That Fucking Dream
The narrow mountain path. Shattered fragments of a carriage. Pools of dark blood. Mangled corpses. That familiar red hair.
"Fuck..."
His hand trembled as he pulled out a cigarette. He stuck it between his lips, lit it, and took a long, deep drag.
"Huu..."
Even after he exhaled the smoke, nothing changed. This was bullshit. Just in case, he flipped over one of the bodies. A familiar face. The voice that used to call him Oppa or Uncle echoed inside his skull. This was fucking bullshit.
He swung his sword like he was venting his rage. The thick trees splintered and tore apart. But nothing changed. This was bullshit.
He ran his hands through his hair, messing it up completely. His chest felt tight. Who the hell would dare— The fury rose up hot and sharp, but it only lasted a moment.
"Fuck..."
His legs gave out and he collapsed to the ground. His chest was so constricted it felt like something might spill from his eyes or his mouth. But nothing came.
"Huu..."
No. Only the cigarette smoke drifted away faintly on the wind. This was bullshit. It was a fucking shitty dream.
*
"Fuck... Of all the shitty dreams to have."
Zeron irritably ran a hand through his hair. The foul aftertaste in his chest refused to fade. For once, he actually got out of bed and yanked the curtains open. Dawn was just beginning to break.
It had been a week since he arrived at the academy. He hadn't stepped foot outside his room the entire time, just drank himself stupid day after day.
Maybe he drank less yesterday? He scanned the floor. Empty bottles were scattered everywhere.
"Goddammit, I really drank all of it."
No alcohol left meant he'd have to go buy more. Zeron grabbed the wallet that had been lying in the corner. Money wasn't an issue. That bastard David had given him a card.
It was the kind of day where he wanted to drink until he couldn't think straight.
*
Nearly three weeks had passed. The kid would be arriving at the academy in about a week.
"What the hell, you bastard...?"
- Hey, tone down the language a little.
David's nonsense voice came through the communication device.
"So you're telling me... to go all the way back to the merchant group and bring the kid here?"
- Yeah, I'm asking for a favor. You know how things are these days. I can't live with this anxiety.
"Then why didn't you just leave together from the start?"
Always making things annoying for people. Zeron let out a long sigh and picked up his coat.
- Oh, you're actually coming?
"Of course, fuck. You asked me to come, didn't you?"
- Thanks. Really. I won't forget this favor.
"What favor? Between us? It's just a little annoying, that's all."
Zeron clicked his tongue and cut the connection. He still felt uneasy. A few days ago... no, a few weeks ago? That dream he'd had still hadn't left his head.
Yeah, well. It was just a little annoying. Better than living the rest of his life with that shitty feeling stuck in his chest.
Zeron shook the small bell sitting neatly on the corner of the table. No sound came out, but he knew a response would arrive soon enough.
And sure enough, a knock sounded at the door followed by a voice.
"You called, sir?"
"Yeah. Prepare a carriage."
"Understood. Anything else?"
"Not really."
"Then I'll inform you once it's ready."
With that, the presence outside the door vanished. She was a pretty sharp maid. She'd apparently figured out that he didn't like people coming into his room.
"Time to go then. Ah, right."
Zeron turned the communication device back on and contacted David. After a few rings, the voice answered.
- What? Changed your mind about coming?
"No, nothing like that. Just prepare some alcohol for me to bring along."
- Alcohol? You already drank everything I sent?
"Turns out the academy's a pretty good place to drink."
- Bullshit. Anyway, got it. Thanks.
"Ugh... stop saying thanks. Gives me the creeps."
A short laugh, and the connection cut off. Zeron grumbled as he packed his meager belongings. Come to think of it, should he report that he was leaving? Well... he could just ask the maid later.
*
The trip to the merchant group took four days, same as before. He bought and drank some alcohol along the way, but it couldn't compare to what David prepared. Expensive liquor really did taste better.
"...Oh. You're here."
"Yeah, I'm here."
When he arrived at the merchant group, the kid had already finished all her preparations. But there was one big problem. David and his subordinates were sniffling and making a huge fuss over sending her off, and it was genuinely fucking painful to watch. All these big, burly men huddled together crying like idiots.
"Miss! You must stay healthy!"
"Please get along well with your friends...!"
"If any bastard bothers you, tell us anytime! We'll bury them without anyone knowing!"
The kid seemed just as embarrassed by the display. Her face flushed red as she quickly climbed into the carriage.
"Ugh... I told you not to do this."
Zeron glanced at the grumbling girl and let out a small chuckle. Through the carriage window, he could see David looking like he was on the verge of tears.
"Our daughter... You have to contact me at least once a day once you get there, okay? Got it? Make sure you eat properly. Don't fight with your friends. If anything is uncomfortable—"
"I know, I know! Stop! I'm not a child anymore, why are you being like this..."
"I'm just worried about my daughter... Oh, and you have to be careful with men—"
"Yes, yes. I got it, so please stop. What are you doing in front of all these people..."
Even though her face was burning with embarrassment, the kid still reached through the carriage window to hug David tightly. The stupid, sloppy grin on David's face was disgusting to look at.
"Hey, that's enough."
"Heartless bastard... A touching father-daughter farewell and you—"
"Enough. Let's go."
Thud. Thud. He kicked the carriage wall, and it slowly began to move. The alcohol had already been loaded right after he arrived. He just wanted to get back to the academy and sprawl out.
Leaving behind the kid who kept grumbling but still waved at every single subordinate's farewell, Zeron closed his eyes. Another tedious carriage journey had begun.
*
The first two days of travel passed without incident. When the kid grumbled at him, he gave half-hearted answers. Drank some alcohol. Answered a bit more. Smoked a cigarette. Drank some more.
"Ah, stop smoking!"
"Why are you making such a fuss when I'm the one smoking?"
"It stinks!"
"Well, that's true."
He tossed the cigarette out the window. Only then did the kid's expression soften a little. What an ill-mannered brat.
"Anyway, Uncle."
"Yeah?"
"Do you actually have the skills to be an instructor there?"
This girl? Zeron's brow furrowed.
"Hey, don't you know who I am?"
"I do. You're just a bum who drinks in his room all day."
"That is... accurate."
He had nothing to say to that.
"Still... I know you're famous as the Sword Demon or whatever..."
"You know that much?"
"But there are knights at the academy... What if you pick a fight and get hurt?"
Her lips were pursed. Her eyes kept darting around, unable to stay still. She had that prickly side, probably inherited from her father. Zeron chuckled and poured liquor into his nosing glass. Macallan, forty years. A ridiculously expensive bottle.
"Why do you talk like getting into fights is inevitable?"
"Because... your personality is completely rotten?"
"Good god, fuck..."
David had gone through all that effort to make sure she only used proper, refined speech, but this was the result. Zeron let out a sigh and spoke.
"It's true, but you don't need to worry."
"What do you mean I don't need to worry? Just because you swung a sword around in some back alley, you think you can handle a knight?"
"I can."
"Stop talking bullshit."
"Aigoo... If David heard this he'd soak his pillow again. Anyway, I don't plan on causing any trouble, so don't worry too— hm?"
Mid-sentence, Zeron's eyes grew cold.
"Wh-what? Why? Are you angry? I told you not to talk bull—"
"Shut up for a second, kid."
Zeron scanned the area outside the window. Narrow mountain path. Dense trees. Familiar terrain.
"...This feeling is shit."
The faint killing intent riding the wind made it even worse. Zeron kicked the carriage wall hard.
"Hey, stop the carriage for a moment!"
With a snort, the carriage gradually came to a halt. Zeron stepped down. The kid tried to follow with wide eyes, so he pressed her forehead and pushed her back inside.
"Ah, what is it!"
"It's an ambush."
"A-ambush...?"
"Yeah. So stay inside the carriage and keep quiet like you're dead."
After shoving even the coachman inside, Zeron clicked his tongue and kicked a pebble lying on the ground.
With a sharp whoosh and the sound of air being torn apart, "Gack...!" a short death cry followed.
After waiting a moment, over a dozen figures crawled out from the bushes. The faint trace of mana he felt told him they were fairly elite for bandits. The kingdom really was in terrible shape.
Zeron frowned and spoke.
"Why the hell are you hiding on a road where people pass by?"
"You son of a bitch..."
"Boss, let's just bury them. We still haven't found the bastard who messed up our guys anyway. It's been pissing me off."
"I was going to even without you saying it, idiot."
Killing intent surged from the bandit group. The kid, who had been sneaking glances outside the carriage window, stiffened.
"U-Uncle... Isn't this dangerous...?"
Her gaze was fixed on the bandits' hands. About half of them were holding dark iron rods. Guns. Weapons that could blow a grown man's head apart like a boiled egg—even a three-year-old could use them.
"The country's security is completely fucked. Since when do bandits carry rifles?"
At that moment.
"Eek...!"
Bang—!
The gunshot rang out. Zeron looked at the kid in surprise. She was trembling all over but still holding the pistol, eyes wide open without even flinching.
"N-no way... How could bandits..."
But the kid's shot seemed to have only fueled the bandits' anger.
"You fuck! I was going to kill you nicely!"
Click—!
The bandits all aimed their guns at once. The one who'd taken a direct hit to the chest from the kid's bullet had veins bulging on his temple.
"Like I said, this is the problem with guns."
Zeron smirked and patted Medeia's head.
"Well, good job anyway, kid. You're much better than the guys under David."
Seeing her admirable display had calmed his anger a little. No, wait. If he hadn't been here, admirable or not, it would've ended up exactly like that dream, wouldn't it?
"Tsk."
Zeron drew his sword. His mood had turned to shit again.