[Original Novel] The Wicked Wizard Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The Purpose of the Journey, My Existence

Soft morning sunlight streamed in through the window. On the tray I had brought to the table were freshly baked bread, a stew of beans and vegetables, and then fried eggs and dried meat.

A human breakfast—.

Ray the goblin couldn't help but smile.

How happy it is to eat something delicious.

It was a way of consuming nutrients that was far too luxurious to imagine for someone like me, who usually lived on small amounts of plants and natural energy. However, the excess energy consumed would not go to waste; it would either strengthen my body or be converted into special goblin energy.

In other words, my "Goblin Power" was getting a boost.

It was a strange setup where, for some reason, my "Goblin Power" increased whenever I adapted to human life.
Wrapped in the delicious aroma, Ray eagerly darted his eyes from plate to plate, wondering which one to eat first, but then he realized something very important and hurriedly looked up.

"Such a wonderful breakfast from the morning, Leior, really—"

Ray tried to express his heartfelt gratitude once again to Leior, the wizard who had not only rescued him from a long life of being sealed away but was also giving him one dream-like experience after another.

"Really—!"

Ray's eyes welled up with the emotions welling inside him, sparkling—.

"I am thinking of quitting being human."

Clatter.

Ray nearly fell off his chair at Leior's sudden, shocking statement.

W-what kind of confession is that!?

Moreover, when he woke up this morning, Leior had only said three things, the bare minimum: "Are you awake?", "We are going to eat breakfast. We are going to the inn's dining room.", and "Take the provided food to that table over there and eat."
The next new and precious fourth statement was the declaration that he was "quitting being human."

What kind of timing is that to say it!?

"That is why I was traveling. My journey is, so to speak, a 'graduation trip from humanity'."

A graduation trip from humanity!?

I actually didn't even know that Leiol was on a journey. So that's why we stayed at an inn last night, I thought, finally making such a trivial discovery and finding understanding. That is how little information I have from Leiol.

"Let's eat."

Following Leiol's lead as he put his hands together in greeting, Rei also said, "Let's eat," for the time being.

"What is a human's graduation trip, anyway...?"

Leiol moved his chopsticks fluidly, eating the dishes one by one from the edge. Meanwhile, Rei was struggling with the simmered beans, which were difficult to pick up with chopsticks. Watching the white plates lined up in front of Leiol empty out in the blink of an eye, Rei hesitated about when to ask the question, but decided to stop wrestling with the beans and take the plunge.

"Hmm. As I said before, this is a journey for the purpose of me quitting being human. And that means it is my final journey of my human days."

Blank.

My mouth hung open, somehow. My consciousness drifted for a moment. From the window, the chirping of small birds sounded busy.

Um. How should I ask about this? Or perhaps, is it better not to pry?

As for Leiol, he was busy moving his mouth to eat and showed no sign of continuing his next words.

I mean, can you even quit being human!?

"What's wrong, Rei? If you don't eat, it will get cold. In other words, the deliciousness of the food you've gone to the trouble of having will diminish. That would be rude to the person who made it."

Told something relatively sensible by Leiol, Rei hurriedly decided to focus on the meal.

Delicious food really is happiness, isn't it.

I even finished the tea after the meal properly. As if drawn in by the shimmering liquid in the cup, questions welled up again.

How exactly does Leiol's goal relate to me...?

Before I knew it, Leiol had finished his tea and stood up.

"It's time to leave here, Rei."

We moved away from the town.
From cobblestones to gravel roads, and then to overgrown animal trails.
For me, being a goblin, it was a path that was nothing special, but I wondered if it wasn't very difficult for a human to walk.

Why don't you walk on the path of humans like other travelers?

Ah, not walking on the path of humans—in other words, quitting being human—could that be what it means? Ray had a sudden flash of insight.

That doesn't feel quite right.

The road had turned into a mountain path. By then, the gentle sunlight was blocked, a cold wind was blowing, and the sky looked as if it were about to start raining at any moment.

"It's not easy to encounter one."

Leior stated this as if talking to himself. In fact, it might have been a monologue.

"Or perhaps..."

Leior, who had been walking ahead with long strides, ignoring the bushes and the insects flying about, suddenly turned back toward Ray.

"Is half a day or so not enough to provide sufficient nutrients?"

Leior stared intently at Ray.

"M-my nutrients...?"

Yes, Leior nodded. Then, Leior continued, in a voice that, as always, lacked any discernible emotional fluctuation.

"Ray. I need you to become a delicious-looking 'decoy'."

A delicious-looking... 'decoy'...!?

It started to rain.

Oh, rain.

The rain, which had started with a few scattered drops, began to fall in earnest. Leior did not even attempt to move from that spot. The light blue eyes fixed on Ray, which seemed to have absorbed the color of the rain—

"I have consumed too much 'magic'. And I have become too strong. Because of that, the monsters won't come near me."

Eh...!?

The rain intensified in the blink of an eye. The raindrops obscured Ray's vision. Ray could no longer see Leior's expression—.

I still want to absorb more 'magic', you see.

A pawn, working for someone...

The things I want to ask won't come out as words.

The reason Leior is so good to me is...

Although I am human, I have approached magic, and you are a goblin who has eaten food cooked by humans and grown accustomed to human life. I thought that if those two energies were combined, it would have the effect of attracting the monster's interest as something familiar yet strange.

The clothes, the meals, the fluffy futon—the reason he gave me such wonderful human things was all...

Monsters also have a desire to consume powerful things and become stronger. And humans are their favorite food to begin with. Besides, I am suppressing my own energy as much as possible. Both my human energy and my magical energy. That is why the combination of me as I am now and you must surely appear to them not as a threat, but first and foremost as attractive bait to increase their power.

Rustle, rustle, rustle.

Something is running through the bushes, pushing them aside. A sound so loud it drowns out the rain...

It's finally here...!

Leior turns toward the sound.

Blue Lightning Sword!

Leior shouts. Before anyone knew it, a sword glowing with blue light was gripped in Leior's hand. Rei stares blankly at such a mysterious sight.

I have always been alone...

From behind the branches and leaves, two large eyes are glaring at us.

You are the first guest for me and Rei...!

Leior shouts at the monster that has appeared. Its black body, wet with rain, stretches far back, and its full form is invisible. It is likely a giant, snake-like monster. Rei just continues to stare blankly at the terrifying sight. I felt like I understood the answer to all my questions until now. Quietly, I trace the answer in my heart.

Leior really just wanted to use me, that's all...

The urge to run away had faded.

I will continue to be alone, forever...

The monster's gaping maw as it lunged, and the trajectory of the mysterious sword gripped in Rayol's hand, were reflected merely as images.
The sound of trees being mowed down by the monster's massive body, the sound of the sword being deflected by something hard.
Even though I should have been hearing the roar, it all felt like events from a world far away.
　　
I am all alone—.

Amidst the lashing rain, a single tear of sorrow spilled from Ray's large eyes.

◆Work published on Shousetsuka ni Narou◆