[88.7] Gonza POV: Even Strong Men Need Saving

[Author's note: This chapter is from Gonza's POV]

The carriage bumped up and down, jostling me around uncomfortably. My hands were chained in front of me and I couldn't even tell where I was being taken thanks to the bag over my head.

I struggled to stifle my cries, "Uwuwuuwuwuwuwuuuu…."

This is TERRIBLE!

Ever since I received that killing curse, my life has been nothing but bad luck and misery!

First, I almost die.

THEN I have to struggle just to walk on my own.

I get accosted by an owl every night -which by the way! Who made owls nocturnal!? 

Does anyone care about propriety anymore!?!

Not to mention I also had to endure all those terrifying demons trying to kill me every day!

Now I'm being kidnapped!?

Can my life get any worse?!

I can't even run away! They broke my crutches!

I cried louder, "Uwuwuwuwuwuwuwu!"

"OI!" 

A slam came from beside me making me jump with an effeminate scream, "KYAA!"

The man clicked his tongue, "What the hell. The great Chief Gonza has been reduced to this!? What an embarrassment!"

I attempted to stifle my sobs, "I don't want to be like this either!!! When you almost die, you become extra sensitive!"

Well…

I guess I should explain how I found myself in this situation to my imaginary listeners.

You see, everything was going fine.

…If you could call the start of a war fine.

The palace was attacked, and right at the moment the barrier broke, I felt someone grab me from behind.

They pulled me into a transportation circle and brought me to an unidentifiable place. Since I couldn't walk, they threw me on this rackety carriage. Now there's a bag over my head and I have no idea what's going on.

The voice beside me clicked his tongue, "-What the f*ck. If they didn't give me specific instructions to keep you alive, I would have killed your annoying a** already. Why does the d*mn Holy Army want a crybaby anyway?"

Another voice came from further away. By the sound of it, it seemed like he was the driver, "I overheard the higher-ups say it was because they lost their prophet. Apparently, this guy can use his attribute to find certain people."

My heart crashed and I started crying louder.

AHHHH!

THOSE D*MN DREAMS!

After I went to the Macabre Forest for treatment, they've grown stronger with each passing day.

I used to think they were fun, like putting pieces of a puzzle together.

Now I see they are completely useless!

Who cares if I can find people or see things more clearly!!!

This stupid ability is more of a curse than a killing curse!!!

The driver added, "You know, they said they only needed him to be able to talk. A broken rib never stopped someone from talking."

"Aha! You're right!"

My heart dropped to new depths, "Y-You can't hurt me!"

Please! 

I'm too sensitive in this body!

That stupid medicine made every single sense much more powerful than before!

Now a flick feels like a punch and a kiss-

My cheeks burned.

R-Regardless it's terrible!!!

Even my emotions are heightened!

My tears erupt whenever any small thing happens.

If I'm hungry, I cry.

If I see a bird in the morning, I cry.

A few days ago I cried when I stepped on a bug.

I hate it!

I'm like a child!

No, I wasn't THIS emotional as a child. I don't even think I cried this much as a baby!

My arms were suddenly grabbed and slammed against the wooden walls. The impact made my bones feel like they were being shattered.

I let out a sharp cry from the pain.

Before I could recover, I was struck with what felt like concrete against my ribs. Vomit splattered the inside of the hood as I collapsed from the intense pain.

"What an embarrassment. He fainted from such a small punch?"

As I drifted off into unconsciousness, the temperature on my wrist exploded as if I was set on fire.

I regained consciousness and found I was already screaming, "AHHHHH! STOP! STOP!"

Another man snickered, "Relax. It's just a cigarette."

I tried to get out of his grasp, but even the movement caused more unbearable pain to spread. I felt as if my wrists were being slashed the more I squirmed.

I-I can't handle it!

I'd rather die than feel this type of pain!

I want it to be over already-

An agonizing shriek came from my throat, "CALDWELL!"

…Eh?

Why did I call for him?

Is it just habit from the time I spent in the Macabre forest?

For a brief moment, shame overcame the unbearable torment. However, it was very brief as I was grabbed by my cuffed wrists and pulled, "Who are you calling out for? Your boyfriend?"

The other man snickered from the driver's seat, "Pathetic."

My cheeks flushed red.

Really…

I really am…

I used to be admired.

Revered.

I started from the bottom and worked tirelessly to gain the position of Chief.

They were always giving out promotions to people who could use offensive magic.

…But that wasn't me.

I was weak.

Yet, my brother was nothing like me. Everyone was always commenting on how 'mature' and how 'strong' he was. I had to endure every single person comparing myself to him. In the Academy, they always said 'such a shame you aren't strong like your brother' and 'maybe your brother should be trying to enter the M.I.B. and you should be the Headmaster instead'.

I had to struggle just to catch up to his status.

I worked twice as hard to prove myself.

I admit that it may have made me resentful of him, but I never gave up on bettering myself. 

If I couldn't be great like him, then I would simply find other ways to succeed.

…And look at me now.

I can't walk on my own.

The only magic I can use freely is the very magic that got me in trouble.

Everything hurts and…

And now I have to rely on the slim hope that a demon, the very thing I swore my professional life to defeating, will come to save me.

If that's not pathetic, what is?

I sucked in my breath.

No, maybe it's more pathetic that I screamed for a man who wouldn't come.

Even if he would come and save me, how would he even know where I was?

The driver spoke in an alert tone, "Wait… What the heck is that-"

*BAM*

The entire carriage was collided into by a massive force, throwing around everyone inside. Luckily for me, I was already pressed against the wall so other than having a bruised back, I didn't have much injuries.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING-"

His words were abruptly cut off by the scream of the other man, "OH MY GOD! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?! WAIT WAIT WAIT! DON'T COME CLOSER-"

After hearing this, my entire body stiffened in fear. 

What the hell is going on now?!?!

Am I about to die an even more horrific death!?

With the bag still on my head, I couldn't see what was happening. However, I could hear the sounds of the man's screams as he desperately tried to run away. Then, the screams abruptly stopped.

Somehow I knew that his screams didn't stop because he got away, but rather for a different reason.

What should I do!?

Should I run?!

I sucked in my breath to hear whatever had made those men so terrified. To my horror, it suddenly climbed onto the carriage. Each step took towards me caused the shoddy wood to creak under its weight.

Ah! No good! No good! I'm too scared!

I'm too-

When the bag was pulled off my face, a bright light filtered in. I winced from the pain of the blinding sight, but still forced myself to stare at the person who had saved me.

A bright pair of yellow eyes with pupils so sharp they looked like silts were staring back at me. With two large horns on his forehead, his expression looked particularly fierce. However, it didn't scare me as I imagined it would.

Instead, relief flooded into my chest.

My bottom lip trembled as I reached out to him with my wrists still chained, "C-Caldwell!"

His ferocious expression immediately dissipated as he cried out, "My honey bun!"

He used a key to undo the magical shackles around my wrist. When he saw the bruises, he let out a pained cry and started kissing them. I was so overwhelmed by the relief of being saved that I didn't even think to push him off.

I recalled where I was and looked around in a panic, "C-Caldwell! What happened to those men?"

He responded in a carefree manner, "I turned them into ants."

"I see… Um…" My eyes shyly caught glimpses of his face, "How did you find me?"

He averted his gaze, "Errrr. Ummm… well?"

I tried to look upset, but failed, "You put a tracker on me, didn't you?"

He immediately rushed to my side to placate me, "Honey muffin! Don't be upset!! I was scared something would happen and if you weren't in my sight-"

"-Wait a second! Aren't you supposed to be with your parents getting revenge on Al!?"

"Forget that! My parents will be fine without me, but what about you?! You mean far more to me than taking revenge!"

I was so touched by his words I started crying again, "Uwuwuwuwuwuuw!"

"Don't cry! Don't cry!"

Caldwell reached out to embrace me, but even if he was trying to be gentle, the broken rib was still piercing into me just like a thousand searing hot daggers under my skin.

"AH!" 

Caldwell suddenly froze then looked at me fearfully, "What's wrong?"

Tears rolled down my face as I desperately tried to find a position that wouldn't overwhelm my brain with pain. However, everything hurt to the point that it was all I could think about.

I couldn't even stop myself from crying.

Ugh! 

I'm so disgusting!!!

Am I not a man!?

Why am I sobbing like a child!

Despite my self-loathing, I managed to stutter out, "H-Hurts…"

"Just. What. Did. They. Do. To. You."

I was so ashamed of my own weakness that I lowered my head and refrained from answering.

Suddenly, wings wrapped around my body and cradled me gently. Even though I was still in pain, for a moment it didn't feel as bad. I raised my head to see such beautiful white wings holding me and the comforting smile on Caldwell's face.

As he stared down at me, he looked so docile and gentle that if it hadn't been for the pair of horns on his head, I would definitely think he was an angel.

Caldwell looked over to two ants that were attempting to crawl away and suddenly stomped on them.

I peered over his shoulder while sucking in my sobs, "D-D-Did you just step on them?"

Caldwell merely smiled back at me, "They were ants, weren't they?"

I gulped forcibly and averted my gaze.

It's a good thing he's on my side.

"Oh! I forgot to mention."

Caldwell took my hand and slipped on a ring. When I saw that ring I had a sinking feeling, "T-This can't be…"

Caldwell's eyes narrowed as he smiled, "I seem to recall them saying if I found it, you would marry me."

My face turned bright red as I started slamming my hands on him, "I AGREED TO NOTHING!"