Ch.118Side Story – Memories of Erased Names

“Excuse me, Zikharun.”

“Not using honorifics anymore, I see.”

“Well, you could drop the ‘lady’ when addressing me too.”

At Charle’s clever retort, Zikharun was momentarily speechless. But as always, he quickly recovered with his typical slick response.

“That would feel rather awkward.”

“You’ve been living in the imperial palace for three years now. What’s awkward about it?”

“I’m more sensitive than I appear. Consider it a family tradition. Though my stepmother isn’t particularly like that.”

“And who is this stepmother you speak of?”

“I’ll keep that a secret for Lady Charle’s own good. Some truths are better left unknown.”

The world’s strongest knight who had become his new stepmother. Her name was Irefi Justitia. Zikharun occasionally enjoyed his new family tree, even while making self-deprecating remarks about it.

Charle, unaware of the circumstances, narrowed her eyes in frustration.

“Why do you have so many secrets? Thanks to you, I’m dying of curiosity. I think about you every single day.”

“My goodness. You should be careful with statements that others might misinterpret.”

“I don’t mind if they misinterpret.”

“What…”

Now it was Zikharun’s turn to be flustered. His consistently nonchalant expression crumpled. That face of his, seemingly breaking into a cold sweat, was Charle’s favorite sight.

Charle continued in a calm voice.

“What does it matter if people misunderstand or spread rumors? I can’t marry or have children anyway. I even have restricted areas for outings, so I can’t travel. Well, they wouldn’t let me go out in case I develop feelings for someone. Such wise restrictions indeed.”

“Hmm…”

“I have many regrets. If I had known it would be like this, I would have traveled the world when things were peaceful. I could have seen more scenery and met different people. That’s my regret.”

“I see…”

Heavy. That was Zikharun’s impression.

Her complaints were certainly valid, and as she described, Charle’s situation was extremely unfair. It could only be described as suffering from an inherent original sin.

“You know what? Lately, I even feel uncomfortable seeing Marquess Alteon and Elfi. Watching them so madly in love makes me jealous.”

‘Well, if they fail at being madly in love, the husband would be unilaterally killed.’

“Plus, I’m even more jealous because I never dreamed Elfi would find someone like that. Honestly, until the Marquess appeared, I thought Elfi would take a vow of celibacy for life.”

“Well…”

A keen insight.

In a world without Nepy, Irefi would indeed destroy the world without loving or being loved by anyone.

For decades.

Eventually, Irefi, reaching the limit of her lifespan, would lose her life to Zikharun’s blade.

A lonely end.

Now that the future had twisted, they were just an incredibly foolish, lovesick couple.

“I want… to experience love like Elfi’s…”

“My, perhaps we need to introduce rental boyfriends at this rate.”

“What’s that?”

“…I misspoke.”

While “rental boyfriend” might be a term in modern society, in this world, they were simply male prostitutes. Zikharun couldn’t bring himself to suggest hiring a male prostitute to overcome loneliness.

“Sigh… I wonder if there’s a 100% effective contraceptive method.”

“W-what madness are you speaking, Lady Charle?”

“No, think about it. The reason I’m forbidden from dating is because they’re worried about me having descendants.”

“Well, that’s crude but accurate.”

Three years had given Charle the experience to easily handle Zikharun’s irritating way of speaking. Her chances of getting upset had long since disappeared.

‘Well… it’s probably an impossible wish.’

Even modern condoms couldn’t be considered a foolproof contraceptive method. While the chances of pregnancy would be slim if used properly, if they accidentally tore or were used incorrectly, it would be quite a disaster.

In that sense, Charle, who needed to completely eliminate even astronomical probabilities, was truly pitiful.

“Hey, Zikharun.”

“Speak.”

“Actually, you know what? I’ve been thinking for quite a while that there might be a solution.”

“That’s a surprising confession.”

Indeed, it was genuinely surprising. For Zikharun, this was a problem with no solution no matter how much he pondered it.

The prerequisites for Charle to have a relationship were two:

First, her partner must reside within the system.

Second, a foolproof contraceptive method must exist.

If anything else were to be added, perhaps it would be a man with looks and character that matched Charle’s taste.

In any case, the second prerequisite was the most important.

Unless the possibility of pregnancy was eliminated, Charle’s love life remained a distant dream.

“Don’t tell me…”

Just then, an ominous premonition brushed against Zikharun’s temple.

“Lady Charle. Please don’t say you’re planning to make yourself infertile. No matter how desperate you are, ruining your body will only lead to misery.”

“Zikharun, do I look that stupid to you?”

“It’s not that, but there aren’t many other options that come to mind.”

“Oh, but there are. I think the answer is much closer than you think.”

“Hmm?”

Zikharun was genuinely curious about what Charle was thinking. He wondered what level of creativity was needed to find an answer so close at hand.

“Honestly… I’m quite curious this time.”

“I’m sure you are.”

What could be Charle’s answer?

Zikharun stared at her intently with an exciting feeling.

Little did he know he was about to be blindsided.

“Zikharun, you.”

“Yes?”

Then Charle dropped a bombshell question.

“You’re not human, are you?”

“…Lady Charle?”

“Judging by your reaction, I seem to be right.”

“This, well, I…”

His physical body was human, but as a species, he was clearly a spirit. That was Zikharun.

In other words, while his body took human form, his species was undeniably non-human.

“How… did you know?”

“No, wouldn’t it be strange not to know?”

“What?”

“Please reflect on your own actions.”

Charle’s words came pouring out.

“You cause natural disasters greater than magic in the Eld Empire where mana is scarce. You suddenly grow from a child to an adult. And only His Majesty and the Elfi couple know your true identity. Haven’t you thought these circumstances are too suspicious?”

“Irefi Justitia can also cause disasters greater than magic.”

“That’s because she’s Elfi.”

“Damn, that’s convincing.”

But Zikharun brought up another example.

“Fa… I mean, Marquess Nepy Alteon also causes unnatural disasters as easily as breathing. And as Lady Charle mentioned, he doesn’t age either.”

“That’s true. Perhaps Marquess Alteon is also a non-human candidate.”

He was actually 100% human, but unable to explain the circumstances, Zikharun kept his mouth shut.

“Fine, let’s say I am a non-human. What does that have to do with anything?”

“It has everything to do with it.”

Then, Charle raised her soft green eyes.

“I have never once heard of a case where a human had a child through interspecies breeding.”

“Holy shit.”

Zikharun unconsciously blurted out a curse. Charle’s claim was that shocking and insane. Thus, Zikharun trembled with his ruby-like eyes, waiting for her next statement.

“Zikharun, wouldn’t it be fine to do all sorts of things with you?”

“Cough…!!!”

Zikharun coughed violently as if spitting blood.

“Have you truly gone mad, Lady Charle?”

“Why? Do you have a lover?”

“Of course not.”

“Have you ever had one?”

“Of course not.”

“That’s genuinely surprising. You’re the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.”

Though Zikharun always loafed around the imperial palace like a freeloader, the nobleman’s beauty was unmatched.

Even Nepy (Netionpis), who once attracted attention at banquets, and Philliah Estern, considered the most handsome man of the era, seemed lacking compared to Zikharun.

If Zikharun had entered social circles, the empire’s beauty rankings would have been instantly overturned. As it stood, only ladies who happened to glimpse Zikharun or palace servants knew his true value.

Therefore, Charle’s surprised reaction was quite reasonable.

“Hmm… a clean virgin will do. Perfect.”

“I hope you realize your conversation has been reaching extremely high levels lately.”

“Well, you’re practically my only conversation partner, so what can I do?”

“Even so, there’s something called dignity…”

“You don’t have any either, you homeless person. Neighborhood beggar Zikharun. From now on, your nickname is Beggar-harun.”

“What…! W-where did you learn to talk like that…!”

“I’m just speaking comfortably, what’s wrong with that!”

“Have you lost all respect now!?”

“You’re making me angry!”

Charle jumped up and grabbed Zikharun’s hood tightly. The green in her eyes now flickered with a reddish heat.

“I don’t know why you always wear this hood that offers such a good grip. Are you deliberately trying to get caught by me?”

“Gack, it’s because I don’t have any other clothes! Kuhuk, so please don’t create situations where it needs mending…!!!”

“I’ll buy you 100 hoods, so just stay still for a bit. Actually, it’s shameless how you always wear the same thing.”

“I’ll have you know I’m thorough with laundry!”

Zikharun thoroughly defended himself against Charle’s feigned contempt.

Clothes washed and dried with spirit arts would be completely free of germs. Though Charle would never have the chance to know that.

So Charle authoritatively pressed against Zikharun’s carotid artery.

“Let’s start dating from today, Zikharun.”

“Where on earth did you learn to speak like that?!”

“From Marquess Alteon.”

“Damn him for teaching such good expressions, gack…!”

Zikharun’s complaint-filled cry was sucked into Charle’s empty eyes.

Either way, Charle, thirsty for love, finally swallowed hard as if she had found an oasis.

“Zikharun.”

“Ugh.”

“Will you date me? Or not?”

Life or Death?

That was how the sentence automatically translated for Zikharun.

Zikharun, the spirit who could turn the continent into a sea of flames if he so desired.

So powerful, and yet this was the moment when intense restraints were placed on the last remaining spirit in the world.