CH 65

“We’ll move slowly, so please lead my team and get inside quickly, Sir. I want to scout out all of the dangerous places as much as possible before going in for subjugation. Hurry up.” 

[I—understand.] 

“I’ll protect the Young Lady, so don’t worry too much.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Falden, who finished speaking first, reached out to Serdel.

“What is it?”

“What do you mean what is it? We should hold hands. We don’t know what’s going to happen here. Or should I hug you? Like how I did until yesterday?”

“Let’s hold hands.”

His hands were bigger than Redan’s. And each of his fingers was covered with calluses.

She could see how much effort he made to survive.

“I’ll adjust to your stride, so I don’t want you to complain at all about what to do if your legs hurt. I’m not a gentleman enough to match a lady all the time.”

“It won’t happen, so you don’t have to worry?”

“Ah, really? But aren’t you hungry?” 

At the same time, he handed over some soft bread and some fruit.

“Aren’t you thirsty? This is a powder made of dried fruit, so how is it? Do you want me to make it for you?”

“I don’t need it.”

“Then should I just give you water? You have to drink water first before eating bread to avoid indigestion.”

“It’s okay.”

“Don’t you need beef jerky?”

“This is enough.”

“Your shoes aren’t uncomfortable, are they?”

“Please close your mouth. I can’t eat.”

Eventually, Serdel became annoyed and the conversation stopped. 

“I’ll make you some soup for dinner”.

Serdel, who was trying to respond, just sighed. 

“—I owe you, so I’ll make the soup.”

This time, Falden didn’t respond right away. As he walked ahead and picked bread, he turned his head and looked at Serdel. 

It was as if he had heard something he couldn’t hear.

“Are you trying to kill me? Did I make a mistake?”

“….”

It’s true, she couldn’t even brew a cup of tea properly the other day. However, this was a little hurtful.

Serdel quietly chewed her bread.

******

He was quite attentive, considering that he said she had a bad personality and wouldn’t match a Lady.

He pressed down on the ground while walking ahead so that she could move comfortably.

He seems to be worried that she might trip over a branch or a large, and sometimes even small, stone. 

He even led the way by pointing his front toes to the side.

When the leaves were sparse, he covered her face with his hands so that she wouldn’t get burned in the strong sunlight, and he provided food from time to time. 

‘I don’t think he was like this to the original female lead either—’

Shrugging in mild confusion Serdel looked at his wide back.

What’s the difference between him and her? 

Why did he receive the power of a white crow, and she received the power of a black crow?

‘Because he’s a main character and I’m an extra?’

To say that, black or white was all the power of Radun, and the black crow said that she was accepting his roots. 

These were words that even Falden had never heard in the original story. 

‘After all, Radun’s power was originally close to darkness, and the white power was only one side—.’

If so, it means that she has inherited a more powerful and complete power than what Falden had.

In addition, the crow man showed young Serdel and her brother, saying it was a reward.

Despite the two forms of the crow man the meaning of what the two said to Serdel in this timeline and Falden in the original story was the same in the end. 

Remember.

What young Serdel said must be a memory related to the Countess. 

She must have remembered the last words her brother left while dying to appease him. 

It would not be strange if she considered her reward and Falden’s reward as different but when she put the clues side by side it felt like there was some kind of connection.

‘Or maybe it’s just my mood?’

“Young Lady, Young Lady?”

Taak! 

She was surprised by the sound of fingers coming close to her nose, so she walked backwards.

“What is it? What are you thinking about? I called you several times. Are you not feeling well anywhere?”

With a frown, he pushed his face close.

“It’s because I’m thinking about something deeply. Can you move your face? It’s burdensome.”

“Because I’m really handsome?”

When he asked that with a smirk, Serdel remained indifferent.

“It’s true that you’re handsome for a man, but I don’t feel pressured because there are many good people around me.” 

Falden’s expression hardened.

“Young Lady can say some bitter words. I guess you aren’t sick because you said everything you wanted to say.”

“By the way, why did you call me?”

He raised his finger. 

“I was wondering if you could see that.”

A beautifully twisted golden and silver stem caught her eye as she lifted her head.

“I can see it.”

“As expected. I thought we were looking at the same thing because the cave that threw out everyone else  had swallowed us.”

He became serious.

“Where is this thing leading us? It feels like we’re being played around by the forest.”

“It’s uncomfortable to ignore. I don’t think it’s bad to follow along.”

“What if we join them late after chasing that?”

It’s a relief if their reunion won’t be delayed. The road could have twisted off into any direction and they might not be able to meet each other until the end of the exploration. 

‘Is there a way to join them quickly?’

Serdel, who had been agonizing for a long time, called out to Dell in her mind out of curiosity.

If their souls were connected, he might be able to hear her voice even if they were separated. 

‘Dell, Dell, Dell!’

Maybe he can’t hear her? 

Is the energy in the forest affecting Dell and her? 

Serdel focused more on her bond with Dell.

‘Dell. Please listen to my voice.’

Dell, Dell. 

‘Dell—’

[Ung.. Wuung? Nuna!] 

After a desperate call, Dell’s voice finally flowed through her mind.

[Nunaaaaaaaa! Unggg!] 

He wailed loudly.

[Dell was nervous. Uwee. The human poop— No, Redan poop owns the communication device alone, so Dell can’t even see Nuna’s face. I want to see you too. This punk, this idiot.] 

Is it revenge for being called rat poop?

Or maybe he should come up with another name to call him, it’s too strange to call him Hyung right? 

Dell’s harsh words relieved Serdel’s tension and made her laugh instead.

“Young Lady. You’re not going crazy, right?”

Falden’s worrying question was simply ignored by her. 

[Nuna, where are you? No matter how much I walk, I can’t see Nuna.]

‘I can’t explain because I don’t know exactly where this is.’

[Then we can’t meet?]

‘Dell. Can you focus on me for a second?’

[Yes.] 

Whoo. Is it possible?

‘Let’s not doubt it.’

As she lowered her eyes, she moved Radun’s energy. 

Colorful air flowed around the room sprinkling light and moving according to her will.

The three rings she created wrapped around her heart.

With the sorcerer’s power, she was able to make a total of seven rings. 

“….”

Serdel’s lips twitched.

Runes flowed out of the three rings with dark blue light, she concentrated on a sentence in her head. 

The stronger her concentration, the stronger the power. 

Beyond her mind, her five senses are connected with Dell’s. A shiver ran through her at the sensation she felt for the first time.

At the same time, she was able to see the situation on Dell’s side through his eyes. 

[Whoo, wooaaaa! Wow, wow!!] 

It was the same for Dell.

He was able to see and feel all the sensations she could feel where she was standing. 

As if it was amazing, he exclaimed for a long time then ran to Redan and bit his sleeve.

Grrrrr, grrrrowwll, grrrrr. 

‘What is it, rat poop? Are you hungry? You ate a lot earlier.’

Redan pushed Dell’s forehead as if he was annoying.

Grrrrr, grrrrr! 

[Ah, stupid. You idiot.] 

Groaning, Dell lifted his chin and shook his head. As if to follow him. 

‘Don’t lose your mind, too. I can leave you behind.’

[Nuna. Can I leave this stupid person here?]

‘Don’t do that.’

As soon as she said that she heard Blenn’s voice.

‘I think he wants us to follow him’

Blenn noticed Dell’s behavior and approached Redan.

His face after just a few days was quite bad.

‘Since it’s the Young Lady’s beast, maybe he figured out her location.’

Not even a single emotion could be felt in the low-pitched voice.

Redan looked at Blenn with eyes showing dissatisfaction and looked at Dell.

‘Hey, is what that punk said right?’

Nod. Nod. Nod. Nod. 

Dell nodded his head vigorously.

‘Guide us.’

Dell, who took the lead, stomped ahead, his nose first.

The boy, whose senses became several times more sensitive thanks to his stronger connection with Serdel, led them in the right direction.