Chapter 1028: Are You Worried About Me?
The next morning.
The group set off once again, abandoning the large cave and heading straight south.
"Where are we going?"
Eiji had slept for a full twenty hours.
When he woke again, he felt the world spinning, his mind groggy, and the constant shaking beneath him made it even harder to focus.
"To Salisbury."
Cernunnos's hand was still resting on Eiji's chest.
It was unclear how long she had gone without rest, but her expression carried a trace of weariness.
The two of them were currently inside a carriage, with Mash and the others outside.
"The Wind Clan is skilled in curse removal. I want to use their power to heal you."
"It will take at least a day and a night to reach Salisbury from here. Can you hold on?"
"No problem, I still have plenty of magical energy left."
Cernunnos's expression was firm, even stubborn.
Once she decided on something, not even the gods could pull her back—that's what Ector had once said.
"...Help me up."
Eiji sighed.
"?"
Cernunnos looked puzzled but did as he asked.
After stopping the carriage, Cernunnos helped him out and settled him on the grass by the roadside.
"What is Mr. Eiji trying to do?"
"I don't know either."
Cernunnos shook her head, equally perplexed.
He even had her set up a barrier around them to isolate the inside from the outside, then sat alone cross-legged within the barrier.
"Boom!"
Eiji took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus.
Sword energy immediately erupted from his body like a storm, transforming into countless sharp currents that surged back and forth within the barrier.
Each strand of sword energy possessed the power to slice through metal and jade. As it roiled within the barrier, it repeatedly slashed across Eiji's own body, quickly shredding his clothes and tearing his skin open, leaving him covered in wounds!
"Mr. Eiji?!"
Mash was startled by his bloody appearance.
"Cernunnos, Cernunnos! Hurry and open the barrier to save him!"
"What is that kid thinking?!"
Habetrot and Ector grew anxious as well.
"...Wait."
But Cernunnos held her ground.
No, upon closer look, her hand gripping the staff was trembling, almost unable to resist opening the barrier to rescue him.
"If we open the barrier now, you'll die."
"What?"
"Seriously?"
Habetrot and Ector were both startled.
The storm inside the barrier did indeed look terrifying. If opened, who knew where it would shoot out? It was better to stay away now, or they might accidentally die at the hands of their companion!
"Moreover, he's... purging the curse."
Cernunnos's voice trembled slightly.
The three of them were simultaneously stunned.
Was there such a method to remove a curse?
Wasn't this just self-harm?
Mash and the others couldn't understand, but Cernunnos could see it clearly.
As the sword energy swept over his body again and again, each pass weakened the curse on him. In less than half a minute, the massive amount of curse energy on him had visibly diminished!
How he was doing it, even Cernunnos couldn't comprehend.
A full ten minutes later.
The sword energy slowly receded.
Emerging from the barrier was Eiji, his clothes reduced to tattered strips, yet his skin remained as pale and unblemished as an infant's.
Not a single wound marred his body, as if the earlier flesh-tearing injuries had been nothing but an illusion.
"Cough-hah!"
Eiji's face was pale, his twisted features gradually smoothing out as he cleared his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood-tinged filth.
He even had the leisure to open his imaginary pocket, retrieving a fresh set of clothes to change into.
The barrier dissipated.
Cernunnos's expression was grim.
Mash and the other two wore expressions of being thoroughly intimidated, like frightened quails.
"What's with those looks?" Eiji asked with complete composure.
"You're asking us what's with these looks... I should be asking what exactly you were trying to accomplish?" Ecctor stared at him with profound shock.
"Removing the curse, of course?" Eiji looked at them as if stating the obvious.
"See? Now I can run and jump without any problem! Though not fully recovered, traveling is completely fine!"
As for fighting - as long as he didn't actually engage in combat, it would probably be manageable.
"...This is how you remove curses?"
"Oh, it might have looked quite bloody from your perspective, but I've long grown accustomed to this level of pain. As long as the result is satisfactory, all's well that ends well. Hmm, thankfully my face wasn't damaged!"
Eiji even took out a mirror to check his reflection, nodding in satisfaction.
Who would have thought becoming a Dead Apostle would have such benefits - being able to use self-mutilation to remove curses without leaving any scars afterward.
"Grown accustomed..."
Mash showed a complicated expression.
Was this what he meant by "suffered a lot"?
To develop such willpower that remained unflinching even when his entire body was torn open - what kind of suffering must he have endured in his past? Mash found it truly unimaginable.
Just witnessing that scene had been horrifying enough for them!
"I've gained new respect for you... How to handle the aftermath is up to you."
Ecctor let out a long sigh.
He wanted to express some words of admiration, but honestly, he couldn't bring himself to say them.
Admiring such a person's willpower felt like rubbing salt in the wounds of his past.
Even if he himself no longer cared, as a listener, Ecctor's heart couldn't remain indifferent.
"Aftermath?"
Eiji scratched his head.
Mash and Habenyan departed one after another.
As if deliberately making space, they quickly left the area riding their magical beasts.
Oh.
Eiji understood.
Beside him, Cernunnos's expression was frighteningly dark.
"Truly remarkable."
She praised calmly.
"No wonder you could withstand the curse god's curse."
Though her tone carried no trace of actual praise.
If anything, it sounded somewhat fierce.
"I don't know what you've experienced in your past, but when you do things like this, please consider other people's feelings first."
Cernunnos gave him an icy glare.
Her expression was quite terrifying.
"...Were you worried about me?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Wow..."
Eiji was startled.
Honestly, he could hardly believe his ears, wondering if he was hearing things.
His preconceived notions were too deeply ingrained - Eiji had always thought Cernunnos should be that cold, aloof type who showed no warmth to anyone.
That her heart's door had been knocked open was something he'd never imagined before.
That she would express concern for him so directly was even more beyond his expectations.
"Hmm, I understand. I'll be more careful from now on."
Eiji declared himself a man who could accept things as they came and frankly admitted his mistake.
"I'll take over the driving later. You should rest properly!"
Eiji brought the carriage over and pointed at the brand-new compartment.
"You did this just for...?"
Cen was momentarily stunned.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Eiji looked at her with frustration.
Otherwise, I could've just waited until we reached Salisbury. I'd have slept through the whole journey without any discomfort anyway—why would I deliberately torture myself like an idiot?
"Well... thank you."
Two faint blushes of embarrassment bloomed on Cen's cheeks.
Then, she cheerfully expressed her gratitude to Eiji, boarded the carriage, and soon drifted into dreamland.