Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Actor's Time
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People gathered in front of the rising bonfire. Thanks to Erika's spirit magic, they could breathe ordinary air even near Flower Garden.
"Where's Dayus?"
"He fell asleep in the carriage."
"Sigh."
The sight of him passing out, intoxicated by the pollen mixed into the air, clearly showed just how broken a man he was.
"It's not just Dayus's issue. The air here is so turbid that even the spirits shy away from it."
Were the butterflies fluttering around Erika the spirits? Deia wondered but let her words, which seemed to defend Dayus unnecessarily, go in one ear and out the other.
They ate the food they'd brought and had a simple meal, so there wasn't much else to do.
It was a bit early to sleep, so they naturally tried to chat.
But their relationships weren't close enough to call friendly, so an awkward atmosphere lingered.
"No stars, huh."
The one who spoke up amid the silence was Aria Rias, who had plenty of experience with adventures like this.
As she said, when the group naturally looked up at the sky, not a single star was visible, and even the moon's presence was ambiguous.
That meant the Clock Republic's sky was heavily contaminated with foreign substances and murky.
She was the youngest among them. Even in this heavy situation of stepping into the enemy's maw, she kept asking light questions.
"But is the President really summoning us for a peace accord?"
"Bullshit."
Deia sighed, propping her elbow on her crossed leg and resting her chin on her hand.
"The Republic's President is an Archdemon, right? You think a guy like that would really preach peace?"
"Um."
Aria had personally seen Archdemons a few times in her first playthrough, so she thought it might be possible.
Archdemons weren't absolute evil by default. They simply stayed true to their desires.
What was justice to one could be evil to another.
They, too, were just enforcing their own sense of justice in a way. Though their very concepts and natures differed greatly from humans.
"That's why they're deliberately inviting envoys from other countries."
A minimal shield.
It wasn't just Clock and Griffin participating in this feast for peace; places like the Jeruman Kingdom in the desert were also sending delegations.
It was a gesture of gratitude and congratulations for the two nations' decision for the greater good and peace of the continent.
In truth, it was just a way to probe the diplomatic atmosphere and direction.
"If they start something here, they'll become enemies of the entire continent in an instant. They won't act recklessly."
Unless Clock had gone mad, they wouldn't bare their teeth at this side in such a situation.
This was a clever move by the Griffin Kingdom.
A feast for peace?
Fine.
But let's do it openly, in front of everyone.
That was the intent behind inviting delegations from other countries.
"We even brought our own secret weapon, for use in truly dangerous moments."
Darius grinned and thumbs-upped, prompting Erika to tilt her head.
"Secret weapon?"
"You'll be amazed too, sister-in-law!"
Seeing his hearty, proud demeanor soured Deia's mood. The "sister-in-law" title didn't help.
"The Holy Grail."
She spat it out peevishly, and Darius's mouth fell open.
"Ah, no way. That so easily... "
He stared at Deia, as if she'd revealed it too casually, but she just shrugged.
"No one here doesn't know but him. Forgot Aria and Pindenai retrieved the Holy Grail?"
"Huh? You callin' me?"
Pindenai, who had come back from smoking behind the carriage, dusted herself off and plopped down casually.
"The Holy Grail..."
Erika was startled by the unexpected mention but felt reassured.
Something called the Holy Grail would have supreme effectiveness against demons.
"I never imagined such a thing really existed."
Erika added awkwardly, and Darius nodded vigorously.
"Right, sister-in-law. I didn't know the Holy Grail actually existed either. Seeing that, Dayus... no, Kim Shin-woo... uh, what do I even call him?"
Darius scratched his head in confusion and sought help from Deia.
"Just call him Dayus. That's what they call him over there anyway."
"Hey, 'over there'? Call her properly 'sister-in-law.'"
"No wedding yet, so tone down the fuss!"
"This kid might seem like this, but she's a good girl. Her nagging is kinda cute... well, not really..."
He tried praising Deia but ended up clearing his throat and steering back.
"Anyway, how'd he know about something like the Holy Grail? Dayus is really capable, huh?"
"Sigh."
"That guy might look it, but he's full of affection...!"
Deia gave up shaking her head to stop Darius. He began pouring out Dayus's virtues to Erika but didn't last three minutes.
"......"
He could count Dayus's merits on one hand without using all fingers. Others might disagree, but Darius couldn't think of many.
Stoic.
Impossible to read his thoughts.
Speaks casually to his brother.
'What the hell.'
Why did only negatives come to mind the more he thought?
Lost in such thoughts, Darius was interrupted by Pindenai adding fuel to the fire while tossing more wood onto the bonfire.
"He's surprisingly considerate."
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
Exclamations came from both sides.
Deia and Erika's surprised voices didn't faze Pindenai's blunt continuation.
"More kind than expected. Shows consideration in unexpected places and situations."
"Oh, I know that too. He holds doors, or takes you out if you haven't eaten dinner."
That's why I sometimes skip dinner on purpose and visit his lab! Aria added.
The bold remark from the schoolgirl drew agreement and a grin from Pindenai.
"He even lets us pick the menu. Thanks to that, we get to eat fancy stuff."
"Right!"
Pindenai was the maid's perspective, Aria Rias the student's.
The two who had unexpectedly spent a lot of time with Dayus at the academy got excited and chattered away.
"Sometimes when he's reading, his jawline looks sexy!"
"Made me wanna lick it."
"Huh? I get the vibe, but... is he really that beastly?"
"Better than you, who drew weird pictures of the master."
"Shut up! That was Elenoa, not me! I was just watching!"
Aria quickly threw the princess under the bus. It was amusing, but confusing for Darius and Deia.
"More importantly, Professor Erika's the one that bugs me! Weren't you supposed to break off the engagement?"
Aria's bombshell to escape the Dayus drawing incident. Darius's eyes widened as he looked at Erika.
She sheepishly smiled faintly and shook her head.
"You don't know yet. I haven't given up."
A quite meaningful remark.
Darius calmed his urge to fuss, but now Deia's eyes twitched slightly.
Their gazes met naturally. Various emotions passed between them.
As always, it was Pindenai who shattered the static atmosphere.
"Eh, whether he marries or not doesn't matter."
She drawled indifferently, repeating something she'd overheard.
"Isn't the exclusive maid always the one the master truly loves?"
"What nonsense is that."
Aria glared in disbelief, while Erika protested with silence.
Despite the sharp, heavy stares pouring from all sides, Pindenai didn't flinch.
"That's what they say. Sneaking hand-holds behind the scenes, escaping the wife's stress for love with a voluptuous, alluring maid—stories like that are common, right?"
"Who... said that crap."
Erika ground her teeth; the image was vividly forming in her mind. Probably Dayus making love to Pindenai, ignoring her.
"Iluania. Said she's seen it a few times, surprisingly."
Iluania, who had wandered brothels, had seen plenty of such muddy fights and was well-versed.
As the conversation thickened.
Kisses taste like lemon...!
Actually, that...
Sneaky!
Deia hurriedly returned to the carriage, as if fleeing the shock, while such talk burned away upon reaching the bonfire.
* * *
"Wow."
"Impressive."
Passing Flower Garden, a few more days passed, and they arrived at Clockwork, the capital of the Clock Republic.
Seeing the towering walls, Deia and Darius could only voice honest admiration.
The walls soared so high it was unclear what they meant to block. Falling from that height would mean not just instant death but the body exploding and scattering.
In front of the wall requiring them to crane their necks fully upward, Deia handed Dayus the warp marker she had.
"Hu, hu, hu!"
Nervous, he took deep breaths several times, glancing around. His hand shook visibly as he took the warp marker from Deia.
"You're a Necromancer now. You're responsible for warping the kingdom's honored guests."
It wasn't difficult.
Just go to the spot guided by the Republic, insert the warp marker, and the kingdom's delegation in Graypond would warp here.
But for a wastrel who drank, whored, and drugged, it was quite a heavy responsibility.
"Get it together. Emotionless eyes. Exactly! Like this."
Deia mimicked Necromancer Dayus's glare. Being siblings, she captured a similar vibe.
"Keep replies short. Actually, I'll be beside you, so don't answer. I'll cover with your right hand being injured and speech inconvenient."
"Mm."
Slap!
Deia finally slapped the cheek of Dayus, who wasn't fully alert.
Startled, Dayus stared blankly at her, and Deia yelled.
"Get it together! You're not wastrel Dayus now. You're Necromancer Dayus, the face of the kingdom and delegation leader. Be confident! Cool and composed!"
"...I'll, I'll try."
"Not 'try.' You must. At least until the real one wakes."
Dayus swallowed hard and nodded that he understood.
It was awkward and uneasy, but he at least tried to mimic it.
The carriage stopped after passing the wall.
Outside the window, Republic soldiers welcoming them grandly cleared a path.
"Sigh."
Time was up, but Dayus still wasn't fully alert. Deia finally pulled out a photo.
"Take this."
"Huh?"
Trembling, clutching the warp marker with his left arm, he took the photo.
It showed Iluania smiling while holding a small child.
"Ah..."
The woman Dayus Verdi had truly loved. For the child she bore, he had even abandoned his body and chosen repose.
"Steel yourself. For those two, at least."
"You got this!"
Encouraged by Deia and Darius from behind, Dayus mustered some courage and nodded.
He tucked the precious photo of Iluania into his bosom.
Pindenai opened the carriage door from outside.
For a moment, as Necromancer.
No, as an actor, Dayus Verdi's time began.