Chapter 7 — The Test of Courage
Chapter 7 — The Test of Courage
Translation: Godtl
'I took this too lightly...'
It's too hard. They said they made a checkpoint in the middle, but it seems like they've passed even the middle now...?
'Did they change the path with magic too?'
If so, that's a big problem. Lelia looked at the two people's backs visible small in the distance.
That's when it happened. A loud crash was heard.
Kalix had tripped and fallen.
'Huh? No! Why is that idiot falling when he was walking just fine...!'
Of course, she was someone who died by tripping and falling into a pond in the original work. But she still had to say something.
Anyway, because Kalix fell, the lantern he was carrying broke, and in an instant, quiet darkness descended on the surroundings.
Kalix spat out a small curse.
"Damn, what do I do?"
"Dropping that like an idiot."
"What? Idiot? Hey, what did you just say?"
The two glared at each other as if to kill. They had never exchanged a single word before.
Their first conversation was curse words. Following that...
"You bastard!"
"Acting high and mighty when you're an idiot bastard!"
The two soon started throwing punches and fighting. As an even worse situation unfolded, Lelia wanted to scream.
'Those stupid ten-year-old kids!'
Those kids were rolling around grabbing each other's collars in a dark mountain forest where they could only rely on faint moonlight.
Along with the sounds of birds in the quiet forest, the sounds of punches exchanging and groans of 'ugh!' could be heard.
'You stupid bastards! Stop fighting!'
Lelia wanted to scream, but if she suddenly screamed in such a dark situation, those two would be very startled.
They would be sensitive during the courage test so she shouldn't stimulate them. Even in this situation, Lelia's first thought was that she shouldn't give trauma to young children.
'Ugh, stop fighting you bastards... please...!'
Lelia was anxious to the point of going crazy. Actually, what she saw in the original work was just vague dialogue recalling this day's event and short flashbacks.
She didn't know such specific details. In the situation where she was already fearing when the beast might appear, she became even more anxious when those two started fighting.
Then Griffith spat out a curse and started going back the way he came.
"Fine! Go, go! You coward bastard!"
Kalix shouted at Griffith 'back.
'So it was after Griffith left alone that Kalix ended up like that...'
Lelia, hidden behind a tree, looked at Griffith 'retreating figure.
Actually, Griffith was born with divine power from childhood, but he didn't yet know how to use that power.
His divine power would play a big role when fighting the Mad Dragon, but not right now.
He just had the ability to see properly in dark spaces.
Still, he would awaken his ability before leaving this neutral zone.
'That Griffith guy... he can see but he's fighting over dropping a lantern. Ugh, really. Boys.'
But even if it's Griffith... can he return properly?
Worry washed over Lelia.
'It seems they made a formation that can't be escaped to release the beast...'
That's why the same path seemed to repeat no matter how much they walked, and the cabin didn't appear.
'Well, if Griffith can't find the path either, he'll eventually come back.'
Lelia waited until Griffith was quite far away.
And after some time passed. Relying on the bright moonlight that emerged after the clouds cleared, she walked steadily.
Kalix Ascard was sitting alone over there.
'He won't be able to walk because his leg is hurt.'
Having fallen properly, he must have severely twisted his ankle.
As Lelia approached, Kalix sneered.
"What, why did you come back? Did you get scared trying to go alone?"
"I'm not Griffith."
"...What?"
Lelia realized her mistake.
"I am..."
"Aaah! Demon! So demons really exist! Damn, get lost! You demon bastard!"
She was going to say she was Crown Prince Leo but...
Kalix thrashed about lying on his back.
"Aaah!"
Thanks to Kalix making such a huge scene, Lelia got hit by his kick and sat down.
"Aaaaaaaah!"
And Kalix, who ended up kicking Lelia with his injured foot, also screamed in pain.
A short while later.
Lelia barely managed to explain to Kalix that she was not a demon.
His ankle, already twisted badly, was in even worse condition now. Because she had kicked his body.
However, Kalix endured the pain and asked.
"You're Crown Prince Leo? Then you're that guy, right? The pale-faced bastard who goes around playing leader."
"...."
How could he say that to someone's face....
Lelia wanted to point that out, but given the situation, it didn't seem appropriate to argue about that right now.
Kalix asked her when she remained silent.
"So why did you come?"
"Well..."
If I say I came to save you, you definitely won't believe me.
"Let's go down for now. We need to get down the mountain quickly."
"How am I supposed to go down with this foot? We have no choice but to wait here until morning."
"You...!"
This bastard, so clueless and carefree!
'I came all the way up here and even got kicked because of you!'
Lelia fumed. Kalix had already lain down and started preparing to sleep. Is this guy really crazy...? Is he really going to sleep here?
If he sleeps here, he'll be completely eaten by wild beasts.
Lelia eventually confessed half the truth.
"Hey, you might not believe me, but. A beast will appear."
"Come on, of course I don't believe that."
"...."
Lelia sighed deeply. After hesitating for a moment, she spoke cautiously.
"Kalix Ascard. Do you trust your uncle?"
At the question she had to ask, Kalix bolted upright.
And then, he grabbed her by the collar.
"Ugh...!"
"You bastard, who sent you. Who sent you!"
Kalix shook Lelia's collar with tremendous force.
"Aagh! Who sent me? The Emperor of Auraria sent me, you crazy bastard!"
"Ah, right. That makes sense. But how do you know about our Majesty and spout such nonsense?"
"...."
Lelia brushed off Kalix's hand and straightened the back of her neck where he had grabbed her. Her head was spinning.
"I... actually have pretty good insight. So I knew as soon as I saw you."
Lelia spouted whatever came to mind. Because Kalix had grabbed her collar and shaken her wildly, she couldn't think properly before speaking. At least she didn't say she saw it in a novel.
"...It's not my uncle who sent you, is it?"
Lelia showed him her palm. So he could see clearly even in the moonlight.
"I am the Crown Prince of Auraria. How would the Emperor of Ascard send me? Are you really stupid?"
"...Ha, so what does that mean? Are you saying my uncle sent a beast after me?"
"...You might not believe it, but that's correct. You're not that stupid, I see?"
"Ha, then I'll just die."
"What?"
"Uncle, no, His Majesty wants to kill me, I know that too. So I'd rather just die, whatever."
"...."
Lelia looked at Kalix who seemed resigned. He really didn't care anymore, lying down as if to say let whatever happen, happen.
"What are you doing? You said a beast is coming. Then get lost."
"...."
"Leave, you bastard."
Lelia looked at Kalix's eyes reflected in the moonlight. In his eyes with their enigmatic light, a faint fear lingered.
He might act tough and confident, but in the end, this guy was also just a ten-year-old child.
Lelia stood up abruptly from her spot.
"I'm going to leave even if you don't say that."
"Good, go then."
Kalix didn't try to stop her, as if he had no regrets at all.
Lelia frowned.
'What kind of child... at only ten years old...'
Knowing his uncle wants to kill him, and apparently having known for a while, how can he act so nonchalantly? How did he live to become like this?
Lelia pressed her frustrated heart and spoke.
"But I'm not going alone."
"What?"
"As I see it, we're in a hurry. Get on my back quickly."
Saying that, Lelia showed her back to Kalix and crouched down.
"...Are you crazy?"
Kalix asked as if he was dumbfounded.
"I said get on quickly."
"This is really a crazy bastard... Why would I get on your back? I said I'll just die? I told you to go!"
"I can't go alone. Get on quickly."
"...You're lying, right? You said a beast will appear. But you can't go alone? What kind of bastard is this?"
"If you don't believe me, do you want to just wait here together for the beast? A wolf drooling?"
"So I'm telling you to go alone! Are you close to me? We've never even talked, so what is this suddenly? You're going to die for someone you just met? Would you believe that?"
"That's..."
"Be honest. Your uncle sent you, didn't he?"
"You idiot, think about it. I'm the Crown Prince of Auraria. What reason would I have to lie to you?"
"It doesn't matter to me anyway! What does it matter to the likes of you whether I die or not! I said I'll die as my uncle wishes!"
"You're not making sense."
Lelia thought for a moment. Honestly, if she was going to go alone, she wouldn't have come up here in the first place.
According to what she knew, even if a beast appeared, she wouldn't die, but there was a possibility she might die differently from the original work.
No, even if she didn't die, Kalix would suffer a major injury today. Knowing that, she couldn't just watch.
"Get lost! Damn it, I said go! Get lost, before I kill you! Go! Get lost!"
Kalix shouted with sheer desperation. His voice was hoarse, perhaps because of that, Lelia felt like she could sense the sorrow contained in that voice.
It felt like he was saying don't go, I'm scared, don't leave me alone.
That's why she had no intention of going alone.
Lelia let out a breath and spoke. She needed a little determination.
"Kalix, I'm sorry but."
"What! Go! Get lost! If you don't want to die, go!"
"I'm going to knock you out right now. Just bear with the pain."