Don’t Look for the Resurrected Villainess - Chapter 225
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 225
It was nothing but uphill the entire way.
I couldn’t see the end of the path at all. Using my divine power didn’t tire me, but I was getting short of breath purely from physical exertion.
If I, who had lived healthily since my resurrection, was struggling this much, it meant this mountain terrain was truly treacherous.
“Even without monsters, this isn’t a place just anyone could climb.”
I gritted my teeth and muttered, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand. Hot sweat dampened my hand.
“Exactly. It’s because I’m as capable as I am that I’m climbing this well – an ordinary mage would have collapsed long ago.”
“You don’t exactly look like you’re in good shape though.”
As soon as Jeon finished speaking, Samuel interjected with an indifferent voice.
Samuel, who appeared to be a large, muscular man, had the best complexion among the three of us.
Having lived chasing criminals, this kind of mountain terrain seemed relatively familiar to him.
“Ha, do you think it’s easy to find a mage with stamina as good as mine?”
Jeon snorted and looked back at me as if seeking agreement.
“Right?”
“How would I know that?”
It’s not like I have an encyclopedic knowledge of mages.
At my response, Jeon frowned as if disappointed.
“Even Anelli acknowledged my stamina, didn’t you?”
“When did I ever…”
When did I ever do that? I was about to respond thoughtlessly when a memory suddenly flashed through my mind, making me close my lips.
I did have a memory of saying something like, mages are supposed to have poor stamina, so why are you so persistent.
…In a private setting that would be embarrassing to mention in front of others.
“Stop chatting and hurry up.”
I responded curtly and put strength into my legs to move forward.
The corpses of dried-up plant-type monsters crunched under my feet.
Black ground spread out all around us. Wherever my divine power had passed, black earth was revealed.
I wondered if it might be infused with poison like the Dead Land in Montel Territory, but fortunately that didn’t seem to be the case.
“But it’s strange that we don’t see any other monsters besides the plant monsters blocking our path.”
“They’re not absent.”
As I felt during our camping, there were many monsters in this mountain range.
So many different types of monsters that I wondered how they maintained their territories.
“They’re just hiding and watching us.”
Jeon wouldn’t be able to hear them. But I could tell.
The presence of bird-type monsters hiding and whispering on tree branches, and beast-type monsters concealed in the thickets.
Perhaps something even farther away was holding its breath and watching me.
“Are they afraid of Anelli’s power?”
“They’re showing reverence.”
It was Samuel who answered Jeon’s question instead of me. Walking at the front, he glanced back at Jeon as he spoke.
“Soon the time that had stopped will flow again.”
“The time of Beladia, which has been sealed for so long to avoid Birth’s eyes, will flow according to Captain’s divine power.”
I recalled Diearis speaking kindly. I unconsciously glanced down at the hand that had received the key from him.
Was it because I had repeatedly used my divine power since arriving at the mountain range? Even without consciously trying, my hand seemed to be surrounded by a faint green light.
“Ah, we’ve finally made it to the top!”
At Jeon’s delighted words, I reflexively looked up.
Indeed, as Jeon said, I could see the sky. It was the end of that tedious uphill climb. Seeing the end in sight, strength seemed to surge from somewhere and my steps naturally quickened.
“This is really Beladia Valley now, right?”
“Yes. That’s the place.”
Finally reaching the summit, the large trees and thickets that had been blocking our view completely disappeared, and our vision opened up dramatically.
The valley, carved in graceful curves, was enormous and magnificent.
Amid the deep greenery, I could see a winding stream flowing below and steep rocky cliffs on the opposite side.
The clear and overwhelming nature was a landscape I had never seen anywhere before.
But what captured my attention most was the castle rising sharply between the valley.
“Beladia Castle.”
I was amazed that it was large enough to be clearly visible from this distance and that its form was so perfectly preserved.
I stared blankly in the direction of the castle and unconsciously took a step forward. And at that moment.
Crack.
I heard the sound of something breaking near my ear.
“Anelli!”
It was the sound of a gem that had been precariously held together with cracks finally shattering.
* * *
The nostalgic scent, the tender air, the familiar dust carried on the wind.
All of these things awakened Dasha.
They had finally reached it.
The Goddess would take his captain away.
* * *
What appeared with pitch-black smoke were two Dura’han.
Dasha, and Bak, who had been sent into the same separate space dimension along with Dasha.
“Stand back!”
Sensing the ominous aura, Samuel drew his sword and Jeon deployed a barrier.
Having been damaged by the forced summoning, Bak was crouched down, letting out small groans.
Dasha seemed to have suffered some shock as well, but didn’t appear to be in as much pain as Bak.
However, with black smoke billowing from his entire body, he didn’t look to be in good condition.
“You said it would hold…”
When Jeon had told Dekin about the bracelet, Dekin had definitely said so when he heard about its condition. That it would last at least ten days.
At that time, Dekin had offered to repair the magic tool, but I thought it would be better to quickly reach our destination that was right in front of us rather than waste time meeting with him.
Even if not ten days, I thought it would be fine for at least five days.
Well, what could I do about something that was already broken?
“Dasha!”
I covered the bracelet with one completely shattered gem with my hand and called out to Dasha.
Dasha, who had been standing unsteadily right after being summoned, turned toward me as if responding to that call.
[Dasha…]
Mori, who had been quietly staying in my pocket, wriggled out and transformed. A Dura’han with a fairly large build, though not as big as Dasha, blocked the space between me and Dasha.
[D-Dasha!]
A tense atmosphere hung in the air as if a major fight was about to break out.
I swallowed dryly and examined the bracelet. I was torn about whether I should summon the other Dura’han.
What if the other summoned Dura’han regained their memories and went berserk?
‘Before that, what state is Dasha in right now?’
I narrowed my eyes and observed Dasha. Above his neck, where particularly thick smoke was gathering, some form was beginning to take shape.
It was a head.
…Dasha’s head.
* * *
His throat was burning.
It felt as if someone was piercing his neck with a heated iron skewer.
The pain was so intense that his vision turned completely white for a moment.
Dasha, who had been silently screaming and only moving his lips, finally came to his senses.
Then the pain that seemed like it would never end suddenly disappeared as if washed away by water.
‘Ah.’
The world that had been nothing but white began to take shape. Dasha realized he was surrounded by many people.
[Dasha, can you understand my voice?]
As soon as he heard the voice, he could tell who it was.
Soana.
Dasha stared directly at the Dura’han standing before him. Other knights could be seen beside Soana. His comrades, the Twelve Knights of the Round Table.
Dasha slowly turned his head. Among the gazes looking at him, there was one who seemed particularly tense.
Samuel.
Dasha immediately recognized who he was. Just like the last moment he had faced him, he was pointing his sword at him with a miserable and desperate expression.
There was also a human he was seeing for the first time. Judging by his aura, he seemed to be a mage, and he was looking at Dasha with his guard completely up as if trying to protect someone.
Actually, it wasn’t just him acting that way.
Those surrounding Dasha were prepared to subdue him at any moment. All to protect just one person.
“Dasha.”
The one standing in the back under everyone’s protection called Dasha’s name in a calm voice.
A woman with brilliantly shining silver hair. Dasha unconsciously let out a sigh.
Instead of answering her, Dasha raised his hand and touched his neck.
From his nape to his chin, then his cheeks and the back of his head. Dasha, who had been fumbling around touching his own head, let out a hollow breath.
“…Captain.”
Like forcibly pushing open a hinge that had rusted from long disuse, a worn and rough metallic sound flowed from his throat.
The soft, beautiful voice that had once sung along to beautiful melodies had long since disappeared. What remained was only a voice that seemed cracked and ready to break.
“Dasha, are you alright?”
To Dasha who stood there blankly, the Captain spoke to him again.
“If it’s difficult to speak, you can express your intentions through actions.”
At her blunt but affectionate words, Dasha smiled with his eyes crinkled. Unstable emotions struck his chest erratically.
If it had been before, he would have been swept away by these emotions and become obsessed only with moving the Captain to a safe place.
Especially trying to separate her from that betrayer’s side. But after regaining his head, reason came to the forefront instead.
“I am a bard who praises you, Captain, from the highest place.”
Because he had been like that in the past too. Because he understood that betrayer.
Because he understood Samuel’s feelings of trying to protect the Captain from the Goddess.
Dasha also wanted to protect the Captain, but unlike him, Dasha didn’t have the courage to throw himself at Birth to protect the Captain’s soul.
He could only rage, but couldn’t dare to resist.
That’s why he didn’t resist under Samuel’s sword.
“I always sent songs on the wind to make known your mercy. So that all things would praise you, so that everyone would know Death.”
He wanted to protect the Captain, but he also couldn’t give up his own rest that would free him from prolonged suffering.
“Thus I completed my final calling here.”
The soul of a knight who had suffered for a long time without salvation from God finally regained its complete form.
“So please, Captain.”
He would now finally enjoy the promised peace.
“Grant your knight freedom.”
The knight in black armor knelt before his master.
* * *
A green light spread out gently.
For the first time since my resurrection, I led one of the Knights of the Round Table who had been wandering without his head to rest.
Dasha’s rest was a peaceful death.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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