Me, the Weakest Member of the Hero’s Party? I’m the Villain Though? - Chapter 84
Maybe because this was the north, there were a lot of meat-heavy dishes. And perhaps because the port was nearby, the seafood dishes were delicious too.
Especially after drinking the refreshing stew boiled with clams, it felt like ten years’ worth of indigestion washed away all at once, and my insides finally felt at ease.
The food we’d eaten in the Caindel Barony had been mostly grains and vegetables, which was a bit disappointing, but maybe dragons really were carnivores. Eating meat dishes left me thoroughly satisfied.
“Does the food suit your taste?”
The Grand Duke, now freed from the curse, was of advanced age but still quite handsome. Thinking back to my first impression of him, his appearance had changed to a surprising degree.
It wasn’t like vitality was overflowing from him, but for his age, he looked reasonably healthy.
“Yes, thank you for your generosity.”
Elonen answered with a smile at the Grand Duke’s gracious question. Kyle looked at me with a pleased expression, then nodded belatedly.
“We’re very grateful for your hospitality.”
“Oh, not at all. Thanks to the hero’s party, the Grand Ducal estate has regained its peace. For tonight, please eat to your heart’s content and rest comfortably.”
Thanks to the generous Grand Duke, I ate until I felt like my stomach might burst, something I hadn’t done in a long time. On top of that, we were given hot baths and individual guest rooms so we could rest comfortably.
Since opening my eyes in this world, this was the first time I’d slept alone in such a wide, comfortable bed. Lying there with my legs stretched out, it couldn’t have been more comfortable.
I lay on my back staring at the ceiling and let out a short sigh. All sorts of thoughts were tangled together. I began calmly pulling them out one by one and sorting through them.
What exactly was the Dark God? And what kind of relationship did it have with the Black Flame Dragon?
The original novel’s details were already hazy, and when it came to the Dark God, nothing came to mind at all.
Still, I squeezed my brain dry and searched through my memories when a faint voice echoed by my ear.
‘Lend me your breath. Become my wings, become my voice. Then I will grant your wish as well.’
I couldn’t remember whose voice it was or when I’d heard it, but that voice itself came back to me clearly.
“Ah, I don’t know.”
Giving up on remembering, I clutched my head and muttered quietly.
There was too much I needed to think about, yet I didn’t want to think about anything at all. Honestly, I was so exhausted that all I wanted was to rest.
There would be plenty of time to worry later, and there wouldn’t be many chances to sleep in a bed this comfortable. So what I should do now was…
“Let’s just sleep.”
I forcefully shoved the rising thoughts into a corner, closed my eyes, and tried to fall asleep. Maybe the fatigue had built up, because I soon drifted off.
But not long after, I woke up immediately at an unfamiliar presence. My eyes flew open, and my body shot upright on instinct.
I could feel someone lingering right in front of the door. Judging by the fact they weren’t even trying to hide their footsteps, they didn’t seem dangerous.
Just in case, I pulled the dagger I’d kept under my pillow and quietly got out of bed, moving toward the door as I spoke.
“Who is it?”
There was no answer, only the doorknob slowly turning. There wouldn’t be an assassin bold enough to just walk in through the door like this, so who could it be?
Gripping the dagger tightly, I stared at the door in tense silence.
Then Derek suddenly poked his head through the crack of the opening door.
“…Were you sleeping? Sorry to come so late, but could I come in for a moment?”
He was the last person I’d expected to show up in my bedroom.
I was so flustered that I hesitated for a moment, and Derek must have taken my silence as permission, because he awkwardly shuffled into the room on his own.
“What is it?”
Derek glanced at the dagger in my hand and spoke carefully.
“There’s something I wanted to talk about.”
If he had something to say, he could’ve said it earlier, so why sneak over in the middle of the night?
I looked at Derek with suspicion, then gestured for him to sit.
“Sit down for now. I’ll light a candle.”
I had Derek sit by the window and lit a candle. Just then, raindrops began to fall against the glass.
With the damp, cold air, the room felt dark and ominous, sending a slight shiver up my spine.
“So what is it?”
If he had something to say to the hero’s party, he’d normally go to Kyle. The fact that he’d singled me out instead gave me a very bad feeling.
