Chapter 101: Cursed Child (1)[R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 101: Cursed Child (1)[R-18]
The Monday following the eventful "Day of Lady Ellis."
Estelle’s seat was empty again today.
“....”
Until now, I thought Estelle simply needed some time to herself.
Regardless of how I felt about her, we were just friends, and I worried that my actions might come across as overstepping or meddling.
...But I didn't think I could sit around and wait any longer.
“Evelyn. I have a favor to ask.”
“Yeah?”
“...Can you watch the library for me today? You just need to handle the check-outs and returns. I’ll take care of the organizing tomorrow.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
As if she knew exactly what I was planning without me having to say it, Evelyn told me to go without asking for a reason.
“Thanks.”
Slide—
Just then, the front door of the classroom opened, and the professor in charge, Jamie, waddled inside.
Professor Jamie, who always wore a confident expression, looked unusually grave today. Seeing this, the students remaining in the classroom naturally fell silent.
“Everyone... please give me your attention for a moment before you head out for lunch-dat...”
For some reason, Professor Jamie’s voice sounded ominous.
“There is bad news-dat... Last night, Miss Delphicia was attacked by an unidentified assailant and is currently unconscious-dat...”
“....!!”
The news was far more serious than expected, and the classroom suddenly erupted into a commotion.
“P-Please calm down-dat...! Fortunately, the guards heard her screams and rushed to the scene immediately. The culprit fled, and Miss Delphicia’s life is not in danger-dat! However, it seems she will need to be treated at the Church’s intensive care unit for a while... It is truly regrettable that such an unfortunate incident has occurred-dat...”
“....”
“In any case, I ask that you all refrain from moving about alone late at night until the culprit is apprehended-dat...”
As soon as Professor Jamie finished speaking and trudged out of the classroom, the sound of whispering filled the room again.
“Delphicia... she’ll be okay, right?”
“They said her life isn't in danger. Let’s go visit her tomorrow.”
Most were worried about Delphicia’s well-being or cursing the culprit, but...
“...Wait, could Estelle have done this?”
A comment that couldn't be ignored slipped from someone’s mouth.
Slam—!
“Ah! Fuck! Who was the piece of shit who just said that?!”
“E-Evelyn...”
“Is it you again, you fucker? Do you really want to get beaten to death? Didn't you hear what Professor Jamie just said? He said the culprit fled! Did Estelle drag her wheelchair along while making a getaway? Do you think the Imperial Guards are total jokes? That they couldn't catch up to a single wheelchair?”
“...Well... that’s true...”
“Fuck!! Then stop talking out of your ass and get the hell out of here to eat lunch!!”
As soon as Evelyn finished her outburst, students began pouring out of the classroom in a swarm.
Thud—
“...Thanks.”
“Ha! Why are you thanking me? I just did it because as Estelle’s friend, it felt like shit to hear that, okay?... Anyway, forget it and unclench your fists.”
“What?”
“Unclench your fists. Your hands are going to bleed, you idiot.”
Only after hearing Evelyn’s words did I realize I was gripping my fists so tightly they were trembling.
“Ah, you’re right... But Evelyn.”
“What.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can eat lunch with you today. I think I need to leave early.”
“Sigh... Tsk, wait a second then.”
Rustle—
Evelyn stood up, opened her locker, and pulled out a familiar black bag.
“It’s the bag Estelle dropped. Give it to her.”
“I will. I’ll make sure she gets it.”
As I took the bag, Evelyn turned her head away sharply and spoke.
“Hmph! It’s not like I think Estelle is particularly 'good enough' for you or anything, okay? It’s just that if Estelle doesn't come back, you’re going to be stuck in that library forever!! So make sure you bring her back!”
“Yeah, I’ll be back.”
“...Right, go on. Be careful.”
Nodding, I slung the bag over my shoulder and ran out of the classroom.
‘Estelle...’
Thud! Thud! Thud!
If Estelle was truly in the same situation I had been in long ago, persuading her with words alone wouldn't be easy.
But it didn't matter.
If one attempt wasn't enough, I would just keep trying until it worked.
Just like Evelyn had done for me.
As I looked back through my memories to find a way to convince Estelle...
Stop—!
I felt a severe sense of cognitive dissonance and stopped in my tracks.
“...No way.”
I hoped it wasn't true.
It had to be false.
However, the pieces of the puzzle fitting together in my head all pointed toward a single possibility.
—Zip
Opening the bag to check, I saw the small notebook Estelle was always writing in.
“...Sorry.”
I knew it was something I shouldn't do...
But praying that my suspicions were wrong, I opened Estelle’s notebook.
“Oh my~? If it isn't Senior Ian~”
“Elfriede.”
“This is the first-year building, you know? What brings a Senior like you all the way here~? Ah! Could it be that you came to see me?”
“That’s right. Can you spare a moment?”
“Eh? R-Really? You really came because of me? But right now? Lunch is almost over, though?”
“...It’s an important conversation. Please.”
“Sigh... To think you’d come looking for me with such a serious face to talk... I guess I have no choice. I’ll skip a lecture. Come on, let’s go!”
I took Elfriede to the Old School Building.
What I was about to discuss was something that shouldn't be overheard by others, and as far as I knew, there was no place in the Academy as deserted as the Old School Building.
“Kyaaa~☆ Senior Ian, you’re more of a pervert than I thought? Bringing a fragile and young beautiful girl like me to a place like this... what on earth are you planning to do?”
Stop—
“Elfriede, there’s something I want to ask.”
Arriving at a classroom in the Old School Building, I looked at Elfriede and asked.
“Yes, yes~ What are you curious about? My three sizes? My hobbies? Or maybe...”
“...Do you know about demons?”
“Huh? Hahaha!! Senior, you’re asking something so strange all of a sudden! There’s no way things like demons exist in this world, right? They all disappeared a thousand years ago when Lady Ellis descended upon this land.”
“....”
I had thought the same until recently.
It was a fact so naturally accepted as common sense that there was no need to doubt it.
Since childhood, we were taught that the reason we celebrate ‘Ellis’s Day’ is because it was the day the ‘Dark Age’ ended.
But...
Equivalent Exchange, Price, Curse, Demon.
Words that were written repeatedly in the notebook.
‘What are you reading?’
‘.....’
The numerous books related to ‘Curses’ and ‘Demons’ on Estelle’s checkout list, including ‘Introduction to Demonology.’
[Author: UseNiceWordsOnly■] = [Elfriede Karleya]
[I smelled something seriously suspicious from my future boyfriend today, but I don't know what it is...][13]
For real, I definitely know this smell, but if anyone comments saying it's a "chicken coop smell," I'm seriously blocking you.
User(74.812): "Future boyfriend" LMAO. You're delusional.
ㄴUseNiceWordsOnly■: Whatever, I've basically seduced him already~
[Author: UseNiceWordsOnly■] = [Elfriede Karleya]
[But I think I really smelled a demon today?][20]
I was unsure last time, but the smell was pretty strong today for real... It’s definitely a demon.
And above all, every day Elfriede mentioned a ‘Devil’s Scent’ on the Gallery, it was related to Estelle.
“Read this first.”
“Hehe... What’s this? Doesn't look like a love letter...”
I handed Estelle’s notebook to Elfriede.
Flip— Flip—
“...Senior, who wrote this?”
As she read the notebook, Elfriede’s eyes, which had been half-joking, turned sharp.
“Estelle.”
“I have eyes too. The name is written right here. I’m asking about the relationship between you and this Estelle.”
“...She’s a precious friend.”
“A precious friend... Well, fine.”
Perched on a desk, Elfriede swung her legs and asked.
“I was going to try and ignore it... but sigh... I guess that’ll be hard. What are you curious about regarding demons? No, wait. First, tell me everything that happened between you and Estelle from the very beginning, in detail.”
“Elfriede. I don’t have time for games.”
“I’m not playing games either.”
Elfriede flicked her hair, and a refreshing scent tickled the tip of my nose.
“I just thought it would be faster for me to listen and figure it out than for you to try and ask the right questions.”
“...Sorry, you’re right. I was in a hurry. Then, I’ll start from our first year...”
As she listened to Ian’s story, Elfriede stroked her chin.
A thousand years ago, the "Dark Age," when demons overran the world, came to an end the moment the Goddess Ellis descended.
This was the truth of the world as understood by ordinary people.
However, a High Elf possessing the blessing of the World Tree knew better.
That beings with the title and power of demons still remained in this world.
It was just that after "Ellis’s Day," the number of demons had dwindled significantly, and the methods of forming a contract had become incomparably more difficult than during the "Dark Age," leading people to believe they had vanished.
“...And that’s how it happened.”
“Mm-hmm. To summarize what you said, Estelle reacted excessively even to minor actions, right? While mentioning a ‘Price.’”
“...Yeah.”
“By any chance, does this ‘precious friend’ of yours have any physical disabilities?”
“...How did you know?”
“That’s not the important part, is it? Where and how is she disabled?”
“I don’t know exactly... but for now, both her legs.”
“Sigh... Then it’s already progressed quite a bit. No wonder you smelled so strange when you were soaking wet... My intuition really never misses.”
“Elfriede.”
“I know, I know. Don’t rush me. But Senior, are you confident?”
“Confident in what?”
“You really need to think this through. There are things in this world that are better left unknown. Everything I’m about to tell you is information under ‘Sealing Designation’ by the Church. Are you really going to go against the Church for the sake of a mere friend?”
—Demons still remain in the world.
In truth, this level of information was something powerful individuals could obtain if they were determined enough.
However, the ‘Demon’s Contract’ or the ‘Demon’s Name’ that would follow were taboos significant enough to be under ‘Sealing Designation’ by the Church.
Yet, Ian answered without a second of hesitation.
“It doesn't matter. Tell me.”
“Haa...”
What was with this man?
Why was he so willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of another?
‘...He treated me so roughly, too. He didn't even have that kind of personality.’
Feeling a strange simmering sensation in her chest, Elfriede tilted her head and spoke.
“Fine. To put it simply, it looks like that girl, Estelle, has made a contract with the ‘Balance Demon.’”