that Paradise was the only place where people could live?”

That’s right, but here it’s peaceful in a different sense, which is why I’m saying this.

If the original novel’s setting is being faithfully maintained.

There is only one living person here.

In response to my request, the priestess began creating a sturdy shield with a fearsome expression, and a giant flame sword started descending from the sky.

It was reminiscent of judging sinners who had violated taboos.

However, the solid dome-shaped shield unfolded by the priestess effectively blocked the flame sword.

Crackling sounds were heard for a while as the shield began to weaken.

As the flame sword exerted its force, it concealed its form, and the priestess’s full-powered shield also shattered into fragments, scattering in the wind.

“Ouch…!”

Thud!

Whether due to the intense heat around her or perhaps from using too much divine power at once, the priestess collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. Seeing this, Kotas tossed her a healing potion with an intrigued expression.

“With this level of firepower… if used skillfully, it might produce excellent cuisine.”

“Do you really think it’s appropriate to say that in such a serious situation?”

“But the firepower is exceptional. If used well, it could possibly change the paradigm of food itself!”

“Anyway, you’re insane.”

Shaking his head at the orc’s seemingly deranged remarks, the individual who had dropped the flame sword from afar revealed themselves.

“Oh… thick, tantalizing, and smooth tail…!”

The blade that identified the individual was about to make a suggestive comment but ended up closing its mouth as my hand swatted it on the head.

The individual who dropped the flame sword.

Her true identity was none other than a seductive and sleek-tailed draconian.

—–

In the novel I read.

In ‘The Bizarre Adventures of Lunatics,’ a helper appeared in each episode without fail.

In the northern region, it was a candidate saint of the Holy Kingdom.

In the southern region, it was the original owner of this body that I am currently possessing, the witch Beatrice.

And in the western region…

“Who dares to act up in my territory!”

The draconian, who seemed filthy in appearance before me, could be considered as that ‘helper.’

In the original novel as well, helpers played various roles within the story.

They sometimes flirted with one of the main characters.

Acted as the key to resolving crises in episodes.

Simultaneously displayed a madness that rivaled the main group, entertaining readers with laughter.

In a way, they were more like supporting characters than extras.

So, I had expected to meet this entity at some point.

“I never thought we’d meet like this.”

I unexpectedly encountered the draconian while on my way to progress the main episode.

…Come to think of it, how did they meet the main character’s group in the original?

Deep in thought, the infuriated draconian spewed flames towards the group.

“Ah… a flamethrower… truly an excellent means of communication!”

Upon seeing this, Stroheim quickly brought out his own flamethrower to retaliate.

The clash of the two powerful flames resulted in their mutual annihilation.

Upon witnessing this spectacular sight, I could recall something.

…In the original, the main character’s group also encountered this battle-hungry draconian on their way to ‘Paradise.’

Forgetting this would be even more absurd.

In the original, the priestess had barely withstood the recent baptism of flames, enduring it with just her robust body.

Perfectly trained muscles are the most impeccable defense fortress in the world or something like that.

After spouting such nonsense, only then could I encounter that draconian.

Of course, the author clarified that such talk was just nonsense from Belldem.

The cause of his overwhelming fire resistance was not from muscle training, but from enduring countless fire spells unleashed by Akritche during the Northern Episode.

So, it was something acquired through the insane collaboration between the ‘Northern Supporter’ and the ‘Northern Final Boss.’

…Just thinking about it makes my head ache for real.

Even during the recovery phase, I almost got screwed over. If I go see him again due to some other incident, he’ll probably be in a supercharged state.

No, no matter what, let’s just think about that later.

The South and West aren’t done yet, so why worry about things that will happen in the distant future?

“Sigh.”

I let out a long sigh and slowly approached the Dragonian who was wearing a blank expression.

But fortunately.

Unlike the Northern Supporter who showed a sinister and truly insane side, this guy belongs to a fairly decent axis except for his ‘anger management issues.’

His personality was very straightforward.

Aggressive, fiery, yet honest.

So, to put it simply, should I just call him a fool who loves battles?

As a character belonging to the normal axis among main and supporting roles, I remember quite liking him.

…It does seem strange to call a fool normal from a certain point onwards.

Anyway, this opponent is a fool.

If you give him what he wants, convincing him will be easy.

And with that easy persuasion, I should be able to get her help, and the difficulty of the hellish Western Episode should also decrease a bit.

Standing confidently in front of the battle-loving Dragonian, I cautiously spoke to her to prevent her from getting angry.

“I have something to say, Dragonian.”

“My mom said never to mix words with witches.”

Yeah, if your mom said so, there’s nothing you can do… or is there?

“If you follow me, I’ll introduce you to an incredibly strong opponent. Interested?”

“If such an opponent is right in front of me, why bother?”

“…?”

Expressing doubt, he immediately began to take a combat stance, sending me a hostile gaze and raising the corners of his mouth.

“Let’s fight, witch.”

Or else.

“Hand over that man.”

…That bastard.