My Husband Has Changed - Chapter 155



Only Noblemtl

#155. End of the Road
2024.03.03.

[Oblivion. And Regret.]

Adele opened her eyes wide in surprise. She

knew in her head that the suddenly thick fog was unnatural, but she hadn’t really felt it.

It was only after hearing Valentin’s words that she felt creepy. How much fog had she inhaled?

[I’d better hurry.]

“Okay.”

Adele hurriedly followed Valentin’s footsteps.

The more she thought about it, the more she began to feel that it was a great fortune to have met Valentin here.

The further she went into the passage, the worse the stench became.

The rotten air stung her eyes, stinging her eyes, and horribly torn flesh and pus-filled things covered the floor and ceiling. And it all seemed to be the corpse of something… … .

‘Wait a minute. What is that?’

She saw something wriggling near Valentin’s feet.

At first, she thought she had mistakenly seen something reflected in the light. But it was countless hands.

Thin hands crawled out from the shadows on the floor, trying to grab Valentin’s ankles.

Adele shuddered at the ugly sight, backing away hurriedly.

[Be careful.]

When she almost tripped on something slippery and fell, Valentin quickly came over and helped her up.

Adele grabbed his arm and looked at his ankles with an anxious face.

“Those things… … .”

In a moment, the number of things sticking to Valentin’s feet increased.

What was surprising was his attitude. Valentin seemed a little annoyed and bothered, but he didn’t completely chase them away. Maybe, it seemed like he couldn’t chase them away.

Adele swallowed the saliva that had gathered in her mouth.

[What things?]

“Those things that keep sticking to you. They look a little different from the ones I’ve seen before… … .”

He looked back at Adele with his eyes slightly wide open,

as if he had just realized that Adele was by his side.

Or, did he think she couldn’t see all this? Valentin slowly touched the corner of his mouth and replied.

[To put it simply, it was the minimum breakwater to prevent the spread of corruption.]

A breakwater? Then, was it Valentin who made it? Those things that looked so horrible? She blinked in confusion, and then barely understood when she saw Valentin wrapped in a bluish light.

In this strange space, Valentin seemed closer to a ‘god’ than ever.

Of course, you couldn’t judge the realm where gods walk with a mere human’s perspective.

Even if it was that horrible, it might not look horrible to Valentin’s eyes… … .

“It sounds like it was only like that in the past.”

[I literally can’t function anymore.]

Valentin confirmed that Adele was fine and pulled his hand away.

However, Adele was quicker to grab his hand tightly in a panic. Was it because she had seen something terrible? She desperately needed to feel the reality of being in contact with him.

“My legs gave out.”

As she made an excuse and lightly intertwined their fingertips, Valentin’s expression darkened slightly. He squeezed her hand tightly once and then slowly let go.

[I need to hurry up.]

Adele bit her trembling lips.

At first, she tried to convince herself that it might just be her imagination, but now it was clear. He was strangely pushing Adele out of his line.

Adele stared at the back of the man walking past her.

For a moment, she suspected that the man in front of her was not him, but another being imitating him.

‘Of course, that can’t be true.’

The power of authority that she could faintly feel from Valentin had once come from him, and thus from her.

“… … How much further do we have to go?”

Adele absentmindedly asked the question at the back of his head, realizing that her question must have sounded like a complaint, and hurriedly elaborated.

“I didn’t mean to sound weak. However, the scenery I see is so horrible and unsettling… … . I just don’t have the confidence to go any further… … .”

Adele trailed off as she tried to look away from something writhing on the floor. Valentin glanced back at her face and asked.

[What do you see?]

“These are bumpy tumors. Something thin is flowing out of them, spreading along the floor like veins. I can’t even tell how far it continues… … .”

“… … .”

“Can’t you see?”

The floor was covered with things that were either veins or snakes, and there were even stalactites hanging from the ceiling.

The horrible stench was a bonus. Just as she was about to ask how she could not have seen such things,

Valentin, who had been keeping a certain distance, approached her.

[Close your eyes.]

Adele looked at him with a suspicious face and then obediently closed her eyes.

Valentin’s voice seemed to contain some kind of irresistible power.

His body temperature and pulse transmitted through his palm gave her a strange sense of stability.

[Think of simple things. Like the underground prayer room in Ansgar Castle.]

“Have you ever been to the prayer room when you were in Ansgar Castle?”

[I saw you praying fervently to Morrig there.]

And when on earth did you see that…? I had been so busy since he ‘returned’ from death that I had completely forgotten to even take care of it.

There were many things she wanted to ask, but as he said, now was not the right time to resolve her curiosity.

There was no way to know where danger might be lurking. The most important goal was to rejoin the main force as soon as possible.

When Adele tried to move hastily, Valentin put strength into her hand. Adele was caught by him and gasped for breath.

[Take a deep breath first. Then slowly think of Hazel.]

“… … Hazel?”

It was a strange request. However, Valentin seemed very serious. Adele took a deep breath slowly and listened to him.

[Do you remember how the surrounding scenery changed rapidly when you first rode a horse?]

“Of course… … I remember.”

[Concentrate on that moment. The more specifically you imagine it, the better.]

“If it’s specific, how.”

[It would be better to start with the wind brushing against her cheek. She imagined her long hair fluttering behind her back in the gust of wind. And the sound buzzing in her ears. [You were so good that it was hard to believe it was your first time.]

“… … . ”

[I was surprised by the twitching horse muscles under my thighs. As I continued to gain speed, my breathing became more labored.] “… … .” [I remember my cheeks flushed with a sense of accomplishment, and my lips filled with joy. I burst into laughter when the tall grass brushed past and gave off a refreshing scent.] “… … .” [And I seemed to be fearlessly whispering in Hazel’s ear. A little faster, a little further.] At some point, every single scene he spoke of was vividly drawn in my head. They were clearly scenes from her memories. However, not everything matched her memories. When on earth did I become so good… … . The only memory she had of the first time riding Hazel was of her frozen body, fluttering around. [She let go of the reins and dashed toward her goal. Do you remember that too?] Adele nodded, holding her breath. Of course, her memory and Valentin’s memory were different. She was so scared that she just grabbed Hazel’s nape and the clever horse ran towards the hill as fast as it could… … . Was that why? It felt awkward to hear about herself from Valentin. She couldn’t believe that she could be such a lively and lovable being to someone. And at the same time, she felt like she knew now. She vaguely knew ‘how’ Valentin had been looking at her, the depth and temperature… … . [Recall slowly. Where we went after we climbed that hill. How we walked.] Valentin firmly grabbed Adele’s hand as she floundered in the air, not knowing what to do. Adele slowly walked forward, relying completely on him. Was it an illusion? As she walked forward, the unpleasant stench that had filled the surroundings seemed to gradually fade away. Even Adele was strongly seized by the illusion that she was walking in the middle of a forest. All the terrible things disappeared, and the birdsong, the sound of the stream, the scent of the lush fir trees that seemed to pierce the sky… … Adele took a deep breath. [Yes, that’s right.] His will now even felt like a smile. Finally, Valentin lowered the hand that had been covering her eyes. Adele slowly blinked her eyelids. And at the same time, Adele realized that the surrounding scenery had completely changed. The place where they were standing was an unfamiliar cave. She opened her eyes wide in surprise and looked around. Not only the stench, but everything that had felt so terrible had disappeared without a trace. Bright light and bird sounds were pouring in from the end of the long cave. And the fresh forest breeze… … “Oh my god.” She blinked her eyes in bewilderment.

“How did you do it?”

[To be precise, you did it. Human imagination is faster than anything else and extends to every direction.]

“Me?”

Valentin nodded indifferently.

[So whatever you do from now on, I hope you don’t set limits. Don’t give up on anything you want.]

It was a gentle request. At the same time, it sounded strange.

Adele nodded and said she understood, but she wondered what he meant by this advice. As if he wasn’t in her future… …

Adele forced herself to suppress her anxiety and smiled.

“I think there’s an exit. I think we can go there.”

She grabbed Valentin’s hand and pulled him gently.

Adele thought that he would be led by her hand, as he always had. But he was nailed to the spot and didn’t move.

[No, Adele.]

He said, letting go of her hand.

[This is as far as I can go with you.]
　

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