Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Resolution
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Aftermath
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“You told me not to cancel the restaurant reservation, so I didn’t. I did good, right?”
“......”
Should I say you did good?
Carlyle looked around, sitting on pins and needles.
If there was one fortunate thing about the current situation, it was that they were in a sealed private room where no one outside could hear them.
Carlyle, Gray, and Cardinal Felix were seated at a large table.
“......”
None of them had touched the food set before them, and an awkward silence flowed in the room.
No, to be precise, it wasn’t that no one was touching the food.
“Ahhh—”
“......”
Carlyle looked at Felix with a pale face.
Felix, who was smiling beamingly, had cut a piece of steak and was holding it right up to Carlyle's mouth.
“What is this? What are you aiming for?”
Why is a person who could kill someone in less than 10 seconds from where she sat doing this right now?
“Why are you being so hurtful? Is it so strange to cut food and feed it to a patient?”
“Yes.”
“......”
Felix waved the fork around with a sullen expression.
However, there was nothing Carlyle could do about it.
Across from them, Gray hadn't touched the food in front of her and was glaring at him.
“.........”
And then, suddenly.
Gray picked up the steel bowl placed in front of her with both hands.
Immediately, Crunch.
Gray folded the plate into a ball without using any effort at all.
She hadn't used magical power; she had done it purely with brute strength.
“It seems you two have gotten very close.”
Gray spoke nonchalantly while kneading the steel with her bare hands.
......Watching the metal transform freely as if it were modeling clay, Carlyle felt as though his own body overlapped with that image.
“When did that happen?”
“......”
“Cardinal Felix, was your personality always like this?”
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
The Holy Sword had already informed him that she was angry because Carlyle had acted on his own accord.
It would be better if she were visibly furious like usual, but Gray’s current demeanor was like frozen ice.
She looked fine on the outside, but the moment you touched her, your flesh would be torn away.
The problem was that Felix, who was sitting right here, was the type of person who didn't care about such things in the slightest.
“So.”
Smiling brightly, and without even sparing a glance toward Gray.
Felix opened her mouth.
“What was that?”
“......”
......It felt like his breath was choked off.
As expected of this person. The usual buildup that precedes this kind of conversation simply didn't exist with her.
“That was a strike even Lady Chasefield couldn't pull off.”
“......”
“The Capital Defense Force has been turned upside down, too. Asking who on earth did that. It’s only a matter of time before it reaches the ears of the Imperial Family. Everyone will probably want to find out who is capable of such a feat.”
“......”
“Well—that’s assuming someone doesn’t ‘hide’ you.”
Cardinal Felix said this while continuing to wave the fork she was still holding out in front of Carlyle.
“I don’t know about other places, but if you get marked by the Imperial Family, it gets tiring.”
“......”
He knew.
He had learned just how reckless that place could be through countless regressions.
He was already busy enough guarding Gray’s surroundings and the events happening nearby; he absolutely refused to have his time taken up by them.
“So, if you tell me honestly, I’ll protect you. Even the Imperial Family wouldn’t want to carelessly make an enemy of me. How about it?”
The piece of cut steak moved a little closer to his eyes.
......The dripping juices looked quite delicious. Almost enough to make him want to accept it right then and there.
But, even so.
“......Cardinal Felix.”
Carlyle forced a smile onto his face and spoke.
“I will handle it myself.”
“......”
“I am truly grateful for your help this time. Thanks to you, we overcame a major crisis. I will repay that favor to the best of my ability.”
But, strictly speaking.
“......I decline getting involved with you professionally.”
Getting involved with her felt like it would be just as tiring, if not more so, than the alternative. It certainly wouldn't be less.
And besides, how could he possibly explain everything to her?
That he was a person who had repeated countless regressions, that the Empire would soon be destroyed by Demons, that she was someone destined to fail and die, and that even Gray here would fail to protect humanity, leading to the entire continent being utterly destroyed?
He would be lucky if Gray didn't draw her sword immediately, thinking he was insulting her.
“......Is that so.”
Felix grinned and retracted the fork toward herself.
Instead, she pulled her chair forward and sat right in front of Carlyle, chin in hand.
......A heavy pressure radiated from the Cardinal’s face as she thrust it right up to his.
“Well, fine. You don’t have to explain. I’m going to start digging into you properly now anyway.”
“......”
“How should I put it? I feel tempted. It’s the first time I’ve met a guy who is unpredictable from one to ten.”
Starting with his suspiciously thorough knowledge of Gray, whom he had known for only a short time on paper.
She became convinced, especially through this incident.
From knowing information about the Demons, to the ability to find the sole ‘correct answer’ on how to minimize sacrifices in this situation.
In other words.
The way he knew exactly everything about things that had never once revealed themselves.
“I’ve suspected this from before, but you.”
It was, almost as if.
“Don’t tell me you know the future?”
“......”
—It felt like poison was seeping into his ears.
His entire body went cold.
It was very fragmentary, and only a part of it, but...
This person.
She had arrived at the correct answer regarding Carlyle’s identity on her own.
He felt his blood vessels constricting.
“......No.”
His mind spun rapidly.
He didn't know what to say, but he understood that the abilities he had shown required some kind of explanation.
If there was an excuse he could squeeze out...
“I’ve just had a lot of interest in Demons for a long time.”
Something like this would have to do.
Cardinal Felix let out a hollow laugh as if it were absurd.
“You’ve been interested in Demons?”
“I’ve had many run-ins with them since I was young.”
“Run-ins?”
“Uh......”
He somehow managed to smile and respond.
What should he say?
Let’s roll the brain.
‘So, surely I...’
This person named ‘Carlyle Bellfast’ was, to Carlyle’s knowledge, someone who had left no trace in this world.
The reason was simple. His past was truly insignificant.
Parents with a mediocre past somewhere were swept up in an unfortunate accident and died after giving birth to him. He grew up entrusted to an orphanage and enlisted in the Imperial Army.
That was the history of the past he knew. Transparent information so common and insignificant that not even a record remained.
And if it was that insignificant.
It was undoubtedly suitable for ‘fabricating’ something.
“There was a bit of an accident when I was young. Related to Demons.”
He embellished his words as if they were significant.
......There probably wasn't anything like that, but he made it up anyway.
Felix’s eyes narrowed.
“An accident?”
“My entire family was swept up in it. Because of that, I’ve kept an interest in them.”
In fact, this didn't explain anything at all. He was leaving out all the important parts.
Effectively, it was an excuse on the level of saying, ‘I wish you wouldn’t take an interest in me’ in a roundabout way.
“—”
The reaction was.
More dramatic than expected.
Cardinal Felix’s pupils trembled for a moment.
Unlike someone who never openly revealed her emotions, she was visibly flustered.
For a reaction like this to come from someone with her standards, it meant she had received a shock enough to crack her mental state.
“......?”
Uh.
Why?
Was there an element in what he just said that was shocking enough to warrant that?
“......Do you, by any chance, remember who your parents were?”
“No. I don’t remember anything clearly. It happened so long ago.”
Should he say he doesn't remember? It wasn't something that happened in the first place.
“Is...... that so?”
Felix answered with difficulty and turned her gaze away.
She looked as if her mind was complicated.
Something.
It looked as if her emotions had become jumbled because a very old memory had surfaced.
“......”
“......”
An awkward silence fell.
Felix fidgeted awkwardly and stayed still in front of Carlyle.
“......Hey, you know.”
“Yes?”
“Shall we move locations?”
“......Yes?”
“That thing just now, there was a lot of content I wanted to ask about.”
“......”
Hmm.
It felt like he stepped on a landmine.
He intended to drop her interest, but somehow it felt like he had attracted even more interest in a strange place.
“Lady Chasefield, I’m sorry, but could you please give us some space?”
To the point where she made such a request to Gray.
Naturally.
Upon hearing those words, Gray’s expression crumpled instantly.
“......You’re not even hiding it anymore, Cardinal Felix.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. But the content just now is something I simply can’t pass over—”
“Do whatever you want.”
Such words flowed from Gray’s mouth, her entire face frowning.
“......Since I’m going back.”
Those words dropped abruptly.
“Seems like only the two of you are having a very interesting conversation. There’s nothing I know about. It’s annoying.”
Something.
Her voice sounded disappointed.
Towards Carlyle, who was full of things he was hiding.
“I had something to say, but I guess it doesn’t matter anymore.”
Then, she kicked her chair back and disappeared.
At the unexpected reaction, Carlyle stared blankly at her retreating figure.
Mistakenly or not.
Her tone made her seem upset enough that a chill ran down his spine.
How should he put it?
Didn't it feel like she was completely fed up with him now?
Something felt like he shouldn't let her go like that.
[......No, surely it's not to that exten—]
“—I’m sorry, Cardinal! Let’s talk later!”
He heard the Holy Sword saying something, but Carlyle hurriedly got up from his seat and chased after Gray.
◆
“Lady—!”
“......?”
Gray, who was walking down the main street, turned around at the voice calling her desperately.
“......Ha?”
Immediately, a voice of disbelief flowed from her mouth.
Because.
......There was Carlyle, coming towards her with his whole body in a wreck.
Blood was pouring from all over his body, and shards of unknown glass were embedded in his limbs. The way he limped, as if one of his legs was broken, was quite pitiful.
In fact, the people walking on the street were all freaking out and looking in his direction.
“......”
Gray turned her gaze far away, looking at the restaurant building she was in just a moment ago.
The glass window was shattered to pieces.
It was a place that had to be at least 5 stories high.
“Did you jump from there?”
......No wonder she heard a faint human scream earlier.
If that was the case, this appearance made sense.
No, wait. He jumped from the 5th floor with his bare body, wrecking his body to this extent, and caught up to her who was far away while limping in that state?
“Ah, it seemed like the Lady had already gone far away. I had no luxury of time if I wanted to catch up.”
“......Why would you do such a thing?”
“I really wanted to tell you this.”
Carlyle took a deep breath and bowed his head deeply.
“I am sorry for hiding this and that! I am sorry for not being able to properly explain what I am hiding!”
“......Huh?”
“However, even so, I am!”
Gray’s blank voice dropped, but Carlyle’s intense voice covered over it.
“Even if I’m beaten to death, I am on the Lady’s side—!”
“......”
“I am sorry I cannot explain, but I will absolutely never do anything that harms the Lady. I swear it—!”
“......”
Hearing those words, Gray.
Looked at Carlyle for a moment.
Blankly.
For so long that Carlyle became slightly anxious.
“......”
Hmm.
Did he make a mistake?
He did it because she looked seriously upset, unlike her usual self, and he wanted to relieve her mood somehow.
This person was the type who would discard those around her without hesitation if she got properly angry once.
As he was chewing on that anxiety and looking at Gray.
“Pfft.”
She.
Laughed.
“Pu, ha, hahahaha—!”
Heartily.
“......”
[......]
Carlyle and the Holy Sword revealed bewildered expressions simultaneously.
This person, ‘laughing’ like this.
It was a sight he was seeing for the very first time.
“You, did you do this because I looked like I was in a bad mood?”
“Uh......”
“I wasn’t angry to that extent.”
“......Yes?”
“I just felt bad seeing the Cardinal wagging her tail at you.”
She said it was just because seeing the two of them giggling together was annoying.
That was all, she said.
“.............Uh, however.”
Was the part Carlyle didn't explain a bit of a big deal?
The strike he launched with the Holy Sword was definitely something anyone would question the identity of.
He thought she would definitely be angry that he was hiding something like that without telling her.
“......Is that such a big deal?”
“Yes?”
“It’s not the first time you’ve been hiding various talents. And above all.”
Gray’s lips twisted.
“I can’t copy it right now either, but honestly, I don’t think it’s something to make such a fuss about. It wasn’t a strike that could be called that amazing, was it?”
“......”
“That, I feel like I could use it pretty soon myself.”
“......”
......Aha.
I see.
So, from this person's perspective, that strike itself wasn't such a huge deal in the first place.
Since the thing inside the Holy Sword was a version of herself fully grown, she could certainly think that way.
[......Hmm.]
The sound of the Hero inside the Holy Sword voicing his thoughts rose up.
[She says some interesting things, this cheeky brat.]
“......”
Why was he burning with competitive spirit against his own self?
Anyway, if that was really all, then it was a relief.
[......See, didn't I say it wasn't to that extent?]
‘No, I was anxious.’
This person was a bit like a bomb. No matter how close they were, she was someone who could explode immediately if things went even a little wrong.
As he was thinking that.
Gray suddenly opened her mouth.
“Ah— right. There was something I originally intended to say.”
“Yes?”
“Vespa and that kid. They told me to say thank you.”
“......”
When the crisis occurred.
It seems she was quite moved by the fact that the first people Gray sought out were ‘them’.
Gray herself absolutely wouldn't have said it, but Siona must have managed to convey it in a roundabout way.
It must be a message of thanks received thanks to that.
Hearing that, Gray clearly.
......Said it wasn't a bad feeling.
Even if they were humans of ‘relatively no value’.
Even if it was a thank you heard from ‘close’ humans.
“If you hadn’t forcibly pushed me into it, it would have been a feeling I never would have felt.”
“......”
“......So, well. I was angry at first that you did such a thing without asking me. But it wasn’t bad. That’s what I originally intended to say.”
“I am glad, My Lady.”
“Apart from that, the Cardinal looking close to you earlier was seriously annoying to death, though.”
“......”
Gray stared quietly at Carlyle, then smirked again.
How should she put it?
Just because she ‘looked like she was in a bad mood’, a guy who jumped from the 5th floor without any hesitation.
Even while being a wreck, he desperately chased after her, and while dropping his usual sly demeanor, the sight of him speaking with burning flames in his eyes was...
Well.
“......I’ll let you off once.”
“Yes?”
“Since I’m in a good mood right now.”
Her chest felt slightly...
To the point where it pounded incomprehensibly.
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-System Message
▶ Trait ‘Cardinal's Ideal Type’ activates!
▶ ‘Scheduled Trait’ manifests!
[ ♠ Obsession 0% → 20% ]
▶ Reward is added!
▶ Target shows even more interest in your past!
-System Message
▶ Trait ‘Hero's Companion’ activates.
[ ★ Interest 0% → 40% ]
▶ Reward is added!
▶ ‘Positive Traits’ are sufficiently abundant to meet the threshold.
▶ ‘Negative Traits’ are sufficiently low to meet the threshold.
▶ The Hero's opinion of ‘comrade’ gradually changes.
▶ Additional event related to ‘Hero's Comrade’ is generated!
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