I Captured the Enemy Who Tried to Kill Me - Chapter 32
‘Really.’
Today I want to take a day off.
But there’s no such benefit for a Duke of the Empire, damn it.
From the moment I opened my eyes today, I felt awful, like someone was hanging on my back.
‘It feels exactly like my horoscope said today is the day I’ll break my nose even if I fall backwards.’
Endless nightmares.
And the fat cat sprawled across my chest as soon as I opened my eyes.
It might be because of the meaningful words that the fat cat threw at me.
‘You should be careful today meow.’
What’s that supposed to mean? Why say such unlucky things?
‘This is all because of Lucy.’
Thanks to that, my expression was more severe than usual, and the wizards who would normally be chattering were following behind me in silence.
I saw the silver-haired little boy who couldn’t hide his bright smile, in contrast to my mood.
‘Yes, Luias. At least you’re in a good mood, so that’s fine.’
In the distance, I heard noisy sounds.
I clenched my fist as I looked at the wizards around me who couldn’t hide their tense expressions.
Luias, who had been following me while holding onto my clothes, raised his head with a puzzled expression, and our eyes met.
I shook my head to dismiss his concern and looked ahead.
‘By now, the Awakened Ones must have heard about the human and the drug the Emperor took. Since the quest was completed, the fighting seems to have stopped, too?’
Then perhaps today could pass quietly.
This was exactly where I had been accosted by Awakened Ones who suddenly appeared while walking with Luias last time.
When I slightly furrowed my brow as that memory suddenly came to mind, the wizards around me, who were always ready to flatter, shouted loudly.
“Master! We will protect the Master!”
“Of-of course, you’re not someone who needs our protection! But those creatures haven’t even apologized once despite knowing the truth!”
The wizards’ deliberately loud shouts were so booming that my ears hurt.
And I could bet all my internal organs that those Awakened Ones, whose physical abilities were several times that of ordinary people, definitely heard the wizards’ voices!
‘Are they going to start fighting again?’
The person whose eyes I happened to meet was the Awakened knight who had picked a fight last time.
‘Plant Awakened One, the Emperor’s right hand. Some Count or so.’
He couldn’t hide his hesitant, pale face, and eventually he began approaching this way, holding the hand of someone who appeared to be his Guide.
I could see the wizards tensing up and putting strength in their eyes.
Is it my imagination that they looked not scary but like small hamsters clenching their tiny fists in anger?
Maybe it’s because they’ve only shown me such foolish appearances.
Anyway, the wizards became my reliable defensive wall, blocking the approaching Awakened One.
“How dare you approach the Master!”
“Don’t even think about approaching our Duke!”
The Awakened One who approached scratched his head vigorously.
He looked somewhat frustrated to the point of madness, and his contorted face also looked wronged.
‘Could he be trying to apologize?’
That might be the case. But from what I’ve experienced so far, Awakened Ones were never able to be honest.
Especially not in front of wizards poised to hiss like angry cats.
“Well, I’ve heard the story. If there was any misunderstanding on my part.”
Everyone’s attention focused on the Awakened One’s mouth.
Mine too.
Yes, being honest is good too. Let’s make this easy. We can’t keep fighting bitterly forever, can we? Right?
‘Of all places to fall into, an apocalyptic world.’
Considering the future developments in the novel, wizards and Awakened Ones needed to reconcile as soon as possible.
And although I was the leader of the wizards, I was an impostor occupying this body, so I didn’t fully agree with the wizards’ claims.
‘It would be good if they could work together in a win-win situation. Wizards can’t enter the Gate. Instead, they’re maintaining the balance of power excellently from outside.’
There’s no need for wizards to enter the Gate.
So if they would just stop fighting like cats and dogs…
“What is this!”
…please stop, I beg you.
The fairly good atmosphere froze in an instant.
A clump of dirt that flew in from somewhere tried to attack the wizards, and it was deflected by a defensive spell that immediately arose.
I glared at the Awakened One who had spoken to me, dumbfounded.
You bastard, did you actually come to pick a fight?
When I glared at him, full of blame and reproach, the Awakened One shook his head frantically, his face turning pale.
“No, this isn’t why I came, no, some bastard, wait! I mean!”
But the Awakened One was making a loud noise.
And the wizards had activated defensive magic.
Misunderstandings that had piled up over time exploded, creating an uncontrollable situation.
There was a loud noise from the training ground.
“What’s going on here?”
“Hey, you vile wizards! How many of you are confronting just one of our Awakened Ones?”
Awakened Ones who had been watching the situation from the training ground came pouring out.
‘No, that’s not it!’
I wanted to clutch my head and shout.
‘You claim to have good hearing. You say you can even hear passing ants!’
After hearing the flow of the conversation until now, if that’s the conclusion you draw, you idiots!
I tried to stop it at that point.
“Now…”
But the wizards were also in a highly tense state due to the sudden influx of Awakened Ones.
“Y-you started it first! Everyone, move aside!”
“You stupid humans with nothing but muscles in your heads! How dare you commit such rudeness in front of Her Grace the Duke without even an apology!”
“How far do you intend to disrespect us wizards!”
At the wizards’ emotional statements, veins popped on the foreheads of the Awakened Ones, who had been looking somewhat embarrassed.
“These guys, I was trying to stay calm, but now I’m really angry. Anyone listening would think you’re the complete victims!”
“I don’t know who’s been treating us like mongrels and completely ignoring us all this time!”
“Our knight hasn’t attacked once, so how would you explain your side being so sensitive first? And why is the Duke keeping her mouth shut? Please explain that too!”
Why is the arrow flying at me again?
I pressed my temples firmly.
Due to a lack of proper sleep, my headache was particularly severe today.
But that caused another misunderstanding.
“Ha, we’re not even worth talking to, is that it? Yes, I forgot that the Duke never opens her heavy mouth unless she’s in front of His Majesty the Emperor!”
Ah. Was that so?
I was amazed, forgetting the situation.
Hillaria, you really had incredible guts…
‘But I have to live that kind of life from now on? All the way until the quest is resolved?’
That’s when I saw Luias.
With a terrified face, he tried to approach me, but seeing the confrontation between wizards and Awakened Ones, he seemed to have many thoughts and retreated a step, looking dejected.
It was so pitiful that bile rose in my throat.
I desperately wanted to scoop up that small body and pat his back, telling him he didn’t need to worry, but…
[Warning.
Duke Ariel is a character without affection.
Her relationship with Luias was a cold master-disciple relationship, nothing more, nothing less.
If the character’s identity wavers, you may face quest failure!]
I know, I know.
I barely managed to turn my head away from Luias.
Looking at the situation that had now become a group versus group confrontation, I also made the decision to take drastic measures.
‘I’ll use the Spear of Fire on the training ground pillar. If the building collapses, they might come to their senses!’
I’ll endure the pain that feels like I’m about to collapse with indomitable will.
I’ll somehow manage not to die, damn it!
With that firm resolve, I gritted my teeth and was about to call up the status window.
[Warning!]
Along with a loud warning sound, the status window emitted a bright red light.
The Emperor’s guiding value was normal, so why is this happening?
Regardless of my confusion, the status window kept spewing warnings.
[─’;SDPOIF= Input/output error.
Unauthorized intervention has begun.
Be cautious of deviating from the destiny trajectory!]
What? Deviate from what?
Damn, what is this now!
