I Became the Bait!
I became the bait!
I still couldn't read Ern's mind just by looking at his face, but I could tell when he was about to move on his own. It was either when he was about to do something reckless... or when he was trying to clean up after the mess he'd already made.
Either way, it was bound to be entertaining, so it was definitely worth tailing him.
"That's... enough for today, Yeon. You don't need to refine your swordsmanship anymore. Instead... let's say, keep striving toward my realm as your goal. That's all I have to say for now."
I told her to keep practicing while I slipped away from her, bidding her farewell.
She bowed her head as if accepting my command.
Glancing around cautiously, I snuck out of the Swordsmanship Hall and began shadowing Ern.
Why secretly? Because it was more fun that way.
There was that thrilling edge of maybe getting caught. Plus, if Ern spotted me, he might abandon whatever he was up to.
Mobilizing every beastkin sense, I stalked him like a tiger hunting prey.
As we wove through alleys and main streets, a familiar path started to emerge.
This was the way to the Temple.
Why the Temple? And secretly, at that?
Doubt filled my mind until one ridiculous conclusion bubbled up.
...No way.
They were already at that stage?!
It's only been a few weeks since enrollment, and he's already seduced the Saintess, you mad bastard?!
Not that I'm against it! If I think of Cecilia as Ern's canonical wife, I should be thrilled!
Still, come on. Can't you at least date properly first, huh? There's a proper order to these things!
No, this won't do. Even if it's my favorite couple getting together, I can't let this slide.
At the very least, they should flaunt it in front of me a bit.
Hiding my seething jealousy, I quietly headed to the Temple.
"Ah, Lady Ilisha. If you're looking for the Saintess..."
A nun I'd seen occasionally greeted me, but I pressed a finger to my lips as I met her eyes.
"Shh."
"...Ah, yes. Understood."
She gave me an odd look but just tilted her head once, as if deciding not to pry.
With the nun's unwitting help, I crept toward where Cecilia might be. Then, spotting her talking with Ern in the corridor, I ducked behind the corner.
As expected, Ern had come to see Cecilia.
What lewd words was this guy planning to use to conquer pure Cecilia? Ears perked, I listened eagerly.
"...The misinformation has been spread reliably. Pretending to make a mistake, where they could hear or see it."
But what I heard wasn't what I'd expected at all.
"Thank you for your efforts, Saintess. Now we just wait. We've cast the bait, so we need the fish to bite. Ideally, a big one."
"Selling out Ilisha's name does prick at my conscience..."
"No choice, is there? To make the Demon Worshippers come crawling out in a frenzy, we have to dangle a name like that."
Ah.
So that's it.
They're hunting traitors right now.
Rooting out the Demon Worshippers hiding in the Academy.
It made perfect sense.
Leak fake info through Cecilia naturally, then see who bites.
For Ern, this was surprisingly sensible and cooperative.
Normally, he'd just grab his sword and interrogate suspects.
Cecilia bit her lip for a moment before continuing.
"But is it really okay? Using Ilisha as bait, of all people..."
"We're not actually using her. And it's all fake info anyway. So it should be fine... Saintess. Ilisha will understand."
Oh.
Yeah.
To the Demon Worshippers, it'd be irresistible bait.
"You can call me Cecilia."
"...No. You're the Saintess, so how could I dare use your name?"
"Ilisha does it, though? Hehe."
"Ilisha... Yes. Sigh. Saintess, this is out of nowhere, but would you hear my confession?"
Even at Ern's sudden request, Cecilia responded calmly.
"...This being a sacred place, a formal confession would be improper, but I can listen as a friend venting troubles. What do you wish to confess?"
He hesitated, then let out a sigh, murmuring in a flat voice.
"Sometimes I think... what if Ilisha hadn't come to the Academy and just stayed in the North?"
"...I see. Ilisha is at the center of every incident. If she weren't here, none of the accidents would have happened. But."
Cecilia cut him off firmly and met his eyes.
"If that's her wish, all I can do is support her. I don't want to see her get hurt, though."
Her words, tinged with bitterness, melted my heart without warning.
She's worrying about me this much. If I ended up half-dead and carted off again...
She'd only have eyes for me, right?
Perfect. I love it. Just imagining it made me happy.
"So, Ilisha? It's not nice to eavesdrop on others."
That bliss shattered the instant Cecilia called me out directly.
"Yes?"
"...Ehehe. Is it impossible to hide from Cecilia in her own Temple?"
"I-Ilisha?! Since when...!"
Stepping out, I saw Ern genuinely startled, demanding to know how long I'd been listening.
"Hmm, who knows? From when you mentioned spreading the fake info? Sorry, Ern. You snuck off to the Temple, so I thought you were trying to spend secret time with Cecilia."
Ern was already pale, but my words drained what little color remained.
"But Ern, shouldn't you say things like that to the person involved?"
You cheeky bastard.
You were hoping I'd just stay home.
"I get it, that feeling. If I hadn't come to the Academy, the Demon Worshippers wouldn't be this obsessed."
On the surface, it's because of the Demon Worshippers.
But deep down, it's different.
He's a regressor.
A regressor who can't help being tossed around by an unpredictable variable that didn't exist before.
I could forgive him a hundred, a thousand times.
When you've only got one bullet to fire, and a sparrow flits in from the side, of course you'd want it gone. It's annoying.
But listen.
Understanding and putting up with it are two different things, Ern.
"...Ilisha. Don't talk like it's your fault. It's not."
Even now, Cecilia's kindness shone through as she defended me.
Ah, this gentleness.
"So... sorry, Ern. I can't grant that request. I don't think I can go back to holing up at home like before."
Because of this kindness, I can't go back anymore.
I know now.
That out there, way more spectators are waiting.
"...Sorry for even thinking that."
Ern, ever the good protagonist, immediately apologized, ashamed of himself.
"Come on, what do you have to be sorry for, Ern? It's all the Demon Worshippers' fault."
I grinned, making it crystal clear who was to blame.
"So, can I join that plan?"
It gives me a pretext, after all.
"...No."
"Why? If I show up in person, their minions will lose their minds even more. We grab them then, right? Besides, it's fake info."
Cecilia looked troubled but scolded me sternly.
"Ilisha. This isn't some prank you can brush off like last time."
"I know."
"Still no."
"Eh, it's not like we're fighting or anything? My body's not getting wrecked—I'm just acting a little."
Dozens of counterarguments must've flashed through Ern's mind, but he didn't voice them.
He knows.
That words won't persuade me.
"Plus, to make the fake seem real, doesn't it work better that way?"
Ern didn't reply.
He just stared at me with weary, half-lidded eyes.
Cecilia swallowed a tiny sigh.
Hmm. Not quite enough? Time for the finisher?
"Or... does Ern not trust me?"
"It's not about trust, Ilisha. Of course I trust you—we've even fought back-to-back. That's why no."
"Your conscience? Uncomfortable using me like a tool?"
He really cares that much.
It almost made me laugh with joy, but I held back.
Laughing now would look weird.
I schooled my expression just a touch.
"I'm fine with it."
Honestly, I was.
Being used like a tool? No issue.
I'm using my own body like one right now.
A tool for attention.
"And if it helps even a little like this, I'd be happy."
Ern finally relented.
In a very grudging tone.
"...Sigh, that's why I hate it. If it's really what you want."
Ern fell silent for a while.
Thinking, probably.
No—calculating.
Me joining raises the risk, but boosts the bait's appeal.
The moment I appear for real, the hidden minions will almost certainly move.
Ern knew that too.
That's why he hesitated.
He didn't want to cross that line.
The line of treating a person like a tool.
Thinking I'd shatter his convictions? Ah.
Blissful.
"...Just once."
Oh.
He held up a finger right away.
"First. Please stick to the plan."
"Easy."
"Second. If things go off-script, leave the response to us."
"If you can handle it."
"...Finally, third. I'll try to value you more."
Sounds like a confession.
Though it's probably literal.
"I'll work on it!"
I answered as innocently as possible.
Cecilia quietly took my hand, pleading.
"Really, don't overdo it."
"Come on, it's just a bit of acting."
At the promised time and place, Cecilia was waiting.
And at the same time, I sensed a presence.
They took the bait.