The Cadeliz Duke's Master_2
Intense gazes converged from both sides.
This heavy silence was the first time I'd experienced it.
I hadn't had any experience confronting such a massive figure with killing intent either.
Behind me, Elysia stared blankly into empty space with a dazed expression.
Her lips trembled slightly, but no words came out.
Even the infamous villainess of the Cadeliz family, who never sought help from anyone, seemed to have lost her composure.
Unfortunately, there was no time to exchange various conversations with that complex and subtle expression.
The duke looked down at me coldly and opened his mouth dryly.
"I ask you one last time. It's better to answer carefully, you little punk. What exactly is this stunt?"
"Of course I'm doing my job, Duke. It's work hours, after all."
"You're saying that work is interfering with me?"
"I don't know if it's interfering with the duke or not, but my job is to protect Elysia... I mean, the young lady."
Using the unfamiliar term 'young lady' sent a chill down my spine.
"When I first requested cooperation, I clearly stated that I had written a contract as Elysia's protector. Protecting Chloe was merely an additional request from the duke."
"That doesn't mean you can neglect protecting Chloe. This girl almost got badly injured by the witch's fire yesterday. Isn't that a failure in protection?"
"I haven't neglected anything. If you want, ask Chloe directly. Nothing happened. Moreover, even if something did, prioritizing would mean Elysia comes first. Same as yesterday. That's it."
My words made the duke and Chloe's expressions harden.
"... The contract didn't specify priorities. I'm curious if you can take responsibility for the contract already made."
"Responsibility? Me?"
"Yes."
"Your Highness, have you already forgotten? This contract wasn't made in my name."
"…………."
"The initial contract was a matter where the temple directly requested cooperation from the ducal family. If you're questioning responsibility, ask the church, not me. I'm just a hired errand boy."
"... Hmph. Do you think a little punk like you can pull off wordplay?"
...... Belt?
I gripped the hilt of the sword at my waist, gripped by impulse.
I could draw it. And I could leave here alive.
I grabbed Elysia's wrist and gently pushed her away. She looked at me with dazed eyes before being pushed away obediently.
But those ahead of me were faster.
Naturally, Boris and Lucia filled the vacant spots.
After some hesitation, the judgment was quick. I passed the baton to them.
Since the bothersome task was entrusted to the temple... well... they'll figure it out.
The hand that had touched the hilt was released again.
I heard Boris and Lucia let out small sighs of relief.
"Duke Cadeliz. It's been a while. I'm Boris, the priest and parish priest of the Astasia Church, serving the goddess Astasia. This is Lucia, who protects the will of the goddess Astasia in the same parish."
"It's my first time meeting you, Duke."
"Hmm... It's been a while, Bishop Boris. And it's my first time meeting you, Priestess Lucia."
The duke couldn't hide his discomfort. But he quickly erased his expression. Boris and Lucia also didn't lose their composure and skillfully continued.
"I understand the situation roughly. As Gray said, the contract is with our church. If there's something to discuss, please speak directly through the church."
The prestige of the Astasia Church is unmatched on the continent.
Especially after it was the state religion of the empire that was destroyed long ago, they've maintained neutrality without relying on any single country for a long time while steadily building their power. So, for someone like the duke close to politics, the church couldn't be anything but troublesome.
The problem is that the duke also has no small amount of pride.
The duke scanned me coldly.
Knowing that the gaze was directed at me, Elysia clung to me trembling slightly.
She had never shown weakness before.
That was why I couldn't back down.
The duke opened his mouth.
"Through the church... Rather, I want to know the position of that boy Gray in the temple."
"You mean Gray's position?"
"This boy... is he not a follower of the goddess Astasia... I heard it from somewhere."
"A rumor. How deeply you've delved into the internal affairs of the Astasia Church."
"Bishop, you're quite picky. It's just a rumor, after all. The Astasia Church taking in a vagrant who isn't even a follower and treating them so carefully..."
"I have emphasized this repeatedly."
Boris, who had been smiling gently with a thin smile, cut off the duke's words.
"Gray is not to be treated lightly by anyone. Not just from my perspective, but from the church's stance, which carries the name of the goddess Astasia. Just know that you are not someone you can treat casually. You are a person bearing such responsibility and deeds."
The silence froze as if cold water was poured on it.
Throwing such words in front of the owner of the Cadeliz ducal family means that Boris has exceeded his own position and is using the temple's authority.
In other words, it means he has received such a definite answer from the upper echelons of the church.
"...... It would be troublesome if you have such deep interest in the matters bestowed by the goddess."
"The goddess... I see. Is it that an individual noble doesn't need to know the matter that the all-knowing one personally spoke of?"
"Well, Duke. Save the rest for later. Trivial matters like family, politics, and old-fashioned things aren't very interesting topics in the holy place of learning."
Boris and Lucia gave me a slight glance.
They were probably telling me to take Elysia and leave quickly.
Thank you. I muttered briefly. They nodded with smiles.
I immediately took her and left the place.
***
"Hey, look. The witch is running away. Hehe..."
"Did you hear? They say the witch killed her own parents."
"No way, no matter how much of a witch..."
"No. I heard it directly from Duke Cadeliz just now."
"Really? ... Uuu... It's terrifying."
Following Boris and Lucia's consideration, I immediately took Elysia to a place with little human presence.
Exactly, that's what I intended.
But before long, Elysia stopped abruptly, forcing me to slow down as well.
Students from the academy were still gathering around.
First, I had to get out of here.
I urged her.
"What are you doing? Hurry up and move. And for now, stay away from the academy. Prepare to leave..."
"... Go..."
"Huh? What did you say just now?"
"Go... Go, please... Please..."
Elysia bit her lip and pushed me away. The strength from her small hand wasn't very strong.
I couldn't see her expression well because her head was bowed, but she was persistently guarding her surroundings as if fearing something.
At that time, Chloe appeared as if she had been waiting in the crowd.
"......... Ah! Lady Elysia is here! I've been looking for you for a long time! Good thing."
"........."
"Um... Lady Elysia...? Are you okay? You don't look well."
"........."
"Oh my, Lady Elysia?"
Chloe approached Elysia cautiously, with a tone that seemed careful not to be too careful.
"Is it because of what happened just now? My father being cold to Lady Elysia is all for Lady Elysia's sake. So, please don't mind..."
"... What do you want?"
"What?"
It was clear something was going to happen.
I silently took Elysia's arm, but she bit her lip and pushed me away.
I knew she was already distracted by Chloe, but I hoped she realized that other students were watching blatantly...
"Didn't you hear? What do you want? What exactly do you want from me! You can spend as much money as you want. If you just say it, people around will offer all kinds of gifts, and according to you, most of them will listen. What else do you want?"
"......... Um..."
"Father... Why did you call me? I don't know! I don't know!"
"I didn't call my father..."
"Don't lie!"
"........."
"Is it that you enjoy being beaten and insulted? Or did you want to show this scene to other kids this time?"
"I... I didn't call... Lady Elysia... I got injured a little because of yesterday's incident and received treatment from the family doctor, so it must have reached my father's ears..."
"Yesterday? Burn? ... Don't make fun of me! I know I couldn't control my strength, but no one got hurt at that time! Do you think I can't distinguish that?"
"P... Please don't be angry... Hic!"
"Ah, really..."
Elysia couldn't hold back her anger and raised her hand.
It was clearly a slap.
Chloe's crying was probably calculated to some extent.
But as expected, various words began to pour out as if students were waiting around.
Students muttering about witch, villainess, all pointed fingers at Elysia.
Chloe approached Elysia softly.
"Are you really curious?"
A short whisper near the ear.
It was clear to me nearby.
"I told you before... Lady Elysia. What I want is simple. Just..."
"Chloe. Shut your mouth."
I cut off Chloe's words as if warning her.
Chloe tilted her head and looked at me, but she curled her lips in a way that wouldn't be noticed by those around and whispered the rest of her words to Elysia's ear.
"It's just a matter of time, you know? You know that too, Lady Elysia?"
"........."
"Someday... Just like how you burned the precious people left around you to death, like the previous witch's owner of the red eyes."
"......... Stop..."
"This is fate. Considering the fate of the previous witch's red eye owners, it's a natural result."
"... Please stop... Please..."
"Even the most precious person... with those eyes..."
"................"
"Since you already have experience, you probably know better than me?"
"... Please stop..."
Elysia clutched her chest and panted.
Her eyes began to burn red. When emotions intensify, the witch's red eyes become sensitive.
Instantly, a flash of blood-red fire erupted.
".........!"
The flames wrapped around my shoulder and arm like a living snake, brushing my neck. If Elysia hadn't pushed me away in surprise, it would have been badly injured.
I know it wasn't intentional.
Elysia stiffened as if she had received a huge shock.
"No... Ya... Gray. No, I... I... I did that on purpose..."
"Elysia. Calm down. I know."
"Gray, sorry... Sorry... I... I... Ah... Ahhh... Ahhh... Again... Again... People..."
"No, it's okay. Nothing happened. Elysia? Come to your senses. Look at me. Come here."
"Hah... Same as before... I... I..."
"Don't think. Don't look at anything else. First, let's go together. Let's go and talk..."
"Don't come..."
"Elysia."
"Don't come! Don't come! Don't come! Please!"
Elysia started a rampage and backed away. Her eyes had already lost their light.
If the witch's mana overflows here, things will get complicated. It's been too long since I got out of the place.
Chloe smiled loosely.
What was her intention? I was gripped by the impulse to draw my sword.
It's fine to cut Chloe here.
But after that? If I kill this woman, will Elysia calm down?
Whatever, it's far from solving the problem.
It was too naive. If I had known it would interfere with the covenant, I would have removed them in advance...
"Ha... Haha..."
Tap.
Elysia walked away with a dazed expression.
The languid laughter sounded like mocking herself.
Not only the students, but even the professors who rushed out in panic were startled and stepped back.
Their eyes were filled only with fear, and nothing but pure enmity remained.
"..........."
Elysia stared at herself.
She barely exhaled and barely suppressed her strength, then finally looked distantly at my burned arm and lowered her head as if about to cry.
The flames grew larger and soon became huge enough to fill the surroundings.
Elysia struggled to flick her fingers.
Flames suddenly rose around her, then dispersed in an instant.
Fwoosh.
Elysia was nowhere to be found where the witch's flames had disappeared.
With a sharp sensation, I thought someone was grabbing me, but Chloe started causing a fuss to draw the attention of the surrounding spectators.
"What to do...! Anyone help! Gray got badly injured by Lady Elysia's witch fire! The burns are too severe...! Is there anyone who can use healing magic nearby?"
Chloe appealed with a voice that seemed unbelievable for someone who was smiling just before.
"Move."
"But Gray..."
"Get out of the way."
That was the final warning.
"G... Gray! I...! Kk!"
"........."
"... Kk...! Hic...! Why... Why... such a witch..."
I ignored Chloe, who was clutching her stomach from being hit in the ribs and looking at me in disbelief, and chased after Elysia.