37 – Episode 4. It only takes a moment for things to go wrong. (5)
“It’s been a while, Abel!”
Clara often ran towards me like a puppy she hadn’t seen in a long time recognizes her owner and runs towards her. If she had a tail, wouldn’t it have been wagging violently from side to side?
In that sense, I definitely have to go see the beast people later.
“Did you successfully kick out the people from the church?”
“Even though I didn’t do anything in particular, I exchanged a few words with the Duke of Houston and then he just left on his own.”
“Really?”
They’re not the type of people who give up that easily, are they?
I feel like I gave up easier than I thought.
Previously, I had directly requested the emperor for a few days to store the fragments of the World Tree that I had received from the elves at the church.
Even though they could be killed if they went against their wishes, they persevered in their request to the emperor and were eventually able to receive his consent.
Emperor Frey is described as appropriately handing over the church since it was under his jurisdiction anyway.
Those people easily gave up on her sainthood…….
“Isn’t it because it proved that being by Abel’s side can help us grow further?”
“I guess that exists too. Still, let’s remain vigilant.”
Maybe it’s an intention to take advantage of me.
They had made me raise her as a saint, but when her demons came down to this world, the church might force Clara to do that duty.
You should prepare for something like that.
“Of course. “My place is next to Abel.”
“Thank you.”
“And this… …. “I cut out what you said.”
Clara held out a cloth wrapped around something. As I slowly opened the cloth, the glowing tree branches stimulated my eyes.
Is this what sacredness is?
“Thank you.”
“Hey… “Abel.”
“Huh?”
“May I ask why you told me to cut this off?”
“…… “Your divine power is determined by this.”
Actually, there were many reasons why I was asked to bring it, but I had no intention of telling Clara everything.
I picked up a branch of the Magi Purification Water and handed it over to Clara. She tilted her head and accepted the branch.
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“Always have it on you. “Wrap it with cloth to prevent light from escaping.”
“Yes. “Abel.”
“By the way, what happened to Jackson?”
“Ah, yes. As you said, I asked Mr. Jackson to cut the Magi purification water. Then she lost her mana and was able to feel it again a few hours later…….”
Jackson, like Force, was a knight who had risen to the expert level.
The depth of feeling mana may be different, but in my experiment, just being able to feel mana was enough, so I instructed Jackson to cut the magic purification water.
And the results of the experiment were as I expected.
With this, the verification is complete.
Beatra’s Heavenly Punishment exists, and I can return that mana.
“Okay. Finally…… “What are you doing with the captured elf?”
I wrote in the letter that I am not an enemy, so I would like you to be cautious but considerate so that I do not cause any inconvenience, but I am not sure if they will do it well.
“The Duke of Houston was not very pleased, but he sighed and said, ‘I wonder what this crazy bastard Abel is doing again.’ And moved on. “They said they noticed that there were elves behind Abel in the first place.”
“Really?”
Somehow I can imagine Houston’s expression.
I think the key was to build trust with Houston first.
The reason you don’t ask me what my plan is, is because you completely trust me. Maybe Houston is waiting for me to say it first.
“Yes. However, he said that the fact that he was a dark elf was a little annoying.”
Houston probably knows this too. Most of the elves raised as murder weapons are dark elves.
“I understand. “The detention period won’t be very long anyway.”
By now, a week had passed, the monsters would have invaded the El Dorado Forest, and I would have realized that all my information was true. And the fact that I am helpful to them.
No matter how crazy I am about the World Tree, if I realized that I am a helpful human being, I wouldn’t go so far as to order an assassination squad to assassinate me.
“First of all, we worked hard to get here, so let’s take a quick shower and rest.”
“Yes. “Abel.”
Anyway, I should tell Clara about Vemoni Village…….
What should I do?
· * * *
“Hmm… ….”
Lina let out a snort and crossed her legs. She looked back and forth between me, who was sitting at her head, and Clara, who was sitting across from her, and then she crossed her legs.
It seems like a three-way meeting.
The awkward atmosphere was very burdensome and uncomfortable, as if I was caught while straddling the bridge. Clara seemed to feel the same way, wiggling her fingers to show her anxiety.
“…… So you came? Clara…… Seed? Sir?”
“It’s okay to call me whatever you want.” “Princess.”
Even though she had become a saint, her life was that of a commoner or lower, so it seemed very uncomfortable to deal with Rina, who was a noblewoman.
“I understand. Clara. By the way, do you usually eat breakfast together with Abel?”
“Oh, that’s not it. Abel often eats breakfast with her family…….”
“I see. “So today is special?”
“Is that so?”
“Okay. Let’s eat together sometimes in the future. Sometimes.”
Lina released her leisurely crossed legs with a strange nuance.
“Anyway…… Clara, how old is she this year?”
“I’m twenty years old.”
“She just became an adult?”
“Yes. “How old is Princess Spawn?”
“Twenty-one years old. “It’s the same as Abel.”
“I see.”
Conversation is interrupted.
I became uncomfortable with the awkward atmosphere between the two and clapped once. The two people facing each other turn their heads towards me.
“Come on, let’s eat breakfast quickly. “I have to go to the academy.”
“Ah, yes. But is it okay if I eat it with you? I wonder if it’s interfering with the two of you eating…….”
“It’s okay. “Abel seems to have grown up now.”
It’s a nuance that he’ll wait a little longer, but it seems like he thinks he won’t put his hands on another woman anymore.
I think my image has improved a lot since I first met him.
“I’m just saying this just in case, but Clara knows, right? “Abel’s fiancé is me.”
Lina spoke softly, but for some reason, it sounded like a warning to my ears. Does this mean that even if she is a saint, she won’t forgive her if she tries to cross the line?
“…… Yes. “I know.”
Answer one beat late.
Clara spoke with a grin, but she felt a sense of discomfort somewhere.
“It’s enough to know. Let’s eat quickly. “I have training before class.”
“If that were the case, wouldn’t it have been better to eat alone? “I feel like I’m overdoing it for no reason.”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to participate, and I think learning from you is much more helpful than training like that, so please check my posture later.”
Now, can’t you develop swordsmanship on your own?
I don’t know anything, so what else should I look for?
“I understand.”
“And… ….”
“Huh?”
“Morning is a must…… Because I want to eat with you……. Don’t be rude and tell me to eat alone…….”
Lina glanced at me and muttered. Then, when her eyes met mine, she lowered her head and covered her flushed face with her blonde hair.
She felt that things were changing little by little, but she found it a little surprising and ended up throwing it away.
She always acted calmly like a tsundere, but the scenes she expressed honestly were something I had never seen in her novels, so she was quite refreshing.
“If you look closely, Lina is cute too.”
“What?! What is he saying now!”
As I teased Lina, her stiff mood softened.
We finished breakfast, enjoying the food that almost went into our noses.
“Then I’ll go first.”
Lina finished her meal, sipped her tea, and stood up.
“Yes.”
“Klara, have a good day.”
“Yes, princess.”
Lina, who was walking towards the door, suddenly turned around and walked towards me. Then he suddenly grabbed my hand and lifted it up.
While I was wondering about the rough touch that the noble lady who took care of her beauty could never have, Lina kissed the back of my hand.
Page.
“Lina…… ?”
Lina cast a sidelong glance at Clara, who was wide-eyed without answering. Looking at her like that, I inadvertently realized something.
This… You’re showing off.
It seemed like he was planning to drive a wedge in advance to prevent Clara from crossing her line.
Skinship, where a man kisses the back of a woman’s hand, is something that can be seen relatively easily, so I think it will be less burdensome.
But isn’t it a bit strange for a woman to do something to a man?
“I’ll be back. Abel.”
“Uh. Huh…. “Come back.”
She smiled slightly at me and walked toward the door.
Until Lina left her room, she did not look back even once. However, the red ears visible through her disheveled blonde hair every time she moved made me fully aware of her feelings.
I feel like I’m going to die of shame because I’m doing something I wouldn’t normally do. Lina is really cute.
“They seem to be getting along well.”
Clara said, looking at the door where Lina left her.
“What…… “I tried to get better again.”
“Is that so? It’s a little disappointing….”
“What?”
“It’s nothing.”
She vaguely changed the subject before I could even raise my doubts.
“More than that, what should I do now? I want to at least clean Abel’s room… …. The people who served said a lot of things, wondering if it made sense for a saint to do the work of her maid.”
I burst into laughter at Clara’s words.
If you think about it, it is absurd. Who uses her virginity to do her housework? I have never seen a saint treated like that in any fantasy work.
“You can just wander around freely. She can leave the academy and explore the city. I won’t care what you do. She can bill any expenses she incurs while moving around in my name. Oh, instead, make sure to bring an escort with you.”
Since Clara did not go to the church and chose to stay by my side, I planned to make sure she did not feel uncomfortable.
“I’m curious what kind of city Ferrator is. But walking around alone is a bit scary……. Could it be that… ….”
“Can you come with me?”
“Yes.”
“I can go with an escort, right?”
I’m not saying this because I don’t have any sense.
It was to figure out Clara’s intention in making this suggestion to me after seeing Lina’s actions a little while ago.
“That…… In my village, friends, whether male or female, would hang out together. I don’t know if it’s okay to dare to call Abel a friend, but… ….”
As a friend…….
“Of course, if it doesn’t work out, there’s nothing we can do.”
“You are my friend, Clara.”
“Ah… yes.”
“Then…” … I’ll make time on the weekend. “I’m a bit busy taking classes on weekdays.”
“Really? Thank you!”
Clara smiles brightly at my permission, revealing her innocence. As if to say that all the facial expressions he made in front of Lina a moment ago were fake.
“I have to get ready soon.”
“Ah! Yes. “I’ll help you!”
Clara is a friend. Because we’re friends…… It’ll probably be okay.
I don’t know if Lina will understand…….
* @ *
A carefree day like any other came to an end, and when the moon stood at the peak of the sky, the squad moved as planned.
The death squad members, including Jan, opened the window and entered Abel’s room.
The reason the window was not locked was because it was left open to allow people to rest in their room in case it rained heavily or was too cold.
In fact, the extermination squad members would come in once in a while to rest in the early morning when they could not bear the cold.
“… ….”
The members, who did not even make a sound of brushing the hem of their clothes, looked at Yan and asked him if he was really going to do it.
She checked the eyes of the crew members one by one, then turned her head to Abel, who was sleeping soundly.
‘Abel Sirius… ….’
For Jan, her mother’s words were absolute, and granting favors to the target of assassination was something that could never be done in an assassination squad.
However, after reflecting on the crew’s reactions and guessing what would happen in the future, Jan thought that killing Abel was a risk.
So Jan came up with a compromise.
If Abel did not accept this compromise, she was willing to take her risk.
“Abel. I know you’re awake. Wake up.”
Yan drew a dagger and took a step closer to the bed. He smiled as he looked at Abel, who was motionless.
‘Is he pretending to sleep…? ….’
“If it doesn’t happen, they’ll think there’s no room for conversation.”
“Huh?”
He belatedly heard Jan’s voice and woke up, rubbing his eyes.
“What’s wrong, Jan?”
Abel raised her upper body and brushed her bangs once to see that Jan was holding her dagger.
At the same time, I sighed after reading the cool atmosphere flowing from the assassination squad members. The assassination team immediately realized that they were trying to kill him.
‘There’s no way the letter wasn’t sent? What?’
If the letter had not been delivered to Marie, she would not have been able to complete the quest, and knowing that she would not have been alive, Abel could not help but have doubts.
“Abel, her mother has given orders to assassinate you. Maybe…… “It must be because of the debris.”
“Fragments… Because? In that case, shouldn’t you be trying to appease me instead of trying to kill me? Beatra’s Divine Punishment will take away all of her mana?”
“…… I know. That everything you said was true. “I don’t doubt it anymore.”
“Then—!”
“It can’t be helped. “Because my mother’s orders are absolute.”
Yan smiled bitterly.
“Abel. I am… No, we don’t want to kill you. But I can’t go back without any results. Because then we will die.”
All of the Dark Elves present knew that if an assassination corps that failed to carry out an order became useless, they would be expelled and then killed by a tracking corps.
“If I hand over the fragments, my mother won’t say anything even if I keep you alive. So hand it over to us.”
It was the only solution and compromise that allowed Jan to get out of his dilemma. However, Abel had a clear purpose of helping Clara grow, so he could not hand her over.
“I told you before, but I can’t give you fragments.”
“Then we have no choice but to kill you.”
Abel looked at the tip of the dagger that Jan had thrust in. Unlike before, it was a threat without the slightest hint of murderous intent.
By the looks of it, she thought that Abel might be able to appease Jan.
“What if there was a way for you to not die?”
To be precise, it was an assumption that it would exist.
Abel also did not know for sure whether she would be able to take responsibility for their lives. Even if she borrowed the power of the dukedom, in the end it was not Abel’s.
But she had to say it.
He knew that even if he had to deal with her later, he would not be able to placate them now.
“What is that method?”
“You will become members of our family.”
“!”
Not only Yan but all members of the assassination team showed signs of agitation.
Abel did what she did even though she knew it might be a humiliating offer for them.
“Are you asking us to come under you?”
“In a way, yes. I know that you are proud of living as elves. But you can’t say that dying for disobeying an order once is something to be proud of. “If you die, that pride is ultimately useless.”
“Abel, how much do you know about the elves…? … ?”
“I know most things.”
‘Because I’ve read the original.’
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Looking at Abel’s unwavering gaze, Jan tightly held her dagger. She wanted to control her own desire to believe him for once.
But in the end, her grip loosened and the tip of her dagger fell from Abel and onto the mattress.
“Abel Sirius, do you think there is a way for all of us to live?”
Abel, who was trying to answer Jan’s words, could not help but feel embarrassed as she looked at the sentence that appeared in front of her.
[Quest has arrived.]
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‘Why now…? … At this timing, the quest…… ?’
Abel felt ominous for a moment.
“If so—”
“Sister!”
Pakan!
A strong screeching sound echoed throughout the room.
“Huh!”
Nia, who had been watching her with her body leaning against the window sill, was pushed all the way inside her and hit the wall.
“Nia?!”
“Oh my. “I thought it might happen, but I never thought it would really happen.”
Reflexively, everyone present turned their gaze toward the source of the noise.
Someone was standing on the window frame with his back turned to the moonlight coming from outside the window. And he was wearing a ‘uniform’ that only academy professors wear.
“I heard that there was an uneasy movement around Prince Sirius. “I didn’t know it was true.”
As soon as the man comes in, two more people come in.
Looking at all the people wearing uniforms, Abel realized that they were professors of the academy’s knight department.
“It was caught on the spot. Isn’t that right, princess?”
The man who came in next grinned as he looked at Jan’s dagger pointing at Abel.
At that moment, the door burst open and a platinum-haired woman climbed into the bed in an instant.
“Sigh… !”
Mine swung her sword at Yan.
Kaang!
Jan parried Mine’s blow, but her balance was lost and she was pushed back. Mile supported Jan’s back and pulled out her dagger.
“Pfft!”
“So it was you? “The guys who were hanging around near Abel.”
Mine pointed the tip of her sword at her killing squad.
While the knights and the assassination squad face off, the situation becomes more complicated as Abel’s servants enter the room due to the commotion.
“Abel!”
‘Things are getting complicated. If we continue like this, they might misunderstand that I led the assassination team into a trap.’
Abel looked through the quest to find a way to resolve the situation before the battle broke out again.