Chapter 84: As God Leads (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 84: As God Leads (3)
Lately, Fran had been in high spirits.
In fact, he was feeling better than ever.
“Is it true? I’m really not being exiled?”
“Yes. I spoke with them, and they’ve agreed to a stay of execution for this incident.”
“Well done, Arasen! Well done!”
News of the Dakuren Dungeon’s clearance spread throughout Hus, and Alto’s party was hailed as heroes.
The whispers about Alto’s appearance were replaced by high praise for how kind yet manly he was.
The Lord’s Castle, seizing the moment, collaborated with Narupa to commission a massive statue of Alto to solidify their standing and prestige.
The adventurers were also relieved that monsters hadn’t vanished entirely due to the lingering scent of demonic energy; they were delighted to be able to complete easy quests without having to enter dangerous dungeons.
It was at this exact moment.
While all of Hus was rejoicing, Arasen had knelt before Airune, weeping and begging until she secured a stay of execution for Fran and the Four Handsome Heavenly Kings.
At first, Airune had been furious, Narupa had frowned, and Alto had looked uncomfortable.
Though their expressions differed, the same thought ran through all their minds: She really needs better taste in men.
Fortunately, Alto, knowing they were childhood friends, sighed and persuaded the others to settle for a stay of execution.
The matter was fully settled when Count Dakuus, who returned to Dakuren late, offered no further comment.
Arasen shared the news with Fran, her heart full of joy.
Seeing Fran even happier than she was, she felt a sense of accomplishment and the hope that he might finally look her way.
“See? Even Rene couldn’t bring herself to be cruel to me…”
That was, until he started talking about the adventurer Rene again.
“Lady Rene is Lord Alto’s lover. So is Lady Narupa. You shouldn’t have such thoughts. Have you already forgotten why all of this happened?”
In a fit of pique, she dared to cut the man off.
Fran, whom she loved so dearly, immediately turned cold.
“I know. Do you take me for a fool?”
“It’s not that…”
“Are you trying to lord it over me just because you did this one thing? You even cut me off?”
This one thing.
She had barely managed to quell the wrath of the Great Lord’s successor. Even if Fran didn’t fully grasp the gravity of the situation, overturning an exile order was a monumental feat.
“I’m grateful. I am! But isn’t it only natural for a woman to do that for her husband?”
“I…”
She was speechless.
To save Fran, to save the Four Handsome Heavenly Kings, Arasen had sacrificed all the trust she had built with Alto’s party.
‘There won’t be a second time. If I see him pull another stunt like that in front of me, it won’t be exile—it’ll be execution. I’ll make an example of him for the crime of daring to touch a woman who belongs to another.’
Airune, who had been laughing and chatting just the day before, had spoken those words with a quiet, burning rage. Arasen had flinched, forced to beg for Fran’s forgiveness on his behalf.
And what about Alto?
He was a man who had looked after her since their first meeting.
A man who took better care of her than Fran ever did.
A man so romantic and so fiercely protective of his women that she felt ashamed for having flinched at his appearance.
During the long yet short time they spent together, from Massa Village to the clearing of the Dakuren Dungeon, Arasen was certain of one thing: if she had been alone, she would have clung to his hem and begged him to take her in.
Even now, her heart wavered.
But she couldn’t.
She was Fran’s woman.
His primary wife.
She had devoted years to him, and her love for him ran deep.
But Arasen was growing weary, reaching the point where that depth was revealing its limits.
“Fine. Stay here and reflect on yourself. I’m going to celebrate today with my friends.”
“……”
The old Arasen would have protested, reminding him they were supposed to have dinner together, but she knew it was futile.
Fran walked out just like that.
A day or two passed.
‘It’s always been only you.’
Even before the Final War broke out, Fran and Arasen had been affectionate.
She had looked after the physically weak Fran without a hint of resentment because she was instinctively drawn to him. It was only natural for the two of them to grow close.
‘Don’t go! Arasen!’
‘If I don’t go, you’ll be conscripted.’
‘You have to come back. If you don’t, I’ll live alone for the rest of my life!’
Once, they were each other’s entire world.
When the Final War began, Arasen volunteered for the rear supply unit. If she hadn’t, Fran would have been forcibly taken.
That promise that he would wait only for her.
However, when she returned after the war, Fran was flanked by women who weren’t even beautiful.
‘Oh? You’re back!’
‘Fran, who are these women…?’
‘Meet my lovers.’
The war had changed many things.
The world had changed.
Men had become incredibly rare, and thus, their very existence granted them immense power and subsidies.
While Arasen was away, leeches had swarmed the naive Fran.
Fran, who had never been treated like a man before, became utterly infatuated with the women who flattered him and let out sharp, fawning moans every night, telling him how great he was.
‘Those women are all gold diggers. They’re just trying to bleed you dry!’
‘Don’t speak ill of my babies!’
‘Fran…?’
‘Shouldn’t you be grateful that I took a woman as charmless as you as my primary wife?’
‘…Are you serious?’
‘If I’m not serious, then what? Go out and earn some money. We’re short on living expenses this month!’
Arasen worked hard.
She worked tirelessly with the single wagon she received as compensation for her service.
Every cent she earned, she gave to Fran.
When she brought him money, Fran was happy.
He would praise her.
And then he would go out alone to enjoy the company of other women.
Leaving her behind.
She had to earn more money.
So, recently, she took a leap of faith, took out a loan, and upgraded her wagon to the latest model.
She was lucky.
She caught a customer—a man moving from Lukart to Hus.
She earned a lot of money.
Far more than ever before.
Fran was delighted.
He rejoiced at the sight of the money Arasen held out.
Somewhere along the way, Fran had stopped loving Arasen and started loving Arasen’s money.
Her heart began to creak.
She saw a man before her who bought her meals, smiled at her, and maintained a respectful distance.
Her tears dried up.
She saw a man before her who charged alone to slay a Serpent to protect a woman.
Her lips parted, dry and brittle.
She saw a man before her who listened to a woman’s sorrowful complaints and apologized.
Her focus blurred.
She saw a man before her who embraced his women and always looked at them with eyes full of love.
He was stronger than anyone, yet kinder than anyone.
Arasen didn’t expect strength from Fran.
She just wanted Fran to show even a shred of love for her.
She couldn’t remember the last time they kissed, or the last time they shared a bed.
It had already been days since their last conversation.
She heard that the Four Handsome Heavenly Kings were going around celebrating their stay of execution.
It was a reprieve Arasen had barely achieved by risking everything she had built, yet not one of those men had offered her a word of thanks or a gift.
She had never wanted such things.
Arasen simply missed the days of having a warm dinner with Fran.
Today was no different.
She had been invited to a salon by Alto’s party to celebrate the dungeon clearance.
But Arasen declined.
Today was Fran’s birthday.
Their birthdays were always days they spent together.
Though it hadn’t been that way for several years, Arasen took the day off from her work as a driver, went to the market, and cooked.
The table, set with Fran’s favorite dishes and lit by soft candlelight, looked beautiful.
Arasen sat blankly at the table.
The sun set, evening turned to night, but Fran did not come home.
It’s going to be like this again this year.
If it had ended there, what followed wouldn’t have happened.
That’s how it should have been.
Arasen would have felt the hollow ache in her heart, found comfort in the morning sun the next day, and headed to the carriage station.
She would have ended today in loneliness, hoping for tomorrow.
Surely, that’s how it would have gone.
SLAM!
“Ah—fuck! Why the hell is it raining?!”
“Fran?”
“Arasen! If it’s raining, you should’ve brought an umbrella to your husband right away!”
Until a dead-drunk Fran burst into the house.
“Ugh~ shit!”
“Why are you swearing?”
“Why wouldn’t I?! I… I… today is my birthday… and those bitches, those goddamn sluts! They all turned their backs on me just because Count Dakuus has his eye on me!”
Arasen grabbed a towel to dry him off, but Fran shoved her away.
“How can a woman, fuck! How can she leave her man? Do those cunts think another man will take them if they dump me?! Those fucking whores!”
“Fran, don’t swear. Please? You weren’t always like this…”
“Like this? What do you mean ‘like this’? Huh? What do you mean!”
SLAP!
The sudden blow sent Arasen sprawling before she could even scream.
She tumbled, her waist slamming against the table, overturning the food and the candles.
As she gasped in pain, Fran continued his drunken tirade.
“You! You! You remind me of when I was a weakling, you know that?! You make me remember the days I was protected by a woman!”
“Fran… ugh…!”
“Not anymore! Other women tell me they like me! They tell me I’m manly! You’re the only bitch who treats me like a child!”
He began to kick her as she lay on the floor.
Arasen curled into a ball and took the blows quietly.
Surprisingly, it didn’t hurt.
She could feel the sensation of being pushed and stepped on, but that was all.
However, her heart ached.
“Useless bitch! You should at least earn more money. You always bring in such pathetic amounts, making me lose face in front of my friends!”
Why do I have to live like this?
“And your face is just average! If you were even half as pretty as that adventurer Rene, I might have actually looked at you!”
She had given him everything.
Her body.
Her heart.
Her money.
Her time.
It was no exaggeration to say she had given him her entire life.
“You’re a completely worthless bitch!”
So what do I have left?
“If it weren’t for you, I would’ve met a prettier, better woman long ago and lived a much better life!”
Snap.
Something inside her broke.
A prettier, better woman?
If it weren’t for you, I might have had a chance to be loved by the hero of this world!
It wouldn’t even have to be a hero.
I don’t care about looks.
If only… if only he were as kind as that man…!
When Arasen suddenly stood up, Fran lost his balance and fell.
“Gah! You… ugh!”
The sight of a sharp kitchen knife pressed against his throat instantly sobered Fran up.
Meeting her emotionless eyes, he trembled like a leaf and barely managed to speak.
“A-Arasen… w-what are you doing? Are you crazy?”
She flinched.
Seeing his terrified face reminded her of the old Fran, and she reacted. Seeing this, he somehow regained a sinister confidence.
“That’s right, you crazy bitch. How dare you against your husband who is like the heavens… Gack! Ack!”
THUD! THUD!
Arasen slammed her fist, still clutching the knife, into Fran’s eye socket.
“Follow me if you don’t want to die.”
“Arasen, why are you being like this… let’s not do this… okay?”
“I said, follow me!”
“Hieee!”
The frail Fran was no match for the strength Arasen had built through a lifetime of driving wagons.
With her powerful arm wrapped around him and the knife held to his throat, Arasen dragged him out of the house and toward the square.
People whispered.
They couldn’t react to the sight of a woman holding a knife to a man’s throat and dragging him along with a murderous aura.
“If anyone tries anything, this man dies!!”
Seeing the crazed look in Arasen’s eyes, people were too afraid that a precious man might actually die to intervene.
They arrived at the construction site of the statue in the square.
“This is a restricted area!”
“……”
Without a word, Arasen pressed the knife harder against Fran’s neck, drawing blood.
As the blood trickled down, Fran screamed in a panic.
“Aaaaaah! This bitch is crazy! Get back! Get back! Do you want to see me die?!”
“Ugh…”
Even the workers controlling the site backed away, and Arasen operated the magitech floating elevator installed for the construction.
VROOOOOOM
With a vibrating hum, the two reached the top.
They were on the arm of the statue, where Alto was depicted holding out a dagger.
“Araseeeen—!”
“Follow me!!!”
He begged desperately, but she didn’t listen.
Fran, whose eye was so swollen he couldn’t see properly, was dragged along.
When Arasen slipped slightly in the rain, Fran let out a blood-curdling scream and pleaded for his life.
Arasen didn’t hear him.
She simply walked calmly to the very end of the statue’s arm.
“Arasen, I was wrong. Let’s not do this, okay?”
“Fran, you know… I… I can’t go on without you.”
“Right! Me too. So let’s just go down now…”
“But you said you would’ve lived a better life if it weren’t for me.”
Like a broken machine, Arasen grabbed Fran by the collar.
“Did all my devotion… only cause you suffering…?”
“No, absolutely not!”
“You know, Fran. If I’m the one who ruined your life…”
The broken doll’s lips curled into a grotesque smile.
“Shall we die together? We can die and make sure we never meet in the next life.”
“Hii… Hiiiiiiiiii—!”
Just as Fran was wetting his pants at that chilling smile—
“That’s enough.”
A voice, small but clear, came from the other side of the arm.
“Ms. Arasen. Let’s talk.”
“Lord Alto…”
Arasen’s eyes wavered violently.