Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Should I Say It?
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“Don’t beat around the bush—just spit it out. What does it say?”
Kasian said softly.
Dain swallowed dryly.
Pretending to worry about my disciple, but really I came to see you... Can’t you pay a little attention to me? Should I just hit you with a sleep spell and kidnap you today...?
For Dain, who had only ever learned about obsession from books in her past life, real-world experience was far too brutal.
Yeah... It’s been 500 years already. Only an idiot like me would expect someone to stay young and gorgeous all alone without losing their mind.
The once-peaceful romance genre had already twisted into dark fantasy, making life hellish enough. If she blurted out that content here, it would surely shift straight into [Dark Fantasy + Hardcore Thriller Suspense].
“Why are you clamming up? Is it such vile profanity that you can’t even say it out loud?”
Kasian poked at Dain teasingly.
“Come on, just tell me. It’s not like I haven’t been cursed out before—a day or two won’t kill me. Especially by that guy; I’ve already taken all his shit. What, did they curse out my parents or something?”
“W-Well...”
Ugh, this oblivious, dense-as-rocks fossil of a senior... He reads killing intent like a pro, so why is his radar completely broken on this front?!
Dain hesitated for a moment. Should she lie?
But then a flash of inspiration struck her mind.
Hold on. What if I tell the truth?
What if she revealed Erendel’s feelings to this clueless idiot? If the two of them hit it off? Then Lady Erendel’s jealous killing intent would vanish.
And above all...
Watching someone else’s love life is the best entertainment!
On this grim journey of constant rolling in dirt, blood splatters, and monster fights, a ray of light and salt like romance could bloom!
If she played matchmaker successfully, maybe her own future travels would turn into a bed of roses too?
Yeah. I’ll tell him. Lay out the facts and plant both awareness and butterflies in this dense guy’s heart.
That was the one path to securing both her survival and fun—two birds with one stone.
Dain steeled her resolve and opened her mouth.
“Senior, it’s not curses.”
“Not curses? Then what?”
“Lady Erendel... she...”
...likes you.
She was just about to spit it out.
[This statement is prohibited.]
A red system message floated before her eyes.
“Eep?!”
An invisible force clamped down on her vocal cords.
“Mmmph...!! Grrgh!!”
[Direct intervention in relationships is restricted.]
[This statement is prohibited.]
[This statement is prohibited.]
[This statement is prohibited.]
Ah...
A memory from the past flashed through Dain’s mind—the early days after possession, when frustration led her to try speeding up the original story’s leads, Alice and the male lead, only to hit this exact wall.
It happened back then too...!
This damn system strictly blocked any mention of emotions discovered via status windows.
No, System—you bastard! What the hell?! That was for the protagonists, these people aren’t them!! I’m just trying to help some rotten extras with their love lives—why block me here?!
“Hey, why’d you stop mid-sentence? If it’s not curses, then what?”
Dain broke out in cold sweat, racking her brain desperately. She’d opened her mouth; no backing out now.
The most logical, safe response to turn this around. Something Kasian would buy without provoking Erendel’s ire.
A curse? Nah, that’s her side’s specialty. Something believable... What image does this dense senior have of that elf?
“......”
As her brain cells burned from overload, a brilliant idea sparked.
“M-Money.”
Her voice came out normally this time.
“Money...?”
“Yeah, it’s about settling accounts. The status window says...”
Dain launched into a rambling improv with a trembling voice.
“‘This bastard turned my cute disciple into this? I’ll bill him for medical fees, emotional distress compensation, and Magic Tower facility usage...’ or something like that.”
“......”
A brief silence fell.
Kasian stared blankly at Dain. Then...
“Pfft...!!”
He let out a small burst of laughter.
“Knew it. Greed’s still as strong as ever.”
He nodded as if relieved.
“Same as 500 years ago. Back when she first left the elf forest, she haggled over expedition costs like a shark. I gave her black dragon byproducts, so that should cover it.”
Dain finally exhaled the breath she’d been holding, patting her chest before quietly flipping off the status window in midair.
I’m alive... Praise my quick thinking...
That was when it happened.
“What fun story are you two having?”
A chilling voice came from behind. Erendel, having finished tidying the blankets, stood there with arms crossed, looking down at them.
“Huh? Nothing much. Just planning ahead a bit.”
Kasian answered nonchalantly. The lie flowed out smooth as water.
“Planning? What kind? Planning to exploit someone else again? My disciple’s off-limits for a while.”
“Nah, exploiting comes later. Once these guys are discharged, I’m thinking of visiting Duke Pendragon’s territory.”
“Why there?”
Erendel’s eyes sharpened.
“Gonna make this one my official adjutant. Gotta get permission—proper etiquette and all.”
“.....”
“Plus, check on that descendant of Kyle’s, pay respects. Crash for a few days, score some good eats.”
“Hmm...”
Erendel’s gaze flicked between Kasian and Dain. The psych state on the floating status window reset before Dain’s eyes.
Trip alone together? Hell no. What does he think he’s doing? After waiting 500 years, some random blood-clot newcomer cuts in line? Kasian’s mine. Later, in a nice spot with the mood just right...
“Please spare me...”
Terror-stricken, Dain clutched the blanket without thinking. The status text felt like it was materializing to strangle her.
“Yeah? Good idea. I’ve got business there anyway.”
“You?”
Kasian furrowed his brow, genuinely baffled.
“Why would you go? Just head to the capital Magic Tower with Yuria. Last time was grabbing magic tools for the students. Tower Lord can’t be away too long.”
He rattled off perfectly logical, efficient points.
“Go to the capital first, tinker with magic research you love alongside Yuria. That’s productive.”
All sound advice. But logic wouldn’t work on this opponent.
“Shut it! Yuria needs some outside sightseeing too! She’s only seen barren snowfields and the academy so far. Gotta broaden her horizons—her growth! Crucial for emotional development!”
“For horizons, capital or ruins are better, no? Why tag along all the way out there?”
“It’s my whim! If the Tower Lord wants to go, what’s it to you?!”
Erendel bellowed.
You oblivious moron!! I just want to be with you!! First time in 500 years—don’t you dare suggest splitting up again?! For once, shut up and just say okay!!
“Eek...”
Dain jabbed Kasian’s side.
“Why poke me?”
“Senior! Read the room—er, I mean!”
Forcing up twitching lips into a strained smile,
“On second thought, it’d be great if Lady Erendel and Yuria came along! Our territory has... great air, pure water—perfect for patients to recuperate! A healing trip!”
“Recuperate my ass. Sounds annoying.”
“No! And a legendary hero party’s archmage visiting would honor our house...! Father would welcome you with open arms!”
“Really...?”
“Plus, if bandits show up en route, having an archmage makes it safer! Two escorts are better than one!”
Kasian frowned at Dain’s words.
“With me here, bandits? Do I look like I need an escort?”
“Argh, please!!”
Why is this guy so brutally self-aware here when he’s a total blockhead elsewhere?! Be humble for once!
Dain shot him desperate pleading eyes. Kasian scratched his head irritably at her frantic gaze.
“Hm? Well... if you’re fine with it, whatever. Your family okay with it? Hosting might be a hassle. This elf’s picky—bet she’ll claim no meat, veggies only.”
“Wanna die?”
Erendel’s eyebrow twitched.
“D-don’t worry! I’ll send a messenger ahead to uproot a whole meadow...!!”
“Hah, fine. If the host says okay, who am I to complain.”
Kasian grumbled but nodded.
“Alright. Three of us—no, four with sleeping Yuria. Gotta rent a big carriage. Gonna be cramped.”
“Hmph, about time.”
Dain sighed in relief, patting her chest. Erendel left the room with a satisfied look.
That was when.
“So noisy...”
The blanket on the next bed rustled, and Yuria sat up with messy hair.
“Ah, Yuria! You’re awake?”
“Lady Dain...? Where... Oh.”
Yuria blinked around blankly, then spotted Kasian by the window.
“Hero...?”
“Oh, up already? How’s the body? Still sore?”
Kasian asked casually. Yuria unconsciously felt her arms and legs.
Her whole body throbbed from mana release backlash, but chugging potions made it surprisingly bearable.
“Much better. For someone who nearly died, anyway.”
“Tough like a true northerner. Pack your things ahead. Got a spot to hit after graduation.”
“Where? Another deserted island?”
“Nah, Dain’s place. Rural retreat and recuperation. Your master wants to broaden your horizons.”
“Ah...”
Yuria nodded blankly.
Dain watched, then sneakily opened a status window. They were all heading to her hometown anyway. Better to scout party members’ stats and prefs for survival.
First person stronger than my master. And up close, he’s pretty handsome too? That human cannon thing with Lady Dain... Maybe I’ll ask to fire it once...
“......”
Dain quietly closed the status window and rubbed her face.
It felt like peering into the abyss.
Crazy bitch...
Oh, right. Northerners were battle maniacs who prized strength above all virtues.
The barbaric cliché from fantasy novels—falling for a man stronger than oneself—was alive right here.
“Um, Lady Dain? Why stare like that? Something on my face?”
Yuria asked with an innocent expression. Dain shook her head.
“No... Just... You’re so positive, it’s enviable.”
“Worth it, right? Feels like I grasped magic’s core.”
“Yeah... So fulfilling I wanna die.”
Dain muttered at the ceiling.
“Feels like I’m losing my mind... Am I the only normal one here...?”
One was a 500-year-old stalker. Another obsessed with firepower and strength.
And the man this mentor-disciple duo targeted was a sociopathic war hero with a shattered moral compass.
The ride home’s a hellbound train...
Dain sighed deeply, intuiting the carriage to Duke Pendragon’s lands would burn hotter than hellfire.