Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Key
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It wasn't all that rare for people to recognize her as the Hero and try to strike up a conversation, but in most cases, they backed off, crushed by Gray's sharp, intimidating presence.
Among them, the reason she was bothering to keep company with this particular guy was... well.
Probably because his smiling face happened to resemble the man she'd been most preoccupied with lately.
‘It resembles him if you say it does, and doesn't if you say it doesn't.’
That was Gray's conclusion after sitting at the outdoor café table and scrutinizing the man's face.
Something about it.
Was subtle.
There were definitely elements that evoked Carlyle, but it wasn't a perfect match by any means.
...It was the kind of resemblance that might make sense if Carlyle had 'inherited' something from this man.
Though, he didn't look anywhere near old enough to be father and son.
Brother and younger sibling with a decent age gap felt more believable.
“...So.”
Gray spoke up calmly.
“What are you, anyway?”
“Nothing much.”
In response to Gray's question, the man replied immediately and took a sip of his tea.
“No name or anything... so, Nameless would be appreciated.”
“That's straight-up mental illness territory. You know that?”
“...”
“No name, my ass... Late-bloomer puberty hitting you now? You messing with me?”
“...”
“You're supposed to grow out of that shit in your teens. Pulling it at your age is just pathetic.”
The man quietly closed his eyes at her venomous words.
...He clearly hadn't expected the conversation to turn this vicious.
“Quite the unique one. Makes sense you'd get along with Carlyle.”
The moment the words left his mouth.
Blood trickled down from the man's neck.
“...”
Nameless blankly stared at his own neck.
Gray, the one who'd done it, calmly set the holy sword down on the table.
The blade's tip was stained with the exact same liquid flowing from the man's neck.
“Well, red blood means you're not demon chow, at least.”
Gray said indifferently, scratching her nose.
“Hey. If you're gonna play mysterious shadow figure, count me out.”
Annoying how he was dropping hints that he knew her connection to Carlyle.
Lately, too many assholes trying to jerk her around, and she was already pissed.
Her voice remained even.
But her hand stayed gripped on the holy sword's hilt.
A chilling warning on full display.
...One more swing, and it'd hit a vital spot.
“Spit it out straight. What's your deal with him?”
“...”
And with the Hero's killing intent right in his face, Nameless slowly sipped his tea with unflappable composure.
In the meantime, the wound Gray had carved into him was steadily knitting closed.
Something black welled up near the skin, slithered over, and clung to the injury.
“...”
Gray's eyes narrowed.
She'd seen that before.
...Exactly like when Carlyle had come back from the brink of death that one time.
The same underlying mechanism driving the body.
“...Gonna have to revoke the no-demon-connection verdict.”
“Yes, there is a connection. But I'm not under any Archdemons.”
“What?”
“-Once Corruption hits its limit, anyone ends up like this. Turns you into a human-based demon. Something like the ones on your side.”
“...”
“Ring any bells?”
Something about this man.
He was definitely tied to Carlyle.
Deeply so.
His next words only confirmed it.
“I know Carlyle.”
Nameless said with a smile.
“Not close friends or anything, but we know each other.”
“How do you know him?”
“Made the guy... something like that. He'd buy it if he heard.”
“...What?”
“Or we could say I unilaterally like him. He'd steer clear of me, though.”
“..............”
Gray eyed the man like he gave her the creeps.
“You gay or something? Bad case of stalking dudes who aren't into it?”
“...No.”
“Then why phrase it like... whatever, be straight with me. I don't got hang-ups about that stuff—”
“...I said no.”
After Nameless broke a sweat denying it, the conversation barely got back on track.
“Anyway, the fact you're sitting here with me means you're at least curious about me too, Hero.”
“...”
Nameless watched Gray's reaction carefully as he said it.
Her face was twisted in a fierce scowl, but she was still listening.
“Well, like I said earlier, I think pretty highly of Carlyle. That's why I approached you this time.”
“...Sounds shady as hell, no matter how you slice it.”
Gray said, digging in her ear.
This guy.
Not giving off total bad-guy vibes, but no urge to get chummy either.
...Couldn't read his intentions at all.
But his next words were sure to snag her attention.
“Carlyle barely gives a damn about you, right?”
“...”
“Feels like there's this massive wall up, doesn't it?”
“...What're you driving at?”
When Gray shot back curtly, the man pulled something from his pocket and set it down in front of her.
A glass vial containing a sloshing liquid.
“...The hell is this?”
“What do you think? Hint: something that'll grab Carlyle's full attention.”
“Aphrodisiac?”
“...”
“...Pheromone spray?”
“...Hero.”
“...You told me to guess.”
“.........”
Nameless let out an awkward laugh.
“Perfume. Just spritz it on your body.”
“Perfume? You're saying that'll get his interest?”
...Hated to admit it, but.
Having observed him up close for so long, Gray knew better than anyone just how oblivious Carlyle could be.
He just shrugged wordlessly, even though it sounded highly dubious.
“One promise?”
“What?”
“If it works for you, meet me one more time after.”
“...What?”
“I want Carlyle to be happy.”
...Something.
-I want you to be happy, Hero.
A line she'd heard plenty before.
Gray tensed up and glared at the man.
The kind of phrase a certain guy practically had tattooed on his tongue.
“Carlyle's heart... it's shackled to the past. Unless you unlock that padlock, no one gets close to him.”
Nameless tapped the perfume vial matter-of-factly as he spoke.
“You're the only one I can ask, Hero.”
“And this perfume helps with that?”
“Absolutely.”
“...”
Gray uncorked the perfume vial and inspected the contents.
It was literally just perfume.
No lingering traces of any special powers, and even probing it with her mana turned up no suspicious substances.
‘...Seems harmless enough to try.’
Just perfume, really.
No harm in giving it a shot, even if it turned out to be a bust.
“...What if I blow you off and don't meet up?”
“Then you'd have to crack his heart open on your own. Not gonna force it.”
“...Hmph.”
“Well, if you don't like it, just kill me whenever. You've got the power for it, no matter who it is.”
“Coming from you, that just makes you sound shadier.”
“Corruption might be turning me demonic, but you'd still drop me.”
Nameless replied with a blank expression.
“Carlyle proved it countless times with his own body.”
“...Huh?”
What the hell was this guy on about?
“Making it sound like I've killed him countless times.”
Total nonsense.
Sure, she'd roughed him up plenty, but Gray always reined it in short of real damage.
“...”
Nameless offered no reply, just bowed his head quietly.
A bitter smile played on his lips.
“...They say all roads to Hell are paved with good intentions. No idea if what I'm doing is right.”
“Huh?”
“One request. Hero—don't run away.”
“What the—you've been—”
“Carlyle never ran. No matter the pain, the hardship, no ordeal ever crushed him into fleeing.”
“...”
“It's your turn now.”
Nameless slid the perfume across the table toward Gray.
“This is the beginning.”
...She hadn't understood a single word.
“...”
But there wasn't a lie among them—that much, Gray could tell.
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