Chapter 26 – [Wizard] The Light That Illuminates the Darkness
Idiot. Idiot. Idiot.
Unable to win, he went into the cave alone.
Yeah, it’s true that the two of us had nothing to do with each other, but that didn’t mean we had to drive nails like that.
Of course, I know it’s not his true intention.
It must have been a slip of the tongue that came out in a mess. It’s obvious if you don’t look at the fact that he was talking to the porter.
Surely he would have induced this situation again.
It’s been like that ever since he threatened me with ridiculous sophistry.
He was always cleverly fooling around.
If this is a talent in itself, is it a talent?
It’s a talent I want to kill.
“… Fool.”
Aren’t you chasing me?
I am alone in this dark cave.
Still, I thought he would follow me and come right in, but I was wrong.
… Is it all an illusion?
Maybe that wasn’t Eric’s true intention?
Maybe you think that I really have nothing to do with you?
He has a childhood friend, Yuni.
She is pretty, she has a good personality, and she has a rare job called an Elementalist.
He has a bad personality and is different from people like me who can be replaced as much as he wants.
As much as we’ve been together for a long time, we’re also the closest to Eric.
I can’t recall the part of her where I can beat her.
What about Arin?
She is pretty, kind and kind enough to make me feel like a goddess of mercy.
She has a reckless side to the point where she desperately takes care of her hair when Eric says she likes her long hair.
It’s completely different from me who can’t be honest.
Me… There really is nothing.
She feels miserable herself.
She was always full of confidence when she was in the Mage Tower.
Did I mention the frog in the well? It was just like that.
In the outside world, I was a cheeky, proud, second-rate wizard.
My legs no longer had any strength.
I collapsed on the spot.
Tears flowed as I buried my face between my legs.
It’s like this again.
Crying doesn’t solve anything.
Fool…
After a while, someone tapped me on the shoulder.
It’s Eric.
It’s too late, fool.
Still, I raised my head in delight,
“Ugh… !”
It wasn’t Eric, it was the porter, the man.
“You, why are you here… !”
When I jumped up, he laughed at me and said,
“Are you disappointed that I’m not a hero?”
“Everyone, shut up!”
I felt ashamed that my thoughts were being read.
You said you were waiting in front of you, and you tricked us all again!
Also always lies.
Not a single word he says is worth listening to.
“Again, what did you come up to do again!”
Pelagioni Paisrini, you’re here to make me do that again, right?
Or maybe today is the thought of going to the end.
The tension put strength in the hand holding the staff.
Okay. Now I have a staff in my hand.
This guy, I’m not afraid at all… !
“Even a warrior is not good enough. To leave his own companion like this alone.”
“Don’t curse at Eric!”
Are you really reading my mind?
I was pricked and reacted more sensitively.
No. It could be that I’m in deeper than I thought.
He must be on his way by now.
“I-will you get caught if it stays like this? Wouldn’t it be better to run away?”
“Are you waiting for the hero to come?”
He was confident in what he believed in.
Of course. Didn’t we come to the Cave of Trials?
Even if it’s not because of me, I have no choice but to enter the cave.
“No. The hero does not come.”
I almost dropped the staff in shock at the moment.
Backcountry… I don’t… ?
“Do not lie!”
Lie. It can’t be.
“This isn’t the cave you were looking for. He said he would go first, so he asked me to bring him.”
Eh, Eric…
No, it can’t be.
Eric is not like that!
“If not, why aren’t you still showing up? The entrance is right in front of me.”
I followed his hand and turned my head, and the outside of the cave was right in front of my eyes.
Only… Didn’t you just come in like this?
Right, right in front…
There was no one in front of the cave.
Really… Did you go
Leave me alone?
“Oh, that can’t be…”
“You heard that. The hero has no interest in you.”
He whispers softly
Do not say. Shut up.
That’s not Eric’s true intention.
“It was abandoned in the end. Did I say It will be abandoned.”
No!
It can’t be!
For sure… It’s clearly an illusion…
Something urgent happened and I had no choice but to leave…
Surely it is.
“I am the only one looking for you. Is not it?”
“You, do you think something like you would compare to Eric?”
Even if what he said was true, this guy and Eric couldn’t even compare.
“I am the only one. I am the only one looking for you.”
“I don’t need anything like you! Go away!”
He shouted and swung his staff.
I can not admit it.
Everything that child says is a lie.
“Do you really not need it?”
“Go away! You, I don’t need anything like you!”
“Cheuk, yes. Then stay alone in the darkness.”
Then, his figure disappeared.
After that guy disappeared, I was the only one in the cave.
Dark darkness all over. I really can’t see anything but me.
Dark.
Feeling like I am the only one in this world.
I raised my staff to light the light, but strangely, there was nothing in my hand.
Where did you go
Without a staff, I can’t use magic.
I searched all over the floor to see if I had dropped it, but I couldn’t find anything.
Even the floor doesn’t look right in the first place.
Did you lose
My precious, staff…
He is a valuable staff member given to him by Master.
Without this, I can’t even use magic properly.
A wizard who can’t even use magic doesn’t deserve to be in Eric’s party.
No. Need to find
But after looking for a while, I couldn’t find it.
Is it impossible on my own?
Let’s go out
Let’s go out and find Eric.
Let’s all come together later and find out.
That would be better than me alone.
But will Eric help?
He might be angry when he sees you gone first.
Because I was the first to complain and get angry.
Of course. It is natural to be angry.
Let’s apologize…
When I meet Eric, I have to apologize first…
May not accept
Okay. It’s natural because you’re angry.
Then keep apologizing until you accept it.
My, I can’t help it because I was wrong…
I’m sorry Eric.
I was all wrong
So please don’t abandon me
He runs towards the entrance, but doesn’t come close.
No matter how much I run, I seem to just walk in place.
Why? Why can’t you go out?
I need to get out quickly!
I have to apologize to Eric!
Otherwise, it will be thrown away!
“Eric… ! Eric!”
Please don’t leave me!
“UNI! Scale!”
Is there no one?
Somebody help me!
“… My, Jeren… !”
Even that dirty man.
Please anyone please let me out of here!
Clink!
The dark world collapsed with the sound of something breaking.
“Ah, Seria!”
What… Is it work?
Suddenly the darkness cracked and the world collapsed.
Instead, what I see is a bright cave.
Everyone gathered in front of the huge treasure chest.
Arin, Uni, and even Eric.
“Seria! Calm down!”
Arin kept talking to me.
“Scale…”
“Are you okay. Because the demon king is no more. It was all fantasy.”
Devil?
What are you talking about?
“What… You mean?”
“This is the Cave of Trials. We all saw an illusion!”
Uni made a fuss about her and explained the situation.
But there was a sense of incongruity.
Okay.
She was explaining what had happened under the premise that I had met the Demon King.
“… So I barely came to my senses, but everyone said they had the same vision! I’m really glad it’s not real.”
“…”
“Still, Seria is strong, so maybe she tried to fight. Right?”
Uni smiled at Eric and said.
If only I could laugh like that
“… Yes. Okay…”
Eric’s hands were shaking as if he had seen something terrible.
Uni nudged her with her elbow, but she wasn’t responding properly.
Was he such a scary demon king?
Did everyone come to see that?
Then why only me… ?
“I was really scared though. Can we win?”
“Are you okay. We can become stronger too.”
As I listened to them, I felt something strange.
“… It’s a fantasy anyway. Don’t you know what it’s actually like?”
“Oh that…”
Arin stopped talking and pointed at her wall.
Above the box, a short phrase was engraved on the wall.
Those who passed or did not pass the ordeal.
You faced the anxiety in your heart.
Those who passed, with their strong hearts,
Those who did not pass are the answers they found in anxiety,
Be diligent
Anxiety in my heart…
The anxiety in my heart was being abandoned by Eric and everyone else.
It seemed that this was the reason why I was more unstable than usual.
So, did I pass the ordeal?
I probably failed because I couldn’t overcome my insecurities.
Then what answer did I find?
Neither Uni, Arin, nor Eric responded to my desperate cries.
When was the illusion broken?
When you call someone’s name?
Answering my call…
“Oh, no…”
It was a reality I didn’t want to believe.
The left shoulder with the pattern engraved on it hurt like it was on fire.
