Chapter 182
Chapter 182
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 182
>Chapter Title: Stop, That's Enough. Chenbi is My Friend.
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
The cool lakeside where halos created by the morning sun shimmered.
We followed Senior Mysern through the Gigsen Lake canal to this secluded lakeside and spent the night there.
Sure enough, Damian was shrewd.
“Huh? How did I know? You can just tell by looking. You didn’t ask a single question.”
“Didn’t ask a single question?”
In the end, Damian’s choice to flee stemmed from how easily Gamo had given permission.
“You’re told it’s some ancient ruin, but you don’t ask which one or where you’re going. And if he’d really given permission, he would’ve at least sent Uncle Toho along.”
Ah, so that’s how it was.
It had felt off somehow.
I’d thought Gamo wouldn’t permit it so readily.
After all the crap Damian had put him through, Gamo would just let him go over some nonsense about being a hero?
It didn’t add up.
Anyway, we’d escaped safely, so that was that. But another question lingered in my mind here.
‘…….’
Chenbi, curled up and sleeping like the dead.
“Why’s he…….”
Damian, who’d been munching on jerky, flashed a bright grin at my question.
“He’d be sad if we ditched him.”
“……Ah, yeah. Sure.”
“Think about your friend. How good would it feel if me and Chenbi went off adventuring just the two of us?”
I’d feel great.
“You’ve always got to consider other people’s feelings. Especially if they’re close.”
But you’re not doing that at all.
Still, what did it matter?
What was done was done, and the responsibility fell on me—not Senior Mysern, but the guy who’d just munched cookies—instead.
‘Yeah, let’s give up.’
Giving up brings relief.
How many times had I been screwed over in this harsh world? I’d gotten to the point where I could just shrug it off.
Anyway, having soothed my aching heart somewhat, I chewed on the jerky and sorted out my thoughts.
Wasn’t the military drill tomorrow?
‘Well, seeing the fairy troops is off the table now.’
The priority was our current situation.
‘Gamo…… must be pretty pissed.’
Probably.
Right after the communication ended yesterday, we’d kidnapped Chenbi and slipped out of the mansion under Senior Mysern’s lead.
No bloodshed, but there’d been some clashes, so hearing about it would surely rile him up.
But I’d already given up on that worry deep down too.
If we got chased, we got chased.
So, what mattered now?
The ancient ruins.
What could be waiting there?
It was a concern I wouldn’t have had if I’d been alone.
Whatever lurked inside, I was the guy who’d traded punches with Destrow and lived to tell the tale from the heart of Lortel.
I wasn’t fearless, but solo, I was confident I could escape somehow.
But now?
“A serene atmosphere. Camping out, no less.”
Luggage pile No. 1.
“Ugh, ugh…… Pl-please…….”
Victim No. 1.
Strictly speaking, Chenbi was the real luggage in terms of combat power, but Damian was a problem by his mere existence.
So, it was right to call Damian the luggage pile.
Unintentionally lumbered with two extra mouths to feed, my mental difficulty had skyrocketed.
What? Their choice, so let them handle it?
That’s what I thought at first……
‘Then he’d really become a wyvern breeder.’
Ruling ten thousand wyverns wasn’t bad, but retiring to the countryside for the rest of my life? With how long I had left, no thanks.
So, at minimum, I had to keep them alive.
“Tch.”
Thinking that far, I wet my parched mouth with water and looked up at the sky.
Feather clouds dotted the blue expanse densely. A refreshing breeze tickled my hair. The forest’s rustling song, like pouring rain, washed away my worries.
“Well, what’s the point of overthinking it.”
Everything was futile.
Life was like an egg.
Boil it or smash it, the suffering was the same—whether it was a human head or an egg that burst.
What did that mean?
I wanted to smash Damian’s head.
“Friend, have you given it some thought?”
“Turns out I’ve never actually hit you yet.”
As I sat up and shot him a glare, Damian, savoring his jerky, smiled innocently and changed the subject.
“By the way, when will Chenbi wake up?”
“You should’ve hit him lighter.”
“I went for the nape, so I just swung.”
“You nearly killed him.”
Well, sure, Damian had healed him with Light of Healing, but one slip and Chenbi might’ve lost sensation below the neck forever.
Anyway, it was starting to worry me.
‘What do I even tell Chenbi when he wakes up?’
Damian kidnapped you?
We’re surrounded?
Or, a super fun adventure awaits, but you might die, so just keep that in mind?
If I left it to Damian, I wouldn’t have these worries……
‘But no way.’
Never entrust him with anything.
Considering poor Chenbi’s mental anguish, I racked my brain for words that wouldn’t shock him too much.
Of course, it didn’t take long to realize it was pointless fretting.
“Ugh, ugh…….”
Chenbi stirred, half-asleep, opening his eyes.
Before I could say anything, Damian shook him awake like a shot, and out came this gem.
“Time to trouble!”
Trouble?
Not travel?
But the real highlight wasn’t Damian’s dubious knowledge—it was Chenbi’s reaction.
“……What time is it?”
“7?”
“……Wake me at 9.”
Chenbi closed his eyes again.
But Damian didn’t back down.
“Friend, it’s adventure time! Look around. Adventure’s waiting for us…….”
“Yeah, yeah. Super exciting. Can’t wait. But, Damian. My head hurts like hell right now. Probably ’cause someone hit me yesterday…… Nah, just my imagination?”
“…….”
“Wake me at 9.”
With that, Chenbi shut his eyes once more.
I let out a faint sigh of admiration at the sight.
‘Ahh, so that’s the pinnacle of Damian expertise in the flesh?’
Chenbi wasn’t clueless about reality.
He grasped it better than anyone.
From now on, I’d call you Immovable Heart Chenbi.
* * *
Senior Mysern returned from scouting the canal just after Chenbi woke up.
He looked especially haggard after just one night, but spotting the awakened Chenbi made his eyes light up.
“That friend…….”
“Shh.”
I hurriedly cut off Senior Mysern and crouched low, whispering.
“Stimulate Chenbi now, and we’re in deep shit.”
“……Why?”
Instead of answering, I nodded toward the materialized water spirit, Aiki, beside Senior Mysern.
“See for yourself.”
“……?”
Aiki, who’d climbed out of the water to groom his paws.
He used to bare his fangs at me, but I’d grown used to him. Damian too, probably.
But.
Kyaaaaaaaah―!
Suddenly, he glared at Chenbi, fur bristling, snarling like he’d seen something horrific.
“What the…….”
“Chenbi’s been corrupted by evil.”
“…….”
“Definitely Damian’s fault. At a glance, he looks like normal Chenbi, but inside, he’s fallen dark Chenbi. Touch him, and it won’t end well.”
“You’re awfully brazen…….”
“Me? Huh?”
What nonsense.
There’s this thing called metacognition—objectively assessing your own level.
How had a mere Troubleshooter like me survived? Personally, I chalk it up to my superior metacognition.
Anyway, with Senior Mysern back, we gathered around the campfire.
The lineup was grim.
“Ugh…….”
Senior Mysern, worn out overnight.
“…….”
The root of all evil, eyes gleaming.
Crunch crunch.
Even Chenbi, corrupted by darkness.
For the record, from the moment Chenbi opened his eyes until now, he hadn’t asked a single question about where we were or what was going on.
His reaction baffled even me.
Meanwhile, a thought crossed my mind.
‘If things get even more twisted here…….’
Stop, that’s enough.
Chenbi is my friend.
No matter how curious, twisting his psyche isn’t right.
If I did, what would set me apart from Damian? This curiosity was utterly wrong.
Anyway, setting aside twisted netherworld Chenbi, we got down to business about the ancient ruins.
“I’ve scouted the path roughly. Won’t take long to get there. But one last thing I want to confirm…….”
He seemed uneasy about taking young friends into ancient ruins.
No, more like he was worried about Chenbi, who’d basically been kidnapped.
But under Senior Mysern’s subtle gaze, Chenbi swallowed his jerky and flashed a bright smile.
“Sir Mysern, I’m fine.”
“Ugh, really?”
“What’s meant to come has come. It’s a trial everyone faces eventually in life. I’m actually glad it happened with you here, Sir Mysern.”
Exactly.
Chenbi had foreseen something like this would happen someday.
I marveled at his foresight while silently pitying his life now entangled with Damian.
Anyway.
Having received Chenbi’s humble mindset, Senior Mysern nodded once and spoke again.
“Then, first…… whatever the process, I offer you my deepest thanks. Some may know, but this fulfills this old man’s long-cherished wish. When all is done, I’ll repay this favor without fail.”
Senior Mysern finished in a solemn tone, slowly bowing his head and lifting it.
At that moment, Damian’s lips twitched like he’d say something, but Chenbi reached out and clamped his mouth shut.
‘Nice one, Chenbi.’
No idea what he was about to say, but Damian’s three-inch tongue was basically a disaster horn.
Anyway, Senior Mysern, head raised, calmly explained what we’d do next and why we’d gathered.
Well, I already knew all that.
After the explanation wrapped up.
“Then, please lend a hand for the long-suffering spirits.”
He said, bowing his head again.
The reactions varied.
“A hero saves the weak. Don’t worry, Master!”
The villain hadn’t realized his own identity yet.
“Poor things. Just like me.”
The twisted netherworld victim felt kinship.
And as I took in those different responses, Senior Mysern’s question hit.
“You…… why are you grinning like that?”
“Because…… it’s just too good. Saving suffering spirits—what could be better?”
A smile spread across my lips. My heart pounded two, no three catties worth. This must be the joy of good deeds.
Proud, I gazed at Aiki.
‘Rest easy, buddy. I’ll save your kin.’
Kyaaaaaaaah―!
Damn, that thrilled you, huh?