Chapter-44
Exhaustion etched lines on Roland's youthful disguise as they finally secured a room at a quaint inn on the outskirts of Sundara. The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the rough-hewn wooden beams overhead, highlighting the slump in Roland's shoulders as he sank onto the worn but comfortable bed. Despite the fatigue clinging to him like a shroud, a faint tremor ran through his hand, a lingering echo of the focused power he'd wielded throughout the day.
Lilith watched him with a mix of curiosity and concern. Even cloaked in his youthful disguise, the weariness radiating from Roland was undeniable. It wasn't the bone-deep exhaustion that came from physical exertion, but a deeper fatigue that clawed at the mind. Then she dismissed the idea him being fatigue, it was her mistake.
"Well, that was certainly… eventful," Lilith remarked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Roland merely grunted in response, his eyes already fluttering closed.
Lilith raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing her features. Demon lords class creatures, beings of immense power and resilience, were not known for succumbing to exhaustion easily. Tales spoke of them enduring battles that raged for eons, their stamina seemingly limitless. The idea of Roland, a demon lord class in disguise no less, being genuinely worn out by a day of chasing stray dogs seemed… unlikely. After all, his core being was pure magic, his body a mere vessel. While physical exertion wouldn't necessarily tax him in the same way it did a mortal, there was still the question of his seemingly boundless magical reserves. Could spending a day analyzing a strange illness and wielding a legendary ocular jutsu have truly drained him to such an extent?
A suspicion flitted across her mind. Was he playing a fool? Was this elaborate display of fatigue a way to distract her from his true motives? Lilith hadn't known Roland for a long time. But her woman intiution saying, his mind was a labyrinth, his plans often layered with deception and misdirection. It wouldn't be the first time he'd feigned weakness to lull his enemies into a false sense of security. Perhaps this entire quest, the focus on the infected dogs, was a smokescreen, a way to divert her attention while he enacted some unseen maneuver behind the scenes.
On the other hand, maybe the explanation was simpler. Perhaps Roland was simply bored. The idea of a dungeon master, a being capable of unimaginable feats of power, being genuinely enthralled by the prospect of chasing stray dogs through the alleys of Sundara seemed ludicrous. Yet, the glint of amusement in his eyes throughout the day suggested a certain enjoyment of the seemingly mundane task. Perhaps it was all a game to him, a way to test the limits of his newfound Sharingan in a low-stakes environment. Or maybe, a more disturbing thought emerged, he was toying with her, reveling in her confusion and keeping her deliberately in the dark.
But as Lilith studied Roland's face, bathed in the soft glow of the candlelight, a different truth seemed to shine through. There was a tension in his jaw, a hint of suppressed energy beneath his closed eyelids. It wasn't the exhaustion of physical exertion, but the weariness of intense mental focus.
His so called Sharingan eye, usually vibrant crimson, seemed almost dull in sleep, its black tomoes faded. Perhaps, Lilith realized with a jolt of understanding, the act of using the Sharingan, especially for a sustained period like today, came at a cost. Perhaps the mental strain of analyzing the infected dogs, the virus, and the effects of the "antivirus" had drained him in ways she hadn't considered.
Dis Dismissing her initial suspicions as overthinking, Lilith decided to let Roland rest. The day had been long and undoubtedly taxing, even for a demon lord wielding a legendary eye. She settled onto a nearby chair, her gaze fixed on Roland's sleeping form.
As the night deepened and the rhythmic snores of Roland filled the room, Lilith allowed herself to succumb to sleep. Tomorrow, they would delve deeper into Roland's plan, a plan that promised to reshape the Den of Nightmares in ways they could only begin to imagine. (Author note: This room has two bed, so they didn't sleep in same bed. Sorry, if you expecting that. Tee Hee :P )
The morning sun, pale and tentative at first, peeked through the gaps in the wooden shutters, casting a warm glow across the room. Lilith stirred awake, the creak of the floorboards announcing her movement. Her gaze fell upon Roland, who was already awake, his back turned to her as he stood by the window.
Curiosity piqued, Lilith walked over to him. Peering out the window, she followed his line of sight and saw a scene that made her lips curl into a gentle smile. A group of three sleek cats, their fur a tapestry of black, orange, and white, were engaged in a playful chase, their movements a blur of feline grace as they darted across a sun-dappled patch of grass.
"Well, well," Lilith said, her voice laced with amusement. "It seems someone has a newfound fondness for the feline persuasion."
Roland remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the playful cats. Then, a flicker of something that might have been embarrassment crossed his disguised face. He cleared his throat, the sound slightly rough.
"Hungry?" he asked, abruptly changing the subject.
Lilith chuckled, enjoying his flustered reaction. "Absolutely," she replied. "The fresh air and all that chasing dogs around yesterday must have worked up an appetite."
Roland shot her a playful glare, though a hint of amusement lingered in his disguised eyes. "Perhaps," he conceded, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "But enough about canines. Lead the way to the breakfast hall, Lilith. I believe my stomach is demanding sustenance."
Lilith, unable to resist a playful jab, winked at him. "So shy to admit you like cats, are we, Roland?" she teased.
Roland coughed again, a telltale sign of his amusement. "Let's just say," he replied, his voice carefully neutral, "certain creatures are more... entertaining than others."
With a shared laugh, they made their way out of the room and headed towards the inn's dining hall. The scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling sausages hung tantalizingly in the air, promising a hearty breakfast to fuel their day's adventures.
