Chapter 79

Chapter 79

Even if there was a quarrel, the search must continue. Cadel tiredly moved the fireball to light the way ahead, while Van stood by his side, silently scanning the area.

An eerie silence, not a breath in sight. It was Van who broke the silence first.

“I don't think Commander has to blame himself.”

As if gathering his thoughts, Van stopped walking. When Cadel turned to face him, his golden eyes sparkled softly in the light of the small flame.

“......You don't have to console me.”

“No matter what information Commander knows, whether you inform or hide it from your subordinates. It's all Commander's right. Whatever you choose, I won't be disappointed. It's Commander's choice.”

Van reached out. His large hand grasped Cadel's limp hand. Rough, careful fingers stroked the back of Cadel's hand, smoothing the ring on his index finger.

“I trust Commander, and it would be nice if Commander also trusted me, but I think it's up to me to create that trust. Commander has already given me your trust, so it's up to me to reciprocate. So.......”

The gaze that had been holding the ring slowly lifted, and a hard gaze swept over Cadel's tired face in a soothing way.

“Commander don't have to apologize for your judgment. ......At least not to me.”

The voice was quiet and clear, and Cadel felt something stirring deep inside of him. He bit his lip and turned to face Van, then raised his arm to shield his eyes, not wanting to reveal the emotion he couldn't bear. As he bowed his head, Van gently asked him what was wrong.

“There won't be a commander as messed up as me.”

“What, why are you saying such absurd things about someone as perfect as Commander?”

The self-proclaimed protector pushed Lydon to the brink. He had shown no trust in Lumen, even though he already considered him his own. He was a pathetic human being with no leadership skills.

He thought to himself over and over again. The real Cadel Lytos wouldn't have messed up like this.

“Commander is always perfect, both before and now.”

But when Van, the only one who had experienced the ‘real’ Cadel Lytos, said that.......

‘A place where he can make a swamp without worrying about the smell, and where he can join the fastest as soon as the monsterization is completed.’

A flash of realization flashed through Cadel's carefully considered eyes. An urgent voice called Van to attention, and Cadel, whose expression hardened, backed up a little.

“We need to get back to Baskin Village, now!”

The closest place he could get to humans who were already being monsterized, filled with the stench of the demon, was Baskin Village.

* * *

“All troops, increase your vigilance and focus on protecting the villagers! The designated knights are to join the search immediately!”

At Modeleine's command, the knights moved in unison, the five search parties he'd assigned moving quickly in the direction he'd indicated.

And next to Modeleine was Lumen.

“The monsterization of the villagers was enough to make my head hurt, but I didn't expect to hear that the demon was lurking in Baskin Village.”

“The situation has been tense from the start. Is Sir Garuel on his way?”

“I sent someone to Commander a while ago, and while he won't hear anything important, I've told him the seriousness of the situation, so he should be here soon.”

Lumen nodded lightly and fiddled with the hilt of his sword out of habit. His numb gaze was fixed on the red thread that stretched out beyond the village.

While he was trying to convince Modleleine to resume the search quickly, Cadel and Van returned to Baskin Village. He wonder if they had given up on the search, but they hadn't. Cadel threw in the fact that the demon was most likely hiding inside Baskin Village, and off he went to scour the village like a man on a mission.

Lumen could have followed Cadel right away, but he didn't. For now, it was better to be by Modeleine's side than Cadel's in many ways.

“Do you intend to wait for Sir Garuel to arrive?”

“No, we can't do that, I’m fully aware we're in a hurry. Let's start by searching the neighborhood.”

Humans could be turned into monsters. It was a luxury to be overwhelmed with emotion. With a perfectly straight face, Lumen followed Modeleine on the search for the demon.