Chapter 183
Chapter: 183
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 183
>Chapter Title: Pavlov's Carmen (4)
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>"Lord Carmen, if it's that painful, why don't we call it quits? How about we try thinking of some other method?"
Watching Carmen roll on the ground after taking his fifth flick to the forehead, Sungjin asked.
I'm worried about you, Lord Carmen.
You don't seem all that bright to begin with. And right now, your IQ looks like it's dropping in real time, which is kinda concerning.
"Urgh, no! It's bearable!"
"Really?"
"Of course!"
Sungjin let out a sigh.
This guy's being stubborn about the weirdest thing again.
"By the way, you're such a drama queen. I've gotten hit by my dad way worse than that."
"......"
Carmen had nothing to say about that.
It wasn't truly the kind of pain that warranted rolling on the ground. Getting thoroughly thrashed by Captain Bruno had hurt far more. The prince's claim that he was holding back was probably true.
But it was strange. Every time the prince flicked his forehead, an overwhelming terror would surge through him in an instant, as if he were about to die.
It felt like a massive rock or an axe blade crashing down from above, splitting his skull clean in half.
That was why Carmen kept letting out those pathetic screams without meaning to.
At the same time, a strange sense of déjà vu washed over him. Like he'd forgotten something important, leaving a nagging unease.
"Your Highness is right, Lord Carmen. Torturing your body like this isn't the only answer. Wouldn't it be better to consider another approach?"
Gustaf the priest persuaded him while pouring holy power into the bruise blooming purple on his forehead.
"It's probably because you can't control your temper after suddenly leaving the capital's grace. Things will get much better once you return, so please take it easy for now."
"......"
Just as the priest said, Carmen wanted nothing more than to stop this nonsense right away.
Even a mere flick hurt more than it should. He'd even considered challenging that wild maid's bitter tea again.
The problem was the Wolf Knights openly watching the spectacle.
"How many hits do you think that guy's gonna last?"
"He's screaming like he's dying. He's probably at his limit soon, right?"
"A palace knight like that? Now that I look at him, he's just some green kid whose blood hasn't even dried yet. Kahaha."
That did it!
Ignoring Gustaf the priest's pleas, Carmen shot to his feet, fury boiling over, and marched up to Sungjin.
"Please, one more time, Your Highness!"
"...Sigh, fine. Got it."
Standing tall before the sighing Sungjin, Carmen bellowed confidently.
"You crazy bastard!"
Then—thwack!
An enormous shock hit, the world flipped upside down in an instant, and Carmen's mind went blank white.
"Huh? Lord Carmen!"
"Lord Carmen, are you okay?"
"Car...!"
As his eyes closed, the voices calling out to him faded far away in his ears.
Then, through his hazy consciousness, a voice drifted in like a dream.
-Are you okay?
Unconsciously, Carmen shot back in his mind, seething.
Who the hell hit me? You mocking me right now?
A low chuckle followed, and a hand extended before his eyes. He couldn't make out the face clearly, but somehow, the surroundings seemed to brighten.
-That temper of yours will keep you from dying before your time. Perfect for keeling over as a vagrant somewhere, so from now on, stick close to Pearl Palace.
Right. Someone had said that to Carmen once before.
Who was it? Trying to recall made his chest ache.
-I knew something like this would happen someday! If anything happens to His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince because of you, I'll never forgive you!
The scene shifted before he knew it, and a venomous shout rang out from beside him. A familiar voice that always nagged him.
Chasing after someone who had dashed far ahead on horseback, Carmen dazedly thought.
Ah, this is that nightmare again. The one that vanishes like a mirage when I wake up.
-It's all because of you! If only Lord Masin had been here!
Soon, as always, fragmented scenes swirled through his mind, stirring up indefinable, tangled emotions one after another.
-Was it you? You and our Olivier last night...
-Fool! Do you even know whose wrath you've incurred...?
Eventually, just like every time, a much younger Carmen stood alone in the palace gardens.
-You're one lucky bastard. The kind who's perfect for eating scraps and dying in some ditch.
Yeah. This, I remember.
I could never forget who this is.
-I'm giving you a spot right here, so be grateful for life. Ha. Ha. Ha.
How could he forget those eerie silver-gray eyes gleaming as they stared straight at him?
Damn it! That damn Mores prince!
Writhing in raging fury, a chilling voice suddenly echoed in his mind, jolting Carmen's consciousness awake.
[Life is so uncertain that your soul hasn't settled properly and wanders the boundary between life and death.]
'...Huh?'
With those words, a definite pull formed on his floating body, and Carmen began sinking downward.
His frantically pounding heart slowed gradually, his whole body enveloped in cozy relief. The chaotic scenes fluttering around him faded one by one from view until they vanished completely.
An utter stillness followed.
Savoring that serene peace with closed eyes, someone's hand touched Carmen's forehead. A cool yet warm sensation spread from there throughout his body.
And a soft, chiding voice.
[This time, you must hold on properly. The time you can cling to this minor wound is running out.]
...What?
Before Carmen could question it, the irresistible voice commanded him.
[Open your eyes.]
"......!"
Flash.
Reflexively, Carmen's eyes snapped open at the order.
What entered his vision were several faces peering down at him worriedly.
"Carmen! You okay?"
"Lord Carmen!"
"Are you conscious, Lord Carmen?"
Carmen blinked vacantly.
What? Didn't something like this happen just recently?
Coming to, he found himself lying on the bare ground of the campsite. Captain Bruno, Priest Gustaf, and others crowded around him.
Exorcist Sir Sharon had her hand on his forehead, pouring holy power into him.
"Ah, thank you..."
"......"
"...Sir Sharon?"
In his daze, Carmen called out to her, struck by an unfamiliar feeling. For a split second, a faint silver glow had seemed to flicker in the exorcist's eyes.
But when he blinked again, Sir Sharon's eyes were back to their original black. She grinned widely at him.
"Heh heh. Feeling better, Lord Carmen?"
"Ah, yes..."
Supported by her, Carmen rose.
He'd clearly passed out and woken up, yet his body felt refreshingly light.
'...What the hell?'
It felt so dreamlike, strangely unreal.
Catching Sungjin's gaze from across the way, where he stared with a sullen expression.
"How's your body, Lord Carmen?"
"Ah, yes. I'm fine, Your Highness."
Sungjin pouted and grumbled.
"You'd better be! Because of your stubborn ass, I'm the one who's gonna get chewed out later for no reason!"
"...Pardon?"
"Uh, nothing."
Leaving the bewildered Carmen behind, Sungjin turned away.
When Carmen had unexpectedly fainted, Sungjin had panicked and immediately called for Sir Sharon. He was worried deep down that it might be a serious injury requiring her help.
Of course, he'd gone easy, but he'd once cracked Kenneth Digory's skull with a similar hit.
At his request, the Holy Emperor—borrowing Sir Sharon's body—had stared silently at Sungjin for a moment.
He hadn't spoken openly in front of others, but the meaning in that icy gaze was clear.
-So that's why you've been so quiet lately.
Busy with something, he'd checked on Carmen briefly and left, but Sungjin knew a scolding was coming later.
'Argh! What a mess because of that idiot. And here I thought I'd been shaping up into a decent son lately!'
[...That's a joke, right?]
Of course, this accident had an unexpected silver lining.
The Wolf Knights, who had initially eyed Carmen with disdain, now looked at him like a troublesome newbie and chuckled.
"Hey, you little punk! What's with all the whining? That hurt that much?"
"First time seeing someone pass out from a flick to the forehead! Kahaha."
Carmen snapped back in anger.
"You assholes! Try taking one yourselves and then talk!"
"You assholes? This punk hasn't learned his lesson yet! Needs another hit?"
"Give it a rest. One more and he'll cry!"
"Tch! Who's crying! Stop laughing, all of you! You think this is funny? Huh?"
"Kahahahaha!"
The knights, who would have glared murderously the moment he opened his mouth before, now burst into laughter the second Carmen grumbled.
Even the Wolf Knights' vice-captain—who'd nearly become blood enemies after Carmen accidentally cursed at him—had his log-like arm slung around Carmen's neck, roaring with laughter.
Watching this, the Wolf Knights' captain, Sir Ilma, said admiringly.
"You foresaw even this outcome, Your Highness?"
"Hm?"
"You punished him in front of everyone without humiliation, earned the other knights' sympathy, and even fostered camaraderie among them!"
"......!"
Captain Bruno shot him a look of newfound surprise and respect.
No, that's not it at all.
Sungjin scratched his cheek, watching Carmen blend into the group of knights moving away.
Well, this isn't so bad either, is it?
It looked a bit different from what he'd pictured, but still.
* * *
Today, too, Dasha was gathering firewood far from the camp when she lifted her head at the sound of multiple presences approaching stealthily.
'...They're coming right up today?'
For several days now, she'd been sensing dozens of presences tailing the caravan.
They kept a fair distance, so the mercenaries hired by the caravan remained blissfully unaware, enjoying their peaceful journey.
At first, she'd suspected they might be after Prince Mores' group.
But after observing them for days, Dasha concluded their target was the caravan.
Whenever the prince's group camped far off, they invariably closed in toward the caravan's direction.
After trailing quietly for over ten days, they were now approaching openly, not even bothering to hide their presences.
'Coming from the forest. Are they about to attack now?'
Preparing for the worst, Dasha felt for the dagger hidden under her skirt.
By chance, the other hired hands gathering firewood with her had all returned to camp, leaving only Olivier beside her, as always, with her headscarf on.
'Maybe all the new hires are in on it...'
At this point, the caravan master's suspicions seemed justified.
She'd spotted several of the recent hires sneaking out of camp at night and returning multiple times.
The fact they'd fooled the mercenaries completely meant they were skilled assassins.
Gauging the presences now nearly upon her, Dasha set down the firewood and stood.
'Right on cue with all those hired hands getting tangled up in incidents. No wonder infiltrating the caravan seemed too easy.'
"Hey, I was wondering why it was so easy to slip in."
"......?"
For a moment, Dasha thought she'd voiced her thoughts aloud.
Turning, she saw Anak—Olivier—staring at her with wide eyes, having just looked toward the forest.
"...Oh my?"
She fiddled with her empty eyebrow slit, then smiled with a peculiar expression.
"I suspected as much, but are you one too?"