Chapter 1003 – I Don’t Think It’s Possible Without You

000

Crack, crack.

Even after the meal is over, the bonfire remains intact, barely maintaining the indoor temperature in cold weather at a level where people can live.

If so, then it would have been time to go to bed.

However, the wind blowing through the village after the sun had completely set was not something that Seth, an outsider, could bear, even if he was sitting by this bonfire.

＂Phew…＂

I tried blowing my breath on my cold, frozen hands, but it only became warm for a moment, and I had no choice but to move a little closer to the bonfire and touch my hands, before I was able to endure it.

Seeing Seth like that, Leona took off the blanket that seemed to be made of wolf skin that she had kept for herself and put it on her body.

＂It will be a little better this way…＂

However, Seth, who had already seen with her own eyes that it was the only blanket she was wearing, looked at her without saying anything for a moment.

“Are you okay. Because I’m used to this kind of cold. Rather, if you wear too thick clothes, you will sweat and catch a cold later.”

Even as Leona said that, she sat down across from Seth and her campfire, wearing only the leather armor she had worn since they first met.

Seth then pulled the blanket he had given her a little closer to her body so that it covered not only her shoulders but also her arms.

What she thought of as being a little shameless and how her body moved to withstand the cold inevitably became the opposite.

When I think that finally I was able to withstand the cold that felt like it was cutting into her body, my mind cleared up in many ways.

In the silence that surrounded the two, with only the sound of burning firewood echoing, she thought that she had finally had the chance to ask Leona what she was curious about.

“Why… Do you want me to be your bride? Is it a duty or tradition of this village or something like that?”

The first question Seth asked Leona was that kind of question.

Of course, in ancient society, there were times when men and women were forced to marry in order to maintain the population, but if that were the case, there would have been no reason for Leona, who was a ‘woman’ no matter what, to choose herself who also looked like a ‘woman’.

On the other hand, considering that it was a tradition to seek a partner of the same sex, Leona’s choice was in many ways incomprehensible, considering that it was a ‘meaningless act’ that did nothing to sustain the clan.

In a form that is almost like kidnapping, she brings an outsider to the village, and the reason is to make her bride.

At least, there were no such customs or traditions in the Black Demon clan community that Seth had seen so far.

“Ah. “That?”

To Seth’s question, Leona reacted casually, answering her without stopping to stir the wood for her campfire.

“The guy you met at the entrance earlier told you that, right? Here, everyone says that when they become adults.”

As Leona says that, she looks up at her ceiling for a moment.

“In order to be recognized as an adult in this village, you must find someone you love and become a couple. I don’t know how it’s done outside, but they say it’s been like that here since ancient times.”

At Leona’s words, Seth silenced her for a moment and then responded by shaking her head.

＂Marriage is a prerequisite for being recognized as an adult… It’s the complete opposite of general society. You should get married after you become an adult. An adult who can take responsibility for his or her own life.”

In the process, bonds, relationships, love, and fruition bloom between men and women.

All of this was the premise of ‘marriage’, which could also be said to be a ceremony to promise a companion and the future.

“Hmm, I guess that’s what it feels like from the outside.”

However, Leona responded bluntly to Seth’s answer.

“It feels like that… So, I’m not saying that you want to blindly choose someone as your bride, but I’m saying that it’s better to think carefully about who you want to be as your bride and then choose. Making brides with that kind of recklessness is why people outside the mountain call you ‘barbarians.'”

When Seth spoke to Leona in a sermon-like tone, Leona said nothing for a moment.

“What. It doesn’t matter to me either way.”

It seemed like the sermon she gave just now had no effect on Leona.

＂Haa…!?＂

Seth would be rather embarrassed by her answer.

In what sense does that mean it doesn’t matter?

Does it mean ‘I don’t care who the opponent is’, or does it mean ‘I don’t care if I’m called a barbarian’?

If it is the former…

Seth must have thought about it until he suddenly came to his senses and shook his head.

No, it may be because this person named Leona does not seem to be a person who thinks and acts that deeply to begin with.

Bringing me along was an impulsive choice… It would be better to judge it that way.

However, Leona answers Seth.

“Once you get married and are recognized as an ‘adult,’ you can leave the village… And the mountains.” It’s a rule set by the adults in the village.”

“Huh? That’s…”

In other words, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is, and it doesn’t matter even if they are called barbarians.

All Leona needed was to meet the conditions to get out of town.

Although he thinks the reason is simpler than she thought, Seth places his hand on her forehead and questions her without showing it.

“Why such a rule? If you are recognized as strong enough and can survive on your own, I would understand if that were the condition.”

If you think about common sense, it may be more advantageous for married adults to remain in the village in maintaining the shape and population of the village.

If humans who are old enough to have children leave the village, the population of the village will only decrease.

Seth questions their contradictory rules.

Perhaps, this might be an opportunity to get more information about her and her dark clan that lives in this village.

In addition, it is about the reason why this race was able to survive despite so many destructions.

“Your thoughts are not so wrong. For our clan of dark demons, the ritual of ‘marriage’… In other words, having a partner is a process of becoming much stronger than before.”

＂What is that… Are you drinking some strange drug at the wedding?＂

If Seth gets tired of a theory he’s never heard of before and answers like that, Leona will reply with a smile.

“Grandfathers and grandmothers talked about it. For us, ‘love’ is the most powerful ‘catalyst of power.’ Having an irreplaceable person is, for us, the last trump card.”

＂…＂

At Leona’s words, Seth had no choice but to remain silent for a moment.

“And… If you’re going to leave a village where people who don’t know anything about the outside world live, shouldn’t there at least be someone you can feel safe with?”

That’s because she definitely thought that what her grandmother and her grandfather said might be true.

The Black Demon’s clan is prone to runaways due to their ability to adapt to Black Magic.

Especially, when those you love are hurt or, conversely, betrayed by them.

If their insides are filled with dark emotions, the black magic that responds to it causes uncontrollable amplification of magic power, causing the race to fall into a state of runaway.

If you go out of control, you gain strength as your magic power is amplified by your emotions, but you lose your reason and commit destruction or slaughter at will.

‘Now that I think about it, the dark horse’s clan naturally had stronger families. If what the old people in this village are considering is to intentionally create a being that could be a ‘weak point’ to them, and then use that as a starting point to aim for a runaway of magical energy…’

Does this mean that to them, even the sacred ritual of ‘marriage’ is seen as nothing more than a tool to gain power?

Even as Seth continued his thoughts, he suddenly stopped and made eye contact with Leona.

Because- Leona was also quietly looking at Seth who was deep in thought.

＂… What is it?＂

＂No… Sometimes you have a very serious expression. “I thought so.”

＂How long has it been since we met…＂

In response to Leona’s words, Seth shook his head casually and responded even more bluntly than before.

This is because I felt that the person was making fun of me when I was thinking seriously.

Of course, it may be a worry that has nothing to do with Leona.

“… More than that. If you think that way, doesn’t that mean it’s okay no matter who the other person is? Even if it’s not me. There will be other people in town too. That’s true, whether you’re a man or a woman.”

“Ah, of course there is. Well, the number of people in the village continues to decrease, so there are less than 10 people in my age group, including me.”

As Leona answered Seth’s question, she turned her gaze towards the fire and closed her mouth for a moment.

Why is there no answer back? Just as I was thinking that, boom! And as the sound of the wood from the larger bonfire exploding was heard, Seth couldn’t help but flinch and tremble in surprise.

“But that doesn’t mean anyone is a good person to marry.”

And Leona quietly answered Seth.

“I am. I like the sun.”

For a moment, Seth couldn’t understand what was meant by such an unexpected comment, so he couldn’t reply.

＂So… That’s why?＂

In the end, when she received no further explanation, she asked directly.

Then Leona spoke while looking at her.

＂I also like quiet nights and starry skies, but… The morning sun rising over the mountains with a wind warm enough to melt the snow. A beautiful light that is completely opposite to the atmosphere of this town, where it is always dark, gloomy, and quiet is considered a virtue.”

Then, Leona carefully raised her upper body and extended her hand toward Seth’s head across the campfire.

“… Just like your hair.”

＂…＂

Of course, when I held her hand, I could feel her calloused fingers, but when she stroked Seth’s hair in such a gentle manner.

At the same time, Leona’s warm hand touched Seth’s cheek.

Seth couldn’t help but be momentarily surprised by the feel of her hand on his cheek and its warmth.

No matter how much she is, it doesn’t mean that she has never been touched by anyone.

As I said, the reason I thought it was more comfortable to act as a woman was as a way to ensnare people who looked at me as an ‘outlet of desire’ or something like that, and in the process, I put my hand on my face or the back of my arm without permission. There were also people who came.

Of course, she never allowed more than that.

The human desire felt in the behavior of most of those who came into contact with him in that way gave Seth a feeling of nauseating disgust.

As Adam’s terminal, he did not lack the consciousness of being a chosen people, thinking that he was a superior species to humans.

But Leona’s hands were different.

What is contained there is pure curiosity, goodwill, and a little warmth.

I want to know you, who is different from me.

You resemble the night, and you resemble the morning.

‘Ah, something like that.’

Seth realizes there.

She wanders the continent collecting information with the plausible title of ‘Bard’, but her greatest ability is not singing, but reading human emotions through the ‘soul’.〈 Br〉

If you mechanically think of the most efficient way to respond to the emotions you read and deal with them, you will automatically have the information in your hands, and there will be no problem with living among humans.

When most people look at her, they either feel envy for her singing talent or looks, or a desire to make her their own. It was everything.

However, with Leona, it was difficult for Seth to read people’s emotions, which was his specialty, and to portray himself accordingly.

So, I had no choice but to lose my pace and look embarrassed several times.

Because she is a member of the dark devil?

Or is it because she has a past life?

No, all the people I have met so far have all instinctively attacked Seth with hatred, driven by the past life factor that reacted to the presence of ‘Adam’ in Seth.

So there was no need to use the ability – at least there were no people who had the same feelings as Leona.

But Leona… Her words themselves say that she wants to make her his bride, but in her soul and actions, you can’t feel her possessive desire to possess her by force.

Seth, who was touched for the first time by such a pure heart, regains the spirit that froze her for a moment and answers Leona, who is making eye contact with her own.

“It’s a pretty attractive proposal, but… It’s disappointing. I’m a bard, so cringy sentences like that don’t work for me.”

Saying so, she gently pushes her hand away.

＂Oh my.＂

To Seth’s reaction, Leona responded as if she was surprised and obediently removed her own hand.

Leona’s reaction was a little disappointing, but Seth felt her heart pounding like never before at the sensation she had felt for the first time.

‘Up, it was dangerous… If only I had stayed still…’

It would have been against her father’s will.

For Seth, just thinking about it gave him goosebumps.

‘It might be dangerous to be with her. She is more regular than any other warlock clan I have ever seen.’

In the end, rather than focusing on gathering information, Seth thinks it would be better to leave this town for now.

After finally making up her mind that had been wavering, she spoke to Leona.

“As expected, it would be better to leave this village tomorrow. It’s not that I don’t like you, but… Becoming your partner without even knowing the meaning…”

＂… I see…＂

When Leona told her Seth would once again refuse to be his bride, she looked visibly somber.

However, you will soon nod your head as if you understand.

“Okay. However, it is only after about 3 months that you can leave the mountain. So, until then, please take care of me.”

＂Oh?!＂

But when Leona spoke next, she couldn’t hold back and even Seth’s voice was loud.

“Wait a minute! Three months later… Are you planning to forcibly imprison me!? You’ve finally revealed your true colors!”

And Seth would get up from her seat, throwing off her blanket.

“Oh, no! It’s not like that. Physically, you won’t be able to leave the mountain for three months!”

However, Leona got up from her seat to calm Seth down.

“A special magical fog forms on this mountain during this time, so much so that people cannot pass under the halfway slope.”

＂Magic fog…?＂

It is an area with such a high concentration of magic power that it is crowded with demonic beasts, so it is not surprising that such a natural phenomenon occurs…

＂Even so, if you move forward while protecting your body with the fog and magic power…＂

＂If you accidentally enter the fog, you won’t be able to see, and since the air is also mixed with magical energy, the magical energy will penetrate into your respiratory tract and the concentration of magical energy in your body will become too dense. Then, ultimately, the organs swell and the body bursts and dies…”

＂…＂

Seth was unable to say anything for a moment, having imagined the scene through Leona’s words.

“How come you entered the mountain just one day before the fog started?”

Ah, that’s why everyone said they wouldn’t go in.

Seth’s body fell onto the blanket with a screeching sound.

“You bastards… Why didn’t anyone tell me…”

She must have been holding her head while saying that.

Leona spoke to Seth once again, placing her hand on his shoulder.

＂What? Don’t worry too much. Surprisingly, about 3 months passed quickly.”

Leona also lies down a little away from Seth and goes to sleep.

Seth had no choice but to spend the next three months with her, and he was worried about whether he would be able to survive in this barbarian society…

001

＂I’m back~.＂

“Is it late! You said you’d be back at least before sunset today, right? “I prepared everything in advance!”

A high-pitched voice echoing through the house, and the fragrant smell of soup wafting from the pot.

When Leona returned to her house, she was slowly getting used to the fact that there were people in her house, so she smiled slyly and scratched her head.

“Sorry, I found my prey a little high up…”

“There is enough storage, so there is no need to hold more than necessary.”

Seth takes the coat that Leona takes off and raises his voice.

Wearing her apron and pointing to the pot with her ladle in it, she had finished her cooking a while ago.

＂No, but because there was a hound bear you liked…＂

＂Ugh… Well, that is… ＂

However, upon hearing Leona’s excuse, he reacts as if he did not expect it.

＂Since we’ve taken care of everything, let’s use it as an ingredient for tomorrow’s food. Forgive me for that. Huh?”

“… I can’t help it. “Is this just this time?”

And, even though she grumbled at Leona, she forgave her for no matter how many times it happened.

No matter where or how anyone looks, the two people look like newlyweds.

It was the night of two and a half months after Seth was kidnapped to this village by Leona.