Boys Grow by Fighting (3)

I'd had a conversation like this with Elijah before. Not with the young Elijah, though. With the adult Elijah of the future.

The one with a scar slashing diagonally across her face, who burned people alive at the drop of a hat. It was an event I'd barely managed to uncover. Back then, she sat cross-legged atop a pile of smoldering corpses. She had freed herself from her own flames. A noble mansion blazed fiercely behind her. Amid the ash falling like snow, she rested her chin in her hand and sneered.

"To me, others fall into two categories: those who will kill me, and those who haven't yet."

There were no dialogue options, so I answered silently in my head. Isn't that because you go around killing people?

"Or put another way: those I will kill, and those I will kill later. That's another way to divide them. Now, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a question."

Elijah grinned wickedly.

"Are you someone I'll kill now? Or later?"

It was like asking if I was someone who would kill her, or someone who hadn't yet. Only two choices. I wanted to respond differently. To say I had no intention of killing her. I was just curious. Like digging into all the game's stories, I wanted to know Elijah's and the Bebel family's tale. This was back when no one had even tried to kill her yet. It was much later that I learned killing her was impossible.

The choice I'd picked back then. The only alternative was [Kill Now].

Elijah chuckled. Her red eyes flickered with orange and yellow light, blooming like flames.

"Wrong. Nice try tracking me down this far—I'll give you that. But it's over now."

Snap. Elijah flicked her fingers. Flames whipped out of thin air, incinerating my character. The screen faded on Elijah alone, gazing up at the ashen sky. Then the game reset to the beginning.

*

"What if I became your enemy? Or if you became mine—what would I do then?"

Elijah asked. It was a situation much like that one. Part of me wanted to play dumb like an idiot. Since I was in a kid's body, I could innocently ask what she meant, or swear I was always on her side. A normal kid could pull that off. But I'd already piqued her interest in too many ways. This sharp villainess wouldn't miss it.

Whoa... stay calm.

I recalled my character turning to ash in her flames. No reason I couldn't end up the same.

What's her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠magic level right now?

I'd heard she grew dramatically stronger after some childhood incident. An awakening—or blooming—of her innate mage talent. Was now before or after that point? I didn't know. So I had to assume the worst.

She was testing me, but also genuinely curious. How could enemies become friends?

Lindel. To her eyes, Lindel and I had fought dirty. But when she returned, we were friends. Her mindset couldn't comprehend it.

"Milady."

I answered calmly.

"I could never be your enemy."

"Never?"

Elijah repeated, sounding intrigued. She blinked slowly, as if urging me on. Her long lashes were like Venus flytraps. Fall in, and you'd burn in those red eyes.

"Enemies must be equals. A wolf and a rabbit can't be enemies. One's predator, the other's prey. You and I are the same."

"Hm."

Elijah raised an eyebrow and nodded, clearly pleased.

"So even if you saw me as an enemy, I'd have no recourse. My best bet would be fleeing with everything I've got. But I'll never see you that way."

She stared at me intently. Expecting a boring answer, maybe. She hated unconditional flattery, fawning, or obedience.

Though she hates defiance even more.

"It's like why rabbits don't attack wolves."

"Not obedience, but the natural order. Interesting perspective."

I knew I couldn't beat her anyway. And this wasn't a game—I was truly alive now. Death might really be the end. Defying her would be suicide. Even in the game, no method worked against her.

My answer wasn't over. Her curiosity wasn't sated yet.

"A rabbit that can't eat meat will never understand a wolf's heart. A wolf that lives on grass alone can't grasp a rabbit's world. They'll run parallel forever, never understanding or empathizing."

Elijah listened quietly.

"This is the same. Lindel and I are rabbits. No need to devour each other—we can't even digest it. We might squabble over the same grass. That's all. But you're different, milady. You're nobility."

The friction between Lindel and me was trivial. Just two boys scrapping. No tangled politics or life-or-death stakes.

Elijah was different. Direct heir to Duke Bebel, who could kill a few people and walk free. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠A genius mage with rare global talent—and not just any mage. Her gift was the extraordinary "Mad Fire." Layers of interests intertwined around her, beyond a commoner's imagination.

To her, enemies reconciling was inconceivable. Her best was a fragile alliance of convenience, ripe for betrayal.

That was the closest relationship in the game.

"So it's natural you can't understand my bond with him. It defies logic."

"You say it like you know everything."

Not quite. Bebel family lore was scarce, set in the future anyway. Just inferences from other nobles' stories.

"Almost like you're trying to teach me?"

"...My apologies. No such intent."

"Sure. No sane person would. Though sometimes you seem a bit off."

"......"

"But that's..."

Elijah beamed, a radiant smile fitting her young age. Pure enough to inspire utter devotion—if you didn't know better.

"Not so bad."

"...Thank you."

"So, what's your deal?"

"Pardon?"

"You don't seriously claim to be some ordinary slave, do you?"

"......"

Elijah narrowed her eyes, smile intact. Crescent moons over chilling red irises.

"It's not just talk. Does a slave think like you?"

"Just scraps of knowledge overheard, lowly stuff. They say I have a good memory—maybe that's it."

"Hmmm."

She propped her chin, chuckling, swinging her legs like a kid hearing a fun tale.

"Yeah. Doesn't seem like you'll spill, even with dirty tricks."

"......"

"Flattery, enmity. That's what most people I've met show. I hate that. But you fit neither."

She nodded, leaning back ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠comfortably.

"And strangely... it's not bad."

"...An honor."

"Weirdly entertaining. Am I the odd one?"

I didn't reply. It was musing aloud—no need for my input. Couldn't call her odd outright.

"Anyway. If I'm the wolf, you're the rabbit guarding it? Kinda cute."

"......"

Hearing that from a kid didn't stir me. Her "cute" meant "pathetic" anyway.

"Fine. Lia."

Elijah called her waiting maid. Lia hurried over.

"Bring a few of today's purchases."

"Yes."

As Lia left, awkward silence lingered. Elijah gazed out the window impassively, chin propped, tapping near her tear mole.

How did this pretty little girl become that villainess?

She's not exactly normal now, from what she says.

Did Elijah have another future? One without villainy? No idea. Even if I knew, what could I do? I wasn't smart or great enough to redeem anyone. Changing others is hard. Who was I to play savior? Barely keeping myself alive.

"What're you staring at?"

Elijah said, eyes still on the window.

"...Sorry."

Ghostly intuition. How'd she know without looking?

Lia returned, box in arms.

"A gift. Not sure if rabbits like it."

Elijah grinned.

Rabbit, huh... In the game, she called everyone "worms." Even the player—me.

Upgrade from worm to rabbit? Progress?

I peered inside as she explained.

"Chocolate. Heard of it?"

Yeah, and eaten it. Convenience store stuff for 2,000 won. But this... Transparent bag brimming with glossy black cubes. Not for sale—samples, maybe?

Turning back, this'll cause a stir.

Chocolate was luxury here. Lesser nobles couldn't dream of it. And qualities varied wildly. From Elijah of Bebel? Top-tier.

High-end chocolate cost more than a slave. This box outvalued the entire 13th room's manpower.

I swallowed involuntarily. Kid Judas's reaction, surely.

"Can't look away. You like it."

"Ah... yes. First time seeing any like this."

True enough. Nothing like this chocolate.

"Take it."

"Thank you."

"Expect more next time."

I just bowed and hurried out.

Elijah's mansion office.

"Miguel."

"Yes, milady."

Elijah sat at her desk.

"Dig anything?"

On Judas's background.

"Yes, but he's been sold around a lot. Some rough places skipped records, so no clear origin."

Miguel handed documents proving it.

"Hm."

Common for used slaves. Shady markets too. Obvious, yet suspicious. Gut feeling nagged.

"Keep digging. Report any new info."

"Understood. Oh, and this."

A fancy black envelope with gold trim.

"From Duchess Narcissus."

Her faint smile turned bored blank. She slit it open, skimmed.

About her upcoming birthday. Family and guests gathering—prepare sincerely.

"The banquet prep?"

Miguel asked cautiously.

Elijah sighed, igniting a fingertip flame. Miguel flinched. Top-tier innate mage talent. Tiny as a lighter, but years of training couldn't match for most. Not even 10% of "geniuses."

She tossed the burning letter into the fireplace. Her birthday was a month off. Far for Judas, but nobles planned early. Chocolate shopping included.

She didn't care. Birthdays. The banquet here to celebrate. Why bother if she loathed it? Attendees weren't sincere anyway—just networking.

Whose party is it, really?

Reputation... Annoying, but unavoidable. Bebel prized reputation and honor.

And facing family. Grand gathering of direct and branch lines. Irritating just thinking. United only in enmity. People she'd kill—or who'd kill her if she slipped.

She chuckled suddenly. Judas's words.

Wolf and rabbit. Fun metaphor, but off. Wolves pack. She had none. No allies worth packing with.

Miguel startled at her laugh. Ignoring him, she replied flatly after a pause.

"Slapdash, like last year."

"Got it. First, the centerpiece meat for the banquet hall..."

"...Hold on."

A fun idea hit. Payback on annoying Narcissus, plus intel on Judas.

"Candidate training has hunting?"

"Yes."

Noble pastime. Guard knights must learn it.

"More etiquette for serving during hunts. Basic hunting too."

"Host a simple hunting contest with candidates this weekend."

Decided on whim. She had the power.

She pointed on the wall map.

"Here. Moon Deer Forest. Open entry."

Miguel noted it.

"Fixed participation fee, regardless of results. One winner."

"Prize?"

"Hmm."

Recalling Judas's delight at chocolate, she mused.

"What would a rabbit like?"

As she pondered, Miguel finalized.

"10,000 florins for first prize?"

"That's more than they'd earn in a lifetime."

"Really? That much?"

To her, a meal's cost—uneaten, but spendable.

"Yes. Too much—they couldn't handle it. Might flee with it."

"Problem."

Other candidates? Fine. Not Judas.

"If I may, 100 florins is temptingly excessive for them."

A basic sword ran 50. Full light gear for newbie mercenary: 100. Perfect for their free-time arms.

"Do that. Winner's catch displays as main dish at my birthday party."

"Glory to last a lifetime."

Doubt it.

She cared not for others. Just Judas's reaction.

Ordinary slave wouldn't shine in hunting.

But noble candidates had experience. Judas winning? Proof he wasn't ordinary, unwittingly.

This'll be fun.

He called her wolf, himself rabbit. No equals, no enmity. Fair enough—they weren't enemies. But "no equals"? Questionable. No one intrigued her more.

She smiled faintly at the map, anticipating. What would he show this time?

What is chocolate? Just sweet stuff. That's what I knew. Elijah's was different. Sweet, yes. But bitter too, with a thick depth, nutty without nuts. Complex harmony, profound flavor. My old chocolate? Invalidated.

"You bastards, push-up position—now!"

Richard bellowed, chocolate smears on his mouth. Lindel, Argon, and other skeptics dropped fast.

"Daring to disrespect Judah!"

"Sorry! Aaaagh—!"

Chocolate's fallout dwarfed cookies.

"We've sinned gravely!"

One bite each, and they screamed devotion. Dillon stopped it.

13th room was turning cultish—for me.

...Or my snacks?

Anyway, post-chaos, night fell.

"...Insane."

I muttered aloud.

Hunter's Instinct...

Grueling repetitive labor only. Catch X creatures in time limit? Rare as potent. Not munchkin-overkill, but versatile.

Hunter's, but not just for hunts.

No hesitation. Passing it up? Idiotic.

Test it weekend.

Make free time count.

Moon Deer Forest nearby. Stamina mushrooms there—Saturday harvest...

Next: money. Gotta escape somehow. Dropout or flight—prep all routes.

Info guild.

Money first for contact.

Money's always right. Sunday light quests?

Anticipating weekend, I drifted off.