Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Nightmare
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The surrounding scenery began to warp. In the midst of it all, Lily waved at me calmly.
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Hmm, I suppose I should at least say goodbye.
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I waved back at her.
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"See you next time."
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Surprised that I'd greeted her, Lily's eyes widened before she broke into a broad smile and waved even more vigorously.
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"Yeah! See you later!"
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The fact that she was still fine after taking a beating from me like that was so very her.
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A chuckle escaped my lips as a smile formed.
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I turned my head to look at the cabin.
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'That must be the center.'
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Gripping the wooden sword that had somehow appeared in my hand, I swung it downward.
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And with that, the world crumbled, and my eyes opened.
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Hmm, so I'm awake now.
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I slowly sat up and peered out the window.
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The sun was just beginning to rise—it seemed I'd woken at about the usual time.
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Hmm, unexpected.
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It had felt like I'd talked with Lily in the dream for a long time, but less time had passed than I'd thought.
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Does time flow differently in Lily's dreams?
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I tilted my head in thought, but...
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I'll see her again anyway, so I can just ask her then, right?
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Nodding to myself, I glanced over at the bed across from mine where Nameless lay.
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His sleep must be terribly uncomfortable—he was frowning and tossing and turning.
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"Ugh, no..."
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He was even sleep-talking, which he rarely did.
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Hmm, when I asked Lily about it in the dream, she said she hadn't cast any curse on Nameless. Was she lying?
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Or was it really just a dream?
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I doubted Lily would lie to me, so it was probably the latter.
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Curious about what kind of dream Nameless was having, I got out of bed and approached his side.
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If it turned out to be some embarrassing dream, I planned to tease him mercilessly when he woke up.
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'Come on, make some blackmail material!'
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The corners of my mouth quirked up slyly.
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Nameless frowned as if deeply uncomfortable, sweat beading on his forehead as he parted his lips slightly.
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"At the door... I'm sorry..."
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Something began to well up in the corners of Nameless's eyes.
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Hmm, on second thought, teasing my disciple didn't suit me at all.
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It was like water and oil.
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I sat by his head and gently took hold of his trembling hand.
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"It's okay."
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I brushed his hair back, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
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"You're okay."
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I moved my hand from his forehead to brush away the tears gathering at his eyes.
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Hmm, is he calming down?
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Nameless's troubled expression was gradually easing.
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"Tch, what kind of disciple makes his master worry like this."
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I lightly pinched the cheek of the still-sleeping Nameless before standing up.
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"Ugh..."
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"That's your punishment for worrying me. Punishment."
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I pulled the blanket up to his neck and returned to my own bed.
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A short while later, Nameless woke up, rubbing his slightly swollen cheek.
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"You're awake?"
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"...Yes, Master. Did you sleep well?"
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His puffy cheek made him look like a kid with a cavity, and I couldn't help but laugh.
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Of course, I was the one who'd done that to him.
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Nameless checked his swollen cheek in the room's mirror, then turned to me.
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"Master, do you know why my cheek is like this?"
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"Hmm, no idea."
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I averted my gaze slyly.
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"Maybe a mosquito bit you last night?"
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"...Does a mosquito bite usually make your cheek swell up this much?"
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No, absolutely not.
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Nameless knew that too, so I didn't bother answering.
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I glanced at him, and he was eyeing me suspiciously.
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Cold sweat started to trickle down.
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For some reason, it felt like he'd grill me if I stayed put, so I jumped out of bed, grabbed spare clothes and bandages, and bolted to the bathroom like I was fleeing.
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"I'm washing up first, so wake yourself up!"
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"...Pardon?"
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Nameless and I were currently walking through the slums.
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I pouted, grumbling. This was probably the fifth time.
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"Ha... Now I'll never get married."
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"Pardon? Aren't you the one getting married off, Master?"
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Getting married off...?
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A shiver ran through my entire body.
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I hardened my expression and glared at Nameless.
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"Tch, it's just a figure of speech."
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"...Yes."
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Anyway, to understand why I was so reluctant to walk right now, I had to explain what happened at the inn earlier.
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...
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"Master."
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"What is it?"
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Nameless propped his chin on his hand with a serious look.
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"No matter how I look at it, this isn't right."
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I popped a strawberry into my mouth as I replied.
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"What's not?"
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Crunch crunch.
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Hmm, delicious as always.
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"The sun's already high in the sky... What is this?"
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What was Nameless going on about?
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I scratched my belly idly and picked up another strawberry.
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"Hehe."
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A foolish grin spread across my face.
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Watching me, Nameless shook his head repeatedly.
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"No... This really isn't okay."
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After a moment, he steeled his resolve—his eyes gleaming as he raised both arms and slowly approached.
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"Wh-what are you doing?! Stay back!"
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His walking posture was highly suspicious.
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I flailed my arms wildly, and Nameless paused, narrowing his eyes and glaring at me.
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"Weren't we supposed to get my sword today?!"
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"I told you I asked Lily to handle it!"
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Did I not mention that?
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Hmm, maybe I didn't.
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"Even so, isn't it better to do something than live like a shut-in like this?!"
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Ignoring my words, Nameless advanced again.
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With his arms raised and fingers wiggling nonstop, he looked like some kind of sea creature—utterly creepy.
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"Eek! Stay away!"
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"Don't we have more to do than just getting my sword?!"
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True, but...
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"Can't I rest for just one day?!"
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Ever since leaving the mountain, we'd been caught up in one mess after another, and I was drained.
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This was prime recharge time.
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I tried conveying that to Nameless, but he shook his head with a stern expression.
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"No. If we waste today like this, it'll keep happening from now on!"
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"Eek!"
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I wasn't skipping training—I'd finished my Internal Energy Circulation and sword dance. Just wanting a short break, and he wouldn't even allow that!
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This was Nameless's rebellion.
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A blatant overstep for a mere disciple trying to control his master!
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I, Heaven Cleaver, would never yield to such a vile traitor like Heavenly Nameless!
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Dodging his traitorous hands, I darted around, turning the bed into a mess and scattering the room's contents everywhere.
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Nameless furrowed his brow even more and sighed.
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"...Master running around just makes more work for me, doesn't it?"
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Was this the pot calling the kettle black?
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Outraged, my voice rose.
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"No, you could just give up to begin with!"
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Undaunted by my shout, Nameless calmly began persuading me.
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"Master, don't we need to gather people to show the Demon King's side as soon as possible?"
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"Th-that's..."
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True, but...!
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Running out of arguments, I pouted.
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"You're the one who brought it up in the first place, Master."
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...That's also true.
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My lips were now protruding as far as they could.
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As I racked my brain for a retort, Nameless was suddenly right in front of me.
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Huh, when did he get here?
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"Ack!"
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Nameless slipped his arms under my armpits and hoisted me up.
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"P-put me down!"
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I kicked my legs frantically, but Nameless didn't budge.
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"You said you'd regularly check in with that... Lily? woman. Anyway, if there's no progress by then, it'll be embarrassing for you, Master."
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Is that so...?
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I tilted my head.
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Tsk, still feels off somehow...
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Not giving me time to think, Nameless pressed on.
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"I don't want you to go through that embarrassment, Master. That's why I'm being so presumptuous..."
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"I-is that right?"
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"Yes, exactly."
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Hmm, thinking it over, yeah—no progress at all could be risky.
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I nodded.
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"Fine, put me down first."
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"Ah, yes."
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The floating sensation faded, and my feet finally touched the ground. The moment they did, I spun around to run, but Nameless reached out to grab me.
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At that instant, his hand brushed my collar. I was bolting forward, and since we were still in the inn room, I wasn't wearing bandages right now.
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"Ah."
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We both sighed in unison, no telling who first.
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...
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"M-Master."
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"What is it?"
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Nameless hesitated a moment before speaking.
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"About what happened at the inn... I'm truly sorry—"
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Midway through his apology, something caught my eye.
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"Oh! Nameless, look—strawberries over there in a shape I've never seen!"
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"...Yes, I'll go buy some."