Chapter 104: Cursed Child (4)[R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 104: Cursed Child (4)[R-18]
Listening to Elfriede, a realization dawned on me.
I had mistakenly thought Estelle was like the old me.
In truth, Estelle was a person so strong and kind that someone like me couldn't even begin to compare.
Slide—
As I closed my eyes, Estelle’s face flashed through my mind—the way she had screamed in agony.
“Let go!!... Ian!! I told you to let go!!”
“I get it, so just calm down and cancel the magic first!! You can still cancel the incantation!!”
‘No!!! Ian!! No!! Let me go!! I have to do this!! I have to make Delphicia pay the price even more!!’
Those were words that even I, the person closest to Estelle in our class, couldn't help but misunderstand.
However, Estelle’s attack on Delphicia hadn't been born of anger or hatred.
...On the contrary, it was to protect Delphicia.
—If I suffer harm from another, that person will meet with misfortune.
—If I pay the price myself, that misfortune can be averted.
Finally, I understood her past actions, which had seemed so at odds with the personality she showed in the library.
Cutting Delphicia’s hair back in the first year, spilling water on me in the library...
It was all an attempt to finish the "revenge" herself, so the "Balance Demon" couldn't lay a finger on us.
Of course, Estelle had opportunities to clear up the misunderstanding afterward.
But she didn't.
No, she couldn't.
Because to Estelle, other people were beings she had to distance herself from.
If a person can never forgive even the slightest mistake or quarrel and feels compelled to seek revenge, is normal interaction with others even possible?
It was impossible.
There is no such thing as a human relationship that is always perfect.
To me, Evelyn is more precious than my own life, yet I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve fought.
Sure, the people around her might understand at first, chalking it up to Estelle having that kind of "disposition."
But how long could that understanding last?
Even if it could last until the very end, there was no way Estelle’s heart could endure it.
A life where you must eternally wound the very people who stay by your side, despite being hurt by you over and over again, would surely be a living hell.
That was why Estelle had built a wall, making sure no one could get close.
‘You... really are a fool.’
‘...If the presentation materials aren't ready by tomorrow, Ivelin is going to be furious, you know?’
During our time together, I felt just how playful and quick to laugh Estelle really was.
To the point where I thought that if she hadn't made a contract with a demon, she would have had a personality very similar to Ivelin’s.
‘...Get lost.’
Just imagining how many hands Estelle must have had to brush away to become the person she was now made my chest tighten.
“....”
However, no matter how tragic Estelle’s situation was, I knew that, rationally speaking, I should give up.
It wasn't because I valued my own life.
It was because the fate of the world rested on my shoulders.
The life of one human versus the destruction of the world.
It was so clear which was more important that there was no need to even place them on the Devil's Scales.
“Sigh...”
Opening my eyes again, I let out a deep sigh.
As Elfriede had warned, I had already stepped into the swamp.
If I took even one more step, things would become truly dangerous.
Even if I went back to the classroom now and acted as if I’d heard nothing, living my life as usual, no one would blame me.
But...
“I’m sorry, Lady Ellis.”
I said, looking up at the sky from the main gate of the Sacred Academy.
To Lady Ellis, the Goddess who rules this world, Estelle’s life might seem trivial.
After all, even at this very moment, someone somewhere in the world is meeting their end.
But I was human, and to me, Estelle was not trivial.
“...I absolutely have to save Estelle.”
To me, Estelle was a precious friend.
And there was no way a man who couldn't even save a single precious friend could ever save something as grand as the world.
I worried that Lady Ellis might strike me with lightning in her anger, but fortunately, she didn't.
Was it because she was angry but simply didn't want to waste "Fate Energy," or was she unexpectedly marveling, thinking, ‘As expected of Lord Ian!’?
Either way, it felt like a reaction Lady Ellis would have.
Well, even if she were angry, I had no intention of stopping.
Isn't it said that it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission?
“Now then...”
If I possessed some special ability like the protagonist of the world, I would have rushed to Estelle’s side immediately and driven the demon away...
Sadly, I was a perfectly ordinary human.
If this were something I could have solved alone, Estelle surely would have handled it long ago.
Estelle was clearly a superior human being compared to me.
Still, there was one thing I was confident I could do better than her.
Ian(89.74): Bitch.
It was reaching out to someone else for help.
ㄴDivine Power Vessel■: Yes! Master!
ㄴIan(89.74): There’s something I want to ask of you.
ㄴDivine Power Vessel■: Hehe, you don't even have to ask... Please just give your bitch a command.
ㄴ Should I... send some photos?
ㄴIan(89.74): Sorry, I’d love that, but it’s not something that simple right now.
ㄴDivine Power Vessel■: ...Master?
Currently, Lady Yuris held an unrivaled position among the Saintess Candidates.
ㄴIan(89.74): I’ll be clear. It’s going to be dangerous.
The names of the other candidates were hardly even mentioned compared to hers, so if she just kept going like this, she would surely become the next Saintess and walk a path of flowers.
ㄴIan(89.74): You might have to live a lie for the rest of your life.
So, even asking this would be a burden to her.
ㄴIan(89.74): You might even end up in conflict with the Church.
Knowing all that, I still asked.
In a way that a kind and strong person like Estelle never could...
ㄴIan(89.74): Even so, will you help me?
It was a method that only a shameless and weak human like me could choose.
ㄴDivine Power Vessel■: ...Master, where are you right now?
I thought she would need time to think, but surprisingly, the answer came back instantly.
ㄴIan(89.74): I’m at the Academy’s main gate.
ㄴDivine Power Vessel■: Hehe, then your bitch will get there as fast as possible, so please wait just a moment.
After waiting for about thirty minutes, Lady Yuris came running toward me.
“Master!”
Upon spotting me, Yuris ran over with a bright smile.
“...Yuris.”
“Ah! I shouldn't call you Master right now!”
Startled, Yuris widened her eyes and covered her mouth with both hands.
“It’s fine as long as you don't say it too loudly. There’s no one around.”
“Hehe...! Yes! Then let’s go! Master!”
“Where?”
“To wherever you need my help, of course!”
“....”
Seeing Yuris act so nonchalantly made my heart feel heavy.
“Yuris... It feels wrong for me to say this after asking for your help, but this isn't an easy decision to make. You might really have to put your life on the line. If you want to refuse, you can. I won't ever be disappointed or sad because of it.”
From the moment I asked for help, I was an irredeemable piece of trash.
Still, I wanted to be a piece of trash that knew where to draw the line.
I had no intention of tricking Lady Yuris into this by hiding the danger of the situation.
If she refused, I intended to respect that choice.
“Master? I’m being serious too.”
But Yuris continued, her expression not changing one bit.
“You said you needed my help, didn't you? If that’s the case, it doesn't matter if it’s hard or easy! I will do my absolute best to help you!”
“...Thank you. But I’ll say it one more time. If things go wrong, you will definitely lose your qualification as a Saintess Candidate. In the worst case, your life could be in danger.”
“Hmm... Master, would you stop loving your bitch if she wasn't a Saintess Candidate anymore?”
“...Of course not.”
There wasn't a single moment where I loved Lady Yuris because she was a Saintess Candidate.
“Fufu! Then there’s no problem at all! I can resign from being a Saintess Candidate right now if you tell me to! And you’ll protect my life, won't you, Master?”
“I’ll protect it even if it costs me my own life. ...But I might not be able to.”
I would use any means necessary to protect Lady Yuris, but...
If the opponent was the Church, there was a high probability I wouldn't be able to stop them.
Slide—
Then, Yuris’s hands cupped both of my cheeks.
“Then, we’ll just die together. That’s more than enough for me.”
“...Yuris.”
I should have realized it when she showed up in her Saintess Robes even though it was a weekday.
From the moment I mentioned the word "favor," Lady Yuris had never taken it lightly for a single second.
She had come here truly prepared to die for my sake.
“Ah! But Master, you’re mistaken about one thing! You said earlier that I might have to put my life on the line, right? There’s no need for that!!”
“...What?”
“Because my life already belongs to you, Master!!”
“....”
I was left speechless by the overwhelming trust and affirmation she directed at me.
Without a doubt, meeting Lady Yuris was a stroke of incredible luck that would never happen again in my life.
“So please, give me a command, Master. What should I do?”
Lady Yuris said, smiling brightly at me.