'Ha, I'm an idiot.'
I reproached myself as I remembered Carol swearing her loyalty to me with a serious look in her eyes.
Carol told me she lost her father to a warlock five years ago. So the guy I encountered that day must have been a warlock, too.
I gritted my teeth and held back the tears that were about to well up in my reddened eyes.
'Those cruel guys.'
The person they killed was the former leader of the Demirant Information Guild and a very big shot.
They probably kidnapped a lot of people to increase their black magic power, and then got caught by him.
The ultimate goal of those who commit murder without any sense of guilt is the incarnation of the demon corps commander, Toylat.
I bit my lower lip hard.
If such a demon commander appears, this place will truly become a sea of blood.
We have to stop it somehow.
'Even if I have to become a warlock.'
Fear gripped me, but I couldn't give up.
I wanted to do whatever I could to create a world where many people who love and care for me can live comfortably.
'Like Carol.'
My heart ached as I thought of Carol, who was working hard to return to the capital from the North.
When even my father and Barden, my family, avoided me and refused to come near me, Carol, trembling, followed me around and helped me.
I didn't think much of it at the time.
That maid seems very patient; maybe she's just naturally indifferent, or maybe she just figured she had nowhere else to go.
But it wasn't like that.
Carol and I were intertwined in a very important way.
She followed me for a 'reason'.
In fact, I've always considered myself a genius. I've always called myself a genius, but... I wasn't.
"Ha ha."
A bitter smile escaped me.
So, I couldn't fully accept Rudnine's love for me, and I wandered around for a long time, misunderstanding and going around in circles...
Hurt many people, including my father.
It was only when I began to trust my people that I was able to see myself fully.
'I'm a pretty good person too.'
Standing alone on the ground where my heart had become firm, I was no longer as lonely as I had been in the past when I was anxious.
Because I have Rudnine next to me.
And now, there were so many people surrounding me that I was almost out of my mind.
"Yvonne, are you crying? Why, why are you crying?"
“No... This is sweat...”
I answered calmly, wiping the tears streaming down my cheeks with the back of my hand.
"Sweat coming out of your eyes? You're lying too much. Are you crazy now?
Pembe, snorting, looked at my complexion with worried eyes while grumbling.
A dark magic still filled with favor towards me swirled around this desirable hamster.
It was even cuter because it looked like it was always ready to help me.
Look at this.
Not only people, but also cute familiars that blindly follow me appear.
I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I smiled brightly.
And I hugged the adorable, fluffy pink hamster tightly to my chest.
"Yeah, right. This is crazy. What can I do?"
"Eww, what the heck!"
"My little cutie, do you want to spend the rest of your life with this older sister? Don't go back to hell."
Pembe flailed around in my arms, looking shocked.
"Yvonne! Don't ever say that in front of the Duke! I don't want to die, do I?"
"Hmm? The Duke? You mean Rudd?"
"Yeah, that Duke who's crazy about Yvonne."
It was absurd.
"That's harsh. He's so kind, why would he kill you?"
I shrugged in amazement as I placed Pembe back on the desk, but Pembe remained skeptical.
"No. If his jealousy gets any worse, I think he could actually kill me. Do you know how sharp her eyes get whenever Yvonne says You like us? I'm scared to death."
Rudd has said he's jealous, but he wouldn't treat his familiars so threateningly.
I reproached myself as I remembered Carol swearing her loyalty to me with a serious look in her eyes.
Carol told me she lost her father to a warlock five years ago. So the guy I encountered that day must have been a warlock, too.
I gritted my teeth and held back the tears that were about to well up in my reddened eyes.
'Those cruel guys.'
The person they killed was the former leader of the Demirant Information Guild and a very big shot.
They probably kidnapped a lot of people to increase their black magic power, and then got caught by him.
The ultimate goal of those who commit murder without any sense of guilt is the incarnation of the demon corps commander, Toylat.
I bit my lower lip hard.
If such a demon commander appears, this place will truly become a sea of blood.
We have to stop it somehow.
'Even if I have to become a warlock.'
Fear gripped me, but I couldn't give up.
I wanted to do whatever I could to create a world where many people who love and care for me can live comfortably.
'Like Carol.'
My heart ached as I thought of Carol, who was working hard to return to the capital from the North.
When even my father and Barden, my family, avoided me and refused to come near me, Carol, trembling, followed me around and helped me.
I didn't think much of it at the time.
That maid seems very patient; maybe she's just naturally indifferent, or maybe she just figured she had nowhere else to go.
But it wasn't like that.
Carol and I were intertwined in a very important way.
She followed me for a 'reason'.
In fact, I've always considered myself a genius. I've always called myself a genius, but... I wasn't.
"Ha ha."
A bitter smile escaped me.
So, I couldn't fully accept Rudnine's love for me, and I wandered around for a long time, misunderstanding and going around in circles...
Hurt many people, including my father.
It was only when I began to trust my people that I was able to see myself fully.
'I'm a pretty good person too.'
Standing alone on the ground where my heart had become firm, I was no longer as lonely as I had been in the past when I was anxious.
Because I have Rudnine next to me.
And now, there were so many people surrounding me that I was almost out of my mind.
"Yvonne, are you crying? Why, why are you crying?"
“No... This is sweat...”
I answered calmly, wiping the tears streaming down my cheeks with the back of my hand.
"Sweat coming out of your eyes? You're lying too much. Are you crazy now?
Pembe, snorting, looked at my complexion with worried eyes while grumbling.
A dark magic still filled with favor towards me swirled around this desirable hamster.
It was even cuter because it looked like it was always ready to help me.
Look at this.
Not only people, but also cute familiars that blindly follow me appear.
I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I smiled brightly.
And I hugged the adorable, fluffy pink hamster tightly to my chest.
"Yeah, right. This is crazy. What can I do?"
"Eww, what the heck!"
"My little cutie, do you want to spend the rest of your life with this older sister? Don't go back to hell."
Pembe flailed around in my arms, looking shocked.
"Yvonne! Don't ever say that in front of the Duke! I don't want to die, do I?"
"Hmm? The Duke? You mean Rudd?"
"Yeah, that Duke who's crazy about Yvonne."
It was absurd.
"That's harsh. He's so kind, why would he kill you?"
I shrugged in amazement as I placed Pembe back on the desk, but Pembe remained skeptical.
"No. If his jealousy gets any worse, I think he could actually kill me. Do you know how sharp her eyes get whenever Yvonne says You like us? I'm scared to death."
Rudd has said he's jealous, but he wouldn't treat his familiars so threateningly.
"Hmm. Pembe, aren't you having eye problems because you eat too many sweets? I heard that's a complication of diabetes." Pembe opened his mouth wide as if he was dumbfounded by me, who didn't believe him, and stamped his feet.
"Really! The Duke isn't just any human; he's a Sword Master! He's so strong it's scary."
“It's a joke.”
"Wow. He really is...! Maybe he can stand up to the Demon Legion Commander. Yvonne is strong, but the Duke is no ordinary man."
"Is Rudd really that good? Wait, Crown Prince Adrian is also a sword master. So there must be someone of that caliber in the warlock camp..."
I was suddenly nervous, but Pembe looked at me pitifully.
"Yvonne, what are you thinking right now? When you say the Crown Prince, you mean the man who came to the Duke's castle that time? And you're comparing him to your lover? The Duke is truly pitiful..."
"What do you mean, you're pitiful? Pembe, speak clearly."
I grabbed Pembe's cheek, who had turned into a mean hamster, and stretched it out to both sides, growing.
"Eww, oops! I think I'm going to disappear at this rate, stop it!"
Pembe cried out in pain.
"So, why are you alienating people?"
I let go of Pembe's ball and blew on her flushed cheeks.
Pembe glared at me as I gave him the bottle and medicine, and then burst into tears.
Sigh...
"I'm sorry. So, could you explain to me in simpler terms how great Rudd is, Pembe?"
"The Duke is incomparable in swordsmanship. While the Crown Prince is barely edging past the Master's line, the Duke is already galloping forward, out of sight."
"Really? That's really amazing."
His previous words about single-handedly sweeping away the warlocks were not empty.
"Oh my gosh, wow. It's so cool."
My face suddenly turned red, and I rubbed my flushed cheek with my hand.
Pembe, who was watching me like that, clicked his tongue.
"Do you like the Duke that much?"
"Yeah. I really like him."
"Yeah. You were so in love with each other that you could hardly stand each other. You, clueless Yvonne. Now, it's even more absurd that you're dating the Duke."
“Damn, you talk nonsense.”
"What? Yvonne, you're oblivious? It's true."
I was even more upset because I had nothing to say.
Let's wait and see...
Someday, I will definitely upgrade my 1:1 intuition skills by getting special tutoring from Prince Felix.
After that, I had been arguing with Pembe for a while, and realized that this was not the time to do so. I started frantically looking through the black magic materials again.
“Ahem.”
After a while, I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms.
The more I learned about black magic, the more I realized that it was simple, but also more difficult to fight against.
There are also special black magic spells like curses and brainwashing, and the familiar contracts with them will also come out. The only thing they lack is the number of knights and soldiers.
Pembe glared at me as I gave him the bottle and medicine, and then burst into tears.
Sigh...
"I'm sorry. So, could you explain to me in simpler terms how great Rudd is, Pembe?"
"The Duke is incomparable in swordsmanship. While the Crown Prince is barely edging past the Master's line, the Duke is already galloping forward, out of sight."
"Really? That's really amazing."
His previous words about single-handedly sweeping away the warlocks were not empty.
"Oh my gosh, wow. It's so cool."
My face suddenly turned red, and I rubbed my flushed cheek with my hand.
Pembe, who was watching me like that, clicked his tongue.
"Do you like the Duke that much?"
"Yeah. I really like him."
"Yeah. You were so in love with each other that you could hardly stand each other. You, clueless Yvonne. Now, it's even more absurd that you're dating the Duke."
“Damn, you talk nonsense.”
"What? Yvonne, you're oblivious? It's true."
I was even more upset because I had nothing to say.
Let's wait and see...
Someday, I will definitely upgrade my 1:1 intuition skills by getting special tutoring from Prince Felix.
After that, I had been arguing with Pembe for a while, and realized that this was not the time to do so. I started frantically looking through the black magic materials again.
“Ahem.”
After a while, I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms.
The more I learned about black magic, the more I realized that it was simple, but also more difficult to fight against.
There are also special black magic spells like curses and brainwashing, and the familiar contracts with them will also come out. The only thing they lack is the number of knights and soldiers.
'They must be fully aware of that, but how on earth are they going to overcome it?'
In particular, the most important part, 'the entrance to liberation', was very difficult to decipher, as if it were written in an intentionally vague manner. To open the gate to liberation, you need one key of the sun and one key of the moon, and you need the sun and moon that are consumed by darkness...
Are you writing poetry now?
These days, even magic spells aren't this difficult! They're made simple and practical!
"Eww!!! I'm going crazy!"
Stress was building up to the top of my head, and I finally exploded and threw the scroll containing the information on black magic on the wall.
"Whoa, squeak!"
“Oh my, Jan?”
Jan, who had just flown into the lab, barely managed to avoid the scroll I threw and started sobbing. "Ugh! Yvonne, why are you angry?"
I feel sorry for Jan, who was flying towards me while staggering, so I quickly examined Jan's wings and body.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? I'm sorry."
"Hmph. I'm fine. The wall is a little broken."
Jan pointed to the scratched wall and replied calmly.
Ugh, that was a close call.
Unlike me, who was surprised, Jan smiled brightly and said.
"Yvonne! You asked me to tell you when the unconscious warlock woke up. Hehe, when he woke up, there was no one around, so I dragged him here myself."
“Oh, really?”
I explored Fromdy, who was being dragged to the lab by Jan with both hands tied.
Jan's specialty was bondage, but unlike his adorable appearance when he rubbed his torso against my cheek, he was actually quite rough when he used his strength...
“Ugh, ah, it hurts.”
The warlock Fromdy was barely able to get up from the entrance to the laboratory, groaning and covered in wounds.
"Please give me a compliment, Yvonne!"
"Good job, Jan."
When I stroked his back, Jan sat down on my shoulder happily.
Fromdy cried and shouted resentfully at Jan.
"Jan, why are you treating me like this... I told you to wait a moment, that I would walk. This is too much, really."
"What? You're calling my name again. But, Yvonne, I don't remember that warlock very well."
Jan tilted his head.
"Yes. You don't have to remember."
I stroked Jan's head as he smiled brightly, as if relieved, and then opened my eyes to Fromdy.
"Fromdy. Why are you interested in Jan? Didn't the big boss say to use it as you see fit?"
"Oh, that's right. I just woke up, so I must have lost my mind, hahaha."
Fromdy trembled and laughed awkwardly, then knelt down and sat down quietly.
I looked at that guy and was lost in thought.
The warlock Fromdy was the original contractor of the familiar Jan.
Pembe, whose contract with Cordelia had been abnormally terminated because of me, also didn't remember his original owner very well, and Jan was the same.
Why is that?
'Ah.'
And then a question arises.
Pembe, Jan, and Gorten. The familiars all loved sweet food and followed me when I offered it to them.
Then what if the conditions are the same?
What would happen if I gave sweet food to Fromdy and the familiars at the same time?
Actually, I'm not a warlock now.
But Fromdy is a warlock, so wouldn't it be more appropriate for the familiars to follow him rather than me?
While I was thinking about it, I called Eudela and had her bring me a plate of sweet cookies right away.
A plate of cookies arrived in the lab right away. I picked one up and put it in Fromdy's hand.
"Yes?"
The guy who was looking back and forth between me and the cookie with a bewildered expression tried to guess my intentions.
Then, as if making a big decision, he closed his eyes tightly and put the cookie in his mouth, crunching it.
Oh my. What, did you think I gave you a poison cookie?
“Is it delicious?”
I asked, looking at him pitifully with my chin resting on my hand.
"Huh? Yes... The moment I put it in my mouth, it melted gently, and the soft, savory taste of premium butter on my tongue was very impressive."
Are you a gourmet? It's unnecessarily detailed.
I clicked my tongue and gave the guy a proper order.
"Tsk. Yes, now pick up a new cookie and give it to Jan."
"Huh? Oh, yes! Jan, try this."
Perhaps it was because he had seen his fellow warlock killed by my kick right before his eyes... Fromdy didn't question it and obediently offered the cookie to Jan as I told him to.
He had a strange misconception that I was a sword master, and I deliberately didn't clear up that misconception, which made him even more scared.
'I wonder what will happen.'
I changed my posture, crossed my arms loosely, and watched Jan's reaction.
Jan's expression, which was always bright and cheerful, hardened as he saw the cookies that Fromdy offered.
And then came the coldest, most terrifying voice I've ever heard from Jan.
“What the heck, that's disgusting... You eat that dirty thing!”
I was surprised by this reaction, which was quite different from the usual Jan, who would run towards me with bright eyes at the thought of a snack. I uncrossed my arms and straightened my back.
'He refused the cookies!'
This is so delicious! It's Chef Argenthoz's special treat, stuffed with chocolate chips!
But Fromdy pushed the cookie closer to Jan's mouth, as if he couldn't hear Jan's voice.
“Here... Jan, would you like to eat this?”
"I told you I don't want to!"
Jan flew away in terror and settled on top of a distant bookshelf.
I feel sorry for Jan, who was flying towards me while staggering, so I quickly examined Jan's wings and body.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? I'm sorry."
"Hmph. I'm fine. The wall is a little broken."
Jan pointed to the scratched wall and replied calmly.
Ugh, that was a close call.
Unlike me, who was surprised, Jan smiled brightly and said.
"Yvonne! You asked me to tell you when the unconscious warlock woke up. Hehe, when he woke up, there was no one around, so I dragged him here myself."
“Oh, really?”
I explored Fromdy, who was being dragged to the lab by Jan with both hands tied.
Jan's specialty was bondage, but unlike his adorable appearance when he rubbed his torso against my cheek, he was actually quite rough when he used his strength...
“Ugh, ah, it hurts.”
The warlock Fromdy was barely able to get up from the entrance to the laboratory, groaning and covered in wounds.
"Please give me a compliment, Yvonne!"
"Good job, Jan."
When I stroked his back, Jan sat down on my shoulder happily.
Fromdy cried and shouted resentfully at Jan.
"Jan, why are you treating me like this... I told you to wait a moment, that I would walk. This is too much, really."
"What? You're calling my name again. But, Yvonne, I don't remember that warlock very well."
Jan tilted his head.
"Yes. You don't have to remember."
I stroked Jan's head as he smiled brightly, as if relieved, and then opened my eyes to Fromdy.
"Fromdy. Why are you interested in Jan? Didn't the big boss say to use it as you see fit?"
"Oh, that's right. I just woke up, so I must have lost my mind, hahaha."
Fromdy trembled and laughed awkwardly, then knelt down and sat down quietly.
I looked at that guy and was lost in thought.
The warlock Fromdy was the original contractor of the familiar Jan.
Pembe, whose contract with Cordelia had been abnormally terminated because of me, also didn't remember his original owner very well, and Jan was the same.
Why is that?
'Ah.'
And then a question arises.
Pembe, Jan, and Gorten. The familiars all loved sweet food and followed me when I offered it to them.
Then what if the conditions are the same?
What would happen if I gave sweet food to Fromdy and the familiars at the same time?
Actually, I'm not a warlock now.
But Fromdy is a warlock, so wouldn't it be more appropriate for the familiars to follow him rather than me?
While I was thinking about it, I called Eudela and had her bring me a plate of sweet cookies right away.
A plate of cookies arrived in the lab right away. I picked one up and put it in Fromdy's hand.
"Yes?"
The guy who was looking back and forth between me and the cookie with a bewildered expression tried to guess my intentions.
Then, as if making a big decision, he closed his eyes tightly and put the cookie in his mouth, crunching it.
Oh my. What, did you think I gave you a poison cookie?
“Is it delicious?”
I asked, looking at him pitifully with my chin resting on my hand.
"Huh? Yes... The moment I put it in my mouth, it melted gently, and the soft, savory taste of premium butter on my tongue was very impressive."
Are you a gourmet? It's unnecessarily detailed.
I clicked my tongue and gave the guy a proper order.
"Tsk. Yes, now pick up a new cookie and give it to Jan."
"Huh? Oh, yes! Jan, try this."
Perhaps it was because he had seen his fellow warlock killed by my kick right before his eyes... Fromdy didn't question it and obediently offered the cookie to Jan as I told him to.
He had a strange misconception that I was a sword master, and I deliberately didn't clear up that misconception, which made him even more scared.
'I wonder what will happen.'
I changed my posture, crossed my arms loosely, and watched Jan's reaction.
Jan's expression, which was always bright and cheerful, hardened as he saw the cookies that Fromdy offered.
And then came the coldest, most terrifying voice I've ever heard from Jan.
“What the heck, that's disgusting... You eat that dirty thing!”
I was surprised by this reaction, which was quite different from the usual Jan, who would run towards me with bright eyes at the thought of a snack. I uncrossed my arms and straightened my back.
'He refused the cookies!'
This is so delicious! It's Chef Argenthoz's special treat, stuffed with chocolate chips!
But Fromdy pushed the cookie closer to Jan's mouth, as if he couldn't hear Jan's voice.
“Here... Jan, would you like to eat this?”
"I told you I don't want to!"
Jan flew away in terror and settled on top of a distant bookshelf.
Comments
Post a Comment