The Villain's Story - Chapter 780 - 780: 780: The You you hide.

“In a world of shade, I travelled through the dark sands, each grain like that of obsidian and certainly possessing special properties that I would have to research back on Earth.”

Maxwell took a deep breath, taking leisure in the wind blasting against his face as he recorded a log.

“The horizon seems endless in this desert, There is nothing but black, inky darkness in this world yet there is a black sun, one that makes it so I can see.

I’ve long grown past the need to use mana to strengthen my eyes… The world is strange indeed, however, it pales in comparison to the sheer terror of Lanekia, where even the chill would freeze my spirit. Certainly, if the dragons had not lowered the mystical temperature of the planet in consideration for us, I’d be a statue of ice there.”

Why was he doing this? Keeping a log of these things? While it was a good way to pass the time as he rode into the direction where his shadow lay… it was unlike him.

“… It’s kind of fun.”

He did not mean his unnecessary talking as he roamed these lands… but the fact that he was actually involved in a sort of mission, a quest that was important to the party, made him somewhat happy.

He had been in the sidelines for too long, overshadowed by everyone. Just managing accounts and checking papers was slowly driving him insane. He was still a workaholic… but this kind of break was appreciated.

And he was itching for a chance to ride this motorcycle as well. A new model, though it didn’t lessen the sorrow of the tragic fate of the Arctic Titan.

‘… So much money wasted.’

It wasn’t a direct hit to their finances… But it still pained him. The spatial ring business was doing good, extremely so. Even if Alan had taken a break from it, Maxwell made sure they had enough stock.

‘Though the order from the association is a bit annoying.’

It wasn’t time to think about such things, for now, he should enjoy this silent adventure. Although he would have to admit, he liked the hustle and bustle of the group more.

“…”

As he continued his journey in silence, his mind raced as he thought about his next course of action.

‘The greatest danger in Nocumbra will be you. Everything else will not harm you.’

While he had been given assurance by the ever beloved Dragon who destroyed his beloved Arctic Titan about this strange world… He was still on edge. Besides, the surprise that was waiting for them as soon as they entered the realm was… special.

He didn’t know what to expect.

“Up until now, I have yet to encounter anything abnormal, a magical creature or those sort of weird abominations we saw at the entrance… Shadow beasts, if I re-“

[Does anyone hear the voice again.]

A voice from the communicator broke his log recording, It was Alexander.

[No.]

Maxwell replied, but shockingly, everyone else had the opposite to say.

[Yeah.]

[I’ve heard it again.]

[… Yes.]

Alan, Kazikato, and Edward respectively confirmed, Maxwell sighed. Was this voice dependent on distance? No… it couldn’t be.

He would admit he was slower than Alan, who could teleport and fly at the speed of sound if he wanted too, Kazikato who was the same and Alexander… as well… But Edward? He was definitely faster than Edward with his bike.

[What is the distance you all have covered?]

[…]

[I don’t know?]

[I just run.]

[Uhhhh…]

“…”

‘Yeah, what the fuck was I even expecting…’

He looked at the display on his motorbike and confirmed he had only traveled thirty kilometers up till now. Everyone else would have easily covered this distance, besides Edward.

It couldn’t be based on distance, he would have heard something by now. Although, it could just be a mere speculation.

[What did it say this time?]

[It repeated the same thing for me.]

Edward was the first to reply. The ‘Voice’ didn’t have anything new for him… but for everybody else…

[It was crying.]

Alexander stated with a hushed tone, followed by Kazikato.

[It… didn’t know what it was doing. I could feel it bang its head at a wall or something, asking itself why it exists.]

Alan, however, was silent. Maxwell didn’t pry too much into it, however, he would have to do something about Kazikato. What he was hearing was… concerning.

[Kazikato, I’m going to book you an appointment with a therapist when we go back to Earth.]

[Why?]

[I feel like it.]

[…]

He may be worrying too much, but he felt it was necessary… Why? He had no idea.

‘…Haaa…!’

In the midst of his sigh, Maxwell stopped his bike, noticing a faint figure in the distance… the small figure of a child, a sobbing child.

[I found something.]

Elongated ears, like those of an elf, But he couldn’t see the face as clearly, she appeared to be wearing a tattered robe.

[… Is it a shadow? If it doesn’t look like you, it’s better to not disturb it… That’s what everyone here is telling me.]

The information came from Kazikato, the only one here with an understanding of shadows. Maxwell stopped and observed the sobbing child, as it walked the endless realms of shadows.

“…”

Upon closer inspection, Maxwell found out that it wasn’t an elven child… but rather a demon. The little horns on the forehead were proof of it. Sunken cheeks, a body as thin as a toothpick, barefoot… and eyes that were as dry as the desert itself.

The child tried to cry, but nothing really came out of its mouth. Maxwell distanced himself from the small shadow.

‘Can they even speak?’

Would a shadow speak? Talk? Emit any sort of sound? He was unsure as he observed the demon, who failed at it.

“…”

The child clung his arms together, as if it was cold, the shadow shivered as it wandered aimlessly, never running in a fix direction… until the land itself supported it.

It raised the child up on a pedestal, and Maxwell could see it, despite the pain that assaulted his eyes and the hammers that struck his mind. He saw a man, a woman, hell, even a tree materialize from the land.

An orc, a dwarf, A demon, An Angel… even a human. Whatever had risen took all those shapes as it gently held the hand of the child, and picked it up, patting it’s back as it tried to soothe it.

“Damn it…”

The figure was always covered by a veil of mist… A veil unlike any other, which covered the truth of whatever it was. All Maxwell knew was, whatever it was, it could assume many forms.

But it wasn’t hostile, that was something he instinctively knew. He didn’t think anything that would soothe even a demon child would be hostile… He watched in silence as the duo began to depart.

The figure carried the child alone in the endless plain, heading towards the black sun in silence.

‘…’

[Reminds me of me, you know?]