Chapter 44

The Dragon Slayer's voice gradually faded as if a decrescendo had been applied.

White Mask escaped with us so quickly that I wondered if it was even possible to be this fast.

Thanks to that, we reached the train in an instant, and only then did White Mask put us down on the ground.

"Muyeon has fainted."

At White Mask's words, I checked on Muyeon and indeed, her mouth was twisted and her body had gone limp.

The Dragon Slayer's voice must have sounded like an Outer God's roar to her.

It would have been strange if she hadn't fainted.

"I didn't expect the Dragon Slayer to come that far. That could have been dangerous."

White Mask exhaled deeply as she spoke.

Despite her words, her nonchalant attitude suggested this wasn't entirely unexpected.

That's when it happened.

Crack.

"Hm? What's that sound...?"

"...!"

White Mask showed signs of panic, and upon closer inspection, I could see cracks forming on her mask.

Her hands moved as if trying to hold the mask in place, but...

Crash!

The mask finally broke in two with a shattering sound. White Mask seemed to forget about covering her face and held the broken pieces in both hands.

In that state, our eyes met.

"Ah."

White Mask broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly turned her back to me.

But I couldn't help but be surprised by the glimpse I caught of White Mask's face.

Cat-like features with piercing blue eyes.

But the perfectly chiseled features made it not unpleasant at all.

A perfect face that seemed only possible in computer graphics was right there.

However, White Mask was flustered as if she had shown something unsightly.

"S-Sorry. I showed you an ugly sight..."

"But you're beautiful, why are you hiding?"

The moment I spoke my honest thoughts, White Mask seemed to say something.

"What?"

"What did you just say...?"

Our voices overlapped again.

No, why is our timing so in sync today?

I tried to ask what she had said again, but White Mask grabbed my shoulders and brought her face close, leaving me speechless.

Uh, wow.

I wish she'd keep a bit of distance, my heart feels like it's going to burst.

"You think this face is beautiful?"

White Mask looked quite flustered, and I just nodded calmly.

"Yes."

After my honest answer, White Mask made a serious expression and stroked her chin with her finger.

"...Maybe I misunderstood. Perhaps this guy really is mentally ill..."

"No, what on earth are you saying!"

I protested as White Mask tried to slander me again.

Where do you get off calling someone mentally ill for complimenting your face!

As I was feeling wronged, I heard the sound of someone stirring.

Muyeon was moving and getting up.

Our attention turned to Muyeon simultaneously. Still seeming unaware of the situation, Muyeon looked around before her eyes met mine, and she smiled with relief.

"M-Mr. Tanton! What happened..."

As she was speaking to me, Muyeon's gaze shifted to White Mask.

And she froze on the spot.

Her pupils contracted as if she had encountered an indescribable being, and her body began to shake uncontrollably.

Unable to bear it any longer, she closed her eyes and collapsed to the ground, unable to get up again as if she had fainted.

Hmm.

"Does this prove my point?"

"...Yes."

As expected, Muyeon is a fear detector.

Her performance is certainly reliable!

***

The train departed with Muyeon lying on a seat.

White Mask, probably flustered herself, had roughly covered her face with something like a face cloth and remained silent, so I didn't know where we were going.

"Um, Master?"

White Mask quietly nodded at my call, cleared her throat, and looked at me.

"Where are we going now?"

"To another village. It wouldn't be good to go to Rondan when the Dragon Slayer has come out that far, as there's a possibility of being tracked."

"Isn't it meaningless if she chases us?"

"She can't chase us. The lesser dragons she controls are weak creatures that will quickly disappear without her protection."

I thought they weren't that weak, but considering how they vanished on the spot after just a massage, White Mask's words must be correct.

And although White Mask didn't specifically mention it, I think it's related to what the Gardener explained.

Those lesser dragons must be the 'anchors' that allow the Dragon Slayer to stay here.

I couldn't understand why she was doing this in the human world though.

"Anyway, don't you two need rest? You just fought with the lesser dragons, and in the process, you must have borrowed an Outer God's power."

With those final words, White Mask closed her mouth again.

There wasn't really a need to talk, but it became so quiet that it felt awkward.

With nothing else to do, I looked out the train window.

Outside of Rondan.

The sky seemed completely overcast, with only faint sunlight piercing through the clouds to barely illuminate the world.

Snow was quietly falling in this world, and the continuous snowfall had turned everything white.

The sound of the train's wheels hitting the rails echoed in my ears as it ran over the snow-covered ground.

The outside of Rondan must surely be a land of death.

Yet why does even this feel so beautiful?

The sight of large mountain peaks turned white with snow was breathtaking.

On the other hand, looking at the hills formed by accumulated snow made me solemn, thinking about the numerous human sacrifices that must be buried within.

Is this what they call the contrast between beauty and tragedy?

I clasped my hands and closed my eyes, offering a silent prayer for their souls.

"...The problem was allowing that guy's attack."

As I was feeling awe at the gloomy yet artistic scenery, White Mask spoke.

"When I went out boldly to deal with the Dragon Slayer, I wore the Outer God protection gear as usual. I thought it would be nothing special. I had even made Greater Outer Gods retreat a few times before.

But that was my arrogance. In the end, that Dragon Slayer bit my head. Her bite force was incredible. Without the protection gear, my head would have been sliced off like pudding."

I recalled the power of the Observer and the Gardener.

Especially the Observer, whose controlled power far exceeded mine even when she was just playing. To think of an attack meant to kill humans in earnest...

I nodded, thinking it was amazing that she survived.

"I somehow managed to survive with the help of my comrades, and endured by drinking recovery potions. But look at the result. I must have been cursed by an Outer God. The domain residents all either fear or faint when they see my face."

Remembering Muyeon's reaction, I thought that even with the premise of her being a coward, other people would likely have similar reactions.

"So you took over the railway management office where there are no people..."

"No, I'm doing that because I want to."

I spoke softly with a feeling of pity, but White Mask replied bluntly.

So it's a railway enthusiast ending after all?

What was I getting sad about!

White Mask stood up as she said this.

"We seem to be arriving soon."

I stared blankly at White Mask as she woke up Muyeon by shaking her and was about to leave first.

"...Anyway, don't overdo it. You need the courage to say something is bad when it's bad."

I scratched the back of my head as I watched Muyeon get up and look around in a daze.

It wasn't a lie though.

***

Vandre, a village under Rondan's control.

I had heard that there were a few places outside of Rondan where the flame of the hearth existed and could be maintained.

Either places where Candles were present, or places like this that were good for knights to rest.

So I naturally thought no one would be living here, but humans are adaptable creatures, and the place was quite bustling with people.

The familiar sight of people walking with their heads bowed was noticeable.

Maybe because the heat was weaker than the hearth, while it could stop the snow from falling, it couldn't prevent the cold, so everyone was wearing thick clothes.

As I was looking around in wonder, White Mask put her hand on my shoulder once and then went ahead.

"You can look around if you want. It's your first time here, right? I'm going to get us rooms."

"Ah, I'll come with you!"

Muyeon followed White Mask with slightly hurried steps, and so I was left alone.

Well, I think they should have told me where they were going, but...

It's not that big a place anyway, so it should be fine.

I walked around looking at various places.

Coats filling clothing stores, restaurants selling warm food, people talking with a cup in hand under buildings.

The scenery wasn't much different from Rondan, but the fact that it was like this in other places as well was quite mysterious.

As I was walking around with a smile on my face, enjoying the fresh feeling after a long time, I noticed something a bit different from what I had been seeing.

"Come on, it's cheap! Everyone, wouldn't it be convenient to have a maid at home? I'll give you a great deal! Only 50 silver coins! I'll give them to you for just 50 silver coins!"

A man with a protruding belly was shouting loudly while holding a whip, like some kind of slave trader.

Human trafficking.

I had heard it was illegal, but it was disheartening to see that this was still happening.

It probably wouldn't be good to go and cause trouble.

I should tell White Mask about it later.

As I was thinking this and about to pass by, my eyes met with one of the girls inside.

Pointed ears.

Neat brown hair.

Unlike the other frightened girls, she had a tired look in her eyes as if everything was bothersome.

Wait, that girl...!

I suddenly remembered who this slave trader was, and realized that I absolutely couldn't just pass by and leave that girl.

So I changed direction and approached.

"Come! Come! Welcome... K-Knight, are you?"

"How much for that girl?"

When I pointed at the girl and asked, the slave trader rubbed his hands together and said:

"Oh my, Sir Knight! It's 50 silver coins per person! If you take a few more, I can give you a discount..."

"Ah, 50 silver coins?"

I pretended to search my pockets as I said that.

And then, as I took my hand out...

Thwack!

I threw a punch right at the slave trader's nose bridge.

"Argh!"

The slave trader flew backwards and hit the wall, then slid down and fainted.

...What kind of mentality does it take to try to sell to someone you know is a knight?

My gaze shifted slightly to that girl.

Was it my imagination?

It seemed like a spark of interest flashed in the girl's previously empty eyes.