Chapter 63
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Me. With You. Going Out?
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63. Me. With You. Going Out?
How much time had passed?
"Huff. Huff."
His mind was growing hazy bit by bit.
His vision blurred, his head felt numb, and his whole body trembled.
His legs moved mechanically as he ran.
He had no idea how much time had gone by.
All he wanted was to hurl the sword strapped to his back.
As Tail panted past Allen, Allen read his thoughts like a ghost and shouted in a booming voice.
"If you toss that sword, your body might feel lighter, but you'll die on the battlefield."
Allen glanced at Ricky, whose speed had clearly slowed compared to before, and continued.
"Figuring out whether it's time to discard it or not is simple."
"Huff. Huff."
Even in that excruciating moment when he felt like he might collapse, Allen's words pierced his ears.
"Assume putting down your sword right now is like chopping off your own arm. Would you make the same call? If yes, then toss it."
Which basically meant if he wanted to lose an arm, he could throw the sword.
'Damn it.'
Tail cursed inwardly.
This was the same as saying, 'Drop the sword, and your arm's done for.'
"Treat your sword like your own body!"
Allen bellowed.
"But don't take those words lightly. If you've had a master who spouts that phrase lightly, like some fancy rhetoric or slick advice..."
Allen's eyes flashed coldly.
"Forget every lesson that master ever taught you."
Allen shoved Tail and Ethan's backs as they ran past him.
"Huff. Huff."
Now, even the lungs greedily sucking in air ached.
"Words from some ink-swilling messenger who doesn't grasp their weight shouldn't be digested, even if they're right!"
Every single word rang true.
'Why does it piss me off so much?'
It felt like he'd been hit right in the gut.
Tail grumbled inwardly like that as he kept running nonstop.
Ennis watched Tail with a strange expression.
"Hah. Hah."
Finally, it was over!
Tail and Ethan lay sprawled on the floor, catching their breath.
"Good work. That's enough for today."
With that, Allen set down two potion bottles in front of each of them.
"Drink up. You'll feel a bit better."
Tail and Ethan slowly pulled themselves up and chugged the potions.
Sure enough, the temple-made brew worked wonders—he could feel his body recovering fast.
Once he sensed they were somewhat restored, Allen spoke.
"From now on, you'll do this training before and after your daily routine every day. Weekends excluded, of course."
They both replied in unison.
"Yes, sir."
"Thank you."
Allen left, and Tail started packing up to head to class.
That was when someone tugged at his collar from behind.
Startled, Tail whipped around to find Ethan had also halted on his way out.
It was Ennis who'd grabbed his collar.
But something else bugged Tail.
He hadn't sensed her approach at all until she was right there.
Two possibilities.
First, Ennis was so skilled she could completely mask her presence.
Second, he was so exhausted he couldn't detect her.
Either way, it didn't sit well.
'What the hell.'
Tail looked at Ennis and asked.
"What? Got something to say?"
Ennis's clear black eyes locked onto him fully at his words.
"I have a favor to ask."
A favor?
Ennis Prill asking me for a favor?
"What is it?"
Ennis hesitated slightly.
"Tomorrow... I'm heading out of the academy. Come with me."
Tail blinked.
What did he just hear?
His expression turned odd.
"Me. With you. Going out?"
Why?
As wariness filled his face, Ennis continued.
"Yes. I need an escort, so please come along."
Wait, if you need an escort, why not bring a soldier or guard? Why a student? And at a time like this, when he had extra training to do.
Besides, wasn't she a magic genius?
'Does she really need an escort?'
Thinking that, Tail gave an awkward smile.
"Sorry, but if you need an escort, ask someone else..."
The moment he started to refuse.
"500 crowns per hour."
"...I'll do it???"
Tail's eyes widened.
"I'll pay you for every hour you invest."
Whoa. Okay, that's...
Tail grinned.
"Sounds perfect. When and where do we meet?"
No way he could turn that down.
500 crowns!
500 crowns!
Absolutely impossible to refuse.
As if she'd anticipated his reaction, Ennis let out a soft chuckle.
"This Saturday. Entrance at 1 p.m."
With that, she left the training room.
Thud.
The door shut, and Ethan, who'd watched the whole thing, burst out laughing.
"What? A date already? How long have you even been here?"
Ethan wore the grin of someone teasing a buddy in love.
"You're sneaky, doing all the right moves, huh?"
"Huh? What're you talking about?"
"It's obvious she wants to go on a date with you."
Pfft. No way.
How well does she even know me?
Tail chuckled back.
"Nah. She just needs a pack mule or something."
Probably.
Yeah, that had to be it.
Even Tail himself wasn't entirely convinced, though.
Time flew by, and Saturday arrived.
Tail, up early, took a quick shower, dried his hair with a wind-casting magic tool, and was picking out clothes.
"Hmm. What to wear?"
For some reason—excluding five years ago—this was his first time strolling the capital alone with a girl, and it made him want to put in some effort.
'Green top with black pants?'
Those were kinda worn.
"Yeah, gray shirt and black pants it is."
Safe choice. And the newest ones he owned, so they'd look neat.
That's when someone approached from behind.
"Tail? Going somewhere?"
It was Yujin.
Already ready for the day, Yujin had come over, curious to see Tail fussing over clothes unlike usual.
"Oh, yeah. Got plans today."
"Plans?"
"Yeah. Ennis wants to check out the capital outside the academy."
Yujin's face hardened.
"Ennis? As in Ennis Prill?"
"Yep. You know her?"
Tail answered casually as he pulled out the clothes.
"You and Ennis Prill were close from the start?"
"Nah? She's paying 500 crowns an hour, so I'm going."
Yujin nearly clutched his neck.
'Hah. That idiot fool.'
Swears nearly spilled from his lips.
There had to be a reason she'd offer that money so freely.
'Probably wants to spend time with him.'
The money-crazed fool had accepted without a second thought.
If this kept up, rivals would multiply.
'Need a plan.'
Yujin urgently spoke up.
"Tail. Hold on a sec."
With a desperate look, Yujin whispered to him.
After hearing Yujin out, Tail shrugged.
"Eh. Sure, whatever. Should be fine, right?"
Yujin's face lit up at Tail's words.
A little later, as 1 p.m. approached.
A girl stood at the academy entrance.
Her doll-like beauty and rare bright silver hair drew every eye around her.
'When's he coming?'
Ennis fidgeted anxiously, heedless of the stares.
He was the first person to make her this jittery in such a short time.
'He won't bail, will he?'
No, he wouldn't.
She knew how much that guy loved money.
The first time she'd faced him in this appearance, she hadn't known how to act.
He didn't know her.
But she knew him.
That fact tormented Ennis.
She'd debated just flipping everything upside down and kidnapping him.
Especially when that Chrome-whatever punk picked a fight—she'd nearly uttered the incantation.
The only thing stopping her was Leon's warning: wreaking havoc in the human realm would be a headache.
So she endured.
Watching Tail grow was entertaining in its own way.
Even as everyone cursed him, his soul stubbornly survived, shining brilliantly, beautifully.
But in the process, she'd missed her chance to get close.
As she agonized, Leon had offered advice first.
"Demon Lord. If you like that human, why not take the first step?"
"First step?"
"Yeah... Page 36 of '101 Ways to Build Relationships with Humans' describes the process of getting close to one."
When Ennis had peeked at the book then, it definitely said:
[First: Spend a lot of time in the same space as the target. Observe what they like.]
She'd already figured that out.
And they were in the same class.
[Second: Tempt them with what they like. Make yourself a positive figure in their mind.]
That too.
She'd just reeled him in with money this time.
The problem was the third.
[Third: Spend time alone together, without threats or coercion.]
Time alone together.
That was happening today.
He'd agreed, so it was basically done.
[If you succeed through the third step and spend even a day together, congrats, demon kin reader—you've won that human's heart.]
'I've won Tail's heart.'
Ennis's lips twitched up on one side.
She was thinking of diving deeper into Leon's book once she nailed the third step today.
That's when she spotted a familiar man in the distance.
His neat outfit filled her vision.
He'd clearly put in extra effort today.
His usually tousled hair was neatly combed.
That was when.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
'Why am I like this?'
Her heart pounded wildly.
Her cheeks kept flushing.
"Tail—."
The moment she called his name.
Someone popped out from behind him.
"Hi! You're Ennis, right?"
It was Yujin.
Ennis's face crumpled completely at the beaming Yujin.