DYBAR - Chapter 111 < Devil's Valley, Senua's Valley >
Do Your Best And Regret
The sky was so brightly blue that it stung my eyes.
I quietly looked up at the sky. The higher I raised my head, the more my fine silver hair tickled the back of my neck.
Before I knew it, the smell of the wind mixed with the coolness. Maybe it was the smell of a ripening wheat field.
When I first went to Vikander, golden light began to appear on the plain, which was refreshingly green.
Today's lunch was a sandwich filled with turkey meat instead of the sandwich Martha made.
"It's not like a picnic, it's a picnic."
Edwin was right.
The knights were seated with their seats spread out and laughing cheerfully, exchanging jokes. Even the horses leisurely grazing the grass and the ears of wheat swaying in the wind.
The road to Vikander was always a picnic. It's as if you don't lose your composure even when you're in a hurry.
I unconsciously raised the corners of my mouth and looked next to me. Then, I blinked my eyes and pouted.
Edwin was the only one missing in this perfect place. Even though I knew that, I had already looked at his empty side three times. It felt like a cool breeze was blowing through my heart. It's been hours since he's been away...
I shook my head slowly. Instead, I came up with another idea.
For example, I felt good about leaving for Vikander's territory before him.
I'm excited to see the people of the Vikander Territory sooner and excited about finding the secrets hidden in the White Crystal Mine. Also, just because I was out of the capital made me feel much more at ease.
The smile on my lips faded for a moment. Why does my calm mind become agitated just by thinking about the capital?
I thought of Ethella's sad face after saying goodbye in a hurry, and I thought of Sally crying. But this feeling was a little more fundamental. I experienced something I had never experienced...
So, just my vague thoughts make me feel uncomfortable...
I was startled and shook my head. I cut off everything, but I was wasting my emotions.
Knowing it wasn't worth it, I ignored my racing heart. Nevertheless, I felt as if I could hear anxious voices calling to me in my ears, so I tightly rolled up the blanket covering my knees and held it tightly.
And I hurriedly looked around me.
The moment I looked for something else to vent my thoughts, I burst into a shallow laugh at the sight of Dean's face.
When did his face, which was looking at his surroundings with caution, become so blank?
His eyes blinked slowly as he quietly gazed at the wheat field. Dean's face heated up as he looked at me as if he had noticed my gaze.
He just looked good looking out at the plain, but Dean excused himself as if he was embarrassed.
"It's not that I never let my guard down or anything, it's just that it feels peaceful and nice. I haven't had much of a chance to see something like this before..."
"Is it so? You'll see more as we go. I guess Dean likes picnics too."
Unlike me who smiled brightly, Dean's back was covered in cold sweat. If you're not careful, it seemed like it was revealing that there was no such beautiful scenery in Vikander.
When it came to the desolation of the North, none of the nobles from the Islands had seen it as much as Olivia.
However, Dean, who did not know this, was heartbroken.
No way...
Are you disappointed that she can't see this kind of scenery in Vikander?
For some reason, the Lady who was eating the turkey earlier had a strange expression on her face!
Dean, who clearly misunderstood, hurriedly got his words out.
"Actually, there is no place as peaceful as Vikander Territory. Haha. I'm sure you know."
The words were clear as if they were reciting the contents of a book. The change in Dean's expression was clearly visible, so I swallowed a mischievous laugh and pretended not to notice.
"Is it so? Oh my God. I didn't know. Well, when I went to see the mine, I was curious about what was beyond it."
There is something beyond the mine.
Everywhere I could see was a barren, bare mountain. Even though it was the middle of summer, a dirt mountain with barely any grass on it came to my eyes.
Dean also seemed to think of the bare mountain behind the mine. The disheveled face only blinked.
I was about to stop his antics when his face seemed to turn pale.
"That..."
The voice he blurted out was loud. While the knights nearby were looking around to see what was going on, Dean continued.
".....Isn't it true that the more beautiful the blank space in a painting is, the more expensive it is?"
Although it was a statement that could only apply to some people, Dean skillfully generalized it.
The Young Lady's eyes were smiling when she looked at hun. It seemed like maybe his excuse would work.
"The topography of Vikander is very secluded as it is pristine and has a lot of empty beauty. Also..'
"Also?"
"Also... There were many rivers and lakes. The buildings on Sonaire Street are also colorful and pretty also..."
Dean continued boasting about Vikander as if he didn't even notice that his words were mixed with past tense.
How far will we go?
Olivia, who had been listening with interest, was laughing and his boasts were getting smaller and smaller.
"Lord Szellin."
Dean paused for a moment when he heard a soft voice calling from next to him. Suddenly, the surroundings became quiet. One of the senior knights spoke in a somewhat suppressed voice.
"You can stop. You don't have to. It must have been well conveyed to you how much the Lord loves Vikander"
"Huh?"
"Anyway, the Lady must have seen most of it while inspecting the estate."
Only then did Dean, who was dumbfounded, notice that the Young Lady was holding back her laughter. Additionally, the knights around him are also holding back their laughter while looking at him.
Dean's face started to turn red. At the same time, small laughter spread.
"It's fortunate that it's just us. I wish Lord Interfield and Lord Calter were here. Lord Szellin may have even received the title of 1st rank knight for loving Vikander."
These words were of no comfort at all. The knight who had been tapping his shoulder walked away again. Underneath the cheerful laughter, the knights chatted loudly again.
"Oh really. If that's the case, my children will tell me a long time ago."
Dean, who had suddenly become a person who had failed to exaggerate his expectations, glared fiercely at his surroundings as if making a joke.
Yikes.
While the knights around her were avoiding their gaze, Olivia looked behind Dean's ear, which was red from embarrassment, and smiled a little.
"Because Dean's story is so interesting. Also, there must have been a feeling that there was something new. Sir Szellin is the vice-captain of the 3rd Knights."
Dean seemed to have immediately relaxed at the words of praise and burst into laughter. Then he nodded his head exaggeratedly and lowered his voice.
"You're right. Lady, actually, during the last cold winter when I went out to exterminate beasts, I even found a valley with black-and-white water."
My eyes blinked for a moment as he spoke excitedly.
Those were strange words.
Unless it was in contact with seawater, the water in the valley would freeze in the winter. It was most certain that inland Vikander was surrounded by mountains.
But there was no reason for Dean to lie.
Could it be that this is also related to the secret of White Crystal Mine?
At my sudden thought, I smiled and shook my head. Now all my thoughts were leading to White Crystal Mine.
No way, that can't be possible.
"I'm sure no one saw it there but me. If I hadn't seen the smoke, I wouldn't have even set foot in Senua's Valley. Aside from being restricted from entering there, the devil has been there since the past...!"
"Devils?"
What? What did he just say?
As soon as he spoke, a vague memory hidden somewhere in Dean's mind suddenly popped out. It was strange. Even though it was his memory, it felt like it had been hidden away by someone else.
Unlike Dean, whose face suddenly turned pale, I spoke with a calm expression.
"That's interesting. Senua's Valley."
"Well, that's it, Lady. There...."
"The only person who went to the restricted area was the brave Sir Szellin."
"Well, I mean. It's winter and it's strange to see smoke...."
"This is really a lot to find out. Right, Lord Szellin?"
At some point, the Young Lady was referring to him as Lord Szellin again.
As a cool elegance fell over her beautiful smiling face, Dean straightened his back.
The face, with its heavy force, looked complicated. Should he give advice or follow her advice?
Olivia spoke slowly.
"What was the essence of the acting?"
"...... Sorry. I could not confirm."
"Why?"
Dean bit his lip in response to the vague question. Now that he thinks about it, strangely enough, it seems like his memories of the day he went out to slay the beast were cut off.
This was uncharacteristic of Dean Szelin, who always cleaned up after himself thoroughly wherever he went.
What's going on?
It was as if he was possessed by magic. Is it really true that he saw strange smoke that day and went to Senua's Valley?
His gaze kept lowering due to nervousness. At first glance, it seemed like something strongly sparkled on the Young Lady's neck, but Dean didn't even have time to pay attention to that.
"Who knows this except the Lord?"
"No, no, I'm afraid there won't be... I do not know."
A reversal of the answer was more trustworthy. Confusion filled his brown eyes, unable to make eye contact.
"That's strange..."
I slowly tapped my fingernails on my blanket.
A place so rugged that it is nicknamed the devil. That was all, but the more I listened to Dean's story, the more suspicious I became.
"It's a strange place with vague memories. I think we really need to investigate. What do you think?"
"If you give the order, I will come. Give yourself a chance to make up for your mistakes, Miss."
Dean's voice was firm.
Senua's Valley, unless it was a coincidence, Dean had never thought of going there. A rugged and deep valley that even animals avoid. But he could go if it was the Young Lady's order. It was time for Dean to think of Senua's Valley and its entrance with sharp eyes.
"If I wanted to go myself, Lord Szellin would be willing to accompany me, right?"
"Miss, it's really dangerous out there!"
"I will only go as far as the entrance, and if it is dangerous, I will never enter. Can you at least make a promise?"
With a face that clearly showed her made-up innocence, the Young Lady was lying.
Dean was so embarrassed that he couldn't say anything. It was time for me, who was calm even though I was lying out loud, to wait for the answer behind his silence.
"Miss-!"
The loud voice was familiar.
I jumped up from my seat and looked around me. The blanket that covered me slipped down from under my seat.
I saw a carriage rushing from the direction of Vikander Territory, and the person seen through the window was...
"Bethany?"
Unbelievably, it was Bethany.
I ran toward the carriage, feeling my heart pounding.
It was at that moment that Bethany's expression changed as she rushed down from the carriage in her urgent mind.
"Miss, what is that on your wrist?"
In her eyes, Olivia's wrists, exposed beneath the lowered sleeves of her dress, were purple.
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