7. Jealousy is my strength (15)
Silence is always heavy.
The heavy air oppressed his lungs and prevented him from thinking. I hesitated, clasping my hands.
Whether or not to hold the ax handle.
It only took a few seconds for my firm resolve to waver like this.
Lady Lupesia.
To be honest, it was a tough opponent.
It was because I was personally in debt.
Lady Lupesia a few months ago was mean and cruel. I used abusive language and violence just because Emma was a commoner, and I, enraged by this, punished Lady Lupesia and her gang.
While cutting off all the limbs of the party.
Although Lady Lupesia was the first to make a mistake, it was hard to deny that my response was excessive.
Didn’t Shien even try to expel me with this?
But Lady Lupesia eventually forgave me.
He might have been moved by Emma’s sincerity, who had visited the hospital room several times. I haven’t heard what happened to him after that, but I never thought he would become one of Emma’s closest friends.
Thank you.
So I couldn’t bear to pull out the blade.
He just flinched and gritted his teeth.
i have to kill
While I hesitated so much, Lady Lupesia cleared her throat and slightly avoided my gaze.
It seemed that the fear of me had not yet been completely erased.
“… … It’s just fine, Emma.”
“Yes?”
It was an incredible sight.
To think that Emma was using poor language to Lady Lupesia.
That Emma, who was always polite to the nobles except me.
It meant that they were close to each other.
Before the shock even went away, the sound of two women whispering to each other tickled my ears.
“Isn’t that the stuff you prepared the most? You have to give it to me when you have the chance.”
“Ha, but a better vibe… … .”
“You’re already a busy person, what kind of atmosphere do you even consider? Don’t do that, give it to me quickly… hurry!”
In the end, Emma couldn’t resist the urging of Lupesia, who stabbed me in the side, and staggered forward.
Even in the midst of this, I, who was repeating my inner conflict, was startled.
Looking back, Emma was hiding something behind her back. The reddish complexion created a lovely atmosphere.
“Hey, Ian? therefore… It may be a little lacking, but I have something prepared.”
“uh? Ah yes… … .”
At this point, I couldn’t even pull out my sword.
Anyway, Lady Lupesia can be dealt with later.
He couldn’t kill his best friend right in front of Emma’s eyes.
It was around the time when I calmed down and relaxed my trembling hands.
Emma closed her eyes and held out something.
What was placed on the two slender palms was a knife with a cold anticipation.
hatchet.
It was luxurious from the sack. The blade was also so sharp that even the brilliance seemed to be dripping.
As if possessed, I accepted the hatchet in silence.
It was heavy yet light.
It may seem like a contradictory statement at first glance, but this hatchet is realizing that paradox. This meant that the center of gravity was well balanced while using light and durable materials.
It must be the work of a famous artisan.
Of course, it wasn’t something worth a penny or two. It was a luxury product that was difficult to obtain even if it cost at least 10,000 gold, or more than twice that.
Didn’t they say that if you’re too surprised, you won’t even be able to speak properly?
I was just like that now.
At most, he let out only a stupid voice.
“Where, where did you get it… … ?”
“I had some money saved up.”
I mean ‘a little’.
It was nonsense.
Until recently, Emma had been picking mushrooms because she had no money for food. In the meantime, I thought it was because of the material cost, but now it’s not.
That’s how Emma was saving money.
to repay me.
But doubts still lingered.
No matter how hard Emma had saved up money, there was no way she could have raised this amount. Tens of thousands of units of gold was a scale that even the most aristocratic families had a hard time mobilizing.
Of course, it was not an amount that a commoner could collect through thrift and savings.
These doubts were soon dispelled.
“Actually, most of them were supported by His Highness Xian… I just remembered your hatchet.”
My eyes glanced at the hatchet hanging from my waist.
I wasn’t particularly interested in armaments. It would be nice to use good armament, but I’ve had numerous cases of fainting or fainting from severe injuries on the battlefield.
I didn’t want to lose the armament I bought at a high price like that.
That’s why I was using off-the-shelf products that could be easily replaced.
But now I’m a ‘high expert’, and I have the confidence that I won’t be beaten by a fair amount of opponents.
Is it okay to be greedy?
Emma still couldn’t meet my gaze properly as if she was embarrassed.
“Hey, do you like it? I’ve never bought anything that expensive, so Eri helped.”
“… … Eri?”
“Ah, Rieri Lupecia! You know who it is, right?”
My gaze naturally followed Emma’s.
At the end of it was Lady Lupesia, who was coughing and trying hard to hide her flushed face.
“Hmmm, what does a commoner who used to dig herbs know? As an aristocratic duty, I have only provided some help.”
I was silent for a while.
i have to kill
i have to kill
Even as I kept repeating that, my hand couldn’t bear to let go of Emma’s.
Anyway, every word I squeezed out was nothing more than a joke.
“… … But why a hatchet and not a sword? My main armament is a sword.”
It was an unexpected question, so Emma widened her eyes.
And after a while, a beautiful balsam light appeared on Emma’s cheeks.
“Black, it’s a bit expensive… Ahahahaha… … .”
Indeed, it was for a good reason.
Even while biting off such a bitter smile, I couldn’t overcome my overflowing emotions and gently hugged Emma.
The sudden hug stopped Emma’s breathing. I told the woman with sincerity in the gap.
“Thank you, Emma. See you later alone… I’ll go to the workshop.”
“… … Yes?”
Upon hearing my words, Emma made a rare, stupid noise.
The trembling breath and wide-open eyes represented Emma’s feelings. However, I, who had already become as complicated as my mind would become, needed time to breathe first.
“See you later.”
At my suggestion, which I spat out again, Emma nodded her head, turning her face red.
The creaking gait was worrying. Her arms and legs weren’t breathing properly, and even Lady Lupesia was looking closely at Emma and me with strange eyes.
But what have I done
Lady Lupesia couldn’t resist Emma’s urging and moved on, and soon I was left alone in the empty lot.
The hatchet was still in my hand.
It’s not too late.
As it is, I chase after it, and throw a hatchet to finish it off.
It’s about murder. I’ve done it a few times already. A friend with whom I had shared the joys and sorrows of years had also been beheaded not too long ago.
yes, i have to do it
Pak, do.
The thrown hatchet became lodged in the ground. As if the weapon containing the soul of the artisan was different, it was a throw that made little sense of the noise digging into the ground.
Then I had to sigh and run my face down.
It was inevitable that a terrifying voice followed behind him.
“Aha, when I asked who you were, was it your girlfriend? Our ‘poor Percus’, your ability is good… Did you seduce such a devoted and pretty child?”
I didn’t have to deny it.
To tell you the truth, it was a story that would never end. So instead of making excuses, I chose to remain silent.
Of course, she wasn’t Elsie-senpai who would stop teasing her for saying that.
“And then he came out with all his might, what? don’t you have to follow me? Might I miss it?”
“It’s obvious where Lady Lupesia will stay. And again… … .”
My words, which continued to make excuses like that, were closed again.
The one word that came out after thinking about it was just a weak voice that couldn’t solve any problem in the end.
“… … What should I do?”
“Why are you asking me?”
It was an answer as cool as it was blatant.
With her arms crossed, Elsie-senpai spoke the well-known fact.
“The choice and regret are yours. Don’t even think about putting it off.”
It was word for word.
I nodded as if I agreed. Then Elsie-senpai also looked away with a bitter smile.
It was a gaze looking somewhere far away.
“… … though, what You still have it.”
“What do you mean?”
“The look of my ‘junior’.”
Scratching his cheek for no reason, Elsie-senpai averted her eyes.
“It may seem like bragging, but my juniors did too… Kind, and kind to the point of being stupid.”
A mischievous smile formed on the girl’s lips as she searched for a point in the past.
It was a dejected laugh, but there was a subtle sweetness in it.
It means that you are reminiscing about the happy times.
“If it wasn’t for me, I wondered how the hell would he live… Were you okay after that?”
It was a difficult word to answer.
How are you?
Now it was my turn to avoid Elsie’s gaze. Instead, a flirtatious question ensued to divert attention.
“By the way, ‘shit Percus’?”
“Yeah, what about it?”
Elsie-senpai still had the attitude of asking if there was a problem.
I was a little annoyed by that carefree face, so I decided to bully Elsie-senpai with a stronger mind.
“Then what is that ‘junior’?”
“… … What?”
“What would you have called it? No way, junior, you wouldn’t have said something.”
At my point, Elsie-senpai’s face gradually turned pale.
It was the face of a prey that had exposed its loopholes.
Of course, senior Elsie also resisted me.
“Yes? did you call that? Hey, what’s the nickname between us… … .”
“Then I should ask that ‘junior’ as well.”
Then, Kkuk, senior Elsie immediately shut her mouth.
The blue eyes were wandering around and couldn’t find a place to go. At this point, I realized that I had to strike the final blow.
“If the story doesn’t match, I could have been mistaken. therefore… … .”
“… … Coos.”
A trembling voice.
However, the head was lowered, and the volume was so low that even I could not properly distinguish the answer. When I sent a suspicious look, Elsie, who was trembling with her fists clenched, exploded.
“I called ‘My Love Percus’, this baby! Are you cringing? Are you sick? So what are you going to do, son of a bitch!”
“No, I didn’t mean to say that… … .”
“You-you’re not really like that… huh? my innocence, huh? Just using it, like that… … !”
In the end, I had to apologize to senior Elsie for a long time after that.
It was enough time for Emma to finish all the preparations.
*
A few hours later, Emma, who greeted me at the studio, looked different.
“… … Wow, are you here?”
First of all, it wasn’t wearing a uniform.
It was a thin fabric that fluttered and subtly reflected the inner flesh. Emma, too, could not help but feel ashamed of her appearance, and could not meet my gaze.
Didn’t you have any clothes to wear?
I’ll have to buy some later.
I didn’t care so much and said to Emma.
“Emma, do you have any medicine left over from last time?”
“Yes? what drug?”
Emma looked flustered today.
Even the voice that asked me back was awkward.
I tilted my head inwardly, but there was still work to be done.
It was better to deal with the matter first.
“That’s what I asked for before leaving for the Percus Territory. That, even if you take just a few drops, you will pass out… … .”
“Ahhh! You mean that?”
Emma hurriedly headed for the medicine shelf as if she had just remembered it.
Originally, it was normal to warn about the dangers of that poison.
Before I could properly ask that question, Emma handed me a small bottle from the shelf.
“This is it… But why?”
“Thank you, Emma.”
I smiled wryly and greeted Emma like that.
“See you next.”
Then, open the lid of the medicine bottle and pour the contents into your throat.
My consciousness was blurred with the sound of a crash.
“Oh my gosh… Eh, Ian? Ian?! Now what… Uh, what should I do!”
Against the background of Emma’s astonishment.
How much time has passed since then?
When I came back to my senses, there were familiar golden eyes in front of me.
A black-haired man with tired eyes.
“… … What do you mean, kid?”
It was ‘I’ from the future.
‘fvcking idiot Percus’ is right for him