Chapter 69 : Coincidence or Inevitability

In the end, even after my night watch ended, I stayed up all night with my eyes open, scanning the Anonymous Bulletin Board.

For me, who had been faithful to self-control in my own way until now, it was a rather unprecedented event.

‘Internet addiction in this unfamiliar and strange world…….’

It was a story that no one would even be able to laugh at if they heard it.

“Are you okay?”

“Hm? Why?”

“You look tired.”

As expected of Alicia, as soon as morning broke, she recognized my condition like a ghost.

Although I was pretending not to be, the haggardness showing on my face seemed to be unavoidable.

“I’m fine. I just tossed and turned a bit.”

In any case, with my current fleshly body, it did not matter much if I did not sleep for a day or so.

Because Haima's Pendant, the Orb of Water, and the physical support effect given by the demonic energy forcibly granted vitality to my body.

“Are you really okay? It would be better to rest a little more before we go……”

“There’s no time. We have to leave right away.”

“……Tell me if it’s hard.”

“Don’t worry.”

I could not afford to be lax in a situation where I did not even know what Edric’s situation was.

The journey continued.

* * *

Amidst the continuing journey, the surrounding scenery gradually changed from blue to white.

It meant that we had entered the permafrost zone, which was like a symbol of the northern zone.

“The scenery from here is a bit familiar.”

“I agree.”

The distance to our destination had gotten closer, but unfortunately, the journey was still not easy.

As we already knew, it was because the northern land itself was just that harsh.

“Ugh…… it’s damn cold. Was the north always this cold?”

“This is warm. Have you already forgotten what the Winter Castle weather was like?”

“Dammit.”

Conlan and Albino grumbled.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

It was not just something I said; thanks to always carrying the Fang of Blazing Fire, I was relatively free from the northern cold snap.

Rather, from my perspective, should I say it was better that bugs like mosquitoes were no longer seen after entering the northern zone?

“……Come to think of it, it seems to be especially warm around you, Vell?”

“It is, somewhat.”

“Hmm……”

Alicia seemed to think something was strange, but soon shook her head.

It seemed she regarded it as just a feeling.

Was this long, long journey finally showing its end?

Amidst the raging snowstorm, the familiar shape of the castle finally began to be revealed.

The Winter Castle, Kreutz.

In a way, we had finally returned to a place we could call home.

“It’s the Winter Castle.”

“Ugh…… is it finally home.”

“Haha, seeing you say such a thing now, you’ve become a complete Winter Castle soldier.”

Albino’s expression crumpled in a heap, as if he had only just realized what slip of the tongue he had made.

“Shut up.”

“Getting embarrassed. Isn’t it about time you admit it?”

Albino did not answer.

I did not know if it was because he was really embarrassed, as Conlan said, or if it was for some other reason.

And…….

As soon as we reached the south gate of Kreutz, the Guard Team Leader acknowledged me.

“Vell! It’s you. How long has it been?”

“It’s been a while, Guard Team Leader.”

“Hm? Sir Edric?”

“He said he had separate business to attend to, so only we have returned for now.”

“Is that so? Well, Sir Edric does tend to do that often.”

As if Edric's eccentricities were not a matter of just a day or two, the Guard Team Leader did not question Edric's failure to return much.

Should I call this a good thing…….

“Then, may we go in now?”

“Ah, I’ve held up a tired person for too long. Go on in. You’ve really been through a lot.”

After passing through the gate like that, we headed to the barracks after a long time.

“I can finally wash after a long time. I feel like I'm going to die from itchiness.”

“I agree.”

Conlan and Albino entered the barracks, competing with each other, and Alicia looked at me and spoke.

“Aren't you going to wash?”

“I’ll go in a little bit.”

“Then I’ll go first.”

Although she did not say it, it seemed Alicia, too, was anxious to wash quickly.

The journey from Bernhard to Kreutz was just that arduous and long.

‘By the way…… do I not need to report Edric’s failure to return separately?’

The reason I was worrying about this part was simple.

The 4th Special Task Force is operated differently from other existing units, and thus, the 4th Special Task Force functions independently without belonging to a specific unit.

In short, just as they do not belong to a unit, I could not know who Edric’s direct supervisor was, so even if I wanted to report, I did not know to whom I should do it.

‘Considering the characteristics of a unit called a special task force, it’s possible they are an armed force directly under the Lord of the castle.’

If so, reporting Edric’s failure to return would not be easy.

Because it was impossible for a mere soldier to meet the Lord of the castle, even if he belonged to the special task force.

‘Well, it’ll work out somehow.’

In any case, I had told the Guard Team Leader the fact of Edric’s failure to return, so if anyone was looking for Edric, they would be able to find out through the Guard Team Leader.

So…… for now, I just want to rest a bit.

* * *

About a week had already passed since we returned to the Winter Castle.

I thought it would work out somehow as time passed, but even though a not-short amount of time had passed, the 4th Special Task Force Captain Edric still had not returned.

Thanks to that, we had spent a daily life that was comfortable, if you could call it that, but when there was no news for over a week, a strange atmosphere slowly began to drift.

“Isn’t that fellow really dead?”

“Don’t say such unlucky things. Why would that monster-like fellow die?”

I, too, did not think Edric would have died so vainly, but that was, in the end, just a personal belief.

If Edric continued to not show himself, there was bound to be a change in the 4th Special Task Force as well.

‘Seeing that no separate measures have been handed down within the 4th Special Task Force yet, it seems the superiors are also judging that Edric will return, but…….’

I wonder how long that time limit will be?

“But what happens if the captain doesn’t return like this? Does another captain come?”

“They might select a new captain internally from within the 4th Special Task Force.”

“Hm? Someone who's suitable……”

Naturally, Conlan’s and Albino’s gazes turned toward me.

“That won't happen.”

“Why? Because you're a prisoner? Wouldn't a mage of your level be sufficient?”

“No. Regardless of that, the captain will return.”

Albino spoke.

“How can you be certain?”

“It’s not certainty, I’m believing.”

Albino made an expression as if it was absurd.

“A mage of your level has such a groundless belief?”

“Is it wrong?”

“It’s not that, but…… to be honest, it’s a bit unexpected.”

“And it’s not groundless.”

I do not know why Edric suddenly left the party.

I also do not know what is happening to Edric right now.

However, I know just one thing.

“Does that fellow look like a man who would die that easily?”

Bad luck is also luck.

And Edric is a man who, as far as I know, harbors enormous bad luck.

To the extent that it is amazing he has survived until now.

At those words, Albino’s eyes widened for a moment, and then he smiled faintly.

“That…… that's also true.”

Albino added.

“He's not a fellow who would die easily.”

* * *

“He has no intention of dying easily.”

Demian thought that the man before his eyes was truly tough.

In particular, the spiderwebs that were beginning to spread from the man's surroundings right now were just like that.

Ssst, sss...

Spiderwebs spread in all directions.

Just how many times had he cut and burned those dreadful spiderwebs.

Tens, hundreds of times? No, maybe…….

‘I do not know.’

Demian shook his head.

Although several days had already passed since this fight began, the spiderwebs endlessly tightened toward Demian.

‘It is unpleasant, as expected. But…… was the Queen's Magic this strong?’

He had expected it, but facing the Queen's Magic was, as expected, unpleasant to no end.

The spiderwebs that constantly tightened from the blind spot of perception did not allow Demian even a little carelessness.

The moment of carelessness was precisely death.

If Demian had not known about the Queen's Magic, the match would have already been decided, but Demian had experience facing this magic long ago.

Although a difference existed between the Queen's Magic in Demian's memory and the Queen's Magic unfolding before his eyes right now, the fact that he knew about it was important.

A fight between mages is a meticulous battle of wits and information warfare.

Demian, who was already one step ahead in that aspect, was able to slowly gain an advantage against Edric, albeit little by little.

“Hoo, hoo……!”

Nevertheless, Edric did not give up and gripped his sword tightly.

‘……I feel like I've fallen into a swamp.’

As expected, Demian was a formidable enemy.

To the extent that Edric was having a hard fight, even after bringing out the magic he had hidden and hidden from the beginning.

Can I win this fight?

In his honest heart, Edric was quite negative about that possibility.

However, despite that, he had not the slightest thought of giving up.

“Let’s continue.”

Watching Edric, who was gasping for breath, Demian felt that the end was slowly approaching.

No matter how much Edric was a superhuman who had reached the limits of a human, in the end, he was human.

The very fact that a human had continued such a fierce fight for several days without drinking a single drop of water was already an amazing feat.

‘But that, too, ends here.’

The instant Edric’s fingertips blurred for a moment, Demian ignored the spiderwebs tightening around him for once and dug in toward Edric.

He was aiming for the gap where Edric, while relying on the spiderwebs, was briefly unable to defend.

‘Caught him.’

Demian's hand swung, and a thin line of blood was drawn on Edric's chest.

Pshk!

Immediately after, blood spurted from Edric's chest along the line of blood.

“Kuk!”

Edric urgently tried to stop the bleeding, but for some reason, the bleeding did not stop easily.

As if a curse of some kind was embedded in the attack just a moment ago.

Watching that, Demian spoke lowly.

“It is the end. As expected, it was an unpleasant fight.”

“……Keol-leok! If you knew that, how about you slowly back off?”

“That is also quite an attractive option, but…… leaving you alive like this seems like it would be quite a burden.”

Demian raised his hand.

Edric, too, did not lose the light in his eyes, even in the situation where a stream of blood was flowing from his chest.

“This will be the conclusion. It was splendid, Servant of the Queen.”

“Servant……. Haha, is that how it looked? Well, it's not unreasonable to misunderstand.”

Demian’s expression was colored with puzzlement.

“What does that mean?”

“If you want to hear something from me, isn't it courtesy to properly introduce yourself first?”

“Indeed.”

Demian laughed lowly.

He had no such intention until just a little while ago, but Demian decided to acknowledge the man before his eyes.

It was a very unprecedented event.

“I am Demian, the Troupe's Percussion.”

“Percussion……. I see, is that so.”

Edric also laughed lowly and spoke.

“Winter Castle Kreutz, 4th Special Task Force Captain Edric.”

“Are you saying you will die as a soldier?”

“I made a promise with my benefactor.”

“That, too, is splendid.”

Although it was not the answer Demian had wanted to hear, Demian decided to acknowledge that as well.

“Then, let’s settle this.”

“Come at me anytime.”

An unusual current began to flow between Demian and Edric.

Kururururu---!!!

The energy waves the two men raised shook the axis of the earth.