Chapter 136: The Lord is With Us (57)
Chapter 136: The Lord is With Us (57)
“I came to say thank you.”
At Ian’s words, Delphine’s eyes widened blankly.
Was even this a mockery? But as she met his gaze, she saw that Ian’s eyes were nothing if not sincere.
He meant it.
Having been raised as the successor of a prestigious family, she had encountered countless people. She had the discernment to tell that much.
But why, of all things?
She had played a role, yes, but it was merely as an assistant. By the end, she had been nothing more than a burden.
It was Ian who had endured all the pain and wounds to bring about victory.
Delphine’s expression turned dazed, unable to fathom what she could possibly have done to deserve his gratitude.
“Thank you for believing in me and following my lead. I couldn’t have won without you, Senior Delphine. Especially at the end, when you threw me your sword just because I told you to.”
Delphine’s mind went white.
Wasn't that only natural?
She’d had no choice but to trust and follow him. She had to prove her own worth. And yet, Ian was offering her his sincere thanks.
Stammering, she parted her lips.
“I—I only followed your instructions...”
“Yes, and that’s why we won.”
Ian let out a soft chuckle, as if he found her modesty amusing.
“It’s our victory, Senior Delphine. I promised, didn’t I?”
‘Our victory.’ To any observer, it was an achievement Ian had accomplished alone.
Yet, in a single breath, Ian had made Delphine a winner.
She had done nothing.
She had simply been by his side and followed his orders.
Thump. Delphine’s heart began to race.
It felt as though her blood, which had been losing its vitality, was pulsing with life once more. For a moment, her breathing grew slightly ragged.
It was a strange sensation. The inferiority and sense of defeat that had tormented her so cruelly began to melt away.
Right. Ian was never an opponent she could beat anyway.
She had to flip her perspective. She had to be a winner.
Delphine recalled the promise Ian had made to her one night.
“I told you I’d make you win... Do you believe me a little more now?”
Her mouth opened, then closed.
No words came out. A current of flashing realization surged up her spine, echoing through her mind.
Ian had promised to make Delphine a winner.
And he had kept his word.
Delphine didn't need to worry about anything.
She only had to stand by Ian’s side and faithfully obey his commands.
Then, Delphine could be a winner.
It was so simple.
Unsure of how to interpret Delphine’s silence, Ian continued to speak with a faint smile, his tone almost playful.
“We made a promise back then, right? That if I made you win, you’d listen to me from then on.”
Delphine’s eyelids trembled.
It was ecstasy.
I see. I only have to listen to this man.
She didn't have to think about anything. If he told her to bark, she would bark; if he told her to perform, she would perform.
Then Delphine could remain a winner.
Of course, she would have to do something, but that pain and agony would be trivial compared to the burden Ian carried.
Had he not proven it?
Standing at the vanguard, he had endured every wound until he stood at death’s door.
Only now could Delphine understand Elsie’s heart.
You sly girl. You already knew.
She had known this simple, clear truth.
Delphine’s blood-red eyes began to waver with an unidentifiable emotion.
Her spirit, forged through a lifetime of discipline, was being stained from the roots up.
Like thin paper touched by ink.
“So... I look forward to working with you in the future. I just wanted to say that, Senior Delphine.”
At those bashful words, Delphine grit her teeth to hold back the tears welling up.
Her head dropped low.
She had merely been by his side, merely obeyed his commands, yet this man was bestowing such lavish praise upon her.
How, just how...
Merciful he was.
The intense pleasure of being acknowledged by a superior made Delphine’s body tremble. It felt as if a thrilling bolt of lightning had streaked down her spine.
It was a joy so vivid she instinctively pressed her thighs together.
Only then could Delphine admit it in the depths of her heart.
Ian Percus was Delphine Yurdina’s master.
He brought victory. He shouldered all the worry and pain.
Delphine wanted to stand up right now and fall to her knees. She would have been happy to prostrate herself.
If only she could somehow show him this rapturous sensation.
However, Ian’s expression felt so warm that Delphine decided to hold back just a little.
Instead, she replied in a thick voice.
“Yes... Yes, I understand.”
It was a voice that came from deep within.
A voice filled with submission, as if a slave were kissing the feet of her master.
Ian looked somewhat bewildered by the slight moisture in her voice, but he soon settled for a bitter smile.
He looked as if he thought Senior Delphine had simply gone through a lot of mental stress.
The day he would realize Delphine’s true feelings might not be far off, but it wasn't today.
He spoke as if he had just remembered something.
“By the way, is there anything you want? I’ll try my best to do whatever you wish, Senior Delphine.”
Ian was, of course, referring to the distribution of rewards for subjugating the Fiend.
But to the current Delphine, those words felt like they were addressing an entirely different matter.
A reward. An unmistakable look of anticipation rose in Delphine’s eyes.
Just as he stroked Elsie’s head, he was offering a reward to a well-behaved servant.
After agonizing over it for a long time, Delphine’s cheeks flushed slightly.
She opened her mouth cautiously.
“Th-Then...”
The sound of Delphine swallowing hard could be heard. Ian merely watched her with a puzzled look.
Unable to meet Ian’s eyes, she lowered her gaze slightly and spoke.
“...Pu... Punishment.”
“Pardon?”
As he tilted his head and asked again, Delphine let out a slightly feverish breath. Her blood-red eyes glowed with a seductive light.
“Give me... a punishment. Master...”
Only then did Ian’s face rapidly stiffen.
He realized something had gone terribly wrong. But it was already too late.
The man’s hand instinctively went to his forehead.
It was the day Ian unexpectedly gained a second slave.
A few more days passed.
During that time, Ian had to handle a hectic schedule. Ever since the incident at the orphanage became known, too many people had been trying to approach him.
High-ranking officials from various countries, as well as children from the Empire's Five Great Noble Families, sent word that they wanted to meet him. It wasn't unusual.
For the past thousand years, the Academy had been the cradle for the continent’s greatest talents; thus, it was only natural for there to be a recruitment war if a standout talent appeared.
However, I intentionally deferred my responses.
My life was like drifting weed; I didn't even know where I’d have to leave for the moment a letter arrived the next day. Burdened with the excessive mission of saving the world, I had no intention of settling down for a while.
I’d have to settle somewhere eventually.
But that time wasn't now. It would likely be after I saved the world.
Fortunately, having overcome the incident in the second letter, I had managed to catch the tail of the Dark Cult to some extent.
Dark Priest Mitram.
He had been involved in kidnapping orphans and passersby to create Flesh Nests.
As long as I remained hostile to the Dark Cult and the Delphirem they worshipped, we would cross paths again someday.
The day I destroyed all their conspiracies would be the day I could finally set down the heavy burden on my shoulders.
Actually, I wasn't particularly worried about that part.
The end of the world—I had witnessed the terrifying monster that was the Flesh Nest, but the warning still didn't feel real.
It felt like a pipe dream, so I didn't really think much of it.
Rather, my worries these days were much closer to home.
It was because Senior Delphine and Senior Elsie had taken it upon themselves to be my servants.
Since they followed whatever I said, I once grew so curious that I gave them a ridiculous order.
“Both of you, get on your knees and kiss my feet.”
At that, Senior Delphine knelt without a moment’s hesitation. Senior Elsie seemed to hesitate for a second, but seeing Senior Delphine’s unreserved action, she grit her teeth. Her knees hit the floor immediately after.
Of course, before either of them could actually kiss my feet, I recoiled in horror.
“No, you’re actually going to do it just because I told you to?! Do neither of you have any pride?!”
But Senior Delphine and Senior Elsie only gave me puzzled looks.
Faced with those gazes that seemed to ask what I was talking about, I could only sigh with a heavy heart.
I had suddenly gained the submission of two scions of prestigious families.
Of course, I wasn't happy. To be more honest, it was a burden.
I couldn't understand why these two women, who lacked nothing in terms of background, looks, or skill, were so obsessed with me. A woman’s heart was still a mystery to me.
Aside from that, another strange thing was that I had been running into the Saintess exceptionally often lately.
“...Hmph, looks like we’ve met again by chance.”
The Saintess said, feigning indifference. Because she was cradling her chest with one arm, her already prominent curves were emphasized even more.
As if it truly were a coincidence, she waved her other hand dismissively.
“It’s annoying, but since these coincidences keep repeating, I’m getting a bit tired. It’s almost as if the Heavenly God has tied us together...”
“I have a lecture, so I’ll be going now.”
Whenever I started walking away with those words, the Saintess would stomp her feet in visible fluster and shout.
“...Y-You don’t have another lecture!”
I turned a questioning gaze toward her. It was a silent interrogation as to how she knew that.
Then the Saintess would clear her throat with a cute little cough, trying her best to calm her reddened face while fanning herself with her hand.
“Yu-Yuren told me. H-He has such a good memory that he remembers even useless details.”
Other than that, my peaceful daily life continued.
At least, until that morning arrived.
Having gotten drunk for the first time in a while after drinking alone, I had fallen asleep without even knowing how I got into bed.
And then the next day came.
No, it was ‘that day.’ Too much time had already passed.
A splitting headache, and a strangely vivid dream.
As if I were used to it by now, I quenched my parched throat with water from a canteen.
Then, I silently turned my gaze to the table beside the head of the bed.
It was as expected.
A calendar page turned over, and a single, elegant envelope.
I could only rub my face with my dry hands.
“...Fuck.”
Good times were always short-lived.