Chapter 241: The Real Nightmare

“Actually, talking about the bloodstone ore wasn’t a major issue, but the fact that you subsequently used the power of the Demon Race to scare off Vidar is the crucial part, do you understand?”

Hearing this, Liyakade fell into a silence.

She lowered her head, feeling a sense of self-reproach, while Field continued speaking beside her.

“We had just been entangled by Natalia earlier, and you already knew there was a nun from the church in the caravan, yet you still used the power of the Demon Race to intimidate Vidar. That is why I said you were acting without regard for the consequences.”

“Yes, I’m sorry… Field, I know I was wrong. I really won’t be that impulsive in the future.”

After being called out and lectured by Field, Liyakade finally softened and recognized that she had made a mistake today.

Primarily, after this analysis by Field, Liyakade finally realized that she did indeed seem different from her usual self.

“Let’s leave this matter in the past. I didn’t say so much to blame you, I just wanted to say that you are not the same as usual. Can you tell me what happened? Liyakade?”

“I…”

After hearing this, Liyakade swallowed hard.

She was truly annoyed with herself now; why on earth was she so impulsive as to use the power of the Demon Race to scare off Vidar?

If Field were simply scolding her, Liyakade would have felt better, but now, it was clear that Field had noticed something was wrong with her.

How was she supposed to explain this to Field?

“…I had a nightmare today, that’s all. It’s because of that nightmare that I became a bit irritable, because in the dream, Field, you…”

Field certainly remembered the nightmare Liyakade had mentioned during the day.

Liyakade had said that in the dream, she had died in battle while fighting the Demon King, which was why she was acting abnormally.

However, after spending the day together, Field now felt that what Liyakade had dreamed about was not what she described.

“You are lying to us. The way you are acting is completely different from the nightmare you described.”

Field shook her head, and with a calm but firm tone, she pierced through Liyakade’s lie.

She wanted to know why Liyakade was deceiving them, and she wanted to know what Liyakade was afraid of.

As for why Field realized Liyakade was lying:

First, if Field had died in the nightmare, then Liyakade would surely be worried that Field might really die.

Logically, after having such a nightmare, one would definitely want to stay close to Field in reality and feel her presence to soothe the fear brought on by the nightmare.

At the beginning, Liyakade’s behavior did indeed seem to reflect that, as she sat in the seat near the window next to Field after waking up, just to be closer to her.

But thinking about it now, the way Liyakade had been acting was not like that at all.

Although she was physically near Field, she hadn’t engaged in any more intimate interaction with her.

To put it bluntly, even though Liyakade moved to be near Field, it was no different from any other time.

No, one could even say she was a bit more distant than usual.

It was the same when they were eating dinner near the fire; although she appeared to be close to Field on the surface, the distance between them hadn’t closed at all, and it was no different from normal.

Therefore, Liyakade wasn’t trying to have intimate contact with Field to feel reassured, so it was highly probable that the nightmare Liyakade had was not about Field dying in battle.

Then… what were these behaviors of Liyakade’s for?

Field reflected on it now and felt the answer was already very clear.

The distance between Liyakade and Field hadn’t actually closed, but her distance from Alice had become much greater.

In the carriage, at dinner, and even just now while sleeping, it had been the same.

Ever since she had that nightmare, it had become this way; Liyakade was clearly avoiding Alice, and she only acted like this because she didn’t want to get near Alice.

From this, one could inversely conclude that Liyakade’s dream must have been related to Alice.

And in that dream, it was very likely that Alice had caused Liyakade some kind of harm, which was why Liyakade was unconsciously keeping her distance.

“It’s about Alice…”

“No!”

Before Field could finish her sentence, Liyakade uncontrollably interrupted her.

Liyakade’s voice had involuntarily grown a few decibels louder; fortunately, Field had walked Liyakade a distance into the forest, otherwise, Liyakade’s voice would certainly have been overheard.

“Liyakade… please calm down!”

Field frowned and pressed firmly on Liyakade’s shoulders, wanting to make her calm down.

“By denying it like this, isn’t that tantamount to telling me that the nightmare is related to Alice? Why won’t you let me know? What exactly are you afraid of? I am asking you not to blame you, but to solve the problem, and… you actually are even more unwilling to have Alice know, right? That is why I called you out alone while she was asleep.”

Liyakade felt the sensation on her shoulders and listened to Field’s earnest words; she realized she had slipped up again just now.

As soon as Field asked if it was related to Alice, she had responded so eagerly that it was not.

I am practically announcing my guilt.

Moreover, Field was right.

Actually, if Field knew about the dream, Liyakade wouldn’t have felt anything, but it couldn’t be Alice.

Liyakade really didn’t want to tell Alice.

Field pressed her hands onto Liyakade’s shoulders; she could only feel Liyakade’s body trembling slightly.

Her head was hung low, hiding her eyes, and Field realized then that she might have been pushing too hard with her questioning.

“…I was a bit harsh just now, I’m sorry… If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine too. I shouldn’t have forced you.”

“No…”

Liyakade didn’t look up; she merely placed one hand on top of Field’s hand.

After a long silence, Liyakade finally opened her mouth to speak again.

“It is… I was lying to you all. In that dream, I became the new Demon King, and you were the ones who came to slay me.”

“I see…”

Field’s pupils contracted upon hearing this.

She could now understand why Liyakade had been so dejected after waking up.

She could feel the deep affection Liyakade had for them, and Field felt the same way.

Even without putting herself in Liyakade’s shoes, just imagining the scene of herself as the Brave One having to fight to the death with Liyakade as the Demon King, Field already felt her heart grow heavy.

Field stepped forward abruptly and pulled Liyakade into her arms, gently patting her on the back.

“Don’t worry, we will always stand on your side.”