Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Does Dia Really Hate Ganeghan? (2)
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“What… what did you say?”
The thoughts that had been solidifying without a hint of doubt crumbled into chaos in an instant.
Dia was trying to inject herself with the syringe, but Abera snatched it away right then.
This couldn’t be happening. It was an absurd story.
“Answer me! What did you just say?”
“I hate him. I hate… I hate Ganeghan.”
Her mind went blank.
Every circumstance had been screaming that all of this happened because Dia liked Ganeghan. So why?
“W-wait a second. Then why did you wake up? Why did you wake up?!”
“I got angry… so angry…”
“Why were you angry, then! You can’t defy me, right? You knew I’d get mad! Why did you do something like that, you crazy bitch?!”
Abera grabbed Dia’s shoulders and shook her back and forth.
But Dia just kept crying out for drugs with unfocused eyes. No matter how hard Abera shook her, it was like rattling a doll—Dia’s head merely lolled limply.
“I get angry… when you talk about Ganeghan…”
Did she hate him that much? Even Abera was starting to get confused.
“What did you talk about when you were alone in the room with Ganeghan? Huh?”
“...Don’t.”
“Tell me everything! So I can understand! So I can accept it! If my guess is wrong…”
Abera was so floored she couldn’t even finish her sentence.
If my guess is wrong, that would mean the opposite—that I really do like Ganeghan.
That the feelings I have for him might be love.
I’d be denying my own emotions just to claim some delusion. I’d die of shame.
Panting heavily, Abera finally forced her mouth open again. Her head was spinning with something like vertigo.
“Tell me! What did you talk about alone with Ganeghan! What did he do to make you say you hate him this time?!”
“Don’t…”
“Don’t what?! You’ve lost your—”
It was right then, as Abera raised a hand to slap her.
“Ganeghan… I said don’t talk about him!!!”
“Kyaaak?!”
Dia lunged like a dog, sending Abera sprawling flat on the floor.
Caught off guard and defenseless, Abera found Dia straddling her.
“Don’t! I told you not to talk about Ganeghan!”
“A-are you insane? What are you doing! I’m your owner! Your sister! Get off!”
She screamed, but Dia showed no sign of budging as she rampaged on top.
Grabbing Abera’s collar so tight it threatened to rip her dress, Dia screamed right in her face.
“Get off! I said get off?!”
“You’re always like that, Sis! You take everything from me. Why? Why do you do that! You’ve got nothing to give me but drugs, and even those you don’t give properly!”
Dia’s voice was so loud, and Abera had been screaming too, so she couldn’t make out exactly what Dia was saying.
“What are you talking about? Fine, I’ll give you drugs! Just get off first!”
“Why… why do you always take from me… Urp? Uweeeek…”
“Wh-what are you doing?! Kyaaaak!!”
For Dia, suffering withdrawal symptoms, the intense shouting was far too much movement.
And big movements naturally worsened the side effects. Dia started vomiting all over the pinned Abera below her.
“Ughhh…”
“Disgusting! You’re disgusting!”
Abera kicked the suddenly limp Dia away.
As if that last scream had been her final burst of energy, Dia collapsed right where she’d been shoved.
At the same time, someone else began knocking on the door.
“Lady Abera, is something wrong? Lady!”
The room was spacious, but not perfectly soundproof. The maids had heard Abera’s screams and come running.
The moment she heard the knock, Abera reflexively grabbed the syringe. It was a defensive instinct, a way to avoid giving them any ammunition against her.
Only then did the frantic Lady fling the door open and shout.
“Dia’s in really bad shape! Help her!”
The maids’ eyes went wide seeing Abera, vomit splattered on her clothes, throwing open the door in desperation.
“L-Lady?”
“Dia woke up sooner than expected. She’s not doing well. We need to call Ganeghan again.”
The maids, sensing the gravity, sprang into action.
One dashed off to fetch Ganeghan, while the other closed the door and hurried to support Abera.
But Abera brushed her off with a smile.
“Lady…?”
“I’m fine. It’s Dia I’m worried about. Stay with her instead.”
“Y-yes!”
The maids, oblivious to the truth, followed Abera’s orders to the letter.
Just you wait.
Imagining the fate of a dog that bit its master was easy.
I’ll make it more painful than death. Muttering to herself, Abera headed to her own room.
Opening the door, the first thing she saw was a crow with a faint greenish tint perched on the windowsill.
**
Abera’s room was definitely locked, and she’d entered alone. Yet astonishingly, there were two people conversing inside.
The greenish crow that had been on the windowsill had at some point taken human form, now sitting across from Abera.
“You’re not startled anymore. Even when I appear like this.”
Asbidal chuckled as he spoke.
Her rage-addled mind cooled and began spinning rapidly.
She’d definitely been shocked plenty of times by his ability to become a crow. Magic was like that—something astonishing even when seen with your own eyes.
But she wasn’t startled for that reason now.
“I’m more surprised you came so quickly.”
He usually showed up so late, so was it on purpose? Her tone carried a hint of resentment, but Asbidal didn’t seem to care at all.
“You said something interesting was up. I got excited.”
Was that it? Though his face was hidden by the mask, Abera suddenly felt like his eyes were gleaming.
“Before that, you need to answer what I’m curious about. That’s why I called you.”
“Easy. If it’s about drugs.”
Now it was Abera’s turn to light up.
Her golden eyes gleaming, she licked her lips and spoke.
“Hey. Is there a drug like that? One that, when injected, makes you… think of someone obsessively, like you’re enchanted, or makes you think you like them. Makes you crave them. Oh yeah, that thing the witches talk about…”
“A love potion?”
“Yes! Something like that.”
“Love potions have been proven nonsense for nearly a century.”
His voice was so indifferent, as if asking why she’d say something so stupid, that Abera bristled without thinking.
“That’s why I’m asking if there’s something similar! Who said anything about a love potion?”
“There isn’t.”
Abera’s face grew more troubled by the second.
“Really none? Something that… makes your head spin so much you want to sleep with them.”
“You mean something with aphrodisiac ingredients? Got a man you want to rape?”
“Wh-what the—are you crazy?!”
“Or did someone rape you?”
“H-how dare you! What are you saying?!”
“Be clear. Do you want me to make a drug? Or just check something?”
“Ch-check… just check.”
“Whose body should I check? A man’s? Or yours?”
“...Mine.”
Abera’s answer was barely a squeak.
“STD test, right?”
“No, the symptoms I described! That ingredient!”
Hmm. Asbidal tilted his head, then placed a small piece of paper on the desk. It was yellow.
“You should’ve said so sooner. No need for all that pointless talk.”
“What’s this?”
Abera cocked her head.
“Lady Abera, have you ever done drugs in your life?”
“I’m Abera! Never once!”
“Then watch closely.”
Asbidal pulled a syringe from his pocket, drew a bit of his own blood, and dripped it onto the yellow paper.
The entire paper turned purple. Abera’s eyes widened involuntarily.
“This is…?”
“If there are drug residues in the blood, the paper turns purple.”
“What I want to check isn’t drug—”
“All aphrodisiacs have narcotic components. They cloud the mind and heat the body. You think a normal drug could do that?”
“...Ah.”
“Roll up your sleeve.”
The Lady tentatively extended her arm.
Lost in her thoughts and embarrassed, Abera rolled her eyes and flushed red.
The test finished in the meantime. The drop of Abera’s blood on the yellow paper showed no change.
“Test’s done. You’re clean. Honestly, I could tell from the blood color alone. You’ve never taken anything weird in your life. It’s pristine—almost too clean to want to dirty.”
“No way… no way that’s possible?”
“What’s not possible? Can’t you see this?”
Asbidal shoved the yellow paper in her face. Sure enough, not a trace of purple.
But Abera had her own grievances.
“But! That time, my heart was racing, and I couldn’t meet his eyes. Suddenly! Even a slight touch made my body twitch!”
“Ah. Do you keep thinking about that person?”
“Thinking…”
Come to think of it, yeah.
Ganeghan kept popping into her head. And now that he mentioned it, even more so.
She wanted Ganeghan to inject her again. Wanted to offer her arm to him once more.
“Yeah. I do. It must be addictive for sure.”
“Lady. Do you know what that’s called?”
“...What?”
Asbidal stood and approached the seated Abera.
“Lovesickness.”
“Huh? Lovesickness? No, that’s not…”
“You keep thinking of them, want to see them, twitch with pleasure at their touch. It’s the usual emotion for someone like you. Not drugs.”
“No… I… that person…?”
In the end, every sign pointed to it.
Every indicator said Abera simply liked Ganeghan—that was all. She’d been the only one desperately denying it. A strange, subtle feeling washed over her, something unpleasant yet oddly welcome.
“I’m pissed.”
Asbidal’s remark snapped the Lady from her reverie.
Only then did Abera sense it—a faint killing intent emanating from him.
Asbidal drew another syringe. The needle tip looked exceptionally sharp.
“A-Asbidal…?”
“I’m pissed. Was that ‘interesting’ thing just your little love story?”
“No, I just… calm down!”
“It’s not for me to calm down. You take responsibility.”
“Hic! Hiiiik!”
Abera tried to flee the chair but crumpled to the floor. A syringe rolled out from the hem of her dress.
It was Ganeghan’s syringe.
Asbidal’s reaction was only natural. He paused, then picked it up.
“What’s this?”
“M-my sister’s personal physician made it.”
“A drug? For Sao?”
Abera nodded vigorously, and Asbidal snorted.
“There’s no cure for Sao yet. Not even one I’ve poured my heart into. Looks like he’s scamming with some anesthetic. Figures—the Lady and her doctor are two of a kind.”
He brought the syringe under his mask and fiddled with it. Probably tasting the drug.
And just like that, Asbidal froze.
“Asbidal…?”
Abera called his name softly. He’d stopped dead in place, which was unnerving.
“Asbidal?”
After calling his name three more times or so.
“...This is really interesting. Who made this?”
Asbidal asked.