Episode 2-b. For Freedom and Adventure

Bright, radiant light always has shadows beside it. Wherever beautiful light exists, there must be dark shade. And I... I wanted to be the shadow that stays by the side of the ever-shining Ain.

I wanted to be someone who never leaves his side. Even if I was loathsome gray ash, repulsive enough that I could never walk beside him.

In that case, I thought it would be fine to be a shadow supporting him from the darkness, so his hand—rushing forward brilliantly—wouldn't get dirty. For Ain, as long as I could be with Ain.

In truth, even if I remained in that dark role, as long as I could stand by his side, I didn't care. And yet, I held back my true feelings and sent him off because that gaze he gave me—for my sake—was too lovable.

Because I feared I might never again receive the affection in that hand stroking my hair. I love him. I adore and yearn for him. With belated realization, I came to know my fervent love for him, often letting out wistful breaths as I thought of him.

However, Ain probably doesn't feel the same. The affectionate gazes and touches he gives me are surely emotions entirely different from the love and longing I harbor. Probably the same affection he shows others in the empire who cheer me on. Not sticky or cloying at all—no heuh- of aching breath.

The kind that makes my chest tickle when I miss him and furtively recall him, forcing me to twist my legs together while my breaths quicken excitedly. What he feels toward me is definitely not that sort of emotion.

So. I must make an effort. Fortunately, I'm quite beautiful, with these large breasts that drive men mad. And if I can just restrain the gray ash and my emotions, I'm a pretty capable mage too.

I'll surely advance on a journey for Ain, and also... take steps to devour him.

Ain. Ain. Ain, Ain, Ain, Ain.

"Ain."

No matter the reason, you must steel yourself for getting close to another woman.

"Ah, Asha-nim... Your expression is really scary...?"

"Then shut up and stay quiet."

"..., Yes."

You'll have to experience firsthand just how sticky and cloying gray emotions can be. With that thought, I whipped the carriage along the forest path.

And my legs kept tickling, so I twisted them together, twitching. As expected, once we left the city and reached a place with no people, the emotions started leaking out bit by bit.

I might need to release the pent-up feelings tonight. Night falls.

I removed my robe, necklace, bracelets, and anklets, then spewed gray ash in the middle of the forest. Imperl and wild beast packs rarely appeared on the path cutting through the forest, but once you went deep inside, they kept coming.

I went that far in and swung my hand, erasing everything charging at me. Little by little, then a bit more, the emotions loosened.

Each time the gray ash burst out with a whoosh, the built-up lumps melted away smoothly, my stuffy chest opening up as I could finally breathe properly.

And.

"Waaah~ So cool~"

There was this weird person grinning and watching me.

"..., Eileen."

"Yes?"

"Please just go sleep."

She used to tremble ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the sight of this, the little scaredy-cat, but now there was this weirdo clapping from a short distance away, exclaiming in admiration.

"But this place is safer than over there. What if you're attacked alone?"

"It's not dangerous."

Even if I explained that this spot—where I was scattering gray ash—was far more dangerous than her bed warded with protective magic—she just shook her head.

"But can I not watch?"

"..., Do whatever you want."

"Waaah~"

She used to listen whenever I said anything before, but now she's whining like a child and being stubborn. Looks like I should knock her out in one go when she's off-guard and toss her back to bed.

Snap—

"Kyaaang...!"

So I hit her with a mana orb and knocked her out instantly, bound her tight with mana, and flung her toward the campfire.

After the thud, a distant kyaaang scream echoed again. Hearing it, my lips twitched, then I scattered more gray ash and passed the time.

I did that until the imperl packs were wiped out.

Anyway.

I'm heading to the village where letters fly in. The carriage I rode after so long and the hard coachman's seat still jolted painfully into my butt every bump.

"Asha-nim, Asha-nim. Can I get a letter too?"

"No."

Bored, Eileen poked my side from the luggage compartment behind the coachman's seat and struck up conversation.

"That's too much! Think about it a little!"

"Hmm, no. Absolutely not. Eileen, you couldn't get one even if you died and came back ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to life."

"That's why it's too much!"

She went on at length about the romance of the letter-flying village.

"Isn't it really romantic? Letters flying from the past, present, future, or even beyond the river of death! How does ancient magic make such things possible?!"

"And only select people receive them—most don't."

"But this time Ain-nim pulled some strings and dozens flew in, so maybe me too!"

She shoved her expectant face dangerously close to the coachman's seat.

"It's dangerous, so pull your head back."

"Romance! Flying letters! I wanna see already! When do we arrive? What do we do when we get there? They won't come right away, right? What letter do you want, Asha-nim? One from Ain-nim? But you said tons are already piled up, so a prophecy?"

So excited she couldn't hear me, she grabbed my clothes and shook wildly, firing off questions.

Crazy bitch.

"Shut up. Shut the hell up."

"Romance!! The village of romance! Letters—the epitome of romance—flying around... Mmph! Mmph...! Mmmph!!"

So I flicked a mana orb backward, binding her whole body and gagging her mouth.

I'd blocked her noisy ass for three hours earlier and only just released her, but looks like another three hours are needed. We've come far anyway—we'll arrive at the village today.

It's supposed to be super popular, and now we're seeing lots of carriages coming and going, so we're close.

"Mmph, mmph! Mmph mmph!!!"

"...."

But how is she still noisy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with her mouth covered? Even tightly bound, she wriggles up, staring at me and ahead with sparkling eyes—I have no idea what's up with that.

It's getting kinda scary.

"Mmmph!! Mmph, mmph...!!"

"Ah, seriously, stop it already, Eileen."

I'm really starting to get scared. Like that, we kept going until we finally arrived at the village where letters fly.

"Mmph, mmph...! Mmph, puha...! L-Letters floating in the sky, Asha-nim!"

I released the mana binding her body and mouth upon arrival, and she immediately grabbed my clothes, shaking wildly.

"...I can see too, so stop shaking, please."

"Hurry! Hurry inside, us!"

"We're waiting in line—how do we hurry inside?"

"Ah."

We're waiting in the long line for our carriage's turn. It moves pretty fast, though, so we'll get in soon.

Eileen's bouncing excitedly was so ridiculous I sipped my drink while waiting, and our turn came.

Then.

Clunk— as the carriage entered the village.

Flutter—

"..., Eh?"

Flutter—

"...?"

Two letters flew to our carriage, which had just circled once into the village. Everyone around stared at our carriage, and I pulled my robe tighter.

"T-Two...! M-Mine too!!"

Ah, of course both are for me.

"No, why...?"

"Wish for something, Eileen."

I held my drink in one hand and sipped while manipulating mana with the other to catch the letters.

Naturally, I tore open the first one and floated it in the air to read.

I.

"Pfft...!"

While reading the letter, I spat the drink in my mouth all over Eileen's face.

"Asha-nim...?"

"Cough, cough... Sorry, sorry... cough...!"

The letter started with prophecy but ended so bizarrely that, choking, I read it over and over.

"Pfft...!"

"No, Asha-nim... Why me."

"I-I swear... cough, it wasn't on purpose... "

Even calming down and looking again, I just spat more drink. So I hurriedly folded it away to ignore it and tore open the next letter.

And.

"Pfft... "

"Ah, seriously... "

I couldn't calm down and spat again. Eileen's face was sticky and sweet from my drink, but I couldn't even apologize, just steady my wildly shaking pupils.

My face burned hotter than ever. My heart pounded thump-thump roughly, and the breaths I exhaled to calm myself mixed with excited moans.

I couldn't feel the stares. My head was filled only with the letters' contents, tormenting me.

Twisting a fated destiny. For those who stubbornly push forward, crises and trials must come.

They may be terribly threatening and despairing. They might make you collapse again, tumble once more.

However.

To those who bravely step forward, after the crises and trials, corresponding aid and support will be granted.

If someone strives to harm you, another will bustle about to help you.

Believe in the clumsy woman who wants to advance alongside you.

Believe in the man pioneering the path far ahead for you.

Believe in the affection of those still cheering you on.

Though your journey began alone.

Asha, you were never alone, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not for a single moment.