My Demons

I grappled with my uncomfortable body, struggling to stem the bleeding from my shoulder, and then sought aid from the elemental wizard.

“Um…”

“Hmm?”

The girl arched an eyebrow, silently questioning the situation.

Though it was unnerving to think she could casually slit someone’s throat, gazing upon her angelic face somehow provided solace.

“Could you help me tie this? It’s difficult with just one hand.”

“Oh.”

For a moment, the girl rolled her eyes, then shook her head.

“I don’t want to.”

“…Excuse me?”

“It’s dirty. I don’t want to.”

Her resolute refusal caught me off guard, but I maintained a composed demeanor.

“Well, that’s alright. There’s nothing I can do.”

Despite the presence of other passengers and crew members, none seemed capable of assisting me.

It wasn’t a matter of their character; rather, it appeared that everyone was occupied attending to their own wounds or tending to their colleagues, or engrossed in other tasks.

Suddenly, an idea sparked in my mind, and I unzipped the rolling duffle bag on the floor.

Indeed, amidst the short fur, emergency rations, a coin purse, and assorted trinkets, what I sought was present.

‘A potion!’

There weren’t just one, but four bottles of potion emanating a brilliant red glow.

In the realm of Dark World, a realm brimming with magic and enigmas, potions held significant value. They weren’t even sold in stores until Chapter 5, and even then, they were a costly means of restoring one’s vitality.

I swiftly retrieved a potion and downed it.

— Gulp.

The taste was sharp yet invigorating, bitter yet sweet—a peculiar flavor I couldn’t quite label as pleasant. Nonetheless, its effect was evident as the pain subsided noticeably, and the bleeding seemed to gradually cease.

Speaking of which, I recalled acquiring the passive skill ‘Flowing Blood.’ It was a fundamental skill that enhanced blood circulation and aided in recovery.

Whether due to the skill or some other factor, I sensed the lodged arrow in my wound slowly being pushed out.

Just as I was about to uncork a second bottle of potion, a white hand suddenly materialized within my field of vision.

“You had potions?”

Then, the small hand intruded into my bag and absconded with two potions.

“What on earth do you think you’re doing!”

Before I could interject, the elemental wizard had already taken a step back, leaving me to gaze at her with an incredulous expression.

The girl shrugged her shoulders and remarked, “Hmm? Did you forget I gave you a potion earlier?”

“No, it was only one bottle.”

Upon hearing my words, the girl furrowed her brow and shook her head.

“I saved your life during a critical moment. Giving me two bottles is a bargain.”

I took a deep breath, attempting to quell my anger.

Comparing that girl to my angelic niece… I’m sorry, Ji-won.

With considerable effort, I steadied my trembling lips and spoke in a calm tone.

“It’s still urgent now. Bring them here, and I’ll repay you later.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Bring them when I ask you politely.”

“And if I refuse even when you ask politely? What will you do?”

“You-“

Before I could respond, the girl tapped my shoulder with her wand, resembling a recorder.

The memory of that wand’s chilling gust blowing off the pirates’ limbs flashed through my mind, and I clamped my mouth shut.

Lowering my gaze, I unscrewed the cap of the last remaining potion, when a small voice tickled my ear.

“Hehe.”

“What… What did you say?”

“Hmm? What?”

The girl looked at me innocently as I glared at her, casually pointing to my wound and saying,

“It’s common knowledge that potions work better when applied directly to wounds rather than consumed. Just common sense, you know.”

I stared at that eccentric girl, or rather, young girl, for a moment, then decided to heed her advice and apply the potion directly to my wound.

Indeed, the healing process was faster than when I drank it.

‘I’ll let it slide this time.’

Gritting my teeth inwardly, I tended to my wound.

Someday, I’ll find a way to get back at her. Seriously.

Until the ship reached the pier, there was no sign of the South Harbor Navy, who were responsible for safeguarding the harbor and its surrounding seas.

This abnormality could be attributed to the situation prevailing in South Harbor.

Under normal circumstances, the mere presence of pirates near the harbor would be unthinkable.

During that brief moment, my body had mostly recovered, and with the help of a kind sailor, I stood up and prepared to disembark from the ship.

Meanwhile, I overheard a conversation between the captain and the dock manager.

“What do you mean, a blockade? What are you talking about?”

“Well, well. It seems you’re not aware of the news. I’m not sure if you’re lucky or unfortunate.”

“Please explain it in terms I can understand.”

“The harbor is under blockade. Bandits are lurking in the reed fields outside the castle, and the sea has become a playground for pirates.”

“What in the world…”

“Shall I simplify it for you? You’re all trapped. Completely screwed.”

Confirming that the situation wasn’t far from what I had experienced in Dark World, I ceased listening and proceeded on my way.

The sight of South Harbor felt fresh, as if a blindfold had been removed due to the pirate attack.

In the distance, black smoke billowed, and high walls were shattered and stained with blood.

The once bustling harbor now teemed with chaos—merchants immobilized, soldiers carrying out orders.

Anxiety and fear were etched on the faces of passersby, mingled with a hint of hostility towards strangers.

Soldiers intercepted me due to my weapons, but fortunately, the sailor who had aided me and a few merchants who were aboard the ship vouched for my identity.

Well, it wasn’t an extravagant display. They simply boasted about my efforts in dispatching the pirates.

One of the merchants appeared to hand something over to the soldiers. It looked like a few coins, but the impact wasn’t insignificant.

They had gone to such lengths for my sake. The desolation I had felt while tending to my wounds alone seemed to dissipate slightly.

The soldiers, who made a small profit, let me pass as long as I wasn’t part of the gang of thieves surrounding the city.

“Thank you.” I offered a subtle bow, and the merchant who had provided the bribe extended his hand.

“No need for thanks. If it weren’t for you, we would all be dead. It’s a pity we can’t offer you a proper reward.”

With his burnt skin, squinty eyes, and rugged beard, he looked like a petty thief, but he possessed a sense of honor as a merchant.

Casually stroking his beard, he suggested,

“You should pay a visit to the captain later. If he has any conscience, he’ll at least give you a few silver coins. He seems rather preoccupied at the moment.”

“I’ll consider that.”

As he walked away along the dock, he mentioned that it would only be fair for the captain to reward me.

After all, the high fare included a fee for safety. Essentially, I had fulfilled the duty that should have been the Captain’s.

However, my thoughts diverged slightly from his.

From the captain’s perspective, half of his crew was dead, and he found himself trapped in a closed harbor. Demanding money could potentially ignite an unnecessary quarrel.

Besides, thanks to the money I had earned in Chapter 1, I wasn’t in desperate financial straits.

With these thoughts in mind, I continued on my way, when suddenly, a commotion erupted behind me.

“Get down, she’s a wizard!”

“Don’t reach into your cloak!”

Curious about the commotion, I turned around to witness soldiers pointing their spears at a young female elemental wizard.

The sight of fully armed soldiers shouting at a small girl with their spears drawn was both perplexing and unsettling.

The soldiers confronted her with voices reminiscent of American police officers dealing with a murder suspect—intense and high-pressure.

I stood there, dumbfounded.

The girl appeared flustered but attempted to maintain a calm demeanor as she raised her voice.

“I am a wizard studying at La-Palis Palace!”

“Bullshit! How can we trust a wizard without a badge?”

“I don’t have a badge, but I possess a letter of recommendation from my master,”

“Don’t reach into your cloak!”

“Ouch!”

As the girl rummaged in her cloak, a soldier struck her arm with the shaft of his spear.

Gritting her teeth, she shouted, “How dare you—”

Before she could reach into her robes again, a soldier behind her lunged at her with his spear.

Thump!

“Argh!”

…Did he actually stab her?

The tip of the spear pierced through the thin fabric, finding its mark on the girl’s exposed leg between the folds of her robe.

The soldier pinned her leg down and swung his spear sideways, causing the girl to collapse without even managing to let out a proper scream.

“Subdue her!”

The soldiers rushed forward eagerly, striking her with their spears. One soldier stepped on the wand the girl had dropped, snapping it in two.

“Damn lunatic—”

Initially, when the girl had been struck in the arm… honestly, I thought she deserved it. However, witnessing a girl who appeared no older than a high school student being impaled by a spear and mercilessly assaulted dispelled such thoughts.

“Where are you touching? I’m… cough…”

The girl lay on the ground, attempting to crawl, but a soldier stepped on her arm, leaving her defenseless against the onslaught of violence.

With one arm shielding the back of her head, she curled up, only to be kicked in the back, prompting a fit of coughing.

I tried not to draw comparisons, but my mind kept drifting to my niece, Ji-won.

Determined, I brushed off the sailors and merchants who attempted to restrain me and limped toward the soldiers, shouting,

“Hold on! Just hold on for a moment!”

As if they hadn’t heard my voice, the soldiers persisted in thrusting their spears.

I gritted my teeth, lunged forward, and endured a few blows against my back as I knelt on one knee, crying out,

“Stop! Please, stop!”

The spear shafts that I couldn’t evade in time struck my shoulder and arm.

It hurt like hell, but in the face of the soldiers’ harsh glares, I refrained from voicing my pain.

“What’s with this guy!”

“Why won’t he back off?”

As the sharp tip of a spear loomed before my eyes, my shoulders instinctively recoiled. I held out my hands, attempting to appease the soldiers.

“Wait, calm down… Oh, I apologize, soldiers!”

Saying that, I prostrated myself before the soldiers.

When the warrior, known for slicing pirates’ throats like fruit, prostrated himself, the soldiers appeared somewhat taken aback.

After all, this behavior didn’t quite align with the cold and ruthless impression they had of me.

Taking advantage of the soldiers’ slightly surprised reaction, I pointed toward the fallen girl and spoke,

“This kid is with me. She’s young and inexperienced, lacking knowledge of the world and proper manners. She made a mistake in her interaction with you, soldiers.”

This was my personal strategy, honed through a lifetime of navigating social situations, from school to the military and the corporate world.

It involved lying low when dealing with someone who was highly angry or agitated, waiting for them to calm down.

“I apologize for adding unnecessary strain to an already tense situation. Allow me to offer a small compensation. May I open my bag?”

People naturally possess pride and a sense of dignity, so even when they are calming down, they require justification.

As I politely made my request, the soldiers, who had previously shown signs of nervousness, exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.

Swiftly, I pulled out a coin purse from my bag.

Opening the purse, I pondered for a moment before deciding to part with the silver coins, squeezing my eyes tightly shut.

Counting the number of soldiers quickly, I retrieved five silver pieces and rose slowly.

“You work hard on your duties. This is nothing but a token of…”

As I spoke, I discreetly handed over the silver coins, mimicking the actions of a corrupt politician.

But the soldiers didn’t seem to care about the prying eyes around them, boldly stuffing the bribe into their pockets.

Glancing at the soldiers, their cheeks flushed, I spoke cautiously.

“As you can see, she has suffered quite a bit of injury. Would it be permissible for me to take her? I apologize for taking up your time needlessly…”

As my words trailed off, a soldier who had maintained a stern expression throughout the encounter spoke up.

“I’ve heard that wizards don’t easily let go of grudges. Is it safe to release her?”

“Ah, I understand.”

It was then that I remembered that wizards were not well-regarded in the world view of the Dark World.

However, during my gameplay, it only resulted in NPCs speaking curtly, and there were no events like this… I brushed off the thought and dramatically lowered my head and hands.

“Oh, a grudge? How could she hold a grudge against something she did wrong? She is certainly unique, but she’s not that extreme. You have nothing to worry about!”

“…Can we trust you?”

“Ah, of course. You have nothing to worry about.”

Upon hearing my confident assurance, the soldiers seemed to contemplate for a moment before reluctantly nodding.

“Thank you. Have a good day!”

I quickly bowed my head and lifted the elemental wizard, her injured leg causing her to limp.

Struggling to maintain her balance, the girl mustered the strength to stand, but her leg, speared and injured, rendered walking on her own impossible.

Inevitably, she had to rely on me, gripping my arm and limping, blood staining her steps.

Thankfully, my extraordinary strength made it bearable. Furthermore, due to her petite frame, she was light enough that her weight didn’t burden me.

As she reached the edge of the dock with my support, the girl who had been tightly closing her mouth suddenly shed tears and opened her mouth.