Return of the Back Alley Wizard Chapter 188

Episode 188. Chenbi, in times like this… …you laugh, right?

Damian stared blankly at the hole Aster had been dragged into.

'……what?'

It happened just a moment ago, but my memory was hazy.

All I can remember is… …yeah, rocks flying like firecrackers, the sweltering heat, a cruel grip, and a faint, single scream.

As fragmentary images flashed through his mind like a picture book gone missing, Damian ran out in a fit of convulsion.

"friend……!"

“Damian, are you crazy?!”

Chenbi hurriedly grabbed Damian and stopped him.

“Why… why are you stopping me?”

"Why are you stopping me? Aren't you in your right mind? Do you even know where you're going?"

“Aren’t you looking for a friend?”

“I have to save you. I have to save you… Open your eyes wide and look clearly. Where were you trying to get into?”

“…….”

As he spoke, Chenbi pointed to the hole through which Aster had been dragged.

Had lava passed through? A gaping hole. The rocks forming the passage were red-hot. No, they weren't just red-hot. They were so hot that the surface seemed to be melting.

“If you go in there, you’ll die before I can save Aster. Understand?”

This was not a heat that could be blocked by the stationmaster.

If he had reached a higher level, he could have easily stopped it, but for now, it was impossible. This was true not only for himself but also for Damian.

'And Aster too, maybe already… … .'

No, no.

Chenbi tried to shake off the anxiety that was crossing his mind. Because he didn't want to believe it. Because he didn't even want to think about it.

But Damian did not give in.

“Get out of the way. I can go.”

“Damian……!”

Chenbi called out urgently to Damian, who was shaking himself off and heading towards the hole. He tried to grab him, but Damian was a little faster.

On the one hand, I also had this thought.

'Maybe, if it were Damian… … .'

Wouldn't it be possible to survive in that heat?

Yeah, that could have been it.

Damian possessed the greatest talent in the history of the Grand Brando family. Unlike his ordinary self, there might have been a way.

And maybe even further, Aster… … .

……but.

The reality was dismal.

Dismissal, dismissal―

The forcefield shook precariously before Damian could even take two steps. The cracks spread across the entire forcefield as Damian took his third step. And then—

Kwachang… … !

A force field that shatters into pieces.

“Damian!”

But Damian didn't stop.

Chijik, chi… … .

A terrible, indescribable sound echoes through the air. Shoes melt, and even hair, unable to withstand the heat, bursts into flames.

… … Nevertheless, one step, one step forward.

Damian chewed his lip.

It hurt. It hurt so much.

But, I just couldn't stop walking.

‘If you’re sick… … just get treatment.’

Yes, if you are sick, you can get treatment.

Cracked soles, scorched skin, and burning hair—they could all be cured.

Look at it now.

It hurt terribly, but… that was it.

This heat could not kill itself.

But, but.

‘… …friends?’

What about friends…?

Can he be cured? Can he survive this heat that threatens to melt everything? The residual heat alone is enough to torment him… What about his friend?

“Damian… stop, stop. Come out now.”

Chenbi stood at the entrance and called out to Damian. His face flushed with the intense heat, but he didn't back down.

For some reason, with Sir Mycelin now unconscious, he was the only one who could stop Damian. So… Chenbi faced reality.

But Damian didn't stop.

… … One more step.

Walking through excruciating pain.

… … One more step.

My heart felt cold.

If you're sick, you can get treatment. If you get treatment, everything will get better. Everything will get better… … But can it really be cured?

'… It'll be okay. Friends are strong.'

“Damian, it’s enough, it’s enough. You… you get it, right?”

Damian didn't listen. No, he was too sad to hear. No, he actually heard it, but he didn't want to.

Because, one more step.

But Chenbi's voice was too clear. No, it was sharp beyond clear. No, it was more cruel than sharp.

“Aster… is dead.”

Damian stopped dead in his tracks at those sharp words.

“No way…….”

The lips that wouldn't let go. Damian knew this too. Having personally felt this heat, he couldn't help but feel it more deeply than anyone else.

No matter how strong Aster is, in this heat, in this pain… … can he really be safe?

In the end… … .

Damian lowered his head.

Damien, my grandson, the light of Brando. Before this old man passes away, I want to see our grandson's smiling face. Won't you show me?

“Chenbi, in times like this… you should laugh, right?”

Chenbi answered.

“In times like this… it’s okay to cry.”

* * *

Aster is dragged away by Infernal for a full half day.

It was around that time that Myselin, who had lost consciousness, opened her eyes.

“Sir Mycelin, are you awake?”

“……Chenbi-kun.”

Mycelin sat up, clutching her pounding head.

My head was a jumble. Maybe it was because I'd just woken up? My memories weren't organized at all.

Why did I lose consciousness, what happened before I lost consciousness,

Clearly, he must have suffered some great mental shock and collapsed, but why did he do that…?

“……Ah! Mr. Aster? How is Mr. Aster……”

Mycelin's voice gradually faded.

No one opened their mouths, but it wasn't hard to figure out the answer.

Chenbi's expression seemed resigned. Damian, sitting quietly in a corner, practicing breathing techniques, said it all.

“……Yeah, that’s how it happened.”

My mouth felt rough. No, I couldn't describe it as rough.

How many deaths have I witnessed? I can't even count them on one hand. But the word "death" was something Maiseln could never become accustomed to.

This was especially true when it came to the deaths of those he had given affection to, and it seemed he had given Aster quite a bit of affection as well.

Thinking about it that way, Mycelin's gaze naturally turned to Damian and Chenvi.

Even I, who only met him a few days ago, feel this heartbreaking, so how much more so for these kids who are my friends… … .

Suddenly, Mycelin felt puzzled.

'……what?'

Something was off.

Clearly, the mood between Damian and Chenbi was gloomy. Up until this point, it was a natural reaction for someone who had lost a friend.

However, what caught my eye was Chenbi's eyes.

Hard eyes.

It's hard to see it as someone simply immersed in sorrow. It was as if they had decided on something…

It was at that moment that Chenbi's voice was heard.

“Sir Mycelin, if you are of sound mind, I would like to ask you one thing. Is that alright?”

“It’s okay, but…….”

As she spoke, Myselin observed Chenbi's expression.

As expected, something was different.

Chenbi was the most thoughtful of the three, and it would have been natural for her to ask about her own well-being first in this situation. But why?

When Myseln thought about it that far.

Chenbi asked the question calmly.

And when she heard that question, Myselin could tell what Chenbi was thinking right now.

"Before you lost consciousness, you said 'Infernal.' Could that be… a flame golem? A monster? Is that its name? If so, could you tell me its characteristics?"

Now, Chenbi is planning to face Infernal.

* * *

There was a brief silence.

Myselin didn't open her mouth, but Chenbi enjoyed the silence leisurely, as if there was no rush.

Yes, I couldn't find a more appropriate expression to describe Chenbi now than 'enjoying silence'.

'Has the bowl… gotten bigger?'

Should I say I have more free time? No, rather, it has become deeper.

Aster, the shock of losing his friend made the boy even stronger.

but.

Maiselin sighed deeply at the sight of those hard eyes and forced her mouth open.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but stop it.”

“Are you telling me to quit without even hearing what I’m thinking?”

As usual, her voice was gentle, yet somehow firm, and I could tell that the conversation with Myselin would not be easy.

The tone became even more harsh because of this.

“Are you seeking revenge? It’s pointless.”

However, Chenbi was still soft.

"I think that's true. But who's going to find out what it means? Is it Lord Mycelin who's going to find it?"

"It's a dog's death. Do you really think Aster would want you to die for his revenge?"

“Well, I would normally say ‘no’, but… I don’t really know Aster’s mind either, so it’s difficult for me to answer.”

When Chenbi said that.

An awkward silence flowed between them again. It was so quiet that Damian's breathing could be heard.

In that silence, Myselin felt a sense of despair.

'What should I do?'

It was not that I couldn't understand that feeling.

Death of a friend.

There must have been a need for an outlet to relieve that pain.

So far so good.

Revenge is a negative emotion that eats away at oneself, but when used, it can also become a medicine that helps one forget the pain.

But, in cases like now… … .

As I said before, it's just a dog's death.

I know I don't have the right to force my children's choices on them, but shouldn't I still stop the dog from dying?

But, your will is so strong.

When Myselin was at a loss for words, it was unexpectedly Chenbi who spoke first.

“I have no intention of seeking revenge.”

"……underneath?"

"I'd like revenge if possible, but as you said, what's the point? We just… what should I say?"

Chenbi quietly collected his thoughts.

Yeah, it definitely wasn't revenge.

Then, why did he and Damian want to face that being called 'Infernal'?

The thought dragged on. Somehow, our hearts naturally connected and we agreed to do it, but we didn't fully grasp its implications.

So, how much time has passed?

Chenbi found a close answer and brought it up in his mouth.

But the answer was quite surprising to Mycelin.

“I just wanted to watch.”

“Want to just watch…?”

“Yes, it’s unclear whether I’ll be able to leave this ancient ruin or not, but I believe I can.”

It wasn't a question of possibility, it was literally a matter of faith.

Chenbi truly believed he could leave this ancient ruin. He had no doubts.

But what does being able to leave the ruins have to do with encountering Infernal?

The reason was not complicated.

“Infernal will be my purpose.”

“……Purpose?”

“Yes, the goal I must reach.”

“…….”

"Of course, I might forget someday. I've heard time passes quickly. I might even give up. I have no talent. But even if I forget, even if I give up, I'll remember someday."

Chenbi said this with the corners of his lips slightly curled up.

"Infernal, you killed my friend. I was powerless then. Will I be able to do it now? What do you think? I guess it won't work?"

“…….”

"I could regret it, or I could just bury it as a bad memory… Well, I'm not sure which. But I'm sure of one thing."

"what……?"

“If I don’t move today, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”

When Chenbi said that.

Myselin realized.

When he once heard the voices of spirits through the fairy dance, the fairy dance became his lifelong dream.

And just like he was that day… … .

'Chenbi-kun too.'

I will live my whole life wishing for Infernal.

All he did was 'see' Infernal, but that one memory took over the boy's entire life.

If you look, you will see.

If you can't see it, then just don't see it.

Both will leave a huge stain on that boy's life. So what should we do?

Mysseln also knew the answer very well.

“It’s not hard to tell. However… Infernal can be very dangerous.”

"are you okay."

"I might not be able to help. I won't lose consciousness like I did earlier, but my spirits are afraid of the Infernal. That fear is also what caused me to lose consciousness. Are you okay with that?"

“Yes, that too.”

Chenbi smiled faintly at Myseln's face as she turned around.

And then he opened his mouth.

“Everyone dies.”