Ch.162162. Lemon Flavor

In the southern territory of the Bright family, Violene, in the Griffin Kingdom, all the way to the Republic of Clark beyond the north.

If you were to ask how Deus Verdi could return instantly via warp, the primary credit would undoubtedly go to his fiancée.

Erika Bright.

“Whew, that was intense.”

The Zeronia family had already departed, and due to Deia’s stubbornness, they ended up staying in Violene for a few more days. She sits on the nearby garden railing, grinning as if venting about all her hard work.

“What’s going on here, Deia?”

I frown at her with rising irritation, but Deia immediately deflects responsibility with an exaggerated gesture of her chin.

“This was all your future wife’s idea. I just went along with it because I’m such a nice sister-in-law.”

Where Deia pointed, Erika stood creating a pillar of golden light. She was checking if it had formed properly, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.

“Thanks to this, the Bright family is completely intimidated by us now. I told you our background research would pay off.”

I feel the urge to smack Deia on the head as she smugly claims Darius could never have pulled this off. So this explains why everyone from the head of the family, Elan, to the first and second sons of the Bright family have been walking on eggshells around Deia.

“Anyway, I just helped. It was my new sister who contacted the royal family and deceived them.”

“You two seem quite close now.”

Seeing how she calls herself a sister-in-law and refers to Erika as her new sister, it seems she’s accepted Erika in her own way. But Deia gives a bitter smile as she looks toward Erika.

“She’s a woman who gave you up just to stay close to you. I’ll admit she’s wise.”

“…”

“I don’t know what choice you’ll make, but if you’re going to break up with her, do it as gently as possible.”

After saying this, Deia crosses her legs and turns her gaze to the pillar of light that’s roughly transforming the Bright family’s garden. She observes it intently, saying it’s quite a rare spectacle.

Seeing that Deia has no intention of continuing the conversation, I sigh and head toward Erika.

Sensing my approach, she smiles proudly.

“I contacted the royal family. Using this, you’ll be transported directly to the First Detention Center in the Republic of Clark.”

“Erika.”

I call her name, but Erika pretends not to hear and continues speaking.

“It’s fortunate that Elenoa and Aria were already on the move. It seems they noticed something was wrong with you at the academy and that Findenai had disappeared, so they started moving ahead of time.”

So those two are involved as well. I clearly told everyone to stay put, but it seems no one listens to me.

“Erika.”

“When you get there, Findenai will be waiting. Go and bring back the maid who ran away without permission.”

“Erika.”

“…”

Finally unable to ignore my calls, Erika takes a deep breath and quickly raises her head.

“Yes, Deus?”

“I never asked for this.”

“I know.”

Her straightforward answer is anything but simple.

“But you needed it.”

“…”

I silently turn my gaze to the golden pillar, and Erika does the same.

“Impressive, isn’t it? I mixed my specialty, light magic, with the Magic Judges’ warp. Thanks to that, you can travel much faster and more safely.”

“Opening a passage from this side must have required a massive amount of mana.”

“The idiots in our family may be stupid, but their mana reserves are among the highest in the kingdom.”

As I continue to stare with my lips tightly sealed, Erika slowly approaches me.

“Your fiancée worked hard to create this gift for you. Are you really not going to accept it?”

“Why are you going this far?”

At my question, Erika smiles bitterly, though she tries to hide her expression.

“Because I love you?”

“…”

“That’s why I’m letting you go. Right now, I can’t fill the void Findenai left.”

“Hah.”

I exhale deeply and lower my gaze to my feet. Clearly, my heart was telling me to use this passage to go meet her. But leaving this woman behind troubled me.

Perhaps she knew what was in my heart.

Tug.

Erika gently pulls on my collar.

It was a small gesture, but my relaxed upper body naturally leaned forward.

My gaze, which had been fixed on the ground, noticed her heels lifting.

Her lips gently press against mine. The pillar of light envelops us like a spotlight, creating a serene atmosphere.

A faint lemon scent tickles my nose.

She breaks the kiss with a soft sound and carefully opens her eyes to look at me.

Erika smiled as if determined not to cry, but it only made the moment more painful.

“I have to at least try.”

Her hand, now raised, rests on my chest.

“May this moment remain in your heart.”

With those words, Erika pushes me into the pillar of light. I was startled by the sudden turn of events, and I could hear Deia shouting something in the distance.

But soon after, I was sucked into the light, and the scenery began to change.

[Waaah! Where are we going?!]

The Dark Spiritmaster’s voice rings in my ear. I’d been wondering where she’d been lately, but apparently she was clinging to my shoulder.

Realizing we could converse even during the warp, I calmly asked:

“Where have you been all this time?”

[…I was doing some soul-searching. More importantly, was the kiss good?]

“…”

[You’re not going to answer?]

“If you know, don’t ask.”

[Tch, I never got to experience that when I was alive.]

Though grumbling, the Dark Spiritmaster clings to me even more tightly, as if determined not to let go.

But something bothers me.

“When you were alive?”

Does that mean she’s experienced it after death?

[…]

The Dark Spiritmaster immediately puffs her cheeks and closes her mouth. Just as I think I’ve obtained some disturbing information…

[AAAAAAHHHHH!]

[SAVE MEEEEE!]

[I’M SORRY! I’M SORRY! I’M SORRY!]

[THIS IS HELL! THIS PLACE IS HELL!]

[SPIRIT CONTROLLER! I CURSE YOU! SPIRIT CONTROLLER! I CURSE YOUUUU!]

We’ve arrived at the Republic.

The anguished cries of souls greet us fiercely as if in welcome.

Neither the cold of the Republic, nor the Magic Judges and Elenoa surrounding us, nor Aria hiding behind Tairne’s back.

None of it registers in my sight.

Seeing only the ear-splitting screams of violent souls and the spirits surrounding the entire land and sky, I can’t help but sigh.

“How can it be so chaotic?”

I’ve never seen such a sight before.

What floats far beyond the sky isn’t clouds but the dead.

I thought the color of the earth had faded, but that too was due to the souls.

This place where there is no spot without the dead.

A land where human lives are treated no differently than machine parts.

This is the Republic of Clark.

[Let me help you.]

The Dark Spiritmaster, who sees and hears the same things I do, shakes her head and gathers mana. Thanks to her, the piercing screams that were disrupting everything around us gradually subside.

“Hey! You said you weren’t calling the professor!”

“Be quiet!”

I hear Aria grumbling as she approaches Elenoa while hiding behind Tairne. When my gaze falls on the two girls, they both flinch and become flustered.

“Haa.”

In the end, I can only sigh deeply.

They ignored my instructions to stay put, but ultimately they acted for my sake.

I couldn’t simply scold them.

“She’s over there.”

Elenoa gestures subtly.

At the end of her gesture, Findenai lies collapsed in front of a massive door, covered in blood.

Her clothes were soaked in blood, indicating she had fought to her limit, but the empty bottles rolling around suggested she had overcome the life-threatening crisis.

And somehow, my footsteps were already heading toward her.

Calm yet heavy steps.

Looking down at her as she sat leaning against the wall, Findenai slightly raised her head in greeting.

“Hello, Deus.”

“…”

“Why have you come to such a squalid place?”

Findenai asked, breathing heavily. Why did I come?

“If you’re here to help, go back. This is something I have to do.”

Findenai’s cold dismissal. I know she’s saying this because she’s worried I might get involved in the Republic’s affairs, but…

Her voice didn’t reach me.

Why did I come?

That question alone spun fiercely in my mind.

I was pushed here by Erika and Deia, and seeing Findenai now, I realized how unlike myself I’d been while she was gone.

But I couldn’t give a proper answer to Findenai’s question.

“I’ve come to arrest you.”

That was the answer that escaped my lips without my knowing. Because even I couldn’t clearly define why I had come looking for Findenai.

“Huh?”

Even Findenai opened her mouth in surprise at my unexpected answer, and I heard subtle gasps from behind.

But the words were already spoken.

I add flesh to the bare-bones statement, as if making an excuse.

“I am the only Black Mage of the Griffin Kingdom, bearing the title of Spirit Controller chosen by His Majesty.”

“…”

“You drugged me and sexually harassed me. That could be considered a serious crime.”

Then came the voices of the two girls from behind.

“Sexual harassment? She’s completely lost it! We shouldn’t have saved her!”

“Wh-what did you do to Deus! What did you do?!”

As Aria and Elenoa demanded answers, even Findenai scratched the back of her head with a dumbfounded expression.

“I didn’t eat him out though?”

I wonder how her vocabulary never changes.

“If you had, you’d be dead already! Professor! May I request permission to become a hero for just five minutes?!”

“Tairne! Execute her! Execute her right now!”

Tairne Ol Velocus calms the two girls who are squabbling and trying to rush over.

Anyway.

I look down at Findenai and declare:

“Findenai, I’m arresting you. Let’s go back to Griffin together.”

“…Pfft!”

Findenai bursts into laughter at the absurdity, then covers her face with both hands and exhales deeply.

“My accomplices are inside.”

She gestures slightly toward the building behind her.

“Take them in too.”

Indeed.

“Of course.”

At my words, she lowers her hands from her face. There was her usual hearty smile.

“Can I smoke one before I’m arrested? It’s a mast.”

I nod, indicating I don’t mind, and Findenai puts the cigarette I had gifted her, which was rolling on the ground, into her mouth.

Groaning in pain as she stands up, Findenai slightly tilts her head forward.

“Light.”

“…”

Though her brazen request was truly irritating, I still create a flame at my fingertip and light the end of her cigarette.

“Phew.”

After exhaling a thick cloud of smoke, Findenai puffs a few times as if something seems off, then takes another drag.

“Hmm.”

“Is there a problem?”

Findenai scratches her head as if something is strange. At my question, she nods and tosses the cigarette to the ground.

“Not that great.”

“…?”

I’m sure she used to enjoy it, saying it tasted good.

Just as that question forms in my mind.

The smoke and aroma of tobacco fill my mouth, and between them, a beast-like tongue invades.

Findenai, who had somehow wrapped her arms around my neck, had pounced on me and was devouring my lips.

Behind us, inhuman screams from Aria and Elenoa rang out.

“Puha.”

Though she separated her lips, Findenai remained hanging from my neck, grinning as she said:

“Yeah, this is what I was craving most.”

Findenai, with the brightest smile I’d ever seen, was right in front of me.

“But why does it taste like lemon, unlike last time?”

“…”