A Stuffed Cheonma in my Head - Chapter 211



Only Noblemtl

Episode 211. Lady Ophelia

It’s a world where death is common.

It is a world where tragedy prevails rather than comedy.

Still, I never expected that the first death would be so absurd.

If a horde of demons comes, I’ll be able to catch them and kill them somehow.

What do you want me to do if I die all of a sudden like this?

There was nothing I could do about it.

Cheonma muttered in a low tone.

[Death comes without warning.]

Still, they had to cover as much distance as possible during the day, so the procession moved west as planned.

Arthur and I took the woman out of the procession and made a small grave for her.

The woman watched in silence until her father was completely buried in the ground.

It seemed like he had no more energy to cry.

“after-”

I spoke to the woman, wiping the sweat from my forehead with my sleeve.

“Are you okay?”

The woman managed to answer in a hoarse voice.

“……yes.”

“Do you have any underlying medical condition?”

“You’ve been coughing… a lot. Today, your cough was a little worse than usual. I didn’t expect you to go away like this all of a sudden… .”

Arthur broke off a thick branch from somewhere and made a small cross in front of the grave.

“Forgive me. I don’t have the time, so this is all I can do… … .”

The woman shook her head at Arthur’s words.

“No. Thank you for your concern.”

She bowed to Arthur and me.

Although he had no expression, his appearance was even more sorrowful.

“… … .”

We stood in silence for a moment before the shabby tomb.

He expressed his condolences to the deceased in silence.

Arthur, holding the reins with one hand, extended his hand to the woman.

“Get in.”

The woman looked up at Arthur with a blank expression.

“I’ll take you there.”

“……yes.”

Arthur placed the woman in front of him and then looked at me.

“colon.”

I answered, looking at the modest grave.

“You go back first.”

Arthur nodded and walked away, making a variety of noises.

He watched as he returned to the procession carrying the woman who had lost her father… and took a silver flask out of his bosom.

I knelt on one knee and poured alcohol on the grave, saying:

“Go in peace.”

It tasted bitter for some reason, so I took a sip.

So I shared a drink with the dead.

This is my first commission as CEO.

The promise to send everyone safely to Milgard was shattered in vain.

[It was something you couldn’t do.]

“… … That’s true, but.”

I couldn’t help but feel a bitter taste on the tip of my tongue.

I took another sip of my drink.

* * *

The sun set and night came.

The carriages were parked side by side on the side of the road, and people gathered around a campfire to have dinner.

The campfire I was at had regular members Schmidt, Linda, Arthur, and Camus, who was away for a while. And of course, the spirits.

-Is that tasty?

-Just one bite for me too!

Camus returned to his seat while eating a soup seasoned with jerky and various spices, surrounded by spirits.

Camus grumbled as he checked the soup.

“No, you already ate half of it while I was away. Is that okay?”

I answered solemnly.

“It’s not that you’re half-eaten, it’s that you’re only half-eaten. Think positively, Camus.”

“I really want… … .”

Camus grumbled and poured his share of soup into his bowl.

I asked after seeing the scene.

“What did you say?”

Camus answered while eating his soup.

“The man’s name is Austin. I asked the people above, and they said he wasn’t part of the Saluki Order.”

“then?”

“One of the groomsmen at the top suddenly had to come in for some personal matter and was absent, so we hastily filled in the day before. The people at the top also didn’t seem to know the details of what he was doing.”

“hmm.”

“My daughter is Miss Ophelia. It seems that she was planning to move to the capital with her daughter this time.”

“Do you have family there?”

“I don’t know about that.”

I stopped listening to the story and turned my head to find the campfire where she was.

She was not far away.

Ophelia was sipping her soup with her head slightly bowed, her face looking very depressed.

The bloodless face looked like a pale doll.

The campfire flickers silently over her expressionless face.

The people sharing the same campfire seemed to be saying comforting words, but she didn’t seem to hear them at all.

Whatever.

I looked at Linda, who was eating her share of soup with gusto.

The guy’s soup was already turning purple.

“Is it delicious?”

“Yeah. The devil wants a bite too?”

“Okay. You eat a lot.”

“Yeah! The devil is really kind.”

“… … .”

“Yum yum.”

I looked at Linda, who was enjoying the soup, and asked.

“Linda.”

“huh?”

“Dead man. Did he appear to be poisoned?”

Linda shook her head.

“He just died from pain.”

“Are you sure?”

“huh.”

If Linda says so, then so be it.

In short, I just had terrible luck.

It’s not like there was any conspiracy or anything.

“Whew…….”

It was something that made me sigh.

How will Ophelia, left alone, live?

Of course I can support you financially, but that’s not the end of it.

How great would it be if all problems could be solved simply with money?

Even if she settles safely in the capital, how will she make a living after that?

I can’t continue to support you.

This has nothing to do with having a lot of money.

Because life is something we live alone anyway.

I could give her a little help, but now she had to navigate this difficult world alone.

She looked like a young girl who could have been in her early twenties.

To the point where the word woman feels a little awkward.

I know very well what it feels like to be thrown into the world alone, so it’s a situation that stands out in many ways.

At this moment, Arthur stood up from his seat after organizing my dishes.

Camus stopped eating his soup and looked at Arthur.

“Where are you going?”

Arthur spoke with his face still blunt.

“I’ll go see Miss Ophelia for a moment.”

Then he strode briskly towards the campfire where she was.

Camus, who was watching the scene, muttered quietly with a face of absurdity.

“Did that blunt guy have such a kind side?”

Schmidt nodded in silent agreement.

Linda was too busy eating her share of soup.

Does Arthur feel some sense of responsibility? Or is it simply sympathy?

I looked at Arthur, who was still sitting with a blunt face next to the timid Ophelia and staring at the campfire, and let out a small sigh.

* * *

The night has come in full force.

A situation where everyone has finished eating and is preparing well for the next day.

Arthur is back.

I asked Arthur.

“What about Miss Ophelia?”

“It looked like trouble.”

“what?”

“I heard you don’t know anyone in Milgard.”

“Then why did you want to go to Milgard?”

“I heard that her late father was planning to start some kind of business, but he didn’t tell her about it and kept it to himself.”

“hmm.”

At that moment, the sound of footsteps was heard, and Arthur looked in that direction and spoke in a low voice.

“Miss Ophelia.”

Arthur turned his head to see Ophelia standing there, out of the light.

The sight seemed quite unsettling.

“I’m sorry for interrupting you.”

I looked at her and spoke in the softest voice I could.

“Lady Ophelia. What brings you here?”

Ophelia flinched as our eyes met and she took a step further into the darkness.

“ah.”

Then he bowed his head and apologized belatedly.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize… … .”

“… … It’s okay. I think it would be better to talk to Arthur.”

It’s unfair.

‘No, I was just looking at it… … .’

In my mind, I could hear Cheonma laughing softly.

‘Are you laughing?’

[That ugly guy.]

I grumbled to myself as I laid out a blanket near the campfire and got ready for bed.

“Ang Maya… … .”

Linda was already sleeping on my lap, drooling.

Chiiik―

My pants are melting.

I nodded to Linda and said.

“Schmidt. Let’s deal with this poison.”

-yes!

Poison Squad member Schmidt saluted bravely, then expertly rolled Linda up in a blanket and placed her near the campfire.

Linda whined for a moment, as if she was frustrated, but then quickly fell asleep.

I gave Schmidt a thumbs up.

“Excellent, Agent Schmidt.”

-Just leave it to me!

Having successfully completed his mission, Agent Schmidt saluted again with a brave face.

Schmidt seemed very excited about being given the role of captain for the first time, and he became interested in playing soldier.

Meanwhile, I could hear two people talking behind me.

“Mr. Arthur, I’m really sorry to tell you this, but… … .”

“It’s okay, so feel free to talk.”

“Because I don’t know how to drive a carriage.”

“… …Are you talking about a carriage?”

“Yes. My father drove a carriage, but I haven’t learned yet.”

“… … .”

There was silence for a moment, as Arthur also seemed to be at a loss for words.

At the moment when Ophelia was fidgeting and trying to apologize again.

I spoke in a calm tone, laying a blanket on the floor.

“Arthur.”

“Speak, Captain.”

“I want you to teach Miss Ophelia how to drive a carriage for the time being.”

“… … Me?”

“okay.”

“until when?”

“Until Miss Ophelia can drive a carriage by herself.”

Before Arthur could say anything else, I gave him a commanding, solemn warning.

“This is an order, Arthur.”

“… … .”

Arthur looked at me blankly and answered reluctantly.

“Okay.”

Ophelia was at a loss.

“I, uh… I’m sorry. It’s because of me… … . Oh, no, thank you.”

Ophelia nodded several times and returned to her seat.

Arthur was silent for a moment and then said to me.

“Captain. Was it really necessary to do that?”

I know what you mean. It’s a shame, but I guess it’s a bit too much.

I answered, throwing a stick into the campfire.

“She’s a woman who just lost her father. I don’t know much about him because I don’t have a father, but I guess she feels like she’s lost in the world.”

“… … .”

“Did you see him standing alone in the dark? He looked very anxious. Like he was left alone in the world.”

“… … .”

“What she needs most right now is stability. Being with her. That shouldn’t be that hard, right?”

“That’s true.”

“I will stay with you for a while until Miss Ophelia finds stability.”

“… … .”

“answer.”

“… … Okay, I understand.”

The night deepened.

* * *

A quiet night.

It was a moonless night, so it seemed as if the whole place was covered in pitch black night, except for the small flickering bonfires here and there.

In the pitch-black darkness, Inyoung, holding a staff, muttered an unknown spell and sprayed something.

Then, a thick darkness poured out like fog in front of him, covering the area in front of him.

It was a darkness darker than a moonless night.

The black magician who had cast his spell sent a signal to the rear.

Soon, a force of people and demons who had been hiding behind me approached.

-Krrrr… … .

What was unusual was that the demons, who should have been going crazy and going crazy as if they had lost their minds, were actually quite docile.

It’s almost like following human orders.

It was an extraordinary sight.

Even among those demons, there were some that were quite large.

The majority of demons were D-class, but there were also some dangerous demons that appeared to be C-class here and there.

There were two demons that were clearly of a different level from them.

-Krrrrr!

-Keeek!

It was a B-class demon.

The army of demons and humans was not small in number.

Roughly speaking, it’s probably in the dozens.

Not only that, but similar forces were slowly approaching from the other side.

That is, the situation is slowly tightening on both sides of the campsite.

A force of troops capable of invading the city was quietly approaching those camped there.

This is not a forested terrain, but a plain with low hills rising up here and there.

Of course, no matter how dark it was, there was no way those on guard duty would not have seen the sight.

But the campsite was quiet.

Because they are approaching with a veil of darkness spread over them.

The curtain of darkness cast by the warlock hung like a large wall between them, preventing them from noticing their approach.

It seemed as if everything, including sight and sound, was absorbed into pitch-black darkness.

Their surprise attack, carried out with extreme caution, was undoubtedly a success.

Those advancing with the demons smiled sinisterly in the darkness.

Each of their bulging pouches contained a dark potion.

A great black magician, dozens of vicious beasts, and even beast-like humans who can instantly transform into beasts if they are caught.

I was confident I could win even if we had a head-on showdown in broad daylight.

In that case, a surprise attack in the middle of the night led by such an army.

They had no chance of winning.

Even if there are two owners of the platinum medal.

Look at them.

Aren’t you spending the night peacefully without any sense of crisis at this very moment?

A crisis comes without warning.

The warlock who had been standing at the front and spreading a curtain of darkness stopped walking.

The dark forces that had been following him also stopped.

The distance to the campsite where the bonfire was crackling was about 30 meters.

It’s a distance where light doesn’t reach.

If we went any further, there was a chance we would get caught.

The curtain of darkness blocks sight and sound, but not completely.

The closer you get, the higher the chance of being detected.

Moreover, those over there are the owners of the platinum shield.

No matter how careful you are, it’s not enough.

In that case, it would be better to just attack with full force from here on out.

These vicious beasts will tear them apart in just 3 seconds.

The warlock raised his hand with a dark smile.

“The blue sky is already dead.”

The demons stamped their feet, making low growling sounds.

The demons smiled wickedly and tensed their muscles.

“The dark sky will come.”

The moment the black magician’s hand goes down.

Chomp!

A twinkling starlight split the curtain of darkness vertically, and an eerie blood-red eye emerged from between them.

“… … !”

The red-eyed demon said with a ferocious smile.

“Why are you coming now?”

A crisis comes without warning.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

It was no exception for them either.