The Slit-Eyed Counterattack Character Declares His Courage
“Let’s gather our courage.”
“Found it.”
“.... If it’s something useless, don’t mention it. My head is killing me right now.”
“Um, maybe this one little word of mine could clear up Charlotte-nim’s headache completely, but since Charlotte-nim said not to speak, I have no choice.”
“..... If it’s really nothing, I’ll make you pay.”
Charlotte was staring at the table with her hand pressed to her forehead when she turned her gaze and glared straight at me.
“I’m here to ask for your help.”
“So you’re saying there’s no use? Where on earth are we supposed to trust our words to....”
“Father.”
Charlotte, who had answered nervously, fell silent for a moment before slowly lifting her head and speaking.
“..... You mean Andres Frelia?”
“Yes. Right now, the only place I can place my hopes is there.”
“It does look more possible than anywhere else..... But will it be okay? You— that is, Shion— are not Andres’s biological son, are you?”
Charlotte couldn’t finish her sentence, but what she was trying to say was perfectly clear.
“That’s right. Shion is not Andres’s biological son. Honestly, I worry that he might have sent me to his father’s house and I’d end up in a dangerous situation for no reason at all.”
“..... That’s far too dangerous. I don’t know what Andres will do once he learns you’re not his own child. Other ways....”
“There are no other ways, Charlotte-nim. You already know that.”
Charlotte clenched her fist tightly and gritted her teeth while muttering.
“.... How utterly stupid. If I’d possessed six months earlier, I could have done something about it.”
“Ehehe. Don’t say things like that, Charlotte-nim.”
I shook my head with a bright smile and gently wrapped my hand around hers that was still clenched in a fist.
Instantly Charlotte’s whole body gave a violent shiver.
“Anyway, the problem with my father is something that has to be resolved sooner or later. I figure while dealing with the academy attack, it’ll all work out fine....”
“..... As always.”
“Huh?”
Charlotte’s fist trembled as though she were ready to strike.
No, to be precise, her entire body was shaking slightly.
“..... Even this time you’re trying to handle something that isn’t even your fault all by yourself. I can’t help but feel sorry for you when I see it from the side.”
A single tear fell from the table.
Warm tears that worried about someone else.
“I could just say I’m running away and you wouldn’t stop me. I can understand your feelings completely. But if you say you’re going to save everyone by yourself, then I.... I don’t even know what I should do anymore.”
Transparent tears streamed down her flushed cheeks.
I watched her for a moment before letting out a soft laugh and opening my mouth.
“Haha, at least Charlotte-nim doesn’t have to worry about dry eyes. If you cry like that for long, you’ll tire out quickly.”
I wiped her tears with the tissue that had been left on the table.
“Charlotte-nim. There’s something my very trusted and beloved acquaintance once told me. May I quote it?”
“......”
“If I get into some danger and can save Charlotte-nim, wouldn’t that be quite a worthwhile gamble? Of course, I don’t really like gambling, but for Charlotte-nim I’d be happy to do it over and over again.”
“You....”
“Charlotte-nim already bet everything on helping me.”
Smiling brightly, I said.
“Now it’s my turn.”
Charlotte’s face began to flush even redder.
Then suddenly she couldn’t stay still, lowered her head completely, and muttered.
“.... You’re completely stupid.”
“Ahaha, I quoted exactly what Charlotte-nim said to me, so if you call me stupid, you’re basically spitting on your own face.”
Charlotte let out a long sigh after hearing my words, glared at me, and spoke.
“That’s not what I meant..... Ah, anyway, you’re the champion at ruining the mood.”
“I’ll take it as a compliment.”
I took Charlotte’s scolding in stride and answered with a playful tone.
“Then shall we go?”
“Yes. It looks ridiculous to dress up all fancy and then leave at the last minute.”
“Pfft, that’s certainly the case. Luckily tomorrow is Saturday.”
Charlotte let out a light laugh and rested her chin on her hand.
“Then go quickly. If you leave now, you’ll arrive tomorrow morning.”
“I’d love to sleep in and then leave, but the situation is too serious to delay. Ah, I guess I’ll have to get up early and head out today.”
“Already making weak excuses?”
“No way. That was the last complaint. Now I really am heading out.”
I stood up from the chair and gave a light farewell greeting before heading for the front door.
While putting on my shoes in front of the shoe rack, I suddenly turned around and spoke to Charlotte.
“Charlotte-nim.”
“Why?”
“Could you please keep this a secret from the other friends as well?”
“You mean Shina, Elys, and Chloe?”
I nodded and answered.
“If possible, I don’t want them to see me get hurt. Of course Charlotte-nim wouldn’t want to see me hurt either, but since Charlotte-nim already knows everything, it’s all right.”
Charlotte’s academy attack was an event that was never supposed to happen in the original story.
Therefore, there was no way to know what would happen or how the attack would end.
As a possessor I should have had a huge information advantage, but I couldn’t use it.
That was why I was scared. I was terrified that the precious people around me would get hurt or die because of the variables I didn’t know in this attack.
If possible, I wanted them to stay safe.
“..... Yeah. I will.”
“As expected of Charlotte-nim. You’re reliable. Then I’ll really be going now.”
I opened the dormitory door and stepped forward slowly.
“Yeah. Come back. I’ll be waiting.”
Waiting for me, huh....
The first time I’d heard that in a long time.
* * *
I secretly slipped out of Luin Academy, rented a carriage, and headed straight for the Frelia Marquis’s residence where Andres was.
Last time the family had sent a luxurious carriage, so I hadn’t felt any discomfort, but this time I had hurriedly rented one and the body was a little sore.
Moreover, the speed was far slower than the previous carriage, and it took a full nine hours to get there.
When the Frelia residence came into view in the distance, the sun had already risen.
After waiting patiently for a little longer, we finally arrived at the entrance of the mansion.
I handed over a service fee pouch to the coachman who had driven hard all night, then slowly stepped down.
“Ah, Sir Shion Frelia! W-what business do you have at such an early hour?!”
A guard standing in front recognized me in an instant and said, freezing up.
“It’s nothing special. I just came to talk with Father a little. Could you please call the butler?”
“Yes!”
The gatekeeper answered rigorously, bowed his head to me, and hurried off toward the mansion.
And before long the familiar face of the butler Ebe appeared in front of me.
“Young Master Shion. Thank you for coming all this way so early in the morning. If you had told me in advance I would have sent a carriage. I worry that you may have had a hard time on the way.”
The moment Ebe spotted me, he gave a ninety-degree bow.
An extremely polite appearance, the complete opposite of the reaction I had seen before.
“There was a sudden urgent matter. By the way, is Father still asleep?”
“No. He should be in the private training room for the master, working through his morning training schedule. Even after stepping down from the front lines, he doesn’t neglect his training, so it’s truly admirable.”
“I agree. Then would you please guide me to Father’s training room right away?”
“As you wish.”
Ebe bowed politely and turned back, walking toward the mansion. I followed, quietly watching his steady steps.
After about ten minutes of walking, I began to sense something in the Nature Realm.
One impurity, not the slightest, and the mana that surged out at high speed felt as if it were tearing through the air itself.
It was the kind of destructive mana current that could only be described as destructive,
yet despite the surrounding chaos, there was a being within it who continued his meditation without moving an inch.
Controlling himself without losing even a little composure in such a storm— it really did seem that only a 7-star master could do something like this.
The distance between me and Andres was now less than 100 meters. While I had time, I needed to decide what to say.
I took slow, deep breaths and followed Ebe’s back.
And when we finally reached the door of Andres’s private training room, Ebe bowed politely and spoke.
“We have arrived. Is there anything else you wish to request?”
“Nothing for now. Thank you for the kind guidance.”
“It’s no trouble at all. If you need any help, please do not hesitate to ask.”
Ebe gave me a gentle smile and stepped back one pace. No doubt he was clearing the way for me.
Now all I had to do was pull the door handle.
Andres and I were about to meet.
“Huaa.....”
I was tense, and I was scared.
I had no idea what kind of reaction Andres would show once he learned I was not his biological son.
But if I didn’t go forward out of fear, a bright future would never come to me either.
“..... Let’s go.”
There was no other choice.
Gathering my courage, I opened the door.