Chapter 145: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (9)
Chapter 145: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (9)
The moment I saw Reto buried under a pile of trash, a searing heat scorched my brain.
I knew they would target the people around me. But there was a world of difference between merely imagining it and witnessing it with my own eyes.
Gritting my teeth, I was about to lunge forward.
"…Those bastards, I’ll—!"
"Don't."
I froze in my tracks at the sound of Reto’s voice, which was unexpectedly calm.
Still groaning and struggling to pick himself up, Reto looked at me with a pathetic expression.
"What are you going to do? Stick to my side and protect me twenty-four-seven? The more you show them you're angry, the more it backfires. They’ll think their bullying is actually working."
Every word he said was right. Even so, I couldn't bring myself to accept it. After a moment of silence, I spoke up.
"But…"
"Stop it, Ian. I’m fine."
With a grunt, he staggered to his feet. I reached out a hand to help, but he shook his head, insisting on standing up by his own strength.
Exhaling a long sigh, Reto leaned his back against the wall.
He looked disgruntled.
I felt so awkward that I couldn't meet his eyes. Technically, it wasn't my fault, but I couldn't deny that I was the cause.
The root of the problem was my future self possessing my body, after all.
After scratching the back of my head in silence for a long time, I cautiously offered an apology.
"Uh, I'm sorry…"
"Forget it."
But as always, Reto simply replied in a flat, indifferent voice.
He brushed off his clothes with his palms. His expression crumpled for a moment, likely because the smell wouldn't come out easily.
Another sigh escaped Reto’s lips. Soon, he spoke in a comforting tone, as if trying to soothe me.
"…It’s not your fault. And I assume this is all to stop the world from ending or whatever, right?"
To be honest, I wasn't sure.
That only made me sink deeper into silence. My heart felt heavy, thinking that not just Reto, but everyone I was close to might be suffering similar harassment.
Reto seemed to guess the general situation from my expression.
He let out a snort and shook his head. He began to massage his temples as if he were getting a headache.
Still, he was the only one I could truly trust and talk to, so I shared my concerns like a lament.
"Why did the future 'me' do that?"
That question pierced through every problem I was facing.
The future 'me' had provoked the Princess. Even if she had been the one to start it, the way he handled it wasn't smooth at all, and the violence he used was far too cruel.
I didn't know the details of the conversation between the Princess and 'me,' but that was how it looked to the public.
What if he simply couldn't control his temper?
If that were the case, there really was no hope. It would mean I had to navigate these problems entirely on my own from now on.
As always, it was Reto’s reasoning that quelled my anxiety.
He slowly shook his head.
"He wouldn't have. There have only been two precedents, but whenever that guy took the initiative, there was always a reason."
He snapped his fingers. Images began to form in the air.
Lines of bluish light connected to draw a shape.
It was the drawing of a wolf. The first Named-class Demonic Beast I had hunted.
"When the first letter arrived, the future 'you' spent a week building a connection with Seria. Even if the method was violent, without Seria, you wouldn't have been able to participate in the Hunting Festival, let alone win it."
That was true.
Without Seria, I wouldn't have become involved with Senior Elsie or Senior Delphine, and I wouldn't have been able to form a team strong enough to win the festival.
The next image that appeared was the view of the Guildford Orphanage.
"The second letter was the same. If you hadn't gotten information from the Saintess back then, you wouldn't have been dispatched to the Guildford Orphanage."
"…Then what about this time?"
At my natural follow-up question, Reto rested his chin on his hand and fell into thought.
The final image he drew was a question mark.
"That’s what we have to find out now. But we have a clue at least… we need to find out where that guy went and who he met during that week before he provoked Her Highness."
"An active move that deviates from my usual schedule…"
I swallowed hard.
I had too little information. I had no idea what I had done while I was unconscious.
Reto let out a smirk, as if he had expected as much.
With a clap of his hands, the shapes in the air scattered like mist. Reto gave me a serious look and advised:
"For now, there are two people you need to see today. One is Senior Delphine, and the other is the Saintess."
"Why Senior Delphine?"
I understood the Saintess, as she belonged to the Holy Kingdom and was relatively free from the Imperial family's influence, but I didn't see why I should seek out Senior Delphine.
Reto simply clicked his tongue as if I were being dense.
"Hey, do you think the Five Great Noble Families are a joke? They obviously know more about the Imperial family than anyone else. Dig for information and start running interference. What do you think the Percus Territory looks like right now?"
In other words, he wanted me to use Senior Delphine to minimize the damage and buy time.
I wondered if I was being too much of a burden to her, but burden or not, I had to save my family first.
By the time the Five Great Noble Families started moving, it would be too late. A family like the Percus, who were mere rural Viscounts, wouldn't last a month or two.
Reto watched me as I stood lost in thought, then added one more thing as if in passing.
"But visit the Saintess first."
"Why?"
"Yuren mentioned it the other day. He said you went to see her."
Naturally, I had no memory of that.
That meant the future 'me' had met the Saintess, and the clue would likely be found in that meeting.
My itinerary had suddenly become complicated. There were now three places I needed to visit.
The Newspaper Club, the Temple, and the Idalos Hall.
Following Reto’s advice, I decided to head to the Temple first. I was about to turn away after a brief farewell when I hesitated and glanced at Reto.
He just wore a bitter smile.
"Don't worry about me and just go. Also, it’s probably best if you don't see me or Celine for a while."
"…Right."
I understood his reasoning, so I nodded and started walking.
Reto shouted at my back as I moved away.
"And if that guy comes back again, can I punch him just once?!"
If you can, I thought. Honestly, I wasn't sure if anyone could punch a man who could dismantle the Princess's escort knights in a few exchanges.
I grit my teeth at the thought.
I had to do something.
The letter I received after finally reaching the post office was very short.
It was more like a postcard. However, its weight was anything but light, and another sigh escaped my lips.
---
To: My dearly respected brother,
Thanks to your wonderful support, the merchant guild is on the verge of collapse. I’ll be rooting for your continued success in Academy life.
From: Your loving sister, Ria Percus.
---
It seemed it had already begun.
The consequences of touching the Imperial family were this immediate. All-encompassing pressure begins instantly, suffocating the family and the territory.
And through it all, the Imperial family simply stands by with their hands behind their backs.
That was why the Imperial family was so terrifying. If their mere subordinates could do this, there was no telling what would happen if the absolute power—to whom even those terrifying subordinates bowed—were to truly explode in rage.
In the long history of the Empire, the instances where the Imperial family personally took action were few and far between.
But the result was always the same.
Total annihilation. No matter how powerful a family was, they could not survive if they touched the Imperial family's "reverse scale." Compared to that, perhaps I should be grateful that my sister even had the luxury to write a letter.
I was walking along with a gloomy face when I felt it.
A presence had been following me for a while. In fact, I had noticed it quite some time ago but had been intentionally ignoring it.
I had naively thought that if I didn't give them any attention, they would eventually give up.
It didn't take long to realize that judgment was wrong. Finally, I let out a deep sigh and turned around.
The woman flinched and froze the moment our eyes met, hanging her head low.
It was a girl with doll-like features, fidgeting with the brim of her pointed hat. I didn't even need to use deduction; her identity was clear.
Elsie Lainella. We had just declared a temporary separation yesterday.
"Senior Elsie, why do you keep following me? I told you yesterday. Let's not see each other for a while."
However, Senior Elsie only stole glances at me with a dejected expression. Seeing her pitiful face made my chest feel tight again.
I tried to persuade her in a soothing tone.
"Haven't you heard the rumors? If you hang around someone who’s clashed with the Imperial family, you’ll get caught in the crossfire too."
"…I-I don't care."
After hesitating, Senior Elsie spoke with a voice full of firm resolve.
"I… I only need you… A-Anyway, that bitch was the one in the wrong first, right?!"
"Shh!"
Startled, I reflexively put my index finger to my lips. My heart practically skipped a beat. Calling a member of the Imperial family 'that bitch,' no matter what.
I quickly scanned our surroundings. Fortunately, there were no passersby.
I could still hear my heart thumping. I hurried over to Senior Elsie and whispered in a low voice.
"Are you crazy?! You can't say things like that about the Royals…!"
"B-But she touched my Master!"
Senior Elsie protested as if she were the victim, but that logic wasn't going to fly.
I wiped my face with my hand. No matter how much I rubbed my face, the frustration wouldn't go away.
I continued to whisper to her.
"No, I’m telling you, it’s not just you—your whole family could be in trouble!"
"I don't care! T-They can strike me from the family records for all I care…"
She started off bold, but the thought of actually being disowned seemed to scare her a little. Her voice trailed off at the end.
Yet, the way she kept stealing glances at me with those pleading eyes was truly frustrating.
I had made this decision for her sake, but she was the one hell-bent on sticking to me. Just as I was at a loss for words—
"S-Sister!"
A shout erupted from somewhere.
I glanced behind me. It was a noble-looking man I had seen somewhere before.
Right, was it 'Lupin Lainella'?
The memory of him being Senior Elsie’s younger brother flickered through my mind. He was glaring at me with eyes full of burning hostility, his teeth clenched.
He glanced at me warily, then grabbed Senior Elsie’s wrist and began to drag her away. Senior Elsie’s eyes widened in surprise.
Lupin shouted, the veins in his neck bulging.
"Sister, did this bastard do something to you? I-I told you… this guy is a complete lunatic! I heard he even touched Her Highness the Princess!"
Senior Elsie’s expression went blank, as if she were processing this new information.
But Lupin didn't stop. The glares he shot at me were filled with pure venom.
"D-Did this man threaten you? It’s okay now! I-I’ll personally petition Her Highness… This guy is like a jinx; nothing but trouble follows him!"
Calling someone a 'jinx' to their face was a bit much.
I was about to give him a piece of my mind when a brilliant idea flashed through my head.
Wait, what if I just let this happen?
Senior Elsie might not listen to me, but there were rumors everywhere that she doted on her younger brother, Lupin. She was more likely to listen to her own family.
Since the fate of her house was on the line, she wouldn't be able to completely ignore her family's concerns.
Having finished my calculations, I immediately nodded in agreement.
"Yes, that's right. Senior Elsie. Listen to your brother."
"…?"
Lupin gave me a suspicious look for a moment, but he seemed too confused to dwell on it.
He continued his persuasion.
"I-It wasn't normal for a mere lower noble to touch us in the first place! You’ll only get hurt if you get involved with this psycho!"
"Unfortunately, he’s right, Senior."
"Her Highness will take care of this traitorous bastard! S-So you can relax now… Sister, let's go."
"Yeah, your brother is quite reliable. I'm jealous, Senior Elsie."
Lupin’s insults and my agreements followed one after another. Thinking she must have understood by now, I turned my gaze toward Senior Elsie.
I fell silent.
Senior Elsie was trembling, her pointed hat pulled down low over her eyes.
By any measure, this was not a positive sign. I quickly shut my mouth.
But Lupin, just like last time, seemed exceptionally dense. He continued to spray spit as he slandered me.
"This murderer! I bet he’s killed dozens of people without anyone knowing! Rumor has it that axe of his is possessed by a demon's soul—"
"Okay, that's a bit much."
That was a ridiculous fabrication. I felt the need to correct that at least, and was just about to speak when—
"…Hey, Lupin."
A voice trembling with rage leaked through Senior Elsie’s gritted teeth.
Now it was Lupin’s turn for his eyes to go blank. Senior Elsie shook off Lupin’s hand with a sharp thwack and stood firmly by my side without hesitation.
Her eyes, the color of blue sapphires, were blazing. Trembling all over, she screamed with intense emotion.
"You… you… how dare you speak to my Master like that!"
Crack. Lupin’s body seemed to freeze on the spot.
Only a dazed, stuttering voice escaped his lips.
"…M-Master?"
"Yes! How dare you use such language toward the Master your sister serves!"
After snapping coldly at Lupin, Senior Elsie immediately turned a pitiful gaze toward me. It was an incredible 180-degree shift.
Then came the fawning voice.
"M-Master… L-Lupin doesn't know what he’s saying. P-Please forgive him… He’s still immature. I-I’ll make sure to educate him properly!"
Seeing her whimper like a puppy begging for forgiveness, a blood vessel began to bulge in Lupin’s wide-eyed stare.
It was only then that I realized.
I shouldn't try to push Senior Elsie away carelessly.
Senior Elsie was a bomb.