The Final Task of the Forsaken Saint: A Command to Marry the Barbarian Count - Chapter 27

After a night of satisfying food and restful sleep, I woke up just before dawn, feeling completely refreshed. The bedding, provided by the kind villagers, was new and clean, making for an incredibly comfortable night. I had chosen the guest room, as it felt only right—especially after learning more about Dirk’s connection to the place. The master bedroom was, for now, his domain.

Still, the guest room itself was no less impressive. The furnishings were of high quality but arranged with a warm, welcoming touch that made the space feel cozy.

I stretched in bed and noted it was still quite early. The sky outside was probably still dark.

Why did I wake so early? The answer sat squarely on my chest—a crowd of spirits, shimmering with a light bright enough to replace the sunrise. Though weightless, their presence was so tangible it was hard to ignore. They gathered around my head, crowded on the headboard, packed the bedside, and even hovered outside the window, playfully pressing themselves against the glass. It was impossible to tell if it was still dark outside with this living constellation lighting up the room.

“Oh wow, I didn’t expect a morning welcome like this,” I muttered, abandoning any hope of falling back asleep.

The spirits, delighted by my voice, glowed even brighter in response.

“She’s awake!”

“Awake, awake!”

“Sparkle!”

“Ah, please dim the lights! This is too much for just waking up!” I pleaded.

Thankfully, they complied, softening their glow. Even so, I’d never seen so many spirits gathered around me like this—not even back in the capital.

What was going on? As I sat up, the spirits rushed to grab my red hair, playfully tugging at the strands.

“Gratitude!”

“A fun place!”

“Invitation!”

Huh? Gratitude? Maybe they were thanking me for dealing with the chimera yesterday. And now, they wanted to take me somewhere as a thank-you?

“Where is this ‘fun place’?” I asked.

“That way!” The spirits formed an arrow, pointing towards the Deathshade Forest.

A guided tour by the spirits sounded too interesting to pass up. The thought of exploring the forest with their guidance was exciting.

“Wait a moment! Let me get changed—oh,” I paused, noticing the oversized shirt I’d borrowed from Dirk.

His words from the night before echoed in my mind.

“Let’s make a promise…”

We had agreed to say, “I’m off” and “I’m home,” and to share our plans before leaving. But it was so early, and if I waited for him to wake up, the spirits might whisk me away before he even stirred.

After a moment of hesitation, I turned to the spirits with a determined look.

“Can I bring a friend with me?” I asked.

When I nervously approached Dirk’s room, he immediately agreed to join me. Despite being roused at such an early hour, he showed no irritation—in fact, he seemed pleased.

“I’m glad you kept your promise. And even better that you’re including me in this,” he said with a smile.

His praise sent a wave of warmth through me. Knowing he was as eager as I was made me grin. Dirk’s smile, though slight, had an edge that was almost mischievous. It made him look like he was savoring a victory. The spirits flitted around him, clearly curious.

“Rubel’s friend?”

“Big!”

Dirk’s eyes followed their movements, meaning he could see them, even though their physical presence was intangible. Surrounded by a swarm of glowing beings, he looked more amused than annoyed, though there was a hint of wistfulness in his expression that puzzled me.

Before I could ask, Dirk spoke to the spirits.

“Thank you for guiding us. Which way are we headed?”

“This way!” the spirits chimed, eagerly flitting into the depths of the forest. We followed them closely.

Dirk was dressed for the journey, looking every bit the skilled woodsman. He wore sturdy pants and a shirt under a warm jacket, along with robust boots. His belt was laden with useful tools, and, of course, a sword. In contrast, my simple attire of a dress, boots, and a staff seemed light. Maybe I should be better prepared next time.

As we stepped into the Deathshade Forest, the dense magic enveloped us like before. The rain had stopped, but droplets clung to the leaves, and the air was rich with the scent of fresh rain. It was invigorating, though I could feel the moisture seeping through my boots.

I considered using magic to sweep the water off the foliage, but knowing my clumsy control over precise spells, I’d probably send the whole thicket flying.

Just as I stepped toward the grass, Dirk moved ahead of me. In his hand was a short blade—a machete, one of the many tools he carried.

“Spirits, I hope you don’t mind if I clear the path a bit. It’s difficult to move through, and we’ll end up soaked,” Dirk said respectfully.

The spirits seemed delighted by his politeness, and a few darted ahead, creating a breeze that scattered the water droplets.

Dirk thanked them and used his blade to carefully clear branches from our path. It made it easier for me to follow without tripping or getting tangled in the underbrush. It occurred to me that he’d stepped ahead to shield me from getting wet.

A subtle warmth spread through me, making me feel oddly shy. The silence was becoming awkward, so I decided to ask about the blade.

“That knife—what is it? It doesn’t seem like a weapon. And why are you breaking branches instead of just cutting them?”

“It’s a machete, essential for navigating forests and mountains. I’m marking our path so we don’t get lost. This is my first time going this far in,” Dirk explained.

I thought briefly about how the spirits could guide us back, but I remembered how unpredictable they could be—they might just leave us stranded.

“That’s very practical,” I said, impressed.

“It is, and I’m glad the spirits allowed it. I wasn’t sure if they’d let us since I’m only your ‘friend,’” Dirk added with a slight smirk.

A pang of guilt hit me. I had hesitated to call him family.
“…I couldn’t say ‘family’ at the moment,” I admitted.

Even though it felt good to think of him that way, the words stuck when I tried to say them out loud. Dirk’s eyes widened briefly in surprise.

“I’ll admit, I was a bit disappointed,” he said.

“Oh, so I wasn’t imagining it,” I said, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment.

“I’m not always straightforward with words myself. It’s awkward, so don’t worry. We’ll get there in time,” Dirk said with a small smile.

Knowing he felt the same eased my mind. I resolved that next time, I’d be able to say it—after all, it was a good thing. As I made that silent promise, the spirits clustered around our feet, as if urging us forward.

Were they getting impatient? I hadn’t thought we were moving slowly, but something seemed different. The air ahead shimmered like the surface of water. Guided by the spirits, we stepped through the rippling space.

Suddenly, the view opened up before us.

We stood before a vast field of wildflowers, a crystal-clear spring in its center, and beyond it, the towering remains of an ancient ruin.