Magical Journey: The Other Shore Blooms on the Other Shore

(Memories in a Dream - Qin's Perspective)

"Is this for me? Thank you, thank you, you're a kind person."

I handed a gold coin to a dying refugee.

Although wars between nations are now quite rare, there are still many kings who fail to govern their countries well.

This region has been suffering from a severe drought for a long time, but the country's witch has been demanding higher prices and has started arguing with the nobles, refusing to send rain and causing the best time to pass, resulting in large areas of crops withering and dying.

The price of food has risen to an unbelievable level. In this area, a loaf of bread that normally costs 1 copper coin can now be bought for 1 silver coin.

The next product of this phenomenon was the refugee population.

Because they could no longer survive in this country. They went into exile, trying to find a way out.

"This is for you." I nodded.

At that moment, I had no idea that this action would lead me to an irreversible state.

"Thanks……"

Until that moment, I still felt that other people's praise and gratitude were the most beautiful sounds in the world.

This makes me feel that my life still has value.

At least through these thanks, I can now prove that my existence can make some people's lives better.

That's how it should be.

I tried my best to help every refugee I encountered, even if it was just a small amount.

These are not actually out of sympathy, but rather out of a kind of self-consolation.

But the reward was...

While I was sleeping outdoors at night, a group of people tied me up while I was asleep.

When I woke up, my hands and feet were already tied up, and the backpack I had helped during the day had been completely looted by the refugees.

"Kind-hearted people should help us to the end, we have no other choice." The leader whispered in my ear with a drooling tone, "We want to survive too, one gold coin is not enough."

"So..." Even I, in my daze, know what happened.

"Boss, stop pretending." His gang of underlings seemed impatient.

“Yes, let’s cut out his organs and sell them; that’ll be another source of income,” another person said.

“My benefactor, you’ve seen it too. Please, you are a reincarnation of a bodhisattva, helping us once again. We are also oppressed by the king.”

"Then what did I do wrong?" I asked.

“You? Of course you’re right, the world is the one at fault.” His face was contorted. “Honest people don’t deserve to live in this world. Why should I work hard my whole life and still end up like this? Because I’m too honest.”

“Those dogs, those black-hearted witches, they don’t want us to live,” someone else added.

"Does that mean I have to die?" At this moment, I seemed a little sad, but I remained surprisingly calm.

Ultimately, I find it difficult to experience significant emotional fluctuations, no matter what.

Just by recalling this feeling, I can confirm that what I feel right now is sadness.

At the time, there was a feeling I couldn't quite define through my recollection, because it seemed to be the first time it had appeared in my mind.

Later I learned that that feeling was called regret.

"Yes—we always have to make sacrifices in order to live better."

"Boss, stop talking nonsense. Anyway, he has no magic. Just stab him through the heart and give our benefactor a quick death."

The daggers in their hands drew closer and closer to me. I saw greed and evil in their eyes, and my ignorance and folly were reflected deep within their pupils.

and so……

All along... what I've done... has been in vain, has it been wrong?

I burned the ropes that bound me.

Amidst their horrified expressions and under the watchful eyes of everyone, I freed myself from my restraints.

"You...you don't have magic, do you?"

I tried to calm myself. Once I started using magic, it would be burning away my sanity and my lifespan. If I could, I wouldn't want to use it.

This is the magic of the devil.

It's like opening a sluice gate to release water. If you only open a small gap, you can still close the valve. But when the gap is opened to a certain threshold, it becomes very difficult to close it.

This magic is born of anger—watered by sin—and reborn from suffering.

Even though I was unwilling, an unnamed rage was still pounding at my nerves, and a whisper from the abyss filled my ears.

"Look—look at the people you've saved, what's the point?"

"You can't do anything. Human nature is greedy and sinful. Come, accept my power."

"Your worth doesn't need proof—crush them with violence—and they'll acknowledge your worth. Isn't that right? Hehehehehehehe~"

I've been trying so hard to suppress it, but I'm really nearing my limit. From the moment I used magic, my will has been gradually pushed towards tyranny.

"This isn't your fault, is it?"

What did you get in return for your kindness?

"They are so weak, why do they have the right to climb over you?"

"Think about how hard you've tried to survive, and what has the world given you in return?"

"Is it the laughable faces of those witches, or the leftover dog food that those in power are handing out to you?"

My vision went completely red as I lifted up the leader, the refugee I had given alms to, the honest man I once knew.

Blood gushed from my fingers as my nails easily pierced the skin of his neck. Fire element burst forth, burning him to ashes. Only his unspoken words remained in the air.

"Rare..."

Coke cannot speak.

"Kill them all—"

This man's death gave my mind a brief moment of clarity. I struggled to reclaim ownership of my body, but even so, the flames began to spread from their center, gradually burning away everything around me, and the leaderless mob had long since scattered.

"Why—why are you resisting me?"

"I don't want to become a demon."

"Didn't they drive you to become a demon? Why can they kill you but you can't kill them? Who decided that? Your destiny should be in your own hands!"

"Shut up—how ​​am I not dead yet—" I roared hysterically, the emotion of which should be called despair.

I reached out and aimed at my heart, beginning to condense large amounts of ice crystals—if I could hit the target accurately, I could die.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Alice. I can't keep my promise to you..."

Dead plants can never bloom, and their branches and leaves are buried along with the withered buds.

……

Was it... a dream?

Qin slowly opened her eyes. Outside the makeshift shelter made of simple leaves, the rain was pouring down.

It really was a dream...

After all, he hadn't died. As long as his heart wasn't completely pierced, his body's regenerative abilities were sufficient to heal any fatal wound.

The price is intermittent, severe pain.

After that incident, his so-called "gifts" were no longer about handing the gold coins to the recipients in person, but rather about giving them indirectly in a "subtle" way.

"Are you alright?" Elena asked.

Rainy days are a common occurrence when traveling, and now that we can't use brooms to travel, the rain further delays our journey, but there's nothing we can do about it.

Light rain can be temporarily mitigated by magic, but a downpour like this requires proper shelter. After all, magic isn't limitless.

Qin's somewhat frantic behavior just now frightened Elena a little.

Your nightmares are terrifying.

"It's nothing." Qin quietly looked at the rain outside.

It doesn't look like everything is alright.

Elena sighed. There was nothing she could do if he didn't say anything…

But even if he were willing to say so, could he really be of any help?

“To be honest, I didn’t even know where you were from,” Elena asked.

“Beatelice, the city of witches, the land of hell,” Jean replied.

"I feel like I've heard this somewhere before... Where was it?" Elena said thoughtfully. At first glance, it sounded unfamiliar, but upon closer inspection, it seemed like she had read about this place somewhere before.

But she had read so many books that she couldn't recall them all at once.

"Do you have many witches where you live?" Elena asked.

"At least a thousand."

"what?"

"And... they're all very strong, at least much stronger than you."

"Don't I have any pride?" Elena puffed out her cheeks. Why compare yourself to me? It makes me sound like I'm weak.

I was a witch before I even reached adulthood.

But if what Qin said is true... that country is terrifying, with thousands of witches. I can't even imagine what a spectacle it would be if all those witches came out in full force.

I really want to see it.

"Forget about going to that hell—you don't want to go," Qin said seriously. Although his expression was the same whether he was serious or not.

“Wow—can you read minds?” Elena exclaimed.

Could it be that demonic magic includes advanced techniques like mind-reading?

His eyes didn't turn red.

“You practically have ‘I really want to go’ written all over your face. I solemnly advise you, no matter how curious you are, don’t have any thoughts of spying on Beatrice,” Jean said.

"Okay..." Then why did you tell me? I couldn't suppress my curiosity. Well—anyway, I don't know where it is, and I can't go even if I wanted to.