Is it true that when a volcano erupts and lava flows from the cracked ground, the scene is only this intense?
Even Vlad - a species that has existed for countless years - became small and helpless before that sky-high fire. Regis fell backwards, looking in horror at the flames rising from under his feet. Like all creatures born from darkness, she cannot endure the heat of fire.
“Someone, dare…!”
The person approaching suddenly stopped walking. His low voice rang out, so heavy and scary that it made the surrounding air freeze.
"…Dare?"
The man's eyes turned this way. Behind him, the inn burned like an open hell, the firelight reflected on his face, making his eyes shine even brighter like the moon in the middle of the night.
“That's what we should ask.”
A furious gaze swept over Regis, sharp as if it wanted to peel off every fiber of her flesh. Regis was dumbfounded, his face pale, he didn't need to be introduced to know who the person in front of him was.
“Dare…to touch my subordinates.”
The space was suffocatingly silent.
“Dare… to plot to kidnap my Lisebrar.”
Varkan's voice was hoarse with anger, each word burning like fire. His fierce face, covered in black shadow, looked like he had just stepped out of hell. In his hand, a giant ball of fire was swirling, emitting a menacing "chirping" sound, as if just one wrong breath would explode.
Oh my god... he really came.
Irel knelt on the floor, looking up at Varkan in shock. When he noticed her eyes, he glanced over slightly. His gaze was cold as ice, but deep down was smoldering anger. Before his eyes was a girl covered in ash, her dress scorched, her hair tangled from smoke and fire.
“You… dare.”
The words stopped there, but Varkan's eyes said it all. A look full of contempt, containing extreme murderous intent.
Looking at his face engulfed in rage, Irel had a premonition that a bloody tragedy was about to happen right before his eyes.
“Don't look.”
A pale white hand reached out from behind, gently covering her eyes, then helped her stand up. Irel was speechless, hesitantly followed that hand and stood up, asking softly.
“Yan Louis?”
“Yes. It's me.”
Still has a bland tone, no speaking talent at all. But that's why she feels more secure.
"Hey, what about Chellos? We have to help quickly..."
“Not necessary.”
What? The cold and cruel answer made Irel wince. It seems that these villains have no comradeship at all.
If no one helps, then you have to help. Irel pushed away Yan Louis' hand covering his eyes and turned his head. And she saw Chellos, helped by Pessus, hobbling out of the rubble.
‘Ah.’
At this time, Irel understood what Yan Louis meant, although a bit slowly. It's not that Chellos doesn't need it, it's that he won't need help.
'As expected, if you speak properly, no one will die.'
Irel glanced at Yan Louis, then was startled. She saw a streak of dried blood sticking to his white hair.
At this moment, Irel remembered the incident where Yan Louis was pushed into the wall by Regis earlier. It was an impact so strong that a normal person's skull could sink, so he must have been in a lot of pain.
"Is your head okay, Yan Louis? Is there anything else injured?"
Yan Louis responded to her worried question in a tone that seemed strangely touching.
“That is, because he is Masaka.”
…The explanation would probably be, because it's Masaka, such injuries are insignificant, something like that. Irel, getting used to Yan Louis's characteristic way of speaking, nodded.
"I'm so lucky. It's good that I wasn't seriously injured."
“Miss Irel…”
Yan Louis's eyes, usually absent-mindedly staring into nothingness, turned towards her. Just as she felt his eyes sparkle strangely, the system notification appeared again.
[Ting! Yan Louis' favorability has increased by 15.]
Irel was a bit confused. An increase in sympathy is good, but why is it loyalty from the villain's subordinates?
Boom ―!! Boom ―!!!
At this moment, explosions echoed continuously from behind. Mixed in there seemed to be shrill and sharp screams. Irel stopped in place, and she heard Varkan shouting loudly from afar.
"Yan! Take Irel home. Immediately!!"
It seemed like that scary man had eyes on the back of his head. But at this moment, he is a stronger support than ever.
Irel breathed a sigh of relief and followed Yan Louis. She then saw Chellos limping, being helped by Pessus. Seeing his legs having difficulty walking, Irel's expression became sad.
“Chellos…”
"I'm fine. It's just a minor sprain, it will heal soon."
Chellos said in a tired voice, shaking his hands slightly. However, because she was still worried, Irel gently touched his ear and asked.
"What about your ears? What happened?"
Puncturing your own eardrum to avoid Regis's Curse, that was truly a reckless act. It was all to save her, making Irel feel like her chest was tightening.
‘If Chellos hadn't bought time, I would have been dragged all the way to the harbor.'
Unfortunately, Chellos temporarily lost his hearing so he couldn't hear the question. But he could guess what Irel meant when she touched his ear with teary eyes.
"It's okay. This can be healed at any time when we return. Furthermore... I thank you."
Chellos removed his hand from Pessus's shoulder supporting him and stood up straight. Even though his posture was slightly tilted due to one leg being uncomfortable, he still faced Irel directly and bowed slowly.
"I witnessed with my own eyes that Lady Irel saved me just now. Dare to confront monsters for someone as lowly as me... It was a dangerous act, but thanks to that I was able to keep my life. I sincerely thank you."
Having said that, Chellos raised his head. His eyes looking at Irel were calm but filled with an inexplicable determination.
“From now on, I will wholeheartedly serve you as Master An, with my whole body and mind.”
Irel opened her lips slightly. She felt dazed because she felt like she had been firmly bound, but on the other hand, her heart fluttered with emotion.
Since falling into this game, all she has done is get lost, run away and be hunted. She is always in the position of the weak, an outsider. So all she could do was try to hide her fear and pretend to be calm.
Yet, she was able to save someone. She begins to like herself a little more, who she once thought was useless and weak, and feels that her existence has value.
‘Ah.’
So, the name of this game is 'Salvation'?
"Let's go now. Breathing smoke from a fire for too long is not good."
Chellos, with a pale face, worried about Irel. Hearing that, she turned around and saw the inn collapsing, belching thick smoke into the dark night sky. The sound of the columns and roof collapsing sounded like the building's last scream.
‘What will become of Ryu Cheong?’
Irel felt uncomfortable remembering Ryu Cheong unconscious in the building. Tuy nhiên, cô không thể để lộ điều đó trước mặt thuộc hạ của Varkan, nên đành gật đầu.
"Okay. Let's go home now."
After feeling safe, fatigue came like a tide. When she took a few steps with her legs shaking from being dragged all day, Pessus, who had been silently observing, suddenly spoke up.
“Need, can I help?”
"Yes?"
Irel, still haunted by the memory of nearly dying at the hands of Pessus, asked again cautiously. Pessus immediately took out a wooden doll as big as his arm from his lap and placed it on the floor.
“Ted.”
Sau khi hắn gọi tên con búp bê một cách ngắn gọn, con búp bê gỗ nhanh chóng lớn lên thành kích thước 3 mét trong chớp mắt. And it bent down with a creaking movement, carefully picking up Irel. Suddenly being held by a doll, Irel opened her eyes wide.
“Inconvenient?”
“Ah, no.”
Irel shook her head at Pessus' forced question. Mặc dù không thể gọi là mềm mại, nhưng nó mang lại sự thoải mái tương đương với việc ngồi trên ghế gỗ nguyên khối.
"Thank you."
"Nothing."
Pessus shook his head with a cold and gloomy face. He still doesn't like Irel, but it seems like he sees her a little differently than before.
“Because you saved Chellos…”
Pessus mumbled in a low voice and turned his back. He put Chellos's arm on his shoulder again and began to lead the way.
Being carried on the doll's arm, Irel belatedly realized. Between Pessus and Chellos, there is a strong bond that cannot be expressed in words.
'That's why he thanked me. Because I saved his friend.'
[Ting! Pessus' favorability has recovered from its negative state.]
[Pessus Ha Masch: Current favorability 0]
As if to confirm Irel's thoughts, system notifications continuously rang out. That was the sound of Pessus's hostility, which had reached minus 100 last time, being reset.
Hearing that, Irel placed her hand on her chest. Việc tự mình có thể làm được điều gì đó, và qua đó thay đổi cái nhìn của người khác, quả là một điều đáng tự hào.
“Ah, I hope we go home soon.”
Yan Louis, hovering nearby, sighed. Hearing that calm voice, Irel couldn't help but giggle.
"That's right. I also hope we go home soon."
Rumble rumble ―!! Another deafening explosion rang out from behind, but Irel was no longer startled. It's time for her to adapt to the actions of the evil side.