I Want To Die One Day Before You - Chapter 153
“Let’s move to a place where we can dry off.”
The spot Rufus found was a flat rock directly under the sunlight.
He needed to start a fire. Thinking this, Rufus began gathering twigs from the surrounding area.
“You look like a squirrel.”
Sarubia giggled as she sat on the rock, watching him.
“…”
Hearing the word ‘squirrel’, that guy’s face came to mind. He suddenly felt nauseous.
“…Just call me a puppy instead.”
“Why? Squirrels are cute.”
“They’re not cute.”
“Alright.”
Still giggling, Sarubia quietly watched Rufus snap his fingers to ignite the twigs with his magic.
The magic that fell into the air condensed and sparked a small flame. The flame quickly grew, consuming the dry twigs as fuel.
Crackle, crackle.
Soon, a campfire blazed on the rock.
The flickering flames reflected in Sarubia’s eyes.
“Magic is so convenient. I wish I had magic too.”
Squeezing water out of her soaked hair, Sarubia muttered absentmindedly.
Suddenly, Rufus recalled what the witch Odr had said.
“Who in the world has no magic? It’s just that the amount is so minuscule it’s barely noticeable.”
Even Sarubia, who could neutralize the witch’s magic. Did she really have no magic ability at all?
While he was pondering this, Sarubia turned her head abruptly toward Rufus.
“Rufus, did you know?”
“Know what?”
“While staying at Prince Tarek’s palace, I studied some magic books. They said that saintesses and witches are fundamentally the same beings.”
Sarubia raised her index and middle fingers, moving them alternately like legs. As her fingers playfully traced down Rufus’s arm, he instinctively stiffened.
“Saintesses and witches are the same?”
“If a human is born with innate magic, they’re called a saintess. If a demon is born with innate magic, they’re called a witch. Isn’t that fascinating?”
Sarubia’s fingers moved lower and lower.
“When I read that, I was glad I was born human.”
“Why is that?”
She smiled slightly.
“If I were born a demon and became a witch…”
Her fingers, trailing down Rufus’s body, stopped at his waistband.
The sword of the Inferna family, adorned with water droplets, touched Sarubia’s fingertips.
“…You would have killed me, right?”
Sarubia’s fingers poked the silver-covered hilt.
“…”
Suddenly, everything felt cold.
The air grew heavy. The fire before him seemed like a cold illusion.
“…What do you mean by that?”
Rufus stammered. The acrid smell of ash filled his lungs.
It was horrifying.
Because of me. You would die because of me.
It was such a terrible thought that he couldn’t even imagine it.
“Sarubia, why would you say that…”
“You killed Demon King Audixus, didn’t you? According to the magic books, if the demon king dies, the witches die too.”
Sarubia added with a light smile.
“If I were born a demon and became a witch, I would have died the moment the demon king did.”
“No.”
Rufus spoke without thinking.
“If you were born a witch, I wouldn’t have killed the demon king.”
Sarubia’s eyes widened in surprise at his declaration.
But only for a moment.
“You sound like a child, Rufus.”
Sarubia chuckled lightly, as if mocking his naive notion.
To spare the demon king for her sake? To turn all of humanity against him? How absurd and preposterous.
But Rufus didn’t laugh.
“I’m serious.”
His face, as stiff as stone, reiterated.
“…Rufus, aren’t you cold in those wet clothes?”
Feeling burdened by Rufus’s serious tone, Sarubia abruptly changed the subject.
Was she asking to give him her coat? Rufus shook his head.
“No need to give me your coat.”
“Then come over here. Let’s share it.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Rufus, who was already cold, feared that approaching her might steal her warmth.
Sarubia sighed deeply.
“Then take off your clothes,” she suddenly said.
“…What?”
Rufus was dumbfounded.
Suddenly? Here?
“Sarubia… Even if no one’s around, this is a bit…”
Seeing Rufus’s perplexed expression, Sarubia looked at him disdainfully.
“You, did you have weird thoughts again?”
“…Yeah.”
“You’re so shameless.”
“…”
I was just following my instincts.
Sarubia, oblivious to Rufus’s silent plea, lifted the fishing rod.
“Ta-da.”
Sarubia wedged the rod between two rocks behind her.
“What do you think this is?”
“…A fishing rod wedged between two rocks?”
“How can an educated nobleman be so simplistic… No, this is a makeshift drying rack.”
Sarubia mimed hanging clothes on the rod.
“Oh.”
Finally, Rufus understood.
“See? I’m smart, right?”
“Yes.”
But understanding didn’t mean he could comply.
“My clothes don’t need drying.”
Rufus’s words made Sarubia click her tongue.
“You’re being stubborn again. You’ll catch a cold.”
“I’m young, I’ll be alright.”
“You’re older than me. Fine, I won’t make you take off your pants, but at least take off your top to dry it.”
“No.”
Rufus firmly shook his head.
“Why not? What, do you have a melon belly button or something?”
“No.”
“Oh, so you do have a melon belly button.”
“I don’t.”
“Everyone, look here! The hero who beheaded the demon king, Rufus, has a melon belly button!”
Sarubia’s lively voice echoed through the forest.
