Chapter 151: Revenge
Chapter 151: Revenge
No matter how many times Guwon called her name, Diana didn't move a muscle.
As a test, he gave a light thrust of his hips. She let out a cute little, “Heeng!” before smacking him on the chest and falling silent again. Well, at least she was alive.
I guess I have no choice but to leave her be for now.
Guwon pulled out and gently slid from beneath her. Diana immediately pulled the covers over her head.
Even after Guwon had finished his shower and come back out, there was still just a round lump of blankets on the bed.
“Diana. You should wash up soon. We need to eat.”
But, as expected, there was no reply.
Wait, is it possible there’s nothing inside that lump of blankets and she’s already left the room?
He reached out with his index finger and poked it. The lump of blankets flinched and trembled.
What the. She’s still in there.
But it seemed there was nothing I could do to help Diana recover from this state.
“Good morning. By the way, where is Lady Diana? Did she not spend the night with you?”
Vanessa was waiting by the door, just like always.
“Ah… yeah. She’s inside. Go on in.”
Guwon left everything to Vanessa and headed down to the dining room first.
The meal was prepared and everyone else had arrived, with Diana being the last to show up.
Has her mental state recovered a bit?
“Diana. Are you okay—?”
“You! That’s right! About that magic you told me about yesterday…”
The moment Guwon tried to speak to her, Diana whipped her head around and started talking to one of the people from the Mage Association.
For Diana to initiate a conversation with them on her own… it seemed she hadn’t fully recovered yet.
Thanks to her, however, the mage she had spoken to looked like he was on the verge of crying tears of joy.
Still, she couldn't stay like this forever. If I could just manage to have a conversation with her, the situation would probably improve. I needed to figure out a way.
“By the way, Guwon-ssi. I’m planning to go to the orphanage today.”
As Guwon was lost in thought, staring intently at Diana, Leia leaned in close from the side and spoke to him.
“Oh, really?”
“…Yes.”
Since she’d spoken to me while I was thinking, I’d answered reflexively, but Leia’s expression fell slightly.
What’s wrong? Ah, right. I promised to go with her to the orphanage.
“Then I should go with you. Let me know when you’re heading to the temple.”
I had to protect Leia from that bastard Kyle’s filthy clutches.
Besides, I had some business with Kyle today anyway.
“Yes!”
Just as I thought, that was the reason. Leia’s face lit up with a brilliant smile at my words.
Mm. So precious. A smile truly suits an angel.
Before heading to the temple with Leia, Guwon pulled Sara aside and gave her a stern warning.
“You understand? Don’t you dare try to handle this alone. I’m thinking hard about it, too. You must not, absolutely must not, try to do anything by yourself.”
I considered telling her about the plan I’d thought of this morning, but I had to leave with Leia soon, and it didn’t feel like the right time.
I should tell her when we have time to think it over at a leisurely pace.
“…Okay.”
I’ve never experienced what Sara has, so it’s impossible for me to fully understand how she feels.
But just hearing the story, I could imagine it was a situation that would make anyone see red.
Honestly, I was so anxious I wanted to keep her by my side, but it wasn't like I could stick with her constantly.
“Promise? You promise? If you break this promise, I’ll never see your face again.”
“I understand.”
After making Sara promise two, three times, I was still uneasy, so I went to Vanessa and explained the situation.
“Vanessa. Could you secretly have someone watch Sara for today?”
“…Is something the matter?”
“The thing is, Sara has her reasons for having a strong desire to get stronger. Resting for several days like this will make her antsy, and she might try to enter the dungeon by herself. I’ve been marking her myself until now, but I think I’ll have to be away from her today. If she tries to go to the dungeon alone, please stop her.”
I couldn’t very well tell her the truth—that Sara might go into the dungeon to bury someone—so I had to make up an excuse.
“…Understood.”
Only after taking such thorough precautions could Guwon finally head for the orphanage.
They stopped by the temple first to pick up some things, but it seemed the others had already gone ahead, so it ended up being just him and Leia.
“I’m sorry. Because you’re staying at the mansion for our convenience, you’ve ended up late with things like this.”
“Not at all. I’m staying at the mansion because I want to. And I’m not alone. You’re coming with me, Guwon-ssi.”
Leia replied with a warm smile.
Just how much of an angel was this woman?
I really couldn’t understand why her job was simply ‘Priestess.’ It wouldn’t feel out of place at all if she were a Saintess. In fact, who else could possibly suit the title of Saintess besides our angel?
Not that I actually knew if a job called ‘Saintess’ even existed.
“Still, going like this with just the two of us feels like a date.”
“I-It does.”
Leia lowered her head at Guwon’s words.
He couldn’t see her expression, but the tail behind her was wagging furiously, betraying her feelings.
Isn’t this a pretty good mood?
“Ah…”
As if on cue, Guwon and Leia’s hands brushed against each other as they walked side-by-side.
Leia’s fingers flinched and curled inward, but they soon touched the tips of Guwon’s fingers again. Then, hesitantly, with a careful movement, her fingers intertwined with his.
They were just walking while holding hands, but Guwon felt as if his brain was melting.
This is dangerous. It’s so sweet I don’t think I can stay sane.
“Leia-noona!”
But that sweet time came to an abrupt end.
Just as the orphanage came into view in the distance, a swarm of kids came running out.
The hand Leia had been holding was instantly pulled away to embrace the children.
Dammit. Kids these days have no sense of tact. If you like Leia so much, shouldn’t you be supporting her love life instead of interfering? Besides, another priest should have been here already. Why are you all outside?
Well, no use getting worked up over a bunch of kids. It couldn’t be helped. Guwon decided to take care of his other business here first.
“Hey. Kid. Where’s Kyle?”
“I’m not a kid! I’m Seren! I told you before.”
Whatever. My brain doesn’t have space to store the names of every single brat.
“Right. Seren. Where’s Kyle?”
“Kyle-ajeossi? Over there!”
Ajeossi [Mister/Uncle]. Well, he is that age. Still, they were on casual terms until just a little while ago. Do they adapt that quickly? The adaptability of kids is terrifying.
Guwon went in the direction the kid pointed and found Kyle standing with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Welcome.”
Kyle, having noticed Guwon’s approach, spoke in a relaxed voice.
What is this?
To be honest, I had come here somewhat prepared. I had, after all, ended the man’s life.
It might not have sunk in at the time, but by now, the reality of it must be hitting him hard. I had even prepared for the possibility that he would charge at me on sight.
But Kyle’s demeanor was far too calm.
“Did something happen to you?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean, aren’t you angry to see me?”
“When one is consumed by rage, that anger brings harm upon oneself as well.”
As he spoke, I could almost feel a sort of sagely aura in his eyes. His way of speaking was strange, too. Had losing his two balls made him achieve enlightenment? He reminded me of some kind of castrating automaton monk.
Well, in any case, if he wasn’t hostile, that was for the best. I should get straight to the point.
“Hey, if I were to request an assassination job from you, would you do it?”
Kyle didn’t answer, simply staring intently at Guwon’s face.
“There is a darkness lurking within you.”
This is getting kind of annoying.
“So. Are you going to do it or not?”
“No one has the right to take another’s life.”
“Even if the target is a murderer who has taken another’s life?”
“Revenge is not justice.”
Says the pervert who used to be an assassin. If you’re not going to do it, then fine. I wasn’t expecting much in the first place.
What Kyle was saying was incredibly irritating, but Guwon decided to just let it go. After all, it felt like I was partly responsible for him ending up like this.
“Fine, forget that. There’s something I’m curious about. Can an Assassin’s level be raised by methods other than assassination?”
“Methods other than assassination? For example?”
“For example, by performing any kind of stealthy action.”
Unable to be specific, Guwon fudged his words.
His Assassin level had risen exactly twice so far. And both times, it had happened when he’d had sex secretly, without getting caught. But honestly, it was hard to think of that as an action related to assassination. That’s why I’d come to find this guy. As someone whose main profession was an assassin, wouldn’t he know something?
“Hmm… I am sorry, but I cannot think of anything.”
“Think carefully. Has it never gone up during training for stealthy actions, even if it wasn't an actual assassination?”
“Never. If that were possible, the Assassin’s Guild would not have raised assassins solely through assassination.”
Kyle stated it as a fact, as if it required no deep thought.
Raised assassins solely through assassination. That meant that not only Kyle, but also the person who trained assassins at his organization, didn’t know that one could level up the way I did.
But since I had, in fact, leveled up that way, Kyle’s claim that it only rose through assassination was wrong. Should I consider this a kind of hidden feature, then?
Did assassins simply not know that their level could rise from such acts? It was understandable, I suppose. Having sex without getting caught while someone else is nearby isn’t exactly a common experience. Even if someone had discovered it by chance, they might not have shared the method with other assassins.
“Do you have any more questions?”
“Huh? Oh. No, I’m good. Why?”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
With that, Kyle immediately headed toward Leia.
I thought this bastard had reached enlightenment, but he still hasn’t learned his lesson. Was it all just an act?
Guwon hurriedly moved to Leia’s side, but Kyle’s eyes as he looked at her were the very picture of serenity. The perverted desire he’d shown before was completely gone.
Did he really reach enlightenment? Those eyes aren’t something you can fake with just an act.
Seeing Kyle approach, Leia flinched slightly. Kyle stopped at a reasonable distance and spoke.
“Do not worry. I am different from before. I now walk the path of harmony. I will no longer be swayed by desire. I merely came to offer the thanks I was unable to give.”
“…Pardon?”
Leia tilted her head and replied to his words.
She doesn’t remember saving you, I’m telling you.
In any case, the matter with Kyle was settled. After looking after the orphanage children with Leia and taking a tour of the slums, they returned to the mansion.
After observing him all day, it was clear Kyle’s enlightenment wasn’t an act. I’d even subtly asked the kids, and they said he’d been like that ever since our last visit. It seemed the unfortunate incident of Kyle hitting on Leia was unlikely to happen again.
Of course, that didn’t mean I wouldn’t accompany her to the orphanage anymore.
No matter what, spending time with Leia was healing.
“Sara!”
Upon returning to the mansion, Guwon immediately went to find Sara.
“Wh-What is it?”
“You behaved while I was gone, right?”
“Am I a child? Don’t worry. …If you say you’ll never see my face again, I have to endure it.”
Sara said, her face blushing slightly.
What’s this. Can I take that as a confession?
“So. What have you been doing?”
“I sat here and kept thinking about what to do. But I still can’t come up with a good plan. It seems I can’t make a move without getting rid of that woman, Kate.”
Sara replied, a slight frown creasing her brow.
Guwon pressed his finger against her forehead to smooth out the wrinkle and said,
“I’ve been thinking about it constantly, too, and I’ve come up with a good plan. A way to deal with that bastard as painfully as possible. There’s just one problem with carrying it out.”
“A problem? What is it? Just tell me. Right now, I’m desperate enough to grasp at straws.”
If I tell her, she’ll probably curse me out first, right?
But I really couldn’t think of any other way.
Guwon began to explain in detail the plan he had devised that morning.