The Villain Dreams Of World Peace

Due to an oversight on my part, chapter 74 was missing! because of technical convenience, I will be posting the two together. So sorry!

 

EP: 74

 

The castle was lively after the Black Wizards joined. Except for Sadie, most of them were quiet and introverted, but because there were so many people and everyone was busy, it became lively.

 

As soon as they arrived at the castle, they repaired the old building. It was decided for everyone to stay in the same building until the walls were completed for safety, so they had to repair the remaining rooms in the building where Muriel was staying, but it didn’t take even half a day to finish. Their self-sufficiency skills from the plateau were not something to laugh at.

 

They repaired the building neatly in less than three days and even prepared a separate tower for research. The dining hall, which could accommodate many people, was tidied up, the large bathroom with a bathtub was repaired and public toilets were repaired, and they even repaired the stables, saying it’d be better to finish everything in one-go. There was an image that wizards like to play tricks and were lazy outside of research, but they were sincere and diligent enough to blow away all such prejudices.

 

“Did you stay up all night again?”

 

Muriel said, looking at Debbie with tired eyes as they entered the dining hall.

 

Muriel knew well why they were moving so busily. It was all to study the fragment of Ur that Kaiton had handed over. Perhaps because of Kaiton’’s threat to kick them out if they didn’t help, they worked diligently during the day and gathered in the tower at night to study the sculpture of Ur. Muriel could often see black wizards walking around like demons with tired eyes like they weren’t getting proper sleep.

 

“Don’t worry, we’re doing what we were asked to do properly.”

 

Debbie answered curtly, drinking watery soup in a hurry. Debbie was the most severe of the black wizards, and considered even mealtime a waste. So the dining hall always had easy to prepare and simple food available. Of course, they were the ones preparing the meals. They were taking turns and one person was on cooking duty everyday, and Muriel felt a little guilty that they were taking care of every little thing in the castle. She did bring them here to work, but not just to work like this.

 

“That’s how it should be.”

 

Contrary to the slight guilt she felt, however, Muriel replied boldly as she sat next to Debbie. Meal duty was something Muriel could do too, but creating the monster fortress wall was a much more important task and on a different level. Muriel was eagerly anticipating the completion of the blueprint.

 

“I’ve roughly completed the draft, so today I’ll discuss with August how much he can provide in terms of materials.”

 

Even before Muriel could respond, Debbie pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket.

 

“Eklum’s money is as abundant as the snow of the plateau, so don’t worry about material costs and use them as much as you’d like.”

 

Muriel replied kindly, even though it wasn’t her money.

 

If the black wizards were responsible for the mundane tasks and the construction of the castle walls, August’s role was to raise funds and supply materials. Eklum had been faithful to his role, as evidenced by the high-quality mushrooms present in the watery soup Muriel and Debbie were eating, which even the nobles of the Kingdom of Bulrion could only eat at banquets.

 

“What’s this?” 

 

Muriel asked, looking at the blueprint that Debbie handed her. Even to an outsider like Muriel, it was clear that the document Debbie handed her was not a design for the castle walls. Instead, it seemed to be a design for the installation of a moat, complete with illustrations.

 

“What about the wall?”

 

“It doesn’t matter as long as you can chase away the demons. The effect is no different from the wall, so don’t worry. There’s no need to advertise this as a villain’s stronghold, right?”

 

“But still, if it’s a fortress wall, wouldn’t it block against external enemies besides demons?”

 

“Ha! As if someone would dare invade a castle where Kaiton Ur is.”

 

Debbie picked up the plate and slurped the leftover soup and said bitterly.

 

“Other people don’t know that Kaiton Ur is here.”

“It doesn’t matter even if they come. It’ll be over as soon as Ur flicks his finger. If that happens a few times, rumors will spread, and no one will dare to make a move.”

 

When Muriel glared at her, Debbie glanced at her and poured sugar into her coffee while explaining. Although her words were obviously mean, it was a little cute to see her rubbing her eyes as if she was tired. Muriel clicked her tongue and pulled Debbie’s hand away from her eyes which had become red to listen to her explanation.

 

“It’s okay to install the human-blocking fortress wall later. Making a sturdy fortress wall that can even contain living monsters is much more difficult than that. You’ll need even larger foundations than the fortress wall, and plenty of tough minerals that can withstand tapahit attacks. The moat structure goes into the ground, so it receives support from the surroundings, making it relatively strong. It’s also easier to construct.”

 

That was reasonable. Muriel finally nodded her head and grumbled that from now on, Debbie should explain with such plausible reasons from the beginning. Debbie rolled her eyes while glancing at Muriel, but snorted in the end. It seemed like she would have to scuffle even next time to hear a detailed explanation from her.

 

“Eklum!”

 

August, who was about to enter the restaurant, approached with a bright smile at Debbie’s call.

 

“How long do you think it will take to get the necessary materials here?”

 

Debbie extended the blueprint without even greeting.

August, seemingly accustomed to Debbie’s attitude, examined the blueprint for a while and replied, “I think it’ll take two weeks.”

 

“That long? Wasn’t Eklum’s money more abundant than the snow of the plateau?”

 

“It’s not about the money, it’s about the delivery. There’s no portal installed here. If we have to manually transport everything by carriage, the schedule will be very tight.”

 

August filled the stable with high-quality horses and brought in an additional carriage, but there were so many materials required for the moat that it would take two weeks even if all means of transportation were mobilized.

 

“Just install a portal secretly! What can’t be done with money?”

 

It was an impossible task. Even if an illegal portal was set up, if the other side reported it to the kingdom, it would result in Sharan’s knights being brought to the territory. Portals were heavily regulated as they were one of the foundations of maintaining Sharan’s power.

 

Despite Debbie’s unreasonable insistence, August did not show any signs of irritation. Instead, he laughed cheerfully like an affectionate older brother trying to comfort his cute younger sibling and simply said he would make an effort to deliver it quickly. If it were Muriel, she would have already shot back sharply, and if it were Kaiton, he would have looked at her with disdain and not bothered to respond. However, August remained faithful even in his role as a caretaker.

 

“But here, the magic formula is tangled. We shouldn’t do it like this here…”

 

August, the castle’s financier and friendly nanny, pointed out one part of the design and told Debbie.

 

“What are you talking about! No way!”

 

Debbie, who jumped up and vehemently denied it, clutched her head in despair when August explained it concisely. August’s point was accurate. In truth, it wasn’t because Debbie was the most wizard magician that she ended up with the overall responsibility for dealing with the demon moat. In terms of skill alone, there was Kaiton, followed by August. However, Kaiton didn’t bother to lift a finger, and August was busy with other things. That’s why the black wizards who claimed to be Muriel’s faithful workers ended up taking on the arduous tasks. Sometimes, when August or Kaiton easily discovered inconsistencies in the design, Debbie became extremely frustrated.

 

 

But at the same time, she seemed to be delighted. Debbie was enthusiastic about the latest magic of the kingdom, which August sometimes explained, and was thrilled just to be able to watch Keaton up close. She was growing every day, absorbing new magic like a sponge.

 

Muriel, looking happily at Debbie’s ambiguous face, picked up the clean empty plate and got up from her seat. It was to avoid being involved in the long and arduous debate that would soon follow. If Debbie had any questions, she wouldn’t back down even if Kaiton threatened her with his piercing gaze, and she would chase after August persistently while gasping even if he tried to run away. Perhaps even now, it seemed that August wouldn’t be able to escape from Debbie’s relentless questioning until lunchtime was over.

 

“Muriel, wait a moment.”

 

However, August, looking perplexed at Debbie, who had already entered question mode, caught Muriel.

 

“I have something to say, can you wait for a moment?”

 

 

***

 

Knock, knock.

 

“Ondal, I brought lunch. Do you want some?”

 

Muriel knocked on Ondal’s door, and it opened hurriedly. Seeing that Ondal’s blindfold was slightly askew, it seemed like he had been in the process of taking it off after darkening the room. But the room was still bright. Ondal had pulled back the curtains for Muriel. Muriel entered the room with a subtle smile, appreciating Ondal’s thoughtfulness. Even though Ondal hadn’t invited her, he seemed completely at ease.

 

“There are expensive mushrooms in it, so try it.. The taste… uh, the aroma is really good.”

 

Muriel said, laying down a tray with soup and meat dishes on the table.

 

“Thank you…”

 

Ondal pouted as he approached Muriel. He didn’t even consider sitting in front of the food even though he was probably hungry. He just stayed by Muriel’s side like an uncomfortable puppy. Muriel hadn’t been particularly concerned about his meal, instead of insisting that he ate, she went straight to the main subject of her visit to his room.

 

“Is there someone you want to avoid?”

 

Instead of answering, Ondal touched the black cloth covering his eyes. It seemed like an unconscious action, but Muriel had a hunch about what it meant, and it bothered her.

 

“You’ve only been in your room these days. I wondered if it was because there’s someone you’re avoiding. August was worried.”

 

Muriel actually thought the reason was because of the newly joined black wizards. Among them were three female wizards, including Sadie. She guessed that it was because of the abuse inflicted by Sharon, who had forced him to engage in relations with women. She speculated that Ondal was afraid of contact with women. But she was hesitant to pretend to know. That was a pain he didn’t want to reveal to anyone. Muriel believed her role was only to listen when he wanted to confide in her. She watched and waited, hoping that someday things would be okay once he became  used to the presence of women.

 

However, August seemed to have misunderstood that Ondal was avoiding him. After hearing that, Muriel thought it might be possible and decided to talk to Ondal.

 

When August escaped from Debbie’s barrage of questions, he told Muriel what had happened between Ondal and him the day she went up to the plateau. August said that he introduced Ondal to his father. Muriel also suspected that when August said he had something he wanted to do with Ondal. It would certainly be a great help if Hubert Eklum, who held the position of a Guardian, became on Ondal’s side.

 

However, he said that even after confirming Ondal was protected by their pledge of oath, Hubert Eklum could not easily acknowledge his existence.

 

“It must have been hurtful.. My father’s reaction to Ondal’s appearance.”

 

August washed his tired face and swept it with his hands. From his face, she could guess Hubert Eklum’s reaction at the time.

 

 

“My father is a conservative person, so he has never thought about someone like Sharan not being gold.”

 

“Did the see Ondal’s eyes? Personally?”

 

Muriel was about to ask if he had forced him, but she quit. August wouldn’t have done that, and he still looked troubled and worried. Still, she couldn’t help feeling complicated, and clicked her tongue while messing up her hair in frustration.

 

“…Can you please check if Ondal is okay? If Muriel comforts him, Ondal will cheer up a little”

 

“All right.”

 

“I was too hasty… I should have given enough time to Father and Ondal. But because I couldn’t wait to seek advice from the person I respect the most… I got impatient.”

 

“Don’t blame yourself. I know how much Auguste cares for Ondal. If I know, I’m sure Ondal does too.”

 

Muriel tried to console August, but his expression didn’t improve.

 

Hubert Eklum held off acknowledging Ondal as the real Sharan. August’s expression seemed dark not only because he felt sorry for hunting Ondal, but also because if Hubert Eklum did not stand on Ondal’s side, August too, would have to make a decision. Which side to stand on.

 

“It’s okay, August.”

Muriel, who comforted him with ambiguous words, came straight to Ondal.

 

“August wants to apologize to you.”

“There’s no need to apologize…”

 

Ondal replied gloomily. He wasn’t very convincing when his face was full of worries. When Muriel breathed a small sigh, Ondal muttered, looking around.

 

“I’m telling you….”

“Then you’re not avoiding August?”

“…Yes…”

 

“Then why do you keep missing class? I heard August is teaching you a lot of things.”

 

August said that he was giving Ondal classes in preparation for when he would become Sharan one day. Since Ondal was a blank slate, there were many things that needed to be taught, but August said he would start with the most urgent and useful ones first. The meeting between Ondal and Hubert Eklum seemed to have been quite a mess, seeing that the lessons also included common knowledge about noble etiquette and kingdom customs.

 

“If it’s necessary for becoming Sharan in the future, you should study hard.”

 

“…”

 

“But if you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to.”

 

“Studying is fun…”

 

“But?”

 

“…”

 

“If you want me to wait until you feel like talking, I’ll do that.”

 

“No…!”

 

Ondal grabbed Muriel by the collar in a hurry when she was about to leave. Muriel patiently waited for Ondal to speak. It wasn’t like she was going to run out, but Ondal’s hand holding Muriel’s collar did not let go.

 

“Sharan… I should do that, right? That way I’ll have the strength to protect Muriel…”

 

“You don’t want to become Sharan?”

 

“…It’s not that.”

 

It was a response that hummed with uncertainty and hesitation.

 

“You don’t have to do it if you want to. Do you not want to become Sharan?”

 

Muriel spoke firmly. That was the only thing she was sure of. If Ondal were the only Sharan in the world, the kingdom would never let him go. But that wasn’t the case. Ondal had a choice. To become Sharan or to stay as himself and find his own life.

 

“Ondal.”

 

Even though Muriel called him with determination, Ondal hesitated to answer while fidgeting with his fingers.

 

“But… that’s how I can protect Muriel. I… I also want to protect Muriel….”

 

Ondal seemed to be bothered by the mocking words that Kaiton had said to him. As Muriel recalled Kaiton’s sneering smirk, anger welled up inside her again. How dare he make Ondal worry like this with his malicious taunting and vent his anger on him. She cautiously took hold of Ondal’s hand, silently vowing to herself that she would definitely give him a piece of her mind later.

 

 

“I told you, didn’t I? I’ll protect myself. I’m shrewd, so I’ll always find a way to save my life. Don’t worry about that. What about without me? If you don’t consider me, then you don’t want to become Sharan?”

 

Muriel suddenly thought she wanted to see Ondal’s eyes. She wanted to see what expression he was making, what kind of gaze he held. It was quite difficult to guess the mind of someone whose eyes were completely hidden. If he removed the blindfold covering his red eyes, she felt she could understand his heart a little better without needing to ask like this.

 

But Muriel still listened attentively to Ondal’s voice. He was the person who opened the curtains wide for Muriel even if they blinded him. Like Ondal was trying, Muriel wanted to make an effort for him as well.

 

“I just… want to be by Muriel’s side. I don’t want to become Sharan. I don’t want to be in front of people who see me as a monster…”

 

“…Next time, if someone says something about your appearance, just give them a good beating. You’re strong. Even stronger than most swordsmen, right? Don’t hold back, don’t get hurt, just let loose.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Ondal replied with a gentle nod, but Muriel knew he would not do that. It would be the same even if he became Sharan. Even if he became Sharan, there would still be people in need of a scolding who would mock his appearance. But Ondal wouldn’t do that. Even if he had power, he would never use it to harm someone like Sharan Kasal did.

 

But still, why did Muriel automatically assume Ondal would become Sharan? It was an easy prejudice. Muriel realized that she had never thought about what Ondal truly wanted.

 

“Can I stay with Muriel even if I don’t become Sharan?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Muriel… Can you hug me?”

 

If Ondal wasn’t blindfolded right now, it felt like he would be looking at her with a direct gaze. Muriel felt a strange sensation when Ondal spoke so honestly and straightforwardly about what he wanted and expressed his feelings. It was like seeing a single blade of grass sprouting in ruins. It felt like she was looking at green leaves that sprouted with strong vitality even in the lifeless underground that never saw the sun.

 

“I can’t see Muriel’s face right now, can you please hug me so that I can be sure if it’s really okay?”

 

Muriel was also curious about Ondal’s thoughts, so she thought it would be nice to see his eyes, and it seemed that Ondal was thinking the same thing.

 

“Hold me tight so that I won’t feel anxious, Muriel.”

 

When Muriel’s hand lightly touched Ondal’s shoulder, where his white hair fell, Ondal embraced her as if he had been waiting. Ondal wasn’t particularly big, but he was bigger than Muriel, so he squeezed himself a lot to fit into Muriel’s small embrace, twisting his body. When Muriel chuckled at his adorable and funny behavior, Ondal hugged her even tighter and put his cheek on her shoulder.

 

“There’s no need to feel anxious.”

 

Muriel thought that the way he dug into her embrace was just like Fen, and she supported herself with one leg half-raised, gently patting Ondal’s shoulder.

 

“You’ll do well.”

 

“I’m afraid I’m so pathetic that I can’t be next to Muriel… I thought I should become Sharan for Muriel’s sake… But monsters can’t become like Sharon… People are afraid of demons… they need Sharan because they’re scared of demons, so how can a demon be Sharan?”

 

“Why are you a demon! That’s bullshit from that damn Kasal…!”

 

“I can’t even see the light… I can’t even see Muriel’s face. I can only… see it when Kaiton Ur steals the breath of God that Muriel possesses…”

 

“Ondal!”

 

Muriel wanted to see Ondal’s face from a distance, but Ondal didn’t move an inch. With his great strength, Muriel was completely tied up.

 

“Let go of me.”

 

But as soon as Muriel spoke, Ondal fell back as if affected by some spell. It was strange, he clung to her like he was going to be stubborn and resist if she pushed him away, but when Muriel’s words fell, he suddenly dropped down, almost frighteningly quick.

 

 

Why are you talking so pathetically? You have to be confident!

 

She wanted to shout that out so much, but she swallowed it with a sigh.

 

For someone who had lived their whole life under abuse in a prison with nothing, it was a miracle for him to express his feelings honestly. Just as flowers don’t bloom when forced in winter, the wounds of the heart don’t heal just because they are pressed.

 

“It’s not that you can’t see, it’s just that the time and method of seeing are a little different for you.”

 

Muriel encouraged him, for she firmly believed that Ondal, with his strong vitality, would eventually meet spring and bloom beautifully.

 

“Do you want to go for a walk with me tonight? It will improve your mood.”

 

“Sure.”

 

Perhaps Muriel’s affectionate tone had made him feel a little better, as Ondal’s voice, which had been trembling anxiously, softened a bit.

 

“Then you won’t avoid us anymore, right? August worries when you stay in your room.”

 

“Did you worry about me, too?”

 

“Silly.”

 

When Muriel laughed, Ondal pouted and gently pressed his forehead against her shoulder.

 

“I hope Ondal finds something he wants to do soon. Even if you don’t  want to become Sharan, there’s lots of good and cool things in the world. If you look at a lot of things, you’ll eventually find something you want to do.”

 

“What I want to do is to be next to Muriel.”

 

“That’s because right now, I’m the only one you know… But time will give you better things. Trust me.”

 

“….”

---

Episode 75

 

The night she promised to take a walk with Ondal came soon.

 

Muriel searched for Kaiton during the day. It was to get back the unsettling blue earrings that felt like a clue in that disturbing dream. However, despite carefully navigating through the sorcerers working on the construction and surveying the entire estate, Muriel couldn’t find Kaiton. She wondered where he could be going so frequently. She thought about asking Ondal but gave up on the idea. It felt disrespectful to use Sharan’s eyes as a location tracker when they were said to be a blessing from God.

 

“Can I wear that?”

 

Muriel asked, pointing to Ondal’s black cloth. This was also why she chose the dark of the night.

 

The fiefdom, where monsters were tied up and whimpering on the ropes, was not an appropriate place to go around at night. In addition, the ground had been dug up to make the moat, so the area was even more chaotic. Apart from Muriel and Ondal, no one else enjoyed taking a strange night walk. But it was even better this way. Since it was night and there was no one around, Ondal would be able to look around the estate to his heart’s content.

 

“I’ll close my eyes and walk. You hold my hand.”

 

“…Won’t you be scared?”

 

“What about you?”

 

“I… I’m not afraid of the dark.”

 

“Neither am I.”

 

Besides, you’re here. Muriel said playfully, and Ondal blushed and lowered his head, hesitantly placing the cloth over Muriel’s eyes.

 

“Oh, tell me if it hurts.”

“Err… No, It doesn’t hurt.”

 

Muriel, who didn’t know pain, awkwardly replied and quietly stilled her face. It felt awkward and scary to walk with her vision blocked. The screams of the monsters, like scraping glass with nails, was even more creepy. However, when Muriel heard Ondal’s cheerful footsteps as if he was excited, her mood instantly improved.

 

“Shall we go to the lake? It would have been even more prettier if there were a full moon tonight, but it’s still worth seeing.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“Why? Is something wrong?”

 

Muriel, who was slightly nervous because of Ondal’s sudden halt, asked.

 

“I’ve never forgotten even once.”

 

Ondal muttered to himself.

 

Tilt. Feeling anxious due to his sudden stop, Muriel opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, but then she heard Ondal’s trembling voice.

 

“I forgot about the moon because I was only thinking about Muriel. I didn’t even realize it was a half moon tonight.”

 

Ah…!

 

“I can see Muriel’s face.”

 

Hehe, the sound of his laugh was as innocent as a child’s.

 

“It’s… much more prettier than the moon.”

 

***

 

“Muriel, there’s a mole on your neck? I’ve never seen that before… It’s nice to see you in person, not through Sharan’s eyes… I can see you more closely.”

 

“Muriel, there’s a tree over there that has a color similar to your clothes.”

 

“Muriel, your hands are smaller than I thought… They felt much bigger when you patted me on the back… It’s fascinating. They’re very… cute.”

 

“Muriel, Muriel moves her arms like this, like this? That’s fascinating, hehe.”

 

“Muriel’s hair…”

 

“Ondal…”

 

Muriel urgently called out to Ondal, who was only looking at her own face without paying attention to the surrounding scenery. It was because she felt a rush of embarrassment.

 

“Isn’t it nice to be outside after a long time? The landscape of the estate has changed a lot since the black wizards came.”

 

“Yeah. It’s even better when I’m with Muriel.”

 

However, despite Muriel’s efforts to change the subject, Ondal quickly turned his gaze back to Muriel.

 

“But Muriel, we can’t go to the sea right now, can we?”

 

“The sea? Do you want to go to the sea?”

 

Finally, Ondal showed a new interest, and Muriel responded with a hint of excitement.

 

“Well… The sea isn’t too far from here, but it would take a few days by carriage. Should I talk to August about it tomorrow?”

 

“…Can we really do that?”

 

“Sure. So you wanted to go to the sea. Of course, we can. Let’s go together later.”

 

“Yes… I want to see if the night sea resembles Muriel.”

 

“…Resembles me? How?”

 

Muriel was once again taken aback by the topic that returned to herself and asked in confusion.

 

“That… Your hair has a color similar to the sea… When the sun is out… It sways like the sea… Every time I saw it through Sharan’s eyes, I thought it was really pretty.”

 

“Oh… Really? Thank you.”

 

Throughout the walk, Muriel repeated awkward greetings. Now, her responses were becoming mechanical.

 

“…I wish I could see Muriel’s hair sparkle like the sea. It’s already beautiful, but the way it sways in the wind, like waves crashing, is truly… pretty.”

 

Muriel ran her hand through her hair. Certainly, it would be difficult to see its true color without any light. Even if there was moonlight, it would be incomparable to being under the sun. Muriel didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want to make empty and careless promises about being able to see it someday. Yet, she couldn’t be sure if words of consolation were appropriate either.

 

“Have you ever seen the ocean?”

 

So Muriel changed the subject once again.

 

“Yeah. Just once. There was a man who stole someone else’s pacio with a fragment and was being chased by knights. He jumped into the sea. At that time, I was really surprised to see the endless expanse of water. Later, I learned that the vast land made of water is called the sea, and it made me really happy.”

 

All the books Ondal was allowed to read were a few meager ones.

 

Learning that was only allowed because it was impossible to convey what was seen through Sharan’s eyes without basic common sense. Ondal said he read and read the books until the printing on them was worn off and they could no longer be read.

 

“Muriel’s hair under the sun resembles the sea… I wonder how it would look under moonlight. I hope it resembles the night sea. Then, I can see the sea every day through Muriel.”

 

“Let’s go see the sea, for sure.”

 

She could promise him that. If it was difficult by carriage, she would at least ask Kaiton. Just like in the plateau, they could hang on to Kaiton from both sides. Muriel, who had been coming to see the nearby lake for a while, asked Ondal to describe it and its surroundings to her. Otherwise, it felt like he would just keep looking at her alone.

 

Ondal described the scenery from his perspective in a low voice.

 

The half-moon resembled an omelet he had eaten once, and the shimmering of the lake under the moonlight was as if the lake spirit loved the moonlight so much that it secretly took it into the water and spilled it all. When the wind blew, the rustling of the leaves felt like the trees were being tickled. Ondal’s unique observations of the world were pleasant to listen to.

 

Thanks to him, she could see more than when she actually saw.

The earthy smell of the lake. The sound of water crashing against the wind. The gentle warmth of Ondal’s arm guiding Muriel. With each step matching Ondal’s cautious yet cheerful pace, Muriel’s spirits began to lift. The joyful energy radiating from Ondal slowly seeped into her.

 

Ondal wasn’t very afraid of the monsters bound throughout the territory. Instead, he found it amusing to see their shadows dancing in the moonlight whenever they ran wild. Muriel imagined the monsters’ shadows swaying in the moonlight. If she had actually seen it, she would have frowned at the repulsive sight, but Ondal’s description made her smile. It brought to mind a strange yet witty shadow play.

 

“What else do you see?”

“…Isn’t it stuffy? Should I take off the blindfold now…?”

 

Ondal, who’d been delighted saying a fish had jumped out of the lake a moment ago, but now asked Muriel in a downcast manner. It would be nice if he could look around freely, but it seemed he was worried about Muriel.

 

“It’s fun hearing you describe things.”

 

“I don’t want Muriel to overdo it..”

 

Ondal hummed and shook his leg. The small sound of gravel on the lakeshore clashing and rattling reached their ears. Muriel recalled the story she had heard from August.

 

“I heard this place used to be a famous tourist spot before the demon attack. See the pebbles here? It’s because of these pebbles.”

 

“Ah… I guess I wasn’t the only one who thought that.”

 

Ondal still seemed bothered by the cloth covering Muriel’s eyes, but his voice softened a bit, as if he’d become curious about Muriel’s words.

 

“They’re not normal stones. All the rocks here are smooth… and round… like gemstones. If you wait quietly, it feels like spirits will awaken and come out of them.”

 

“…Really? Are these rocks pretty?”

 

“Yes. Why… I understand now why they’re famous. If I knew you were interested, I’d have told you too. It’s also pretty when the waves in the lake wash over the pebbles and make them disappear.”

 

“Then… why didn’t you tell me?”

 

“…Hmm. I thought you might get bored… I thought it’d be better to only talk about things that Muriel would like.. I… I thought beautiful things are natural to you. It’s all new to me, so I’m amazed, but it might not be for you, Muriel…”

 

Of course, Muriel had never thought that the gravel of the lake was beautiful. She had once thought that the lake was big and clean, but that was it. She had never thought it was particularly beautiful or been impressed by it. Muriel was an indifferent and casual person. She had never considered the world beautiful like Ondal, who enjoyed every scenery and moment.

 

“Actually, this place is famous because the gravel is mixed with gemstones. There are many rare minerals stored here, and the leftover stones from the mines were dumped into this lake. That’s why occasionally, gravel mixed with expensive gems like Tapahite or Estimaville are discovered.”

 

Tapahite was a rare mineral strictly regulated for extraction and distribution in the kingdom. It was a magical material that could store magic power and had high magic compatibility. It was considered a top-grade magical ingredient because it was the strongest and hardest mineral found in the world. It was illegal to collect it freely, and even purchasing it required qualifications. In other words, if you found even a small amount of tapahite mixed with gravel, you could turn your life around.

Estimaville was similar. It wasn’t a functional mineral like Tapahite, but it was one of the most beloved gemstones. Due to its property of storing light, it was able to emit light on its own.

Because of the myth that it brought love to the beholder, it was a very expensive gem.

 

“So, the reason people cane here is not because the gravel is pretty, but because they can be turned into money.”

 

“…I didn’t know.”

 

Ondal responded quietly, as if embarrassed. Muriel smiled brightly.

 

“But you also said that even the pebbles here are beautiful, right? Ondal, that’s why I love the world as you see it.”

 

“The world I see?”

 

Ondal asked, seemingly incredulous. Muriel nodded confidently.

 

” Because the world you see with your eyes is beautiful.”

 

He said everything was beautiful, everything was precious, and there was no reason to dislike such a world. If Muriel had seen it herself, she might have overlooked that beauty because of it’s simplicity and commonness. But Ondal was different. Ondal didn’t miss the slightest thing. He was happy as if he’d seen the most precious thing in the world. His joy was one that was transmitted to Muriel, and a pleasure that she could never discover on her own.

 

“Your eyes are special. Not because they are Sharan’s eyes, not because they are sensitive to light, but because you don’t miss something beautiful. I hope you never forget that.”

 

“…”

 

“Ondal?”

 

“Yeah…”

 

It was difficult for Ondal to speak because of the tears pouring out, but he managed to respond with his tightened throat. It was because he was worried that Muriel might become afraid in the darkness if he didn’t say anything.

 

“Are you crying? Why are you crying…”

 

Muriel realized that Ondal’s answer was mixed with wetness and fumbled to find his cheek in the air. Ondal carefully took her hand and gently pressed it against his forehead, then allowed Muriel to touch his cheek as she wanted. Ondal’s heart throbbed as the tender touch wiped away his tears. His heart, usually numbed to pain, stumbled helplessly in the face of the joy and fullness he had never experienced before. He forgot to even breathe and focused on the joy that Muriel had given him. His eyes closed gently. Still accustomed to the darkness, he happily welcomed the joy that seeped into his familiar solitude.

 

“Muriel?”

 

Ondal leaned his cheek into Muriel’s hand and whispered quietly. The reason his voice became softer was because he was being careful not to startle the unfamiliar joy away.

 

“Next time, will you look into my eyes? Muriel… I want to make eye contact with you. I want to look into Muriel’s eyes with my own eyes, not Sharan’s eyes.”

 

“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”

---

 

Awww Ondal my baby. Muriel said everything I wanted to say to him. He deserves so much love.