Is it wrong for me to like seeing the villain suffer [37]
It seems that my feeling that Irkle was giving Kahn a chillingly cold look was not just a passing illusion.
Kahn said:
“Director Lizzy... I want to watch the final scene too.”
“Would you like that? Then let’s watch it on screen.”
Kahn approached me to look at the viewing stone, and then I felt icy gazes on me from afar.
That was Arkle.
So I said to appease him:
“Do you also want to come and watch with us, Assistant?”
As soon as I said that, Arkal came forward with confident steps and heavy silence, then squeezed his large body between me and Kan.
He said, looking at him in astonishment:
“Hey…”
He was looking at him with a questioning look, ‘What are you doing?’ However, Arkell did not pay any attention to him, and simply stood between us as if he did not feel the cramped space with his huge body, then he continued watching the show from beginning to end without seeming the slightest discomfort.
'Is this really the Arkle I know? The one who seemed as if he would not show any attachment to the world even if it ended tomorrow? Why is he so stubborn all of a sudden?'
His strange behavior distracted me, and I couldn't focus on the scene properly.
As for him, he was very busy, and when the presentation ended, he said in a voice filled with regret:
“I could have done better... if we had filmed again...”
I replied with an encouraging smile:
“Trust me, Kan. From the director’s point of view, this performance is really excellent.”
He said hesitantly:
“So you think... but...”
His voice expressed regret, not so much for the scene itself as for the end of the task he had been busy with after a long period of time.
'That's why I prepared something else for them…'
I pretended to be speaking casually and said:
“Then acting does not improve from just one attempt. In order to become more proficient at it, there is something necessary.”
I intended to leave them a duty to prevent them from returning to the state of inactivity they had been in before my presence.
“What is that?”
“Constant exercise.”
Kan's eyes trembled as he repeated the word:
“Exercise...”
"Of course. Acting can take ten years, or even longer, for a person to master. That means it requires a long investment of time. In this sense, the people of Kelston have a great opportunity for growth. Do you know why?"
Kan's eyes lit up as he muttered:
“Time...we have plenty of time!”
I nodded strongly and said:
“Exactly! So, Kan, what do you think about practicing acting together until the next filming date? Perhaps it would be better if you set up a special hall for training.”
“Great idea... Yes, next time we shoot, we will do much better.”
“Excellent. Rather, I suggest that you lead the rehearsals as the head of the actors... Agree?”
Kan opened his eyes in surprise and shook his head repeatedly:
"I'll take care of them. I'll take care of them and make good actors out of them."
“I trust you. I will send you several theater scripts to help you practice.”
He said stammering, with embarrassment in his voice:
“Thank you...Director.”
This was the first time I heard him say thank you. Then he added, visibly moved:
“I thought no matter what happened, the people of this village... were no longer truly alive. But it seems I was wrong...”
“It was...”
Arkel interrupted him with a dry voice that dissipated the warmth of the moment:
“So... are you determined now to keep your promise?”
Despite Arkell's intensity, Kan was not affected. Rather, he turned to me apologetically and said:
“Right, you had asked me for something… You wanted me to tell you where the intruder was, right?”
أطبقت يديّ معًا وأومأت بقوة.
Kahn said:
“That man...seems to know that we don't care about him, so he walked around the village without fear. Most likely, his shelter is a cave at the foot of Mount Krum. I always saw him coming out of there.”
I exchanged glances with Arkell, who immediately rushed to the crowd of knights.
It's time to realize the real purpose of our coming to Kelston.
❖ ❖ ❖
Inside the cave he showed us was.
As the first time when I entered Kelston, I found myself surrounded by knights on all sides as we walked into the cave.
Arkell, holding a torch in his hand, was leading the ranks.
To my left, one of the knights was muttering in a trembling voice:
“Don’t worry… Nothing will happen as long as Master is with us...”
I didn't know if he was talking to me or trying to make himself feel brave.
'How did he become a knight when he was so cowardly?'
While I was thinking about this, the knight in front suddenly stopped, and Arkell's voice came to us saying:
“This seems to be the place. There are traces of a fire burning here.”
One of the knights said:
“Then let's hide until he comes back...”
But before he could finish his words—
A huge noise resounded in the place!
Everyone gasped in surprise.
As for me, I was the most terrified... as the source of the sound was a man who fell from the roof of the cave to land directly next to me.
'Was he… hanging there the whole time?'
I stared at him in shock, and my eyes met his.
I stared at the man in shock, my mouth wide open.
He had bronze skin and a huge, muscular body no less than Arkell's, and he stared at me intently as if searching for something.
I looked at him nervously and said to myself:
‘Long white hair… and pale golden eyes… yes, he is that magician himself.’
He is the only being capable of breaking the Emperor's curse, and the one who will in the future be the source of the throne's wealth.
Later, after he is arrested, he is forced to lift the curse on the emperor, and is then sentenced to death, but the sentence is later commuted.
Because while he was a user of black magic, he was also adept at neutralizing it.
When the Emperor knew this, he did not kill him, but rather imprisoned him in the magic tower, and forced him to produce all the magic spells, tools, and medicines effective against black magic.
'And he sold them all at exorbitant prices...'
So if I take this guy to Cayenne now, I'll pocket all those future profits.
'And with Arkell and Martha's nature, they'll no doubt give me a fair share of it.'
I was overcome by the ecstasy of imagination, but the man suddenly leaned towards me, approaching me until he frightened me.
He was only wearing a piece of cloth around his waist, and my eyes unintentionally fell on his broad, prominent chest muscles, and I hurriedly held my breath as if I saw something I shouldn't have seen.
Simultaneously, Arkell's growling voice rang out:
“How dare you look…!”
I froze for a moment as if I was the one at fault, but I soon realized that he was addressing the man and nothing else.
Arkle was looking at him with a threatening face as if he would draw his sword at any moment, but he did not move for fear that the wizard would use me as a shield.
The knights surrounding me shared the same apprehension.
I sighed silently.
Even if we decide to take him to Cayenne, we must first restrain him so that he does not pose any danger.
‘If I wasn’t standing here, Erkel would have moved more easily…’
While I was thinking about how to distract him and escape towards Arkel, the man took his eyes off me for the first time, and slowly cast them at Arkel and the knights.
I felt like this was my chance.
I quickly drew up an escape route in my mind:
'I'll run straight to Arkle, the distance is close and he won't be able to react at the same moment...'
While I was preparing to do so, I heard the man muttering in a strange language that I did not understand.
Suddenly, the knights surrounding us began to fall, one after another, unconscious.
One of them said in astonishment: “What…” but he did not finish, as he also fell to the ground.
I quickly looked at Arkle. He was standing still, and I became more certain.
'It's black magic!'
I shouted:
“Arkle, now, you have to—”
But I didn't finish.
I felt my head dizzy and kicking as he ran towards me screaming, but his image seemed blurry before my eyes.
'I just wanted to come back safely and watch the movie together...'
A strange imagination occurred to me as my strength failed and my body folded.
But before I hit the ground, I felt two strong arms hugging my waist.
I mumbled:
“Ar…all…”
However, the hands were not his.
As my vision faded, two dull golden eyes appeared before me, the eyes of a wizard.
He was staring at me and moving his lips:
“Finally… I met you.”
'What...?'
I couldn't understand the meaning, as he had lifted me off the ground with both arms.
Then a cold voice rang out behind me, the likes of which I had never heard before:
“Put it down.”
This was followed by fast approaching steps, then a sharp cry of pain that stopped the movement.
I cried internally:
'Why now...!'
I forced my eyelids to raise and saw Arkek on his knees, clutching his chest, breathing rapidly, his face contorted in pain.
It was clear that the bout of magic reserve disorder had returned.
'I have to calm him down... but...'
I couldn't move a single finger.
While I was helpless, the magician carrying me passed the decrepit Arkil and pushed me into the depths of the cave.
After a while, I heard angry screams and footsteps approaching from behind, but the magician muttered something, and new cries of pain rose, and then silence fell.
“I'll tear you apart...!”
Arkle's voice was boiling like blood, but the magician continued on his way.
Darkness obscured my vision, and all I could hear was Arkeel's voice repeatedly screaming my name until I lost consciousness.
❖ ❖ ❖
When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on a hard bed.
Fortunately, I was not constrained, so I slowly stood up and looked around.
On the walls were hung various plants and small dead animals, as if they were food supplies.
The place clearly looked like a magician's shelter.
'Where are the others?' They should be fine as long as I'm not hurt... but why did he take me alone? If he considered me a prisoner, why didn't he handcuff me?'
Questions were crowding in my head, when the magician entered through the opening of the cave carrying a basket filled with herbs I did not know.
When he saw me sitting and regaining consciousness, he came forward and knelt down in front of me, then said in a low voice:
“...Governor.”
'What is he raving about now?'
I thought bitterly:
'I wish he had thrown me into a horror movie...it would have been easier than trying to comprehend what is happening now.'
*****
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