Ch.101Chapter 101: Preparation

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When I first handed Shizu the black tea.

I thought it would be enough.

But that was my miscalculation, having not brewed tea for quite some time, even counting the time before my regression.

By the time I handed Shizu the black tea, I realized something.

Our lodging was rather inadequate for enjoying a proper tea time.

More precisely, it wasn’t the lodging itself but my preparation for staying here that was lacking.

There were no snacks to accompany the tea—not just insufficient, but completely absent.

And since we both knew each other so well, we lacked topics for casual conversation to pass the time.

In other words, apart from the well-brewed black tea, many elements were missing for a proper tea time.

Before my regression, I had spent long periods drinking tea alone without any accompaniments.

It was my mistake not to think about preparing something to enjoy alongside the tea when serving it to someone I cared for.

The warm feeling I had while watching Shizu’s happy expression as she drank the black tea was instantly overlaid with regret.

It reached the point where I found it difficult to look directly at Shizu, who was simply smiling happily at me.

But, as if reading my thoughts.

From the lips of Shizu, who was happily drinking the tea I brewed with a contented expression.

“I’m so happy to drink black tea made by Karl after such a long time.”

With a warm voice devoid of any shadow, she eased the regret that was trying to settle in my heart as she enjoyed the black tea I had brewed.

“So you don’t need to make that expression…”

Seeing this wingless angel smiling brightly at me, delighting in the black tea I had prepared.

Instead of words expressing my regret.

“I’ll make it for you often whenever I have time.”

Only words of gratitude in a calm tone came from my mouth.

Thus, the tea time that began in my lodging, despite having nothing to enjoy besides the black tea.

Continued in a warm atmosphere thanks to Shizu, who had eased my regret.

Mostly with conversations related to black tea.

“When did you get the tea leaves? I haven’t seen you brewing tea much lately.”

“I’ve been busy for a while, so I prepared this to do something I haven’t done much. Especially since we’ve come to such a cold place.”

“Did you prepare it to brew for me too?”

“No, actually I prepared it just for my—I’m kidding.”

“Hehe.”

I occasionally mixed in jokes like this to tease her, but they never worked.

Despite my deliberately mischievous words.

As if she knew from the start that what I said was a lie.

Shizu’s expression never faltered; instead, she responded with a gentle smile.

How could she instantly recognize my playful lies?

I was momentarily curious.

But even that curiosity was immediately resolved by Shizu’s voice, which seemed to read my expression.

“I might not notice when others lie, but I can tell when Karl does.”

“…How?”

“When Karl lies, whether playfully or seriously, your left eyebrow trembles very slightly.”

“…”

“You didn’t know?”

“No.”

“Then I guess I was the only one who knew? Hehe, maybe I shouldn’t have told you.”

“If I ever tell a bad lie, please recognize it and scold me.”

“As if Karl would ever do such a thing.”

I even gained some premium information(?) about myself that I hadn’t known before my regression.

Despite having a tea time that was beyond modest—it was downright inadequate—thanks to Shizu’s warm voice that I heard during that brief time.

I was convinced that this tea time was both more beneficial and happier than any other tea time I had ever experienced.

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“Thank you for the tea. Iriana said she wanted to talk with me this evening, so I need to head back now. Rest well, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With a cozy smile, Shizu said these words and left the lodging.

Creeeeak-!!

With the sound of the ebony door’s hinges turning.

My lodging, which had been filled with Shizu’s warm presence, was once again filled with my solitary silence.

“Yaaawn.”

Letting out a contented, drowsy yawn.

I tried to console myself for the loss of her warmth that had filled my lodging until just now.

[You’re going to be wrapped around that young lady’s finger when you get married.]

The voice of Fafnir, who hadn’t spoken once during my tea time with Shizu, echoed in my mind.

Though not too severe, his words clearly revealed his intention to tease me.

‘I’d do more than be wrapped around her finger. I’d even pretend to die if she asked me to.’

I responded with an answer far beyond what Fafnir had expected.

Revealing how deep and intense my feelings for her were.

[…It’s severe. A severe case.]

Though he should be used to it by now.

Fafnir still showed disgust when I displayed my tender feelings for Shizu.

[As one whose lifespan differs from yours both in quantity and quality, I find it unfamiliar to see such intense emotion displayed toward a potential mate.]

He spoke these words, asserting his own values as a member of the dragon race—beings who stand at the pinnacle of life forms, surpassing humans in every aspect.

The firmness in his voice strongly emphasized that he was different from humans like me when it came to matters like romance.

‘When you mention your ancestor, Lumen Ranos…’

[Ahem!]

As soon as I brought up something that might contradict what he had asserted, he cleared his throat loudly.

From this, it was easy to see that even a dragon who was called a tyrant a thousand years ago and whose infamy still persists among people today.

Was a being swayed by the same emotions as me.

[Young one.]

When he ran out of convincing things to say, he called me “young one” to change the subject.

I felt mischievous and wanted to tease him more.

[While you were talking with the Proxian lady, I expanded my spiritual perception to examine the fortress…]

But as he began to speak about the corrupt mark of the Adorator that we had discovered earlier in the fortress.

I set aside my intention to tease Fafnir and listened attentively to what he had to say.

[Though not nearly as significant as what the lady and I first discovered, there are traces of those demonic scripture bastards’ meddling throughout the fortress.]

…Despite being a member of the dragon race, supposedly the pinnacle of living beings roaming this land, his vocabulary was remarkably crude.

[It’s at a level you can handle alone without borrowing the power of the holy sword the Proxian lady carries.]

Since the meaning of Fafnir’s voice in my head was very clear.

‘I understand.’

[At least you catch on quickly with these things.]

‘I dislike the existence of demonic scriptures just as much as you do.’

I accepted Fafnir’s subtle suggestion without a moment’s hesitation.

Because after my regression, I had an obligation to effectively eliminate or suppress the beings of demonic scripture to weaken their power, just as much as I focused on improving my relationship with Shizu.

Well, it shouldn’t be difficult.

First, I’ll begin my activities when night falls.

Prepared to avoid being noticed by others.

I’ll go to the locations Fafnir indicated and as soon as I find the corrupt marks.

I’ll cut them with the dragon sword to resolve the matter.

If simply cutting doesn’t work.

I’ll use a ki-blade created by wrapping ki around the dragon sword.

Even though I can’t perform a sealing ritual like Shizu.

As long as the marks weren’t created with the involvement of demonic scripture bigwigs like Adorator or Pale Sanguin.

I know well that overwhelming them with force won’t cause major problems.

[I can almost hear the sound of your brain working hard to figure out what to do.]

‘When you have a good sword, you think of proper ways to use it.’

[Well, you seem enthusiastic, so that’s fine.]

As if he had read my thoughts, if not perfectly, then at least to some extent.

Fafnir’s voice echoing in my head showed no opposition to the idea of using the dragon sword to remove the marks containing corrupt energy.

[It looks like it will continue snowing at night, so there should be no difficulty in moving around after the sun sets.]

‘You mean I won’t be noticed, right?’

[Since those demonic scripture bastards set this up secretly from those stationed in this fortress, wouldn’t it be more fun to remove it secretly as well?]

‘That’s strange logic, but I suppose it’s not wrong.’

Recalling my memories from before the regression.

In a few days, the Shadow Legion, an assassin group boasted by the demonic scripture.

Would infiltrate the fortress through an unknown route.

And attempt both assassination of key figures and acts of sabotage simultaneously.

According to my memory of information obtained from the empire’s newspaper.

The moment the Shadow Legion infiltrated, Shizu noticed and performed brilliantly.

The Shadow Legion was completely annihilated without even managing to assassinate any key figures or even cause injuries.

Thanks to the newspaper article, which was written in a report format disguised as news.

Even though I had memorized the entire overview of the incident and minor details while reading the newspaper.

Even in that article, they couldn’t figure out the route the Shadow Legion used to infiltrate the fortress.

At least now I’ve learned how they were able to infiltrate the fortress.

Although I know the route, I still wonder how such marks were planted in multiple locations inside the fortress.

[Based on my spiritual perception, there are about 16 marks in total.]

Since I was only focused on following Fafnir’s guidance to remove those corrupt marks.

‘Then I’ll need to take a short nap since I’ll be active for a long time after sunset.’

With these words, I intended to lie down on the bed for a brief rest.

[Before that.]

My steps toward the bed were halted by Fafnir’s voice.

I could have continued walking while listening to what he had to say.

But from the brief words Fafnir spoke.

I sensed his intention to convey something important to me.

Feeling the need to listen carefully, I naturally stopped in my tracks.

‘Did you forget to mention something?’

So I carefully asked what I needed to do.

[The ring.]

Then from Fafnir’s mouth came a voice even shorter and more concise than when he had stopped me.

[Before you begin your activities at night, no matter what happens, wear the ring on your right index finger.]

After his short and concise words, he made an earnest request, almost a plea, to definitely wear the ring.

The ring he wanted me to wear on my right index finger was undoubtedly the Ring of Nibelung that he had given me after I passed the test.

I was actually going to ask about this Ring of Nibelung, and he brought it up at the right time.

‘What kind of ring is this? What abilities does it possess?’

I asked about the ring’s purpose with curiosity.

[It’s a catalyst. A medium that summons support for an unwavering will that won’t falter even when faced with evil that covers the world in darkness.]

Since his words were difficult to understand just by hearing them.

‘As you said, I’ll put on the ring before sleeping.’

I simply said I would wear the ring and resumed my steps toward the bed.

[It will be of great help.]

Only Fafnir’s confident voice echoed in my mind.

Though my curiosity wasn’t satisfied, it was clear that everything would be revealed by evening anyway.

So I pushed the doubts in my mind to a corner and began my final preparation for the evening’s activities.

That is, sleeping.

Because to eliminate the evil of the demonic scripture that loomed over this fortress, I needed to rest and compose my body and mind.