Ch.262262. Date (2)

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A lazy afternoon on a free day is an expression that exudes the scent of humans living buried in leisure. Most grown adults often can’t afford to be languid on holidays even if they want to.

This is especially true for those in professions that demand extremely harsh labor. In that sense, Grand Assassins must certainly be people who have built walls against lazy relaxation from their very title.

In that sense.

For Victoria Evatrice, strolling the streets on a “weekday” that isn’t even a holiday is not a particularly familiar activity.

Moreover, when the purpose of going out is the ambiguous activity called “dating,” there’s nothing that gives her a sense of what to do first.

“…Doesn’t it look strange?”

Having spent all night worrying about “what clothes to wear,” her vision was practically spinning, so she wasn’t even sure what tone she had used.

Of course, due to her professional characteristics, she had worn all sorts of clothes for infiltration, but this was the first time in her life she had dressed up to “look pretty” to this extent.

In contrast, the other party was neatly dressed and had a perfectly normal face. His attitude showed confidence that the clothes he was wearing weren’t strange.

As if he was “accustomed” to socializing with the opposite sex like this.

“No. It’s fine. It suits you well.”

He even naturally took the lead in this manner.

Victoria couldn’t help but feel annoyed by the situation.

“…Save your empty compliments.”

She fiddled with the hem of her dress adorned with fluttering frills and replied curtly.

Her lips were unconsciously pouting.

“This kind of clothing lacks mobility, isn’t suitable for concealing weapons, and in the first place, it couldn’t possibly suit me—”

“It suits you.”

Darwood’s voice cut off her words.

It was a resolute voice that made it difficult to argue back.

“I don’t know how you see yourself, but to my eyes, you look very pretty.”

“…”

Victoria, who had been trembling with clenched fists, blushed and gritted her teeth.

‘…This is humiliating. How annoying.’

Though Victoria kept chewing over such complaints, whether aware of her feelings or not, only a carefree voice continued.

“Shall we go?”

“…If you insist.”

When Victoria replied, still pouting her lips, Darwood smiled slightly and immediately grabbed her hand firmly.

The movement was similar to that of a bird of prey snatching its prey.

“Wh-what are you doing…!”

“Let’s go, then.”

With those words, Victoria, who had become like a captured mouse, began to be dragged along by Darwood.

“Wait, at least tell me where we’re going—!”

“I haven’t really decided. Anything is fine with me.”

Victoria’s eyes flashed.

Ah, good.

Finally, her first “point of attack”!

“For this kind of thing, it’s proper etiquette for the person who invited to have everything prepared in advance…!”

“If you get too caught up in the idea that you ‘have to do’ something specific just because it’s a date, that’s not good.”

“…What?”

“I’m just happy with anything as long as I can spend time with you.”

This must be one of the common mistakes made by novice couples.

Men and women who have experience meeting each other over time would have already realized that what matters is spending time together doing anything at all.

“…”

It’s irritating.

How annoying.

He has a lot of experience with women, doesn’t even try to hide it from her, and yet believes he won’t be disliked for being open about it.

That kind of “confidence” oozes from his every action and attitude.

“Ah, shall we start over there?”

While Victoria was still trembling in defeat, Darwood suggested visiting the nearby bustling area.

Even as she was being dragged along by him, Victoria was still full of thoughts about continuing to express her dissatisfaction,

But the sky was exceptionally clear.

So harsh when it contained heavenly disasters, but now cloudless and showering warm sunshine.

The weather was so good that laziness permeated her body, making her feel languid all over.

“What are you thinking about?”

Darwood, walking casually beside her with his hands in his coat pockets, asked. She tilted her head slightly and shared what had just come to mind.

“Just idle thoughts.”

That was actually true. Victoria let out a small laugh instead of answering.

“That’s good.”

“What?”

“You’ve always been living under pressure from something. I didn’t think you’d even try to have such thoughts.”

“…”

Victoria’s eyes narrowed.

“…Well, certainly. My ultimate goal is to take Serath’s life.”

After that curt statement, a cynical sentence followed.

“That’s just the kind of thing someone like you would say, coming into enemy territory and thinking about flirting first.”

“Well, looking at the situation, they probably won’t make a move until their ‘preparations’ are complete. So how could I miss this golden opportunity?”

“What?”

“I’m saying I’ve been given a precious time to flirt with you privately. Whether it’s enemy territory or not, that’s more important to me.”

“…”

“I don’t know what you think, but I’m sincere about wanting to get closer to you.”

Though a short sentence, its implied meaning was quite weighty.

‘…Really, every time he opens his mouth…!’

He manages to say things that tickle people’s hearts without changing his expression at all.

Among them were many sentences that didn’t just tickle but stabbed right through.

“…Shut up.”

In the end, Victoria could only grumble such words, unable to shoot back anything more.

Afterward, they just walked along without much conversation. They passed through the main street and turned into an alley, observing people passing by. They peered into shop windows even though they had nothing particular to buy, and purchased snacks from a suitable street vendor they encountered.

-In fact, they bought too much. When Darwood and Victoria came to their senses, they smiled at the packages filling both their hands.

Eventually, it was suggested they sit on a nearby bench and eat some of it before continuing.

“…Hmm.”

Victoria eyed the sandwich filled with meat covered in red sauce with a suspicious look.

Although it was something Darwood bought, saying it was a local specialty, it honestly didn’t look very healthy at first glance.

But it would be awkward not to eat something he specifically bought.

True to the assessment that Darwood was “strangely diligent,” she hesitated but eventually took a big bite.

‘It’s delicious…!’

Of course, since becoming a Grand Assassin, she never lacked money and had tried all kinds of gourmet food. And the food at Elphante was excellent too.

But even for someone like her, this kind of food was a first.

To borrow Darwood’s expression, someone who always ate healthy meals and formal dinners couldn’t possibly resist the sweet-spicy-salty MSG-bomb street food.

In the end, she demolished one sandwich as quickly as a gust of wind.

It was only after finishing it all that she noticed the strange gaze from across.

“…Hey.”

“Hmm.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

It was a curt question directed at Darwood, who was smiling like a proud father watching her gobble down the food.

“No, I’m just thinking I made the right decision bringing you out.”

“…”

“Just watching you makes me happy, so I feel good too.”

“…Shut up.”

Victoria blushed and took another big bite of another sandwich.

Meanwhile, more words came from the man across from her.

“So, everyone should have the right to enjoy things like this.”

But his voice was slightly lower than before.

Delicious food and peaceful idleness.

In fact, these weren’t things that were given much in Darwood’s life.

“That’s why I can’t forgive those who try to take such things away.”

Victoria quietly raised her head to look at Darwood as he said this.

His face was expressionless, emotions erased. It was the face of someone who knew exactly what he was saying.

Then he slowly looked up at the empty air. A light flickered in his eyes as his gaze wandered through the air.

As if daydreaming.

“Being able to go out on a holiday with someone you like. Eating delicious food. Being able to hold hands and walk on a warm day… I wholeheartedly affirm such a day. I also affirm a world where everyone can do such things.”

For that, in the future.

Bleeding, and making others bleed.

Deceiving, and being deceived.

“To protect such things… well. Someone has to step up, right? In a world where ‘I’ and ‘you’ exist, I can’t stand to see such things happen.”

He declared calmly that he would walk a thorny path, a hellish road paved with sulfur.

Victoria turned to look at Darwood, guessing the meaning hidden between the lines.

Still a cool, expressionless face. If only one layer of that leather mask were peeled away, what this man had “given up” for the words he spoke would be immediately revealed. Rotten blood and pus would be dripping.

Victoria, too, had clearly seen what this man had done at the school festival.

Undoubtedly.

It was something that couldn’t be done without sacrificing much of what constitutes a “human.”

Humanity. Mortality bound by time. Emotions that form the mind. All the core foundations that make up oneself.

“…”

Because the world operates unfairly, unfair violence arises. Idiots who try to start wars just for their own interests can also be cited as such examples.

And to fix such unfairness, one man is destroying his own “dignity” to its very limit.

“…What is it?”

Darwood chuckled as a sandwich was suddenly held out in front of him.

Though she had been eating so deliciously just moments ago, her hesitation was clearly visible now, yet she still seemed intent on sharing with him.

“…Nothing.”

Victoria mumbled for a while before finally answering.

“I’m just full.”

Because she couldn’t bring herself to say that just now, this man looked too pitiful. That his intentions were too noble.

She couldn’t say, even if her mouth were torn apart, that she felt like “wanting to hug him tightly.”

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“How was it?”

Around the time when the day was starting to fade, Darwood brought up such a question.

“…”

After hesitating for a long time, Victoria finally exhaled with a sigh.

“…It wasn’t bad.”

Though she hated to admit it, she couldn’t deny it either.

The time spent with this man was quite good, better than expected.

Perhaps to the extent that she thought this man might not be as much of a scumbag as she had thought.

While pondering such thoughts.

“Then shall we go there for the last stop?”

Darwood said, pointing his finger in one direction.

And after Victoria’s gaze slid along that direction.

“…”

She decided to throw all her previous sentiments into the trash.

Not a scumbag?

Bull…!

“…You pervert…!”

She growled with a face that had turned insanely red.

Of course, what was at the end of Darwood’s finger.

Was clearly an accommodation facility glowing with something “pink.”

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