Yarra's Adventure Notes-Chapter 1293 - 79 Sigh

"Ah, right, you’re already dead." Marquis Snape’s arms remained in an embrace, a joyful smile frozen on his face, filled with a sense of loss and helplessness, he sighed bitterly, "I almost forgot."

"Ah, right, I’m already dead." Old Field’s glow that represented his soul dimmed, spreading his hands in front of him, he looked down at his translucent arms and palms, murmuring softly, "Even I almost forgot, heh, I’m now just a fragmented soul, not even considered a person anymore."

"The days of the past can no longer return." Marquis Snape said with a wry smile, "Forty years, eh, forty years. I didn’t expect that forty years could pass so quickly, everything still feels like it happened just yesterday. The last time we met, I never dreamt I’d meet you again in this state. Back then, you were so powerful, as if nothing could bring you down. If I had known it would end up like this, I definitely wouldn’t have, wouldn’t have let you..."

"This is the fate of an adventurer, you couldn’t have stopped it, and besides, it was my own choice." Merlin shook his head, speaking earnestly, "When you make a mistake, you must take responsibility for it, you must face the consequences of your errors. You should know this, so you really don’t have to blame yourself."

"But you died." The Old Marquis suddenly raised his voice, shouting, "You were my best friend, and you died because of me!"

"I told you, it had nothing to do with you, you stubborn, nouveau riche!" Merlin, out of habit, stretched out his hand and smacked the Old Marquis on the head, scolding, "Besides, it’s not so bad being like this now. Existing as a soul is actually quite relaxing. Apart from always feeling a bit cold, I don’t suffer from any other pain. Who knows, maybe after a while, I might even start to like this feeling."

"You foolish, ruined noble, do you think I would believe that?" The Old Marquis sneered, then suddenly froze, covering his head and dazing out for a moment before he incredulously said, "You, you, you just now... could touch me?"

"Of course I can, it just requires concentration and uses up a lot of energy." Merlin nodded, "That’s why I say, my current state isn’t too bad. According to Mr. Dillie, after my soul recovers, I will become like little Catherine’s Annie, able to eat, sleep, and even slowly regain my strength."

"Is it really like that?" Although he knew that his old friend was highlighting the positives to comfort him, hiding the pain of being undead and the despair and madness of more than forty years that were inexpressible in words, the Old Marquis felt a sigh of relief and his feelings of guilt lessened. He reached out tentatively and pinched Merlin’s arm, feeling a strange mix of ethereal and solid sensation, but it fully proved that his old friend’s soul could indeed make contact with the outside world. Snape, pondering, nodded again and touched his own face, sighing, "If that’s true, then you’re in a much better state than me now. Look at me, I’ve aged so much, my body feels hollow, and I can’t muster enthusiasm for anything. The purpose of living each day is just to endure, no longer able to live as I did when I was young."

"Yeah, you’ve aged so much I barely recognize you." Old Field shook his head, sighing, "Even though I knew from young Catherine’s memory that you were very old, I still couldn’t recognize you when we first met. When I left back then, I never imagined you would turn out like this. In my subconscious, you were still that young, nouveau riche who daily declared his desire to become the wealthiest and slept on a bed of gold coins. Back then, your energy outdid even mine as a professional, I still remember you running to four cities in ten days for a deal, sleeping only an hour or two each night. After everything ended, you fell asleep in the bath and nearly drowned. I thought you would have to sleep for days to recover, but the next morning, there you were, dragging me off to taste wine, making me think I’d lost track of time."

"Hahaha, those were the events of so many years ago, I was young then and can’t compare to now. Back in those days, with a healthy body, we could eat nearly a kilogram of Sonia’s specially made smoked meat in one sitting. That really scared Aunt Sonia. And the Dwarf’s triple-distilled liquor, I could drink several bottles in a night, even to the point where the Beastmen collapsed but I didn’t." The Old Marquis’s spirits obviously lifted as he reminisced about the crazy times past, he chuckled softly, "Now every time I look back, I’m envious of my younger self. I really wish I could return to those days, even if it meant giving up all my wealth."

"Going back in time, just to eat and drink? That doesn’t seem right, heh heh, those weren’t what you were proudest of back then." Merlin said with a mischievous smile, teasing, "What you boasted about most was that night at the Blackberry Inn. Tsk tsk, how many were there that night, seven..."

"Hey, Catherine’s still here, don’t spread rumors," the Old Marquis’s face turned beet red as he glared and said, "There’s no truth to what you’re saying."

"Is that so? Heh heh, maybe, only you know the truth about these things. Anyway, I’ve always thought you were just boasting." Merlin said with a teasing wink, "But reminiscing is pointless now; we have to look forward. You should take care of yourself in the meantime, and once I’ve recovered, you can take me to the Blackberry Inn again, and then you can show with actions whether you were boasting or not."

"Damn you, ruined noble, you dare say so," the Old Marquis angrily slammed the table, "Do you think I don’t know who lived on Lanyas Street? Do you want me to start spreading news about that too?"

"Cough cough." Catherine coughed dryly, unable to bear listening to the two old men squabble, she took Pannis by the hand and said, "You two grandpas take your time talking, we’ll wait for you in the study, oh, and don’t start fighting, alright?"

Without waiting for a response from the men, the knight-girl fled through the door. The last thing she heard was the old Mage thumping the table and bellowing, "Stupid, nouveau riche, pay back the thousand gold you owe me!"