How to Cross the Desert (6)
Keeeeeek-!
The scorpion's roar echoed loudly.
Immediately after, a giant tail fell from the sky.
A single stinger, laced with deadly venom, hurtled towards its prey with the force to crush them.
I countered with a swift strike.
Chaeng-!
The sharp tip of my sword deflected the poisonous sting.
Sparks flew into the air, accompanied by an intense cracking sound.
A heavy impact reverberated through my palm.
"As expected, you're quite the tough one...!"
I swung my sword.
A jet-black line was drawn. The unleashed darkness collided with the pincers that were flying towards me.
The scorpion charged recklessly.
Chaeng! Kagrak...! Thud!!
The consecutive sounds of impact made my ears ring.
As expected of a mutated creature, its attack patterns were quite tricky.
Its hard shell made it difficult to inflict damage, naturally forcing me into a defensive stance.
I channeled my strength into the tip of my sword.
Thung! Chaeng-!
I slowly stepped backward.
The agitated scorpion followed. It seemed oblivious to the fact that its body was being lured away.
Just as I was leading it to the designated spot...
Ting, Sssshhhheeeek-!
The crossbow fired.
The arrow, imbued with mana, tore through the air and precisely struck the scorpion between its eyes.
We had aimed for the gap where its armor-like shell didn't exist.
Keeek...!
The giant silhouette collapsed with a single shriek.
It was an undeniable instant death.
Wiping the sweat from my brow, I gave a thumbs-up to the old man walking behind me.
His frail white hair fluttered in the desert wind.
"That was a good strategy, Elder."
"You did well yourself."
"Haha, it was nothing."
"This one was particularly difficult. I wonder if we can even consider it a normal monster."
"From now on, we'll only encounter creatures like this."
"Hmm? How do you know that?"
"Well... call it a hunch?"
We exchanged light banter after the battle.
As we were resting, Regia, who had been waiting behind us, came running.
"Y-Young Master!"
"Miss Regia."
"Are you hurt anywhere? I-I can heal you...!"
"Unfortunately, I'm not hurt."
"Ah..."
The girl muttered disappointedly.
It seemed she wanted to help, but was frustrated that she couldn't.
I chuckled and stroked her pink hair.
"Thank you for your concern."
"I-I'm sorry. I couldn't be of any help again."
She looked dejected.
As I was gently comforting our protagonist, a coughing sound suddenly came from beside us.
It was the old man coughing.
"Cough, cough...!"
As usual, he coughed up blood.
It was no longer just coughing up blood, but almost vomiting it.
"E-Elder...!"
"Are you alright?"
We immediately supported his staggering body.
It seemed the strain of fighting the mini-boss had taken a toll on his already frail body.
"Cough... I'm fine."
The old man waved his hand dismissively.
Despite having blood on his lips, he didn't lose his characteristic gentle smile.
The atmosphere remained calm.
"I told you it's a chronic illness. It's nothing to be surprised about."
"B-But...!"
"How can you still not be used to it after seeing it for days? Just lend me a handkerchief."
"I-I'll wipe the blood for you..."
"Thank you."
Regia wiped the red stain with trembling hands.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
The old man smiled faintly at the girl, then suddenly spoke to me.
"You're a blessed man, you know."
"Hmm?"
"To have such a kind girl as your lover. I think she's a bit too good for you."
"Oh?"
"Eh, ehh...?"
A playful tease.
Regia, who had been lost in thought for a moment, belatedly realized the old man's words and reacted.
Her pale face flushed crimson.
"W-w-what?!"
She even dropped the handkerchief she was holding.
She had no immunity to this kind of teasing, so she immediately malfunctioned.
As expected, teasing her is quite enjoyable.
I replied in a suggestive voice, adding fuel to the fire the old man had started.
"You are absolutely right. She's too good for me."
"Y-y-young Master?!"
"I always consider myself lucky to have her."
"U-uh..."
As I continued to tease our protagonist, the heavy atmosphere soon dissipated.
The old man had his blood wiped clean.
He gazed at us with a knowing smile.
It seemed like he had planned this from the beginning.
"Now, now, let's stop chattering and get moving."
"Alright."
"Y-yes..."
We finished our rest and continued our journey.
Swoosh, swoosh-.
The desert still stretched endlessly before us.
As we each walked across the sand,
"Um, Elder..."
The girl, who had calmed down, spoke up.
"What is it?"
"It's nothing, but... I noticed something strange while I was looking around earlier. I was wondering if you knew anything about it."
"Hmm? What kind of strange thing are you talking about?"
"Sometimes, there are strange things sticking out of the ground."
"Strange things...?"
"It's like... the roof of a building? As if something is buried under the sand... D-do you know what it is?"
"..."
A pause.
The old man suddenly stopped walking.
He seemed to be holding his breath.
"E-Elder...?"
Regia tilted her head, wondering why he had stopped.
The old man, who had been silent for a moment, soon put on his usual faint smile.
"Well... I don't know either."
His eyes were trembling slightly.
***
The journey continued for several days.
We endured the constant scorpion attacks and steadily moved forward.
Of course, the situation wasn't good.
The old man's condition worsened with each passing day.
The coughing up of blood became more frequent, and now he would occasionally lose consciousness and collapse.
Despite our concerns, the old man insisted on continuing the journey.
Realistically, we couldn't turn back now, so we took care of him as best as we could while we moved.
Our pace naturally slowed down.
"I'm so sorry... I feel like I'm being a burden."
"W-we're fine...!"
"We need you to guide us to the city anyway. You don't have to apologize."
"Thank you, both of you."
The monster waves were starting to feel more intense.
Perhaps because we were getting closer to our destination, even the ordinary mobs had leveled up considerably.
They were all mid-level monsters or higher.
As expected, it wasn't called an extreme episode for nothing.
"Y-young Master! They're coming from behind!"
"I see them."
"I'll take care of them here if you lure them like last time."
"Are you sure you'll be alright?"
"No problem."
"Then, please."
Every battle was fierce.
Our strategy was reaching its limit.
This was also part of my plan.
I was only moving just enough to maintain a delicate balance.
The old man's health continued to deteriorate, and this situation kept pushing the protagonist into hardship.
"I-I'll take on as many as I can...!"
Regia seemed to feel a sense of responsibility.
The void created by her lack of ability.
It looked like she was trying to fill it somehow.
Of course, effort didn't solve everything.
The crisis was escalating.
The situation was reaching its peak.
Fortunately, the attacks were set not to occur more than six times a day, so we could take breaks and recover occasionally.
It had been over a week since we fell into the desert.
"..."
Whoosh-.
A gentle breeze blew.
Under the night sky, where the only visible things were the brilliant stars, I was keeping watch alone.
A faintly glowing magic lamp kept me company.
It was the end of a tiring day.
Had even the scorching desert fallen asleep?
Only the chilly air remained.
As I held the hazy silence between my lips like a cigarette, a strange noise suddenly reached my ears.
It was the sound of shoes stepping on sand.
Swoosh-.
I lifted my head, which had been lowered.
When I turned around, I saw white hair standing there.
"...Elder?"
"It's me."
The old man stood against the backdrop of the stars.
He smiled faintly when our eyes met, then came over and sat down next to me.
I noticed him tossing and turning earlier.
He couldn't sleep after all.
Perhaps his aching body was preventing him from sleeping.
I asked softly,
"Are you alright?"
"I told you many times, I'm fine."
"I understand you barely touched your food today."
"I'm tired of scorpion tails."
"That's a valid reason."
"They're incredibly tasteless."
"Especially since we've been eating the same thing for a week now."
"I'd rather chew on a cactus."
"I agree."
Meaningless chatter filled the air.
We seemed to be making small talk, but soon both of us fell silent.
Perhaps it was because of the somewhat somber atmosphere between us.
"..."
"..."
We were sinking into silence.
The night was fading into a blur.
The snake and the old man sat side by side.
It was the old man's voice, hoarse with exhaustion, that broke the silence that seemed like it would last forever.
"I'm sorry."
A quiet apology.
"I know I'm being greedy. I know I'm being a burden to you."
"Not at all."
"Yes, you are."
Despite my denial, the old man just smiled.
His eyes shone with transparency.
"But still... I really want to see her."
"Your friend?"
"She's still my everything."
"How romantic."
"Well, Rosalyn always hated this side of me."
"I'm sure she secretly liked it."
"I think so too. Rosalyn was always shy."
There are things you only realize after you've lost them.
That was the case for the two of them.
They didn't realize it when they were together, but the pain of separation was agonizing.
That's how they realized their feelings for each other and fell in love too late.
It was written in the official setting book.
"I... have never forgotten her for a single day."
Even when he was living a lonely life in a distant foreign land.
Even when he was drafted into the war.
Even when he was fighting fiercely on the front lines.
Even after the war ended and peace was finally achieved.
Even when he received a mysterious letter from his hometown after a long period of no contact.
The old man lived his life thinking only of the girl.
"Isn't it foolish?"
"..."
"I've lived for 50 years believing in that promise we made to meet again."
Even though the person herself might have forgotten about it.
The old man muttered bitterly.
His white hair fluttered in the wind.
I just watched him in silence.
"It's stupid, isn't it?"
Adults don't remember their childhood.
But if someone remembers their childhood even when they're old, what should we call them?
A type of person I've never met before.
The old man was an adult, but at the same time, he was a boy.
"It's not foolish at all."
I replied politely.
It was a heartfelt statement.
Perhaps the old man sensed that, as he responded with a smile.
"Haha... Thank you for saying that."
Someone once said that the reason the desert is beautiful is because it hides an oasis.
The most precious things are often invisible.
The same is true for life.
Perhaps the reason the old man's life is so moving is because of his desperate longing for a single flower.
It was as if a fiery rose was shining in his heart.
"What about you?"
"Hmm?"
"When I look at you, I see myself from back then. Always smiling cheerfully, but never revealing your true feelings to anyone."
Perhaps it was because you were afraid.
"You've experienced a similar wound, haven't you?"
"..."
I couldn't say anything.
I just froze, as if I had been struck in the heart.
The old man spoke slowly.
"How can there be a life without regrets?"
Whether you're a child or an adult.
People live their lives accumulating regrets.
But just as dawn comes because there is a sunrise, happiness also finds us because there are painful days.
That's what makes life beautiful.
"But even amidst those regrets, we have to live on, dreaming of a better tomorrow."
A wrinkled hand stroked my head.
It felt awkward.
When was the last time I was comforted like this?
I couldn't remember. Perhaps it was the first time in this life, and even if I included my past life, it would be a rare occurrence.
"You'll do well."
"..."
I was always the one comforting others, but being comforted myself felt strange.
As I was savoring this new feeling, a word slipped out of my closed lips.
"You said it when we first met."
The old man's request.
-Could you take this old man to the stars?
Remembering that moment, I replied,
"I will definitely... take you to the stars."
The old man looked surprised for a moment, then nodded.
His old lips let out a small chuckle.
"Phew... That's very encouraging!"
"I'll do my best."
"I'll also do my best to guide you to the city!"
"A true symbiosis."
"Hahaha!"
The time remaining until the end of the episode.
One more day.
Recalling the approaching ending, I exchanged a few more words with the old man.
It was a night where the desert seemed to shine especially beautifully.
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