Ch.167167. Compromise

“…Calivan.”

Darwood said with a trembling voice as he rubbed his face.

In his other hand, which was shaking as if he had palsy, was the leash that the Saint had just entrusted to him.

His mind kept replaying the conversation he had just heard.

-S-Sometimes, for my sake, put this on me and t-take me for a walk!

-…

-To do such activities regularly, your health is absolutely crucial. Please be careful not to get hurt! Well then, I’ll be going…!

Though she had hurriedly blurted that out with an extremely embarrassed expression.

After finishing that recollection, Darwood continued with a voice dripping with self-loathing.

“…What on earth was I doing before I lost my memories?”

[…]

Well.

If I told you now, you might commit suicide, so it’s better to exercise my right to remain silent.

[…A lot of things happened.]

“Let me summarize what I just heard.”

Darwood said, covering his face with both hands.

“Are you saying that while being engaged to a genius hero candidate who is highly regarded across the continent, I was putting a leash on the Saint, who is the idol of all religious people who believe in the Holy Empire’s faith, and dragging her around?”

[…]

“…And frequently enough that she would come to me herself and talk about being my pet?”

[…]

It does sound pretty outrageous when summarized like that.

Although one of them is lying, it’s undeniably this guy’s doing that made her fall for him enough to tell such lies.

It really puts into perspective the level of incidents this guy tends to cause.

“…Isn’t this adultery?”

[As I told you before. It’s better to take what the women around you say with a grain of salt.]

Darwood asked with a groan, and Calivan answered with a sigh.

Of course, in the Saint’s case, there was nothing but the truth without any instigation or fabrication, but still, she definitely wasn’t the type to come begging to be “walked” like that.

It’s much more reasonable to assume she was trying to take advantage of his mental absence.

‘…Wait a minute.’

Calivan suddenly had a chilling thought that sent shivers down his spine.

It’s only been two days since this guy lost his memories, and already two women have rushed in trying to seduce him.

And these are the ones who are less obsessed with him.

Given the number and caliber of women around this guy, this is likely just the beginning…!

‘…It started with a fiancée, then a pet, what’s next?’

While Calivan was trembling at that thought, Darwood suddenly stood up from his seat. He had a look of firm determination.

“Mr. Calivan.”

[Huh?]

“I think I need to check for myself.”

[Check what?]

“Whether there are others with whom I’ve been spreading rumors while having a fiancée.”

[…]

“Surely I’m not that mentally deranged, and if I’ve done such things to the Saint, I don’t think there would be more people…”

[…You know what. Maybe you should reconsider this.]

This is definitely not something I would recommend.

What this man has encountered so far is just the tip of the iceberg.

These are just the two most docile ones around him.

If he meets more, he might truly not be able to handle it.

With that thought, Calivan opened his mouth to dissuade him.

But then closed it again.

The main reason being.

‘…Well, it’s his own karma anyway.’

They’ll probably come looking for him even if he doesn’t go looking for them.

Whether sooner or later, he’s going to find out anyway, so is there any point in stopping him?

[No. It’s fine. Who are you going to meet first?]

“…Who, you ask. That’s a strange question.”

[Hm?]

“I was planning to gather everyone together and ask if there’s anyone else I’ve been involved with—”

[…Hey. Sit down for a moment.]

As inevitable as it might be someday.

It’s right to stop someone who’s directly heading to commit suicide.

●

In this world, there exist people whose personalities are fundamentally incompatible.

And those gathered here would sincerely agree with that statement.

“…”

“…”

Elnore and Grand Chancellor Sullivan stared at each other.

If looks could kill, the sparks flying between them would not be surprising, given the intense hostility in their gazes.

“…I’m surprised you responded to the invitation, Duchess Tristan.”

Sullivan spoke first in a cold voice.

“If you had refused to come, I was planning to send someone to drag you here by force.”

“The Tristan Dukedom is a family that knows etiquette, principles, and procedures, Grand Chancellor.”

Elnore responded with a voice tinged with mockery.

“Though that might be an unfamiliar concept to those accustomed to growing their influence by killing people indiscriminately.”

“…”

Though she didn’t specifically mention anyone, it was obvious who she was referring to.

The servants and attendants nearby all looked like they were in agony.

Watching two of the most noble women in the Empire growling at each other like they wanted to devour one another was undoubtedly a blood-draining experience for anyone in the vicinity.

They had heard that relations between the Tristan Dukedom and the Grand Chancellor were poor, but seeing them exchange such deadly insults in private made it all the more palpable.

“…Since we’re not on friendly terms for casual conversation, let’s get straight to the point.”

And to put it another way.

“It’s about Baron Campbell, Duchess. You must have guessed as much to walk so confidently into my office.”

It’s an astonishing fact in many ways.

That there exists a man who can make even these two cooperate, if only briefly.

“…We’ve both reached the same conclusion, I assume. You’re not unintelligent, Duchess.”

Elnore nodded expressionlessly at Sullivan’s calm statement.

“…After thoroughly searching all the literature, I’ve learned that ‘victims’ of the White Demon become trapped in the imaginary world created by them. Any external interference is said to be meaningless.”

So even the elite personnel at Elphante are helplessly stuck.

“…”

“…”

Elnore and Sullivan silently faced each other.

They were probably thinking the same thing right now.

When a demon-level entity truly begins to exert its power, the only things that can respond are celestial beings at the level of Lightbearer or…

Another demon.

“…It’s a sad story.”

Sullivan continued in a sharp voice.

“Right now, there’s nothing I can do ‘alone’ to save that man. I…”

Her voice suddenly cut off.

Her eyes slowly closed.

She looked as if she was being crushed by memories. Like she was commemorating memories with ‘someone’ from long ago.

It was a wistful atmosphere.

“…I have certain circumstances.”

“…”

“There are many restrictions on using the power of the ‘being’ inside me. Especially if that man is involved.”

Elnore slightly furrowed her brow.

Again, incomprehensible talk.

It’s fine if she wants to talk about things only she understands.

But it’s extremely unpleasant when she keeps involving Darwood in stories that Elnore knows nothing about.

That’s probably why her next words came out so bluntly.

“…If you want to secure my cooperation using the power of the ‘demonic fragment’ residing in my body—”

“No.”

Sullivan cut off Elnore’s words with a sharp smile.

“What resides in your body is not simply a ‘demon,’ Duchess.”

“…What do you mean?”

“While it’s possible to categorize it in the same group, which is why everyone calls it the Grey Demon, it’s an entity of a particularly different caliber. That’s why I’m making this request to you.”

“…”

“Others cannot do this. Only you can.”

“…I don’t care about any of that.”

Elnore, who had been listening quietly to the explanation, abruptly cut off the conversation.

“Please just tell me the conclusion.”

Red eyes gazed transparently into golden eyes.

“If I cooperate with you, can we save Darwood?”

“We can save him, Duchess. Though you might die.”

“What’s the method?”

Sullivan let out a small laugh at the unhesitating response.

“…Shouldn’t you hesitate a little?”

“This is about Darwood. Risking my life is not a big deal.”

True to her words, there wasn’t even a particularly resolute tone in her voice.

As if it were such an obvious thing.

As if she could readily sacrifice her own life for anything related to that man.

“…”

Sullivan slightly bowed her head and closed her eyes.

‘…It was like this before too. Always.’

That heart, at least, had always remained constant in all the situations she had ‘seen.’

No matter what catastrophe unfolded, no matter what choice led to what devastating result.

The behavior pattern of Elnore and the Grey Demon was always the same.

They act for Darwood Campbell.

Regardless of the cost.

“…Though it’s nothing but greed.”

But from a position where one can predict those ‘results,’ that’s all one can say.

“…Pardon?”

“It’s nothing.”

Sullivan responded dismissively to Elnore’s puzzled voice and looked at her again.

“First. Before I explain the method in detail, there’s something I need to ask.”

Elnore’s expression became serious in response to Sullivan’s stern tone.

She wasn’t sure what question was coming, but given how she was setting the mood, it surely wouldn’t be nonsense—

“What’s the most extreme act you’ve done with Baron Campbell?”

“…Excuse me?”

“I mean romantically extreme acts. Given what a prude you are, I doubt it’s much, but perhaps you’ve shared a bed—”

Faced with this unexpected question, Elnore wore an uncharacteristically blank expression.

“W-What, wh-what are you talking about?!”

“That’s the reaction of someone who hasn’t done it. That’s fortunate.”

Sullivan continued with an extremely serious expression.

“If you had done something I haven’t been able to do yet, I would have really wanted to kill you.”

“…”

“I want to be the first, you see.”

Ah, I see.

So she hasn’t slept with Darwood or anyone else, including the Grand Chancellor.

Knowledge gained.

“Well, that was just my personal digression…”

Sullivan continued to throw sentences at the dumbfounded Elnore without batting an eye.

“It’s truly fortunate that you haven’t done such things, Duchess.”

“…”

“If you were as promiscuous as your body suggests and had already laid hands on that man, this method would be absolutely impossible—”

“…Grand Chancellor Sullivan.”

Elnore opened her mouth while massaging her temples, which were starting to throb with a headache.

Usually, she’s the one inflicting this on others rather than experiencing it herself, but this seems to be an exception.

“Please, I beg you, explain in a way that I can understand.”

It was a truly sincere statement.

●