CHAPTER 75……………………………………………..
Black smoke covered the southern edge of the forest.
The village erupted into commotion.
“[There’s a huge fire below the village!]”
“[What? Why is there suddenly a fire?]”
“[This isn’t an ordinary fire. No matter how much water we pour, it won’t go out!]”
“[What? Did the Sherzan kids play a prank or something?]”
“[We were busy building houses, what are you talking about?]”
While the Sherzan people protested their innocence, the Nuarel side quickly stepped in and summoned water spirits.
“[Let’s put out the fire first!]”
Only after several water spirits poured their energy all at once did the fire finally subside.
The forest, already blackened, filled the air with a choking smoke.
It was fortunate that the Nuarel people were still in the village; otherwise, it could have escalated into a large-scale fire.
Catching her breath, Nuarel’s attendant, Lea, examined the spot where the fire had been and said:
“[This wasn’t a fire caused by spirits. Somehow… it feels similar to the magic Sierra uses.]”
Hearing her significant remark, Nahia asked those nearby:
“[Where is Sierra now?]”
At that moment, someone came running in a panic.
“[Lady Nahia! Two people have been captured!]”
“What? What do you mean by that?”
It was someone who had followed them under Nahia’s orders.
Holding up the sword left behind, they continued:
“[The situation seemed serious. It looks like one of them knows the woman. They shot arrows at Ashur! And then threw a fireball and left.]”
Nahia’s expression twisted with anger.
“What! Where did they go?”
“[They left the Sanctuary, so we couldn’t pursue them any further. I think they’re probably returning to the Altareon Kingdom.]”
“The audacious Altareon bastards! Why on earth did they take Ashur?”
“[We couldn’t understand their words… but it seems they wanted to make sure Sierra didn’t escape.]”
The atmosphere around them grew cold.
Among the gathered people, someone stepped forward.
“[I will bring them back.]”
It was Kadiya, her expression serious.
“[Sierra wouldn’t betray us. She must have been taken against her will.]”
“[Yes, our Sierra wouldn’t do such a thing. I know her well. But…]”
Nahia let out a deep sigh and spoke with a darkened expression.
“[She knows that once she leaves the Sanctuary, she cannot rely on the divine beasts’ help.]”
“[Yes.]”
Rohita and Alnab stood by her side.
“[We’ll go with you as well.]”
Another person came forward belatedly.
It was Barel, slightly disheveled as if he had been tearing at his hair in frustration.
“[If people who know nothing about Altareon try to sneak in, the best they’ll get is imprisonment.]”
Barel swallowed his sigh and continued:
“[So I’ll go with you.]”
The Teranok people looked surprised by the unexpected turn of events, but since they knew he had long harbored feelings for Sierra, they couldn’t bring themselves to stop him.
“[…I entrust this to you. Bring Ashur and Sierra back.]”
Nahia concealed her desperate gaze and barely finished speaking.
A bracelet engraved with flowing patterns was fastened around Sierra’s slender wrist.
It was a powerful magic restraint that she had never seen before.
At first glance, it seemed beautiful, but she shuddered at the suffocating sensation tightening around her entire body.
Sierra was now atop a leisurely walking horse, trapped in Derek’s arms.
“Such a rough dress, something only commoners would wear. Doesn’t it feel uncomfortable? We’ll get proper clothes when we arrive.”
He glanced at the hem of her dress fluttering before his eyes and spoke.
But her reaction was cold.
“Not necessary.”
“…If this keeps up, I’ll have to think about where to hand over that barbarian.”
Derek seemed to have already figured out how to handle Sierra.
“…Hmph.”
“Handing him over to the Magic Tower is probably the most efficient, don’t you think?”
“Don’t.”
Ashur alone in the Magic Tower?
To the wizard-obsessed researchers, a hybrid of kingdom and barbarian blood like him would appear to be the perfect experiment.
“You’re not seriously going to claim you’re lovers with that barbarian, are you?”
“Yes, lovers. What’s it to you? We’re already finished.”
A dry laugh escaped Derek from behind her.
“Ridiculous. Hmph… You can handle him as a slave at least. Though the restraint will be necessary.”
She glanced at Ashur slumped over the horse.
For now, she needed to act cooperatively.
She couldn’t put him in further danger.
“…Fine. Let’s say we played at being lovers out of loneliness. I don’t want things to break, so wrap it up nicely and give it as a gift.”
Sierra straightened her back, speaking with the utmost Altareon noble dignity.
“Hmm. Fine.”
Derek responded obediently.
Sierra, facing forward, could not see his cynical expression.
As they left the southern forest, familiar train tracks appeared.
On them was not the usual long passenger train, but a train bearing the Esteban crest.
In the last carriage, Ashur was confined like cargo along with the horse.
Though his pale face worried her, the shallow rise and fall of his chest assured her he was alive.
The protective magic circle must have helped.
‘Thank goodness.’
Otherwise, the arrow might have taken Ashur’s life, and the thought made her chest tighten.
Sierra looked at him with lingering concern before finally boarding the train under Derek’s escort.
Through the spacious window, the beautiful forest began to recede.
The smoothly moving train made barely a sound.
Though the cabin seemed austere at first, nothing inside was made carelessly.
Luxurious curtains and ceilings engraved with intricate patterns.
A space befitting him.
Calm, elegant, yet without a trace of warmth.
A prim servant placed a teacup on the antique table.
Once the servant withdrew, only the two remained.
Derek casually took out a newspaper as if nothing had happened.
In the suffocating quiet, she decided to probe his intentions.
“A private family train, how extravagant. What if a passenger train passes by?”
“This route isn’t popular anyway, so trains rarely run. You know that, don’t you? You used this line to escape.”
From the first words, Sierra was speechless.
She had expected him to have tracked her, but she hadn’t expected him to say it outright like that.
“…If you knew where I went, why only come now?”
“To reclaim you perfectly.”
A response truly like Derek, who tolerated no flaw.
“So, are you satisfied now?”
“Not yet.”
He set down a teacup engraved with delicate craftsmanship and continued.
“If we can successfully end the war, maybe then.”
War.
The endlessly repeated story.
Sierra spoke with an agitated tone.
“You saw that man earlier. Inside the Sanctuary, there are countless people as strong as, no, much stronger than him!”
Yet Derek’s cold expression didn’t waver.
The coldness beneath his gentle demeanor, unnoticed in her childhood, now felt like a noose around her neck.
“They are not opponents you can conquer easily…”
“So, you will help.”
He said it naturally, turning the page of the newspaper, as if stating the obvious. Sierra was stunned.
“I will not modify the magic circle for attack. Just thinking about it is horrifying.”
“Then what about the one on that barbarian?”
“…It was only meant for protection.”
“Hmm… Protection, eh? That’s good. You could make it offensive in no time. Don’t worry, support will be sufficient.”
Derek maintained his noble, upright posture, speaking without even looking at her.
“Other wizards have already made significant progress. You just need to provide a little help.”
His cold attitude seemed as if they would never communicate normally.
