Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Probing for Weaknesses
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Sir Evan scowled as he gazed at Nihil, who showed absolutely no lingering attachment to life in the royal palace. The young man claimed he harbored no expectations from the whims of children, but it felt like a kind of self-defense mechanism to Evan. A way to console himself so he wouldn't get hurt if he was chased away at any moment. He'd thought Nihil had adapted remarkably quickly, but it seemed more like he'd never held out any hope to begin with.
'Has something like this happened to him often?'
Evan pondered the question seriously and fell silent for a long while. Nihil must have misinterpreted that silence, because he spoke up again.
"I'm not saying you have to believe me. But for your prince's sake, you should find a reliable pharmacist you can trust."
"No, I have no immediate plan, so please help. What should I do?"
"I'll add several more medicines to the list to obscure the condition. Bring plenty and stock them up carefully, and even if Rian falls ill a few times, you can handle it right away. If you bring them uncompounded, you can spot any mistakes in the mix immediately, so even if some toxic herb slips in, there won't be any worry. If you still don't trust me, fetch a magic contract."
"...I see."
Evan felt strangely unsettled.
Was that it? Was everything resolved just like that?
He wouldn't need something like a magic contract. There was no reason for the boy to do anything harmful to His Highness. He clearly disliked working under anyone, and he had no greed for money either. He might act leniently toward the prince, but if Evan threw him out right now, he'd probably just turn away with an indifferent expression, no questions asked.
If a reason ever arose for him to harm the prince, it would likely only be if he had some weakness exploited.
Evan glanced at the leopard-like figure sprawled on the sofa, as if he'd said all he needed to.
Did this kid even have a weakness? Evan tried to think about it, but he realized he knew next to nothing about him.
Maybe he should probe a little.
"What's your weakness?"
Evan couldn't believe the words had come out of his own mouth and let out a hollow chuckle. Probe? What a joke. Had he always been this idiotic?
No one would just reveal their weakness when asked outright.
"My weakness?"
"......"
"You ask it so directly?"
"......"
Evan had to admit it was a stupid question, so he didn't bother responding. But contrary to his expectation of mockery, Nihil began pondering the matter earnestly.
"Were you hoping to secure a weakness before I could harm your master? Or do you think I'll harm Rian because I have a weakness?"
'Sharp kid...'
Evan felt exposed and averted his eyes, mumbling as he lowered his gaze. If he had to say, it was the latter...
Nihil caught the mumble and muttered dismissively, as if it were no big deal.
"A weakness, huh. You're right—trust is still lacking if you're entrusting me with medicines."
He should have been offended by Evan's words, but Nihil examined himself with extreme objectivity and nodded in understanding. The atmosphere felt like he might actually reveal something, so Evan pretended nonchalance while perking up his ears.
Of course, any weakness gleaned this way might be real or fake, but it couldn't hurt to hear it.
"But can you trust information obtained like this?"
"......"
'This brat can read minds too.'
Evan shot Nihil a cold glare, and the boy burst into light laughter before resuming his contemplation. Evan stared openly, surprised at how often Nihil seemed to smile, until the boy suddenly lifted his head, startling him.
"Normally, wouldn't someone do anything if their life was threatened?"
"Well..., yes, but."
"If my life were threatened, wouldn't I threaten Rian out of fear?"
"......You? Scared?"
Evan tried imagining Nihil trembling in fear under a death threat.
'If that face shook with tears streaming down, it'd be hard to kill him.'
Evan genuinely thought so as he resolved to play the role of the threat. He drew a dagger from his bosom.
When he pressed it against the boy's pale, slender neck, Nihil's eyes widened slightly.
But that was his only reaction.
Nihil stared at Evan with a look that said, "So what?"
Evan threatened him menacingly.
"Cry."
"......"
"Come on. Cry already."
"......"
Nihil let out an incredulous chuckle at the earnest demand, then actually leaned his neck closer to the blade. Just before it touched his skin, Evan withdrew the dagger first.
"At least pretend to be scared."
"I'm sensitive to killing intent or hostility. This vague stuff doesn't threaten me."
"Normally, when a blade's at your throat—even as a joke—your body tenses up. But you? Nothing."
"Is that so?"
Nihil nodded as if making a note of it, like he was learning for next time someone threatened his life.
And then, to apply the lesson immediately, he turned toward the bathroom and drew in a deep breath.
"Ri..., mmpf! Mmph!"
Before the sound could escape, Evan clamped a hand over Nihil's mouth.
Having barely succeeded in silencing Nihil's attempt to call for Rian, Evan gritted his teeth and whispered fiercely.
"Shut your mouth while I'm asking nicely."
But at those words, Nihil—with his mouth covered—began trembling violently, looking up at Evan with eyes full of terror.
Evan was bewildered. Staring into those large, quivering eyes made him feel like the world's greatest villain. Flustered about how to soothe him, he opened his mouth to apologize first.
"Sor..."
Just as he was about to say he was sorry, the sly kid's eyes curved into thin crescents.
"Don't ever fake being scared again!"
Evan ruffled his hair irritably, feeling mocked.
"Didn't you just tell me to at least pretend?"
"...It pisses me off."
"Learning so well, and you can't even praise me? Too harsh."
"......"
Nihil snarked for a while about how you should praise kids, then dragged up the topic Evan thought was settled.
"If I have a weakness, wouldn't it be that child?"
"The one you don't even know is dead or alive?"
"Yes."
"What if that child is already dead, and they threaten you with the bones...?"
"I have no interest in soulless husks. Life has value only when it's alive. If I cared about mere corpses or bone fragments, I wouldn't have struggled to save the child in the first place. Hurting the living over the dead is what's truly bizarre."
Nihil frowned as he spoke, his tone implying, "What kind of nonsense is that?" It was a perfectly rational response, but the world was full of irrational people.
Evan scratched his head, feeling awkwardly embarrassed.
"Then, if the child is alive and taken hostage...?"
"I'd rescue them."
"How can you be so sure you could? They could demand you harm the prince with the child as hostage."
Nihil paused to think, then replied.
"...No matter how I look at it, taking that child hostage seems unlikely. But even assuming it happens, it presupposes I have the power to harm Rian. In the end, my head rolls no matter the outcome. It's obvious they're just using and discarding me, so I have no intention of playing along."
"...I see."
Evan felt a bit deflated by the responses that always hit the core. It was like being scolded for shallow thinking, so he mumbled excuses.
"......What if the mastermind is some royal or noble we can't oppose? Even imperial family..."
"Has Rian earned the empire's enmity?"
"......No, but."
"Well, emperor, king, noble—none of that's my concern."
Evan was starting to admire Nihil's simplicity, which never considered backlash or consequences. Was he starting to resemble his own master?
"Then, what would make you harm the prince?"
"Hmm, if Rian became the kidnapper...?"
"...His Highness wouldn't do that."
"Then I wouldn't harm Rian either. Though even if he were the kidnapper, I'd try to talk him down."
"...But what if you had to choose between His Highness and the child you raised?"
Evan muttered glumly. Nihil narrowed his eyes, observing him, then lightly smacked the back of Evan's hand and spoke casually.
"Don't worry about things that haven't happened yet. Cross that bridge when you come to it. If that day comes, buy time at least. I'll help."
Evan couldn't help but chuckle at the overconfident declaration. Who was helping whom?
Pathetic as it was to seek advice from a child who looked barely five or six, at least one issue felt resolved, bringing some relief.
But Nihil seemed serious about helping and began offering earnest advice.
"No need to tremble if they grab your weakness. Just grab theirs in return."
"......"
"Or revealing it yourself isn't bad. A known weakness can create openings to exploit those trying to use it."
"...I'll keep that in mind."
He wasn't sure how helpful the leopard's paw would be, but Nihil wouldn't be so cocksure without reason.
"And just in case, fetch some books on herbs and medicine. The latest editions."
"Books?"
"Yes. There might be newly discovered herbs or poisons. Since it's for the kid, better to double-check before giving it."
"Well, true."
It was odd how this boy, young enough himself, treated the prince like a child—but it felt so natural he couldn't argue. Talking to Nihil never quite felt like talking to a kid anyway.
People with younger siblings matured faster than peers, or maybe it was from raising a child. The prince was late in developing, so Evan had assumed someone his height was younger, but Nihil claimed to be older than he looked, and mentally, he seemed remarkably mature.
"How old are you, anyway?"
"......"
The leopard shut his mouth.