Red Flame (5): The Gently Rippling Sea

The sea rippled with gentle waves. It was an unusually ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠quiet night. The savage typhoon had scattered before the flame-laden sword strikes, leaving only a pristine vista before our eyes. Not a single cloud marred the night sky. Beneath a backdrop of twinkling starlight, we leaned against each other.

I had been embracing the fox from behind. Now I gripped her slumped shoulders and spoke softly. "You've been hurt quite badly."

"......I'm fine."

Irene looked utterly drained. Each breath came with visible effort. Despite her words, large and small wounds covered her body. I offered a bitter smile.

"Please stay just as you are for a moment."

I channeled a sliver of Lie through my fingertips. A deep shadow spread, and then I snapped my fingers to activate the ability.

Snap!

A fleeting darkness enveloped the girl. In the next instant, every wound on her body vanished without a trace. The fox's form recovered in the blink of an eye. Though it had consumed a fair amount of output, the sight of her smooth, unblemished skin filled me with quiet satisfaction.

"You look much better now."

I smiled gently, stroking her crimson hair. "The pain should be far more bearable."

"......"

Irene stared blankly at her own body. She seemed to gauge the situation for a moment, then turned to face me directly. Her clear pupils reflected nothing but my image. Her hesitant lips finally parted.

"......Thank you."

Just those two words. Perhaps she had always been poor at expressing herself. There were clearly many things she wanted to convey, yet they refused to take shape as sound. I answered in a tone that said it was nothing.

"There's no need for thanks. It's enough that you're safe, Miss Irene."

"......"

"Miss Irene?"

It had been a playful remark, but the girl responded with a strangely heavy atmosphere. The fox now wore a complicated expression. What was running through her mind?

After a long silence, she asked in a low voice, "That voice of Master's that echoed in my ear earlier. Was that an auditory hallucination you created...?"

"Oh? You noticed after all?"

"At first I didn't. It was only after you appeared that I began to suspect."

"It may have been rather rude of me. He was someone precious to you... I can only apologize."

"Don't apologize."

"Pardon?"

"The one who caused this entire situation is none other than me. You only came to save me again. I don't want to be shameless enough to accept an apology on top of that."

"......"

"If anyone should be sorry... it's me, not you."

"It seems the stress weighed on you more than I realized."

The girl dropped her gaze to the deck. A bitter taste rose in my mouth. She wasn't the type to show such vulnerability. Facing the hunting dog, achieving her awakening, and enduring all those ordeals must have exhausted her completely.

I gently brushed her cheek with a calm hand. "It's all right. This is something I do because I want to."

"But..."

"Let's speak of this later. Right now, dealing with the problem in front of us takes priority, doesn't it?"

"......Understood."

Irene nodded. Perhaps due to her fragile emotional state, she clutched at my sleeve. It seemed an unconscious gesture. I wanted to tease her for it, but held back. The time had truly come to close the curtain on this night's episode.

Whiiiish. A gentle breeze swept across the deck. As I quietly scanned the area, I noticed the figures standing around us. Most were low-ranking soldiers under the hunting dog's command.

"Hmm."

No particularly strong opponents stood out. At this level, even without me, the weary Irene could have swept them aside. Except for one.

There he is.

My wandering gaze stopped at a single point. A young man stood there. Flowing green hair and a crisp suit left a strong impression. Beyond that, he concealed an aura powerful enough to blanket the entire vessel. At the very least, he was a professor-level expert.

"Ha."

I twisted the corner of my mouth. It seemed he'd noticed me as well; his eyes had not left me for some time. With a sardonic smile, he spoke first.

"I never expected we'd meet in a place like this."

He offered a casual greeting. "It's been nearly a year."

"You are...?"

His green eyes widened belatedly. He seemed to realize the person standing before him was truly me. He immediately set down the throwing weapon in his hand, knelt, and signaled surrender. Both arms were placed neatly behind his back.

"I apologize for failing to recognize you. Though late, I offer my respects to the Sovereign of the Stars."

His attitude had flipped in an instant. I addressed the flustered young man in a relaxed tone.

"It's been a while, Bulmyeong."

He was an old acquaintance.

In the original story, three main enemy factions appeared: the Baobab Tree, the businessman, and the king. Among them, the great evil boss modeled after the 'king' ruled the underworld. In the back alleys, he was known as the Lord. He was also the name of the greed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that had once swallowed the empire's night.

Even now, obscured by Astro's light, there was no corner of the continent his influence had not touched. When legends were discussed on this filthy floor, he was the villain most frequently named first.

And.

The five blades that guarded the Lord's side. They were sometimes called the Five Negations: Bulmyeong, Bul-ui, Buran, Bulsinn, and Bulchung. The one kneeling before me now was one of their number.

The one who does not inform, Bulmyeong.

As the most favored sword, he served as the Lord's right hand—a major figure. I looked down at him quietly. Not a single wrinkle marred his suit. I let a casual remark slip out.

"I never dreamed I'd encounter you aboard the businessman's ship."

"I was equally surprised," Bulmyeong replied in his crisp, businesslike tone. Even after all this time, his characteristically rigid demeanor remained unchanged. "I had heard the king formed an alliance with the businessman, but I didn't realize they would move this quickly."

"The alliance was conducted in utmost secrecy... It seems you were aware after all."

"Haha. I simply have sharp ears."

"I will ensure greater discretion in the future."

I asked lightly, "Is the king doing well?"

"My lord remains in good health."

"What a pity."

"Of course, he still throws the occasional tantrum. He complains that the right arm you took from him three years ago still feels empty."

"That's welcome news. If possible, I'd like to claim the remaining arm as well."

"I will exert every effort to prevent that."

"Huhu. And do you believe you can?"

We exchanged a few more words. On the surface it seemed like a friendly reunion, but every sentence carried hidden barbs.

"It's good to see you like this."

"I feel the same."

"Please convey my regards to your lord."

"I shall. Assuming I survive this encounter, of course."

"I'm glad you understand the situation so clearly."

Our conversation walked the edge of a blade. After letting out a complex sigh, Bulmyeong shifted his gaze to Irene nestled beside me. He seemed to be gauging our relationship.

"The kidnapping was an independent action taken by the hunting dog faction. My assigned task was merely to inspect the transport vessel."

"I see."

"I did not realize she was your companion. Had I known, I would have stopped it personally."

"She's not exactly my companion, but... she is someone precious to me."

"You mean your lover."

"Hmm~ Let's say it's something along those lines."

"In any case... I wish to make clear that my lord did not intervene in this matter."

Bulmyeong defended his master with visible desperation. I stood with my arms crossed. There had been no falsehood in his words. Irene's kidnapping had indeed been the hunting dog's solo scheme.

However.

Even passive complicity demanded a price. I briefly considered eliminating him, but the Lord still had uses. After all, that was why I had spared him a year ago.

"Hmm... Let's handle it this way."

After a moment of thought, I spoke calmly. The timing was perfect. I needed a useful pawn.

"I require a small amount of assistance from you."

"Assistance...?"

"From this point forward, I intend to seize control of this vessel. Aid me in eliminating the remaining forces. I would prefer to handle it myself, but various circumstances make that difficult."

"You are asking me to betray the alliance."

"It could certainly be interpreted that way."

The circumstance in question was simple: my remaining output for Lie was nearly depleted.

While Irene had been fighting, I had visited the lowest level where the slaves were held. The harsh conditions visible between the cold iron bars had been severe. Many were ill. Among them were young children who had not survived their ordeals.

I could not simply walk past. Healing them one by one had consumed far more output than anticipated. Therefore, I needed a capable subordinate to seize the ship in my stead.

"Bulmyeong. For someone of your caliber, this should be trivial, correct?"

"What compensation do I receive for carrying out your orders?"

"Your life."

"I accept."

"Didn't you call it an alliance? Not even the slightest hesitation."

"Even if my lord stood here, he would choose the same. The loss resulting from your death would far outweigh any benefit gained from preserving the alliance."

"As expected, your calculations are swift."

I smiled faintly. Taking it as a signal, Bulmyeong gathered his throwing weapons and rose. Without hesitation, he moved toward the ship's interior.

"I will begin immediately."

As I watched his retreating back, Bulmyeong suddenly turned his head as though remembering something.

"Ah... now that I think of it."

"Hmm?"

"The hunting dog once mentioned something."

"What was it?"

"He said an explosive magic array had been planted on the ship's lowest level. It would activate within a set time if his death were detected. I believe its purpose was to sink the vessel."

"So that's how it is."

"You appeared to already know, but I felt it necessary to inform you regardless."

"Well... such an event isn't going to occur. I intend to prevent the ship's sinking."

"Then I shall proceed with peace of mind."

Bulmyeong bowed his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠head, then leaped away. His figure vanished in an instant. I dispersed the killing intent I had wrapped around my body. As I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠organized the situation, a voice suddenly rose from within my arms. It was drenched in shock.

"Wh-what did I just hear? The ship is going to sink...?"

The fox stared up at me with wide, startled eyes. Her dark pupils trembled violently.