Chapter 517: Jealousy is My Power (17)
Chapter 517: Jealousy is My Power (17)
Countless regions coexisted on the continent.
This meant that just as many diverse cultures and traditions had been passed down through the ages. While the specific details varied wildly from one culture to another, there were certain truths that remained universal across all times and places.
Most of these were ethical values that humanity generally accepted.
Altruism, sacrifice for the community, or the spirit of curbing the strong and helping the weak.
These ideologies formed the foundation of the human spirit. They were values significant enough to form the basic framework of society, and several teachings rooted in them were also passed down.
These were lessons shared by the continent's vast population.
For example, there was one saying every boy was bound to hear at least once while growing up.
To avoid total ruin, there were three things a man must be wary of:
Alcohol, women, and drugs.
In truth, there was nothing I could do about the first two. I had already accumulated far too much karma in those departments.
But to think I would end up fulfilling the final condition as well.
Was I really destined for ruin at this rate?
A gloomy prospect began to cast a shadow over my mind. It was a future where I lived a profligate life as a kept man, perpetually intoxicated by booze and drugs.
The Saintess would nag me every night, while Senior Delphine would probably just let it slide no matter what I did.
Senior Elsie was surprisingly sacrificial. Her heart would ache, but she wouldn't let it show in front of me.
As I continued these useless fantasies, my thoughts reached a forbidden realization.
Wait, isn't this actually kind of nice?
In fact, one could say it was the kind of life anyone would dream of. Living as an idle loafer every day, surrounded by capable and beautiful wives.
However, it didn't take long for me to erase that ominous blueprint from my mind.
This was because my thoughts had reached the remaining women.
Emma would swallow her tears in solitude as she watched me fall apart day by day. Meanwhile, Seria would roam the streets every night with a sword in her hand.
Specifically, to hunt down the woman I had enjoyed a night of pleasure with.
The mere thought was terrifying. I wanted to prevent the catastrophe of a peaceful village being thrown into an uproar by a series of murders committed by an unknown assailant.
It was while the light and shadow of my internal conflict were playing across my face.
"Don't worry too much."
As if she had looked right through me, Emma spoke with conviction.
Startled out of my delusions, I turned to look at her.
A soft arc was drawn on Emma's lips. It was a warm yet firm smile.
It was as if she were telling me not to think about useless things.
"This formula wasn't designed for mass production anyway. The ingredients are difficult to obtain, and the preparation process is quite tricky. Though, the effects are just as potent."
"So it's not something that can be consumed as a luxury item?"
Emma nodded at my question. Then, she added an expert's explanation.
"If that were the goal, there are many more efficient formulas. Like the stuff circulating on the black market."
"Hmm," I hummed, swallowing a groan.
Then why on earth had this formula been handed over?
In the end, there was only one way to break through this deadlock.
"…Um, Emma?"
"I know. I'll try making it."
Before I could even ask, Emma gave me the exact answer I was hoping for.
Was I really that easy to read?
I coughed awkwardly to hide my embarrassment, but I couldn't escape Emma's ticklish gaze.
"In exchange, I'll need some time. There are many unfamiliar processes for this pill, so it requires technique more than knowledge. There are also many ingredients that are easy to mistake for others… For now, I'll gather the materials within a few days."
"Thanks, Emma. And…"
Just as my mouth was about to follow the thanks with an apology.
Emma's slender index finger touched my lips. I was momentarily startled by the sensation of that soft skin.
A woman's fingers were this thin, and this cold.
I had touched her hands countless times before.
But touching them to my lips felt different. Emma didn't miss the opening while I was dazed.
"Don't apologize. I've received much more from you than this."
"But I paid back all my debts, didn't I?"
As I said that, I pointedly tapped the hand axe hanging at my waist.
It was a treasure worth tens of thousands of gold.
In other words, it was more valuable than the demonic beast corpse I had offered to save Emma's life. Back then, I had heard through the grapevine that the corpse was worth roughly 10,000 gold.
Therefore, there was no reason for Emma to feel a sense of debt toward me. If I were an investor, I would rarely have made a more profitable deal than this.
Nevertheless, Emma simply shook her head with a mysterious smile.
"No. I received something more precious than my life."
"What is it?"
"What it is is…"
Emma's voice, which had been flowing naturally, suddenly stopped.
A pale pink mist began to creep over her peaceful face. Her expression remained the same, but it was clear that Emma was feeling a sense of shame.
Just what kind of answer was she going to give?
When I gave her a questioning look, Emma coughed and slightly averted her eyes. Then, as if she had made up her mind, she even squeezed her eyes shut.
The woman's upper body leaned in slightly, closing the distance between us.
With only a tiny gap remaining, her sweet breath washed over my ear.
The voice Emma squeezed out despite her embarrassment was a mere three words.
"…It's you."
By the time she finished whispering her secret, the woman's face was already flushed a deep red, as if it might explode.
After wearing a blank expression for a moment, a short, hollow laugh escaped my lips.
So that's what she meant.
I wrapped my arm around Emma's shoulder as she tried to pull away and drew her toward me.
The result was obvious.
Before she knew it, Emma found her face buried in my chest. She seemed so caught off guard by this development that she even stopped breathing.
Now it was my turn to whisper.
"I'm grateful for your existence too, Emma."
At my words, spoken as I pulled her into a firm embrace, Emma couldn't say anything for a long time.
She simply closed her eyes and surrendered her body to my arms.
For a long while after that, I enjoyed my time with Emma.
As I left the workshop, a strange sound echoed from inside my clothes.
It was the sound of metal keys clinking together. It was the final gift Emma had given me as she saw me off.
"…It's the key to my workshop."
As she said that, a faint heat still lingered on Emma's face. She looked like she hadn't yet recovered from the aftermath of our affectionate display.
"Since we are… in a, um, romantic relationship. For now."
It was her way of telling me to come by whenever I wanted.
A mage's or an alchemist's workshop was a particularly secretive place. It was because their research data and all sorts of secret arts, which they valued as much as their lives, were hidden there.
Thus, receiving the key to a workshop held a special meaning.
It meant trusting the other person enough to entrust them with one's everything.
There was no way I could feel bad about it. I decided to accept Emma's favor with a grateful heart.
It had been a few minutes since I left the workshop with a light heart.
But my heart soon grew heavy again.
Numerous difficult problems still remained. For example, Lady Ruphesia, or the means to catch the vampire's tail.
The incident hadn't even properly begun.
Yet, with the unanswered questions only piling up, I couldn't help but feel frustrated. The only part I could pin my hopes on was the existence of 'Senior Elsie' from the future.
Wasn't she the woman who had been researching a way to restore victims of the vampire to their original state?
It was a reasonable inference that she held some kind of secret. In particular, the strange silence she maintained when we were discussing the vampire weighed on my mind.
In the end, do I have to go see Senior Elsie again?
It was while I was lost in these thoughts.
In the distance, gray hair caught my eye.
It was one of the symbols of the vampire kin. Furthermore, the blue pupils shining beneath it were as beautiful as well-crafted jewels.
For a moment, I was reminded of the moon.
Every man would feel the same. How else could one describe that bewitching beauty that seemed to bring its own cold wave and darkness, even while walking under the midday sun?
However, the moment the girl's eyes met mine.
"…Senior!"
My junior, Seria's face brightened instantly, and a radiant smile rose like the sun.
The girl, letting out a cheerful cry, hurried toward me with short steps. Her previously dead-serious expression had long since been crumpled like scrap paper and tossed into the trash.
And as soon as Seria reached me, she naturally grabbed my sleeve and began sniffing me.
Soon, a chilling arc appeared on her lips.
"But why do I smell another woman on you?"
"Because I met another woman."
At my perfectly natural response, Seria immediately puffed out her cheeks and asked.
"Who was it?"
"You'll just try to hurt them if I tell you."
"Aaaaah! Who was it?!"
"I'm not telling you, even if you act cute."
At my firm stance, Seria became dejected and sulky.
She looked so cute that I almost wavered, but I barely managed to steady my heart. No matter what, I couldn't tell Seria about Emma.
Instead, I brought up another topic to change the subject.
"So, why did you have such a serious expression earlier?"
"Oh, that."
Then Seria spoke with a smile, as if it were nothing.
"I went to visit Miss Haster, but I heard she's gone missing. Since I ran into you, Ian, I should thank Miss Haster separately—"
"Please, tell me these things sooner…!"
For me, however, it was a matter of grave importance.