Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Encounter (2)
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“I’ve got something I want to ask.”
[What?]
“What did you do to our lady?”
[⋯⋯Out of nowhere?]
It was a remark Carlyle tossed out abruptly on the way to Gray’s room, but it wasn’t exactly like pulling a topic out of thin air in the dead of night.
-System Log
▶ A ‘Secret Meeting with the Hero’ event has been added.
▶ A relationship with the ‘Holy Sword’ and ‘Hero’ may be established!
And judging from past experience, if something like this popped up in the quest window, it meant some kind of incident was definitely going to happen.
In that sense, the Holy Sword was somehow going to make contact with Gray—
[Nothing happened.]
“⋯⋯Right?”
Considering how this person had acted toward his past self so far, it didn’t seem like he was particularly eager to run into her.
He’d done everything he could to avert his gaze from his own dark history, tormented by it.
[Not right now.]
“⋯⋯.”
Hm.
⋯⋯Hm.
The ominous tone suggested it would happen eventually, but there was nothing to be done about that.
Even if he tried to minimize contact and hide it now, it would eventually be nearly impossible to keep secret that the Hero was inside here.
This was the Hero, after all. Hiding the fact that she was blasting exclusive skills left and right would be impossible in the end.
Of course, he wanted to delay it as much as possible.
There were just too many things that would be hard to explain.
“You’re late.”
“⋯⋯.”
The moment he knocked on the door, Gray flung it open with a fierce scowl, prompting him to mull over those thoughts once more.
Every vein bulging on her forehead screamed irritation. It was a wonder how she could be this furious every single moment despite not usually showing her anger so openly⋯⋯
“⋯⋯Sorry.”
“Come in.”
He cautiously stepped into Gray’s room.
She kept it meticulously clean as always, so it didn’t feel out of place.
But having a private one-on-one conversation like this was a first.
At night, no less.
In secret.
About something important.
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
Naturally.
Even Carlyle, who would normally take the lead in conversation, found himself fidgeting awkwardly.
What was it?
It didn’t feel like sparks flying between a man and a woman, more like a father consulting on his daughter’s secret worries⋯⋯
[Maggot bastard.]
“⋯⋯.”
He’d evolved past bastard now into something even lower, but anyway.
While he squirmed, Gray quietly took a seat and closed her eyes for a long while.
She seemed to be choosing her words.
And after that endless silence, the words that finally emerged were—
“⋯⋯First off, thanks.”
“Yes?”
“Why are you breaking out in cold sweat just hearing a thank-you?”
“⋯⋯.”
Considering who he was hearing it from, of course he would.
She’d said thanks or sorry a few times before, actually.
But every time he heard it directly, a chill ran down his spine—no helping it.
“Thanks to you, I realized the others are more useful than I thought. If something really urgent comes up, I might even ask you to handle a few things.”
“⋯⋯.”
“That’s what you wanted to show me, right?”
At her follow-up, Carlyle unconsciously smiled.
‘⋯⋯Exactly.’
As expected, a young lady learned fast. She was definitely soft and malleable.
The adult Gray he’d met later would’ve snapped at him for unnecessary help, but she quickly grasped the lesson he wanted to impart.
[⋯⋯.]
‘⋯⋯Don’t glare.’
[⋯⋯I’m not.]
Someone seemed sulky at the comparison, but oh well.
“But let me ask one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“You volunteered to go first this time because you were worried about me, right?”
“⋯⋯.”
Well.
As for that—
“Yes.”
“⋯⋯.”
Her answer shot out without hesitation, and Gray twisted her lips, propping her chin on the armrest.
“⋯⋯Dad’s gonna make a fuss again.”
“Yes?”
“Every time you do that, he says it’s proof you like me and nags me to get along with you until my ears fall off. Claims you’re the only one who can handle me.”
“⋯⋯.”
⋯⋯He’d heard from the Holy Sword that Lionel got weepy sentimental about that stuff more than he seemed.
“What did you say back, my lady?”
Of course, the way Gray casually relayed it to him revealed her stance on the topic indirectly.
And her response confirmed it.
“Same as always. I’m not interested.”
“Good. I’m not really into romance either.”
“⋯⋯.”
Gray nodded slowly.
Then fell into thought for a moment.
“⋯⋯⋯.”
⋯⋯And her expression gradually soured.
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Finally, with her face fully crumpled, she grabbed a book from nearby and chucked it at Carlyle’s chest across from her.
The leather-bound volume flew fast, smacking him square in the chest and toppling him over in his chair with a crash.
“⋯⋯.”
Why?
No, seriously, why⋯⋯?
“Don’t pile on like that.”
“⋯⋯Yes?”
“It feels like you’re rejecting me. Pisses me off.”
“⋯⋯.”
“If I end up liking you, shouldn’t you be groveling with ‘thank you’?”
“⋯⋯.”
“Where in the world is there anyone as great as me—”
“⋯⋯My lady, I doubt you called me here for this.”
He cut her off before she veered too far off track.
Gray took a deep breath at his words.
“⋯⋯Anyway, that’s not why I called you.”
“Yes.”
“⋯⋯Do you know the name Aria Chasefield?”
“⋯⋯.”
“I figured you did. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be so⋯⋯connected.”
Carlyle blinked blankly.
He’d gotten a similar question from Felix before. Someone’s name, asking if he knew them.
And it seemed he’d have to give the exact same answer as back then.
‘⋯⋯Who’s that?’
First time hearing the name.
Chasefield sounded like Gray’s relative, though.
Fortunately, unlike with Felix—
There was someone nearby who clearly knew the name.
[Groooooan⋯⋯]
“⋯⋯.”
A voice groaned in clear, horrified reaction to the name.
[That delusion—it’s real nightmare fuel. Hate it, hate it so much.]
‘⋯⋯What are you talking about?’
[Long story short, she seems to think I’m her mother right now.]
‘⋯⋯.’
[⋯⋯Are you holding back laughter?]
‘No. Why would I?’
Carlyle gritted his teeth in response.
No matter what, laughing here would get him beaten by both Gray and the Holy Sword.
Talk about a minefield.
Don’t laugh, Carlyle Bellfast.
Absolutely do not laugh⋯⋯
‘Wait, if she’s under that misunderstanding, how do we explain it?’
She must’ve ‘seen’ Gray inside the Holy Sword somehow to say that.
From Carlyle’s perspective, at least, he couldn’t think of a calm way to explain it to Gray.
Especially since he didn’t even know what her relationship with her mother was.
[Just leave it be.]
But once again, a sigh came from the Holy Sword with that reply.
[⋯⋯If she’s mistaken like that, we might be able to use it to our advantage.]
‘Yes?’
[⋯⋯.]
At Carlyle’s question, the Holy Sword went silent.
As if calculating something in its head.
[⋯⋯No need to correct her for now. Trust me and stay quiet.]
‘Er⋯⋯I don’t know the details, but isn’t this about her mother? Sensitive stuff?’
[Exactly why we take it slow. Rush it, and you’ll touch a raw nerve.]
Fair point.
This guy.
Why was he suddenly spouting socially savvy, considerate, persuasive insights on human emotions⋯⋯?
‘Be honest. What are you scheming?’
[⋯⋯What scheme if I say that?]
‘Put your hand on your heart and say it.’
[⋯⋯.]
The Holy Sword let out a deep sigh before responding.
[Sometimes you need to cooperate even with someone you hate to look at.]
‘Yes?’
[There are things I want to do that I can’t because I’m stuck to you. We keep each other in check.]
‘⋯⋯?’
[Just as you try to change me, I want to change you too. So sometimes, even if I hate it, I need outside help.]
To crack even a fissure in that ironclad fortress that seems unbreakable.
“⋯⋯.”
What the hell was that cryptic nonsense?
Carlyle blinked and asked.
‘⋯⋯Huh?’
[Something like that.]
The Holy Sword replied in a suspiciously sly tone.
If he could see its face, it’d probably be grinning wickedly.
[You just stay put.]
◆
‘He’s not saying anything.’
Gray thought that as she watched Carlyle sitting silently in front of her.
He seemed to be mulling over his words for a while.
‘Is there really something?’
⋯⋯She hadn’t asked thinking there was actually some connection to her mother, but the prolonged silence felt off.
As she tapped her arm impatiently with those thoughts—
Something fluffy appeared before her eyes.
Out of nowhere.
“⋯⋯?”
Gray Chasefield peered closely at what had floated up in front of her.
⋯⋯Letters.
Formed with such subtle balance that only someone like her could possibly see them.
A covert, cunning attempt at communication.
As if.
The man in front of her wanted to talk to her ‘secretly.’
“⋯⋯.”
⋯⋯What the hell?
Gray stared intently at the floating letters with a serious expression for a long time.
The wriggling letters gradually took shape, finally forming a complete sentence.
-To our Gray Princess.
“⋯⋯.”
Gray’s breath caught in her chest.
This was it.
The nickname her mother used for her as a child.
Known to no one else.
Only she and her mother knew.
-Now’s not the time to meet, so don’t rush.
-We’ll surely talk someday.
“⋯⋯!”
She nearly jumped to her feet.
It was real. There really was some connection.
This man was linked to her mother somehow⋯⋯!
-For that, I have a request.
-Please follow these instructions faithfully.
As Gray panted, mana gathered before her eyes again, wriggling into form.
It morphed into a book-like shape. With a title.
Gray read the title on the cover with tense eyes⋯⋯
-[Carlyle Bellfast Guide]
-[Goal: Make her see the daughter-like girl as a woman]
“⋯⋯.”
Gray’s expression went blank.
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