Chapter 336: A Twist of Fate
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 336: A Twist of Fate
Under Adolf’s direction, the fast-moving convoy came to a halt for a brief rest.
Muen took the opportunity to exchange pleasantries with the leader of the cavalry unit, a Border Count named Eller Campo.
"My thanks for your assistance this time, Count Eller."
"Not at all. It is my honor to be of service to you."
Though Eller held a noble title, every movement he made radiated the crisp, vigorous efficiency of a career soldier.
"The House of Campbell will remember this," Muen said with a smile.
A flash of excitement and fervor sparked in Eller’s eyes, and he straightened his back even further.
After their brief conversation, Muen headed straight for the carriage where Liya was resting.
"Ahem. You two enjoy your chat, enjoy your chat."
Adolf gave a few meaningful, dry coughs before quickly pulling away the other accompanying mage—who was completely hidden under a voluminous robe. This left only Muen and Liya alone in the spacious carriage.
"What is that old rogue even talking about?"
Muen couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Ever since a moment ago, he felt like the man had grossly misunderstood something. He and Liya were perfectly innocent!
"Besides, how are we supposed to 'chat' like this? Am I supposed to talk to myself?"
Muen’s gaze swept over her, and he let out a soft sigh.
In the dim space, the young girl lay as quiet as if she were merely sleeping, devoid of her usual cuteness and bashfulness. Her cheeks, which were so often tinged with a rosy flush, were now utterly bloodless, their pallor enough to incite pity in anyone.
Muen took a seat opposite her.
Wisps of blue smoke drifted through the carriage, carrying a light fragrance—likely some sort of medicinal incense meant to soothe the nerves.
Muen watched her face through the haze.
Suddenly, he found himself with nothing to do. He had come to visit her, but since she was still unconscious, "visiting" was all he could really do.
Consequently, Muen’s thoughts drifted back to that moment.
Back then, facing a Calamity, the girl had refused to back down. Even though she was as fragile as a flower about to wither in a gale, she had bloomed with her own exquisite beauty at the very end.
How much courage and determination must it take for a naturally timid person to choose to face despair head-on, knowing full well it might be futile?
"Come to think of it..."
Muen rested his chin on his hand and murmured to himself, "I originally intended to make you owe me a favor so I could use it to help me talk Ariel down at a critical moment. But I didn't expect that, in the end, I’d be the one owing you more and more."
The hardships and dangers Liya had endured weren't things that could be compensated for with a mere five hundred thousand or a million.
Thinking of this, Muen couldn't help but let out a troubled smile.
"Now, how am I supposed to make it up to you?"
"Ngh..."
"Hmm?"
A soft moan from the girl caused Muen to instinctively look toward her.
But Liya hadn't woken up. Instead...
"No... it’s not... I’m not... I didn't..."
The girl’s eyes remained tightly shut, her delicate body tossing and turning under the thin quilt, occasionally tracing a heart-stopping curve.
"Liya... isn't that kind of person... ugh... Goddess... you must... you have to believe Liya..."
"She's talking in her sleep."
Muen blinked, his expression turning strange.
Just what kind of dream would make her say such things? Had this normally devout girl done something in her dream to offend the Goddess?
Muen was suddenly curious.
Unfortunately, this world didn't have succubi, so he had no way to peer into a beautiful girl's dreams.
However...
"If she can talk in her sleep, she should be mostly fine."
Seeing the familiar flush returning to Liya’s face, Muen finally felt completely at ease.
"Get some rest, Liya."
Tucking the quilt in for her, Muen prepared to leave.
"Muen..."
Suddenly, his own name appeared amidst a string of unintelligible sleep-talk, causing Muen to freeze mid-departure.
The world went quiet. He turned his head, silently watching Liya’s cherry-soft lips, waiting for what came next.
"I..."
Liya’s lips moved slightly, but after uttering that one word, no further sound came out.
Muen waited like a statue for a long time, but until the girl’s cute, furrowed brow smoothed out into tranquility again, he never heard the rest of the sentence.
"Classmate Liya..."
Muen made a pained face. "You’re just as detestable as those vile authors who love to end chapters on cliffhangers."
With a feeling of unresolved frustration, Muen could only scratch his head vigorously. He couldn't exactly shake Liya awake and ask her what she wanted to say. Besides, once she woke up, she probably wouldn't even remember.
Dreams were truly aggravating things.
"Ah, I really wish I had the ability to peer into a beautiful girl's dreams..."
Not to do anything inappropriate, of course, but simply to teach those cliffhanger-loving bastards a lesson.
Muen let out an unrealistic wail of frustration.
At that moment, the carriage jolted slightly. Ignoring the fact that Muen was currently alone with a defenseless girl and could easily get away with anything, the convoy began its rapid advance once more.
"That old geezer..."
He didn't even have to think to know who had given the order.
Helpless, Muen could only sit back down.
Bored out of his mind, his gaze inadvertently fell back onto the girl’s face.
This wasn't a custom-made carriage from the Duke’s estate, so it was a bit bumpy and noisy. But in this dim, cramped space, looking at that face—which seemed capable of brightening its surroundings—Muen felt his heart quickly grow calm.
"She really is... quite cute."
Her face was round, her long eyelashes fluttered occasionally, and her lips were fresh and tender, as if coated in jelly. Especially when she was angry and puffed out her cheeks like a little pufferfish holding its breath, her cuteness was simply...
"..."
Muen started slightly, cutting off his meaningless internal monologue, and quickly shifted his gaze out the window.
Through the gap in the curtains, he could see the scenery retreating rapidly.
"At this speed, we should reach the Holy City soon," Muen whispered to himself.
That would be the end of the line.
The future Saintess, who would ascend the throne with the help of her childhood sweetheart, and the future son of a Duke, who would live off the coattails of a Princess and a Senior Sister—under no circumstances should their paths cross.
Muen rested his cheek on his hand, watching the increasingly unfamiliar landscape.
He felt a bit sleepy. So, he closed his eyes and began to doze off.
But suddenly, he snapped his eyes open, his gaze sweeping quickly around him as his brow furrowed.
"Strange. This whole ordeal is almost over... but why do I feel like... I’ve forgotten something?"
Muen rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
"What did I forget?"
*
"A... A Calamity!"
In a pitch-black space, Ariel hugged her arms and shuddered violently. "Wh... Why? Why would a Calamity wake up?"
"I don't know," her Master’s grave voice echoed in her ear. "But it shouldn't be coming for us."
"True..."
When the Calamity had appeared not far ahead just now, Ariel had been scared nearly to death. Even though they were separated by several kilometers, she felt like that Calamity could have turned her to ash with a single flick of its tail.
Fortunately...
"What luck, finding a cave to hide in just in time."
Ariel cast an Illumination Spell and looked around.
The pitch-black cave was devoid of the mutated snakes and insects common in this forest; it was so quiet it was suffocating.
"Huh?"
Ariel let out a cry of surprise as if she’d discovered something.
"Why does this cave look like it was man-made?"
"It certainly doesn't look like a natural formation." Ariel’s Master’s perception spread out as well. "And I can sense faint magic patterns. This place... is not simple."
"Really?"
Ariel’s mind raced. Finding a man-made cave in a forest where a Calamity resided—there was no way it could be ordinary.
She continued deeper.
After passing through a narrow passage, the space ahead suddenly opened up.
"This is..."
Magic illuminated the area. In the vast, deep space, a massive bronze gate carved with ancient script and murals stood majestically.
"Ancient ruins?" Ariel’s eyes lit up.
"It is indeed an ancient ruin!" Her Master’s voice held a hint of uncontrollable excitement. "Judging by the script and content of the murals, this should be something left behind by a civilization or kingdom destroyed by a Calamity. It contains the final legacy of that unknown civilization!"
Her Master’s words made Ariel’s breath hitch.
The legacy of an entire civilization or kingdom... how vast must that be?
But...
Ariel’s eyes flickered. No, she had to first...
"Wait," her Master’s voice rang out again. "This gate seems to have been opened before."
"What?" Ariel was stunned. Someone had beaten her to it?
She instinctively placed her hand on the bronze gate, spreading her perception...
"Huh?"
Ariel’s eyes widened in disbelief.
"This aura... it’s Liya! That’s right, it’s definitely Liya!"
Ariel’s heart began to race. "Could it be that the one who opened this gate was Liya?"
"There are no other auras present, so it must be her. And based on the timing, it matches up."
"So, Liya went into these ancient ruins?"
"Most likely. From the perspective of someone being pursued by a powerful enemy, entering these ruins to find another exit is indeed the wisest choice." Ariel’s Master analyzed, "Though that little girl Liya surprises me—she was actually able to open this gate on her own?"
"To think I’d stumble upon this by chance!"
Ariel was immersed in excitement, clenching her fist tightly. "As I thought, there is an invisible bond between Liya and me!"
With her Master’s help, Ariel soon opened the bronze gate.
She stared into the profound darkness beyond the door, her excitement turning back into worry.
"Master, it’s very dangerous in there, isn't it?"
"Of course. These are ancient ruins."
"Then Liya..."
Ariel closed her eyes, and an image appeared in her mind: Liya, having just escaped the tiger’s den only to fall into the wolf’s lair, shivering alone in the terrifying ancient ruins, helpless and pitiful.
At a time like this, what a girl yearned for was naturally the arrival of a hero!
Someone dashing, brave, and powerful, who could shield her from all the storms!
"Wait for me, Liya!"
Ariel opened her eyes, a determined flame burning in her pupils. Without a hint of fear, she stepped into the boundless darkness.
"I’m coming—to save you!"