episode_0069

The moment the name Ale was called, the cursed monster became Ale.

The new name I gave her instead of her original name, which is now forgotten and no one knows, is the meaning she will have in this world.

The magic that bound her was something I could instinctively know because I was also connected to it.

After being called by a new name, Alle stopped resisting and surrendered herself to the magic of the ritual that enveloped her.

It was not a submission that came from the heart.

Her eyes widened in surprise, clearly showing that her current actions were not her will.

That fact seemed to elicit some resonance from Alle.

She let out a scream.

It has never made such a sound due to any pain or wounds it has suffered from fighting with us so far.

It is not a simple frustration, but a sorrow that comes out when you dig into a person’s deepest wounds.

Even I, who had called her by her new name and made her obey, was taken aback by the chill, but Aladih just gave me an interested look and calmly continued the ritual.

“…I don’t know if it’s okay to ask why he’s doing that…”

“It’s okay. Now the ritual is almost over. You’re probably wondering why the rabbit is suddenly acting like that, right?”

Aladikh responded as if he had anticipated my question while carefully controlling the movements of the web by moving his hands and legs.

“It must have been like that when I first fell under that curse.

Part of the curse was having no choice but to obey the magician regardless of one’s will…

Perhaps, as hundreds of years passed and he used that curse like armor to protect himself, he lived forgetting the humiliation and pain.

At least until now.”

“…”

At the answer Aladikh gave, I remained silent, not knowing how to continue speaking.

Should we feel exhilarated by completely capturing and humiliating the monster we fought so tiresomely?

Because I was confused as to whether I should sympathize with the cursed legionnaire who was unable to break free from the shackles of his miserable fate.

Besides, you probably wouldn’t have heard what was said anyway.

Finally, the light of consciousness, centered around Alle, who was tied up in the air, began to cut through this dark space and open the exit.

The sound of the barrier that divided one world from another being torn open drowned out all other sounds.

We walked out cautiously, following Aladikh who took the lead in the suddenly uncomfortable silence.

The sound of footsteps echoing in the cave could no longer be heard.

As we walked without knowing what we were stepping on, we just moved silently outward with our eyes focused straight ahead.

And at one point, I don’t know exactly when.

The light disappeared and darkness came again.

Surprised by the sudden change, before he could say anything, Alle, who had been magically tied in the air, fell and rolled on the floor.

Baring its teeth, it raises its staggering body, rushes at what is about to be shot, grabs it, and pushes it down.

Immediately after that, Emma followed me and once again, I firmly held her down with her half-human, half-horse body.

“Kahahak!!”

“…Are you really not tired?”

As she reaches out to remove the sword that fell on the floor, which she had been trying to pick up, she finally realizes.

In the world beyond the shadows we were in earlier, there were no weapons like this lying on the ground.

Then here-

“…So this is the real world.”

We were finally able to be convinced by Aladih’s words, which were filled with emotion.

He said he returned to the original world.

This is the rabbit monster… no, the cave that was Ale’s residence and tomb, the exact place where we passed into the shadow world where Aladih was imprisoned.

‘Of course. Those weapons lying on the floor… are clearly trophies taken from the warriors Ale hunted.

Did he try to pick it up and run amok again?’

I should definitely be happy that the plan was successful… but it was difficult to do so with three dangerous people at my side.

‘Ale, Yongahbyeong, Aladikh…’

Among them, Alle, who was still caught up in a rage bordering on madness, was baring her teeth in an attempt to bite off Emma’s leg even though she was being crushed underneath.

The good news is that there is a new way to control her more easily.

“ ”

“!! Wow!!”

I was shocked for a moment when I heard her loud scream earlier, but…

Because of that shock, I had no intention of neglecting the safety of Emma and Luvia.

If necessary, I planned to use it without hesitation, even if it was just a way to dig up her trauma.

Imprisoned with a new name, her eyes burn fiercely at my words, but she can no longer resist and is forced to lie down.

“Uuuu…”

As I passed Alle grinding her teeth and approached Rubia, who was sitting down, she smiled as if she was mocking Alle, even though she looked paler than usual.

“He went on a rampage without even knowing the topic… I feel sorry for him.”

“Ruvia, are you feeling okay?”

“I’m just a little tired, so don’t worry. Phew…”

Luvia took a deep breath and tried to get up from the floor with trembling legs, so I quickly helped her up.

“…More than anything, I want to get out of here quickly.”

As she was sensitive to the smell of blood, this place, which must have been thick with the scent of rotten blood for hundreds of years, seemed really annoying.

I just nodded to Luvia, who seemed to be having a hard time saying any more, and turned to look for Aladikh.

The Queen of Spiders was still deeply moved as she scratched the floor, which was made of real rocks, not shadows, with the claws of her legs.

“I think I should leave soon.”

“…Ah.. That’s right. I didn’t escape from the prison just to stay in the cave…

I was just surprised. It’s just the same dark cave… but it’s so different.”

I could not sympathize with the numerous emotions swirling at the end of her words.

While I was fighting fiercely in that space, rolling and jumping, my sense of touch and other senses could not detect any significant difference from the cave in reality.

Of course, I knew that beyond my vision there were endless shadows, but at the same time, I just knew.

However, if it is a joy or sorrow that I cannot understand, a better way would be to help them shake it off.

“…There are many more things to admire out there.”

“You are such a special person.”

Although she understood what I meant by those words, she didn’t seem to understand why I was being so kind.

Maybe even more so since I saw Alle forced into submission just now.

“Handling rewards and punishments appropriately is also the duty of a master.”

“… Phuhu… If things had gone according to my plan, I could have returned those words in reverse… It’s such a pity.”

Aladikh burst out laughing, then raised his body and began to move his eight legs, which had been scratching the floor in vain.

I quietly watched her movements, which became somewhat lively, from behind.

The female warrior, still holding the axe and walking right behind Aladikh like an executioner, still didn’t seem to like her at all.

“…I guess I should ask what you plan to do.”

Until another voice approached me.

“…As a mercenary soldier of the Katenis family, you are more like my prisoner than a slave.

We will treat you accordingly. So, I hope you will behave in a manner befitting that hospitality.”

In response to my answer, Yong Ah-byeong looked at me intently, fell silent, and then spoke in a quiet voice.

“…They look so similar…but they are so different.”

“…Because I’m trying to do that.”

The number of times I’ve seen Catenis, her owner and my biological father, in person… can only be counted on one hand.

The last time I saw it was almost 10 years ago, so it must have been quite different from what I remembered.

Nevertheless, hearing from Yong Ah-byeong, who would have assisted him most closely, that he was different from him was something I was glad to hear, no matter what her intentions were.

Her expression became even more subtle, as if she also realized that she was happy to hear that I was different from Katenis.

In the end, Yongahyeong sighed and followed Aladikh, who was walking ahead.

After putting Luvia, who was staggering, and Alle, who was still frozen, on Ema’s back, I also followed them.

Fortunately, this time the way out didn’t end in a strange way.

When I finally came out of the cave, I could tell that it was midnight by looking at the starry sky.

This time, Aladikh didn’t say anything at all, just quietly looking up at the night sky, his eyes taken by the brilliant twinkle.

The pathfinder mercenary and druid girl, who had been waiting for us to return near the entrance with a bonfire lit, saw that we had finally returned and were running towards us, calling for us.

Only then could I breathe a sigh of complete relief.

We finally returned.

“…First, let’s all go to the bonfire over there and get some rest. Because there will be a lot to talk about in the future.”