Chapter 369
Chapter 369
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 369
Chapter Title: Side Story 54. We're Doing Well Too (6)
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Lerant flicked her finger through the empty air.
The pressure squeezing Erzsebet's throat vanished.
She lifted her head, coughing repeatedly.
"Kuhk, hack! What the hell are you trying to ask me anyway?"
"Hm... I talked a big game, but honestly, the interview's nothing special. I just want to check your resolve."
"My resolve?"
"Yeah. I like ambitious mages. You seem to have plenty of potential. For starters, genuinely falling for another woman... and a married one at that? That's no ordinary crush. She's gorgeous—where'd you meet her?"
Lerant was disguised as Adeshan.
A wedding ring gleamed on her long, elegant finger.
Erzsebet's face flushed bright red.
"W-What do you need to know that for?! Reading someone's mind without permission is rude enough...! Yeah, can you change that appearance a bit?"
"Why? It's the person you like. I put in some effort to copy her perfectly—everything matches except the hair, right?"
Lerant stroked Erzsebet's hair.
The calluses on her palm were perfectly replicated, proving it wasn't an empty boast.
Even the faint scent reminiscent of wildflowers.
Erzsebet shook her head vigorously.
"Ugh, seriously, stop it! This is an insult to Lady Adeshan!"
"Haha, you really like her, huh? Sorry, but no changing it. You look too cute when you're embarrassed."
"You really...! No. Calm down. We don't have time for this."
Erzsebet took a deep breath to steady herself.
Even now, the Shadow Grand Duke's rampage must be raging outside.
To save Ophelia and Braum, she needed to pass this so-called interview and get out.
"Enough chit-chat. Let's get on with this interview."
"Ahaha, feisty now, are we? I knew you had a face like that in you."
"First, I need confirmation. If I become your reader, you'll definitely save my friends, right?"
"Of course. I'm Lerant of Wisdom. I won't lose to some fool like Bajura who's lost his sense of self."
Lerant's eyes curved slyly.
Her confidence wasn't bravado.
She took three steps back and continued.
"Alright, then. I'll ask a question. Pick the one you like between the two options. Normally, I wouldn't give you any wiggle room, but your face is my type, so I'll treat you special."
"Go ahead."
"Good. First option: sacrifice half your remaining lifespan. No more, no less—just exactly half. It's a time-honored way to test resolve."
"Sounds good. I'll take that one."
Erzsebet nodded immediately.
Her violet eyes were steady, unwavering.
Lerant waved her hands in flustered panic.
"Whoa, whoa. Easy there, miss. Half your lifespan a joke to you? You're not even long-lived—aren't you being too hasty?"
"Doesn't matter. As long as it saves my friends for sure."
"You're bolder than I thought... At least hear the second option. I guarantee you'll like it better."
Suddenly, Lerant flicked her hand.
The space between her and Erzsebet split open.
Beyond the rift, their friends struggled against the Grand Duke.
Erzsebet gasped in horror.
"E-Everyone!"
Ophelia and Braum were barely clinging to life amid the rampaging shadows.
They wouldn't last minutes at this rate.
A desperate cry burst from Erzsebet's lips.
"What's the second one?! Don't waste time—tell me now!"
"Calm down. That's what I was about to say. Second option... Ah, I'm too merciful sometimes. The memories of those friends over there—and your little brother Sion. Specifically, just the memories of you. Offer them to me."
"...Memories?"
"Yeah. I love collecting knowledge. Years of a person's memories are the crystallized essence of it. Everything they've said, met, experienced—it's all there."
Lerant chuckled.
Erzsebet stood frozen, speechless.
Lerant approached lightly and whispered in her ear.
"I swear on my life, no side effects. They'll just forget who you are. I stake the honor of Cain, who wrote me."
"...You're not taking my memories?"
"Of course not. That'd be too cruel, right? You can still reminisce about your friends, miss them, rebuild bonds based on what you already know. Whew, talk about going easy."
Lerant sighed.
Honestly, it was unbalanced.
Half her own lifespan versus scraps of others' memories?
The second was pure goodwill.
'She's adorable. Like a pampered housecat from a wealthy family.'
She was thrilled by this promising mage after so long.
She wanted to keep her around forever.
After a moment of silence, Erzsebet spoke.
"Lerant. I've decided."
"Great choice. Shall I extract the memories now?"
"No. I'll offer my lifespan. But in exchange, give me your power."
"...What?"
Lerant's brow furrowed.
Erzsebet's face was utterly serious.
Lerant brushed back her hair and asked again.
"So... you're choosing to sacrifice your own lifespan? Not others' memories?"
"Yes."
"Why make that choice? They'll forget you, but you'll remember them. You could build even better relationships exploiting that!"
"Lerant. I can't do that to my friends."
"...Huh?"
Lerant blinked in confusion.
Erzsebet continued firmly.
"Truth be told, you shouldn't do it to anyone, friends or not. Taking even a single coin without permission is theft. I'd offer my own memories, maybe—but not touch someone else's."
"You're way more strait-laced than I thought. Don't you know the value of a talented mage's lifespan?"
"I do. Far beyond any sheeple's. Priceless, even in billions. But that has nothing to do with this choice. And above all..."
Not a hint of hesitation colored Erzsebet's voice.
Losing lifespan was harsh, sure.
But the memories with her first-ever friends and little sister?
Memories built together? Unthinkable to lose them.
To her, those bonds were treasures far beyond her magical talent or the Dawn Spire's seat.
Something Ronan always said flashed through her mind.
The right thing to do.
Meeting Lerant's eyes, she drove the point home.
"I can't do what's wrong. That's my answer."
"...Fine. That's how it is, huh."
Lerant gave a wry smile.
Her face hardened like winter in an instant.
She reached out toward Erzsebet.
A glowing white palm approached to claim her lifespan.
As Erzsebet calmly accepted...
"Perfect pass, miss."
Tap.
The palm gently rested on her head.
Erzsebet's eyes widened.
"Eh?"
"Ahaha! It's been ages. I didn't expect it, but a mage like this still exists. Sweeter than Elsia, even."
Erzsebet looked up.
Lerant was giggling uncontrollably.
She kept petting Erzsebet's head and continued.
"Cute girl. Truth is, ambition isn't what I value most."
"Th-Then...?"
"Talent's fine as long as it's not hopeless. I'm a book meant to teach magic anyway. What matters is what I can't teach. Character, and such."
Lerant swept her hair behind her neck.
She cupped Erzsebet's cheeks gently and leaned in.
Their faces drew close enough to share breath.
"In a world full of selfish bastards, a pure-hearted mage like you is rare. You're talented, but you have something more important."
"W-What...!"
"No time, so let's hurry."
Erzsebet's ears burned red.
Even her thick, forest-like lashes resembled Adeshan's.
Lerant's deep eyes sparkled with the gray she admired all her life.
As she opened her mouth to shout something—
"Lerant of Wisdom acknowledges you as her reader. Until your lifespan ends or you master all wisdom written within me, I shall remain on your shelf. In hope that one day you grasp the truth."
Suddenly, Lerant pulled Erzsebet's chin.
The book's lips met the person's.
Violet eyes bulged wide.
"...!"
"Nice to be with you from now on. Eri."
Lerant licked her lips as they parted.
The all-white space crumbled around them.
It had been five minutes since the Grand Duke's rampage began.
"Guh!"
"Braum."
Braum, deploying his aura in a desperate struggle, spat blood and collapsed.
Countless wounds scarred his exposed back.
Ophelia raised an eyebrow at the infant-head-sized hole.
"When did you get hurt this bad...? Hold on. I'll stop the bleeding."
"Haha, thanks... Cough, but that Shadow Grand Duke ain't no joke. He's way too strong."
Braum muttered.
The Grand Duke's tentacles and limbs battered their barriers from all sides.
Having swallowed even Bajura, he raged like a storm-tossed night sea.
Ophelia gestured, and the blood from his wounds halted.
"Don't talk."
The spilled blood returned to its place.
But that wasn't all with Braum.
Numerous bones were broken, and he'd exhausted his stamina far beyond blood loss.
At this rate, not just his aura—his life was at risk.
Ophelia bit her lip.
"...Don't die."
"I don't want to! Who'd wanna die in this gloomy dump?! Cough, but we got no way out!"
Braum laughed through bloodied lips.
Not from joy, but to forget the despair.
Gazing at his paling face, Ophelia spoke.
"...Braum. Want to become my familiar?"
"What? Familiar?"
"Yeah. Then you'll live. Even if your body's torn apart, you can revive. Vampires are like that by nature. I don't usually make familiars, but..."
Her words trailed off.
Fangs gleamed white between her lips.
She gripped his equally cold hand and continued.
"For you... I can."
"O-Ophelia... Guh!"
Braum couldn't finish, vomiting a clot.
Time was running out for him.
He had to choose soon.
Die human, or join the night clan to survive.
As his consciousness faded in delirium—
Ophelia, leaning to bite his neck, suddenly looked up.
"Erzsebet?"
"...What?"
Braum twitched.
Ophelia's gaze fixed on a dark corner of the library.
Long swallowed by the Grand Duke.
"What? Where's Lady Erzsebet...?"
As Braum, clueless, started to ask—
Fwaaaaaaaa!!!
The darkness they watched ignited and vanished, bursting with brilliant light.