The Villain in the Side Story Wants to Live

The Sage?

As I put my hand in front of Layered’s nose, I felt a weak breath. Fortunately he isn’t dead. Still need first aid?

It was a time when I was trying to remember if there was a medicine inside the demon king’s stone that could be used for such a situation.

“If you don’t want to be crippled, you’d better not move.”

Layered murmured, clutching my arm tightly.

Did you pretend to pass out? It was unfortunate because it felt like it was handled easily, but it turned out well.

You have to use all means to trample on him so he won’t attack you anymore after realizing that he’s not an opponent he can touch.

…… Is it because Orann’s memories influenced him to think that way?

I had the feeling that this side would be good no matter what.

“Try it.”

“Huh?”

“If you can, do it.”

When I finally allowed him to do whatever he wanted, his mouth was shut like a mute who had eaten honey.

“Really…?”

Layered speaks through gulping. I shook my head to mean hurry up.

Tzz-!

The sage’s mana penetrated into my arm. Within seconds, one arm of mine was stained blue.

From nob le mt l dot com

My hands were a little numb, but that’s it. It didn’t feel dangerous at all.

“I drew a spell on your arm. If you activate this, one arm will be permanently useless. How about even now…”

“Do you want to try?”

“…Huh? Really crippled? You could do something wrong and die.”

Sometimes the guy who uses magic with the intent to kill me ironically worries about my life.

I don’t know if I should consider this nice or stupid.

“Are you scared?”

“…Don’t regret it.”

At my provocation, he activated the spell that had been carved into his arm as if he had made up his mind.

At the same time, I also summoned demonic energy, and our forces collided.

Quad Deuk-!

After a while, I heard a sound like bones being crushed.

“Uggaeggaek! Why is my arm…!”

Not on my arm, of course, but on the arm of the sage.

“Are you a sage? You don’t know what a demon’s attribute is?”

“I know that it’s a power that destroys everything. So I protected it with several layers so that my spell wouldn’t break…”

There was fear in his eyes as he looked at his blackened arm.

“My magical power couldn’t easily subdue even the demon lord. Why did I lose?”

What he said was not wrong. Even if magi is the power to destroy everything, mana is the power to create something opposite to it.

The sage’s magic is stronger than anyone I know. So even if you’re a Demon Lord, it won’t be easy to subdue.

However, mana can change at will in response to the user’s emotions.

“Doesn’t it remind you of the past?”

“Ugh, a sudden headache…”

There was definitely a scene where Layered rolled with a hero in the memory that came to mind.

Unlike the warrior who became stronger while feeling anger towards me, what Layered felt from me was fear.

Because of his imprinted fear, he had to struggle every time he dealt with me.

‘I’ve grown enough to defeat the demon lord, but still afraid of me.’

Rather than thinking that he is foolish, I feel sorry for how many times I bullied the sage back then.

Still, being pitiful is pitiful. He had to pay the price for his wrongdoing.

“Since you did this well, you should be beaten like that time, right?”

“Ugh… why don’t we draw?”

“Is that what a guy with a spell that blows up half the forest would say?”

Avoiding my gaze, he rolled his eyes. When I tried to stab him with a fist, he overlapped his hands to form a ‘T’ as if it was time.

“Why again?”

“You can’t hit me.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because I’m Serena’s colleague.”

That’s true, but what does that have to do with this?

I tilted my head and he hurriedly continued.

“As expected from the way he looked at my condition without trying to kill me. You’d never hurt me to impress Serena.”

“Have you already hit one?”

“That’s it… It was an accident. We both had strong feelings, so I’ll understand that much.”

I didn’t want to be hit with layers, so I talked really hard.

But that’s all for listening to bullsh*t. I raised my fist to stun him.

“Oran, I’m here to make a deal.”

“Stop talking bullsh*t and relax your face.”

“Stop! Stop, stop?! Do you seriously think it’s possible to escape Evil and run outside the palace?”

From nob le mt l dot com

My fist stopped just before it touched his philtrum.

“What do you mean?”

As he said, the probability of escaping from the warriors and escaping safely outside the palace is low.

It would be infinitely close to zero to reach the land of dragons without encountering him.

“I’ll take you to the place you want.”

However, if the wise man helps, the risk is reduced by more than half.

A very tempting offer. It was difficult to ignore his words.

“If it’s a trade, what’s the price?”

“The hero said that you are an enemy that poses a threat to mankind, so you must deal with it.”

When I responded, he continued his explanation with his indigo blue eyes twinkling.

“But if it’s true that Serena, who hates the wicked, likes you, then I think it’s worth reconsidering whether Orane is dangerous.”

A wise man who believes only in his own observations without being seduced by what others say.

It was exactly what he would say, so it felt like it wasn’t a lie.

“So I’ll have to see with my own eyes if you’re dangerous.”

“Couldn’t you just confirm that I didn’t kill you?”

“What the guy who tried to beat me would say… Anyway!”

Layard glared at me, so she quietly raised her fist. He coughed and averted my eyes.

“It’s not hard to prove. Show me how you’re staying with Serena. If you make sure you’re not dangerous, I’ll help you get away.”

Also, he added, ‘I’ll use oblivion magic so that no one will notice you exist while you prove that you are not dangerous.’

Not a bad suggestion. Being able to move near the demon lord’s lair without risking it is a great advantage.

However, Laird, who looked at me with nervous eyes, did not seem to have made this suggestion simply to confirm my danger.

Obviously there seemed to be another reason not mentioned.

“That doesn’t sound too bad.”

“You mean that?”

“Let’s make a deal.”

“Whoa, I made a good choice.”

But what I want is that I won’t betray you before my need is done.

Even if I’m wrong, it’s not difficult to subdue a wise man.

For now, I decided to pretend I was cheated and accept it.

“Then I’ll take you to a place where no hero can find you.”

Laird brushed his ass off and reached out to me.

There was something suspicious about the hand he held out without hesitation, but since he had been hurt earlier, he probably wouldn’t have done anything wrong.

I grabbed his outstretched hand. In an instant, the clear and cool air changed to a damp, salty smell.

Unlike before, when the moonlight was hidden by the trees, the large full moon above the sky was emitting bright moonlight.

Thanks to that, I could see the open sea and the white brick houses at a glance.

“This is a port city called Lindel. It’s on the other side of Merlia Kingdom, so Evil will never know you’re here?”

Layard raised his head and nodded his head as if he had nothing to say to himself.

It was definitely an amazing ability. But that’s it. Since he was a trader, there was no reason to thank him.

“It’s hard because you’re a couple with Serena. It’s late today, so go inside that strange artifact and get some rest.”

Layered bluntly. It was so nonchalant that I almost passed it for a moment.

‘Did you know about the existence of the Demon King’s Stone?’

At first he was sure that I was with Serena.

That’s why he said to prove that it’s not dangerous by staying with Serena.

‘I guess all of my carelessness was acting?’

I looked at Layered’s face. I couldn’t read anything from him, who was yawning with a bored expression.

“By the way, you can’t tell Serena about our deal.”

“On the other hand, what if you get caught by Serena?”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen, but I want you to hide it until I reveal it myself. Maybe the moment they see me, they’ll try to tear me to death.”

He spoke seriously for the first time since he had hanged himself.

“Anyway, do your best.”

He disappeared in the blink of an eye.

.

.

.

The next day, I took Serena out of her as soon as she woke up.

With her eyes on the city, Serena tilted her head to one side in disbelief.

“Why is it a city and not a forest?”

“It moved while you were sleeping.”

“There are warriors walking around outside. Why did you do such a reckless thing?”

Serena was beaten right away. Of course, it was more like advice from her because she genuinely cared about me, rather than something she said to scold me out of anger.

“It’s my first trip, and it’s not nice to walk through the woods as soon as I wake up.”

Serena’s mouth twitched subtly as she glared at me with her fierce face.

“I did it because I didn’t want Serena to suffer.”

A smile crept across her lips for an instant, then disappeared.

“From now on, I’ll discuss it first and then move on.”

Instantly, her lips, which were in the shape of ‘ㅡ’, drew a soft arc.

“…Forgive me just this once.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s not that you’re sorry. Rather, I should be grateful.”

Reaching her hand toward my face, she grabbed my cheek and pulled it up.

“So don’t put on the wrong face.”

Serena let go of her cheek as if she liked it only after she drew an awkward smile on my lips.

“Rather than that, where is this place?”

“Hmm… It’s a port city near Merlia Kingdom.”

“I never dreamed a place like this existed.”

Serena looked around her, but she didn’t seem to know where she was.

Once I was about to move to find a place to eat, Serena tugged at my collar.

She turned her head in wonder and she held out her hand to me.

“I don’t want to lose you in a remote place like this. So… What measures are needed?”

Embarrassed, her voice diminished as it went backwards.

Serena turned her head slightly to the side, as if to let me make the choice, but her eyes moved busily at every little movement I made.

As I was silent, she came closer to me.

It was a distance where you could forcefully hold my hand if you wanted. But she waited patiently for me to catch her.

I felt so cute seeing Serena waiting endlessly for her approval.

I guess that’s why I grabbed her hand as hard as I could.

“Isn’t that inconvenient?”

Shaking her head, Serena whispered softly, reddening her cheeks.

“It’s good that I’m holding hands with you…”

Her heart tickled at the single word ‘good’.

Serena smiles while looking at me. At the thought that he smiled just for me, a soft line was drawn on my lips for a while.

‘…… Aren’t the wise men watching this?’

Having such thoughts in my head made me feel a little dirty.