Chapter 181
Chapter 181
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 181
>Chapter Title: Shadow of the Flying Beast
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It was the middle of summer, yet a chilling gust seemed to blow in from somewhere.
I froze solid, while Senior Mysellern was completely iced over.
Amid all that, Gamo remained silent beyond the crystal orb. I could swear it was a silence more terrifying than any words.
On one hand, a thought crossed my mind.
‘This is screwed.’
Yeah, totally screwed.
First off, the idea of getting Gamo’s permission wasn’t bad.
If Damian had to go—and there was no choice but to go—then laying it all out like this was the best way.
But that first opening... what?
[...My son, I must have misheard. Could you say that again?]
“Mother, please don’t grieve too much. Death comes to us all.”
[...Aster. Put Aster on.]
Sensing Damian wasn’t in a state to reason with, Gamo turned her arrows on me.
But Damian just shook his head. Was this the new prototype Damian version 2? Impressively reliable...
“Mother, Aster was the trigger for this, but it’s not his fault.”
This lunatic?
[So, that boy was the trigger... I see. I’m dying to know just what happened.]
“I’m going on an adventure.”
[An adventure... Yes, an adventure. Fine. Go on. And is Aster still there with you?]
“Yes, he’s eating cookies.”
[Then tell him it’s in his best interest to keep eating those cookies right there. So, you’re going on an adventure?]
Damian nodded with resolute determination.
“It’s an unavoidable fate.”
His tone was utterly grave.
Right, my death was probably unavoidable too.
“It’s the first step toward becoming a hero, overcoming harsh trials and tribulations. Great heroes of old grew by crossing the line between life and death, and now that chance has come to me.”
But why did a non-hero like me have to endure trials and tribulations?
I had zero desire to become a hero.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
I no longer bothered hiding the noise.
Staying quiet or making a racket, I’d end up dead either way. Might as well go out as a handsome ghost.
By this point, I wasn’t even looking at Damian anymore—I was staring out the window.
The night sky draped in darkness, beautiful stars dotting the heavens, and the full moon faintly shadowed.
Maybe Mysellern senior wasn’t the apostle of the wyvern after all.
As I mulled that over, Damian preached his ‘hero doctrine’ to Gamo, citing examples from third-rate Amera play scripts he’d seen and heard to convince her how justified his adventure was.
Around then, I started enjoying the situation.
‘It’s a rare experience.’
Yeah, where else could I witness the young heir of greater Blandoga dictating his last will and testament?
And I was already on the run from the Decullans anyway(?). Adding one more family like Blandoga wouldn’t make my life notably worse.
That confidence came from all the connections I’d built up.
‘Academy, Lortel, Riheim senior, and even Parun. I’ve got quite a network.’
Sure, I’d be an outcast everywhere, but at least I’d survive.
Worst case, I could hole up in some remote mountain, dig up roots to eat, and live as a wild man.
As for the tower...
Maybe I’d build a stone one.
Get lonely? Raise a wyvern, find it a mate when the time comes.
When they laid eggs, I’d name the hatchlings in birth order.
Their offspring would have offspring, and by then, I’d descend the mountain.
That day, Blandoga would remember.
The powerless, weak stray from the Black-White Slums they’d tormented.
But by the time they saw the wyvern flock blotting out the sky, it’d be too late.
Just as the third-generation wyvern hatchlings were born in my head,
Damian’s speech wrapped up, and Gamo’s voice dropped low.
[You’re running away from home?]
“It’s a pilgrimage.”
[So, where are you adventuring to?]
“Ancient ruins.”
[...]
I could only hear her voice, but Gamo sounded utterly exhausted somehow.
“Mother.”
[...Speak.]
“Don’t worry. The adventure won’t be long, and if I survive, I’ll be back before you know it.”
[And Aster will come with you then?]
“Probably?”
[...Sigh... So, what is it you want to say? It doesn’t seem like you’re asking for my permission.]
“I’ve learned about responsibility.”
[...Responsibility?]
Gamo had endured nonstop nonsense until finally hearing a proper word, and she sounded shocked.
But Damian, undeterred, calmly and maturely conveyed his realization.
“I’ve come to understand that my every action can shake the lives of many people. So, if I don’t come back, I’m worried those here might get hurt.”
“......”
Damian’s earnest voice made my eyes twitch.
‘Why does the formal speech sound so awkward?’
It just wouldn’t grow on me.
Listening quietly was enough to give me goosebumps.
But Gamo seemed different.
[...Responsibility, responsibility.]
Mulling Damian’s words over several times, Gamo let out a faint sigh and spoke.
[Must you go?]
“It’s fate.”
Ah, the formal speech.
I’d hoped for politeness, but not to this extent.
‘But will this work?’
No way.
The mood was warming up somehow, but my vision of the future wasn’t bright.
Still, Damian pressed on steadfastly. Calmly, yet with more force than ever.
“Even if I don’t return, it won’t be the fault of those here, Mother.”
“......”
For a moment, that sincere voice made Damian seem different.
‘Ah, the formal speech.’
Anyway, half-resigned, I waited for Gamo’s response... What? Was I hallucinating today?
Did my ears deceive me?
[...Very well. I permit it.]
“Yes?”
“Why...?”
‘Yes?’ was me. ‘Why...?’ was Senior Mysellern.
My lips trembled at Gamo’s incomprehensible statement, even after hearing it, and I tilted my head with a creak.
‘A dream?’
I slapped my face hard, but it just hurt like hell.
No, not a dream.
Which meant Gamo had really permitted Damian’s ancient ruins expedition...
“Mother, please take care of your health.”
[Damian, I love you always.]
“Yes, thank you.”
And so, the heartwarming mother-son exchange concluded.
Leaving only shock, horror, and confusion in its wake.
‘Is this... for real?’
No way.
As I thought that far,
Damian, who’d been bowing his head resolutely, suddenly snapped it up and gathered me and Senior Mysellern in the middle.
“Master, you heard I got permission, right?”
“I heard... but...”
“A person who speaks twice with one mouth is worse than a dog-pig.”
This jerk, why’s he glancing at me during ‘dog-pig’?
“I... understand.”
In the end, Senior Mysellern nodded, and a satisfied smile bloomed on Damian’s lips.
“Good, then.”
Damian nodded confidently.
I snapped back to reality amid the whirlwind of changes when—
Crack!
“......?”
Damian smashed the crystal orb for direct communication with Gamo.
‘Why... smash that?’
As I thought that far,
Damian said with a refreshed expression.
“Now, let’s run.”
“......Run?”
“Yeah, run.”
With that, he leaped out the window.
Hanging from the window frame, he gestured to me and Senior Mysellern.
“Friends, hurry! If we don’t, they’ll catch us. Master, come on!”
What the hell was happening right now?
* * *
Having cut off communication, Bianca stared at the crystal orb, her eye twitching.
Her eyes held half pride, half annoyance.
The pride was for Damian, who’d achieved a moment of mental growth. The annoyance was directed at Aster.
‘I’ve let a demon into the family...’
But such thoughts were fleeting.
Bianca rose and strode into the corridor.
Her steps were unflinching.
Like a general marching to war?
With such bold strides, Bianca headed to the communication room attached to the patriarch’s quarters.
“L-Lady Gamo?”
The on-duty mage managing the room startled at Gamo’s sudden appearance, hastily wiping drool from his mouth.
‘......Demotion.’
Images of his rabbit-like puppy at home, his demon—no, baby-like wife flickered by.
Caught dozing by Lady Gamo. How many months’ pay would be docked this time?
As the mage’s face darkened with visions of misfortune... unexpectedly, Gamo paid it no mind.
Instead.
“Lord Tohoman... no, Lord Rolan... no. Whoever, contact someone in Amera right now.”
“......Pardon?”
“Didn’t you hear? Contact someone in Amera.”
Her sharp words froze the mage stiff, then he scrambled like someone was chasing him.
Meanwhile, Gamo Bianca bit her innocent nails, organizing her thoughts.
‘I hope we’re not too late...’
Yes.
In truth, telling Damian ‘go ahead’ was mere camouflage.
She knew saying no wouldn’t stop him anyway. Blocking him would only make him bolt in some bizarre way.
Recall the pre-academy runaway fiasco.
Who could’ve guessed?
That kid would slip past the family’s entire guard force and crawl all the way to the Black-White Slums!
Thus, Gamo’s choice was the best response born of experience.
Of course, it risked losing Damian’s trust, but to Bianca, her son’s safety outweighed trust.
How long did they wait?
“L-Lady Gamo?”
“Speak.”
“Communication from Lord Tohoman.”
“It’s come? Not sent?”
“......Yes.”
Bianca sensed ill omens from the mage’s fidgety expression.
“Give it here.”
She snatched the crystal orb.
[L-Lady Gamo. Big trouble. I’m truly sorry!]
“......What happened?”
Gamo’s eyes twitched with growing unease. But the words that followed were unexpected.
[Y-Young Master Chenbi has been kidnapped.]
......Chenbi, suddenly?
Tilting her head in confusion, a commotion followed from the orb.
[L-Lord Tohoman! Young Master Damian has run away!]
[W-What...? Young Master Damian?!]
[A-And Young Master Aster is gone too!]
[......!]
[It’s Lord Mysellern! That Mysellern...!]
A barrage of unimaginable, devastating reports poured in.
Sweeping back her slightly fallen hair, Gamo Bianca bit her upper lip and exhaled hot breath.
“......Put a bounty on them.”
[......Pardon?]
“Tell them... anyone bringing information, even, will be richly rewarded. Anyone... no matter who.”
The full moon hung bright in the midnight sky.
An unnamed flying beast cleaved through the night heavens.
Was this beast a wyvern?
None could know the truth.