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19.69% A Psychic's Scarlet Dream / Chapter 35: Chapter 18: The Weakest (Part 2)

Chapter 35: Chapter 18: The Weakest (Part 2)

While speeding through the forest, it is pretty easy to miss a few things here and there. I can't really keep track of every single detail I come across after all. So, it was pretty easy for us to miss this spot, but somehow we didn't.

Dragon: "What do you think?"

As we were running, we came across the corpse of a dead beast. It's a bear-like large beast that had golden fur and looked like a decoration. That is, it would have looked like that if the scarlet liquid wasn't coming out of its stomach.

Kais: "If I remember correctly, his name was Hans."

I think he matches the description that girl gave me for 'Hans' pretty well.

Dragon: "Yeah, I believe that's the name she gave this creature, not that it needed any names."

I wonder if the dragon feels any remorse over this creature. His reaction doesn't suggest anything like that but he is kneeling in front of the corpse trying to see if he can do anything to help.

Kais: "Does this affect the forest or you in some way?"

Dragon: "He was the biggest predator in the forest so the ecosystem will surely lose its balance for a while but why the hell would it affect me?

The dragon says so in a mater-of-fact tone. I guess that stands to reason. I myself wouldn't really care about a dead animal all that much, especially one I never even seen before. Sure I feel bad for it and all but in the situation we are in, one of us might end up in this situation and that would be far worse.

Dragon: "You are worrying one of us will be found dead like this one of these days, right?"

I hate it when someone else reads my mind. I mean, I don't read people's minds even though I literally can so stay out of mine. But I guess he's right.

Dragon: "Don't worry. I am pretty sure I know who did this to him. And that person is probably not targeting any humans right now."

I agree with that. The bear died because of a hole in its stomach that opens up to the back. It is almost as if a bullet, the size of big rock, went past there. This has to be the work of that rabbit-like spirit used by the woman who would have reached this place sometime ago.

Dragon: "She's only targeting me."

Kais: "Well, I doubt it will be good for either of us if we let her get to the beach before we do. We can catch up too, so why are we wasting time here?

I urge him to start running again. I don't think he is actually feeling remorse about anything. If I am to be honest, I would say he is waiting for me to start running by saying 'I'm going ahead' so he could get a valid excuse to be behind me.

Dragon: "Ah! (Sighs)"

That won't happen, dragon. Now get moving. I almost want to scream this at him but I know there's no point to it.

Dragon: "Well sure, let's get going."

Saying that, the dragon starts running towards the beach again with me following behind him.

At this point, I'd say I'm the weakest person on the island. Though if Ethan is also here, then maybe that honor would belong to him, making me the second weakest. But in either case, I can't win against any of them except Ethan.

The auras I am sensing from the beach are all much larger than mine. The dragon is obviously stronger than me as well and I really doubt I stand a chance against the rabbit-like spirit Sona controls. In this situation, I guess I should be scared, but somehow I am not. I should be thinking about how to get out of here but I can keep my cool and focus on doing what I can while I am here.

Kais: "Damn!"

My own mind is incomprehensible to me. I can't understand how and why I am acting the way I am acting. This just feels off. My mindset and emotions are perfect for this situation, almost too perfect. I really doubt a normal person would act like me in this situation.

Dragon: "You seem worried."

The dragon says so while looking at me with one of his eyes. It is kinda impressive how he can run so well with one eye facing backwards.

Kais: "Well,"

Though I am surprised he bothered to look back to see my facial expressions at a time like this, maybe the reason he turned back was different.

Kais: "Guess I am."

I shouldn't try to act when he has already caught on. But what I should do is mislead him.

Kais: "I am worried someone I don't want to meet ever in my life might be on the beach."

By saying that, I shift his attention back to the beach. If I tell him a reason for worrying besides anything related to the beach, he would lose focus.

Dragon: "I see. Then I guess the only way to find out is to get there, huh?"

Thinking that I was also worried about something related to beach would help him concentrate on the road. That in turn, allows me to concentrate on my thoughts.

Dragon: "Or do you want to stop?"

The dragon says almost as if to tease me.

Kais: "No, that won't be necessary, but be sure to tell me if you want to stop."

I decide to backfire on him.

Dragon: "Don't try to be cheeky."

A smile comes to my face seeing the dragon acting salty. But regardless, now he would not get distracted by my worries and would not stop without telling me, so it should present no more problems for me.

Kais: "Ah!"

And there it is. This whole calculating approach to the situation, trying to manipulate the dragon the way I want to. This is exactly what I am worried about. My mind is working like a machine's. It's as if something like this is only normal for me.

Kais: "Well, I guess we'll see what happens."

The dragon looks back curiously to try to understand what I mean. But there's no need for me to tell him. I decide to act like I didn't notice his gaze and soon enough, he turns away.

I can't really say if I would even get any of my answers, but I hope I do. In this situation, I am pretty sure the dragon is incapable of understanding whatever's wrong with me. Even if he does understand, it's dangerous to rely on him because he may try to twist the facts to benefit him. So I guess the only way to find out the cause of all this is to meet Ozyllus. But that would have to wait. For now, I need to focus on whatever is going on at the beach … which we should reach in five minutes.

*******************************

Ethan: "That said – it hasn't been two days here, has it?"

Ethan says while looking at the forest.

Barry: "What?"

Ethan: "You know time passes differently here and than in outside, right?"

Barry: "I do."

During this conversation, the other two are staying silent, not because of any mannerisms, but because they just didn't wanted to talk to Ethan.

Ethan: "According to what I know, two days should have passed on the island between us coming here and the night we killed Ro."

Ro: "Tch!"

Ro clicks his tongue hearing that. It's natural for him to get annoyed on hearing something about his own death in such a matter-of-fact manner.

Barry: "That's what you are worried about?"

Ethan: "I guess I am. Do you know anything about it?"

Barry looks at Ethan suspiciously and then turns his eyes away from him to the forest.

Barry: "Hmm … how about I not tell you?"

Ethan: "(Sighing) Well, I guess that's how it will be."

They all turn to look towards the forest as they sense someone coming.

Barry: "Well, I know that aura. I guess he is here to greet us, huh?"

Ethan: "From your tone, it almost sounds like there is only one person coming."

Barry: "From yours, it almost sounds like more than one is coming. I wonder why you may think so."

Barry says so as if to mock Ethan's eyes.

Dragon: "I see you're back."

The voice echoes from the forest as the figure of the slightly muscular, tan-skinned man emerges.

Ethan: "Guess we'll hold that off for now."

Hearing the dragon's voice, Ethan mutters so under his breath as he sees Barry focusing on the dragon.

Barry: "Didn't I say I will?"

Dragon: "You did. And you see –"

???: "So it was a lie after all."

Another voice comes from the forest. This time, this voice comes from someone the five people present on the beach very well know.

Ethan: "Well, I guess all the main players are here."

Ethan says so at the same time Kais walks out of the forest.

Facing his long-dead brother, the man who came to kidnap him, the woman who helped in kidnapping him, the dragon who tricked him into going in the tomb and the man who is an ordinary human but somehow is the most dangerous and mysterious of them all, for some reason, at this point in time, there forms a smile on Kais' face.

*******************************


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Zyanide100 Zyanide100

I had originally thought of making this a cliffhanger ending to volume 1 of the story but I discarded that idea and thought it would only be divided by arcs and not volumes. And well, I don't even know why I am saying all this.

Anyway, next chapters will be a bit different. I hope you'd like it.

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Stay healthy!

Chapter 36: Chapter 19: The Village, Centuries Ago (Part 1)

Before the weaponry of today came into existence, was there a way to oppose powerful creatures? Before guns, tanks and nuclear missiles were a thing, could any normal human stand up to a supernatural. The answer was more or less no. So what did they do when they got into trouble with a supernatural? Well, they called for help. Whom did they call for help? The answer to that is how it all started. That's where the root of the problem lies. The problem is – no one at present, not even people like Barry or Valdis know about this. But that was the time, Vermillion started to flourish.

They offered their assistance without any charges. They were free help and everybody loves that. So if a psychic threatens someone by showing off their power, call Vermillion for help. If a ghost tries to haunt people, call Vermillion for help. If a Vampire is running rampant and attacking people, call Vermillion for help. And also,

"Dragon, you say?"

Village Chief: "Yes, that dragon has become really aggressive and has blocked our trade route. If nothing is done, we will never be able to sell our harvest."

This happened in one of the farming-based villages in the eastern region of England. A dragon started to act aggressively and caused problems for the villagers. Obviously, there was only one choice for them. They had to call for help, call Vermillion. But after they contacted Vermillion, they found out the real brunt of the situation.

Dragons have never been creatures of low prowess. But the dragon blocking their path was counted among the strongest even among the dragons. This wasn't a mission where they could just send some capable supernatural to help and get it over with. In fact, they were told that at least 200 well-accomplished soldiers working for Vermillion may be needed to bring that monstrosity down. And even then, 98% of them will surely die.

Why would these soldiers go straight to their death when they don't even get any reward for doing their duty? In fact, even if the villagers promise compensation to them individually, can a mediocre-enough village manage a huge enough sum for 200 people? Obviously, the answer was no. So it seemed like all hope was lost. But then,

Village Chief: "We heard you are special."

???: "You did."

The village chief nodded. Indeed he did hear that there was someone special who could defeat that dragon. The problem, however, was if they would be able to make him agree to taking this job. There was no guarantee he would comply. So this man – a blonde-haired, young and charming individual with fair skin and blue eyes – standing here, the villagers somehow had to make him willing to take this mission.

Man: "So, why should I defeat the dragon for you? What would I gain?"

Village Chief: "We don't have a lot to offer, but we can offer you all the crops you need."

Hearing the village chief's words as he bowed his head and offered his crops, he started laughing. Knowing the reason for his laughing, the rest of the villagers who were gathered around these two looked down.

Man: "Ha! Ha! HA! You … you think some crops … will make anyone willing to fight a dragon. Are you insane?"

He said while trying to keep his laughter under-control. The villagers had no answer. They knew something like crops would never satisfy him.

Village Chief: "If that's not enough, then … then we can give you …"

The chief stopped mid-sentence, making the blonde-haired man curious.

Man: "Go on. Tell me what else you are willing to offer."

Village Chief: "… servants. You can take some of our men with you who will help you in any way they can."

He chuckled on hearing that and then looked the chief in his eyes.

Man: "If I am powerful enough to kill that dragon, do you really think I would need help from weaklings like you people?"

The chief fell silent. There's nothing else he could offer. He had made a vow that he would not offer women or children, so this is all this poor village chief could do for him. If he did not accept then, then there's no hope.

Man: "What? Cat got your tongue? Isn't there anything else you can give me?"

Village Chief: "There isn't. I … am very sorry, but …"

He sighed after seeing the pathetic state of the village chief. He did felt a little guilty that he is making a leader bow like that in front of his people, but that won't stop him from using this situation to his advantage.

Man: "Well then, let me tell you what I want?"

Hearing those words, the whole populous of the village turned their heads towards him. The village chief too, while still bowing, looked at him. After running his eyes through the crowd to make sure everyone is focused on him, he said,

Man: "I want the whole village."

Silence befalls the village. No one could speak a thing, no one except the man who had caused that silence.

Man: "Basically, what I am saying is that I will be in a position higher than that of the village chief. You can say I will be the king in whose territory your village will lie. That's all."

He puts his demand forward. It's a demand that's not very easy to accept, but …

Village Chief: "If we don't agree to it, you will leave us here to die?"

Man: "Precisely."

Death because of starvation or submission under a man who would let them starve to death if they don't submit to him? Which would be better? Sure, at first glance, one might think living is most important. But is there any guarantee to how life might be under him? Can they really trust him? He might bring even more pain to them than starvation would.

Man: "And hey, I forgot to tell you all something. The dragon will attack the village today."

Fear suddenly doubled on the faces of the villagers. There's a good chance he was just trying to rush the chief into a decision but they couldn't just dismiss his words like that. At that point, what choice did they have?

Village Chief: "Well … if that's the case, then we will …"

The chief took glances at every direction. The villagers understood what he meant to say and got to their knees and bowed.

Village Chief: "We will submit to you. We will become your loyal subjects."

As he saw the sight of the village already treating him like a king, he smirked.

Village Chief: "But …"

By saying that word, the chief turned everyone's attention to himself. The chief looked at the eyes of the man he had been bowing to and said,

Village Chief: "That happens after you defeat the dragon."

He nodded to the chief's words.

Man: "Sure, I'll defeat him. Just one more thing though …"

All eyes turned to him, all showing worry and anxiety in them.

Man: "Now, now, don't look so worried. I just need to properly introduce myself."

He paused to make sure they were all listening and then continued,

Man: "I am a psychic who will one day take over this country. And this village will be my first domain. You all – will be my first subjects. My name, the name of your king and this country's future ruler is-"

He proudly raised his head to look at the mountain, his destination, and continued,

Man: "Ozyllus"

*******************************


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Zyanide100 Zyanide100

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Stay healthy!

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