Transmigrated to a Dark Fantasy World of SSS-Rank: King of the Void-Chapter 57: Nighttime Ambush
After a week in this city, it felt strange to leave in a carriage as if nothing had happened. His tired black eyes recalled the day he arrived alongside the girls and Aslan, but he quickly returned to the present as if life itself told him that looking back wasn’t a good idea.
The carriage creaked as it rolled over a bump, making Mitsuki bite his tongue. Sitting at the edge of the half-door that closed the carriage, he stuck out his tongue with a groan of pain.
’Damn it! Stupid bumps!’
He brought a hand to his mouth as if that could ease the pain and looked at his companions. There was Azel, sleeping on the floor with his back resting against one of the twenty wooden crates inside the carriage. No matter how much the carriage moved, the guy wouldn’t wake up for anything in the world—and he looked very comfortable sleeping there with his arms crossed.
Monar sat across from Azel, reading a hardcover book. The focused expression on his dark-skinned face made him look like the calmest one in the group. Meanwhile, at the driver’s seat, Marco and Mountain were talking about random things. Their voices could be heard cutting through the wind.
"You’re not much of a talker, are you?" Monar said, without taking his eyes off his book.
Mitsuki flinched, and before he could respond, Monar continued:
"Don’t worry. You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. I understand people like you a bit because I was also very shy in my youth, although that memory is quite blurry."
He closed the book and looked at Mitsuki.
"Anyway. I’m sorry about what happened between you and Marco that day at the guild. Even though I wasn’t there when it happened, I later made sure that scoundrel came to his senses. The blow the Princess of Sardonyx gave him was quite strong."
"Uh... Yeah... Sure..." Mitsuki replied shortly. A second later, he lowered his gaze uncomfortably.
"Just don’t take it to heart. Marco is always like that with people who associate with nobles. Since you were accompanying the Princess of Sardonyx and the infamous Ellegaard, he felt immediate hostility toward you."
Mitsuki clenched his fist. He wasn’t going to forget how he felt at that moment. Monar saw that gloomy expression and sighed.
"Everyone may see him as an idiot, but Marco is the complete opposite. Just wait until you get to know him. I’m sure he’ll apologize to you himself when he realizes what he did that time. I guarantee it."
’That sounds nice, but I really don’t care.’ He looked toward the road. ’I just want to obtain the powers waiting for me out there in the world. Getting involved with these people isn’t my thing.’
"And, well, you said you were a novice mage. I hope we can work together when the situation calls for it. If you don’t understand something, you can ask me anytime. Unlike Marco or Mountain, I don’t act tough."
Still looking at the road, Mitsuki nodded. Monar smiled faintly at the response and went back to reading his book. However, he said something before falling silent.
"I’ll talk to you from time to time. In Nemoria, sanity is needed to survive, and a good, productive conversation can calm the mind’s troubles—at least to some extent. I also say it because staying silent all the time is harmful."
’Well... he has a point, I guess. Though I don’t really like the idea,’ Mitsuki thought.
Up in the sky, the clouds were dyed with the color of night. The stars lit up one after another, and stardust became visible in beautiful cosmic colors. The moon rose high above, shining alongside the dark firmament, which was undoubtedly from another world.
Even though he had seen this scenery before, Mitsuki was always left in awe. His tired eyes showed a faint glimmer of hope. That hope turned into the fuel that would help him keep moving forward on this new journey.
Back to Nemoria, the land that saw his arrival, as well as the land that held one of the greatest mysteries in history. He would have liked to wonder if everything would be alright upon returning to his origin, but thanks to his title "Prince of Misfortune," he knew that at the very least something very bad would happen, so his tired gaze was replaced by a faint expression of determination.
He was the King of the Void, the champion of champions.
This would be nothing for him...
Later, while he was sleeping, the sound of something striking the carriage woke him up. He opened his confused eyes, as the vehicle had stopped. Immediately after, a shout rang out.
"Monar! Azel! There are Knife Goblins in the shadows!"
The dark elf woke up abruptly. He rubbed his eyes and stood up.
"It’s time, Azel, wake up," he said, kicking the man in the side of the torso. Then, ignoring Mitsuki, who was resting in the corner, he jumped out of the carriage.
Azel groaned, getting up like a child. "You didn’t have to hit me, you damn old man." And just like Monar, he leaped out. But before that, as his body disappeared into the darkness, he addressed Mitsuki with a few words. "You get out too, Poisoned Cake. You wouldn’t want the Goblins to mistake you for a woman and do what you already know."
A far too grim thought crossed Mitsuki’s mind, and he hurried out to stay close to the party.
’Shit! Damn it! Why do bad things have to happen so fast?! We’ve barely even reached Nemoria’s territory!’
Complaining was useless. He jumped out of the carriage and immediately summoned the shotgun. Like that, afraid, he moved through the darkness. Everything was completely silent for a few seconds. Then small, high-pitched laughs echoed as they moved from side to side. Tiny presences leaped through the blackness.
Mitsuki clenched his teeth. He didn’t want to be afraid, but at this point, it was impossible.
Suddenly, a blazing light ignited in the middle of the road, near the carriage. There was Monar, holding a wooden staff that glowed at the tip like a torch.
Terrified, Mitsuki ran toward the elf to stay safe, but—
"Don’t get close to him, Mitsuki!"
The flame suddenly exploded, transforming into a humanoid being about two meters tall. That creature raised a large piece of wood that functioned as a club, ready to crush him.
’No... No way.’ Mitsuki denied it, unable to accept that he would be killed at that very moment.
