Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: A Reliable Person
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Camilla lightly crossed her arms and shrugged her shoulders.
"...Well, with my generous heart! I could grant a request like that."
As she said that, subtly turning her head away, Camilla's lips kept twitching.
"..."
With an expression like that, even the world's biggest fool might start to suspect something...
I subtly turned my head to look at Lucius.
Sure enough, he was furrowing his brow, glaring at Camilla as if sizing her up.
I pressed my forehead and let out a small sigh.
...If this keeps up, Lucius might refuse the spar, and my plan could go awry.
No helping it. Here, I'll have to step in myself.
The basics of acting are,
slightly exaggerated gestures and clear, enunciated pronunciation that's easy to understand.
"Ahem, ahem."
I lightly cleared my throat and took a step forward, dramatically spreading my arms wide.
"Can you believe it! Camilla's even lending us the entire training grounds, how could we pass that up! And Lucius, we have that promise between us, so now's the perfect time to honor it! Right? Isn't it?!"
Acting in front of others made me oddly tense, speeding up my words a bit, but this was perfect.
Heh heh, they'll all fall for it.
I smirked, slightly narrowing my eyes and glancing around.
...Huh.
A response should be coming by now...
Just as anxiety crept in that maybe something had gone wrong.
Clap, clap, clap.
"As expected of Master."
Along with Nameless's inexplicable applause and utterly out-of-context nonsense.
"...Pfft!"
A laugh from an unknown source rang out.
"..."
My acting was surely flawless... why this reaction?
My face flushed red for no reason.
...This is all that damn brat's fault.
...
If it were the old me, I wouldn't have done anything to please this damn brat...
But now was different.
This was what you'd call a temporary alliance for mutual benefit.
I nodded lightly.
Nameless and I locked eyes and exchanged utterly vile smirks.
In Camilla's case, I suspected it was something childish like wanting to mess with Lucius.
Mine was a bit more complicated.
Since Lily had asked me for a favor, to show some cooperation with the demon lord's side, didn't I have to do something like this?
Of course, I had no intention of following Lily's every word.
If she crossed a certain line.
I mean, if she asked me to do something excessively inhumane, I'd firmly refuse or turn my back on the demon lord's side.
But.
Lily hadn't asked me to deal with Lucius and Elia; just to hinder them. That was harder to refuse.
So, I'd reluctantly nodded.
Another reason was,
as a master, my disciple Nameless had a chance to spar with a good opponent,
and I had no reason to refuse that.
The spar between Nameless and Lucius held deep meaning.
Facing a clear powerhouse wasn't something you could experience easily.
...Well.
I'd piled on all sorts of reasons, but this wasn't me rationalizing hypocrisy as unavoidable.
Ultimately, I was moving to help Lily.
The fact that I was trying to hinder Lucius and Elia didn't change.
It left a bitter taste.
...
After a brief silence due to Camilla's awkward acting.
Lucius let out a small sigh, pressing a hand to his furrowed brow before speaking.
"I'm sorry, Heaven Cleaver, but how about we do the spar after handling this urgent matter?"
...No good.
I needed some clever ploy.
I rolled my eyes, deep in thought.
"Hmm, does it have to be now?"
"It's a time-sensitive issue."
Lucius nodded gravely.
I kept rolling my eyes at him until a sudden idea flashed through my mind, making me inwardly admire myself.
Honestly, a little thought made it obvious.
Lucius was struggling with the pursuit.
So, wasn't he raising his voice to that stubborn brat, demanding more manpower?
In that case.
Why not solve Lucius's dilemma for him?
I grinned slyly, narrowing my eyes at Lucius.
"I have a clever way to erase your worries."
"...What is it?"
Lucius tilted his head with a dubious expression that screamed he didn't believe me.
I didn't like that look, but I hid it and continued.
"You really don't get it?"
Lucius narrowed his eyes, trying to decipher my meaningful words.
I smirked mockingly at him, raising my index finger and pointing to myself.
"Right here, isn't the solution?"
"...You, Heaven Cleaver...?"
"Of course! Who else but me could do it?"
I nodded confidently, and Lucius turned to look at Elia.
Receiving his gaze, Elia tilted her head this way and that.
Soon, with a hesitant expression, she gave a small nod.
Even a fool could see it was affirmation.
I smiled with conviction and took a step toward Lucius, tilting my head up.
"So, where's your answer?"
"..."
After a brief silence.
Lucius squeezed his eyes shut and nodded.
"Understood..."
"Hmm, good choice."
Thinking I'd smoothly resolved one issue, I grinned and approached Nameless.
"Nameless, sorry to ask after pushing this on you, but are you okay with it?"
"Yes, Master."
Facing a sudden spar with Lucius, tension? What tension.
He seemed to enjoy the situation, lips curling up.
"It's the perfect chance to test my new sword, isn't it?"
Nameless patted the sword at his waist like he was showing it off.
"I'm really looking forward to it."
Honestly, I couldn't grasp exactly where Nameless's joy came from.
But if Nameless was happy, what could I say?
"Hmm, alright."
I nodded.
...
Preparations for the spar were done in an instant.
It was still morning, so no need to delay, and suspiciously perfect timing—the training grounds were empty.
Plus.
From Lucius's perspective, he'd want to finish the spar quickly and start tracking the demons, his original goal.
Nameless was like a kid eager to unwrap a present, wanting it to start ASAP.
Well.
From my position of wanting to drag it out as long as possible, it was a bit regrettable...
But here, I'd pray that Nameless, trained by me, would show everything I'd taught him and hold out as long as possible.
...
I slowly surveyed the arrived training grounds.
Impressive.
The pristine state made it instantly clear why Ellen had produced knights who defended the walls so well the day before.
Perfectly maintained, not a single stone out of place on the flat ground.
Vastly larger and more comfortable than the clearing Nameless and I used back in the cabin.
Weapons overflowed from one side, and emergency herbs were stocked here too.
As I spent time scanning the grounds.
My eyes caught Nameless in one corner, lightly swinging his sword to warm up.
The kid was so thrilled.
Grinning ear to ear, gripping his new sword, striking various poses.
I watched him and let out a small sigh.
...Who the hell did he take after to be so carefree?
The spar was about to start, yet he had zero tension.
Seemed like he needed a stern word.
I set down the two swords in my hands, shook my head slightly, and moved to approach Nameless when.
From behind, Lucius's voice came, sounding uneasy.
"Heaven Cleaver."
"Hm?"
Lucius faced me without hiding the trembling in his pupils, something I'd never seen before.
"Just one question, if I may?"
"Ask away."
Reflected in his eyes was something I knew all too well.
"Are you... a reliable person?"
Dirty, ugly, sticky emotions roiled like waves, reeking faintly of something fishy.
I couldn't bring myself to meet those eyes and answer.
"...Of course."
I turned my head away and quietly spoke.
...
It was funny he'd brought it up now, but.
Thinking about it, Lucius hadn't been normal from the start.
I hadn't spent much time with him, of course...
But recalling the Lucius I'd seen before—the one with minimal emotional expression, only speaking when necessary.
This time, talking to Camilla, he'd been unusually emotional, not hiding it, almost defiant, voice laced with irritation.
Perhaps...