Chapter 97 — Oscar Knows the Truth
Chapter 97 — Oscar Knows the Truth
Translation: Godtl
Oscar answered nonchalantly.
"Well. A few days ago?"
At those words, Lelia's brow furrowed. Oscar came a bit closer and kindly added an explanation.
"Specifically, on the rainy day, when we stayed the night in the hut? I hugged your waist and was trembling with fear when I felt something was strange."
"......"
"Holding you like that... according to Kalix, shouldn't I have felt something the size of a forearm between your legs normally?"
Lelia was at a loss for words. So, he noticed because when he hugged her tightly, the area between her legs was smooth?
Lelia hadn't known Oscar was thinking such things at that time, and had innocently only thought to comfort him.
Lelia glared at him with a thoroughly annoyed expression.
Come to think of it, did that mean he used the same room at the inn even after knowing she was a woman?
Oscar narrowed his eyes seeing Lelia's expression.
"I think I should be the one demanding an explanation... shouldn't you explain now?"
"......"
Lelia pretended not to know and avoided his gaze, immediately lowering her eyes. Her mind was complicated.
At the same time, an apologetic feeling washed over her.
Oscar was already feeling betrayed by her, and this was essentially deceiving him once more.
After hesitating, Lelia opened her mouth.
"I can't explain right now. But I'm sorry for deceiving you."
"...There's nothing to be sorry for."
At the unexpectedly gentle answer, Lelia looked up in surprise.
Oscar was looking at her with warm eyes she had never seen before.
'He can make that kind of expression too.'
Actually, on the way here, Oscar either looked at her with eyes swirling with indescribable madness, or glared with eyes full of hatred mixed with betrayal.
So his current expression and eyes were unfamiliar.
It reminded her of Oscar from childhood, so she felt glad too.
Oscar, with his hands behind his back, looked down lovingly at Lelia who seemed to be seeing something amazing.
Lelia wouldn't know right now.
What he was thinking.
He had thought it didn't matter even if she were a man, but to think she's a woman.
It felt like blood was rushing to one part of his body from being too delighted.
Thinking lecherous thoughts that would make Lelia recoil in horror, Oscar smiled gently.
After Oscar left without saying much, Uncle came straight away.
Lelia sat side by side with her uncle on the reception room sofa, holding both his hands.
They had been talking for a while about how her uncle had been during that time.
"But what is this, Uncle?"
Lelia asked, gesturing with her chin toward the bundle on the table that kept catching her eye.
"Of course it's your gift."
"A gift?"
Karius nodded proudly.
"Go ahead and open it."
"...."
Lelia smiled and unwrapped the gift.
What on earth could it be to be this big?
Lelia untied the ribbon and opened the box lid, then blinked.
'What is this?'
The box was densely packed with small stones like pebbles. They were pink, transparent stones that were truly beautiful.
Lelia picked up one stone and was surprised. It weighed far less than she had expected.
'Still... what is this?'
When Lelia looked at her uncle with questioning eyes, Karius asked with a smile.
"Do you know what this is, Lelia?"
"Not at all. I have no idea."
That's when it happened.
The game window, which had been quiet all along, suddenly appeared before her eyes.
[Rare item 'Stone Containing Dragon's Thoughts' acquired!(*☌ᴗ☌)و*ﾟ Store in item window?]
Wait, just wait a moment!
Dragon?
Karius kindly explained to the confused Lelia.
"After the Mad Dragon died, I dug these up from its nest and smuggled them out."
"I-is that okay?"
"No one knows, so don't worry. It's a magic stone."
"...."
Karius picked up one of the pink stones and said.
"In this state, no magic power can be detected, but if you break it, liquid containing highly pure magic power flows out."
When he shook the stone, something pink could be seen sloshing inside.
"Is it really okay to give this to me?"
"Of course. You might need it for alchemy, mightn't you?"
After saying that, Karius stood up, saying it was just as well.
Then he gave various instructions to the servants waiting outside.
After that, the servants started bringing various things into Lelia's room.
Lelia's jaw dropped.
Gift boxes with fancy packaging lined up one after another. They even brought in clothing display racks, as if they'd brought an entire boutique's worth of clothes.
"I bought all of them from the capital."
"All of this?"
Lelia smiled brightly like a young child receiving birthday gifts.
While opening the boxes one by one with her uncle and looking at the gifts, Lelia suddenly burst into laughter.
The boxes contained toys that only young children would play with.
"...It's a bit strange to play with these now, isn't it?"
"...Yes. Unfortunately."
Karius clicked his tongue softly.
He had still thought she was little, so he had bought toys for young children to play with, and even childish dresses embroidered with large stars that little girls would like.
"When did you grow up so much... I'm sorry I couldn't be by your side."
"Please don't say that. Just having you return safely is more than enough joy for me."
"Right. But Lelia..."
Karius hesitated as if about to ask a question he had been holding back.
Lelia immediately caught on to his intention.
'He wants to ask in detail about how I lived in the capital.'
She wondered whether to hide or reveal the fact that she had stayed at the Imperial Palace.
However, the question that came from her uncle's mouth was different.
"Are you really friends with Oscar, that guy?"
"...Yes, Uncle."
Lelia, who had been tense, answered with relief at the question being different from what she had expected.
By the way, what on earth did Oscar do on the battlefield?
"That guy is a wicked one. He's cruel."
"...."
Seeing Lelia's uncomfortable expression, Karius added.
"Even in war against monsters... there are some among them that have no intention of attacking humans. Mostly monsters with children or young monsters."
"...Yes."
"We didn't attack such monsters as much as possible. They avoided us on their own. But that guy chased down fleeing monsters to the end and slaughtered them. And very cruelly at that."