I Became a Barbarian's Bride - Chapter 147
If she brought up wanting to do more, the mood would probably drop again.
But it felt a bit strange not to say thank you after receiving the flowers.
“Do you not like flowers?”
“No, I liked them. I was going to say thank you.”
“You came all the way here just to say that?”
Sitting across from her, Kagan casually flicked his fingers and let out a light laugh.
“That’s part of it, but…”
Nisha trailed off, scratching her cheek.
“The land.”
“The land?”
“Yes. Now that we’ve finished with the capital, I’d like to visit other areas nearby.”
As expected, the moment Nisha finished speaking, Kagan’s expression hardened slightly. His lips tightened, and he narrowed his eyes.
“You came here thinking I’d allow that?”
“You were the one who said if I wanted to and felt like it, I could do it. I just… want to. If I stay still, I just end up overthinking things.”
She wanted some proof that she had done something, left a mark.
And if what the one on top of that volcano desired was prosperity for Xieman, then it felt like her duty to fulfill that. After all…
A faint black shadow had started appearing over the volcano again a few days ago.
It kept disappearing and reappearing in a way that was unsettling, making her keep glancing at it.
“You’re doing this because you want to?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Kagan frowned, clearly displeased.
She never could stay still for long.
‘We still have to deal with the strange beast attack from before…’
The one where Nisha had brought one of his men back to life after he’d died.
The man himself didn’t even realize he’d died, he just thought he’d survived a critical injury.
Only Kagan knew what had really happened there.
‘…Did she know?’
Did she know and save him anyway?
Maybe. But Kagan didn’t want to ask. Instead, he sighed and rubbed his mouth.
“Do you remember when I told you not to use your powers recklessly, Nisha?”
“I remember.”
“And you still decided to do this?”
At Kagan’s question, Nisha nodded.
“Seeing the flowers and the world outside made me feel better.”
Kagan lowered his head, his expression showing regret, as if he was starting to think sending the flowers had been a bad idea.
Since he had told her to do what she wanted, he wouldn’t stop her, but the idea of her using her powers for something other than herself still left him unsettled.
“Then tell me what you want in return.”
“Excuse me?”
“I understand your intention to heal the land of Xieman, but everything has a price. So, tell me what you want in exchange for healing the land.”
“…Oh.”
Nisha’s face fell, clearly caught off guard by Kagan’s words, her lips tightening in disappointment.
Kagan smiled, his expression relaxed.
“Sorry, but until you decide, I can’t give you permission.”
“…”
Nisha stayed silent.
How underhanded.
She had plenty to say, but knew that no matter what she said, she wouldn’t win against him. In the end, she pressed her lips together and slowly turned her head.
“Anything? As long as it’s a fair price for my abilities?”
“If it’s a price worthy of your powers, yes.”
“…”
Nisha said nothing, turning her head to gaze out the window at the barren volcano.
She could see the boiling heat rising from it.
Perhaps that’s why this land felt warmer than other places.
Even as her thoughts wandered, she imagined herself throwing her body into that molten pit.
How painful it would be, how excruciating it might become, or whether there would even be time to feel it, she couldn’t know.
But at the very moment she imagined it, her heart started pounding in her chest.
She wasn’t sure if it was fear, recklessness, or yearning.
The will to live had been forgotten long ago, and now, all Nisha wanted was to die without pain.
