"Ah. Seeing the reaction, it's true..."
He scratched his head with an annoyed expression and muttered.
The tobacco leaf in his mouth emitted a refreshing yet pungent scent characteristic of grass.
"How did you know...?"
He glared at Roselyn in a drawn-out voice.
It seemed as though he was asking her, but he didn't press Roselyn, as if he didn't particularly want an answer.
"I'm not usually the type to do something this stupid."
He let out a short sigh as he rubbed his sparse beard with his hand.
"Miss, I don't really like thinking about things like this."
"...From your appearance alone, you don't look like someone who likes to think."
"That's harsh. Anyway, the point is I don't want the plan to fall apart."
"..."
Roselyn narrowed her eyes at the sight of him rambling on about things that hadn't been asked or answered, because she couldn't figure out his intentions.
He slowly raised his hand and grabbed Roselyn's neck.
Since there was only a sense of lethargy and no malice or hostility was felt, Roselyn realized she was being held by the neck only after he grabbed her.
Thump thump thump.
Thump thump thump.
The man, who had a languid and bored expression, smiled with a look of ecstasy.
This was because, unlike her expressionless face, Roselyn's heart was beating fiercely.
"It seems you are used to hiding your expression. The young lady..."
Roselyn gasped, feeling as if her heart were about to jump out of her mouth.
Rather than being afraid of dying, she was more afraid of the sense of terror created and the pain she would feel before dying.
"Ah. Actually, I should be the one killing the young lady."
Said the man.
"But sometimes, having these kinds of variables or thrills is what makes it somewhat fun."
A cruel face rose above the languid expression.
The hedonist laughed cruelly and curled the corners of his lips.
"Can you try to convince me? I'll let myself be convinced by the reason why I must save the young lady."
At the man's voice, Roselyn glared at him with her lips tightly sealed.
"... Right"
"Hmm?"
"Let go; it's unpleasant."
The man blinked blankly at Roselyn's words.
“Is that persuasion?”
"I told you not to touch my body with your unclean hands that haven't even been washed after eating..."
Roselyn slowly closed and opened her eyes, lifting her chin.
"I am giving an order."
"..."
The man remained silent for quite a while, as if he did not immediately understand the situation.
He looked down at Roselyn for a long time with a tobacco leaf in his mouth, then took his hand away, pressed his hand to his forehead, and burst into laughter.
He dropped her.
"Wow. This is mind-boggling. What is this? Is suicide your hobby?"
"The fact that you pick out words beyond measure shows your level."
As Roselyn did not back down even a step, the man narrowed his eyes and silently took a deep drag on the tobacco.
"What? Did you hide a trump card?"
It was the man who was rather puzzled by Roselyn's calm words.
"Are you afraid of a kid slaughtering ants? Even a passing dog would laugh."
At the sarcastic remark asking how his current behavior was any different from a child slaughtering ants, the man threw away the cigarette he was holding in his mouth and stomped on it with his foot.
"You're a young lady with quite a foul mouth. You're going to hasten your own demise."
The man shrugged his shoulders.
"Yeah, well, it’s no fun talking to a boring wimp who has no will to persuade. Just die, young lady."
"Landarin, Lotan, Wordle, Terrace."
The man who was reaching out his hand paused at Roselyn's words. It was entirely because he had intended to reach out later.
And of all things, exactly in the order she said.
"You're going to die anyway, Aximus."
The man, Aximus, lowered his hand.
"No, would you prefer me to call you Count Aximus Baldur?"
"Miss, what is it?"
He quietly bowed his head and asked.
Roselyn looked at him indifferently.
"Hmm. How much do you know?"
"Well, who am I and how much do I know?"
“Roselyn...!”
No sooner had the cryptic words ended than BANG—a fierce storm raged in front of her.
“How dare you...!”
The fiercely distorted face and eyes dripping with rage were Arma's, yet they were not Arma's.
"...Arma?"
"You didn't come for so long, so I came out to look for you..."
Arma muttered softly, drew his sword, and lunged at Aximus.
Roselyn held her breath as she watched the battle between Arma and Aximus move so fast that they were invisible to the eye.
“What are you?”
"Oh my, kids these days are full of energy~ I'm all old and my whole body creaks..."
The man stepped back and ran away from Arma, saying.
Arma reflexively tried to use Abyss but paused at the sight of Aximus darting around so skillfully.
'Strong.'
Arma narrowed his eyes.
However, they are manageable. That is, unless their hands and feet are tied.
However, the moment Arma activates the Abyss and uses his ability here, he will inevitably get involved in a troublesome situation.
"Hey!! Which fucking bastard dares to lay a hand on our delicate lady?! Which bastard wants to die?!"
Kwaaaaang-!!
The ground sank deep under the force shouted by the living man of Kaluta, who had come in late after hearing the commotion from outside.
"...Are you sure the silver-haired one is Kalutain?"
“So, you bastard, why did you do such an unrewardable thing to our girl, who looks like she’s going to collapse at the slightest breeze? Today is your memorial day, you bastard.”
"How did those beast cubs, who usually live in seclusion in the jungle, come all the way here?"
"Who are you, you beast? You bastard, worse than a beast!"
Sanja grabbed the man by the back of the neck, threw him out of the lodging, and immediately kicked off the ground to follow him, saying.
"Miss, what is really wrong?"
Roselyn fell silent at the voice coming from outside.
"Roselyn...! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"
“Yes, it’s okay.”
"This is really unexpected. Yeah. It has to be this fun. Good. Good."
The sound of a man bursting into cheerful laughter was heard.
Screams were heard from outside as if the living were dealing with him, followed by a succession of loud noises like bombs exploding.
“Hey, can I help you?”
"Ridiculous! This is my prey, you bastards, don't touch it! I've found something fun for the first time in a while!"
Kaluta giggled and talked amongst themselves.
"...That's a relief, Roselyn."
Arma gripped Roselyn's hand tightly.
'If only I were a little late…'
Roselyn must be dead.
She must have known that, but the faint smile she gave made Arma's heart skip a beat.
"I'm fine, so please don't worry."
Roselyn said calmly.
Arma's face contorted in anger. He hadn't expected her to lean on him, but neither had he wanted her to draw a line like this.
"Miss, everything that happens from now on is your fault."
For a moment, a voice lingered in her ears.
"So today..."
"Today is your funeral day."
Along with a voice that whispered as if chewing and swallowing.
Rumble.
Quang!
Purple rain poured down from the sky along with brilliant lightning.
"Roselyn, are you okay?"
"You don't look hurt."
Roselyn's eyes widened.
"...Father?"
Cherty Bellion, who should not have been here, was blocking her view.
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