novelraw Chapter 161 : Chapter 161
Chapter 161 : Chapter 161
Chapter 161: Splash (1)
I once heard that the head and body should act separately.
That the body must do its job even if the mind is thinking something else.
‘Who was it that said that?’
Well, it must have been Elaine.
It was not exactly great advice.
Everyone does that if they have thoughts stuck in their head to some extent.
The immature Hila Tegen was doing the same.
Hila was holding a dagger to the collapsed Ellen’s neck.
Enna Tegen, who must have taught Hila, was staring at Harad.
However, she was not visible to Harad’s eyes.
She had disappeared before anyone noticed.
Hila also had the talent to disappear.
But she did not do so. It must be to show off that Ellen was held hostage.
“Hila, widen the distance a bit more.”
“Why?”
Hila tilted her head.
Harad felt the same. She was a hostage caught with great difficulty.
Widening the distance would only create unnecessary variables.
“There is a possibility of a trap.”
Enna was being cautious even though she held Ellen hostage.
She also suspected that Ellen might be pretending to be asleep.
It must be the result of her driving the mages into a corner and observing them.
‘Cautious.’
It was a splendid response.
If asked whether it was befitting of the Church, well.
Once they found out someone was a mage, the Church would cry out for martyrdom regardless of the means.
Did they say purification is about whittling down?
That by leaving small wounds on the devil through martyrdom, those martyrdoms pile up to eventually kill the devil.
Wimar said so, but in truth, that was a very sanitized expression.
It was the complete opposite of caution.
“It is not a trap.”
Harad spoke to the empty air.
“Why would I bother? We are stronger anyway.”
“…….”
“If I intended to kill, I would have killed you long ago. I would not have even delivered the last wish.”
At that moment, the empty air rippled.
Harad realized Enna was there.
An Elf’s concealment creates the illusion of assimilating into the world.
“This is something I said to Wimar as well, but I do not wish to kill.”
The flames that had spread to the mages swelled up instantly.
It was the wind, but it was also a threat.
A threat that implied he would have no choice but to kill if they attacked, a threat that usually did not work on priests.
But it worked on Enna.
Revealing herself, she quietly stared at the suddenly swollen flames. Hila did the same.
“However, I will not force you.”
That was something Ellen would dislike.
“Was that not a threat?”
“Closer to whining.”
It was at a cute level to be called a threat.
If he truly intended to threaten, he would have used Projection.
Unlike Kunlutsban, Harad could completely block his surroundings with flames.
“Whether you call for reinforcements or attack now, do as you please.”
“…….”
“However, hand over the bed for now, I need to lay her down.”
Enna did not react.
Harad walked through the flames and picked Ellen up in his arms.
“If you are going to attack, please do so before this person wakes up. Emotional labor is my job.”
Harad carried Ellen and headed toward the church.
The flames extinguished one by one in time with his steps.
Hila looked regretful as she watched the disappearing flames.
The eyes of the more mature Elf, Enna, were fixed on Harad’s back.
* * *
The Elaine of the previous life did not sleep much.
It was thanks to her Innate Strength, but to Harad, it looked like effort.
Only the body was sturdy; Elaine was inevitably human too.
A human whose mind was bound to be consumed if she stayed awake.
So Elaine also had time for sleep.
The problem was that the interval was measured in dates, not hours.
However, no matter how tired she was, Elaine did not snore.
The soundly sleeping Ellen was the same.
Even though she slept so deeply that she would not know if someone carried her away, Ellen was quiet.
The sound of her shallow breathing was pleasant to hear.
It seemed like it would be good to listen to as a lullaby. In the previous life, it was quite unpleasant.
“Does she do this normally too?”
She probably did.
Since the Elaine of the previous life did.
The Elaine of that time must have only dreamed.
Without dreaming of the past life.
Harad sat on the floor, using the bed as a backrest.
If he fell asleep now, he would also dream. But he had no intention of sleeping.
He had to prepare for contingencies.
There were no signs of an attack.
But Harad was not naive enough to trust that immediately.
Because he had made a mistake.
“To think I would confess with my own lips.”
On the continent, and to a priest at that, he revealed he was a mage.
Harad let out a hollow laugh.
He had committed the act, but it was a fact hard to believe.
“Since I am not you.”
Commit the act first.
The consequences are something to think about when the time comes.
That is the way of thinking of the Elaine from the previous life.
It is something Harad would absolutely never do.
“I did not expect myself to be like this.”
Harad smiled bitterly as he looked down at the soundly sleeping Ellen.
“It might get troublesome soon.”
* * *
This is not the time for this.
Ellen cursed inwardly for a long time.
There was nothing else she could do.
A dream. That was something Ellen could not resist.
No, I can assert it is magic.
-Guinea Oslane…….
In the dream, Elaine is agonizing in front of the desk.
It was because of the documents on the desk, which were visible even to the dreaming Ellen’s eyes.
Guinea. A mercenary approaching the level of a Sword Master wishes to immigrate to Serzila.
Thanks to this, Ellen easily deduced that this dream was from the days of the Grand Heir.
Managing immigrants was the job of Grand Heir Elaine.
It is a trivial task for Grand Duke Aratus.
However, the Grand Heir Elaine in the dream looked quite old.
Ellen guessed it might not be long before she became the Grand Duke.
It was an uncomfortable fact if one considered it.
It meant the Elaine in the dream had not become a Sword Master even at that age.
-A husband.
Elaine muttered.
Guinea Oslane. That mercenary of slave origin hoped to immigrate with her husband.
The Intelligence Bureau estimates the husband to be a mage.
-Must be right.
It is information from the continent, not the Otherworld.
So the Intelligence Bureau’s judgment would be correct.
Guinea’s husband is likely a mage.
Regardless of his skill, he must be confident in hiding.
Guinea and her husband were not pursued by the Church.
……A husband who happens to be a mage.
-Did a rumor spread somewhere?
Ellen agreed.
Perhaps in the dream, Harad’s identity had been leaked.
-Is it Harad? Or the ice guy’s side?
Ellen was somewhat surprised.
It seemed there were more mages in the Serzila of the dream.
Come to think of it, it was content that had appeared in a dream she had once before.
The 3rd Prince had come demanding to hand over the mage.
Harad said to give them, and Grand Duke Elaine killed three Apostles saying she did not want to.
The Harad in the dream wanted to act for the sake of Serzila.
But why in reality.
-I need to look into it. Immigration is, well.
Immigration is a common occurrence.
Serzila does not question origins.
Even if one is a death row convict, they accept them if they have strength, and employ them if their loyalty is commendable.
Since they have Harad, and even a mage called the ice guy, the factor of a husband being a mage would have little significance.
Elaine roughly stamped the document.
Then she looked at the door for a moment before diving onto the bed.
Ellen laughed softly at that sight.
Just as she does, the Elaine in the dream is also acting out perfection.
Unfortunately, the laziness did not last long.
At a sensed presence, Elaine sat at the desk like a lightning bolt.
At the same time, the door opened. It was Harad.
-What. It was you.
Elaine relaxed the tension in her face and slumped onto the chair.
-Why are you here now? Seems like I called you a while ago.
Elaine seemed to call for Harad constantly.
Thinking back, they were together in most dreams.
-I had work.
-You did?
Elaine scoffed.
The Harad in the dream did not seem particularly busy.
Ellen envied that.
In reality, the Grand Duke works him to the bone day and night.
-Did you have a scuffle with the knights or something? You received all the recognition.
-It is not the knights.
It means he did have a scuffle.
Elaine’s loosened eyes became sharp. That gaze swept over Harad.
Harad was in a neat attire.
Not because he managed it well, but because it had not been long since he washed and changed.
Even though the sun was setting.
-You fought, didn't you.
Decisively, his complexion was not good.
There were no external injuries, but he was hurt internally.
-He is hurt.
Elaine was quietly angry.
Ellen also flared up.
The important thing is the vessel. If the vessel is damaged, the poisoning symptoms worsen.
-Did you lose?
-I won.
-Indeed. You must.
Elaine spoke as if proud.
But her expression did not look proud at all.
-Who is it?
The voice was quite murderous.
Instead of answering, Harad looked down at the desk.
Guinea Oslane. The freshly stamped mercenary’s profile faced Elaine.
-Guinea Oslane?
Harad nodded, scanned the document with his eyes, and spoke.
-The husband is indeed a mage. Water. No, it was an Origin related to water droplets.
He said water droplets were shot at a speed faster than arrows.
Listening quietly, Elaine’s eyes narrowed.
-A continental mage? That cannot be.
A mere continental mage could not hurt Harad.
Even more so if the Origin is water.
-The couple went crazy together.
Guinea Oslane and her husband attacked together.
Elaine was certain.
-Why did you fight?
-They said they would prove their usefulness.
Our couple would be more useful than Harad.
Guinea Oslane tried to prove that.
-It seems my information was leaked. It must be the ice guy’s side. There was some noise when accepting them.
-Where?
Harad furrowed his brow.
-I just said it was the ice guy’s side.
-Where did you fight.
-Since we fought at the garrison, you do not have to worry about further leaks.
Elaine’s face did not relax.
-So the knights just watched?
-I told them to do so.
-Who are you to do that? Are you Serzila or something?
-……Did you eat something wrong?
Instead of answering, Elaine crumpled Guinea Oslane’s document.
-What are you doing?
-What else, rejection.
Of course, she should.
Ellen agreed with Elaine’s decision.
However, the Harad in the dream did not seem to agree.
He narrowed his brow.
-They were useful, both of them.
-I do not like them.
-Why do you decide that based on that.
-Then how do I decide?
-Since when did Serzila discriminate against people.
It was true.
The North welcomes immigration.
-Why accept those who pick a fight out of nowhere. They will only cause trouble.
-That is the North, is it not?
This was also true.
But Elaine shook her head.
-No. You are wrong. Being born ignorant and choosing to be ignorant are different.
-Stop talking nonsense and accept them.
Dreams and reality are different.
Ellen felt that point anew.
If Elaine had said that in reality, Harad would have readily agreed.
He would have let her do as she pleased.
-They will be helpful to Serzila. Especially Guinea Oslane.
On the other hand, the Harad in the dream cared for Serzila.
-Who do you follow? Me, or Serzila?
The Elaine in the dream seemed dissatisfied with that.
-You are Serzila itself.
-Not in front of you.
Elaine spread open the crumpled document.
Showing it in front of Harad, she tore it to shreds.
-Things like this, even if we lack one or two, there is no problem.
There is no need for you to care for Serzila either.
It runs well enough on its own without you.
-What the…….
-Keep this in mind. It was Serzila that took you in, but it was I who employed you.
At those words, Ellen envied the Elaine in the dream.
I am not like that.
-If you really want to care for Serzila, do so after I become the Grand Duke.
Elaine had a most determined face.
To Ellen, it looked like an angry face.
-And before that, care for me.
-…….
-Answer.
-I do not want to.
-Why.
-It is gross.
The Harad in the dream said so.
But…… the Harad in reality was doing exactly that.
-That bitch and bastard. Where are they?
-They are sleeping in the garrison.
-Let us go there.
-Did you not say rejection?
-I have to go confirm, how on earth they knew about you.
In Ellen’s view, that was not the reason for going.
Elaine moved her steps toward the garrison to screw over the couple.
That trace blurred like fog.
Soon, a clear voice was heard.
“Did you sleep well?”
Harad, with a smiling face, was welcoming Ellen who had just opened her eyes.
Thanks to that, she woke up completely.
The Elaine in the dream went to screw over Guinea Oslane and her husband.
And Ellen had to screw over that Harad.
“Why did you do that?”
* * *
If one is human, there are times when they do crazy things.
The Elaine of the previous life was often crazy.
Harad is not. He did not do crazy things in the previous life, nor now.
He was not Elaine. No matter how hard he tried, he had no confidence in becoming like that.
He committed it for now, but it meant he had his own grounds.
‘Hila Tegen confirmed the mage’s corpse.’
Precisely, she confirmed whether the corpse was warm or not.
That was a very splendid sight.
It supported the grounds Harad possessed.
He recalled the moment he used the quill pen.
She must have been watching then too.
‘If I say even that, I will die.’
It was not something to mention now.
Ellen’s spirit was murderous, too murderous.
Even when killing the Rebellion Faction mages, it was not to this extent.
“It was asking for trouble.”
“That is correct.”
Harad obediently affirmed.
There was no reason to reveal it unnecessarily.
“I will ensure there are no problems for Serzila.”
“How?”
“Somehow.”
Ellen frowned.
The Harad in front of her was acting like the Elaine in the dream.
“You are not that kind of person.”
“That is also correct.”
Harad’s Origin is the sun, but he tries to place his nature on the opposite side.
Revealing his identity was definitely not something Harad would do.
“I admit it. The risk was definitely high. It was not like me.”
It was close to gambling.
In fact, he still did not know if he won or lost.
“A person who knows that…….”
“But the return was greater.”
“What benefit is there?”
Ellen asked as if grinding her teeth.
Her fists were clenched tight.
Serzila became endangered.
Harad became even more endangered than that. Ellen was angry about that.
“You did not regret it.”
“……What?”
Ellen looked at Harad with blank eyes.
Her gently loosened fist swept over the innocent blanket.
To be honest…… yes, she felt relieved.
She wanted to stop deceiving Enna and Hila.
However, Wimar.
That old man told her to think of what is precious.
Harad was much heavier than the guilt.
Ellen intended to follow Wimar’s last wish.
But Harad did not want that.
What the Elaine in the dream hoped for, the Harad in front of her was granting.
“This matter will be the same.”
“…….”
“I did not commit it without thought. Since it is me.”
Harad intended to care for Ellen.
For the small thing Ellen gave up, simply for her feelings, he staked his neck.
Ellen could not understand that devotion.
“……Why are you going this far.”
So Ellen had no choice but to ask.
Even knowing what answer would return.
“It is a secret.”
Harad smiled meaningfully.
“But perhaps it is not.”
Ellen stared intently into Harad’s eyes.
Those eyes resembled the setting sun.
They were hot and intense.
Her body felt heated for no reason due to that heat.
Ellen unknowingly licked her lips.
“I just wanted to do so. This time.”
Even though her body was this hot, Ellen thought that setting sun was like the ocean.
It was a sensation like falling into it with a splash.
“…….”
Deeper.