Chapter 318
Chapter 318
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 318
Chapter Title: Crossing the Desert
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Why did you save her?
Judah poked under his lip with the tip of his pencil. He pondered what to write. When he didn't write an answer, Iris reached out from the side. He returned the notebook and pencil to her.
-At that time, you could have died. What made you do that? Were you planning to die in her place?
-You might not understand, but what I saw was horrific. Her whole body was engulfed in flames, her flesh melting and regenerating over and over. Her hair burned away completely... If it hadn't regenerated, that would have been it...
-So was it necessary to go that far to save her? Is she worth risking your life for?
"......"
Judah read the words written in the notebook she held out. The handwriting, which had started neat and precise, had become hurried and slanted toward the end. Judah picked up the fruit wine he'd set aside and gulped it down. Gulp, gulp—the liquid slid smoothly down his throat. A sweet taste lingered on his tongue. Judah gripped the pencil and wrote in the margins of the notebook. The scratching sound echoed softly.
-Who knows. Why did I save her? At first, I intended to kill her. I definitely planned to until she emerged from the shadows and severed her tail.
Iris had sidled up close to Judah at some point. Her gaze was fixed on the notebook. Her cheeks were flushed, perhaps from the alcohol. He glanced at her face for a moment before shifting his eyes back to the notebook and continued writing.
-But when our eyes met, I felt her emotions. Sadness, despair, resentment toward everything in the world. And yet, a faint hope for salvation. Strangely, the moment I saw it, guilt washed over me.
Guilt. Yes, that was the biggest reason he saved her. The moment he locked eyes with Requiem-possessed Esther, who should have shown no emotion, a faint longing stirred in him. And the image of the tear-streaked, sorrowful woman from his old dream flashed in his mind.
-It was impulsive. Emotional. Reckless. I've killed so many without a second thought, never bothering to understand their lives. But saving this woman? No regrets. Value... I don't know if she has any yet, but she won't bite the hand that fed her.
Iris read what Judah had written, then let out a soft chuckle. She grabbed the bottle of fruit wine and chugged it straight. She handed back the notebook and pencil. She picked up a sandwich. The potato salad stuffed inside the soft bread was delicious.
-It's tricky.
-What is?
-Understanding you. You kill soldiers and knights without batting an eye... You don't seem like the type to pity others or change your mind easily when you see异種 dying right in front of you. Yet you saved that dragonkin even knowing you might die.
Judah gave a wry smile. Was there even a need to understand? He just acted on whims. Knights and soldiers—they probably had families, lovers, or maybe not. Kids, perhaps. But when he killed them, he never thought about the pain left behind. Nor did he feel guilt over their deaths.
Yet when he met Esther Sellion's eyes, guilt had strangely gripped him. Despite his <Player> trait shielding him from her [Emotion Assimilation], he felt it anyway. That's why he changed his mind and acted to save her.
-Which one is the real you?
-Hmm. Which do you think?
She stared at Judah's face quietly, then stopped writing in the notebook. He wondered how she saw him. Without a word, he offered her the bottle.
Clink!
The bottles touched with a light ring, and Judah drank the fruit wine. But it was already empty—he swallowed one sip, and nothing came out. Regretfully, he pulled out another bottle.
-Give me more too.
-This stuff's expensive, you know?
When he wrote it in the notebook and showed her, she giggled.
-Elf-made fruit wine? After all I've been through, it feels like fair compensation. But this much isn't nearly enough...
Judah burst out laughing. If compensation talk came up, he had no choice. If handing the Shadow Queen a bit of elf fruit wine could pass as payment, it was a bargain. Judah opened his <Bag> and pulled out six more bottles for them to share. He'd taken every last one from several fully stocked castle warehouses anyway—enough to last a month.
'Ah! Even so, probably not a full month, right?'
Either way, he had plenty. If he saved about ten oak barrels for later, he'd have to ration then, but for now, no worries.
They clinked bottles once more, and Judah spent the time happily with Iris. After that, his memory faded. He closed his eyes, then opened them—the darkening sky from before had brightened to dawn.
"...Ugh."
His head throbbed, and last night's overindulgence made him need to pee badly. Judah staggered up, walked a short distance away, relieved himself, buried the traces in sand, then pulled water from his <Bag> to rinse his hands roughly. Anyone seeing him waste water in the middle of the desert would freak out, but if they knew how much he had, they'd shut up.
After washing, Judah stood still, gazing at the sky. The moon hanging in the dawn sky was so bright and beautiful it stole his breath. Was it the leisure of the moment, or the lingering buzz from last night? Just looking at the moon lifted his spirits.
Returning to where the group slept, Judah heard hurried breathing and rustling from the tent where dragonkin Esther Sellion lay. He'd placed a faintly glowing mana stone inside, so her movements were visible from outside. She seemed frantic, looking around as she headed for the entrance.
'She's awake?'
He walked over slowly and poked his head in.
"You're awake?"
But instead of a reply, a pale, delicate hand reached for his face. Still not fully recovered, her movement was slow. Without thinking, he extended his hand and clasped hers like interlocking fingers. When she saw it was Judah, she startled.
"Ah!"
"?"
He looked at her face calmly. With the mana stone behind her, her features were shadowed. But her diamond-shaped golden pupils stood out clearly. The way they darted side to side showed her anxiety.
"Wait. I'll come in."
Judah released her hand. She seemed reluctant to let go, but when he started entering, she reluctantly unlocked their fingers and sat back down. The tent was small, but as a three-person one, it fit two comfortably—spacious even. Judah grunted as he sat facing her.
'Did she cry?'
Earlier, with the light behind her, he'd only seen her eyes glinting in the dark. Now, her eyes were moist with tears. Nothing else explained the sparkle in the light. She stared at Judah silently.
"How's your body... Ah?"
Judah, mid-sentence, panicked as she began shedding large, chickpea-sized tears. He'd just meant to ask if she was okay, but she started crying. Then, from her seated position, she knelt and tried to bow to him. But the tent wasn't big enough for a full prostration, so she just bowed her head deeply.
"Thank you... The Lord... saved me. It wasn't a dream. I'm so relieved."
"......"
She truly seemed to see Judah as a god. Feeling awkward, he spoke carefully.
"First, lift your head."
Esther Sellion obediently raised it. Even after all those tears, more welled up. Why did she look so pitiful? Knowing it was rude, Judah reached out and gently wiped the tears from her eyes with his finger. Good thing he'd washed after relieving himself. She grasped his hand, pressed it to her cheek, and closed her eyes.
"I was afraid. Terrified. Scared. When I opened my eyes, I shut them again. I trembled thinking that sword from the sky might tempt me once more. But what frightened me most—what terrified me beyond anything—was if that moment of salvation by the Lord was just a dream or illusion I'd conjured."
"......"
"I'm glad it wasn't a dream. Not an illusion. I remember now—the oracle I heard long ago was true. I apologize for denying your existence, resenting and doubting you at first. Thank you again for saving me from that suffering."
"......"
"I, Queen of the Dragonkin... Esther Sellion. I offer thanks to the Lord and pledge to devote all my heart to repay that grace and mercy..."
Her words carried a strange mana. For some reason, Judah yanked back the hand she clutched and leaned on.
"Wait. I have something to say first. I'm human, not a god."
"Yes?"
She blinked wide-eyed in confusion.
"I have no idea why you think I'm a god. I saved you out of pity, that's all. You were crying so sadly, I just helped."
If he'd stayed silent, she would have pledged absolute loyalty. She'd give her liver if asked, strip if told, fight enemies on command, protect anyone ordered. Judah knew he was throwing away that chance, but for some reason, he denied her belief.
But Esther Sellion, listening quietly, shook her head.
"No. Hearing you say that confirms you are my god. Long ago, in the temple, I received an oracle from Sian. That from some future suffering, neither angel nor demon, but a god would save me."
Sian...?
When?
What did "long ago" mean?
Judah stared at her in shock. She was smiling softly through her tears. She gripped his hand again, squeezing lightly.
"Even if you deny it, it doesn't matter. You saved me—no one else. I'll see my savior as my god."
"No, wait."
This time, Judah looked flustered while she stayed calm.
"Ah!"
Watching him, Esther Sellion seemed to realize her mistake.
"I see. You're currently in a human body... Calling you 'god' burdens you. Understood. Then, what may I dare call you?"
He couldn't know how Sian had given her that oracle, but she fully believed Judah was a god. Persuasion wouldn't work; she'd just say she'd overlook it politely.
Better this way.
'It's not really a lie, is it?'
He wasn't using her. Strictly speaking, since Sian called Judah the Creator, he was a god in this world. His body was mere human, but the being inside qualified.
"...Judah. Judah Arshel. Call me Judah."
She beamed. He felt strength in her grip—not painful, but affirming her presence.
"Understood, Judah Arshel. I, Esther Sellion. I denied my own weakness for failing the trials you sent, doubted and resented your existence. Yet you saved such a me from suffering. I can't fully repay that grace, but... here and now, I swear to do anything for you, Judah Arshel—Judah."
At that moment, faint mana leaked from her body, glowing softly as it swirled through the tent and vanished. A system message appeared, explaining she'd just sworn an oath via [Dragon Word]. Judah stared into her diamond-shaped golden pupils, unsure what to say.
========== Author's Note ==========
1) Uh... Hearing you paused Noblesse to read my stuff makes me feel like I can't just sit idle...
2)
Q1. Yakal and Requiem with dual-wield? Lol, reminds me of some anime? Nah, just imagination.
A. Anime? I only watch Gundam...
Q2. What's the Luck stat do? Just vague good fortune? Or does high Luck mean a Holy King or Sovereign guides you?
A. You might find gold on the road, or solutions pop up for tough problems. In games, it's loot and crits. Think real-life luck. Not guided by Holy Kings or Sovereigns.
Q3. Resurrection count—didn't he revive hundreds of times fighting that tribal chief? >w<
A. A dozen or so. Including Bell-Teraza's power there, maybe 30-40 total.
Q4. From your works, do you have a fetish for subjugation or possession...?
A. I have a bit of collector's itch. Love hoarding in games too lol.
Q5. Favor over 70 locked? Need to be lovers or spouses?
A. Sharp eye! Yes. Over 70 requires mutual lover recognition. 100 makes them spouses... No need to explain further, right? 😆