Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: I'm About to Lose My Mind!
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I yanked Luna and Kane into my bed like I was reeling in fish and threw the sheet over them like a tarp.
"If you come out from under there, you're dead."
I'd be the one dead. Me!
"I'll go in."
"No, don't come in! Just wait!"
I rolled off the bed, threw a sheet over them to make a nest hiding Luna's dizzy spinning eyes and Kane's what-the-hell glare, then bolted out the door like it was on fire.
"Huff… huff……."
"You nearly slammed the door on me. What the hell were you……."
Panting hard, my body burning up, I fanned myself with my hand and growled through gritted teeth.
"Isn't our talk over?"
"…Duke Kaiman isn't at the summer villa. You said he was there……."
"Did I? I said 'maybe he's there,' not that he definitely was. You here to argue about that?"
"Sigh, come inside first. This isn't hallway talk."
"Where? I'm busy right now."
I grabbed Gadia's wrist as she reached to push past me and open the door.
Or I tried to.
Who knew the difference in strength would be this huge between drunken-brawl Adelian and bowstring-pulling Gadia!
She dragged my hand—still gripping her wrist—inside, forcing me along.
'Please! Stay under the covers!'
Did the gods hear my prayer?
From the blanket pile stuck out Kane's black hair on top, and Luna's legs and the hem of her maid dress below.
"In broad daylight……."
Ah, my image… No, I was always a scumbag, but still, my image……
"With two of them……."
I couldn't stop my eyes from dropping under Gadia's shocked gaze……
"I said I'm busy! Get out!"
"Men are all the same… disgusting."
Her pale, emotionless face flushed beet red as she stormed out.
You… Aren't you gonna do it with Kane later? Even if I have to save up every penny, I'm demanding that harem DLC!
I watched Gadia flee, then slowly closed and locked the door.
…Yeah, trading my shame for my neck's safety? That's a win for me.
A win… right?
So why do I feel like crying?
"Young master… you okay?"
Luna had emerged from the blanket heap, peering at me with her pink eyes. I shrugged and turned away.
"What, more or less? Probably fine. Anyway, Kane must be hungry."
Self?
Gadia fled in disgust, so I figured I'd feed the kid. I lifted the blanket, but Kane lay there like he'd passed out.
If not for his shallow breathing, I'd have thought he was dead—such a pitiful sight.
"Should I… wake him?"
"Nah. When he wakes up, we'll feed him."
It's my fault he's crashed out like that anyway.
I draped the blanket back over him.
* * *
With the divine contract signed, a beautiful melody rang out as a lilac aura bloomed.
A sweet scent filled the air, and a translucent angel descended, her rose-petal lips moving.
―In the name of the gods, this contract is valid.
"Looking forward to working with you."
"Y-Yes… me too……."
Grinning ear to ear at the dying Halon's face—my uncontainable joy—I fiddled with my family ring and pulled out the stacked paperwork.
"Read it over. Sign if it's nothing major. And from now on, only bring me docs that even I'd need to handle if I dropped dead."
Halon paled further at the backlog. I put on a serious face.
"If you bring me something and I think it's no big deal?"
I waved the still-warm contract, freshly signed.
"As it says here, that's another year of service, got it? Think of five years as dead time—if it turns into six or seven from reviewing docs, whose fault is that?"
"M-Mine, sir……."
I'd started by demanding ten years, then "graciously" cut it to five, so he couldn't refuse. I stretched lazily.
I'm not gonna be Kruger family head forever anyway. A few years' delay on new ventures? I don't care, not even Kaiman would.
If something's truly urgent, Kaiman'll handle it. He vanished to build power, but he's got ways.
"Alright, get out. Oh, buy yourself a meal with this."
I pulled a gold coin from my subspace—contract bonus vibes—and tossed it to Halon, waving him off.
"That guy's another victim of your silver tongue."
"What victim? Where else you gonna find an employer as benevolent as me?"
"Y-Yeah! Young master always makes sure we eat well……."
Do I even own black clothes?
Dressed in a black tunic and pants just like his, Kane looked surprisingly decent—pale and gaunt aside.
I patted Luna's head for backing me—future hubby's stand-in—then signaled for food and nodded Kane to the opposite seat.
"You're up sooner than I thought. Figured you'd sleep days. Face looks healthier too. You know I gave up my bed for you, right? Thank me."
"The wilted state's thanks to you too—don't worry, I remember."
"Communication disorder and you talk fancy?"
"Communication disorder? No idea what you mean."
…Annoying prick?
The guy who spammed "I don't want to talk to humans" on human NPCs?
Feeling oddly pissed, I glared a bit, but remembered he's older than I was as Kang Su-ho and held back.
"Since you're up, I called for food. Let's eat and chat? Chatty Kane Rayners."
"I have questions too, benevolent employer Adelian."
Never lets up.
Still, stay calm. He's got secrets I can't read.
Like those squinting, vibe-master characters in comics.
I laced my fingers under my chin, smiling as I tossed out:
"We'll be seeing lots of each other. Wanna get friendly?"
Friendly enough to talk Gadia down if she comes for my neck later, yeah?
"No need. Stick to the contract terms—that's enough."
"What a cold thing to say. It's a shared world—we start with small talk, y'know?"
"Don't."
Damn, if I punched him, my hand would hurt more from his toughness?
"You'll learn. Life wisdom, flesh-and-blood info. World ain't just you."
I kept smiling, but he stared elsewhere openly.
This bastard……
Followed his gaze—massive bookshelf lining the wall.
It took half the room's wall, seamless like carved in, exuding pricey vibes.
Probably Adelian's show-off prop.
Did he ever read those crammed books?
I shrugged at Kane.
"See something you want? Go for it."
"Sure."
No hesitation—guy's grating. As I eyed him, door opened—Luna and servants with food.
Bread, salad, fruits, seafood for me and Luna; three or four meats grilled, boiled, stewed.
For Kane: a bowl of thin potion soup.
"Eat up, tasty stuff."
"Uwaaah… S-Sorry…… Empty stomach—other food might upset it……."
"They said pudding's safe even for you, so I got yours too."
Sorry it's gourmet for us, protagonist.
I grinned playfully, split soft bread slow to show the white crumb, then unlike anyone else's, dunked in thick soup and ate.
Mmm~ Michelin-star~
Savoring the rich, nutty burst, Kane—who'd watched—spoke primly.
"I can't comprehend."
"What?"
Not the reaction I expected?
I hook-eyed him slurping soup after my weird line.
Hook collector? No clue.
Makes sense—chatting with me like this wasn't in the original.
I figured he'd ignore my teasing and eat in silence.
Whether I got his intent or not, "human-distrust comms disorder" Kane talking to me? Felt weirdly good.
Like the stray that always barked and fled from sausage bribes… then one day recognized me and quit?
"Wow… the grape wine-braised meat's delicious too, young master."
Maybe 'cause I paused eating, lost in thought.
Ears drooping if not tied up—annoying her—Luna tied them up, whispering while eyeing Kane.
"Yeah?"
I speared the stewed carrot from her plate and stole it.
"Ah… N-Nooooo……."
She mumbled it was her fave… whatever. Tasty.
After the feast, Kane got herbal tea; Luna and I berry tea. Contract on the table.
"Earlier, circumstances—you know. Our grand venture started sans chit-chat. Anything to add or change? Read close. Can't change post-sign, o'course."
Pretend to care. Pretend.
"Contract's fine. What matters is your last words. My sibling lives. So you know where."
Kane flipped the contract toward me, meeting my eyes. I smiled mysteriously.
"That urgent?"
"Yes."
"You suspected, hoped—prayed. Prayer worked. Kid's location matter now? Nah, Kane. Shoulda asked how, when, where I'd help exactly."
I scanned his unreadable face, smiling soft.
"Matters. It's the thread that'll hold me through whatever you demand."
No—you endured worse not knowing if sibling lived or died.
"If I tell now, you'll bolt, right?"
"Can't leave the kid alone. Just let me go and I'll……."
"You don't trust yourself."
He shut up at my interruption.
"Think it'll take forever to save the kid? Maybe never? Even with my help, powering up—you alone won't cut it?"
I chuckled aloud, sipped cooling berry tea.
"You don't trust you—but I trust you."
"Not that I don't trust me. I just don't trust you."
"Contract doesn't specify my support level. Smart you figures: whimsy contract, get bored, exploit loophole, ditch me."
His flicker confirmed it.
Truth? I don't even know my gold coin count.
That's why "all Adelian's power."
Twist it: "That's all my power"—loopholes tie him forever, no more help.
But.
"But I plan to push you to strongest, use you for my dreams. Why ditch mid-game?"
Grip tightened on teacup unconsciously—aching hand down, eyes on his.
"So trust me, Kane."
I'll save you, get the happy end, even unseen service cuts. Demand every legendary heroine pregnancy ending in Innocent Saga!