Death Can’t Sleep - Chapter 96
Amarion stared blankly at the knight.
His loosely tied hair was a dark auburn, and his eyes were pink like early summer flowers. His sharp jawline and drooping eyes gave the impression of a friendly nobleman.
Really, he was very handsome.
That’s why the ladies talked so much. She nodded in agreement.
“I see, I understand. So why are you hiding your face?”
“When they see my face, they don’t want to fight me.”
“What? Fighting…”
“This guy is crazy about duels.”
Victor sighed.
“Before joining the Knights Templar, he wandered around trying to defeat powerful people from all over the continent. Even in Morte he kept fighting, so I sent him here on purpose.”
‘I see.’
She was surprised.
How could such a gentle-looking man be so militant? A duel was a risky game where you could suffer injuries. She also thought that people couldn’t be judged just by looking at their faces.
Victor frowned and asked the knight.
“Anyway, why did you bring us here? I’ve heard that you can’t beat your boredom and duel travelers, but you have to cover up your fights.”
His golden eyes shone sharply. He had a cold face that was different from the days when he was ‘Dog’.
At the same time, Jane’s expression changed as well. He bowed his head.
“Take me with you, your highness.”
“Jane, this is not a journey to satisfy your boredom.”
“I know. However…”
The knight raised his eyes.
“Maybe you were thinking of using the mountain path, but it’s hard to traverse because of the recent rain. So it’s better to sneak through the passage at dawn. I’ll make up a story about chasing you. Then the soldiers won’t bother coming after us.”
It was a brilliant idea. It was an opportunity to move without being caught.
But Victor still seemed dissatisfied. He asked sternly.
“What guarantee do I have that you will follow us and be quiet? You point your sword at fellow knights.”
Jane smiled brightly.
“Don’t worry, your highness. I just want to see you fighting up close. I’m not interested in poor swordsmanship.”
“…”
“If possible, it would be nice to have a duel, but it must be difficult, isn’t it?”
Victor frowned even more.
‘Is he really okay? No matter how you look at it, he seems a bit strange…’
But it was also true that there was no other way.
She finally nodded.
“…Okay. Then, please.”
“Yes, my Lady.”
Jane kissed the back of her hand with a look of great joy.
＊ ＊ ＊
The night came quickly. Cold wind gnawed through her cloak.
She fastened her cloak’s collar and waited quietly. Soon, the mercenaries rushed out of the dimly lit prison. After listening to the plan, they quickly retrieved their horses and wagons.
All the while, the guards were drunk. It was under the pretense that Jane was rewarded for capturing the mercenaries and circulated strong alcohol. After making sure that Victor and Amarion had left safely, they mounted their horses and headed for the gate.
The door was already open.
Amarion was amazed.
“Sir Jane is quite capable, isn’t he?”
“That’s why you brought him.”
Victor grumbled a little. She laughed and watched the wagons and horses passing through the gate.
Finally, as they got out, the huge door swung shut.
It was a really good escape, which ended before sunrise.
＊ ＊ ＊
Jane joined them at the entrance of the wasteland, far from the gate. He left a letter saying he was going after them. He was perfectly prepared for the trip, and best of all, he wasn’t wearing a helmet.
Soon there was a commotion.
“What, what does he look like?”
“That’s the knight, Sir Jane of Shafer. He’s handsome, but he’s a little crazy…”
“Eh? Then, the one wearing that helmet was Jane?!”
It was a more intense reaction than expected.
She was bewildered and asked Mirage.
“Is Sir Jane that famous?”
“Of course! If you think you’re strong, he’s a crazy guy who fights mercenaries. It is said that he was completely destroyed by the Grand Duke of Death, so he joined the Knights of Morte…”
‘Ah… That’s why he joined the Knights Templar.’
Mirage asked Amarion suspiciously as she scratched her cheek.
“You said you knew each other? I didn’t know that!”
Amarion averted her gaze.
She couldn’t honestly say why he was helping them, so she lied and said that Jane had practiced swordsmanship with her before. It was a poor excuse, but it was fortunate that there was an unwritten rule among the mercenaries not to ask about the past in detail.
Anyway, the mercenaries accepted Jane.
“I don’t feel like getting new recruits at a time like this, but… I won’t say no.”
“Why?”
“He’s not just handsome. He’s good at using swords. It’s the requirements of our leader.”
Anyway, she was glad he was able to accompany them. It would be difficult to go back to the gate right now.
She looked at Jane, who was guided by Mirage, with relief.
He was assigned a tent and exchanged greetings with other mercenaries. It was a relaxing scene.
‘How can he do that? I’m a little nervous.’
She looked out over the vast sandy desert as the sun rose.
Wasteland. A barren land without a name or life. The land covered with golden sand was scorching hot even in the cold North. The sunlight was strong and the days were long, while the nights were short and cold.
Their horses had to wear special horseshoes to prevent them from sinking, and the ability to survive against powerful monsters coming down from the Black Mountains was also required.
She was now facing a land that was hostile to most humans.
“…Have you been here before?”
Victor approached and asked.
Amarion shook her head.
“I’ve only heard stories.”
“Just like me. Rumor has it that a fire-breathing dragon lives there?”
A sudden laugh came out.
In Fidelberg, she had been associated with a lot of rumors about dragons. Although none of them were true.
Victor smiled softly.
“Are you more relaxed now?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”
He grabbed her hand, and she looked up at him, blushing.
‘How can a person be so kind? Everyone said he was cold-hearted, but they didn’t know. I’ve never met someone as sweet as Victor.’
Then, Mirage shouted from afar.
“You two! Stop it and get on your horses! You’re burning my eyes!”
“…”
Victor looked at Aamrion.
She said with a laugh.
“You promised, right? Don’t get mad.”
“…Okay.”
He grunted and got on his horse.
Amarion smiled and turned her horse’s head toward the hazy desert.
＊ ＊ ＊
The wasteland trip was very difficult. Sand kept hitting her skin, and meals were reduced to two a day. Water could be used freely because there was an oasis nearby, but there were no animals that could be eaten by humans, so food had to be conserved. Being wary of monsters, the number of vigilantes increased, and they had to be more careful while camping.
But the most difficult thing for Amarion was the heat.
“No matter how many times I come here, I still can’t get used to it.”
Mirage grunted and fanned his face. He was wearing only a thin cloth shirt to escape the heat of the sandy desert.
Amarion just nodded. It was so hot that she didn’t even care.
Jane, who was riding a horse on her the other side, nodded.
“I was last here years ago, and I still remember.”
“Why did you come here when you’re not a mercenary?”
“I want to meet the mercenary king.”
Mirage made a questionable expression.
“…Are you going to a duel?”
“Of course. Why else would I come all the way here?”
As Jane smiled broadly with that beautiful face, Mirage bit his lip. Then he asked Amarion.
“What did you do to make friends with him?”
“We’re not close…”
“Don’t lie. You’re not close? Why did he help us escape?”
The young wizard glared at her sharply. He grumbled fiercely.
“Well, you might not think of me as a friend. You didn’t even tell me you were from the North.”
“It’s not that…”
Amarion just shook her head. Her platinum blonde hair was tied up high and swayed from side to side.
Since the day they crossed the border, Mirage had often complained about this issue. He thought they were close, so he was sad that she didn’t tell him that.
“Do you know how surprised I was to see your hair? Dog is frighteningly handsome, but this is the Empire. Why is a Northerner in the Empire?”
“Is that so strange?”
“Well, what’s the point of coming all the way to the Empire when all the Northerners are fighting monsters or bandits?”
Mirage kept talking.
It was true. She came here because of a very special reason.
Mirage let out an exaggerated sigh.
“Anyway, it’s too much. I told him that I was from the East.”
“You’re a wizard. It’s impossible not to know.”
Jane laughed softly.
Mirage looked at the knight with a very confused face.
Not too long ago, Jane said, ‘You’re a magician? It’s been a long time since I fought with a magician.”
— and bombarded him with questions, so he continued to be wary of the handsome knight.
Victor also pretended not to know him, as if he fully agreed with Mirage’s attitude.
‘Are you okay?’
She pondered and gripped her horse’s reins.
An oasis appeared in front of them.
***
