Ch.155155. Reunion

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“…Hmm.”

Trisha let out a long sigh through her nose as she looked at her best friend.

Although the time she had spent with Elia wasn’t particularly long, there was one thing she knew for certain.

That Elia was incredibly shy when it came to romance.

So what was this attitude now?

“…What did you just say, Elia?”

“Hm? Oh, I said I should help Riru.”

How strange.

Wasn’t this the same person who was anxiously fretting not long ago that the teacher wouldn’t notice her because there were so many attractive women around him?

The emotions that used to fluctuate wildly whenever Darwood was mentioned were now remarkably calm. Like looking at the surface of a tranquil lake.

“…Riru, you mean that person? That violent woman.”

Trisha carefully spoke while stroking her chin.

At least, the last time Trisha had heard information about her, she was clearly someone who had feelings for Darwood.

But now.

Helping her?

“…”

What wind has blown in?

And what exactly is she planning to help with?

“Well… Riru is definitely preparing something.”

Elia rubbed her blindfolded eyes and grinned.

“She’s probably planning to make some important confession to the teacher.”

“…She told you that?”

“She didn’t have to tell me—I can clearly see how nervous she is. She seems to be hiding something inside.”

“You can see it?”

Contextually, this wasn’t just a figure of speech about noticing something.

Trisha’s intuition was confirmed by what followed.

“Yeah. I can kind of see emotions and such.”

“…”

“Like something… stirring that’s visible.”

Trisha’s mouth fell open.

Her “eyes that see emotions” was an ability she awakened through interaction with holy power.

More precisely, most priests gain special abilities when they reach a certain level, but Trisha’s eyes were considered exceptionally powerful among them.

It was almost equivalent to the ability to read others’ thoughts.

But now.

Had Elia suddenly acquired something similar?

“…You, you can see emotions, Elia?”

“No, I can’t see all emotions. I can only see people who have ‘something bad’ inside them. And only when they experience intense emotions.”

“Something bad?”

“I was told not to say what it is. I’d make enemies everywhere if I did.”

“…”

As Trisha tilted her head in confusion, Elia waved her hands and continued.

“Besides, how could anyone see everyone’s emotions? Having something like that would make it hard to even meet people nearby—”

“…”

“People wouldn’t like someone who could look into their heads. I couldn’t even tell anyone about this except you, Trisha.”

“…That’s certainly true.”

Trisha agreed with a forced smile on her face.

She was busy kicking away the terrible memories that were trying to surface in her subconscious because of Elia’s words.

Because of this ability, she had been ostracized so many times in the past.

She was frequently treated like a monster by those around her.

And even worse.

There were people she could never meet again.

“…”

Trisha struggled to maintain her expression.

She painfully changed the subject.

“…But is it really okay to help with that? You said it’s related to Darwood?”

The following question was meant to change the subject, but it was also something she needed to ask.

What if helping like that actually resulted in Riru and Darwood getting together?

But the answer that followed was remarkably nonchalant.

“Oh, it doesn’t matter.”

“…What?”

“After observing the teacher for a while, I’ve realized women are just naturally drawn to him. No one can stop that. So instead of trying to prevent the inevitable, I should figure out how to benefit from it.”

To Trisha’s dumbfounded expression, Elia smiled brightly and said:

“I’m already irreplaceable to the teacher anyway.”

Without a doubt, that was true.

Elia was the only one who had the means to efficiently “subdue” those crazy women rushing toward Darwood.

Even the Tristan Duchess couldn’t do this. She might win, but she’d destroy her opponents. Judging by Darwood’s usual temperament, he wouldn’t welcome that.

So:

“Having more women flocking around the teacher might actually be better.”

And if they fight among themselves, all the better.

“…Huh? Why on earth?”

“Because then the teacher will depend on me more, won’t he?”

“…”

And the more that happens.

The value of Elia as the only person who can “manage the traffic” of such people will skyrocket.

Darwood won’t be able to live without her…!

“…So you’re deliberately putting women near Darwood to watch them fight?”

“No, not that. That would put the teacher in danger too. There’s no need to deliberately escalate things.”

“…”

Elia chuckled and continued.

“I’m helping Riru because she’s just a friend. It would be too sad if she couldn’t even properly convey her feelings.”

“…Hey, Elia.”

Trisha maintained her smile despite the chill running up her spine and continued speaking.

Helping because she’s a friend?

Something sounds off.

“Are you sure you’re talking about helping a friend?”

“Yes. Why?”

Isn’t it strange to even ask why?

The attitude Elia just showed was that “since I’m the number one priority anyway, it doesn’t matter how many other women approach him.”

“…Is that Riru person really your friend?”

It was a question Trisha struggled to ask, but:

“Yes, she’s my friend.”

The answer that followed was equally flat.

“So… maybe a second or third concubine is possible?”

“…”

Normally in situations like this, wouldn’t one step aside gracefully for a friend’s sake?

What is this attitude?

“But the teacher is mine, you know?”

“…”

“Isn’t this already being very generous?”

What a fleeting friendship.

That thought automatically flashed through Trisha’s mind.

●

[Can I ask you just one question?]

‘No.’

[…]

Since I already know what you’re going to ask, I’m not taking questions from the start.

Thinking this, I slightly loosen my grip on Yuria’s leash that I’ve been pulling.

I could hear Yuria panting slightly as she was being dragged along.

“…Ah, sorry. Did that hurt?”

“N-no, this is just right, p-please continue…”

“…”

Alright.

I’ll do as you wish.

I continue pulling Yuria’s leash while trying my best not to look back.

If I turn around now and face Yuria’s blushing face, I’ll probably collapse from social embarrassment.

[Fine. I can’t hold back anymore.]

“…”

[The Hero Selection starts tomorrow, but what exactly are you doing here?]

“…”

What else?

It’s necessary.

[ Performing ‘Activity – Leash Walking’! ]

[ Performing ‘Activity – Light Choking’! ]

[ Resetting the masochism meter of target ‘Yuria’ to 0! ]

[ Target’s corruption value is decreasing significantly! ]

“…”

Looking at the first part of the text, what I’m doing is socially condemnable, garbage behavior.

But that’s exactly why I’m doing it.

With that thought, I call up a window.

I saw this just yesterday.

< System Log >

[ Built-in skill ‘Soul of the Guardian’ has been added to ‘Soul Linker’! ]

<Item Info>

[ Soul Linker ] [ Exclusive Equipment ]

[ Enchant: Epic ]

[ ‘Hero Fragment’ fusion ][ ‘Essence of Evil’ fusion ]

◎ Built-in Skills ◎

■ [ Mental World ] [ Skill Grade: A+ ]

[ Summons a spirit to form a unique domain in the surrounding area. Within the domain, some abilities possessed by the spirit can be used. As the level of consciousness opening increases, the range of the domain expands, and the number of usable abilities increases. ]

{ Currently Available Abilities }

[ Trait: Alliance ]

[ For a knight, comrades are family. You can partially transmit buffs applied to yourself to surrounding individuals. ]

■ [ Soul of the Guardian ] [ Skill Grade: S ]

[ Guardians have been recognized by all as protectors of justice and morality since ancient times. Gain special stacks each time you subdue an individual with malice. When all stacks are filled, you can summon the spirit to the mortal world for a certain period of time. ]

Current stack: 2%

■ [ Alchemy ] [ Grade: 4 strokes ]

.

.

.

This person, who’s like a frivolous neighborhood brother to me, was called the first Guardian in his lifetime. Even Gideon hesitated to confront him directly.

Summoning Calivan to the mortal world would undoubtedly be a tremendous advantage. I must fill the stack no matter what.

If the Hero Selection starts tomorrow, this becomes an even higher priority.

‘…And, clearly.’

In Serath’s world, the word “subdue” is established when you inflict harm on someone in any way.

Putting a leash on this person and dragging them around would also… somehow be judged as a form of “subduing.”

< System Message >

[ You have subdued target ‘Yuria’! Stack for ‘Skill: Soul of the Guardian’ is accumulating! ]

In fact, such windows kept appearing.

However.

[ You have not subdued the target sufficiently. Stack accumulates slowly! ]

Seeing this window appearing alongside, it seems this level doesn’t fully meet the skill’s subduing requirements.

I need to research even more garbage behavior—

[…Are you really starting to lose your mind?]

“…”

[You’re researching even worse behavior?]

But the only one who would willingly accept this kind of treatment is Yuria with her masochistic tendencies.

Subduing requires inflicting harm on the other person somehow, but no matter how infatuated these Demonic Vessels are with me, no one would stand still and take it if I were to use violence.

Except for this person who voluntarily asked for leash walking.

“Ah, uh, D-Darwood, please be a little gentler…”

“…Ah, sorry. Did that hurt?”

Lost in thought, I must have been dragging her too roughly.

But despite my words, Yuria smiled shyly and said:

“…N-no, not at all.”

It’s truly a pure smile. So innocent it’s almost refreshing.

If she weren’t wearing a leash, it would have made quite a picture.

“Even if it hurts a little, it feels really good.”

“…”

“This is my first time, and I heard the first time always hurts. But since you’re doing it, it feels good…”

“…”

Hey.

Stop.

Why are you saying such embarrassing things?

It’s making even me blush…!

[…Is this young lady really okay?]

‘…It should be fine as long as no one sees us.’

At least there’s no major risk since her corruption value isn’t increasing.

Besides, we’re in a remote area with no people around, and it’s late at night.

As I answered Calivan and turned the corner.

I came face to face with Elia, who had a smile spread across her entire face.

“…”

“…”

Or not?

Is there actually a significant risk?

Thinking this while facing Elia.

She approached me with a bright smile.

“…”

“…”

I need to say something.

With that thought, I opened my mouth to make an excuse while sweating profusely.

“I’m not the student council president, teacher.”

Elia spoke first with those words.

“…What?”

“I can understand whatever perverted and extreme tastes you might have, sir.”

“…Huh?”

“More importantly, may I take over walking Yuria? I have an urgent matter right now.”

“…”

Not just me, but even Yuria, who had turned pale, suddenly had a blank expression.

What is she saying?

But:

“W-wait, Elia…! What is this…!”

“It’s okay! Friends help each other with these things sometimes!”

“…What? Really?! Is that how it is?!”

“…”

Of course not.

Even if you don’t have friends, you shouldn’t believe such things so readily.

“…I’ve created the opportunity for you.”

As Yuria was being dragged away, Elia mouthed those words.

Clearly.

She seemed to be speaking to someone behind me.

“Good luck, Riru!”

“…”

Huh?

What?

Like a robot without oil, I turned around stiffly, and there stood exactly the person Elia had mentioned.

Riru Garda.

The daughter of the Great Chieftain.

“…”

“…”

She was holding a large box in her arms.

It was so big it almost caused anxiety just looking at it.

“…”

“…”

The silence stretched on.

Normally, she would have snapped at me for staring, but right now Riru was breathing so roughly she seemed to have forgotten how to breathe.

Her face was red too. The blush was so evident it showed through her tanned skin, spreading across her entire body.

“…It’s been a while, Riru. Have you been well?”

Finally, I broke the silence with a greeting.

“You could have contacted me when you came to Elphante. I would have visited you for a meal.”

I’m trying to steer the conversation to something lighter.

Really.

This person, unlike before, now holds an important position in the Tribal Union alongside Kasa. If she causes some kind of “incident” here, it would be disastrous for me with the Hero Selection right around the corner.

“Your face looks better though? That’s good—”

“Darwood Campbell.”

My words were cut off by Riru’s serious tone.

“…”

Seems like a futile effort.

This person has definitely brought something that could cause an “incident.” That’s the impression I get.

“…Do you remember the last thing I said before we parted?”

“…”

I do remember.

It was definitely that she would return to Elphante with a “gift.”

That box she’s holding must be it.

The problem is, what kind of gift requires such… “seriousness”?

“…”

“…”

Riru chews her lips again.

The fact that this usually boisterous person can’t seem to get words out increases my anxiety.

Really.

What is it?

“…Hey.”

After a long silence, Riru.

Finally opened her mouth with a look of determination.

“Take this.”

With those words, the box was extended forward.

It’s a box decorated with elegant engravings and jewels.

Without a doubt, it’s something that would be used at a grand event. Definitely not an inexpensive item.

“…Is that my gift?”

Hoping it’s nothing serious, I deliberately try to lighten the mood with a smile.

But.

“What is this? It looks expensive.”

“A dowry box.”

“…”

At those words.

My reason stops functioning.

“…What?”

With great difficulty.

I managed to respond.

“Darwood Campbell.”

Riru.

With her entire body, including her face, flushed red.

But with eyes containing blazing flames.

“…Marry me.”

Those words.

She uttered them firmly.

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