“What are you looking at?”
Dazar was like a wild horse again today, with the hem of his shirt flapping. His voice was very curt as he sat on the window sill reading a book.
“Oh, nothing.”
“What do you mean nothing? You’ve been staring intently at me since a while ago.”
That’s true.
Because just yesterday I realized that he remembered his past life, is the axis of evil, and is a mysterious being.
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Well, that’s because you are reading a book; that doesn’t suit you.”
“Ha. You make me wonder since when the title of a duke has become so unremarkable.”
“That’s good. Be grateful to me. I make your daily life less boring, right?”
“So much.”
After some back and forth, he closed the book and came down from the window sill.
‘Oh. It’s the bird I saw last time.’
The red bird that was once on his shoulder. I guess it was sitting on the opposite shoulder, so I couldn’t see it from my side.
As Dazar got down from the window sill, the red bird flew out of the window. Just as I was feeling a little disappointed, Dazar suddenly spoke.
“So, why did you come?”
I slightly rolled my eyes.
Although I originally had a different purpose, let’s start with other news.
“I just wanted to let you know that the Black Hawk have decided to help me.”
“….Those trash?”
I wanted to punch Dazar’s face, which muttered in disbelief.
“What. What’s with that incredulous voice? It feels like you intentionally introduced me to people who would never help me. It feels like I’m being told to suffer to death.”
“…….”
Dazar, who led me to the sofa and sat across from me, touched the corner of his mouth with a slightly guilty expression.
That’s right, I’m right.
It’s true that you introduced me to such trash on purpose to screw with me.
“I can’t believe they decided to help. You’re more capable than I thought.”
A voice filled with pure admiration came out of him, but it didn’t make me feel much better.
“Yeess. I guess I am kind of amazing.”
Because I knew from the beginning that I was amazing.
He muttered some annoying thoughts and spoke casually.
Now that the introduction was out of the way, it was time to bring up one of the reasons for coming to see him today.
“So, I guess I’m going to be a little busy.”
“And?”
“If that happens, I think it will be hard to take care of my child, Axion.”
“Didn’t a butler named Carl also follow you?”
“He is very old. To the point that it is hard to even walk alone.”
Dazar narrowed his eyes.
The look in his eyes asked how could I tell such a lie, but I confidently dismissed it all and continued speaking.
“I heard that the Duke also has a child.”
When Vanilla was mentioned, Dazar paused.
“I wonder if that child will also be bored if she is alone. How about letting Axion spend some time with her? Occasionally.”
“That…..”
Dazar looked slightly wary.
What. Why is someone going to eat her?
The reason I brought up this story was because Axion’s growth had stopped.
Since it’s a situation where I don’t know why his growth has stopped, the thought crossed my mind that Vanilla might not be able to gain the vast knowledge and experience from Axion that made her attracted to him.
Then Vanilla, who is the key that will completely free Axion from the power of the Demon Dragon, may not help Axion in the future.
‘If Axion can’t attract Vanilla’s attention with his superior knowledge.’
I didn’t think it would be a bad idea to form a natural relationship as childhood friends.
‘Isn’t it like the friend you used to play with when you were young, growing up and going to the wedding hall with you?’
Wasn’t childhood friend always a major keyword in ropan1Romantic fantasy genre?
With that in mind, I was planning to put Vanilla and Axion together from now on.
‘I don’t know how long I can stay in this residence.’
Although I am currently staying here in the name of food development. In the future, I won’t be able to meet the duke’s daughter easily.
‘There is a big difference between the illegitimate child of a viscount and the daughter of a duke.’
That’s why I suggested it to Dazar, but I never thought he would take it so seriously.
After thinking for a while, Dazar rested his chin and spoke softly.
“Okay. Then let’s do that. They can meet at any time. Of course, when Vanilla wants.”
Oh. You said yes right away like this?
“All right. Then, I will arrange a meeting between the two children soon!”
“Meeting, really…”
Dazar’s expression turned a little strange, but I didn’t care.
With the first goal being solved more easily than expected, I had the courage to ask a question that included the next goal.
“By the way, is that true?”
Dazar raised his eyebrows at the sudden question.
“What are you talking about?”
“That thing, that.”
“So, what on earth is that….”
“You have memories of your past life.”
“……..”
Dazar made a blank face. It was as if he didn’t expect this question to come out of my mouth.
The sight of that stupid face gave me a sense of pleasure.
That man looking embarrassed? It’s really nice to see.
“Who said that?”
“It’s a secret, of course.”
In the first place, the informant should be protected….
“I’ll give you half of the compensation I was supposed to give you next month in advance.”
“Elston.”
Why protect the informant?
Isn’t it all you reap what you sow? Hahaha.
Dazar muttered softly with a sour expression on his face:
“D*mn that Wizardry Tower lo…”
You just called him a d*mned Wizardry Tower lord, right?
Even though he muttered softly, I heard everything.
“Is that true or not?”
“…..”
Dazar frowned.
“Why are you curious about that?”
I paused at those words.
Although he is my future in-law and is no different from my employer. I didn’t really want to get involved with him.
The phrase ‘axis of evil’ that Elston left behind also made me feel a bit distant.
However, the reason I came to see you was…
‘Because it’s similar to my situation.’
Because it’s similar to me possessing this body while still having memories of my past life.
There are definitely differences from me, who came in as a form of transmigration and already knew about the future. Living one life and then starting life again in another world.
“Well, it’s not really a secret.”
At that time, Dazar leaned back on the sofa with his arms crossed and spoke indifferently.
“Yes. Elston’s words are true. I remember my past life. So, are you afraid of me, too?”
Am I afraid?
An unexpected question came up. I blinked and shook my head.
“No? I’m not afraid at all.”
“As expected.”
What do you mean ‘as expected?’ After hearing those two words, why do I feel insulted?
“Because you are an unusual woman. I knew it.”
“Is that an insult?”
“No, a compliment.”
I don’t think so.
“Is your curiosity resolved? I have plans after this.”
“Huh?”
No, you’re ending the conversation so suddenly?
I looked at Dazar with a dumbfounded face as he suddenly got up from his seat and pointed to the door as if telling me to leave quickly.
But he continued speaking indifferently without even looking at me.
“Soon, someone from the imperial family will come to receive training on food development, so let that person know about rice or whatever it’s called.”
“Oh, uh uh uh…..?”
In a couple of blinks of my eyes, I was pushed out of Dazar’s office.
I stood blankly in front of the door that closed with a thud.
‘What’s this.’
It seems like he is clearly avoiding stories related to his past life.
That figures. If someone asks me about my past life, hm.
I guess it is a sensitive story, isn’t it?
I was so excited at the thought of meeting someone in a similar situation to me, that I suddenly felt like I crossed a line.
‘I’ll have to apologize later.’
Feeling embarrassed, I scratched my cheek with my index finger and headed towards the library.
* * *
The Shiaster residence has a large library befitting its grandeur. I moved my head from side to side as I passed between the bookshelves that filled up to the high ceiling.
‘Maybe because it has a long history, there are a lot of old books.’
Although I usually keep a far distance from libraries, I guess I was concerned about the story Axion said in the original novel about ‘growing up by eating misfortune.’
Here, I was planning to find out why Axion stopped growing.
Fortunately, the library was stocked with books by topic, and it wasn’t long before I was able to find books related to misfortune.
“Misfortune, misfortune….”
<Misfortune And Good Fortune>, <How To Escape From Misfortune>, <101 Things You Should Do Right Now When You Are Unfortunate>……. etc. While taking out the books and looking through them, one book suddenly caught my eye.
[A Being That Grew Up By Eating Misfortune, Ruben]
“Ruben…..?”
It was a familiar word as if I had heard it many times somewhere. I searched through Celia’s memories, but the memories were all hazy.
I quickly reached out, grabbed the book, and opened it to the first page.
[If you encounter Ruben, run away immediately if you want to live.]
Huh…..?
From the first sentence, brutal content was written.
I started reading the next sentence.
[But running away will be useless. If you met Ruben, the world would already be on the path to destruction. You will soon become his prey.]
“…….”
The next sentences are even more brutal. I opened the next page feeling sweat break out, then was taken aback and blinked.
“Oh? What’s this?”
As if someone had spilled ink, most of the pages that followed were stained black. I found a barely readable sentence, but even that wasn’t a perfect sentence.
[Ruben’s followers are danger… Wherever they are…]
Why is this book stuck in the library?
I pursed my lips and quickly turned the pages. I was wondering if there was anything worth reading anywhere.
In that manner, I reached the last page.
[…. For this, find Ruben’s guardian.]
I slammed the book shut.
A being that grew up eating misfortune, Ruben, you say.
It was similar to what Axion said in the original novel. I scoured the library for materials related to Ruben, but I couldn’t find anything other than the book I had found earlier.
It’s as if the records were intentionally destroyed.
Other than the clue called Ruben, I had no other harvest, so I left the study scratching the back of my head.
‘I’m sure it’s a word I’ve seen somewhere.’
Why can’t I remember clearly?
