Chapter 33: The Price of Freedom

“Thank you…”

Feng Ling walked slowly beside him, while Mo Ya’s gaze remained fixed straight ahead. In the distance, the first tendrils of cooking smoke rose from the village.

Her warmth emanated from his right hand; Mo Ya’s hand was held in a tight grip.

“Um…” The girl tried to start a conversation, only to realize she didn’t even know Mo Ya’s name. She stammered, yet lacked the courage to voice her question.

“Mo Ya…” A low male voice came from beside her. A faint smile flickered across her downcast face.

“Let’s get this straight, so you don’t overthink things. Since you told me your name, it’s only fair I tell you mine.” Her words held a playful lilt, but the underlying unease hadn’t vanished. Feng Ling continued walking, and the village entrance now lay before them.

“Feng Ling…”

“What?”

“My name, you silly.”

“Oh.”

Mo Ya casually responded to the girl’s words. This easy banter acted as a tension-reliever, though her face quickly filled with indignation once more, if only for a moment.

When Mo Ya next paid attention, Feng Ling had swiftly pressed herself against him, burying her body in his embrace.

Due to the height difference, Mo Ya felt something wet against his chest.

The girl stopped before him, her slightly revealed profile etched with sadness.

The Feng Ling of the past had lived solely to escape this cursed fate—naive, weak, and filled with unrealistic fantasies.

Every night, she would stare blankly at the stars in the forest, hoping to enter the magic academy. This hope consumed her, even causing her to overlook the tragic plight of those who slowly died because of her.

Indeed, the fault wasn’t hers, but that of the monster in her heart. Yet, she was the one who fed this monster, watching it grow stronger and devour the lives of those around her.

Her sins were beyond salvation.

So, what form would her atonement take?

As the first breeze of morning arrived, Feng Ling made a decision in her heart.

“Um… could you do me one last favor, Mo Ya…?”

***

The first wisp of cooking smoke rose over Yakalo Town, yet the villagers showed none of their usual weariness or fear. Their faces were etched with anger and resentment, as they blocked the village gates, armed with farming tools.

The reason was simple: they had found the culprit.

They had witnessed the strange phenomena in the forest caused by yesterday’s battle.

It had even sparked some unrest, with many beginning to believe that the two young mages could save their village—this village abandoned by the kingdom.

Subsequently, a giant dragon soared through the forest, a blue dragon rising and falling, leaving them utterly stunned. The battle had subsided late into the night, and many had remained sleepless.

As a result, after a hurried breakfast, they had rushed to the village entrance, only to find a young man already waiting there.

Akuma had been waiting for a while. Leaning against the village gate, their brow was furrowed in a deep frown.

Their reason was simple: they had seen that person.

Upon waking, Akuma had found a blood-haired girl beside them. Her face was filled with disdain and vexation, as if annoyed by her inability to be with her beloved. Yet, this woman had utterly shocked Akuma.

They could never forget what had happened years ago.

That red-haired woman in the forest, leaning beside Tie. Her appearance was so strikingly similar to this girl’s, as if they were cast from the same mold.

Akuma bolted upright from the bed, an action that naturally caught the woman’s attention.

She turned to face Akuma.

“It seems you’re fine now. Then… my mission is complete~ As expected, I truly cannot leave the King’s side.”

Akuma listened to her inexplicable words, feeling bewildered. But by the time they reacted, the woman had suddenly vanished. She left as if she had never been there at all.

‘King… why am I here again? I remember that night, I…’ At this thought, Akuma’s face suddenly flushed, and their heart began to pound faster. ‘Oh no… did I collapse into that emotionless face’s arms yesterday?! Ahhh…’

Akuma quickly checked their body, and upon finding that they still maintained their disguise, let out a small sigh of relief, their mood slowly calming.

‘Now that emotionless face will mock me again. Just thinking about it is terrifying…’ The first ray of sunlight streamed through the window. They stood up and walked out of the house. ‘But, my disguise wasn’t exposed. That’s good.’

Akuma went to the village entrance alone. Last night, they had collapsed right here into the arms of that emotionless face, and the emotions surging through their mind were far from calm.

*Thump*. It was the sound of a fist hitting a wall. They tried to use the pain to quell the turmoil in their heart.

‘The disguise cannot be removed. I cannot drag them into a fate that only I should bear. The fate of a puppet, I alone should endure it.’

After patting their cheeks, they cast their gaze towards the distant forest. Unbeknownst to them, villagers had gathered behind them.

Presumably, their feelings at this moment were the same—all hoping for Mo Ya’s victorious return.

However, Akuma’s actions and those of the villagers would subsequently diverge into two paths.

When Mo Ya returned with Feng Ling, the first tendrils of cooking smoke rose over Yakalo Town.

Feng Ling’s expression carried a hint of flippancy, while the man beside her remained stoic.

Akuma quickly ran to Mo Ya’s side, casting a curious glance at the girl.

They frowned. Akuma could feel that the aura emanating from the girl was somewhat similar to their own.

“Hey, deadweight, is this…?”

“Be quiet for a moment.”

The villagers’ reason had been swallowed by anger and resentment. They rushed towards Feng Ling, some even wielding their farming tools.

“Hey, a barrier.”

“Huh? What…” Akuma didn’t grasp the situation, so Mo Ya had to repeat himself.

“Honestly, just a deadweight, why are they so bossy?” Akuma grumbled softly, conjuring a defensive barrier. The villagers were stopped outside the magical shield.

“Hey, what are you doing! Hand over the Calamity Witch! She’s a sinner!”

“Kill her! My wife and son died because of her! I don’t want to live alone anymore!”

“Open it quickly!”

Grief and angry words intertwined as the villagers poured their emotions into their hands, pounding against the barrier.

“What exactly is going on here…?” Akuma complained to Mo Ya, maintaining the barrier. Their magic replenishment was minimal, and the barrier wouldn’t last much longer. Sweat trickled down Akuma’s cheeks.

“I’m sorry, but…”

‘At the very least, she has to take this step herself, even if it’s not the outcome I desire.’

Mo Ya placed a hand on Akuma’s back. “My magic is low. I’ve given it all to you.”

Having done this, he subtly glanced at Feng Ling. Behind the two of them, Feng Ling tried her best to maintain a flippant expression, looking at the villagers who were pounding on the magic barrier.

“Oh, first, I must tell you… from today onwards, you are free. No longer will you be plagued by the curse.”

“Free…”

Most of the villagers were deeply moved by this word, and the frequency of their pounding hands slowed.

“That’s right, because… I’ve been caught, you see. Though I still wanted to play with you all a bit longer.” Feng Ling’s expression was perfectly executed, easily stirring anger in others, but Mo Ya only felt sadness.

A sense of powerlessness, a profound powerlessness, manipulated by fate. If only he could break free from fate…

“You really were wonderful toys! I had such fun, but… farewell.”