Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Pedo Swordsman
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After finishing up our business at the training grounds, we headed to the room where Camilla was waiting.
The reason Camilla had summoned us here.
Even Lucius, who had insisted we should go straight after the demonkin, was following along obediently for some reason, which struck me as odd.
But good things were good, so I nodded along as well.
From the start.
My goal had been to buy time however I could.
To begin with, the sparring match had just been a ploy to drag things out.
Inadvertently knocking Lucius out had more than achieved that.
...Lily should be satisfied with this much.
But the real issue started now.
"Hmm..."
Resting my hand on my chin, I settled into a comfortable position and pondered.
Having declared I'd help Lucius on the way here, I couldn't back out now.
...Maybe pretend to chase it but let it slip away at the last second?
As I chewed on my lip, lost in thought, Camilla tapped her desk.
"Hey, granny~ Pay attention when I'm talking?"
She wasn't exactly young herself, so why bring up age?
I pouted.
Retaliating by throwing my age back at her would just turn it into a mudslinging match.
...As the mature adult here, I'd have to let it slide.
"...I'll listen, so stop calling me that."
I waved it off casually, glaring at her with a sulky expression.
The damn brat let out a "pfft" like deflating, pulling her signature infuriating face.
"I thought you'd gone deaf in your old age."
"...What did you say?"
-Snap
A vein bulged on my forehead.
Ignoring me completely, the damn brat turned away and stared straight ahead.
"Anyway, continuing~"
That attitude was even more outrageous.
We came here because she asked us to listen, and this was how she acted?
Not even a three-year-old would behave like that.
I started to rise, ready to teach her a lesson right then.
"Master... You mustn't fall for such petty provocations."
Nameless grabbed my shoulder and shook his head slightly.
"...Right."
Stooping to her level would mean I'd already lost.
Biting my lip hard to still my trembling body, I sat back down straight.
"Do you know anything about the demonkin you're chasing?"
Lucius bit his lip in frustration and shook his head slightly.
"...No."
"Pfft, knew you losers wouldn't. Here."
Camilla tossed a sheet of paper onto the desk with a smug look.
The paper was covered in writing.
...But as someone who couldn't read, I had no idea what it said.
"Hmm."
As I chewed my lip in embarrassment, Nameless glanced at me and spoke softly.
"I'll read it to you once we're done."
"Oh, thank you."
I nodded without hesitation.
Smiling faintly, I looked away from Nameless and back at them.
"What is this?"
Lucius glanced at the paper, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"You losers probably don't even have proper intel anyway."
"...Demonkin information?"
Camilla jerked her chin toward the paper instead of answering.
Nodding at her response, Lucius quickly scanned it.
His mouth curved up noticeably—must've been what he was looking for.
Unlike Lucius, I was breaking out in cold sweats nonstop.
Tsk... He mustn't find it too quickly.
Why was this damn brat only doing things that sabotaged me?
Didn't she say she had her own business to attend to?
What on earth had changed to make her help Lucius all of a sudden...?
I chewed my lip anxiously.
After examining the paper for a moment, Lucius straightened with a satisfied smile and bowed.
"Thank you."
"Even total losers know how to be grateful, huh?"
Camilla couldn't resist insulting people, like she was cursed to do it.
She flashed her usual infuriating smile, but Lucius just nodded with a refreshing grin.
"Hmph..."
Bored by Lucius's lackluster reaction, Camilla waved him off dismissively.
"Alright, we're done. Get out."
As everyone started rising to leave, my leg-jiggling reached a fever pitch, and I shot to my feet.
"Wait!"
Naturally, all eyes turned to me.
"...Master?"
"Huh? What is it, granny?"
The stares were burdensome.
But I endured.
No matter how I thought about it, if we left now...
I could only see a future where they smashed the demonkin in no time, leaving me in a bind.
More importantly...
I'd jumped up in a panic, but what should I even say?
My vision spun.
As I suffered in awkward silence for what felt like forever,
Nameless looked at me for a moment.
Seeming to pick up on something, he nodded and turned to Camilla.
"Lady Camilla."
I shot him a gaze full of gratitude.
My disciple, as expected!
Helping his master out of a pinch right away!
A beaming smile spread across my face.
Camilla tore her eyes from me at Nameless's voice, opening her mouth with a sour expression.
"Pedo Swordsman, got something to say?"
"..."
Nameless's brow furrowed horribly at her words.
But more than that,
Her choice of words was downright ominous.
...Pedo Swordsman? For my Nameless?
I stared at him in shock.
Elia, who'd been quietly listening until now, couldn't hold back this time.
"Pfft! Ah, sorry..."
She burst into quiet laughter, then sheepishly hid behind Lucius.
An awkward silence fell, and Camilla, tapping her foot impatiently, narrowed her eyes at Nameless.
"Pedo Swordsman, you called me—why no answer?"
"...May I ask why you're helping us?"
This time, Nameless ignored her jab and pressed on, lips pressed tight.
But his lack of denial sent a chill down my spine.
...No way, really?
My disciple, a criminal?
Of course, Camilla was the one saying it, and I'd known Nameless long enough not to believe it outright.
I figured it was half a joke myself.
Still.
One nagging question swirled in my mind.
Had Nameless ever done anything to deserve Camilla calling him "pedo"?
Thinking back, Camilla didn't usually insult people without basis.
...Not that I was really a granny, though I was old, sure.
Shaking my head, I snuck a glance at Camilla and continued pondering.
How on earth did she end up calling Nameless "pedo"...?
I tilted my head.
Hmm... If he'd taken a liking to Camilla, it'd make sense, but...
Wait.
A thought flashed through my mind.
What if Nameless really did harbor feelings for Camilla...?
Once the doubt took root,
Forgotten incidents started flooding back, one after another.
Come to think of it.
Nameless had sided with that damn brat over the master who raised him before.
And if that was his way of flirting, having fallen for her at first sight...
My mind raced, puzzle pieces clicking into place.
Nameless had said he liked women two handspans shorter than him.
He'd claimed it was my hand, but if he'd mismeasured and it was his own two handspans, that matched the brat's height perfectly.
Plus, he'd said he liked older women...
...No way.
I could hardly believe it, but... it seemed Nameless had feelings for Camilla.
Realizing that,
A pain gripped my heart, like someone squeezing and shaking it.
...Why did my chest feel so tight?
Was this that parental feeling I'd heard about,
disliking the girl your child brings home?
"..."
No.
It wasn't confirmed yet.
...I'd ask Nameless directly later and hear it from him.
Conflicts from lack of communication were the most pointless...
I nodded stiffly.
My chest still felt stuffy.
Pushing aside the swirling thoughts, I lifted my head to listen to their conversation again.
Camilla waved off Nameless's question like it was nothing.
"I just stumbled on it by chance. That answer your curiosity?"
"...Yes."
Nameless bowed with a furrowed brow and quickly left the room.
His face had been flushed when he glanced back—he must've been pretty hurt.
Looked like I'd need to comfort him a bit.
...And while I was at it, confirm if it was true.
Clutching my throbbing head, I let out a light sigh and followed Nameless.
"...Then we'll be going too."
"Oh yeah, loser hero."
"Pardon?"
"If you spot any sword sheaths while you're out hunting, let me know."
"...Sword sheaths? Understood."