Home/I Saved the Villain and Fell Asleep/ch 36

Chapter 36

"Excuse me, have you ever wandered the wilderness by any chance...?"

The black snake tilted its head, not understanding my question.

"Ah, no, never mind. Just nonsense. Black Mamba! That's a great name. But Black Mambas are venomous snakes—are you venomous too, Mamba-nim...?"

Come to think of it, the black snake's head was a sharp triangle. Don't non-venomous snakes have rounder, thinner heads?

The black snake opened its mouth wide. Inside its dark maw, two sharp fangs that hadn't been visible before protruded from the roof of its mouth.

A very ominous-looking black liquid dripped from the tips of its fangs onto the ground.

"Aaah!!!"

I jumped back in fright, and the black snake—Mamba—startled, retreated and closed its mouth.

So they were retractable!

Somehow, Mamba looked apologetic as it tucked its tongue back in. Its swaying tail gently tapped my head as it passed.

"Truly fascinating."

"Pardon? Did Mamba-nim do something just now?"

When Mamba's tail tapped my head, I felt something pass through my body. It wasn't unpleasant—rather, it was warm and gentle.

"It's nothing. Just a blessing. It seems it liked having its name called."

"Ah, um. Thank you, Mamba-nim!"

I wasn't afraid of Mamba anymore. I lightly jumped onto its back.

It was time to return to Kali.

After Hariella disappeared on the black snake, only silence remained between Caelius and the guardian. Caelius stood with one leg propped, arms crossed, glaring at the guardian with a delinquent look.

The guardian smiled softly at Caelius, visible through the translucent veil covering its face.

"So, what's on my head?"

"A very ominous mana."

At the words "very ominous mana," Caelius frowned. He had a suspicion.

The mental magic he'd been hit with before coming here—that was definitely dark magic.

"Dark magic. But Bibi ate it, they said... is it still there?"

"It's not that it's still there—I saw its traces."

The guardian slowly walked. Gesturing for him to follow, Caelius silently trailed behind. The guardian headed toward the pavilion in the middle of the field.

"Do you call that dark magic? It's ominous enough to make you feel sick."

"It's magic that manipulates the mind. One of the forbidden arts."

"That's not simply mental magic. It's mana that defiles the soul. Child born of fire—your mana is very pure. As hot and destructive as it is, it's also pure and dense. Perhaps that's why Bibi follows you around."

"Is Bibi okay after eating dark magic?"

"It's fine. Though it's ominous, Bibi can digest it. But for a while, you should feed him your mana regularly."

Caelius's expression, which had been stiff with worry, relaxed. The guardian watched the change in his expression and smiled faintly.

"Do you oppose them?"

"Oppose? You mean are they my enemy? If so, yes, they are."

"Why do you oppose them?"

"From the moment I began to think, my life had already been twisted by them. Whether the man who calls himself my uncle is a dark mage or not doesn't matter. If they're all in the same faction, I'll just eliminate them all. They ruined my life, threatened me, and even reached for those by my side—so of course I see them as enemies."

Caelius's green eyes darkened. For a moment, a red glint seemed to flicker within them.

To the guardian, Caelius still seemed like a child who hadn't figured out where to go. In contrast, Hariella appeared to have a clear sense of purpose.

"Will you catch them all and burn them?"

"If I can."

"And after that, what will remain?"

"Are you trying to say revenge is empty?"

"That's not what I mean. Child born of fire—if you burn your life chasing them without thinking, what will remain by your side?"

"That would obviously be..."

What flashed through Caelius's mind was Algenprina Hariella, with her pink hair and green eyes.

The Algenprina Duke and Duchess had said they would protect Czerban Caelius until he could safely reclaim his title from Grand Duke Isaac.

Then when would that be? As soon as he became strong enough, even before coming of age? Or after?

When he could stand alone, what would his relationship with Algenprina Hariella be?

"Keep thinking. Don't walk a path that leaves only ashes—think only of walking a path brightly lit by flame."

Seeing Caelius lost in thought with a twisted expression, the guardian raised its hand. The sleeve fell back, revealing pale white fingers.

The guardian brought its palm close to Caelius's forehead.

"Guh!"

"Don't be startled. It's nothing dangerous."

The palm glowed brightly. Caelius stared blankly at the light. It felt different from mana—cool, refreshing, and calming.

"Goblins are strong against mental magic. So that child doesn't need much of my protection. But you, child born of fire, are different."

"What did you do?"

"Protection."

"Protection?"

"From now on, mental magic won't work on you. A small gift for taking care of Bibi."

At the guardian's words, Caelius blinked rapidly. Mental magic won't work on me? Is that true?

With a single gesture, all mental magic from dark mages could be blocked.

"That's a really broken ability."

"You're probably the first to call a guardian's ability broken."

The guardian didn't seem offended—its voice carried a hint of laughter. Caelius realized that the guardian was very favorable toward him and Hari.

Curlings his lips into a cool smirk, Caelius shamelessly demanded additional protection for Bibi.

"Can you let me control the mental barrier myself?"

"That's a new request."

"Is it possible?"

"Of course it is."

At the guardian's affirmative, Caelius straightened his slouched posture. The guardian laughed at his sudden change in attitude and readily granted his request.

"Why are you helping us so much?"

"Do I need a reason? Then, as I said before—because you took care of Bibi. But that doesn't seem to satisfy you. Then... how about 'because I haven't seen a goblin in a long time'?"

Goblin.

The original owner of the club Hariella carried.

"The goblin disappeared long ago, but it seems he remains a pleasant memory for us. A fond one, too."

"Hariella is Hariella."

"I know. She and the goblin are different. No matter how she uses the goblin's club, we have no intention of interfering. Rest assured on that point. However, I do hope that the human chosen by the goblin's club becomes as happy as possible."

"Happy..."

Caelius thought again. Whether having Hariella in his path would truly bring her happiness.

Caelius watched the enormous mystical beasts roaming the grassland, ignoring all sense of scale, as he waited for Hariella. The brief conversation with the guardian had given him much to think about.

He looked down at his hands, clenching and unclenching his fists.

They were still small. Very much so. Caelius recalled Hariella, who had taken on an adult form thanks to the magical bracelet, and frowned.

He might have higher offensive power, but in physical combat, he was still weak. He wanted to grow up quickly.

As soon as possible.

How long had they been running through the field after leaving the forest? The pavilion in the middle of the grassland came into view.

Seeing Kali and the guardian sitting side by side, I called out to them with all my might.

"Kali!! Guardian-nim!!!"

Waving my newly fixed club, I ran toward them. Seeing my flushed face, Kali chuckled and asked.

"Looks like that problem you've been agonizing over every day is solved?"

"Solved—big time! Muhahaha!!"

I've been eyeing your destructive flames for so long!

I stared down at Kali with gleaming eyes, and he made an unpleasant face and backed away.

"What? What's with that look?"

"Hehe, nothing. Forget it. More importantly, Guardian-nim, how do we get back now?"

I quickly changed the subject to avoid Kali's questioning.

"Where do you want to go?"

"Huh? Can't we only go back to where we started?"

"The door can be opened anywhere."

"Whoa, awesome. Then the Heiren mountain range! Ah, no! I mean, among the Heiren mountains, the one with red rocks and Senne trees! I need to go to a mansion with a red roof there—and also visit a village!"

At the sudden mention of the Heiren mountain range, Kali looked up at me with a puzzled face.

"What? The Heiren range?"

"I have business there! I'll explain when we get back."

"Hmm, there's a suitable place. Follow the mountain path down—you'll find a village called Rüyer."

The guardian gestured in the air, and a blue rift appeared, just like the one we'd entered through.

Ah, come to think of it, how long has it been since we left the forest? Dad must be really worried...

But since the hat's location might change, I wanted to hurry as much as possible. Sorry, Dad. Really sorry.

"Bibi, have fun and come back."

"Woof!!"

The guardian gently stroked Bibi's head. Bibi circled the guardian once, then leaped into the rift without hesitation.

"Hey, Bibi! You can't go first! Guardian-nim, we'll be going now. Thank you!"

I quickly shouted my thanks, grabbed Kali's hand, and followed Bibi into the rift. Hoping I wouldn't hit the ground painfully this time, I squeezed my eyes shut.

Please let me land somewhere soft!

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