For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 80
The group of merchants that appeared like the wind left their warnings and disappeared just as swiftly.
Though they knew they were no longer targets for the dark mages, having already lost their accompanying priest, the fear that lingered within them was palpable and unshakeable.
Their lingering fear seemed to seep into the three of us as well.
Ariel, especially, looked tense, his shoulders trembling noticeably, as he was the dark mages’ primary target.
“Are you all right, Ariel?”
“Ah, Estira…”
Seeing him breathing heavily, unable to say a word, I gently placed my hand over his trembling one.
Only then did his unfocused golden eyes turn toward me.
“Don’t worry, Ariel. Everything will be fine. For now, let’s make our way safely to another village and wait for the right time before heading to the Holy Kingdom.”
As I gently patted the back of his hand, I didn’t forget to reassure him that we would go to the Holy Kingdom. I figured that, for Ariel—devout and steadfast—the thought of not reaching the Holy Kingdom was a concern as well.
“You’re… planning to go to the Holy Kingdom?”
“Yes. We can’t go right now because of the dark mages, but going to the Holy Kingdom was part of our original agreement, wasn’t it?”
“I thought… you’d given up on going to the Holy Kingdom.”
“No, I haven’t.”
My guess seemed to be correct, as Ariel’s face, previously clouded with worry, brightened immediately upon hearing my confirmation.
At the same time, the trembling in his hands ceased.
Wait—why did he calm down so quickly? Wasn’t he afraid of the dark mages?
Feeling puzzled by Ariel’s strangely swift recovery, I continued to offer him words of comfort.
“Everything will be fine. If we return to another village now, the dark mages won’t target you…”
“Must we go back?”
“…What?”
What did he mean, ‘must we go back’? Didn’t he hear what the merchants just said?
“You heard what the merchants said, didn’t you?”
“I heard that the targets are priests. So, there’s no danger for you, Estira.”
Excuse me?
“So… you’re saying…?”
“Yes. Don’t worry about me, and let’s continue on. I’m sure this is an opportunity sent to me by the angel Natasia.”
I cast a glance over Ariel’s slender, wiry frame that barely looked suited for combat.
What kind of opportunity? Surely he doesn’t mean an opportunity to join the angel in heaven, right?
But contrary to my concerns, not only had Ariel’s trembling stopped, but there was also a newfound energy, even a spark, in his once-frail appearance.
Staring into his clear, beautiful golden eyes, I felt a hint of fear. It was as if he were possessed by something.
“Dark mages are forces of evil. I’m certain the angel is guiding me to defeat them.”
…Right. It seems you’re utterly certain.
That you’ve fallen into madness.
So he wasn’t afraid of being attacked by dark mages; he was excited about the chance to vanquish them?
I slowly pulled my hand away from Ariel’s and began to take a careful step back.
It was my mistake to momentarily forget how devout a believer Ariel was.
“Ah, Ariel, it’s dangerous. Even with Feyden here, we don’t know how many mages might attack us…”
“Oh? Who said I was here to be used by you lot?”
“I’d be grateful for Feyden’s help, but…”
“What, so now you’re asking for help from this withered potato?”
Ariel, who had been staring fixedly down the path the merchants had fled, slowly turned to look at Feyden. His golden eyes shone calmly.
“I didn’t mention it before, but I can fight.”
“What? I thought you weren’t a combat priest?”
Feyden yelped as if in disbelief. And it made sense—Feyden had been handling every fight up to this point, given that Ariel wasn’t a combat priest.
Until now, Ariel’s role had been limited to praying over minor scratches, having once explained that he wasn’t skilled in healing as he wasn’t a healer.
Just like Feyden, I looked at Ariel in surprise, as I hadn’t known he could fight either.
“Yes. I may not be a combat priest, but I never said I couldn’t fight.”
