Chapter 54
"It seems like he's still going through a stormy phase."
The sarcastic tone in Darcy's voice made it clear that he was angry. However, I noticed that his gaze remained fixed on the boy. It was different from the anger he directed at Ryan. There was a deeper emotion behind his expression, sothing beyond re anger toward the child.
"You want to save him, don't you?"
"Of course not."
"Then why are you looking at him like that?"
Darcy turned to face , his eyes montarily clouded.
"He knows what I did. Even if I save him, he won't be grateful."
Darcy confessed the reason why he was hesitant to act.
Although I didn't know the full details, it was clear that Darcy's magic didn’t work on that boy, who also knew his identity. If the boy knew what Darcy had done, it made sense that he wouldn't welco any help from him. After all, Darcy had once been an enemy to the magicians, fighting against them.
But that didn’t an we could just turn a blind eye.
Seeing Darcy looking more anxious than usual was unsettling. His brows were furrowed, and he bit his lip.
"Let's just go."
But his steps had long since halted. Despite his words, he didn’t move.
It was as if the guilt he had managed to escape from montarily had co crashing back, pulling him out of the dreamlike state he had been in.
Darcy, who usually had nothing to fear, now seed small and vulnerable before these people—people whose very presence reminded him of his guilt, even in a place far from the Empire.
I felt a surge of raw emotion.
The fear in his eyes was deeper than I had imagined, like staring into an endless abyss.
I wondered if this was a chance for
to take the lead.
'Maybe this is an opportunity.'
I squeezed his hand tightly.
"Darcy."
"Yes?"
"Let’s save him and bring him back to the refuge."
"...What?"
"It's a chance to earn their trust."
"But why..."
"Because I don’t want to miss this chance."
I spoke up on behalf of Darcy, who couldn’t bring himself to say he wanted to help.
I held his hand firmly, eting his gaze.
"You need to do this."
Darcy looked at
with wide eyes, clearly taken aback, but I just smiled softly.
"This is part of the process for
to be happy."
I didn’t bother to explain further—that if we could build trust with the magicians and see them happy, I too would find happiness.
But he understood my aning.
And at that mont, I realized sothing important.
For
to be happy, you first need to find happiness.
"Alright."
When he nodded in reluctant agreent, his face softened, and my heart raced once more.
Because in that mont, I felt truly alive.
Darcy paused, gazing at
intently. His stare always made my heart flutter, but it also made
nervous.
As I stood there, tense, Darcy gently tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and whispered,
"First, let’s find out why they were captured."
The island we had arrived on was far from our Empire.
The island, which had minimal contact with the Empire, was very closed off and didn’t easily welco outsiders.
But its beautiful year-round weather and fertile land made it hard to resist.
‘The Empire had coveted this place for a long ti.’
However, the Empire had never managed to conquer it.
The treacherous waters, much like the Bermuda Triangle, often swallowed ships, and the island was too far from the Empire to be easily managed as a colony.
In the end, the Empire had abandoned its attempts to claim the island.
Those who found life difficult in the Empire often sought refuge on the island.
The islanders took great pride in their ho and were very protective of it, harshly punishing any unauthorized intruders.
Anyone who entered or left the island without following its laws and procedures was captured and turned into a slave.
Magic was rare on the island. Instead, they used branding on the flesh.
Of course, these dangers didn’t concern Darcy.
It was one of the reasons he had considered making this place his ho.
Thanks to Darcy’s teleportation, we had arrived with the forged docunts and identification he had prepared, making us legally—well, technically illegally—registered travelers.
The boy who had been shaking the bars of the prison cart stared at . He seed to recognize , his fierce struggle to break free suddenly halted.
"He’s acting like he knows who you are?"
We had changed our hair and eye colors before leaving the beach.
"If it's that boy, it’s possible."
Darcy muttered. The boy had imdiately recognized both Darcy and
despite our altered appearances.
The boy knew Darcy’s true identity.
"His specialized ability is 'clairvoyance.'"
Hearing Darcy's explanation, I understood. Clairvoyance allowed him to see through a person’s true nature.
Even if soone used magic to disguise themselves, he could still recognize who they were.
"That makes sense."
If the boy’s ability was clairvoyance and he knew that Darcy had captured magicians in the past, it’s understandable that he wouldn’t like him.
That’s why talking to him was necessary. It was a chance to clear up any misunderstandings.
'Though talking doesn’t always resolve misunderstandings.'
For those deeply entrenched in their preconceptions, even that can be seen as a hostile act.
I quietly observed the people who had passed by us.
Six n were surrounding the prison cart, with two more on horseback leading the way. A total of eight n.
"Shouldn’t we figure out where they’re taking him?"
"I know. They’ll probably lock him up in the prison near the sea for the night."
"Really?"
"And tomorrow, there will be a trial. If they can’t prove their innocence, they’ll be branded as slaves imdiately."
Darcy knew the island’s workings inside and out, just as one would expect from soone who had considered living here.
If he had co here, he probably would have blended in naturally, like soone born on the island.
Darcy watched the boy, who was still pointing and shouting at him.
"Is that just how kids are at that age?"
"...Yes."
I didn’t ntion how the boy’s defiant deanor reminded
of how Darcy was when I first t him.
Even the silver hair and blue eyes bore a resemblance.
"When do you plan to go?"
Darcy glanced at the sun in the sky and replied.
"By evening, the guards will be more relaxed, so let’s enjoy our vacation until then."
Given Darcy’s abilities, his current relaxed deanor wasn’t surprising. He had confidence that he could handle things later.
"Alright, let’s eat."
Nothing goes well on an empty stomach. Besides, we could plan while we ate.
Despite Darcy’s abilities, I didn’t want to rely on him too much. Depending solely on his power would be no different from how Emperor Kies treated him.
As the soldiers moved away, people quickly resud their business.
"Okay, let’s eat and prepare."
We entered a restaurant. The view, with the ocean right outside, was stunning.
The seafood was rich in flavor and freshness, just as you’d expect from a seaside location.
I took pictures while eating, hoping to bring others here in the future.
It was thrilling to think that my experience could beco soone else’s knowledge.
After finishing our al, I packed a lobster sandwich to go. I thought it might be nice to give it to the boy later.
He looked like he hadn’t eaten in a while, and there’s nothing more important than providing food to soone hungry. Food is essential.
As the sun began to set, we sat in our seats, watching the ocean connected to the restaurant.
"You see that lighthouse?"
Darcy pointed at the lighthouse while pretending to admire the view.
"There’s a subterranean prison beneath that lighthouse. That’s where they’ll be."
Not everyone brought to this island was killed right away.
"When we get there, we can see the records detailing why each person was captured."
"...Could others have been wrongfully imprisoned too?"
"It doesn’t seem likely. So of them had branding marks... and the rest looked quite rough."
I had felt uneasy about rescuing just the boy, but that guilt quickly faded.
But Darcy could be wrong too.
"Still, let’s check."
"We will. But..."
After a brief pause, Darcy pushed the dessert that had just arrived toward
and spoke cautiously.
"Why don’t you wait here?"
"Would I be a burden?"
"No, you wouldn’t be a burden. But it could be dangerous."
He was only suggesting this because he cared about . But after considering it carefully, I shook my head.
I couldn’t let him face that boy alone.
Even if it was only for a mont, I needed to be there if I was needed.
I knew Darcy could handle the situation without . He was stronger and more capable than I was.
But that didn’t an he wouldn’t get hurt.
And in the long run, this would be good for
too. After all, I was going to et the magicians.
"Then I’ll go with you."
"Alright, but..."
Under the table, Darcy handed
sothing. I discreetly grabbed it, only to gasp when I realized what it was.
"A gun."
"Use it if necessary. I’ve already loaded it with magic stones."
...I’ve never fired a gun in my life.
But Darcy’s face was more serious than I had expected. And the truth was, the situation could indeed beco dangerous.
It’s not a real gun. Rembering the gas from the world before I beca Marceau, I took a deep breath.
I couldn’t let Darcy bear all the danger alone.
If he was willing to take risks, I needed to be able to help him too. Not just with my wealth and power.
This might be the ti to reveal so hidden talents.
And this gun was made based on knowledge I had shared.
'It’s not for killing people, but for subduing them.'
Reviving my sense of morality as a modern person, I carefully hid the gun in my bag.
Evening was approaching.
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