C833 Continued Translation:
"Is this a marriage proposal? Are you asking me to marry you?"
Merlin jumped for joy, still in the form of a sea otter pup.
"Okay. I'll be with you forever."
Lust also seemed to interpret the trust as a proposal, opening a pink aura and revealing a beauty that seemed to erase the gloom of the night.
"Eh...?"
Raon stepped back and swallowed. He didn't understand why they thought he was proposing marriage when he had only said he trusted them.
"You're an idiot! Telling them you trust them is the first thing you should *never* say to those crazy women!"
Wrath shook his head, shouting that he had sown the seeds of destruction.
*'Still, it's weird that a proposal suddenly arises!'*
"From their perspective, it's natural to take it as a proposal when you tell them you trust them and entrust them with your most important possession. Don't think those crazy women are normal people!"
He pounded his chest in frustration.
"So, is it my fault? Even though I was the one who was harassed?"
"That's right! It's all your fault!"
*'Puaj....'*
He couldn't help but laugh bitterly at hearing that it was his fault for forgiving and trusting those who had harassed him. However, looking into Merlin and Lust's eyes, he clearly felt he had made a mistake.
"Where should we hold the wedding? A small place is enough for me. I don't have any friends to invite."
Merlin smiled brightly when he mentioned he didn't have friends.
"I want to hold it in a grand place. We'll have to turn the whole house into a place to invite all your subordinates and mine."
Lust's pink eyes shone as if she were planning to turn all of Zieghart into a wedding venue.
"Ah, yes, I have animal friends! You know them too!"
Merlin smiled softly and said she could invite her animal friends.
"Ah..."
Raon pressed his lips tightly as he looked at Merlin and Lust's dreamy expressions.
"They're not listening."
The two were lost in their own imaginations and didn't hear anything from the outside. A chill ran down his spine.
"C-calm down. I didn't mean that."
Raon raised both hands to block Merlin and Lust's view.
"Isn't that what you meant? Then what did you mean?"
Merlin spoke in a dry voice, as if a drought had arrived, looking at the Soul Crystal in her hand.
"...Tell us."
Lust also hardened her once warm pink eyes and made him turn his chin.
"Umm..."
Raon let out a long inner sigh at receiving the gazes of Merlin and Lust.
He felt that if he said something wrong, the ship might sink. The tension was even greater than when he fought the Second Apostle.
"Okay. Let's go in reverse."
After mentally rehearsing a mock conversation, he slowly opened his mouth.
"As you know, this Soul Crystal is more valuable to me than my life. It's the only answer to saving my people."
Raon lowered his voice and offered the Soul Crystal to Merlin and Lust.
"And right now, you two are the only ones I can entrust this Soul Crystal to."
He slightly twisted his lips as he looked at Merlin and Lust one by one.
"I was going to entrust you with the Soul Crystal because I trust you, but your response is really disappointing. Seeing you talk about other things instead of discussing how to safely transport it, it seems I misjudged you both."
He shook his head slightly, saying he was truly disappointed.
"No! I'm sorry!"
Merlin immediately bowed her head and apologized.
"I'm sorry. I didn't think that should come first..."
Lust also lowered her eyebrows, saying she had made a mistake.
"Really?"
Raon gave Merlin and Lust a cold look, imitating Wrath's tone.
"Yes! We'll work together to deliver it to Grandpa no matter what!"
Merlin clasped her hands and said she would deliver it to Glenn by any means necessary.
"Trust us."
Lust also pressed her lips, saying she would protect the Soul Crystal no matter who came.
"Okay. I'll trust you once more."
Raon nodded briefly and took out the Soul Crystal again.
"-W-what just happened...?"
Wrath widened his eyes as if he couldn't understand.
"-They were clearly crazy about marriage, but suddenly why...?"
*'I thought they would react like this if I threatened to take away my trust from them, since they loved receiving it.'*
Before, Merlin and Lust had only unilaterally followed him, but for the first time, they received his clear trust. And it was in a situation where he entrusted them with his most important possession. He predicted that they would panic and apologize in this way if they risked losing that value.
«But who do I give it to?»
There was only one Soul Crystal, so he had to give it to one of them. Merlin was more reliable, but Lust was superior in terms of power, so it was a dilemma. Furthermore, giving it to one might disappoint the other, which made his head ache even more.
*'How should I solve this....?'*
As he bit his lip and pondered, Merlin put down the stone she was using to open clams and reached out her hand.
"Give it to me. She has trouble with directions, so it's better if she follows me."
Merlin nodded and said she would take it.
"Umm..."
Lust let out a groan, unable to refute being called directionally challenged.
*'She has trouble with directions?'*
"-I told you! She doesn't know directions, so she's never there when it's important."
*'Ah, right.'*
Now that he thought about it, Wrath had mentioned that Lust had trouble with directions when he first talked about her.
"She's terrible at finding her way. Even when she only needs to go straight, she suddenly goes backward!"
Merlin shook her head and said Lust wouldn't have come this far if it weren't for her.
"N-not that bad..."
Lust only rolled her eyes while making a weak refutation.
"Okay. Then Merlin will take it, and Lust, you protect her from the side."
Raon smiled slightly and handed the Soul Crystal to Merlin.
"And you don't need to consume your souls to transport the Soul Crystal. It's okay if you're slow, just move it carefully."
"Okay!"
"Okay...."
The beautiful eyes of Merlin and Lust shone as if they were moved by his concern.
"Then I'm counting on you."
Raon nodded his head towards Merlin and Lust with his hands clasped in front of him.
"Trust us. And..."
Merlin, who had been smiling sweetly, revealed a chilling look.
"The words you left halfway, we can continue them after all this is over, right?"
She smiled with madness seeping into her expression, as if she had no intention of backing down.
"After delivering the Soul Crystal, I will listen carefully and in detail."
Lust's eyes gleamed coldly as if she was going to kidnap him if he didn't listen, repeating the word "carefully."
"......"
The two looked at each other for a moment before disappearing into the night-soaked sea. *Splash!* Raon swallowed with difficulty as he watched the waves that had splashed up to his eyes.
*'I thought they had forgotten?'*
"-Hehehe!"
Wrath chuckled and said he knew this would happen.
"-How presumptuous! You just postponed it!"
He waved his hand mockingly, telling Raon to solve it well.
*'Why are you laughing?'*
"-Because it's funny..."
"This isn't just my problem, you know? Especially Lust, she's after you, not me."
"-Oh...."
Wrath seemed to realize that he was also involved in this situation, freezing with his chuckling expression intact.
"-W-what are you going to do?! Damn idiot!"
He grabbed his own necklace and shook it, asking why Raon kept causing trouble.
*'Won't future Raon and Wrath solve it?'*
Raon chuckled dryly and said they should think about future matters later.
"-That doesn't make sense!"
Wrath threw punches, telling him to think of a solution right now.
"Somehow it will all be alright. And there's something we need to do first."
Raon turned around as he received Wrath's punches.
"Why didn't you stop them?"
He called out to the person who was hidden in the darkness as he looked at the calm deck.
"Vice Leader?"
As soon as he said "Vice Leader," Rimmer emerged from the shadow cast by the moonlit sail. He had observed the whole situation from the beginning without saying a word. Personally, it was quite unexpected, as Raon thought he would intervene.
"How can a Vice Leader stop the Leader?"
Rimmer shrugged with his characteristic relaxed smile.
"Only ill-mannered brats like you can disobey."
He laughed and said he was just a powerless old man.
"Still, I didn't expect you to just watch as they entrusted Merlin with the Soul Crystal."
Raon lowered his gaze slightly. Although Rimmer usually acted lazy and relaxed, he was quicker to judge than Raon on important matters. It was certainly unexpected that he had seen everything and hadn't said anything.
"I trust you, just like you told those two."
Rimmer simply smiled and said that was all.
"Mmm...."
Raon bit his lip slightly as he looked at Rimmer.
*'It's different.'*
Rimmer used to say he trusted the Light Wind division so often it was tiresome, but lately, his voice conveyed sincerity unlike when Raon was younger.
"I think I've asked you this before, but be honest. You have a terminal illness, don't you?"
"I told you I don't!"
Rimmer pounded his chest forcefully, insisting he was fine.
"-It's true."
Wrath frowned as he looked at Rimmer.
"-Much as I dislike it, that pointy-eared bastard is disgustingly healthy."
He snorted as if annoyed that Rimmer was healthy.
"Then are you thinking of going back to Sepia?"
"Why would I go to that boring place? I've dedicated my body and soul to Zieghart!"
Rimmer waved his hands vigorously, telling Raon not to talk nonsense.
"-Then why have you changed so much?"
"I haven't changed, I've always been like this."
Rimmer shook his head calmly.
"I've been in this state since I came to Zieghart following your grandfather."
"But the Vice Leader I saw was..."
"Yes. The light went out for a while. Partly my fault, partly Zieghart's fault. But I found new firewood to rekindle the flame."
He smiled warmly as he looked at Raon.
"Seeing a new light and hope, and walking with that light, I must return to my original stance."
Rimmer nodded slightly and turned his back, heading towards the crew's quarters.
"-Light? What light?"
Wrath tilted his head as if he didn't understand.
"You're very foolish."
Raon looked at Wrath with a pitiful expression.
"Don't tell me I lack awareness again."
"-D-don't tell me he was talking about you?"
Wrath widened his eyes as if he couldn't believe it.
*'Who else could it be?'*
"-What kind of light and hope is this bastard! It's darkness and despair!"
He shouted that Raon could be called the Demon King of Deception and Despair, and that was putting it mildly.
"-Why can't they see?! This bastard's insides are blacker than a demon's! Dark as a wolf's mouth!"
***
Azure Wind raced day and night to reach the port town where Sif was last seen.
"Lawaine will stay on Azure Wind, and only I, the Light Wind division, and Paras will go."
Alice divided the personnel as soon as they got off the ship, as if she had thought it through beforehand.
"Understood."
Lawaine nodded, apparently thinking it was right for him to protect the ship as this was their second docking.
"Let's go."
Alice bit her nails as she looked at the back of the town, seemingly feeling impatient.
"I'll guide you."
Paras took the initiative, saying he would guide them.
"Why are you saying something so obvious? Hurry up and go!"
Alice patted Paras on the back. Although it seemed like a joke in her usual style, her complexion was dark. It was evident she was suppressing her burning emotions.
"Yes, I'll go as fast as I can."
Paras nodded, biting his lip as if he could sense Alice's emotions.
"You don't have to do that."
Alice shook her head.
"Judging by how they created a space I couldn't find, they're not ordinary people. Safety first, so let's proceed calmly."
Despite worrying about her son, she advised everyone to prioritize their own lives first.
"Then let's proceed calmly."
"Yes."
Raon nodded and entered the port town. As expected of a town that lived off fishing, it wasn't very large, but the faces of the residents were full of vitality and smiles. There was some distrust towards outsiders, but it wasn't particularly serious, as it was a port town. It was literally a normal town.
"Are you sure Sif passed through here?"
"Yes."
Paras turned and nodded.
"Many people saw someone who matched Sif's description. He's very handsome, after all. Although, of course, not as much as you, Raon."
He threw a light joke to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
"You know it well. Our nephew is the best!"
Alice nodded and patted Paras on the shoulder. Her face looked the same as always, but her voice trembled slightly.
"Everything will be alright."
Raon shook his head as he looked at Alice forcing a smile.
"There's no guarantee that the person who shouted was Sif, but even if it was him, they probably won't suddenly kill someone they've kept captive for so long. Surely there will be a chance to save him."
"...Thank you. But this aunt is still too strong to receive your comfort."
Alice patted his head, saying she was grateful for his concern.
"It's okay. Either way it'll be alright."
She moved her lips as if to reassure herself.
«There's really nothing special about this town.»
Being a small port town, there were hardly any martial artists to be seen. It felt like we were seeing a small mountain village within Zieghart's territory.
-That's why it might be good for hiding something.
It seemed like an optimal place to hide treasure or plan something, as it was a place rarely visited by outsiders.
"I just heard it."
Paras approached Alice and lowered his voice slightly.
"They say no one has gone towards the forest or come out of it."
He shook his head and said there was a high possibility that the shamans were still in that dungeon.
"Of course, there's a possibility they went out through another route..."
"It doesn't matter either way."
Alice shook her head and clenched her fist.
"We'll crush them all."
She bit her lip and said that shamans who keep people captive can't be good guys.
"Let's go straight to the dungeon."
Alice said there was no need to stay longer in the village and immediately left the town.
"From now on I'll increase the speed. Follow me well."
As soon as they left the village, Paras turned into a black light and dashed towards the forest. It was a speed that the Light Wind division could barely keep up with. The surprising thing was that this wasn't even his maximum speed. He didn't seem like an ordinary thief.
"There will be no breaks in between. Keep the pace properly."
Alice chased after Paras, enveloped in a colder aura than ever before.
"Like she said, don't fall behind. Alice doesn't have time to take care of us."
"Yes!"
The Light Wind division nodded and followed Alice and Paras with all their might. Raon sent the Light Wind division ahead and moved to the rear to prepare for any unexpected situations. Only after running for more than half a day using footwork techniques did Paras's steps finally stop.
The path had been extremely difficult, and they had encountered many monsters along the way, so ordinary people probably couldn't have come here even if they wanted to.
"This is the place."
Paras pointed to a place where a huge tree and a completely dried-up tree overlapped. Between the shadows of the trees, a strange space opened leading underground.
-How did you find a place like this?
Burren widened his eyes as if he couldn't understand.
-Didn't you do it yourself?
Martha also let out a sigh, saying it was incredible that he had discovered it.
“Finding hidden places was my main job.”
Paras shook his head and said that as a professional, he wasn't limited to robbing ordinary houses.
"And Sif is the motivation of my heart. We spent years of hardship together facing the demon. I wanted to find him at all costs."
He nodded slightly, saying that was all.
"Comrade...."
Runaan nodded as if she understood.
"Let's go in."
Alice let out a short sigh and entered the dungeon first, as if she had no room for jokes.
"...Yes."
Raon nodded forcefully. If it were his usual personality, he would have dominated the shamans who came out and extracted information from them, but seeing Alice's dark expression, he couldn't voice his opinion. He shook his head slightly and entered the shadowy corridor of the dungeon.
It didn't seem to be a dungeon made by his ancestor, as he couldn't see any of the ancestor's memories.
Although it might appear later.
He concentrated his senses as he slowly descended, remembering that he had entered his ancestor's memories after seeing traces of him before. The inside of the dungeon seemed to have a luminous effect, as it was clearly visible despite the lack of light.
-This is a place where mana is distorted. Who did such a thing?
Wrath swiveled his gaze left and right, saying it was strange.
*'You're right.'*
As he said, the flow of mana inside was different from the outside. It seemed as if the mana had solidified.
"Right below..."
While slowly diffusing the perception of her aura as she followed the group, Alice stopped and put a finger to her lips.
"There's someone there."
-
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