Is it wrong for me to like seeing the villain suffer [34]
Two days later.
After we had made all our preparations, I got into the carriage for Kelston with Arkell.
What surprised me was that the knights accompanying us were much more than I expected.
‘If it were up to Martha, she would definitely have reduced the number of guards, since Arkell would be accompanying me…’
The subordinate standing next to the cavalry commander approached and bowed out of respect to us as he said:
“I am sending to greet you on behalf of the Mademoiselle. She regrets to inform you that she has been unable to accompany you due to her deteriorating health.”
Martha had instructed me to keep the secret, so she abandoned the trip on the pretext of illness.
Since she returned from the capital and worked without rest for a single day, no one doubted when it was said that she collapsed due to exhaustion.
I was wondering what excuse she would make, but it turns out that nothing is more appropriate than faking illness.
“Miss said she has gathered a distinguished group of men to guard you until you return safely.”
She smiled and said cheerfully:
“With Arkle, I don’t feel anxious, but... it has become more reassuring!”
Arkel shook slightly as he stood silent next to me, then he said with a confident face:
“Of course, only I can protect the lady.”
He added seriously:
“But… extra caution doesn’t hurt. That’s what I learned on the battlefields.”
I answered him with a smile:
“Sure, sure.”
As I nodded, I thought that Martha had not unexpectedly reduced the number of guards.
Arkell seemed to share the same idea, as he muttered as if talking to himself:
“I didn’t expect my sister to agree... You did well to follow my advice.”
“Huh?” I frowned.
'When did you give her such advice?'
But Arkell smiled lightly as if the matter was not worth explaining, then he said:
“Let's ride.”
I took his hand and got into the carriage, then he sat opposite me and the subordinate closed the door after bowing again.
The carriage soon set off with the sounds of horseshoes, heading towards Kelston, the land of the living dead.
❖ ❖ ❖
Inside the swaying car.
'If I succeed in this mission, I will undoubtedly gain Martha's trust. Moreover...'
I started fiddling with the oval charm hanging around my neck.
I borrowed it from Huan, a magical tool that records the shape of things with mana… the Imaging Stone!
In other words: a camera.
I searched for days to obtain it, and studied how to use it well.
'Zombieland... naturally I should document it with pictures!'
Suddenly the cart shook slightly, and Arkell slowly opened his eyes, which had been closed.
He saw the talisman in my hand, and the sparkle in his eyes changed.
I said smiling:
“I asked Huan to bring it to me. There are things I would like to leave a record of on this trip.”
But Arkell's features grew even stranger, and he merely said after clearing his throat:
“I see.”
Then he stared at the window and carefully arranged his hair.
I looked at him in astonishment, and he said in a serious tone without changing his expression:
“If something has to be recorded, I like to stay presentable.”
'...Does he think I want to photograph him?'
While what I wanted were pictures of grotesque moving corpses, I couldn't help but tell the truth in front of his face, which seemed to be waiting for something.
He continued, straightening his hair:
“I will do my best so that you can preserve a lot of beauty during this trip.”
I laughed and nodded:
“Haha…yes.”
He then remained busy straightening his collar, muttering from time to time:
“I should have worn another dress.”
❖ ❖ ❖
I don't know how long it had been, but I suddenly woke up from my nap.
Outside the window, the night was falling, and the scenery was engulfed in darkness.
Arkel, who was sitting opposite me, said:
“We have arrived.”
As the cart slowed down, it finally stopped.
The driver opened the door carefully, and Erkel got out first and extended his hand to me.
I grabbed it and went down, and I saw a village a little away from us.
'So that's… Kelstone.'
It was located at the foot of a tall mountain, shrouded in a thick layer of fog.
Behind Arkle, the knight leader murmured, holding a lamp in his hand.
Because it was a village located at the foot of a high mountain, it was covered in a thick layer of gray fog.
The captain of the knights murmured as he stood behind Arkell holding a lamp:
“From the outside it looks like an ordinary village...”
I answered him briefly:
“No, it's not.”
He turned to me with a questioning look, and I continued coldly:
“Look, with all this darkness not a single house is lit. This is not a normal village.”
He swallowed silently and said nervously:
“...Really, you're right.”
Among the ranks of knights behind him, tension appeared on everyone's faces.
'Why not? It's like entering a haunted house.'
Even the wizard who cast protection spells of holy magic on all of us had a tense face.
He wasn't sure how effective those spells were, but he didn't forget to cover Arkle and Bee with them as well.
Then Arkell turned to the knights and said in a firm tone:
“Our goal is to find the wizard who snuck in here. I will go in with my appointees. Leave the horses outside.”
Then he pointed to some of the knights with his fingers, and turned to the commander:
“You stay here waiting. If I don’t return before sunrise, come find us.”
“But… would that be okay?”
Arkell replied coldly:
“Take care of yourselves. If I don’t come back, the entire responsibility will fall on your shoulders. That’s why I kept the largest number with you.”
"...Understood." The leader replied with a stern face.
Then Arkell turned to me and thought for a moment before saying:
“The lady will stay here...”
I quickly interrupted him:
"I'll go with you. Being by your side is safe for me, and you think so too, don't you?"
Arkel was silent, so I looked at him with determination and added:
“And besides… you need me.”
I knew from his look that he understood what I meant: if he had a spell of losing control of magic, no one else would be able to deal with it.
I begged him with my eyes:
“Please, Arkle...”
The moment of silence lasted for a long time, then he turned to the knights he had chosen and said:
“If anything happens, the lady’s safety will be your absolute priority.”
“Your command.” They answered with one voice.
However, he was not reassured, so he ordered six knights to surround me from all sides, until I felt that I could not see the road.
‘This way… I won’t see anything around me!’
I heard Arkel's voice from the front saying:
“I'll come out on top.”
'Finally we're moving.'
I walked slowly into Kelston, behind the knights.
The village looked normal from afar, but...
'There is still one house that has not been set on fire.'
The dense fog increases the dread of the place, as if we are walking through an illusion.
I muttered unconsciously:
“There is no sign of life here.”
The knight walking next to me trembled and whispered in a broken voice:
“For… don’t worry, my lady. Nothing will happen to you as long as the master is with us… There is no need to be afraid at all.”
'It's like he's trying to convince himself!'
As for me, I didn't feel afraid, but it was very exciting.
'It's like I'm in a horror movie!'
A scene from an old movie came to mind in which a bare-chested man appears with a triangular head...
'Silent Hill! What a great movie it was. Suddenly I miss watching it!'
(Silent Hill is originally an amazing horror game series!! I love it so much. It has so many amazing movies!! There is a part of the game that was rated 19+ due to a lot of horror and gore. It was banned in a country whose name I forgot, but I won’t be defeated. I will play it!! I can’t help myself. Horror games are my love, the heroine is my taste, and my lost twin (≧∀≦))
But the knight's trembling voice brought me back to reality:
“You will be fine, my lady. Having the master with you is enough. There is no need to be afraid... ever.”
'He actually talks like he's drugging himself.'
I continued walking, and despite the long road, no living dead, not even a mouse, appeared.
Then I heard a knight in front say:
“We've come a long way...How about we get some rest?”
There was silence for a moment, then Arkell answered:
“Okay.”
We stopped in an empty square with a worn-out fountain in the middle, with a rusty crow statue above it.
There was no trace of water.
Arkel said sternly:
“Rest, but do not neglect the guard.”
The knights sat down tiredly on the edge of the fountain, but they remained alert.
As for Arkell, he remained calm, watching the place with a fixed face.
'Maybe I might as well sit down for a bit...'
I approached, and the knights stepped aside, making room for me.
I thanked them with a nod and sat on the edge.
I felt a great relief when my body calmed down, so I closed my eyes for a moment.
'Maybe I would advise Erkel to rest in turn...'
“Kick…”
But before I could open my eyes, his sharp voice startled me:
“Ma’am!”
He suddenly rushed towards me, put his arm around my shoulders and surrounded me with his body, and then his deep voice rang out, which I had never heard from him before:
“Everyone in fighting mode!”
It wasn't hard to understand what was happening.
'They appeared...'
I tried to move to turn around, but he pulled me closer and said sternly while looking at me with serious eyes:
"No, ma'am. Don't move. Stay close to me... and never leave my side."
*****
When the novel dies, the heroine, my lost twin, is crazy. Hey, I want to turn on the Sony and play Satellite (*'_'*)
My translator friends and I opened a special channel to leak novels, chapter announcements, events, and also requests and promotions...and if I disappear, you will find me there.
Here is the channel link. Take a screenshot and go to Google Lens from it:
https://t.me/+OedqgPvPKXoyZDFk