novelraw Chapter 203 : Chapter 203
Chapter 203 : Chapter 203
Chapter : 203
In the voice that didn’t deny it, a profound emptiness and weariness could be felt.
Damn it! Damn it all! Just the existence of Ouroboros is enough to make my head explode, but now I have to add this ‘fake Lucian’ that suddenly appeared on top of that?
“Theo! The dream world is collapsing!!”
“I can see that much too!”
I answered as if shouting back to Lou, who was shouting urgently.
Now, even the floor was crumbling, making it impossible to even stand properly.
The chains binding the fake Lucian became meaningless, and the fake became free.
He might attack again like this! I thought so, but the fake rather moved with light movements and cut down a rock that was about to fall on my head.
I couldn't believe it even after seeing it with my own eyes. What is it…? Did he save me?
As I just moved my lips in awkwardness, the fake, who sheathed his sword, spoke indifferently.
“See you again.”
With those words, the fake’s body also began to scatter.
“This, crazy!”
Why are you disappearing on your own! I tried to catch him somehow, but the speed at which the fake scattered was faster.
As I fell into the familiar darkness, my vision blurred.
“!”
When I opened my eyes again, I saw Professor Artemia’s face.
“Theo! Are you okay?”
Ah, I’m back. I calmed my heavily heaving breath and took a few deep breaths.
“Yes, I am fine.”
At my answer that I was fine, Professor Artemia seemed greatly relieved.
Looking at Professor Artemia’s back as she checked on Lucian after confirming my safety, I touched the back of my neck.
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP.
My heart beat loudly enough to be noisy.
The fake Lucian’s cold eyes settled in my memory as if imprinted.
But, he was a fake. That was a relief. If I didn’t have that certainty, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to look at Lucian at this moment.
After touching the back of my neck, I abruptly got up and approached Lucian.
“Hey, Lucian.”
“Theo.”
Perhaps because he had been asleep for a long time, his voice was heavily hoarse.
Seeing Lucian’s moist face as if he had been crying, I got a bit annoyed and rapped his forehead hard with my fist.
“Ouch!!!”
“It probably doesn’t even hurt, quit exaggerating.”
No matter how much my strength stat had increased decently, hitting him still hurt my hand more.
Yet he grumbles that it hurts. He exaggerates too much.
“You’re too late.”
“…Sorry.”
“Though it’s not something I, who was kidnapped, should say.”
At my words, Lucian’s eyes widened.
Kidnapped? I stared at Lucian, who looked surprised.
Hmm, this is how the frustrating sweet-potato Hero Lucian I know should be.
Seeing that look on Lucian, I finally felt a sense of relief.
“Zephyros!”
Just then, Professor Artemia’s startled voice was heard from behind.
Zephyros, who hadn’t opened his eyes yet, began to have a seizure.
Before we could properly feel the emotion of reunion, at the sudden occurrence, Lucian got up from the bed and ran towards Zephyros.
His legs gave way for a moment and he fell, but Lucian, who crawled to Zephyros’s side, asked urgently.
“What is happening all of a sudden?”
Zephyros even coughed up blood now.
Although I had experienced coughing up blood a few times, it was my first time seeing someone else do it.
Professor Artemia seemed to be using healing magic repeatedly, but Zephyros’s condition did not improve.
“What on earth happened in the dream world! Theo! Lucian!”
Even amidst the urgent questions, there was nothing I could answer.
I got separated from Zephyros when the fake Lucian appeared, so how could I know anything!
“I don’t know what happened either….”
Lucian muttered, not knowing what to do.
“Ugh!!”
At that moment, a strong gust of wind brushed past Professor Artemia’s cheek.
Wind? Wasn’t he unable to use the power of the wind right now?
…That might be a hint! Amidst a strong premonition, I confirmed Lou wriggling in my embrace.
“Squeak!”
I can solve it! It sounded like Lou was shouting.
Throw me! Meeting Lou’s green eyes directly, I threw Lou towards Zephyros as if possessed by something.
Flying towards Zephyros in a parabola like a baseball, Lou hit Zephyros’s forehead with a loud SMACK!!
“Ouch.”
His forehead must hurt a lot. Lou is surprisingly hard-headed.
“Theo?!”
“What on earth are you doing!”
Professor Artemia’s astonished demeanor looked fierce enough to grab me by the collar at any moment.
However, rendering the Professor’s astonishment pointless, starting from Lou’s body slam, Zephyros’s breathing slowly subsided and returned to a noticeably stable state.
“Squeak-squeak! Squeak!”
Lou, small enough to fit snugly in a person's palm, blatantly boasted.
Give me lots of dried sweet potatoes! Is it just my feeling that he seems to be demanding that? That gluttonous bird.
Unable to believe the sudden sight, Professor Artemia blinked her eyes several times.
“It seems the healing magic that wasn't working took effect all at once. What a relief.”
Professor Artemia sighed as if concluding so.
Um, doesn’t that look far from a miracle to anyone?
Professor Artemia asked me again with stern eyes.
“Right? Theo.”
This is Professor Artemia trying to protect me.
Immunity from controversy and problems that might arise.
I wasn't such a fool not to notice that much, so I slowly nodded.
“Indeed. What a relief.”
Even Lucian, who might have acted tactlessly normally, nodded repeatedly as if agreeing.
It seemed like a secret only for the three of us would be created from now on.
* * *
“Good, with this, we’ve acquired the most basic Ace card needed for victory.”
But Lucian alone was still insufficient to face Iris Viden.
We need more means. Especially, a Joker card that Iris wouldn't expect.
“Mordegar.”
I knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
When Professor Beatrice’s permission was given, I opened the door without hesitation.
Inside, the restrained Mordegar and Professor Beatrice interrogating him were present.
“Seeing you perfectly fine like this means—”
“Lucian woke up safely.”
At those words, Professor Beatrice let out a shallow sigh as if greatly relieved.
“That is quite good news. So, what brings the guy who might have to go fight in earnest in a week to a sinner’s room like this?”
“I have a favor to ask of Mordegar.”
“Mordin.”
“Ah, right, Mordin.”
This person subtly pressures me to call him Mordin.
“Aren’t you uncomfortable with me?”
I sat next to Professor Beatrice and asked Mordin.
Still, he was the person I tried to kill, and the person who almost killed me.
At my question, Mordin stared at Professor Beatrice. It looked like he meant he wanted to be alone with me.
Should I leave or not? I could feel Beatrice’s deliberation.
“I don’t think he’s going to suddenly kill me now. So I think it’s okay for you to leave for a moment.”
“You absolutely lack any sense of crisis.”
Professor Beatrice put her hand on her forehead and let out a very loud sigh.
What is it? Did I do something wrong?
Unable to understand, I just blinked repeatedly, and Professor Beatrice just ruffled my hair.
“When Evan returns, I’ll have to nag him to teach you how to take care of yourself first.”
“Is this me getting scolded?”
“Does it sound like a compliment? I’ll wait outside, so try to endure even for a minute.
Permission to kill if necessary has just been granted.”
That was a murderous threat-that-wasn't-really-a-threat.
However, Mordin just lightly showed the restraints binding his wrists as if he didn't care.
The Professor, who repeatedly showed eyes of distrust, eventually left the room.
Finally left alone, Mordin also reprimanded me.
“Have you forgotten that I almost killed you?”
“You’re making such threats now?”
As I laughed lightly in disbelief, Mordin spoke firmly.
“Still, you shouldn’t have been alone with me.”
“Forget it. I don’t have the mental leeway to be wary of a human whose venom has drained out as much as it could.”
This is the utmost sincerity. I am genuinely tired.
“And it’s laughable to be wary of an opponent who lost to a mere transfer student at the Academy.”
Heh, I laughed as if provoking Mordin.
Mordin, who opened and closed his mouth for a moment as if he had a lot to say, eventually shut his mouth.
Why provoke someone if you’re going to be silenced by just this much? I laughed lightly and looked at Mordin.
“I have something to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“Was it you who saved me?”
At Mordin’s question, I asked back instead.
“Was there anyone else besides me in that situation?”
It was a pure question without a bit of sarcasm.
Think about it. The only people in the dungeon were me, Iris, and Mordegar, and Iris was the one who pulled out his heart.
It’s not like Mordin, who was on the verge of death, could do anything, so I was the only one left.
It was obvious logic. However, within that obvious logic, Mordin blinked his eyes as if confused.
“I was clearly your enemy. But why did you save me?”
“Well, that is true, but….”
Even I think it was a largely impulsive choice.
The price was quite severe too. It was on the level of practically dying and coming back to life.
If not for the Golden Elixir, I would still be suffering from the aftereffects of using the skill.
Saving him was a stupid choice. However—
“A person can’t always make rational judgments.”
I looked straight into Mordin’s eyes, which wished to live more desperately than anything.
Mordegar, who pledged to become her tool and willingly accept even death for Iris, desperately wanted life.
That was clearly a gaze that said he didn’t want to die.
How many people could turn away even after seeing something like that?
At least, not me.
Even if the same thing happens again, I would act the same.
“Are you dissatisfied that I saved you?”
“…No way.”
A strange emotion seemed to rustle in Mordin’s eyes.
“I see, that could be the case too.”
Mumbling quietly, Mordin looked like a sage who had attained enlightenment.
“So I assume there is a separate reason you came to find me?”
“Ah, I have a favor to ask. Even if you don’t want to, I want you to do it thinking you are repaying the debt of your life.”
“What is it?”
“I want you to make a staff just for me within a week.”
Since we brought a staff craftsman to our side, we can’t let him rot, can we?
“I definitely want to survive.”