Chapter 22: I just want to take a bath

The killer of the Ten Thousand; the Lord of the Dead; the Torturer of souls; such were the monikers bestowed to Avern, who sat before Colt.

‘I always thought he would be much flashier than this. It seems like his state before he becomes a well-known Necromancer was harsh.’

The author described Avern as someone who wore a black cloak, a black undercoat, black boots. He basically wore anything that’s as the night skies. The only thing in his possession that wasn’t black was the red brooch he kept with him at all times.

That brooch came from his deceased little sister, who died sometime this year. Colt does not actually know much about Avern’s past because, as of Vol.5, he had yet to be killed by the hero.

The only villains whose backstory he knew were Vyra and Gilbert, who died at their respective volumes of 4 and 5.

Colt, no, Leo had always found it ironic that a man of death was always getting away from the thing he embodied.

‘It’s entertaining and frustrating.’

Recollecting the days when he wished for every annoying character to die somehow irritated him for some odd reasons.

As Colt continued to stare at Avern, the poor guy lowered his head for feeling inferior towards the handsome noble that was Colt.

‘That’s also not in the story. Wasn’t Avern an arrogant bastard? Oh, how the world works in mysterious fashion.’

In the end, for Colt, it felt surreal. While he was thinking of matters that should not be recalled, Avern finally lifted his head to give Colt a sincere gaze.

“Thank you for taking me with you, sir noble…it may be a little insolent of me to ask, but may I know the name of this gentlemanly noble?”

Colt awoke from his daydream, as Avern inquired.

With nonchalance, he answered.

“My name is Colt, and my surname is Edgeworth.”

“Ah, so this young master Colt is a noble of the valiant and courageous Edgeworth Family, no wonder you are so kind as to help even someone lowly such as I.”

Colt waved his hand to show his disinterest in flattery words.

Avern got the hint, and as he looked around the carriage, he realized one important thing.

“Um, am I allowed to be with you in the carriage, Young Master Colt? I could have just joined the soldiers in their horseback.”

Without even looking at him, Colt answered.

“Your feet are sore, and your body is ragged; I am more surprised that you can say that to me instead of resting. No one is stopping you from sleeping; you know that, right?”

Those words caused Avern’s body to ease up slightly, and as he did so, his tense body felt weak and soon collapsed on the carriage’s soft chair. Because the carriage had no rocking and even regulated temperature to give maximum comfort, Avern fell asleep shortly after.

“He’s much more battered up than I thought.”

Colt quietly noted as Mina got up from her seat. She walked up to the sleeping Avern and was just about to heal him out of goodwill when she suddenly turned around to Colt.

“I just want to heal him, okay?”

“Yes, I understand.”

She just had to confirm her intentions right before healing Avern. After confirming things with Colt, green light emerged from her palms, and the fatigue that had built up on Avern’s body disappeared slightly.

It was the same spell Mina uses when Colt trains with Neun.

There were six kinds of magical elements; Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Healing, and Dark.

Out of all these magical elements, Healing and Dark were the most versatile and sought after. Coincidentally, the two people in front of Colt possesses the most sought-after elements.

Night came to be, and finally, Avern opened his eyes. When he did so, the carriage’s light was already off, and no one was present. A mouth-watering fragrance wafted over as the food cooking outside reached him.

He stepped out and saw the camp of the group. Other than Colt and Mina, everyone had already finished their meal, and as Avern smelled the food, his stomach demanded sustenance.

But he was too embarrassed to just walk over and say, ‘Please give me food.’, he had earlier thought that he would help out with the cooking, but it seems like he was not needed.

Thankfully, he didn’t need to ask for food as Colt noticed his presence and invited him over to eat.

“Come, Mina had cooked a lot of food; you should eat before I finish it all.”

Avern ate a spoonful of the stew, and his face instantly beamed.

“It’s good, isn’t it?”

Colt was the first one to speak. The cold demeanor this Young Master previously sported was no longer present, thus giving Avern a much better impression of Colt.

On the side, Mina was proudly nodding her head. She was satisfied with Colt’s compliments.

Colt’s tone of voice was more jovial than usual. The only time he was like this would be when in the face of food. Mina liked him acting this way, so she tried to better herself in terms of cooking skills. She plans on surpassing the head chef of the Edgeworth family, so no one would be able to contest for the love of Colt’s stomach.

Going back to Avern, he accepted Colt’s offer and received a bowl of Ferios Stew.

Ferios was a magical beast bred to be food.

Colt had yet to know what a Ferios was, but it was tasty as hell, so he didn’t really care, and he trust Mina wouldn’t poison him, so who gives a damn?

By the time Colt finished eating, the pot was cleaned off by him and Avern, and as he rested for a bit, he conversed with Avern.

“So, what are you doing here? If you are traveling, I doubt you have no horse, the town before here and the capital is three days away even by horse, don’t tell me you walk all the way here to the capital?”

Avern scratched his head as he embarrassingly nodded his head.

“I did walk; I have no horse, nor do I have money to rent one, but I needed to go to the Ferum Valley to find this.”

Taking out a pouch, Avern showed Colt a red flower that resembles that had petals reminiscent of crystals.

Its ten petals were like rubies, its leaves emerald, and the stem was sapphire. This flower was a Fairy Flower, a rare kind of flower that could regulate or awaken the mana in a Mage’s body.

It was an unbelievable item sought after by every noble, and seeing Avern taking out such a treasure was rather bizarre, outlandish even.

“You’re taking out such an item? You’re pretty brave, do you not fear I won’t take it away?”

“…If the young master was interested in it, the lady with you should have already sensed the mana fluctuations with me and took it while I was asleep or even before that.”

“You got me there.”

The Fairy Flower was a special kind of treasure that rarely appears. It had a specific type of mana fluctuations that mages sense even from afar, and indeed, Colt had already known of it since Mina informed him.

“So, where are you going to use that? I heard your sister need it as medicine?”

“Yes, she is currently undergoing the awakening process, and if I don’t take this home soon, I don’t know if I’ll be able to see her…alive when I get back, so I am thankful that Young Master Colt is willing to help me return.”

Avern clenched his fist as he spoke of these words. Colt didn’t miss that and stood up.

“Where do you live?”

It was a sudden question that caught Avern off-guard, but he still answered with honesty.

“I-in the common area of the Capital.”

With that in mind, Colt walked away with his training sword in hand. Avern watched as Colt conversed with the Vice-Captain moments later and pointed at him a couple of times.

After Colt finished talking, the Vice-Captain announced, “We are to leave at 3:00 am sharp! Sleep now! Those on guard duty shall watch over us until then!”

Avern looked at Colt, holding his training sword pass by him as if nothing happened.

Avern approached Colt as he asked.

“Young master Colt, did you do this because of me?”

Colt once again returned to speaking in a cold tone.

“I just wish to take a bath, don’t mind it.”

As Colt walked away from him, Avern looked at his broad back and bowed deeply without saying anything.

This gratefulness would be etched in his heart.