Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Eaton's Recklessness
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"Right, Eaton."
I rushed over to Eaton.
"Eaton, how could you act on your own like that? Your life was really in danger. Mine was too."
"..."
I stood in front of Eaton, who was leaning against the wall. Only then did I notice the tears pooling around his eyes.
Seeing Eaton standing there with his face flushed red, I was at a loss for words.
"Darsi, what the hell did you say to him?"
"I told him revenge wouldn't end just because he killed him right then and there."
"..."
"I asked if it was okay for him to ruin the mages' lives."
Darsi stood beside me, meeting Eaton's gaze.
"I said that if he was going to blow up the mages' livelihoods over one moment's mistake, what made him any different from the imperial faction that destroyed their foundations."
It was extreme, but not wrong. Even if Eaton's attempt to harm Ryan had succeeded, things wouldn't have ended there.
The hatred toward mages would only grow, and my business plans tied to the matter would have gone completely up in smoke.
"You nearly got yourself hurt too, so you can't just wrap it up as 'I had no choice.' That would be repaying kindness with enmity."
Eaton bit his lip hard. Darsi raised a finger to point at his own head and continued.
"Don't let emotions eat away at your reason."
"Don't lecture me."
"Well. You might learn something from what happened to me when I was consumed by childhood trauma."
I poked Darsi's shoulder at his self-deprecating words.
No, don't say stuff like that! I'm worried about you right now!
"You're not consumed by fear—you're a monster corrupted by them. You craved power, that's why you became a prince."
Eaton's words were laced with resentment, spat out like he was chewing gravel.
But Darsi was calm as a still sea.
"No, I'm just biding my time."
"..."
"Death is too simple and empty. I can't grant them something as merciful as a blessing."
"..."
"That takes real power. Messing with their reason is just a bonus. Didn't you see it earlier?"
"Come on, Eaton. As long as you know you messed up today, that's enough. Never, ever do it again. That really would be the end."
Afraid their argument would escalate further, I jumped in to change the subject.
"But seriously, how did you even get out? Without anyone noticing?"
Eaton, who had been glaring at Darsi, meekly lowered his head when he saw me.
His booming voice from moments ago shrank to a chirp.
"...I was feeling stuffy, so I went for a walk and found servant clothes in the stables, so I changed into them."
This wasn't even his first time sneaking out. It was impressive he'd made it to the stables without being spotted.
"I'm good at hiding my presence. On the island, the guards were so tight it was impossible not to get caught."
I must have looked too obviously shocked. Eaton quickly defended himself. But his bravado lasted only a moment.
"I'm really sorry about today. No—I'm sorry. I lost my reason thinking this chance wouldn't come again, and nearly ruined everything."
Eaton finally admitted his recklessness.
"In the end, nothing happened, so I'll let it slide."
It was good that he apologized first, so I forgave him. But I didn't forget the warning.
"But from now on, you really have to stay in your room and follow instructions. Otherwise, the contract can't proceed."
Eaton nodded obediently at my warning.
...Honestly, I couldn't fully trust him, but there was no other choice right now.
"I want to rest."
Darsi, who had been listening to our conversation with his arms crossed, whispered from the side.
"Yeah, let's head back to the room quickly."
At least the fight happened in the room.
We took Eaton back to the theater room.
The room was a mess since Eaton had been staying there continuously.
We cleaned it every day, but with someone living in it, the atmosphere was inevitably different from before.
"This was our space."
Darsi's faint frown showed his displeasure at that fact as he unslung the bag from his shoulder.
'Like that pouch I gave him before—one that can hold anything?'
It seemed so, matching the color of the magic crystal. It was like Doraemon's pocket.
"The thing you mentioned."
Darsi held out what looked like a strap that could be worn on the thigh.
"I made sure the gun shrinks for everyday carry. Even with a dress, it won't get in the way."
"You can do that too?"
"It's based on the same principle as making pouches."
I had no idea what the principle was, but if a genius said so, it must be true.
I took the belt and examined it. The subtle mix of purple and violet made it beautiful even at a glance.
"Thanks, Darsi."
"I've kept you waiting too long, so no charge."
"No, you should take payment."
The closer the relationship, the clearer the transactions should be. Especially with Darsi.
"Drawing lines like that hurts my feelings."
"It's not drawing lines—it's showing respect."
As I corrected him, a knock sounded at the door.
"Just a moment."
I went to answer the knock and received the magic crystals Ryan had given me earlier.
'Right, these were left.'
I set the boxes of magic crystals by the door and returned to Darsi.
Since Marquis Etwar hadn't given them to me personally, it should be fine to use them as I pleased.
'If he complains later, I can cover it with output from my own magic crystal mine.'
Surprisingly, Darsi and Eaton were continuing their conversation.
In Eaton's open palm was a round, cut chunk of magic crystal. It looked just like a gem.
I sidled up next to Darsi and asked Eaton,
"Were you planning to throw this at Ryan?"
"It's a bomb despite appearances. A magic tool."
Eaton grumbled. Maybe because he felt guilty about what happened, his tone had switched to polite speech, which was kind of cute. His conscience was pricking him, it seemed.
I narrowed my eyes and teased him mischievously.
"You sure seem interested in magic tools."
"N-No way!"
Eaton reacted obviously again. No way he'd ever have a poker face.
'Darsi's really the best at making magic tools.'
Watching them, an idea suddenly struck me.
'Maybe this could bring Darsi and Eaton closer?'
I started talking up Darsi's skills.
"All the magic tools you've seen from me so far? Darsi made them."
Eaton loved the image player. Just this morning, he'd been replaying the play and marveling at it.
"Darsi might even explain the principles to you."
I tried to lure Eaton in by hyping Darsi as much as possible.
"No way!"
Of course, Eaton wouldn't bite that easily.
"I can't reveal the principles, but I could give you one to disassemble."
Darsi chimed in from the side, pulling an image player from his bag.
Eaton seemed intrigued by the offer. I could see his ears perking up in real time.
"However."
Darsi placed the image player in Eaton's hand and paused dramatically.
"If you give Marso and me some time alone."
"I'll be in the bathroom."
He clearly didn't want to accept Darsi's help outright, but he couldn't resist the temptation.
Eaton answered swiftly and dashed through the door connecting to the theater room's bathroom. He shut himself in and closed the door.
In an instant, it was just the two of us.
Darsi placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Now, shall we talk about us?"
"Do we have something to talk about?"
The chill I'd felt earlier when he caught me holding Eaton came rushing back.
'But there's no reason for me to be scared of that, right?'
We weren't even lovers. I felt wronged, but I didn't want to bring it up to Darsi when he seemed in a bad mood.
"How's the output from your magic crystal mine?"
And Darsi's actual question was completely unrelated to what I'd been thinking.
I'd gotten ahead of myself. I bowed my head to hide my flushed face.
A shadow fell over my face, and Darsi immediately asked worriedly,
"Are you hurt somewhere?"
"No, no. Just a little headache."
I hurriedly replied to him, took a deep breath, and lifted my head.
"No issues at the mine."
"Yeah?"
I didn't read detailed reports on the mine, but I kept track of general production levels.
But why ask about this? My embarrassment faded as curiosity took over.
"It seems the imperial family's and Marquis Epekle's mines have seen a drop in magic crystal production."
"Magic crystals?"
It was completely unexpected.
The book never mentioned production dropping.
On the contrary, demand for magic crystals had surged along with popularity of magic tools from Resuan and Ryan's love story.
"But your mine's fine, so that's a relief."
"Yeah. No problems at all."
"It's not confirmed yet, so just keep an eye out."
"Got it."
It was a shame I didn't have my own info network to use at times like this.
If I did, I could cross-check with Darsi's info or pass it straight to him.
Leticia's face briefly flashed in my mind.
'She apologized to me.'
It hadn't seemed fake, but how long would that sincerity last? How much would she change for my sake?
No point dwelling on uncertainties.
I shook my head and sank back into thought.
'If it's something that didn't happen in the book, it must be related to the changes.'
The story's main thread had started veering off completely after Darsi appeared.
Could it be the butterfly effect from him surviving when he was supposed to die?