Repeat Vice - The Villainous Noble Doesn't Want to Die, So He Swore to Not Die As One of The Four Heavenly Kings - Chapter 110.4: The Sailor Girl

Chapter 110.4: The Sailor Girl

It was during the exploration of the Demon Sea.

Fol had been experiencing sleepless nights.

The reason was quite simple: worry about her lack of ability.

Not long ago, Fol and her crew encountered a disaster-class sea monster—a multi-headed giant sea serpent.

Neither Fol nor the young sailors could stand a chance against it, and it was a crisis that could have easily led to their annihilation.

At that moment, Straff, Rofus’s familiar, a giant dark kraken, appeared and swallowed the multi-headed sea serpent.

Feeling Rofus’s magic after a long time made her heart swell, but the fact remained that they would have been wiped out without that help.

Fol had refused the support of the Lightless family for the exploration, which was, in a way, her selfishness.

She wanted to become a noble by her own strength; otherwise, she felt she couldn’t truly stand by Rofus’s side.

However, that selfishness was putting the lives of Dyne, Carla, and the young sailors led by her brother Log in danger.

Until now, there had been no problems.

The sea monsters they encountered were manageable by the young sailors.

However, as they ventured deeper into the Demon Sea, the monsters grew stronger.

Recently, they confirmed a monster of the same caliber as the previous disaster-class sea serpent.

The previous sea serpent had three heads, but the one they confirmed recently had two heads.

A clearly different individual.

They managed to escape that time, but there’s no guarantee they can run away next time.

Yet, to continue their exploration, they must face that two-headed sea serpent.

Waiting for Straff to appear again is one option, but if she continues relying on such help, can she really say that she advanced the exploration by her own ability?

Here she faced her weakness and lack of ability.

She was stuck because she was weak.

She was endangering her comrades because she was weak.

Because she was weak—

“…ah.”

Before she knew it, Fol’s vision blurred with tears of frustration.

Shaking her head, Fol tried to dispel such thoughts.

Rofus was strong.

Not because of his vast magic power or powerful spells.

The essence of Rofus’s strength that Fol felt was not there.

It was his unyielding spirit, never giving up even in the face of obviously unwinnable foes.

Even when his arm was burned off, and his eye gouged out, Rofus’s fighting spirit never waned.

What about her now?

Running from the enemy, stopping in her tracks, and crying over her own weakness.

How could she claim she wanted to stand by Rofus’s side like this?

Fol sprang out of bed with determination.

“Fol-sama…? Where are you going at this hour?”

Carla, rubbing her sleepy eyes, raised her head from the neighboring bed.

“…I’m just going out for some fresh air.”

“Then let me—”

“No, it’s fine. I want to be alone.”

“Fol-sama…”

Fol rejected Carla, who tried to get out of bed.

Carla could only watch Fol leave the room with concern.

*

Leaning against the ship’s railing, Dyne was smoking a cigarette.

There was nothing better than a smoke while enjoying the night breeze.

If asked to choose between alcohol and tobacco, Dyne would choose tobacco without hesitation.

Alcohol warms the body and brings enjoyment, but tobacco calms the mind and brings tranquility.

For Dyne, who had few moments of peace in his life, smoking was truly a moment of bliss.

However, he couldn’t smoke inside the ship.

A scary woman had threatened to cut off his head if he smoked nearby again.

While Fol, Log, and the young sailors were lenient, Carla—she absolutely detested cigarette smoke.

Apparently, it reminded her of a disliked relative.

Judging from the association with smoking, that relative must have been a heavy smoker.

Perhaps they had lived a harsh life, seeking comfort in smoking.

Despite his issues with Carla, Dyne thought he might get along with that relative while puffing his cigarette.

At that moment, he saw Fol walking alone from the ship onto the beach.

“Fol…? Where’s she going at this hour?”

Fol walked along the beach, looking distressed.

Unable to stand by, Dyne extinguished his cigarette.

“Seriously, always causing trouble—”

“That’s called unnecessary meddling.”

Just as Dyne was about to jump off the deck, a drawn blade pressed against his neck from behind.

Dyne raised his hands.

“Hey, hey, hey…”

“Seriously, you never let your guard down. Should I just make you shark bait on my own?”

“Give me a break… Isn’t it more of a problem to leave Fol alone at this hour?”

“Don’t worry, Fol-sama is strong. Besides, she said she wants to be alone right now.”

“She seemed really troubled, though?”

“At least you’re not the person who should be supporting Fol-sama. Nor am I…”

With a somewhat lonely mutter, Carla lowered her sword.

Relieved that the danger had passed, Dyne exhaled.

“…If you understand, shut up and go back to your room. You stink of smoke, just being near you is unpleasant.”

“Like I care. You came to where I was smoking.”

“You’re only brave when a sword isn’t pointed at you. How pathetic.”

Dyne shrugged at Carla’s glare.

“Anyone would cower with a wild beast showing its fangs in front of them.”

“I can bare those fangs again if you like.”

Carla put her hand on her sword hilt again, and Dyne raised his hands in surrender.

“Give me a break… You’re too scary, no one will want to marry you. Such a waste with that pretty face.”

“That’s really unnecessary. I’m not interested in getting married, and even if I were, I wouldn’t marry anyone weaker than me.”

“Someone stronger than you? That’s rare.”

“That’s because your world is small. There are plenty stronger than me.”

Though, she added, setting aside likes and dislikes.

“…I’ve said too much. I’ll follow Fol-sama.”

Carla, warning Dyne not to interfere, silently followed Fol.

Left alone, Dyne lit a new cigarette and exhaled smoke towards the full moon.

“…You’re going to follow her anyway.”

Well, that’s reassuring, Dyne thought as he felt relieved.

*

Under the night sky, Fol walked along the beach.

Tiny crabs scurried away from her steps to avoid being crushed.

Usually, such things would catch her eye, but not now.

Fol’s eyes weren’t fixed on anything in particular; she walked aimlessly.

She seemed to be possessed by something.

A blueish-white light appeared before her, floating like a seahorse.

A high-ranking water spirit governing the sea—Lunamare.

Lunamare gazed blankly at Fol with unreadable eyes.

“Luna… Sorry, but I want to be alone now.”

Fol walked past the floating Lunamare, heading further along the beach.

“Destination?”

A spirit language phrase from Lunamare, asking her intent.

“…No particular destination. I just want to walk.”

Lunamare sighed as if exasperated, the tube-like mouth breathing out.

“Destination?”

The same question again.

“…What?”

Fol sensed that Lunamare wasn’t asking where she was going now.

Lunamare continued, speaking spirit language with multiple meanings.

“Destination?”

“Means?”

“Goal?”

“What are you aiming for?”

“Where are you headed?”

“What is your wish?”

The condensed spirit language flooded into Fol’s mind.

She widened her eyes, then slowly spoke.

“…I want to become stronger.”

A faint confession of weakness.

Lunamare tilted its head.

“How strong?”

“Strong enough to defeat the twin-headed sea serpent?”

Fol shook her head to deny that thought.

“To stand beside Rofus.”

The waves crashed, and the night wind caressed Fol’s golden hair.

Lunamare, as if judging her resolve, stared quietly at Fol.

“Rofus can’t be matched.”

Lunamare easily dismissed her determination.

But Fol didn’t back down.

“Maybe so… if I give up.”

“Rofus and you are completely different. Magic power, aptitude, nature—this isn’t something perseverance can overcome.”

“Even so…! I… want to stand by his side…”

“Being his mate is enough. Strength isn’t necessary for that.”

Repeated denial.

Fol believed Lunamare was right.

Even without being strong, the path to being with Rofus could be paved by Carlos.

Fol didn’t need to put herself in harsh conditions; it might just be a selfishness that puts others in danger.

Still—

“…Rofus can’t be left alone. If he thinks no one can follow, he’ll charge into danger alone. With his power, everyone lets him go alone.”

No matter the injury, Rofus faced the magic whale alone.

Even Carlos could only watch.

At that time, driven by duty and stubbornness, Fol forcibly chose to accompany Rofus, and she didn’t regret it.

If she hadn’t been there, Rofus would have fallen into the sea, exhausted of magic, and wouldn’t have been saved.

There’s no guarantee it won’t happen again.

“No matter how far he falls into hell, I’ll pull him back up. I won’t let him die alone. That’s why I need to—become stronger.”

Accepting Fol’s resolve, Lunamare tilted its head.

“Even if it means giving up being human?”

“If that’s what it takes to become strong.”

Fol nodded without hesitation.

Lunamare puffed out a

 laugh.

“…Hey, did you just laugh?”

Lunamare coolly floated forward, ignoring Fol’s glare.

Further down the beach.

“You didn’t nod last time. Fine, follow me. I’ll show you the path to making the impossible possible.”

“What…?”

Fol froze as Lunamare suddenly spoke fluently in human language.

“What are you doing? Hurry up.”

“You can speak normally…!?”

Shocked, Fol trembled.

Is that important now? Lunamare sighed.

*

After this, Carla lost track of Fol.

Carla—Kaldera—spent the entire night searching for her.