Chapter 185
Translator: uly
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: In Their Own Places #1
Only a few days remained until the duel trial.
People from all corners of the world were flocking to witness the rare spectacle, turning the church's ark into quite the bustling hub.
The empty dormitories were filled to capacity without a single vacancy, and strangers wandered the streets, chattering in unknown languages and snickering among themselves.
━Is it the day after tomorrow? The execution of the Queen's assassin?
━I'm looking forward to it. Who's facing off in the main match?
━Don't be shocked when you hear this. They say that Angmar monk is coming out!
The voices of people buzzing with anticipation reached my sensitive half-fairy ears amid the massive event hype. Placards and flags were starting to appear here and there in my line of sight.
「Duel Trial Venue ? Temporary Arena on the 1st Floor Vacant Lot of the Main Building.」
It listed the venue, date, and participants.
It's really just around the corner now.
Seeing my name there gave me a slight dizzy spell, making my steps feel like walking on clouds.
To think that a self-preservationist like me would step into such a dangerous bout of my own accord.
But this was the proposal from my opponent, the Villain Hunter.
If I stepped up and put on a satisfying show, he promised to concede the match gracefully and accept exile to the barrier.
Plus, there was my little scheme to drastically improve my magic skills through clashing with him. All things considered, it didn't contradict my self-preservationist nature, even if it involved some risk.
Just then, someone pinched my ear hard.
“Eek…!”
“You don't look tense enough, do you?”
It was Elga, walking beside me. She looked more nervous about the impending showdown than I did.
“You sure you're confident?”
Flick.
I rubbed my reddened, swollen ear and put on a solemn tone.
“I have my ways. I won't leave you a childless widow, Lady Elga, so don't worry.”
“What? Widow my foot—.”
Elga snorted in disbelief and whipped her head away. Still, I could tell she was worried about me in her own way.
There was my child in her belly right now. I didn't want to leave the kid fatherless. I knew better than most the hardships of growing up without a dad.
No, Elga was the only daughter of a wealthy house. She'd probably remarry somehow?
An image flashed in my mind: me dead, Elga remarrying someone else, raising the child on my life insurance payout, living happily ever after.
Suddenly, rage boiled up, like horns sprouting from my forehead.
“Lady Elga, if I die, will you remarry someone else?”
“What? You gonna say some pathetic crap like that? Hmph.”
Elga clenched her fist tight.
Oh no, another knuckle rap incoming, I thought—but surprisingly, her fist didn't fly toward my head. It loosened up instead.
“You're not the type to die in a place like this. Didn't you say something about reviving your house? You have grand ambitions. If you're gonna die, go out flashy and great. Not like a dog in someone else's championship.”
“You're right.”
Even the dishonest Elga was cheering me on in her own way. We were in the same boat now—if I died, she'd suffer too. She might even bawl her eyes out from grief.
Imagining her hugging my tombstone and sobbing made me sad, but also a bit angry on one side.
You should've behaved while I was around!
Of course, that would never happen.
Flick.
“Hey—.”
Then Elga held something out to me. It was a small ribbon woven from several strands of beautiful golden thread.
“What's this?”
I took it and examined it from all angles. Elga unnecessarily rubbed her slippers against the walkway ground.
“A talisman.”
“A talisman?”
“I don't know. The girlfriends and fiancées of my soldiers heading to battle often make these and give them. I don't believe in that stuff. But you might need it. Borrow its power or whatever.”
Now I noticed a clumsily cut section in the lush hair she had tied back. She'd probably snipped off some of her own hair to make the ribbon talisman.
She grumbled all the time, but feeling her care for me in her own way made my chest tighten warmly.
“I don't have anything to give back right now. Want to slip into that shady spot over there?”
“…What?!”
Elga flushed beet red and panicked. She'd caught the subtle innuendo in my reply.
“Kidding.”
Of course, I was joking. Elga was in the early stages of pregnancy.
She needed rest in every way.
Scowl.
Elga furrowed her brow and growled.
“You always have to say something that earns you a beating.”
* * *
I ran into Mirna Draco around the time the big lump on my head from Elga's knuckle rap was finally subsiding.
“Lady Mirna?”
Seeing the Draco lady after so long filled me with joy.
Joy, huh.
When I first met the Draco sisters, I just thought they were picky and finicky.
But after going through various events with them, affection had snuck up on me unawares. Like a dry cloth subtly soaking up moisture, I'd grown fond without realizing.
I'd meant not to get attached to anyone in this world. Guess I've changed a lot since leaving court life.
Pushing aside the various sentiments rising up, I greeted Mirna.
“It's been ages. I hope you've been well?”
She had been holding a parasol against the warm sunlight but now rustled it open halfway to half-hide her face.
“Sir Theo. Ages indeed. Me? Oh, I've been fine. I was hoping to meet you and talk anyway. Perfect timing.”
As she said that, she offered me the parasol handle.
“Care to walk and chat? Of course, only if you have time, Sir Theo. You must be busy.”
Behind the blue-feathered fan, Mirna's expression looked a bit anxious. Tired, too. Like someone who'd tossed and turned sleepless for days in the heat, lacking vitality.
Flick.
I took the parasol she offered.
“Even if I'm busy, I can make time to talk with you, Lady Mirna.”
“Really?”
Her expression brightened a touch.
She even smiled with evident relief, but soon reverted to her haughty, pouty look as if it had been a lie.
“Then escort me.”
“Shall we head to the nearby pond? The parks are noisy with all the crowds right now. I know a quiet spot.”
“Let's go there.”
I headed to the pond I knew with Mirna.
“Sir Theo, doesn't this say 'No Entry'?”
A wooden sign staked like a post amid the trees.
「No Entry—! Won't take responsibility if caught—!」
I yanked it out energetically and casually propped it against a nearby tree.
“Not anymore.”
“…….”
Mirna glanced around suspiciously, then sighed.
She took my hand with her pale one. Surprisingly rough, not as soft as I'd imagined.
Now I saw it was bandaged.
“What happened to this?”
“Who knows. More importantly, this path is awfully rough, isn't it?”
Mirna Draco walked unsteadily on the unpaved dirt path, unused to it. Her face was full of displeasure, like 'Is this the place you bring me?'
“Ow, prickly.”
She flinched soon after. Her clothes were covered in cockleburs, making her look like a chestnut burr.
Flick flick.
As Mirna peeled off the prickly cockleburs stuck to her, she asked,
“Is this really the right place?”
“Yes, almost there.”
In my sight now appeared a small pond encircled by stones. The sunlight reflecting off the water sparkled rainbow-like, beautifully.
“…….”
Mirna's ruby eyes sparkled mysteriously, forgetting their complaint upon seeing it. A sunny pond untouched by human hands.
“Feels like a fairy might pop out.”
Yeah, she must've liked the fairy-like atmosphere.
“Ponds like this usually have a nymph in charge, right? Is this one you manage, Theo Gospel?”
“No. It's where my imp friend Marmar fishes. Lots of fish species. The imps made that no-entry sign.”
Mirna nodded with a vague “…I see,” though she didn't seem to fully get it. My answer and reasons weren't that important anyway.
“Want to feed them?”
There were grain powders by the pond, likely left by my imp friends for the fish.
I grabbed a handful and scattered it in. Soon, fish swarmed, splashing at the surface.
“Fun.”
We played like that happily for a few minutes. Noticing Mirna losing interest in feeding the fish, I casually asked,
“By the way, didn't you say earlier you were looking for me? Something you wanted to say?”
“Ah—.”
Mirna let out a long exclamation. She nodded soon after.
“Theo Gospel, I realized I hadn't thanked you. I've been so swamped lately with no time to rest….”
“Thanked?”
Had I done anything thank-worthy for Mirna? Nothing much came to mind. Realizing my confusion, she added,
“For gently persuading my sister Narmi. She was furious at first. I heard you convinced Narmi and got me out.”
“Ah, that.”
Yeah, that happened. With how busy the last few days were, it felt like ages ago. Actually about a week.
“How's Lady Narmi doing?”
That day, I'd shared a secret intimacy with Narmi, the twins' younger sister, that we couldn't tell others. From Mirna's attitude, the sisters hadn't shared that part yet.
Mirna let out a short sigh.
“Lots to sort out. We've lived together long, but it turns out Narmi and I both didn't know much about each other.”
“Still, glad you two made up and are getting along.”
“We have to live together either way, right? Anyway. I'm more curious how you've been, Sir Theo.”
“Me?”
I'd been curious about the Draco sisters, but Mirna wanted to know about me.
“Well….”
What had I been up to lately? As I pondered, Mirna dumped all the grain powder in her hand into the pond with a splash and said,
“You haven't changed your mind because we haven't met long, have you? I figure you wouldn't fall for Lady Lioness's advances, Sir Theo.”
“Hmm—.”
From her subtle mention of Elga, I realized Elga and Mirna had been betting on me.
I'd been too busy to notice, but everyone was living their own busy lives.