Death Can’t Sleep - Chapter 101

As soon as they returned, the mercenaries were turned upside down.

 

While Tall explained the situation, Mirage was moved to a tent. Fortunately, their medicines were well stocked. After washing the wound, a hemostatic ointment was applied to where the arrow had been pulled out. Mirage’s expression became more comfortable after a bandage was applied.

“Oh, I think I will live.”

 

“You’re talking like a man on death row.”

 

The mercenaries guarding the tent scolded the wizard. Then, with a broad smile, everyone slapped Victor on the back.

 

“Thanks for bringing him, Dog! We are proud of you, hmm?”

 

Victor swayed helplessly. Mirage’s face twisted. He looked like he wanted to say something, but couldn’t.

 

Amarion laughed quietly.

 

The mercenaries with them promised not to reveal Victor and Amarion’s identities. As the intelligence unit, they knew exactly what to look like if it became widely known that the Grand Duke and Duchess of Morte were traveling with their group. Of course, the mercenaries were surprised to death, as they secretly crossed the border.

 

No one would believe what those bandits said anyway, so they just had to keep their mouths shut. The mercenaries also said they didn’t want to get the couple into trouble after they had been together for a long time.

 

It was a thank you.

 

Of course, their attitude was much more awkward than before, but it was okay because they wouldn’t tell anyone, at least until Victor and Amarion left.

 

They hurriedly set off again. It was to get to the ‘nameless village’ as quickly as possible.

 

They put the sick Mirage in the back of a wagon, and Amarion, Victor, and Sir Jane surrounded it. As if he wasn’t in pain, Mirage rested on his back, staring at the sky and babbling incessantly.

“Now that I think about it, it’s perfect. The guy who was living as a knight came out to the wasteland with prisoners, the wildcat and dog that kept hiding their faces… No, then, did you pretend not to know the story of the Grand Duchess on purpose?”

 

“Um, yes.”

 

“It was all just a lie, huh?”

 

The wizard jumped up and lay back down again in pain.

 

Amarion soothed him. The wizard was dozens of times more difficult to soothe than Mary.

 

Victor chuckled.

“Didn’t you say you were scared of me before? It doesn’t look like that at all.”

 

“All continental people are afraid of you.”

 

Mirage added nonchalantly.

“You would have looked scarier if you hadn’t been a picky eater at every meal.”

 

Victor closed his mouth.

 

Amarion couldn’t help laughing, so she quickly turned her head. Even after coming to the desert, Victor ate only the food he wanted to eat, so Mirage was frantic to feed Victor.

 

The wizard shook his head.

“But really, why are you so picky? Haven’t you been on the battlefield for years?”

 

“The cooks had a hard time cooking to suit his taste.”

 

“Jane.”

 

Victor glared at the knight. But the wizard burst into laughter.

“It looks like your subordinates must have raised you.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

“Jane!”

 

Victor’s voice became more menacing. But the handsome knight just smiled.

 

How could he be so fearless, when even Carlz was afraid of Victor?

 

‘Maybe it’s because you have been through a lot of tough things together?’

 

Victor snapped at Jane.

“You, aren’t you tired?”

 

“It’s okay. They said we will arrive in town this evening.”

 

Apparently, the residence of the mercenary king, the ‘nameless village’, was right in front of them. The mercenaries were so excited that they ran at full speed. Even the injured Mirage looked pretty excited.

 

Was it that great? Seeing Amarion tilting her head, Mirage smiled.

“It’s a really fantastic place. It’s a town that looks like something out of a dream.”

 

“?”

 

“You are not wrong. There is no such place anywhere else on the continent.”

 

Jane added with a laugh.

 

To what extent?

 

Amarion spurred on her horse, looking at the horizon in wonder.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

That’s how they arrived at the ‘nameless village’. The mercenaries spoke loudly.

 

“Now, welcome to the mercenary’s home!”

 

Amarion opened her eyes wide and took in the town spread out in front of her.

 

The ‘nameless village’ was more like a city than a village. A dreamy city built with sand-colored stones in the middle of the desert.

 

Huge palm trees adorned the roads, and mercenaries from different countries roamed the streets. At the fountain in the middle of the square, wandering musicians performed and dancers performed in fancy clothes. Merchants loudly sold things she couldn’t understand. Costumes and languages, fabrics and buildings from all over the country were jumbled together.

 

Amarion gazed, bewildered, at the wondrous landscape. Even a person with limited knowledge could feel that this city was amazing just by existing.

 

How did they build this town? In a land where no life can live.

 

Tall proudly said.

“This is Yaji’s greatness. If he wants it, we all come together and make it happen.”

 

Amarion nodded, overwhelmed. It was a story she had heard from the mercenaries, but she couldn’t help but admire it when she actually saw it. Even the Emperor wouldn’t be able to gather so many different people in one place.

 

Victor asked.

“Where is the infirmary?”

 

“Right, that is the most urgent task.”

 

They quickly crossed the street. Soon, a large healer sign appeared in front of them. It was a fairly large building, befitting a village of mercenaries. They pulled Mirage from the wagon and entered the infirmary.

 

The treatment center was almost as busy as outside. Wounded mercenaries were laid about and healers were running around shouting. However, the skill of those administering first aid and giving medicine was unparalleled.

 

A healer came out shortly after explaining what had happened.

“Eh, what did you bring with you? I’ve done all my urgent treatment for today.”

 

“His condition is serious!”

 

“Okay, take him to the inn and feed him well. He will recover once his physical strength does.”

 

Mirage muttered.

“I told you I was okay.”

 

“What’s the guy who was dying talking about?”

 

Tall hit Mirage on the shoulder.

 

Amarion didn’t know, but it was a punch that was much more painful than the wound from the arrow. They took Mirage, who was angry over being sick, and headed to the inn.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

The inn that the ‘Troll’s Right Calf’ always stopped by was not too far from the treatment center. Amarion blurted, unable to hide her admiration.

“This is bigger than I imagined.”

 

“Right! How will all these mercenaries fit? Isn’t it cool?”

 

Amarion opened her eyes wide and nodded.

 

The building, built in a unique architectural style she had never seen before, was circular, and a strangely large black tree planted in the middle served as a pillar. The guest rooms on each floor were circular structures surrounding the huge tree.

 

“This is a tree that grows in the East Kingdom.”

 

Victor said with a face as surprised as Amarion’s.

“It has deep roots, so it survives well in the desert. Raising the layers in a circle like this is the southern style… Amazing.”

 

“It is like that here. Everyone puts up buildings as they please.”

 

Tall giggled.

 

Amarion wanted to see more, but it bothered her that Mirage was sick. They took the wizard to his room and laid him down. Chubby remained to nurse him, and they each went into their own rooms.

 

As soon as Amarion entered their room, her tension melted away.

 

They were now halfway through their journey.

 

It was hard to believe that she had spent almost a week in the desert. Amarion shook out her shoes and cloak full of sand and took a short bath. She felt like she was reborn after soaking and washing her body.

 

Soon after, Victor, who had washed and changed his clothes, entered their room. Amarion stretched out her arms and legs on the soft bed.

“I feel sleepy for some reason.”

 

He smiled and sat down next to her.

“It’s probably because you are relaxed.”

 

“That’s true, but I feel like I can fall asleep now.”

 

Victor looked down at her quietly.

 

Amarion spoke in an absent-minded tone.

“I kept suffocating thinking about what happened to Amari, but still, knowing that we will continue to be together, everything feels fine.”

 

Amarion looked up at the ceiling.

 

If she was asked if her worries had disappeared, they had not. The North was a land that did not leak even important news, so she hadn’t heard anything this far. She was scared. She was afraid the rumors were true. She was afraid her land had disappeared without a trace. The idea weighed on her throughout the trip.

 

But knowing that Victor would be by her side somehow made her feel relieved.

 

It was nice to have someone stronger than her so she could feel safe, someone who could fight in her place. Perhaps for a lifetime.

 

Victor gently stroked her hair.

“Yes. We will stay together… I don’t want to give you back.”

 

He said something incomprehensible and lay down next to her.

 

Amarion muttered softly in a daze.

“I can see why you like me so much…”

 

Victor’s hand lifted her flowing hair carefully. Amarion closed her eyes and continued.

“It’s really valuable that you can put me to sleep…”

 

There was a small laugh.

 

Victor kissed her forehead.

 

A flood of stress was relieved.

 

“Have a nice dream.”

 

After that whisper, Amarion fell into a really deep sleep for the first time since leaving for the trip.

***