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“!!”
Randell looked up and stared at Nina, who waved her hand.
“I didn’t read more than that. I folded the notebook when I saw what the content was about. I thought you should read it.”
“Yeah.”
He snatched the notebook away from Nina and stuffed it roughly into his pocket.
“I need to look at the data first.”
“Yes.”
Nina nodded her head.
On their return, Randell was idly reading the material, unable to focus, and went out for a moment to get some fresh air.
Jack asked.
“What did you give him earlier?”
“The diary of Randell’s teacher.”
“He won’t come back for a long time.”
“I guess so.”
“You don’t have to go?”
“He wants to be alone, and after he has enough alone time, he will say if he wants someone to be with him.”
“Why do you always worry about that edgy wizard? Just like how you easily coax the master······. Aherm······. Or is it not?”
Jack scratched his chin and Nina laughed.
“Well, maybe it’s because I’ve been together with the Young Master for a long time. It’s only natural to get along with each other······. It’s not difficult.”
“That’s probably because it’s Dame Nina. By the way, I hope it pays off now that we’ve robbed these.”
“Indeed. Now, all we need is to know the materials needed to make Taroks so we can build our own Wizard’s Tower. Randell needs to come to the world too.”
The two chatted, organized the house, and began to cover their tracks. Jack seemed to want to sneak in a few more times and dig into the other labs and analyze the structure of the castle, but it was time to leave.
‘And that dream, um······. If it’s correct, isn’t this island going to sink?’
Then what help will it be to know the structure of the castle?
‘Well, it’s not like I know what’s going to happen for sure.’
Randell did not return even until dawn. Eventually, when it was almost dawn the next day, Nina went out to look for him. She could tell where he would be without having to ask North Wind.
In the reef full of waves.
The place where we first arrived.
There, Randell stood, looking down at the sea like a statue. Nina stood by his side. The sound of the waves crashing against the reef was loud. The white foam almost hit their feet.
“I didn’t read it.”
Randell opened his mouth. Nina looked at him, but he didn’t turn to look at her, so she also fixed her eyes on the oncoming waves.
“I couldn’t read it. So······.”
He bit his lip.
“I threw it.”
Nina opened her eyes wide.
“I threw it and stood right here. I couldn’t even go back. Why did I-. ······Why.”
He looked confused.
“What do I do, Nina?”
“Well, let’s pick up the notebook.”
Nina said briefly and Randell asked, “How?” as she stood at the edge of the cliff.
“We can just go and find it.”
“Oh damn it, Nina!!”
Have a look at my great diving skills.
Nina dived gracefully into the sea. It was full of reefs, so usually anyone would crack like an egg, but who was she?
Isn’t she the super lightweight human being that has the help of the North Wind?
Her body drew a more distant parabola and fell into the sea over the reef.
Now, how do I find that notebook?
If something doesn’t go deep below the waves, it will be swept away and thrown on the reefs. Maybe the notebook is on the reef?
‘At times like this, I really wish for the help of Adrian’s Spirit.’
She thought it would be easier to find it if she asked the Shadow. Nina first went up to the surface and waved her arms to Randell, signaling that she was all right.
He was shouting something, but the waves were too loud to make out what it was, but when she heard the sound in the middle of the waves, no matter how she looked at it, it felt like he was cursing her.
“Let’s see. Who should I ask for help?”
There is no wind in the water so······.
“All right.”
Nina smiled, took a deep breath, and chanted.
“Everywhere the light touches is your land, and all life grows with your blessing. Your eyes watch over the whole earth; find with your eyes, Oh Sun, what I seek.”
And she dived into the sea once more.
Looking around, she saw a mirror-like silhouette reflecting the light, shining like a gleam of light.
‘That’s it!’
I’m really glad it’s after dawn.
(Note: or else there would be no light from the Sun to find it.)
Nina swam, and as she was swept away by the waves several times and almost hit the reef, she finally grabbed the notebook. She couldn’t avoid scratching her arm because the notebook got stuck between the narrow gaps.
‘Got it!’
Nina put the notebook in her pocket and swam back to the shoreline. She climbed cautiously over the stones covered with smooth moss and rough barnacles, she called to North wind, and it returned Nina to the place where she was before.
Randell squeezed her shoulders tightly.
“Are you crazy?! What are you doing?!!”
“The notebook······.”
“You didn’t have to do it, damn it, Nina La Dell, are you crazy?! Do you want to test your head to see if it’s stronger or a reef? I never thought you’d be that stupid.”
“Randell.”
“If you want to kill yourself, do it somewhere else, don’t jump into the sea saying it’s because of me.”
“Randell.”
“If you do one more stupid things like thi-“
Nina reached out, covered his mouth, and sighed.
“I’m fine. I jumped because I knew I’ll be all right. I’m sorry, but I don’t think my life is that cheap to risk myself for a notebook, so why don’t you stop thinking that silly idea that I threw myself in danger foolishly like a dog?”
Randell frowned and sighed.
“Of course, I would think it’s dangerous in that kind of situation. Besides, you say you’re fine but what is this?”
He grabbed Nina’s wrist and raised her arm. The wound was revealed between the torn sleeves. The thin wound was not big, so the blood had already stopped, but there was a red line.
“I didn’t know I was weak enough to feel my life threatened by scratches.”
“Big or small, danger is danger.”
“If it were really dangerous, I would freeze the ocean and walk out.”
Randell was speechless, and Nina raised her eyebrows.
Don’t you know how great I am?
She took the notebook out of her pocket, slapped it in his head, and asked.
“What about an apology?” (Nina)
“I’m sorry······.” (Randell)
“I’m also sorry I made you worry. I’ll tell you everything first before I act in the future.” (Nina)
“If you still have any conscience left in you, then please do.” (Randell)
“You don’t have to worry since I still have enough. Then shall we take a look at it?” (Nina)
Nina opened the notebook. She didn’t know what kind of magic it was cast with, but none of the letters inside had spread or become blurred. While checking the notebook, Nina opened a page and returned it to Randell.
“Look.”
“······.”
He slipped his eyes into the notebook and they shook slightly. Taking the notebook from Nina’s hand, he began to frantically turn the pages one after another.
She took off her outer clothes soaked in the sea and began to squeeze the water out. As she was taking off her boots, pouring out the water, and squeezing her hair, Randell said,
“He didn’t mean to take advantage of me······.”
“Yes.”
“Giving me glasses was just······.”
He frowned.
“I guess he was just trying to teach me how to feel other emotions besides anger. Though the predetermined output set was wrong.”
He wasn’t trying to kill all my emotions, he was just trying to soothe my anger.
“Yes.”
Randell sighed and looked at the wet woman beside her. He reached out and caressed her cheek.
“You are cold.”
“Because I’m wet and basking in the sea breeze.”
“Your lips have turned blue too.”
“Is it that bad?”
His thumb slightly touched Nina’s lips and she giggled because it tickled.
“It tickles.”
He swept the corners of her mouth and squeezed her cheek.
“It’s cold to jump into the sea in this weather.”
“Hey, it’s summer.”
“Early summer.”
Randell lifted Nina and put her in his arms. She was so light that even he, as a wizard, could hold her up without much trouble.
Judging that her boots had been wasted in salt seawater and were now irrecoverable, he began to walk while holding her. He can’t let her bare feet walk on the rough stone ground. Nina smiled as she touched his shoulder with both hands.
“What is this all of a sudden?”
“Nina La Dell.”
“Yes?”
Randell just wanted to call her name. He wondered if he calls her name with all the emotions he knows, perhaps he might finally understand them.
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