A Stuffed Cheonma in my Head - Chapter 214



Only Noblemtl

Episode 214. Come on, you damned fate.

I doubted my ears.

I doubted and doubted again.

Did I hear that wrong?

I can’t take this anymore. That woman’s head is a rock.

This son of a bitch. Let’s make a life-or-death decision… Did you mishear that?

I managed to get a sound out of my mouth.

“……what?”

Arthur spoke in a still calm tone to my stupid reaction.

“I said I was thinking of proposing to Miss Ophelia. What do you think, Captain?

Arthur, who was speaking like that, had an expression that was so stiff it was hard to describe, just like we had seen earlier.

Today, the straight burning candlelight was reflected in eyes that looked unusually clear.

That strong core caught my eye.

The moment I saw it, I realized.

‘This kid. Are you serious?’

A curse came out of my mouth.

“What the hell.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

“Why are you swearing?”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t know.”

I thought deeply while apologizing.

‘… …Why did I start swearing all of a sudden?’

I couldn’t figure out why, even when I thought about it. It was reflexive.

I couldn’t figure out the exact reason, but when I thought about it carefully, I could figure out what the emotion was.

It was a wrath that burned like fire.

‘From teacher and student to lovers? Is this allowed?

I don’t know why, but I’m angry.

My stomach is seething.

I want to slam that shameless face into the ground right now.

Cheonma chuckled and took the medicine.

[Are you jealous?]

“What? Timing? That’s ridiculous. I’m not a kid.”

“……colon?”

I answered with a solemn face.

“It was a soliloquy.”

“… … .”

Arthur looked at me blankly for a moment and then said.

“I think it would be a good idea for the captain to visit the doctor.”

“I’ll take care of that.”

I scratched my cheek and looked around.

It was a late night and everyone was asleep.

Even the spirits that had been bothering me fell asleep on my lap, whimpering.

No one but me heard this shocking news.

I couldn’t sleep so I was looking at the fireworks for a while, and then this bolt from the blue came.

I glanced at Camus, who was sleeping soundly next to me, and said:

“Did you tell Camus too?”

Arthur shook his head.

“This is your first time as captain.”

I looked at Arthur, shaking my head nervously.

I thought I knew why the Black Prince had such a habit of not being able to keep his head still.

“… … I thought you hated Miss Ophelia.”

“Me? Why?”

Arthur opened his eyes slightly.

“Why would that be?”

“Why. Every time Miss Ophelia came near, you made a shit-eating expression.”

Arthur hesitated for a moment, choosing his words.

“… … In fact, every time Miss Ophelia approached, my heart would pound so hard that I would get dizzy.”

“Sick.”

“I was shaking so hard I tried to keep my composure. I didn’t realize it would show on the outside.”

“… … .”

A moment of silence passed between us.

I looked at the bonfire dancing with flames.

He asked casually, breaking a dry branch in half and throwing it at me.

“Since when?”

Arthur fell silent for a moment, as if lost in thought.

Then, soon, his blunt expression began to soften, so I struck him first.

“No, shut up. I don’t want to hear it.”

“… … You haven’t said anything yet?”

“I’m starting to get a little excited. I don’t want to hear your love story, so keep your mouth shut.”

“… … .”

Arthur looked at me for a moment as if he found it absurd and then asked.

“So, what do you think, Captain?”

I answered honestly.

“Isn’t that too hasty? You’re proposing to me after only meeting me for a short time?”

Arthur stared at the campfire in silence for a while.

“Captain. I am a mercenary.”

I looked at him for a moment, wondering what he was going to say, and then answered.

“I’m a mercenary too.”

“It’s different from the captain.”

“What’s different?”

“The captain is the owner of the platinum shield. I am not a great mercenary like the captain.”

Arthur took something out of his bosom.

It was a silver medal.

“I’ve been through so many near-death experiences. I thought I was used to it.”

Then Arthur quietly swept the faded silver shield.

It was like meeting an old friend.

“But it was a mistake.”

Arthur looked at me.

“The attack a few days ago. If the captain hadn’t noticed it and warned me in advance, and if I hadn’t prepared thoroughly, I would have died for sure.”

“hmm.”

“I finally realized that death was closer than I thought. That I had survived until now only because I was lucky.”

I knew that without having to listen to the backtalk. I was like that once too.

How long can that luck last?

I stared quietly into Arthur’s eyes.

It was clear and deep snow like spring water deep in the mountains.

Those were definitely not the eyes of a man steeped in defeatism.

“So… are you saying you’re going to retire like this?”

“… … .”

“To be honest, my skills aren’t bad. My mana management is pretty good, and I’m also young. My skills aren’t enough to stop at a silver medal. If I work hard, I’ll be able to get a gold medal someday.”

“I don’t have any such grand goals. I started out as a mercenary to make a living.”

“I see.”

Arthur looked at Camus, who was sleeping oblivious to the world next to him, and said.

“I often thought to myself when I looked at Camus, that when I get to be his age, the only things I’ll have are wrinkles and scars.”

“hmm.”

“Then, your skills will gradually decline and your abilities will deteriorate. What will you do then? Since the only thing you can do is be a mercenary, you will try something else and come back. You have to cover up your lack of quick reflexes with experience, but if you do that and make a mistake, you will be gone right away.”

“… … .”

“If you’re unlucky, you’ll end up in one room. If you’re lucky, you’ll end up a poor cripple who spends the rest of your life begging on the streets. No, looking at it this way, it’s actually better to end up in one room.”

… … It’s almost like a curse word?

“Ugh… … .”

Camus tossed and turned as if he was having a nightmare.

Arthur quietly muttered while looking at Camus like that.

“Every time I saw him, it was like I was seeing my future. Sure, he’s a great mercenary, but that’s not the path I want to take.”

Arthur spoke in a calm, definitive tone.

“Mercenary work. It’s something that won’t last long.”

That’s true.

It is normal for anyone with even a little bit of sense to say that they want to make money quickly and quit being a mercenary.

Isn’t this an extremely dangerous thing where you could end up getting stabbed to death tomorrow?

I realized that he was a man of great insight.

Suddenly, I thought of the man who was living a leisurely life as the head of a mercenary guild branch in the lower town.

“hmm.”

This is where I realized it.

The road diverges.

Arthur is taking a different path from me.

No, can we call this a split?

From the beginning, Arthur was a person who had a different path in mind than me.

If I had tried to see the end of this road, Arthur was a man who lived his life with the goal of getting off this road.

I liked his solid words and actions, so I tried to subtly suggest that he join, but it was a shame.

“Have you seen Miss Ophelia?”

He nodded quietly.

“I saw it.”

“She is truly a lovely woman. She is clumsy and immature in many ways. So she experiences many failures and frustrations. But she is a woman who gets up again with courage every time.”

“… … .”

“It was a night when everyone was asleep. While I was on night watch, I happened to see Miss Ophelia crying quietly in secret. She never showed it to me during the day.”

Has that ever happened?

“I suddenly felt like I wanted to comfort her. But I had to stop myself.”

“why?”

“What right do I have? What right do I have to comfort her?”

I don’t think that comfort requires qualifications, but… this serious man seems to have different thoughts about everything.

“I thought about it and realized that if we became a couple, I would have the ability to comfort others. It started from there.”

“I see.”

“I lost my father, but I am bravely overcoming it. I think I can live well with a woman like that. I think we can overcome any adversity that comes our way.”

“… … .”

“I… don’t want to collapse alone without any meaning. If I’m with her, I think I can definitely find some meaning.”

Was Arthur such a talkative man?

I stared blankly at Arthur, who had become overly talkative.

He was looking at the campfire with a faint smile on his face.

‘This guy. He’s serious.’

Judging from the way he speaks so fluently, it seems like he’s been thinking about retirement often?

So, I was thinking about how I would live after retiring from being a mercenary.

Then I came face to face with death and smelled it up close.

It must have been a sudden realization.

I can’t go on living like this – that kind of thing.

There, by chance, I met a woman I liked.

If so, the man’s determination is natural.

I thought about it for a while and then asked.

“You haven’t told Miss Ophelia yet?”

“exactly.”

“But if Miss Ophelia refuses, isn’t it a total failure?”

Arthur blinked.

“That’s true.”

I had a glimmer of hope.

The next day.

Arthur laughed out loud, uncharacteristically, and dashed my last shred of hope.

“She accepted my proposal.”

… …Fuck.

* * *

The convoy was peaceful.

It was so absurd that we didn’t let our guard down in anticipation that the Amcheon-gyo bastards would invade again.

There’s not much left to reach the destination.

As you get closer to the capital, you will begin to see the large and small cities that have sprung up around it.

By then, those guys won’t be able to act recklessly.

So if they invade again, it will be today… … .

There is no news at all.

It’s a shame.

Arthur returned to his job as Miss Ophelia’s coachman, now in charge of escorting the third carriage.

The reason was simple.

“So. Has Miss Ophelia’s carriage driving skills improved?”

“I’ve improved a lot. I can now drive by myself without any problems. Although I still get a little flustered when things get unexpected.”

“okay?”

“exactly.”

“Then return to your original position.”

“… … .”

Arthur’s face, which had been reporting to me with a proud expression, suddenly hardened.

I didn’t avoid his gaze and raised one corner of my mouth.

‘Do you think I’m going to just sit by and watch you guys get all worked up over it? There’s no way. If you’re going to do it, do it where I can’t see you, you son of a bitch.’

Cheonma clicked his tongue.

[That guy is like a bandeng inside.]

“What are you talking about? I’m just doing what I have to do as the leader of the escort mission.”

[Tsk tsk… … .]

I got down from the carriage to patrol the procession on the back of the deer spirit as usual.

Then Arthur followed him as if he had been waiting for him.

“what?”

“What is it? Isn’t this something we always do together?”

I gave the order in a cold tone.

“Who said you were coming with me? Go back to your position.”

“… … .”

Arthur glared at me for a moment before returning to his position.

I slowly walked back through the procession and received reports from the mercenaries.

When you get to the back like that.

He praised Miss Ophelia, who had become a bride-to-be.

“Miss Ophelia. You are quite the carriage driver.”

“Oh, okay, thank you!”

“It makes me wonder if he even received separate priest training.”

“… … Yes? Ahh!”

Ophelia’s face instantly turned bright red.

“Wh, wh …

Ophelia was flustered and moved her hands hurriedly.

Then, as the reins were pulled to one side, the carriage suddenly veered off course and ran to one side.

“Hey, stop! Stop it!”

Miss Ophelia, very embarrassed, shook the reins wildly.

The speed has increased.

Doo doo doo doo!

Now there was only a bumpy plain with not many trees, so the carriage went straight over the hill and into the distance.

“… … .”

“… … .”

I stared blankly at the sight and then gave instructions to the mercenary in charge of the carriage.

“I’ll go, so keep going at this pace.”

“… … Understood, Captain.”

I chased after the priest who was running away in a hurry after receiving a salute from Schmidt who was at the rear.

It wasn’t difficult to catch up.

Because the deer spirit was several times faster than a horse.

“Miss Ophelia.”

“Ahh! Mr. Ashvan! They won’t listen! They won’t stop!”

“hmm.”

Arthur’s path of suffering was clearly visible.

How is Arthur going to live with such a troublemaker?

I immediately jumped off the deer’s back and settled down on the stable next to her.

“Miss Ophelia, what will happen if the soon-to-be bride can’t even drive a carriage?”

Ophelia looked at me with wide eyes.

“Ahhh, did Mr. Ah-ah-ah say that?”

“I didn’t know that the captain had a duty to consult.”

“It was a secret!”

“Don’t worry, I’m the only one who knows. But that’s not important right now. If things continue like this, it’ll look like I ran away because I didn’t want to marry Arthur.”

“That can’t be true! Mr. Arthur is so kind, so cool, and… … .”

Looking at Miss Ophelia, who was blushing and hesitating, I felt a strange heat.

‘Oh, this is so frustrating.’

I was briefly thinking about kidnapping the bride like this… … .

-Ugh! It smells!

-It’s terrible!

-My nose hurts so much!

-Where are you from?

The spirits that had been following behind reacted.

I looked around quickly.

Before we knew it, we were surrounded by a large group of black guys from far away.

Those who approach with a dark aura emanating from them.

I had the illusion that darkness was suddenly falling on the plains in broad daylight.

“……this.”

“Ah, Mr. Ashvan!”

“Shh. Stay calm.”

No matter how important the convoy was, it couldn’t be more important than Arthur’s new bride.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

“Whoa!”

I jumped out of the carriage, holding Miss Ophelia in my arms.

The carriage raced towards the blackened encirclement, but was hit by the black aura thrown by the men and fell over onto the side, rolling over.

Why do you kill innocent horses, you wicked bastards?

But it wasn’t surprising since he was basically equipped with the temperament to kill the bad guys first.

He didn’t look normal, probably because he had already taken the potion.

His height was roughly twice my height, and his build was three or four times that of an average adult.

However, the symbol of the devil was not that prominent.

From a distance, he just looks like an overly large person.

It seems like the body transformation wasn’t something that happened randomly, but rather something I learned to control to some extent.

I could sense a calm, sharp murderous aura from them, as if they had refined the ferocity of the devil.

It seemed like the potion’s energy was well-balanced.

So, I think it would be appropriate to think of it as a sword and a magic wand.

It seemed like it would be difficult to deal with, as it only took away the power of the devil and the ominous mana, but still had its intelligence.

It feels like it’s one level higher than the half-human, half-beasts I’ve met so far.

He reassured Ophelia, who was trembling as she watched the men slowly closing in on her.

In the most gentle and calm tone possible. As if nothing was going to happen.

“Miss Ophelia, listen to me carefully.”

“Yes, yes.”

“From now on, I’m going to sit down slowly and crouch down. Think about making your body as small as possible. Like a hedgehog.”

“Oh, like this?”

“Yes. Good. And now I’m going to close my eyes, and you must not open them until I tell you to.”

“Close your eyes?”

“Do you trust me?”

Miss Ophelia looked at me for a moment.

Then he nodded with a solemn expression.

“… …I believe.”

I said in a soft tone.

“If you close your eyes for a moment and open them, nothing will happen.”

I drew my sword and drew a circle around Ophelia.

Nothing can invade here.

Because the bride must return to the groom.

Dozens of half-human, half-beast men wielding swords were slowly approaching.

It seemed as if darkness was slowly falling.

Their eyes met with the warlock behind them. It was the one I had seen the other day.

The man stared at me for a moment, then held his cane out in front of him.

“Hit it.”

They rushed in from all directions, each with a black aura surrounding their weapon.

“Phew… … .”

With my eyes closed, I recognized the circle I had drawn.

This circle is my gap.

If you come inside, you will be punished.

If even a single thread comes in, I’ll cut it down.

Even if dark fate rears its head, there will be no exception to it.

A soft moonlight rose on the half-sword.

“Come on, you damned fate.”

He hummed softly.

“I’ll break them all.”