Chapter 146
Searching for the stronghold of the Wraiths was something that had been done for a long time.
If there were bugs in your house, it shouldn’t end with killing them whenever they appeared; you had to find their nest and wipe them out completely.
That was why the Emperor had organized several search parties to locate the Wraiths’ stronghold, but every single attempt ended in failure.
They simply could not find them.
However,
“I found it. I accomplished what no one else could!”
Shio had found them.
With a face filled with exhaustion and overwhelming emotion, he spoke to Daphne.
“I seriously… do you have any idea how much I suffered, wandering around outside for almost half a year…? Do I really have to live like this…? No matter what, I’m still a dragon….”
Sniff.
He inhaled sharply through his nose and blew warm breath onto his cold, stiff hands. Watching him, Daphne clicked her tongue before gently patting him on the shoulder.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Daphne continued sincerely.
“Finding the Wraiths’ stronghold before that Emperor bastard truly is an incredible achievement. I always believed in your abilities, but I never imagined you could do this much. Well done, Shio.”
“…!”
Shio’s eyes widened.
Then, with a bewildered expression, he asked,
“Y-You’re praising me this much?”
“You accomplished something worthy of this much praise.”
“My goodness…!”
With tears welling up in his eyes, he looked deeply moved.
It felt as though all the miserable hardship he had endured until now had finally been rewarded, and he was certain he could not possibly be happier than this.
“Lady Daphne!”
“Shio!”
“Lady Daphne!”
“Shio!”
Watching the overwhelmed Shio and Daphne encouraging him, Artson spoke to Teiti.
“Look at that. Judging by how he’s reacting, if Daphne tells him to do something ridiculous, there’s no way he’ll be able to refuse. He’ll just keep getting roped into more work. Don’t you think?”
But Teiti said nothing.
Tilting his head, Artson looked up at him, then froze in shock.
“I’m so jealous…!”
Teiti was glaring at Shio with a face full of genuine fury.
“Only him…! Only he gets doted on like that…! And me…!”
Oh….
Covering his mouth, Artson cautiously took a step back.
“I’ve heard of hostages developing feelings for the criminal who kidnapped them, which makes absolutely no sense… Looks like you’re one of those. You’ve completely lost your mind.”
“Are you calling Lady Daphne the criminal?”
“I mean, that’s pretty much what she is.”
Artson looked at Daphne as he spoke.
Daphne was patting Shio on the shoulder while, from an angle Shio couldn’t see, wearing a wicked grin and quietly chuckling.
“Who would think someone smiling that sinisterly is a good person? Just one look tells you that’s the face of a criminal.”
“Don’t slander Lady Daphne!”
“What are you talking about? You’re so noisy.”
Artson rolled his eyes.
Honestly, he still couldn’t understand it.
Why were they all so obsessed with Daphne?
What was so amazing about her?
Sure, in terms of strength… she had become incredibly powerful.
Yes, Daphne was strong.
But wasn’t that all?
If it was about strength, Shio was strong too, and in terms of ability, that elf wasn’t bad either.
Then why did those two insist on staying by Daphne’s side despite constantly being mistreated, desperately craving her praise?
‘Hmm.’
Feeling strangely stifled inside, Artson let out a dismissive snort.
“Have fun playing house. I couldn’t care less.”
“Do you truly think so?”
“Gah! You scared me!”
Artson shoved away Daphne’s face, which had suddenly appeared behind him, and shouted,
“Would you at least make some noise when you walk around?! You’re sneaking around like a ghost!”
Smiling brightly, Daphne placed a hand on Artson’s shoulder.
It was a fresh, radiant smile beautiful enough to be compared to a flower, yet Artson suddenly felt uneasy.
Ah… whenever she smiled like that, she was definitely plotting something.
As if answering Artson’s thoughts, Daphne beamed and said,
“You’re coming too.”
“Aaaah! I knew you’d say that!”
Artson rolled around on the ground like a child throwing a tantrum.
“Me? Why me? Why do I have to go?!”
“To infiltrate it, of course.”
“I can’t! Everyone already knows I’ve been captured by you people! You’ve got Shio, you’ve got Teiti, and you’ve got plenty of other people too! I’m not going!”
“Ugh, you’re so loud.”
Despite Teiti’s scolding, Artson continued rolling around.
“You took my power away! That’s why I’m weak now! So even if I go, there won’t be much I can do! Right? I’m useless!”
Daphne stared silently at the tantrum-throwing Artson before smiling once again.
“Blue-head.”
“My name is Artson!”
“Now, listen.”
Squatting down in front of the sprawled-out Artson, Daphne continued,
“You said you didn’t know where the Wraiths’ stronghold was.”
“Right. I used the teleportation circle Lani made for me.”
“You also said you couldn’t remember.”
“I remembered that it was cold!”
“If you hadn’t even remembered that, your head would have been rolling across the ground long ago.”
“….”
Startled by the killing intent he sensed for an instant, Artson unconsciously touched his neck.
“So Shio went through all that hardship and found the place, even though you had been there before.”
“Uh… yeah… that’s true.”
“Then what do you think you should do?”
“Me…?”
“He who does not work shall not eat. You’ve done absolutely nothing until now except stuff your face, so isn’t it finally time for you to do your part?”
Looking over Artson’s body, Daphne spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Your body is sturdy, isn’t it?”
“…Huh?”
“It had better be.”
Artson squeezed his eyes tightly shut.
Seriously… creating this disaster had been the biggest mistake of his entire life….
☆☆☆
“Yaaawn.”
Guardian Kenrick lay stretched out on a wide bench, yawning repeatedly.
The sunlight streaming through the leaves, the gentle breeze, and the faint fragrance of flowers…
Everything seemed like the perfect setting for an afternoon nap.
That was why the other Guardians, besides Kenrick, were also taking naps.
After all, training was over, and it was break time, so everyone was resting however they pleased.
“Man, I’m sleepy.”
Not resisting his heavy eyelids, Kenrick yawned again, slowly allowing himself to drift toward sleep.
Whoosh!
But at that moment, a sharp sound cutting through the air by his ear kept him from falling asleep.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
He tried to ignore it,
Whoooosh!
but he couldn’t.
He knew exactly who was making that sound.
“Ughhhh.”
Running a hand through his hair, Kenrick sat up.
Then he looked toward Rache, who was relentlessly swinging his sword in the corner of the training grounds.
“Aren’t you going to take a break?”
Without answering, Rache continued swinging his sword.
Kenrick let out a sigh and walked over.
“Rache. Take a break while you’re at it. You won’t get anywhere just by practicing nonstop.”
Only after Kenrick approached did Rache stop swinging his sword and turn his head.
His flushed face was covered with beads of cold sweat.
“No. I already rested. Plenty.”
“What are you talking about? Everyone knows you’ve been practicing until dawn.”
Placing a hand on top of Rache’s head, Kenrick asked,
“Why are you training so desperately? Did something happen? Did someone say something to you?”
“….”
Recently, something about Rache’s behavior had seemed off.
It was as if he were constantly being chased by something.
It reminded Kenrick of the time when Rache had run away from the Grand Duke’s estate.
Surely…
Kenrick narrowed his eyes.
“Is Daphne bullying you again?”
“No!”
Rache answered hurriedly.
“Daphne didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just… it’s just me.”
“No, I’m asking why.”
“Do I need a reason for wanting to become stronger?”
“What is this? Puberty?”
Sensing that something was definitely wrong, Kenrick muttered as he carefully examined Rache.
His anxious, pale complexion made it obvious that something had happened.
Feeling his drowsiness instantly disappear, Kenrick grabbed Rache by the wrist.
“Tell me. What’s going on?”
“I’m telling you, it’s nothing.”
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll report this to the Chief Guardian.”
“Ugh…!”
Stepping backward, Rache finally frowned and lowered his head.
“The truth is….”
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
