174 – Return (6)
The street scene seen through the window was crowded.
Fortunately, the place where the mansion was located was a bit far from the center of the capital.
Although there wasn’t much noise, the excitement of the festival spread throughout the streets.
After the investiture ceremony and discussions with colleagues, it was a short break.
I looked around the space that had become my bedroom.
“It’s wide.”
The bed was big enough for three adult men to lie down on it.
There was a cabinet and closet to store equipment, and even a table to enjoy tea time.
It was so good that it couldn’t even be compared to the inns I’ve been to so far.
It didn’t mean that I was the only one using this large space.
“Erina. Are you really going to share the same bed?”
If you want, you can have a separate bed in the room.
Erina was already lying on the bed and covering herself with the blanket.
“Do you not want to be with me…?”
If you ask me that, how would you answer?
It’s not that she doesn’t like her, she explains, but she needs to keep her distance.
Then Erina looked worried with a serious expression.
“Then I’ll just widen the distance a little.”
I rolled over on the bed and moved to the edge.
Anyway, after I go to bed, it will come and cling to me.
In the end, it was a meaningless action.
Meanwhile, Kayla was in the room right next door.
If she put her ear to the wall, wouldn’t she be able to hear sounds inside the room?
Even the bed was located close to the wall.
“Haa…”
After putting away her equipment and sitting on the bed, Erina followed closely.
As she looked at me, she wrapped her arms around me.
It’s definitely more passive than before, but the behavior itself hasn’t changed.
Still, there were fewer accidents, and when I asked earnestly, they would move a little further away.
The use of silent pressure to keep one’s mouth shut has increased.
“Erina. What’s the matter?”.
“…It’s no big deal.”
Even though I tried to keep my distance, he slowly followed me and wrapped his arms around my waist.
If you hit it hard, it will definitely fall.
“…”
When I saw Erina leaning on me with her calm expression, I couldn’t help it.
She was determined to distance herself from him in order to reduce her obsession.
It’s impossible to push her away without any reason.
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“It was my dream to live in a mansion like this with you.”
“Then now my dream has come true.”
“That’s not true. “I just want to be together like this, just the two of us.”
“…That’s impossible.”
“No. “It’s possible right now.”
Does this mean she should abandon all her colleagues?
I could never do that much.
The person who is most precious to me is Erina, but her other colleagues were just as precious.
And Yeriel, who is not here, was also a precious relationship that I had to save.
In order to create a happy ending for everyone, Erina’s dream had to be thwarted.
I believed that it was truly for Erina’s benefit.
‘A world with only me and Erina.’
You may think Erina is utopia, but she was like hell to me.
“Erina. Do you really think you’ll be happy if you’re alone with me?”
Then Erina’s red eyes sparkled and burned.
For the first time in a long time, a smile appeared on her face and a blush appeared.
“Yes. Then, all the things that bother Seohyun will disappear.”
“Do you think I could be happy in a world like that?”
She hoped
Deep down she would say she wasn’t.
But Erina continued her words with a very flushed expression.
“You won’t get hurt, and you won’t be in danger.”
“…”
“And you will live with me for the rest of your life.”
I wanted to somehow correct her misconception, but it didn’t work out the way I wanted.
The eyes, already soaked in madness, seemed unable to return.
“…Okay. Okay.”
She decided to stop talking for now.
It seemed like there was no point in her arguing like this.
I didn’t know what would happen if I provoked Erina.
In the first place, I gave up on trying to change her mind.
‘I have no choice but to stop it somehow.’
It would have been better to find out her plan and stop her in advance.
To that end, she has persistently become stronger and gathered her friends.
Erina is not invincible either.
Although she was strong beyond measure, she could not stand against all the countless demon lord armies.
‘How much stronger should I become?’
If she kills all the Four Heavenly Kings and absorbs their power, she will be able to become at least stronger than Erina in the first episode.
In order to do that, she needs to be fully prepared and catch the remaining two people.
Fortunately, the Spirit King and the other one were enemies worth dealing with.
It is true that the level of difficulty is high, but it has become a force worthy of confronting the Demon King’s army head on.
If you kill the Demon King and absorb his power.
It was possible to become strong enough to compete with Erina.
“Erina. Let’s get up first. “I need to get ready soon.”
“…Did you say you were giving a speech in front of people?”
“Yes. “We have to get ready before the sun sets.”
I didn’t feel like it, but I already prepared the speech, so I guess I couldn’t not do it.
I decided to finish preparing to go out before Julia came.
***
“Listen carefully. Even if people boo or scream, just ignore it.”
“And you can come down from the podium as soon as the speech is over.”
Before going up to the podium in the square, Julia and Schnella left us a lot of advice.
In addition, I was fully prepared by pointing out the speech one by one.
The time was finally at hand.
“Listen carefully. “People won’t react very well.”
“There is a lot of dissatisfaction with the kingdom. Of course, there are many people who think poorly of Seohyun.”
When I looked back, I saw a lot of people lined up.
A situation where you have to jump into a tiger’s den even though you know it.
Just looking at it made me sigh, but I guess it can’t be helped.
“Don’t be too nervous. “I will be with you.”
“I wasn’t nervous.”
I walked towards the podium with Julia.
Finally, as the square and the street got closer, all eyes gathered around.
At the same time, the people’s chatter subsided.
I became the center in a heavy atmosphere.
“Nice to meet you.”
After starting with a light introduction, I started to continue with the speech I had prepared.
Hope for victory. The future of the kingdom. As he said all kinds of good things, people’s expressions changed every moment.
Eyes that respect me and eyes that look hostile.
All eyes were crossing and turning to me.
Unfortunately, they also seemed to realize that I did not mean what I said, and the murmur grew louder.
“From now on, we plan to protect the kingdom against the Demon King’s army…”
The more he spoke, the more people reacted more strongly than those who listened.
What they wanted was peace now, not the future.
Yulia said that it was a festival that took place while the atmosphere in the capital was evil.
Unfortunately, there was a divide between those who could enjoy the festival atmosphere and those who were in dire need of life right now.
It was obvious what would happen once they all gathered in the square.
“When can we defeat the Demon King?”
“How many people are starving to death on the streets right now!”
As the number of people who do not listen at all to what I say and only talk about their own circumstances increases.
The square gradually became a place of chaos.
In the end, Julia, who was no better, went to the square and tried to calm the people down.
The knights guarding the podium were also pushing people out.
Meanwhile, people’s screams began to mix.
As the situation gradually spiraled out of control, the speech was stopped.
“…Enough is enough.”
In the end, I couldn’t do anything and got off the podium.
Even though the sound of booing rang out, I ignored it and turned my back and walked away from the square.
Yulia still remained on the podium and tried to calm people down.
The people’s uproar showed no signs of subsiding.
Although it was a speech I didn’t want, I didn’t feel very good because it ended in a mess.
‘Is this how Erina felt in the first episode?’
It wasn’t very enjoyable to receive people’s attention.
Maybe this is why Erina started to hate people.
“Master. Are you okay!”
The person who greeted me as soon as I got off the podium was Kayla.
And her colleagues followed suit and were worried about me.
“Let’s go back to the mansion first.”
“Yes…”
The speech ended with only an uncomfortable feeling left behind.
Everyone was dejected and just looking at me.
In particular, Celica was looking quite disappointed.
Tyria’s embarrassed feelings were revealed.
Kayla was the only one who stayed by my side and gave me comfort.
“Master. “They don’t know anything.”
“I know.”
“They won’t understand the hardships we went through.”
Of course, Kayla’s complexion couldn’t have been good either.
Unlike usual, his voice was full of unpleasantness.
Meanwhile, I noticed that Erina was still.
When I looked back, she was following me one step behind.
“Erina. “Let’s go back.”
“…I understand.”
I thought she might run into the crowd and cause an accident.
Luckily, Erina kept her mouth shut and followed what I said.
“…”
However, I was suspicious that he didn’t say anything, so I checked his facial expression.
Erina maintained a frighteningly cold expression.
“Erina. “Don’t worry too much.”
“…”
Was there ever a time when Erina did not respond to what I said?
She was just immersed in thought with her serious expression on her face.
She didn’t respond at all, which made me feel anxious.
The road to the mansion was filled with silence.
Suddenly, Erina whispered in a low voice next to me.
“…As expected, this world is dangerous.”
What is the meaning of the words muttered as if to myself?
However, she could sense that her mind had become firm.