< 135. Lonely Island in the Mist >
*
Damn rain was falling again from the damn clouds. Once, sudden rain was like a blessing from the gods for all wanderers crossing the Great Wilderness. But now, it felt more like a curse.
A Beastman warrior, poking at a pile of dirt with his spear, cursed and scratched his head. It had been raining non-stop for a month in the Great Wilderness. This was anything but natural.
True to the Beastmen’s sensitivity to superstitions and curses, the warrior let the rainwater pool in his mouth before spitting it out, hoping the eerie curse of this rain would pass him by.
Grumbling, the warrior began preparing to return to camp. If the rain got worse and turned the path into mud, he knew his mood would be ruined.
Though, everywhere was already a muddy mess. Whatever.
– Rustle.
At that moment, the warrior’s ears perked up. With a mix of panic and fear, he turned his head toward the source of the sound.
‘All the wraiths in this area suddenly disappeared…’
It had been a month since the Chieftain ordered them to search near Ptaha. Around the same time, the rain started pouring across the Great Wilderness. The City of Wraiths that once occupied the area near Ptaha had vanished as if swallowed by the earth, leaving behind only ancient trinkets and broken pottery.
But then, the sound came again.
– Rustle, rustle.
“Who’s there?!”
The warrior growled, his eyes narrowing. The sound was hard to pinpoint amidst the rain. Fortunately, he soon didn’t need to. Far off, in the middle of the wasteland’s dirt pile—
– Rustle!
A hand burst out. The warrior immediately threw his spear and ran.
*
Nose, mouth, ears. His eyes were closed, but his limbs were filled with dirt. Fernandez shuddered, struggling to breathe.
– Oh, it’s almost time. I saw it.
‘That’s really helpful, Faijashi. How about trying to help instead?’
– Haha!
Even in the disorienting situation, Fernandez managed to stretch out his arm. The heavy, wet mud pressed down on his body.
An ordinary person would’ve been dead by now. But to kill Diemonica with just a burial, the situation would need to be even more ‘extreme.’
– Drip, drip…
The sound of rain shaking the earth echoed from afar. He was almost there. Fernandez carefully breathed, avoiding swallowing dirt, and pushed his arm out with all his might.
– Rustle!
The dirt pile scattered as cold rainwater touched his arm. Outside! Fernandez felt a surge of energy. He quickly stretched his arm and kicked his legs to push himself up.
– Splash! Whoosh!
“Ha, haha!”
With his lower half still buried in the dirt, Fernandez stretched his arms toward the sky and laughed. The heavy rain blurred his vision, and his body was exhausted from the ordeal. But the air, the air of the Material World, filled his lungs.
“Cough! Ugh! Hahaha!!”
Spitting out the mud in his mouth, Fernandez laughed like a madman. Wiping the rainwater from his face and hair, he burst into laughter for a long time.
– What’s so funny? Surviving?
“Idiot! Hahaha! Isn’t it exciting that there’s still a chance!”
The possibility that the world could still be saved. That meant there was still a place for his own salvation, a final chance even in moments when he had given up on life.
That’s why Fernandez laughed. At the moment when the Soul Realm collapsed and the earth crumbled beneath him, he had instinctively felt he wouldn’t survive.
If the contract with Vaitas, sealed by the Stigma on his body, was his guarantee of immortality, Fernandez had given it up, losing that chance. All he had left was his battered body.
‘It’s always been like this.’
This life had been particularly rough. When had he ever fought with extra lives to spare? There had never been an easy struggle, not even for a moment. This was his everyday, and he always managed to survive.
– Whoosh…
Fernandez laughed as he looked at the rain soaking his body and the small sprout emerging from the dirt pile. It meant the terrible curse that had covered the Great Wilderness was finally coming to an end.
*
How long had he walked? Fernandez trudged through the pouring rain. The wilderness night was harsh. If he didn’t warm his rain-soaked body, hypothermia would be a serious threat.
“Is this the Ptaha region?”
– Last time I checked, it was.
Fernandez blew on his hands to warm them as he walked. His graying hair, wet from the rain, clung to his face. Then, he heard movement in the distance.
“That’s him!!”
A group of Beastman warriors was rushing toward him. Fernandez swept his hair back and watched them. Slowly, he reached for the hilt of his sword and took a stance.
“I saw it! This guy burst out of the ground! He couldn’t have gone far!”
“Well done. Who are you, stranger? You don’t look like a wraith, so why are you here?”
A Beastman on horseback growled down at him.
“Is this near Ptaha?”
“You don’t even know where you’re standing?”
“Unfortunately not. If there’s a town or city nearby, could you guide me? I’m lost.”
“We’re not foolish enough to guide a mysterious stranger who emerged from the ground to our village. Capture him!”
The mounted warrior raised his spear and shouted. The Beastmen rushed to grab Fernandez’s arms. Fernandez gripped his sword hilt, took a step back, and glared at the warriors.
“Are you part of the Federation of Beastmen Nobles?”
“What if we are?”
“I’ll come quietly. As a guest. I have no desire to make enemies with the warriors of the Federation. I know someone there.”
“…Hmm.”
The warrior seemed puzzled. Normally, if someone didn’t draw their sword first in such a situation, it meant they had no hostile intentions.
He will. But is it okay to bring an unknown person into the camp? Even though it’s a truce now, this area was like a powder keg.
“Captain, how about we take him?”
“Hmm?”
“Didn’t the Chieftain say something? The Great Prophet too. Or maybe we could just let him go like we did back then?”
“The guy the Chieftain mentioned and this guy look too different.”
Fernandez glanced at the whispering warriors and twitched his fingers. Though not in perfect condition, Diemonica’s body was still functioning normally.
He didn’t want to, but if it came to it, he could fight. The last thing he remembered was the Beastman Warriors being on edge due to the civil war and desertions, and it was impossible to know when things might explode.
“Step aside.”
Then, a cold, sharp voice came from afar. At the same time, the Beastman Warriors flinched and hurriedly dismounted, prostrating themselves.
It was a familiar voice. Fernandez brushed his rain-soaked hair aside and looked at the figure approaching from the distance.
In the thick mist of the wasteland, a pair of turquoise eyes glowed.
-Thud.
The sound of something heavy stepping on the ground echoed. The silhouette grew larger. The Beastman Warriors cleared the way and bowed their heads silently.
-Kirhas…?
Faijashi’s suppressed groan was heard. A massive pressure and the ferocity of a chained beast emanated from beyond the fog. Soon, her figure became visible as she drew closer.
Despite the overcast sky, a golden mask shone brilliantly on her head like a crown, and a black cloak glistened with rainwater as she looked down at him. It was the face he remembered, but not the eyes.
Cold, sharp, and fierce—the eyes of a predator. Kirhas’s turquoise eyes briefly touched Fernandez’s hair before scanning his entire body.
“You were right, Kadán. Ah, yes. I’ll praise you. Don’t chatter.”
Her voice was as cold as a finely honed blade. Kirhas lazily gestured to the warrior prostrating beside her.
“Light it.”
“Yes, Chieftain.”
The warrior, kneeling in perfect submission, lit the pipe in Kirhas’s hand and quickly raised a shield to block the wind. A deep breath followed, and cigarette smoke wafted from beneath.
“Chieftain, what should we do with him…?”
“Bring him.”
“Yes! What are you waiting for? Grab him!”
The warriors lunged toward Fernandez. Fernandez, in his confusion, wondered whether to defend himself or let them capture him.
‘What’s going on?’
-The undefeated Kirhas Hearttaker? How is she here at this time?
‘Don’t tell me this is also a dream.’
-That’s a plausible hypothesis. Quite rational.
The warriors surrounded Fernandez, who stood frozen in bewilderment. Then, from behind them, Kirhas urgently shouted.
“Careful!”
“…Huh?”
“Uh… um. Ugh… Don’t hurt him. He’s my guest.”
Kirhas quickly turned and mounted her horse. The warriors exchanged glances before guiding Fernandez to the saddle and setting off.
Fernandez remained in a daze as the entire situation unfolded.
*
He kept watching Kirhas until they reached the camp, but she showed no interest in him. She only occasionally twitched her ears at the falling rain or refilled her pipe with fresh tobacco leaves.
As soon as they arrived at the camp, she disappeared somewhere, and the flustered warriors led him into a clean tent.
“Rest here. If you were the Chieftain’s guest, you should’ve said so earlier. Geez…”
The warrior grumbled and left. Warming his hands by the campfire in the center of the tent, Fernandez sank into thought.
‘That aura, that presence. It was definitely the undefeated one. Did we somehow skip through time…?’
-That’s one possible hypothesis… Look behind you!
Before Faijashi could finish, Fernandez quickly grabbed the sword at his feet and drew the hilt. The almost silent approach sent shivers down his spine. Without even fully drawing the blade, Fernandez swung the greatsword backward.
-Clang!!
The rough impact caused the greatsword to rebound, shattering the old scabbard. Amid the flying fragments, Fernandez steadied himself and turned around.
-Clang! Crack!
Unable to fully prepare for the relentless assault, Fernandez stumbled backward. Perhaps it was from being drenched in the rain for too long. His body, not fully recovered from the battle with Mumto, didn’t respond as he wished.
-Clang!
The enemy’s attack came half a beat faster, breaking his guard. Fernandez tried to regain control of the rebounding sword, but the attacker swiftly closed in and grabbed the back of his neck.
“Kgh?!”
A sudden ambush on his hardened, immortal body. He couldn’t die like this! Fernandez gritted his teeth and tried to strike back. But then, his body floated and fell onto the bed.
“Ugh!!”
“Haa…”
The intruder’s breath carried the pungent smell of tobacco. Fernandez’s eyes widened in shock. At that moment, smooth black hair cascaded like a canopy around him. The intruder, now on top of him, pressed her lips against his!
“Your Excellency…”
Cold, slender, trembling fingers caressed Fernandez’s hair. Dazed, Fernandez watched as Kirhas pulled away, her lips parting from his.
She pressed down firmly on his shoulders and let out a small sigh. Her slender calves wrapped tightly around his waist.
“Stay still.”
“Kirhas. What is this…?”
“Just stay still for a moment.”
Once again, Kirhas covered his lips. Her turquoise eyes, wet with moisture, glared at him. The sharp gaze of a wounded cat.
After a short, intense kiss, Kirhas pulled back and licked her lips slightly. Fernandez looked at her, now straddling his waist.
Her fingers slowly stroked his hair.
“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“I had a lot to say. Did you too?”
“Quite a few things.”
“Then I’ll buy your time, Your Excellency.”
-Swish!
Kirhas swiftly drew a dagger and threw it toward the candle. The candles in the tent were extinguished, leaving only the yellow campfire burning in the center.
The crackling of the campfire shook the silence that had settled over the tent. The heavy rain pounded on the tent’s roof, drowning out any outside noise.
It felt like an isolated island in the mist. As if only he and she remained in this camp.
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