Not only was the schedule delayed due to Perharzâs appearance, but also because they met Hans Helio.
They communicated with Orkins in advance, but it was well past the expected time.
Tamon reorganized his luggage and hurried off.
The rest of the work after this was up to Tamonâs men.
They always did their jobs well, so there wasnât much to worry about.
Gallop. Gallop.
Asha and Tamon ran vigorously.
It seemed that if they quickened their pace, they would be able to arrive before the sun set.
They ran for about two hours without saying a word and stopped for a while to quench their thirst.
Tamon, who was glancing at Asha as she watered the horses, asked her to check.
âAre you sure itâs okay to give that dagger to that person like that?â
He was talking about that dagger that he took from the merchant of the red octopus.
âOh, that daggerâŚ.It was fascinating.â
She, who was laughing, recalled what happened a while ago.
Asha had asked why Hans was there, and he told her that he was there under orders from the Emperor.
Hans didnât know why Gillotti was given such an order, but he ordered him to bring the dagger anyway. If Hans went back without the dagger, the Emperor might send him back.
Or he could use this as an excuse to give Hans another cruel order.
âI donât mind. Lady Asha can have it. If youâre going to give the dagger to the emperor, Iâd rather I get in trouble.â (Hans)
Hans wanted Asha to keep the dagger. But Asha had a different idea.
âIâm going to Tanatos anyway, and I want it there when I get there. For that reason, it would be better not to leave the eyes of the emperor.â
If she entered the Imperial Palace, she knew where Gillotti would hide the dagger. If he hid it anywhere, she was confident she could get Gillotti to bring it to her. Provoking Gillotti was one of the things she was best at.
âBy the way, I donât know if this is really the Sword of Decipherment. How does it decipher poisons?â
It was not a symbol of recovery or healing, but a tool for killing. However, Hans wondered how this dagger could âdecipherâ poisons. If the red octopus pirate had given the wrong object, Hansâ position could have been rather embarrassing.
âThen let me prove it to youâŚâ
Tamon, who had been waiting, came with a box made from the skin of a silver deer. Asha couldnât help but stare with downcast eyes at the white fur that wrapped the box.
But as soon as the box was opened, the worry that weighed on her heart burst out.
âIs this âŚâŚ?â
âYes. Itâs Perharzâs horn.â
Hans was startled out of his seat by Tamonâs words.
âHa, you mean that Perharz has appeared? Iâve never heard such a reportâŚ.â
âOf course you didnât hear about it. Because I took care of it a few days ago before anyone else knew about it.â
ââŚ.!â
Hans seemed more shocked to hear that a single person handled it alone without any commotion than Perharzâs appearance.
Why wouldnât he be surprised? Asha understood Hansâ reaction.
Perhaps if it hadnât been Tamon who had said those words, he might have thought it was just some bluffs from some crazy people in the city.
Tamon calmly lifted Perharzâs horn, which was placed in the box.
Even though it was a dead Perharzâs horn, Tamonâs hands slowly began to turn black, even though he was only holding the poisonous crystal.
âTamon..!â
Asha grabbed Tamonâs arm in surprise. Tamon only smiled at her when she told him to let it go quickly.
âYou have a tool to decipher it.â
âYou donât have to use Perharzâs poison!â
âSince we have the most powerful poison, shouldnât we test it out?â
Asha bit her lip at Tamonâs stubborn words and glared at him.
Tamon, who had tried to endure the horrible look in her eyes a little longer, had no choice but to let go of the horn.
ââŚYou have a much scarier look in your eyes than Perharz.â
The horn fell from Tamonâs hand and Asha could finally feel relief.
But after only a minute or two of holding it, Tamonâs hand had taken on a sinister black color.
Whatâs more, she could see that black poison slowly creeping up his wrist.
âIt hurts quite a bit. Thereâs a slight burning pain.â
Tamon casually described his symptoms about Perharzâs venom.
Asha pulled out the dagger, grinding her teeth as if she was about to kill Tamon. The use of it was to cut his skin.
It was not yet clear, but in order for the sword to have an âantidoteâ effect, it had to cut through the wound.
Finishing with her thoughts, Asha cut the skin of Tamonâs blackened hand without hesitation.
She didnât know how far she should give strength, and the wound was quite deep.
Tamon frowned in one eye as if that was quite painful, but that was all.
He was a strong man, not a single moan, despite the knife cut deep on his hand.
The amazing thing happened next.
ââŚ.!â
A dim light spread from where the dagger had cut, purifying the black poison.
What was even more amazing was that where the poison had disappeared, the wound that was made by the dagger was also gone.
The white light that was spreading gradually finally spread to the entire palm of his hand.
âThe poison of Perharz, said to be the most poisonous in the world, was gone in less than 10 seconds. âŚâŚ This makes it clear that this dagger is a holy relic.â
After confirming the truth about the dagger, Tamon handed the dagger to Hans.
Hans then decided to take the dagger with him, and as soon as Tamon walked out of the room, his foot was stepped on by Asha. Very hard.
âIâve never seen anyone as reckless as you in my life.â
Asha got back on her horse and rebuked him.
âYouâre stuck with me because Iâm reckless.â
Tamon chuckled and kissed the back of her hand as she mounted her horse.
âInstead, why donât you give me a kiss to make sure Iâve healed properly?â
There was no mischievousness in the way he looked up at her.
The infinitely serious look in his eyes tickled her heart.
Tamon was right.
If he hadnât been so reckless, he wouldnât have stolen the dying empress in secret.
Thus, he would not have encouraged her to live again and seek revenge.
His recklessness had shaken her and finally overturned her.
It was all because of this manâs recklessness that Roselyn was able to become Aranrosia Asha.
Looking down at him with her expression habitually muffled, Asha lifted his chin just before Tamon retreated.
ââŚâ
It was a flash.
It was a miraculous moment that passed in a flash, as if something that shouldnât have happened had happened.
Pushing away Tamon, who was mesmerized, Asha kicked the horse on the side with her foot.
The sound was silent and Asha departed ahead of him without turning around.
Tamon, who was briefly mesmerized, hurriedly chased her after touching his lips as if he couldnât believe what just happened.
(*Roselyn kissed Tamon!)
***
âAsha!â
Despite their hurried run, Tamon and Roselyn finally arrived at Orkins after dark.
Everyone was waiting for the two without sleeping, perhaps because they had been informed in advance that they would only arrive tonight.
The person who jumped out before the sound of horsesâ hooves could be heard was Arsene and Hannah.
âAsha!â
Arsene and Hannah, who had been standing on the ground, jumped towards Asha, who was dismounting from her horse.
âIâm sorry. Something unexpected happened.â
âWeâre fine! We were just resting here! Are you injured anywhere? What happened?â
Arsene stomped his feet to see if Asha was hurt.
Asha smiled graciously and left the children to look at her condition for a while.
The Knights of Platanus, who had been waiting in the cabin, also rushed out.
As Tamon handed them their horses and luggage, the knights moved busily.
Tamon said he had something to discuss with the Knights for a while and went into the cabin first.
Asha entered the resting place with Hannah and Arsene.
âIâm glad youâre not injured. Asha.â
Hannah grabbed Asha by the scruff of her dress, her eyes shining.
She seemed to be very happy.
âItâs a relief that you didnât get hurt.â
âItâs late today, so weâre going to stay here for the night. Weâll leave early tomorrow morning.â
âStill, I think weâll be up all night if we leave now. Itâs late and you couldnât sleep because you were waiting for us.â
âWe slept like crazy for two days! You two need more rest than we do.â
Arsene said as he took Ashaâs things and put them away himself.
Hannah took the role of showing Asha to the room.
There was one large villa with two cabins attached to it, as if it had been converted from a hunterâs hut.
Hannah led Asha to the best room of them all.
âIâll ask for some hot water. You can rest here!â
Seeing the twinkle in her eyes and the swiftness of her actions, Asha felt touched.
With gratitude, Asha took off the cumbersome outerwear.
Hannah, who was going outside, held the doorknob and suddenly looked back at Asha.
âWhy?â (Asha)
Hannah, who was shaking her head as if it was nothing, smiled and said.
âAsha, there will be more precious things in the future.â
ââŚWhat?â
âMore, much more than now.â
After saying that, Hannah was about to close the door.
âHannah?â
Asha hurried to call Hannah.
Between inside and outside, Hannah standing in the doorway looked back at Asha.
Hannahâs eyes turned golden.
Even after calling her, Asha hesitated.
âCan I ask you what it is?â
As if she had read Ashaâs mind, Hannah smiled and shook her head.
âNo, Asha.â
A still young voice whispered.
âNot yet.â
Hannah closed the door and left the room, as if he had nothing more to say.
Asha could only look with wonder at the door where Hannah had disappeared.