Chapter 743: Awakening
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 743: Awakening
"The guidance ends here."
Zagu stood upon the cliff, gazing down into the depths.
Mist rising from the underground dark river swirled around the mid-section of the precipice. It looked so dark and dense that even he could not see all the way to the bottom.
"It’s really high."
The maid kicked a large stone over the edge. After several echoing thuds of impact, a long silence followed before the sound of it hitting the ground finally drifted back up.
"If someone fell down there, there wouldn't even be a bone left of them."
"That would only apply to you," Zagu said flatly. "I happen to know a human woman who fell from a thousand-meter tower and came out perfectly fine."
"For real? Is that person made of steel plate?"
"Even steel would be flattened falling from that height. That human was simply strong."
Zagu withdrew his gaze from the abyss. "The issue now isn't whether she's made of steel or not. It's that without guidance, how are we supposed to find Muen Campbell?"
Zagu never imagined that Muen Campbell would be able to break the lock on his soul information. One had to realize that this was a mark personally placed by Lord Divine Will; even Zagu didn't know where the tampering had been hidden.
No... previously, he hadn't even considered the possibility of being played. Within these few short hours, things he hadn't expected had happened one after another. It was no longer surprising.
This was his disgrace.
The disgrace of Zagu, the First Demon General of the Demon Race.
"Without the location lock, we can only mobilize more manpower and use dragnet tactics to search for Muen Campbell’s trail."
After all, no matter how Muen Campbell fled, he was still within the Demon Race’s stronghold. As long as they kept up the pressure, they would eventually flush this rat out of his hole. It would simply take more time.
The current problem was...
"Left or right? Which path would Muen Campbell choose?"
"Why couldn't it be down?" the maid asked curiously.
"If he chose to go down, it would certainly make my life easier," Zagu said with a mocking smile. "You should know that down there is—"
"Zagu."
Suddenly, a familiar, gentle, yet bone-chillingly cold voice echoed through the dark space.
The voice came from the maid’s lips, yet it carried an ancient raspiness that was completely at odds with her appearance.
"Lord Divine Will?"
Zagu immediately understood who the voice belonged to and dropped to one knee. "My deepest apologies. I failed to kill Muen Campbell in time and allowed him to escape again."
"We will discuss your incompetence later. For now, the situation has changed."
The maid’s face was expressionless, like a puppet, with only her lips moving.
"Please, speak."
"Go down. Continue the hunt for Muen Campbell."
"Down... You mean?" Zagu snapped his head up.
"Correct. Muen Campbell went to that place."
"That place..."
A flicker of genuine dread appeared in the eyes behind Zagu's heavy visor. "Forgive my bluntness, Lord Divine Will, but if Muen Campbell really went to that place, shouldn't we just leave him be? After all, that place is..."
"I am well aware that a mere human cannot possibly come out of that place alive. But Muen Campbell..."
Divine Will paused. "He gives me a strange feeling. It’s as if, in the shadows, someone is pushing his actions, leading him to do things that are quite extraordinary."
"Pushing... his actions?"
"I am not entirely clear on the details yet, but we cannot view him as a simple human anymore. To be safe, take your men deep into that place and continue the pursuit. Ensure he dies there."
"Yes, my Lord."
"Remember, you must ensure it."
Divine Will’s tone grew heavier, emphasizing every word. "I will not permit a second failure. Do you understand?"
"...Yes. I understand."
Once Divine Will’s presence receded, the majesty in the maid’s hollow eyes vanished. She blinked, seemingly failing to grasp the current situation, and then her entire body began to age rapidly.
Before the maid could even scream, she had aged so much she couldn't even speak; her lips merely moved in a dazed flutter.
Puchi.
Zagu drove his spear through her heart, granting her a swift end.
"Must ensure... How long has it been since Lord Divine Will personally gave me such a solemn order?"
Zagu looked down, staring at the thick mist churning under the faint glow of blood.
"Does even Lord Divine Will feel fear? What is he afraid of? What exactly... is down there?"
*
"Muen Campbell, do you take this woman to be your wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and in sorrow, to love her forever?"
"I do."
"And you, Ariel Bugard, do you take this man to be your wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer... to love him forever?"
"I do... LIKE HELL I DO!!"
Ariel snapped awake.
This terrifying nightmare had nearly caused her heart to stop. Her eyes went wide, staring blankly at the pitch-black ceiling above her. It took her a good while to regain her senses.
Fortunately, the real world wasn't nearly as frightening. An orange campfire flickered nearby, radiating a warmth like early spring. Ariel turned her head with difficulty, and through the bright firelight, she saw a beautiful face—one lovely enough to soothe all her fears.
Miss Muse is still here. Thank goodness...
Dammit, why would I have such a horrible dream?
Marrying Muen Campbell... what kind of brain-dead, degenerate author would write such a clichéd, trashy story?
No, it was more like something that was fundamentally impossible. She would sooner marry a pig than marry Muen Campbell!
Though, the Panini cake in the dream had been quite delicious. That wonderful texture had felt no different from the real thing.
"Are you awake?"
"Mm... Where are we now?"
Ariel braced herself against the ground and struggled to sit up. The texture beneath her palms was incredibly soft; the blanket spread under her was clearly of high value.
"Where... let me think. We should be very, very deep underground."
Miss Muse sighed. Even the way she sighed was so beautiful that Ariel couldn't help but be mesmerized.
"Underground?"
Ariel looked around, suddenly remembering their current predicament. She grew tense instantly. "Wait... I remember we were being hunted. Where are the enemies?"
"Don't worry. The enemies won't be catching up for the time being."
"Did you, Miss Muse..."
"Don't overthink it. I simply managed to lose them for a while."
"I see..."
To be able to lose those enemies, Miss Muse was even more incredible than she had imagined.
"But speaking of which..."
Ariel looked down at herself.
It was only then she realized that she was currently wrapped in bandages from head to toe, looking like a zombie out of a ghost story.
No wonder her injuries were healing so quickly. Had her wounds already been treated?
Strange, she didn't remember learning any magic that could treat her own injuries. Although the bandaging technique seemed a bit amateurish, it was clearly done with great care. Even some of her more private areas were...
Wait, hold on.
She didn't know that kind of strange magic, and there were only two people here: herself and Miss Muse...
Which meant...
"Mi... Miss Muse."
Ariel shifted her body slightly, her cheeks flushing a faint red as she spoke shyly.
"Was it you... who treated me?"