For Yueblue, thank you for the ko-fi! ♡
<Episode 139>
‘…Let’s think about that later. I need to move right now.’
As I mounted the saddle again, the knight who had risen to his feet with a groan asked me,
“Are you going to the headquarters like this?”
“No, to the west.”
“Then we will move to the east. I’m afraid others might encounter those dreadful devils as well.”
The sisters looked at the knight who mounted his horse with concern.
“But if you face those monsters in that condition…”
“Thanks to you, Viscount, I remembered some basic tactics to deal with them. Haha, I may look like this, but I’m still a veteran soldier. Don’t worry.”
“Sir…”
As I passed by the knight who tapped his chest confidently, I advised him.
“Then I’ll leave the east to you, knight. If you spot any devils, fire a signal flare and escape right away.”
“Understood. You make me feel more reassured.”
Since I couldn’t burden the injured knight with the sisters, we continued towards the west with the original group.
Fortunately, the fact that we didn’t hear any signals after the first firework explosion was a relief.
‘Have they not descended towards the south yet?’
Not long after, a third devil appeared on the opposite side. It seemed like they were appearing only from the west.
The devil halted for a moment in its tracks before lurching for the sisters.
Intentionally taking larger and rougher steps, I turned the devil’s attention towards me. Just as I was about to plunge my sword into its torso and cut down its chest…
Swoosh.
The blade of a sword pierced through the back of the devil’s head.
“Khaf….”
The devil’s body crashed heavily to the ground. The owner of the sword swiftly cut off the devil’s neck and after confirming the kill, skillfully wiped off the blood from it.
It was a gesture I was very familiar with.
“Duke.”
Tsk.
With a brief clicking sound of the tongue, the cold gaze of the swordmaster turned towards me.
“I told you to get rid of the habit of fighting with blood all over you. Haven’t you thrown it away yet? You’re as stubborn as always.”
The swordmaster carefully sheathed his black-blood-stained sword. I, who was sitting on the ground, grabbed the hand that was extended in front of my face and stood up, patting my rear.
In an instant, he grabbed my hand and pulled it towards his chest, abruptly bringing his face close to mine, scrutinizing my features.
“Seeing you like this, it’s truly you. The shell may have changed, but the core remains the same. To the point where I feel like a fool for not recognizing you at first glance.”
I pushed away from his firm and rigid shoulder and asked.
“…From which direction did you come?”
“I sweeped about two of them on my way here from the western end. And you?”
“I came from the central area. It seems like the devils are only being found around here. The knights who went east haven’t sent any special signals.”
“If that’s the case, then this one might be the last.”
The swordmaster, who lightly nudged the devil’s corpse with his toe, mounted his horse again.
After confirming the safety of the sisters, I followed suit and asked.
“Do you know the cause of this situation, Duke? The devils’ existence was supposed to be eradicated when Mephisto died, or so I’d thought.”
“Well, if we follow that logic, if the devils have reappeared, then Mephisto must still be alive. That would be troublesome.”
With a light brush past me, the swordmaster added a remark.
“I didn’t expect what happened today either. We need to investigate.”
So he was unaware of the story behind this situation.
Even though it was a brief assumption, it was enough to calm the whirlwind of anxiety inside me.
The relief that my colleague who’d been with me for nearly 10 years hadn’t changed.
The calmness that allowed me to continue trusting the comrade I had believed in.
However…
“…Is that really the case?’
But thinking that dozens of lives may have been sacrificed due to this incident, I couldn’t help but question the truth once again.
“Are you really, truly unaware?”
The combination of the mental treatments and the sudden invasions of devils.
Did these two events really overlap by mere coincidence?
As soon as the corner of the swordmaster’s mouth rose, his words shot forward like an arrow. As if unwilling to run away.
The swordmaster glanced at me with a sidelong glance as I followed behind him, maintaining his smile.
“Since some time now, you’ve been looking at me with such suspicion in your eyes. Is it pure curiosity, or doubt?”
Driven by the determination to uncover his true intentions, I shouted loudly, disregarding the existence of the sisters and everything else.
“Let’s look at your position objectively for a moment. It’s hard not to have doubts!”
“Objective assessment. Well, then. Let’s see if your doubts are truly objective doubts.”
The swordmaster’s voice wasn’t very loud, but it resonated clearly in my ears like a direct whisper.
“I was quite puzzled by the news of your participation in the hunt. It was strange that a person who has been living as quietly as a dead mouse was revealing themselves to people willingly. Especially while waving the rare bait called ‘Andert’.”
“…”
“I’ve known for a long time that you can be stubborn. I thought about what existence could move you to do such a thing, and Natasha’s face immediately came to mind.”
The pace of the swordmaster’s horse eventually slowed down.
“I know whose plan this is. I’m sure it’s Raphael. So how about it, Viscount Weatherwoods? Is the Raphael Zenail you see now the same man you knew four years ago?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“He has gained a lot, but he has also lost a lot. Those who have lost many things become empty and are bound to change. He will never let go of what he currently holds. I’m telling you to not assume that the only reason he added the name ‘Andert’ next to yours is purely because of Princess Natasha.”
His warning strangely resonated with Count Rosebell’s warning.
‘If you want to protect yourself, I hope you will continue to remain steadfast like this. Either way.’
“Well, even if that was the actual purpose, it wouldn’t be particularly efficient.”
“Not efficient?”
“Yes, Princess Natasha won’t fall for such obvious tactics. At least, she hasn’t been, not until now.”
While I didn’t know about other things, that advice just now sounded quite plausible.
‘If being Andert’s sister is not enough, how else should I provoke her?’
Should Andert Fager appear in person?
“But why are you so suspicious of me? Didn’t I tell you before? You and I need not be enemies.”
Was this guy asking this because he really didn’t know?
“Should I list the reasons why you’re so suspicious one by one?”
“Hmm… Fine, let’s do it this way. From now on, you can ask me anything. I’ll answer anything you want. But there’s a condition.”
Damn, another damn condition.
“What is it now?”
“Have the first dance at the celebratory banquet with me.”
The first dance? It was a very random condition.
“I’m sorry, but I already have a prior engagement.”
“I’m telling you to appeal that you’re desperate enough to break that prior engagement.”
Embarrassingly, I was slightly swayed by the swordmaster’s words. It’s because he said he would resolve my doubts with just one dance…
‘Hmm, I’ve been thinking about miscellaneous things a lot more compared to before.’
It’s probably a demand that’s not worth listening to.
From the beginning, the swordmaster had shown great interest in breaking the alliance between me and Raphael. Therefore, worrying about this issue would only lead to confusion, just as the swordmaster intended.
The problem is that his approach was so out-of-character for him. It was rather crude and childish.
“I think your personality seems to have become a bit nasty over the years. Do you find it amusing to make things difficult for me?”
Suddenly, the swordmaster burst into laughter.
“My dear Viscount Weatherwoods. For decades, I have met new people every day without fail. However, among them, very few walk their own path without being swayed by others or their surroundings. Moreover, coincidentally, those rare individuals gather together and change the world.”
The swordmaster’s confident yet resolute gaze fixed upon my face.
“I want to make such a talent mine. That’s you. Gender and age does not matter to me. If you ask for it, I would marry you even if you returned to a man’s body.”
Huh. Are you trying to appeal to me right now?
“Don’t you realize that such words make me even more uncomfortable?”
“The desire to possess and destroy tend to coexist. But that doesn’t mean there’s no affection in the mix. Don’t you know that too? Afterall, thanks to me, you’re alive like this.”
…What?
“What you said just now…”
“Is the first dance too difficult? Then how about this? Let go of unnecessary alliances and become completely mine, Daisy Weatherwoods.”
What?
“If you become mine, I will resolve all the doubts that torment you.”
What?
“Stop with the nonsense and just now…!”
I tried to ask the meaning behind his words.
But my angry outcry was completely buried by an unwelcome presence.
“Argh!”
“…I’ll have to hear the answer later.”
Yep, its the swordmaster. He def fed her the heart stone.
Also swordmaster really said ‘i fw the lgbt’ lol I love him hes so funny for no reason
And I love how Daisy outright told him he’s shady as hell because I would’ve done the same thing.
Also (3), badass daisy fager moments are the best, fufu.
Thank you for the chapter!
Swordmaster is itching to replace Raphael as highest kill priority target in Rue’s list. Must admit that he does seem to be on the same side as Natasha, cooperating at best.
Either these two were speaking so quietly that only they, with swordmaster hearing could hear it or those two sisters just heard the wildest out-of-context conversation of their life
YES, THATS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING
The sisters would just be like ????
“Tf? A man’s body??? BE MINE?? WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?????”
bahaha pretty sure they were whispering and the girls were a lil further back but lmao that sounds like a hilarious situation
Swordmaster still is shady as hell and might have most likely been the cause of her revival but now with ✨”good/maybe romantic? ” intentions ✨. Also props to him for not seeing gender ig I can give him that. Oh but yeah, girl has done her wedding vows already. TOO LATE MFS
Omg!!! The Duke said the desire to possess and ”destroy” coexist and that’s why she’s alive. If it means what I think it does, the Duke gave her the heart crystal initially, not with the intention of resurrection.