Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: 9. Sylvia (4)
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"I love you."
The words leaked from Aria's tent, where Ian had entered late at night.
Sylvia, who had been tailing him, froze upon hearing them.
Ian made no reply.
"I... I want you."
Sylvia fled after hearing that much.
Any more, and she didn't know what she might do.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Ian replayed what he'd just heard.
Had he misheard?
Had Aria misspoke?
But there was no pretense in Aria's expression.
"...What is this? You call me in for a massage?"
"Sylvia said that's how it was. I tried it out. What do you think?"
"I didn't know you had the nasty hobby of eavesdropping. If that's all, I'll be going."
"Don't go."
Aria made the request calmly.
Ian found it hard to follow this flow.
He had a vague sense that Sylvia liked him.
But the other three? Not at all.
Kaily basically despised Ian, who was far weaker than her.
Beatrice followed him only because it benefited her; she found him annoying otherwise.
Aria had no feelings for him whatsoever.
So Ian had never gotten too close to those three.
The nicknames—except for Sylvia—were just shortened names for convenience.
To begin with, Aria didn't even treat all humans as equals to herself.
In her mindset, humans were on par with objects.
Beings equipped with certain "functions."
Like how a bowl holds food, or rations provide satiety.
Some humans stood watch, some carried loads, some ruled the world.
That was Aria's view.
To such an Aria, Ian was merely a functional human who provided money and fame.
The same applied to Aria herself, in reverse.
To Ian, Aria was one of the humans who would perform the "function" of slaying the Demon King.
"Is this a joke? Not a very funny one."
"It's not a joke. And honestly, I don't love you."
"Ria, explain it so I can understand."
"Hmm..."
Aria pondered briefly, swinging her crossed legs.
Soon, she gazed at Ian with pure, shining eyes.
"I want to have Ian."
Meeting that gaze, he realized.
He had become the object of Aria's greed.
Aria was a person who wanted many things.
At the same time, she knew she couldn't have them all, so she didn't try.
Ian had promised her more than effort could yield, making everything she wanted attainable.
Those desires were usually rare objects, vague admiration from the masses, or someone's recognition.
She had never singled out one individual and wanted them for themselves.
What she sought from people was function, after all.
Even the admiration and recognition she craved were mere functional means.
Yet now, she declared her greed for Ian himself.
"...I'm not an object."
"I know. That's why I want you more. It's my first time wanting to possess a person."
"I have no intention of being owned, but this is so out of left field I'm curious. Why exactly?"
"I realized I can't have you."
Ian hadn't even been on Aria's radar originally.
But the moment she overheard his conversation with Sylvia, it hit her.
No matter what she did, she couldn't have him.
It was a profoundly selfish realization.
She neither needed nor desired him, but confirming his unavailability sparked an irrational want due to scarcity.
Ian let out an incredulous chuckle.
"I thought Kaily had the most warped sanity, but you win."
"So, will you let me?"
"No."
Ian glanced away, then stated firmly.
"I already promised someone else."
"I see..."
"And even without that promise, no. Talk sense."
The distance grew.
The chance of possession dwindled.
So the desire intensified.
The heightened craving conjured the opposite scenario.
'If I can never have you, then what...?'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "I don't wanna."
"Huh?"
"I'm not doing the hero thing. I don't see why I should. Demon King can live or die for all I care."
"Sylvia. Why all of a sudden...?"
"I dunno, I just don't feel like it. Might as well just die outright. There's Aria anyway, and the other members, so it doesn't matter if it's not me."
Ian caught the intent in her final words.
"This because of what happened with Aria yesterday?"
"No?"
"Hah..."
She denied it, but her face gave everything away.
Sylvia occasionally revealed her possessiveness toward him.
He'd just been troubled and soothed her before.
Today, though, he oddly found her possessiveness endearing.
"I said nothing happened. How much did you overhear?"
"Everything."
"Liar."
"Whatever, I'm not doing it."
Ian pondered how to placate her.
Their relationship was already beyond delicate; they'd crossed a line.
Hadn't he even asked her to wait until he slew the Demon King?
That was as good as baring their hearts.
Since it had come to that, Ian had no intention of backing down.
"What'll make our Sylvia feel better?"
"...Hug me first."
Ian obliged.
"And?"
"Don't talk to Aria anymore. Or Mercy. Or Kati."
"...Sylvia. That's not realistic."
"Why? You can just do it."
"I swear I have zero feelings for those three. But they're all key party members, and I'm the one coordinating everyone."
"If I say don't, just don't."
"Sylvia."
They'd confirmed each other's feelings, but wrong was wrong.
"Separate work and personal."
"So you'll talk to them? Am I not enough? Fine, I'm out."
"Sylvia..."
"Whatever, I'm pissed."
Sylvia shoved Ian away and stormed out.
His ribs cracked faintly.
"She really can't control her strength..."
What he'd thought was a brief sulk grew worse by the day.
Learning Ian had a terminal deadline was one cause.
Delusions bloomed: he might die suddenly while she wasn't there.
Ian was often away then, and so was she.
Their time together was scarce.
She couldn't conquer the anxiety, lashing out at others.
Mainly Kati.
"Where's Ian?"
"Master went to scout new suppliers beyond the trade district of our usual ration merchants."
"Bring him back. You could message him or follow him right now."
"Master is busy."
"Why do you keep calling him master? Why's he your master?"
"......"
"Why'd he give you that ring... A demonkin like you..."
Kati remained expressionless in silence.
She had nothing to say.
She knew Sylvia mattered more to him than she did.
Her sole rebellion: secretly moving the ring to her ring finger, then back to her index when Sylvia or Ian might see.
"Ian, why're you so late?"
"Huh? I came back early..."
"You're late! Late! Do you know how long I waited? Who were you with? Women?"
"All men."
"Liar. There were maids too."
"For servers carrying food..."
"And you said nobles include men who lust after other men."
"Why do you only remember the weird stuff?"
Back then, Ian chalked it up to Sylvia's clumsy way of expressing affection.
He believed it'd improve with time.
But her anxiety didn't abate.
She'd escape en route to dungeons to find him, or collapse entire dungeons regardless of nearby villages or terrain.
"Ian! Here?!"
She even barged into meetings with national officials.
Knocking out the guarding soldiers.
"...Sylvia? Why aren't you at the front lines...?"
"Why's there a woman here?"
The woman at the head table recognized Sylvia and stood awkwardly.
Before the regent could introduce herself, Sylvia tried dragging Ian out.
"Wait! What're you...?"
"Why're you with a woman? What'd you talk about?"
Ian scanned the room before replying.
Everyone was flustered by Sylvia's sudden intrusion.
Unable to discuss here, he excused himself and stepped out with her.
"Why are you here?"
"Answer me first."
"...It wasn't just two; there were ten. Nine men."
"That's not the point! Why're you with another woman instead of me?!"
"Sylvia, this border nation is a key supply route near the front, part of the second defensive line; it needs proper management..."
"More important than me?"
The talk kept derailing.
Sylvia wanted to be Ian's one and only in the world.
Nothing else but her.
"Ian. Don't you trust me? Why do others matter for killing the Demon King? Just stay with me. Don't go anywhere. Okay? I'll protect you. I'll kill the Demon King. I'll do everything. Just you and me, okay?"
"Sylvia... You're not there yet."
"Then watch me get stronger by your side."
"And war's coming. What about the others...?"
"Them over me?!"
"You know that's not it. And this isn't you. It's rude."
"Why should I be polite to them?"
"You... Sigh, come apologize with me."
"Why me?"
"Sylvia. That's a meeting for important matters. You can't just barge in or out."
Ian spoke like scolding a child.
Sylvia wanted to refuse but relented under his stern gaze.
"Fine..."
She apologized, but only that once.
He couldn't quell her anxiety.
She had to demand his affection ceaselessly.
"I'm tired. I don't wanna."
"Am I really precious to you? Lately, it doesn't feel like it."
"How much do you like me? Who do you like most in our group? In the world?"
"You didn't wanna see me, right? I knew it."
Whenever that happened, if the victim was just him, Ian tried accommodating her whims.
Watching him fluster thrilled her with a sharp conquest.
Confirming her importance to him was pure joy.
Sylvia was relentless.
Ian couldn't slay the Demon King without her; he'd weaken.
Whatever she said, he'd yield.
She realized that.
Ian knew her words were sulks, not sincere, so he endured despite the strain.
There was responsibility—he'd accepted her love.
Guilt too, for revealing the truth so late.
If emotional dominance satisfied her briefly, he'd bear it.
Then one day.
"Um, this..."
A woman approached Ian with a letter.
"Ah, sure... No sender's name? Where're you from?"
"I, I wrote it."
"...Pardon?"
Ian eyed the shy woman.
Not his first such encounter; as someone vetting vital missives, it was a hassle.
"You can't approach me for things like th—"
A chill.
Instinct screamed.
Ian tackled her without thinking.
Sharp ice flowers bloomed where they'd stood.
"Ian... What're you doing? Why're you holding that woman?"
"Sylvia, what the hell...? What were you trying?!"
"She approached you carelessly. So I..."
"Please, trying to kill over that...?"
Ian noticed the woman still listening.
This could spread ill rumors about the 1st Hero Party.
"My friend's been through a lot lately; sorry. Go now. Tell the elf outside; she'll compensate you suitably."
"Defending this bitch now?"
"Sylvia... It's not that. Do you even realize what you almost did?"
"Doesn't matter."
"It does. You tried to kill someone."
"...Why're you scolding me? Did I do wrong? I, I..."
"Yes, you did."
"Why, why me...?"
Sylvia whined, reaching for a hug; Ian didn't embrace her immediately.
"Promise you won't do it again."
"Just won't do it..."
"And go apologize to her."
Only after tearful promises did he hug her.
He couldn't win against Sylvia ultimately.
He'd egged her on unwittingly, ignored, provoked.
Heavy responsibility lay with him.
Sylvia realized something else.
Even if she did wrong, Ian wouldn't hate her.
That meant he loved her that much.
Thus, the worse she acted, the more profoundly she'd feel his love.
"Don't like this. Make something else."
Sylvia dumped Ian's prepared food on the floor.
Ian complied wordlessly.
She deliberately pushed him away.
Wanting him to cling more.
To crave and show his affection more.
Otherwise, the anxiety overwhelmed.
"Ian... You're really weak. Sometimes I can't fathom why you wanna kill the Demon King. So you need me, right? Only me?"
"I don't get what you're doing, Ian. Don't I suffice? I can overlook the other 1st Party kids. Honestly, you're not much help against the Demon King anyway. So stay with just me."
Before Ian, she belittled him openly.
Yet he hid displeasure, yielding to her.
She no longer raided his official duties.
Instead, she began hitting him upon return.
"Ow, that hurts, you punk."
Her petulant punches and kicks carried clear intent and force.
"I hurt more."
It was justified.
Because of Ian, she hurt.
And the old Ian had hurt her that much.
She believed she had the right to torment him equally.
And Ian would love even such a her.
He had to.
For his past wrongs; it was fitting.
Part of her wanted the old sighing Ian back.
Then she could press him more.
Stimulate his guilt, bind him tighter.
The violence escalated.
Ian never showed pain easily, especially not before Sylvia.
He endured broken bones, healed with potions at night.
Penance for failing to recognize her feelings sooner.
Kati's heart ached seeing him potion-addicted, sleepless.
She knew he bore some blame for Sylvia's twist.
But was this necessary?
Did that justify it?
Of the 1st Party's four, Kati respected Sylvia most.
Jealous, but compared to the others, she at least treated Ian as a person.
Now, though, Kati despised Sylvia most.
She couldn't intervene; it was their issue.
She'd stopped approaching Ian closely lately because of Sylvia.
Instead, his sleepless nights kept her awake too.
Sylvia's nitpicking was daily, but not toward other 1st Party members.
She couldn't.
'They're needed to kill the Demon King...'
She rationalized it that way, but really, she feared.
If she was weaker than Kaily, Beatrice, Aria.
If her odds against the Demon King were lowest.
Ian might discard her.
Ultimately, without Ian, Kati and Mercy bore the fallout.
"Mercy... You know you're the most useless here, right? Can't fight. What's the point for killing the Demon King...? And you nearly got Ian killed, yet you shamelessly stick around."
They hid it from Ian to spare him worry.
But secrets weren't eternal.
"You're alive thanks to Ian."
"......"
"Anyway, to wipe out all demonkin, you'll have to die eventually..."
"Sylvia...? What're you doing?"
"Ian!"
Sylvia beamed innocently, mismatched to her words.
But Ian couldn't smile.
"What'd you just say to Kati...?"
"It's true, isn't it?"
"True how?"
"She is demonkin."
"......"
Sylvia wielded absolute justice.
She was the 1st Hero Party's mage.
Ian loved her, forgave anything.
And he'd hurt her first.
Thus, all her actions were righteous.
"Sylvia, apologize."
"...What?"
"To Kati. For everything she's..."
"Defending the demonkin now?"
"Yeah. Right now, that's correct."
"Correct...?"
Sylvia's face flushed rarely.
Kati interjected cautiously.
"Master, I'm fine—"
"Quiet."
Sylvia's behavior had crossed lines lately.
Fine if aimed at him.
But harming others? He had to stop it.
For Sylvia's sake too.
Sylvia glanced between Kati and Ian, then spat coldly.
"Why should I?"
"You..."
"So, you'll hate me? Stop loving me? Say you don't need me?"
"That's not the issue."
"No, to me, it's always the core."
Same language, different meanings.
No real conversation possible.
Sylvia glared murderously at Kati, then left wordlessly.
This time, Ian didn't follow immediately.
"Master, really, I'm okay."
"Hey, this isn't your first time, is it?"
"......"
"What a mess..."
Ian's thoughts turned to Mercy.
Closest to him here, excluding Sylvia and Kati.
"Don't tell me Mercy too..."
"...No."
"Don't lie to me. It's obvious."
Ian headed to Sylvia's tent.
He could take her sulks toward him, but not this.
"Sylvia."
"Ah, Ian."
Even facing his chillier demeanor, Sylvia was unfazed today.
She just thought:
How much does Ian love me?
Even acting this rotten today, he'd yield eventually.
Partly necessity, but love weighed more.
Guilt was part of love; he must adore her immensely.
Sylvia had pushed boundaries gradually.
Doing what Ian disliked, gauging reactions.
Fine? Push further.
Ian had never pushed her away.
How far before he did?
Would he ever?
"You've been at Mercy too...?"
"Ian, listen."
Sylvia cut in.
"Do you love me?"
"Don't dodge."
"I'm serious. Answer, and I'll answer."
"......"
Ian hesitated.
Not because he didn't.
He just couldn't read her intent now.
Her innocent face meekly demanded reply.
"Sigh... Well..."
Incongruously, he wore an embarrassed, awkward expression never seen before, cleared his throat, and answered cautiously.
First time uttering it in life.
"...Yeah, I love you."
Sylvia swallowed, clutching her racing heart.
Not just hearing the unspoken emotion voiced.
Anticipation burned: how would loving Ian react to her next move?
Untrodden snowfield.
First step into fresh powder.
Sylvia spoke calmly.
"I see... But, y'know."
Suppressing ragged breath, she said evenly.
"I don't love you anymore."
Thoughts and words intertwined.
'You need me.'
"I hate you."
'You have no choice but to love me.'
Like when Ian had hurt her, Sylvia showed a troubled smile.
'I'm doing this because I love you too, so understand.'
Echo of "I love you" became "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry."
'I love you.'