CHAPTER 138……………………………………
“Ugh… my back.”
Creak, creak.
Maybe I’ve been living too comfortably lately.
I used to sleep in inns like it was nothing, but today it felt unusually hard.
On top of that, even the slightest movement made the bed squeak loudly, so I couldn’t shift positions freely.
‘If I’m not careful, I’ll wake the kid.’
Eventually, I couldn’t hold back and opened my eyes.
Sunlight poured in through the inn window, which had no curtains.
Rubbing my eyes, I glanced at Piace, who was still sound asleep.
She had looked anxious all the way here, but playing with the spirits seemed to have calmed her down.
Now, she was sleeping peacefully, smiling gently.
- Rian, you’re awake?
“Mm.”
The spirits, who had been sprawled out, shuffled to sit up.
They all looked exhausted, like office workers after overtime.
Considering everything that happened yesterday, plus staying up early to play with Piace, it was no wonder.
- Rian, I couldn’t ask earlier because you were asleep… what exactly happened?
“While I wasn’t around, the First Prince searched the mansion. That’s when he discovered the demon summoning circle in the laboratory, just like that.”
- What?! I told you! We should’ve set up a barrier!
“Nothing happened until now. I thought postponing it for a day wouldn’t matter.”
The spirits, fooled by my casual lie, began blaming themselves.
- It’s not Rian’s fault. It’s ours. We were too careless.
- Ugh, damn it! We should have handled it ourselves instead of leaving it to the contractor! Right, Gnome?
- (nods)
‘If I told them I postponed it on purpose… they’d flip out.’
I ignored the prickling conscience and looked away.
- But Rian, why did you say things like you were going to perform a soul-transfer on Piace?
- Exactly. That comment made humans much more hostile.
- Just wait. They’re going to chase us tooth and nail.
It was a problem that everyone would eventually find out about anyway. That was the ending the cursed author had set.
But I didn’t want to just sit and wait for the ending.
Until now, the cursed author had dragged me along, but this time, I’d take control of the finale myself.
The Raven Week was the perfect opportunity.
A chance to reveal all the details and cause events without interruption.
The cursed author would have no choice but to end this miserable childcare story—I’d caused all the chaos myself.
“Don’t villains always babble at the last moment?”
- Why are you the villain!
- How can you say that? The villain is Adrian, not Rian.
“People see me as Adrian.”
- Damn, just admit it if it comes to that. You’re Adela, inhabiting that damn body. Right, Gnome?
- …….
I couldn’t help but snicker.
If I announced I was Adela, I’d just switch from being a Dark Sorcerer to a crazy Dark Sorcerer.
Even if people believed me, it would be a problem.
Revealing myself meant I wouldn’t return to the real world.
- So what’s the plan? You have one, right?
“I’m going to Arosia Island. We’ll wait there.”
- Wait for what?
“People. I’ll let Piace kill me in front of everyone.”
The spirits gaped at me.
After a brief pause, Undine snapped her fingers in amazement.
- Ohhh! So you’re faking your death to escape? Then living somewhere remote, hiding your identity! Maybe even hiding your face! Oh my! My heart’s racing!
- That’s a good plan. Since the world knows you’re a Dark Sorcerer, you need to disappear. The dead are forgotten.
- Perfect for a fresh start. The contractor’s finally using her brain a bit? Right, Gnome?
- (nods)
The spirits’ mood brightened. They were sure I’d fake my death and go into hiding.
- But where’s that Demon King guy? I thought he’d follow us. Why isn’t he here?
“Piace is too sensitive to magic. He’s probably following from somewhere.”
- Oh my, this trip feels so promising!
I didn’t answer and got up, roughly brushing my hair.
Looking at my dress, it was in terrible shape.
The side was ripped badly, wrinkled all over—unbearable to look at.
“I’ll step out for a bit. I need to buy clothes, food, and find a carriage. Gnome and Salamander, stay with Piace.”
- Don’t dawdle. If the kid cries, we’re doomed.
- (nods)
“Do you have a cloak I can get?”
The innkeeper glanced me up and down and clicked his tongue.
“You need to cover up something. I have a cloak a guest left behind. Will that do?”
“Please.”
He brought out a dusty cloak and shook it clean.
It smelled of sweat—probably a knight’s.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
Pulling it over me, I was hidden completely from head to toe.
The innkeeper asked while I brushed off the remaining dust,
“Is the child okay?”
“Much better. By the way, do you have any food suitable for her?”
“I can make a simple stew. With some bread, it should be enough for the child.”
“Then please. And where can I rent a carriage?”
“There are no nobles here, only a small town, so only a cargo cart would be available.”
“No choice. Riding would be too hard for her.”
“Take care of your errands. I’ll prepare the carriage.”
“Could I swap the horse for the white one I rode yesterday?”
“That’s easy enough.”
“The cost…”
“Forget it. The earrings you gave yesterday were quite valuable. Anything more would be robbery.”
“Thank you. How long to Arosia Island?”
The innkeeper pointed to distant mountains beyond the window.
“Cross that mountain, then take a boat at the sea. Should take about two days.”
“Will it take long to cross the mountain?”
“You’re taking a carriage, right? If you leave now, you can be across before midnight.”
“One more favor. If anyone asks, tell them you haven’t seen me.”
“That’s easy. But you should change your dress. Even wrinkled, it looks too expensive.”
“I was planning to buy new clothes anyway.”
“Go left from here, you’ll find a small market. Buy something suitable there.”
I thanked the innkeeper and headed to the market.
‘By now, the Royal Knights must be scouring the city for me.’
Leonhart, who had unknowingly gotten engaged while thinking I was Adrian, couldn’t interfere.
‘Zikrit will lead the knights.’
By sending me to the guillotine, he could completely control Leonhart.
Eventually, though, they would find me.
If I were caught before everything was ready, it would all be wasted.
So I entered this small town. Few would recognize me here.
As expected, no one did. Even the innkeeper hadn’t thought I was a runaway noble’s mistress.
But to make travel money, I had to sell rings and bracelets. The town was so small, there was no jeweler.
I ended up selling a ring cheaply at a general store at the market entrance.
Thinking of its value made my hands shake, but there was no other way.
‘At least I have money now. That’s a relief.’
[Ah, what a waste… King’s warehouse is full of gems and gold, why bother buying and struggling?]
[Undine, calm down. Rian said she doesn’t like it.]
Ignoring telepathy, I began serious shopping.
I bought bags for our luggage, men’s clothes, and children’s clothes. Two sets each.
Then boots, children’s shoes, dye herbs, and lunch for the mountain crossing. Half my money was gone.
I counted the remaining coins gloomily and returned to the inn.
“You’re back?”
“Yes.”
“Food is ready… will you eat downstairs?”
“Please. We’ll eat in the room.”
“Wait a moment.”
The innkeeper brought the food on a wooden tray.
Steaming stew and golden-brown bread filled the air with a savory aroma.
“Thank you. I’ll eat well.”
I greeted him and went up to the room.
Piace, sitting on the bed watching Salamander’s fire show, turned her head sharply.
Luckily, she didn’t seem startled by my absence.
“Mom!”
“Piace, awake?”
“Yes! Wow, smells so good… Mom, are you going to eat that?”
“Yes. After this, we’ll dye our hair.”
“Dye our hair?”
“Piace, you know we can’t be recognized, right?”
“Yes… I understand.”
Piace didn’t fully grasp the situation, but she knew we were on the run.
“Our hair colors aren’t ordinary, so we’ll dye them. People won’t recognize us if our hair changes.”
“Can I match your color?”
“Yes. We’ll both go black.”
“Great!”
We finished our meal and dyed our hair together.
Rinsing out the dye and looking in the mirror, our matching hair made us look truly like mother and daughter.
Piace’s eyes sparkled with delight.
“Shall we go now?”
Piace held my hand tightly.
“Yes, Mom.”
