chapter 19
Disciple (3)
“Yeah, I’m here, Master.”
The girl responded to Vissus’ words with an expressionless face.
A stranger in this cabin.
This doesn’t seem like a dream related to Princess Cladia, no matter how you look at it.
To understand what kind of dream he had entered, Vissus rolled his eyes.
A girl dressed like a hunter, with two small horns on top of her head.
And there, a small cabin that seems to be where the two of them live.
I just can’t figure it out.
Where on earth is this?
“Did you do what I asked?”
“Yeah.”
The girl replied quietly.
Clang.
In the next moment, the girl revealed herself in front of Vyseus and swung a dagger at him.
But Vyseus caught the dagger with his hand.
“It’s dangerous to wield a weapon indoors, Bell.”
“Tch.”
The girl, who had her tongue out, put the dagger back into her pocket.
What is this?
Did I see it wrong?
Weren’t they supposed to be teacher and student?
“If you want to kill me, you’re far off.”
“Hmph! Don’t worry, I’ll kill you soon enough!”
What kind of relationship is this?
Vyseus was perplexed by the strange dynamic between the two.
Hoo-ruk
The secretary, Vicius, picked up the teacup that was placed back on the table and took a sip.
“It seems you bought a good material for the dagger.”
“…Aren’t you taking it with you?”
“It’s not an item for me to use. It’s for you to use.”
“For me?”
“Yes. Didn’t you say you wanted to become stronger?”
Vicius stood up from the dining chair.
“You want me to teach you how to handle the dagger?”
“That’s right.”
“…If I teach you, you’ll use it to kill me.”
The girl looked up at Vicius, as if aiming at him.
“Heh. Give it a try if you can. I’m looking forward to it.”
A disciple… trying to kill their master?
But expecting the disciple to try to kill themselves?
I have no idea what’s going on.
Vicius had expected to dream about something related to Cladia, but due to the completely unfamiliar dream, he was confused.
From then on, for several months, the owner of Vicius’ body taught the girl various techniques, including how to handle weapons, how to survive, and techniques that could be used in real combat.
Chaean
Vicius and the girl clashed with their swords.
Thunk.
Viceus kicked the girl’s stomach.
“Gah!”
She flew through the air and hit a tree.
“I told you not to fight honestly. If you do, you’ll die right away.”
Creak.
Viceus saw the girl try to get up but then sit back down, and he lit a cigarette and took it to his mouth.
“Hmph… It’s even more difficult to kill me.”
Months of journeying.
Viceus perceived the long journey like a fast-flowing panorama.
Previous dreams had been short and ended quickly.
But why is this dream so long?
Viceus, vomiting blood, took small doses of medicine while teaching the girl and when she was asleep.
Even Viceus, who knew nothing about medicine, could tell that his body’s lifespan was running out.
Am I going to watch this until she dies?
While the girl lay in bed recovering, Viceus left the cabin and entered the nearby castle.
Through the alleyways, he entered a small door in a secluded place.
Knock knock.
When Viceus knocked on the door, the blindfold above the door opened.
“Who’s there?”
“Here I am.”
“What’s up? V, was it you?”
Thud.
“Why did you come this time?”
The bald Geohan opened the door and greeted V.
“The medicine isn’t working. I came to ask for a stronger one.”
“Ugh, there’s no helping it. Come in. They’re waiting for you.”
V walked through the long corridor and entered a small room at the end.
A mysterious atmosphere filled the room.
Strange items, such as the skulls of small animals, stuffed creatures, and monster secretions, were scattered about, making it an eerie sight.
“V, you’re here.”
The purple-haired beauty greeted V.
“You came to get the medicine?”
“Yeah. The ones I received last time had no effect when I took them.”
“…Sigh. V, do you remember what I told you last time?”
“To stop using magic anymore. That there wasn’t much time left.”
“You used magic.”
“…No, I didn’t.”
“Don’t roll your eyes! You said you only stayed in the hut! Why has your condition deteriorated this much?”
“That’s true.”
“Is it her?”
“….”
“Yep, it’s her. Ugh.”
The witch with purple hair pulled out a cigarette and asked.
“What the hell is she saying! I mean, she’s the one who got caught up in this weird illness in the first place by trying to save her from the devil worshippers’ lair!”
“I need a smoke too.”
Viceus took out a cigarette from his pocket and offered it.
“Cough! Do you want to die from the illness right away?”
“….”
Viceus quietly put the cigarette back in his pocket.
“Ugh, seriously! Just leave her alone! She should be grateful just because you saved her! I mean, before, she was saying she would kill you and all, but she didn’t even know how to be grateful!”
“…What will happen to that guy when I’m gone? He’s already a poor kid who was meant to be a sacrifice for the devil worshippers because of the horn he’s had since birth. If I’m gone, those weirdos will surely try to use or harm him.”
“What does that have to do with you! It’s not even your child! Why are you willing to sacrifice what little life you have left for that woman! Are you trying to act like your younger self again?”
“….”
“Ugh.”
“They say if you sigh a lot, your skin ages faster.”
“Enough! The Great Witch doesn’t age!”
“Despite that, her face seems to be heavily made up…”
Click, click.
“No! I said! Stop! Didn’t I!”
The witch tapped Secretary’s head several times with her wand.
“Sigh. Why am I taking care of this kid?”
“Anyway, I need medicine. I need something to alleviate these symptoms.”
“Why do you need that? Do you have a fight to attend?”
“…….”
“You’re not going to tell me anything again? Seriously. If it weren’t for you!”
aaahhhhh
The witch, who was messing up her own hair, flicked her finger.
Snap
Then a small pocket of space opened in front of her.
The witch took out a small vial from the pocket of space.
“Here.”
Secretary received the vial from the witch.
“This is the strongest medicine that can be made. If you take it, the symptoms of that disease will be completely suppressed.”
“Thank you.”
“But that’s it. This medicine is like a last resort for terminal patients. As I mentioned before, if you want to die gracefully, don’t use magic. Got it?”
“I understand.”
It doesn’t matter.
Just hold on for one more night.
“Ugh. If only you could talk.”
Secretary Biss bid farewell to the witch and left her hideout.
“This will be the last time I see her.”
Two lines of tears flowed down the witch’s cheeks as she stood alone.
“… That bastard.”
* * *
Fassac
Returning to the cabin, Secretary Biss poured the liquid from the vial into her mouth.
Tonight,
the ones aiming for him will come.
Information obtained from a reliable contact from the past.
Secretary Biss tore up the floor and took out her equipment.
Clank.
It’s been a while since I’ve been fully armed like this.
After completing all preparations, Secretary Biss looked at the sleeping girl on the bed and went outside the cabin.
“Silence.”
Secretary Biss closed the cabin door and cast a simple spell on the cabin.
Creak.
Creak.
Leaning against a tree, Secretary Biss waited for a while until she heard the sound of dozens of knights approaching.
“There.”
The blond man at the forefront of the knights called out to the secretaries.
“Are you the owner of this cabin?”
“If so?”
“We are looking for a girl with horns. We already know she’s inside this cabin. Hand her over immediately. If you surrender peacefully, we’ll spare your life.”
Spare your life, they say.
It seems like they haven’t seen someone who keeps their word.
“What if I refuse?”
Sshh
The knights drew their swords.
“If you insist on a handshake.”
Woong
The blades of the knights’ swords glowed.
“Indeed, they must be imperial knights. They all seem to be of a high caliber.”
Even if they are descendants of the Demon King, are they really sending this much force just to capture a small, fragile girl?
This crazy Emperor.
“Attack!”
At the command of the knight at the forefront, the knights rushed forward.
Crunch
“Gak!”
“Snap!”
As they did, enormous thorns sprouted from the ground, piercing through the bodies of the knights.
“This is…!”
Startled by the sight of about ten knights rendered unable to fight, the bewildered knights stepped back.
“Welcome.”
To my domain.
◈ ◈ ◈
Thump
Thump
Thump
“Hmm… what’s this?”
The girl blinked her eyes as she gradually woke up, feeling the continuous vibrations.
“…Master?”