Chapter 68

“This village is still peaceful.”

Even if you rub your eyes and look around, you won’t find any flashy lights or fancy buildings. But maybe that’s a good thing.

It’s a village where greed or ugliness for such things doesn’t exist at all. Of course, if you go to the tavern, you might see some people swearing and throwing punches, but even considering that, it’s a very peaceful village.

Compared to the filthy capital, it’s like a clear spring.

“…Yeah, I get that it’s a peaceful village.”

Kyle, who had just stabbed a spike into an orc’s skull, grumbled in dissatisfaction.

“But why do we have to deal with these demon brutes near the village?”

“It’s like brushing off cookie crumbs from where you sleep. If you leave them alone, they’ll just attract more ants.”

“Well, Raul, you’re quite popular with the demons. Especially with that dragon…”

“Kyle.”

I silenced Kyle by driving my hand blade into the neck of a troll that lunged at me.

The blood splattered on my face, but I didn’t care. Getting my face dirty is nothing.

“I recommend not bringing up the existence of such unpleasant creatures.”

No matter what, I wanted to kill that woman. That lizard who mocked Layla’s death—I was determined to kill her at any cost.

After all, it was her scheme that led to Layla’s death. If it weren’t for that cursed creature, Layla would still be alive.

“By the way, it’s annoying. I didn’t expect the demons to hide this far.”

“They might be scouts sent to watch me. They seem to be around here too.”

I won’t let them extend their reach into this village. I won’t lose what’s mine helplessly again.

Only two people deserve the flowers I offer at the grave.

The cost of the flowers might be burdensome, and my tears should belong solely to them.

“By the way, didn’t you kill some bandits not long ago?”

“…Yeah. They were impersonating Layla’s name.”

“They deserved it. Even if you hadn’t killed them, I would have.”

Most of those who impersonate others’ honor or achievements are trash that can’t be left alive.

“Besides the bandits, there were giants too.”

“Giants, you say…”

“Moreover, they knew I lived in this village. They even made comments as if someone had told them.”

If they knew I was in this village, there was no reason to send scouts. It would only give me a chance to track them down.

Why were these demons placed around the village? And why such weak ones? It almost seemed like they were trying to plant seeds of doubt in me.

If the Dragon Queen is behind this, even guessing her reasons would be a waste of time. That monster is wise but often does things beyond common sense just to see me.

As a result, I managed to take her wings and arms… but her obsession and madness were beyond my understanding, and I didn’t want to understand.

She’s just a disaster that can speak human words.

“…Kyle.”

“What now? If you suggest going to another place, I might really rebel.”

“Do you smell something faint?”

“Smell? It’s probably the blood and guts of the demons we just killed…”

“No.”

I turned my gaze toward the village.

“The stench of those vile dragons.”

How could I ever forget that smell?

The day I was humiliated, the day I killed Layla, the day I tore off her wings and arms—all those days, I smelled this intoxicatingly repulsive scent.

“We need to return to the village as soon as possible.”

“But we haven’t even eaten since dawn…”

“It’s an order, Kyle.”

“…Yes.”

After running as if tearing through the ground, we finally reached the village outskirts, catching our breath and adjusting our weapons.

Kyle, sensing something unusual, was also tense.

“Hey, Lord, what are you doing there?”

As expected, Cecilia seemed to smell me from afar. She always came out to greet me whenever I arrived in the village.

“Cecilia. Has any strange monster appeared in the village? Like wyverns or dragonkin…”

“I’ve never seen dragonkin in my life.”

“Any strange occurrences? A suspicious woman, perhaps?”

“I’m not sure, but the traveling pharmacist who visits the village periodically came by after a long time.”

“…Take me to her.”

It was strange that a dragon obsessed with slaughter would be a pharmacist, but I had to see it with my own eyes.

If it’s the Dragon Queen, I’ll tear her to pieces, even if it costs me everything.

Even if I die and go to hell.

“That woman over there.”

She was sitting by the pond, distributing herbs to the elderly.

Neat purple hair, smooth skin, and a face so captivating it could stir lust, along with that intoxicating scent.

I rushed at her, swinging my hand blade. As soon as it touched her neck, I could have severed that detestable head.

“Oh my.”

But she didn’t resist. Just before my hand blade reached her neck, I stopped. If I hadn’t, her head would have been rolling on the ground by now.

If she were the Dragon Queen, she would have easily blocked this attack.

“Do you need medicine? If so, could you wait a moment? I need to take care of these elders first.”

I froze.

The Dragon Queen wouldn’t give medicine to humans. This act could be a performance, but…

The two hands that held mine couldn’t be faked.

I had clearly torn off her arms and wings. No matter how she transformed into a human, she couldn’t hide those missing parts.

Unless she used some kind of sorcery, it was impossible. Even if she regenerated her arms with some unique spell, the cost would be enormous.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Sharia. Just a wandering pharmacist.”

“I don’t trust medicine from a wanderer.”

“Oh, really?”

Then she took a pill from her bag and handed it to me.

“Would you like to try it?”

“I told you. I don’t trust medicine from a wanderer.”

“If anything happens, you can cut off my head then.”

Her determined eyes made me chew and swallow the pill.

I’m weak to people with such eyes.

If I felt anything strange, I could just spit it out and cut her head off.

“Hmm…”

The chest pain caused by the dragon’s poison completely disappeared. No painkiller had ever relieved the pain so effectively.

“What did you do?”

“I just mixed marigold, chamomile, hallucinogenic thistle, poppy snail shells, and opiate deer antler powder, then hardened it.”

“You’re insane.”

Each of those ingredients could get you severely punished just for possessing them.

“But it worked, didn’t it? Rest assured, I removed the toxicity.”

Indeed, I didn’t feel any of the addictive or euphoric effects typical of those illegal ingredients.

“Who are you…? How did you get those ingredients and the skill to remove the toxicity…”

“Hehe…”

She placed a finger on my lips and smiled faintly.

“Men who try to know too much about a lady’s secrets aren’t very popular, you know?”

“…”

She was an enigma.

But I couldn’t take her life just for that.

At this distance, I could kill her with a single strike, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. There’s nothing more despicable than harming an unrelated person out of personal hatred.

No matter how accurate my sense of smell is, it’s still just an abstract piece of evidence. It’s not as concrete as my own eyes seeing her intact arms.

“…Let’s go back, Kyle.”

“Raul!”

“I can’t kill her just because of suspicion. If I kill someone for such a reason, I’d be no different from that woman, a demon.”

“Even so…”

She was smiling brightly despite the talk of killing.

Was it confidence? Or just her naturally optimistic personality? Either way, it didn’t sit well with me.

I don’t like women who smile in such serious situations.

“Let me tell you one thing. I don’t like wanderers like you. If you settle in the village, that’s one thing, but as long as you’re a wanderer, you won’t be welcomed.”

“Oh my, is this a proposal to stay in the village? How romantic. I’ll consider it carefully.”

Her somewhat irritating way of speaking was something I decided to let slide.

“By the way, may I ask your name?”

“Didn’t my subordinate just say it? Raul.”

“No. I want to know your full name. As a thank you for the medicine.”

She was truly a peculiar woman.

“Raul Muska. It’s Raul Muska.”

“I see… Such a name…”

It was just an ordinary alias, but she seemed amused.

“We’re not so different after all.”

She left an enigmatic answer and returned to the inn she was staying at.

“Kyle.”

“Yes, Raul.”

“Keep an eye on that woman.”