Ch.3838. Is This Also Pure Love?

After the duel ended, there was a commotion around us.

‘They must be confused.’

Reibahn, who had been leading a favorable fight until just now, collapsed from a single punch.

Anyone who didn’t know the nature of my Source would naturally be bewildered.

“D-duel over! Injury reported! We need a priest!”

“…”

As they tried to carry the half-unconscious guy away on a stretcher,

“Ugh…! Urk-!”

His helmet was stuck in the floor, making it impossible to move him.

After struggling for dozens of seconds, they finally had to break the surrounding floor to extract him.

“Cough, hack, cough!”

Of course, during the process, he ended up swallowing some of the scattered dust.

“Lord Reibahn, are you alright?!”

For reference, the floor was coated with magical energy for aesthetic purposes, which made it terribly spicy if it got into one’s eyes or mouth.

“W-cough! Water. Need wa- hack, hack!”

“Bring water quickly! His Lordship is suffering!”

And so, the young lord made a glorious exit, tears and snot streaming down his face.

He looked rather like a recruit rushing out after chemical warfare training, which brought back some painful memories for me.

Ugh. Bad memories.

“That was quite a pitiful sight.”

“He was so talkative with the other noble ladies at the banquet, but from now on, it’ll be hard to see Reibahn as manly.”

“My, how harsh. But… I somewhat agree.”

Some of the noble ladies began conversing on this topic.

As expected of nobles, they were quickly reorganizing the hierarchy through gossip.

Rather than having bad personalities, it felt like they were using gossip as a political tool.

“It was certainly an undignified display. He confidently challenged someone to a fight, only to be defeated by a single punch. That alone would be shameful enough, but to exit in such a state…”

“He tried to engage me in conversation too, but from now on, I should clearly draw the line.”

“Since he’s been approaching other ladies as well, his intentions are so transparent that it’s somewhat unpleasant…”

They gradually escalated their comments before finally declaring him socially ostracized and moving on to the next topic.

I didn’t think someone would be buried in social circles over a single incident like that, but perhaps his reputation wasn’t great to begin with.

“Let’s stop talking about the young lord and discuss something more important, shall we?”

Now they started talking about me.

‘That’s fucking scary.’

Fortunately, they weren’t speaking ill of me, but it was terrifying how they had just socially buried a nobleman in private conversation.

Is this the norm for nobles?

I would never adapt to this world.

***

As the party ended, everyone was preparing to leave.

Though I hadn’t done much, it was already approaching sunset.

‘Muscle loss.’

Exercise wasn’t particularly meaningful now that I had absorbed two 3rd-grade Sources.

Still, due to habits formed over the past three years, I felt anxious when I couldn’t follow my exercise routine because of scheduling conflicts.

Could it be that as a Barbarian, even my brain had been contaminated by muscles?

“Adel, have you been waiting long? I’m sorry.”

As this needless anxiety crept over me, a heavily made-up noble lady approached.

“Thank you for waiting.”

“It’s no problem. Let’s get in.”

She suggested we share a carriage since she also needed to visit the outer district, and I couldn’t refuse.

When the carriage owner invites you along, there’s no question of permission.

-Clatter, clatter.

After the carriage departed, silence persisted.

“…”

“…”

I maintained a diagonal seating position from the noble lady and tried to read the atmosphere.

‘I need to say it now.’

I’d been looking for the right moment all day but hadn’t managed to speak up, but now I really needed to say something.

No matter how delicately I phrased it, the noble lady would probably catch my intention, but if I didn’t speak now, something bad might happen.

“Um, Lady Ainer.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“How was your day? Judging by your expression, you seem to be in a good mood.”

I tried to build up to my point.

If she mentioned other reasons for her happiness, I could then say that I was also happy because I’d started dating Shiro, and so on.

“Hmm. Nothing special happened today, just… I think it’s because I’m with you.”

That was too direct.

No, it wasn’t just direct—it was like she’d picked up a rock and smashed it into my solar plexus.

‘Damn it.’

I needed to think.

Somehow, I had to continue the conversation and let her know about my relationship with Shiro.

“I see. There are people whose company makes one feel good.”

“Yes, indeed.”

The noble lady smiled brightly.

“I’ve recently found someone whose company makes me happy too. Do you remember the explorer who’s been accompanying me?”

“Yes. Shiro, right?”

“That’s correct. Recently, my relationship with Shiro has progressed, and we’ve become a couple.”

I said it as naturally as possible.

“I see. So that’s how it is.”

The noble lady nodded.

Surprisingly, her expression remained unchanged after hearing my words.

‘What the hell!’

Why wasn’t she showing any signs of disappointment?

Was she actually hurt inside but hiding it? But she wasn’t showing any signs at all.

‘Could it be that she doesn’t care?’

A sudden ominous thought made me hastily look outside the carriage.

The route was familiar, but something was off.

“…”

This was the road we took to Shiro’s inn.

This wasn’t the way to my inn.

‘Was it real after all?’

What if she already knew about Shiro and me dating and was trying to kidnap me?

What if she used her power as a countess to lock me in a dark room and turn me into the protagonist of some drug-induced obsession story?

It seemed unlikely, but I had to ask.

“Lady Ainer, may I ask you a question?”

We were supposed to drop me off at my inn first, so where was this carriage heading?

“Before that, may I say something first?”

The noble lady responded with a relaxed smile.

“…Yes, my lady.”

I tried to relax as much as possible while waiting for her words.

Right, it must be nothing.

It was probably just a series of coincidences that led to my misunderstanding.

“Actually, I’ve known for a while that you’re dating Shiro.”

Wait, how the hell?

‘Really?’

Had she hired someone to monitor me, pretending not to know while leading me here?

A genuine sense of terror washed over me.

“…You seem to be misunderstanding, so let me clarify. I didn’t find out through any strange methods.”

The noble lady spoke as if reading my expression.

Obsessive stalker criminals don’t usually think their behavior is strange.

“I met Shiro four days ago. She said she would send a letter summarizing our conversation, but did you not receive it?”

“A letter?”

Three days ago, Shiro had returned to the Elven Sanctuary due to identity-related issues.

There was apparently some problem with the Elven Council.

‘She said she’d return today.’

Anyway.

“Yes. She said she would write down our conversation and send it to you.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. You didn’t know?”

Finally, one piece of the puzzle fit into place.

Now I understood how she knew about Shiro and me dating.

But,

“May I ask why you’re heading to Shiro’s inn right now?”

“Ah. I was going to tell you later, but you’ve already noticed? I want to get Shiro’s permission properly. Shiro is returning today, right?”

Setting aside what permission she was seeking, I first felt a chill.

“…Could it be that you haven’t given up your feelings, my lady?”

“Of course not.”

A terrifying scene.

I couldn’t count how many times I’d been shocked today.

“…Ah. That came out wrong again. Adel, let me clarify.”

I doubted any clarification would make this less strange.

‘What is it really?’

Shiro had personally met her and told her “we’re dating,” right?

Shouldn’t that be the end of it?

“Instead of being lovers or spouses, I could become your concubine.”

Concubine?

Did I hear that correctly?

“I don’t think I heard you correctly… but just to be sure, did you just say ‘concubine,’ my lady?”

“You heard correctly.”

The noble lady’s smile bloomed.

It was truly a beautiful smile, and she had looks that any man would desire.

Someone like her would surely be popular in noble social circles.

Men would definitely line up wanting to become her fiancé.

“So the result of your conversation with Shiro was… that?”

“Yes. Wouldn’t she allow me at least the position of a concubine?”

A countess’s daughter wanting to become a mere explorer’s concubine?

Would the head of the Manis family allow this? This absolutely could not happen.

“Adel, the setting isn’t ideal, but I’ll formally say it now.”

The noble lady wrapped both her hands around my left hand and looked into my eyes.

“I want to become your concubine.”

Insane.

This is insane.

“…I’m sorry.”

Unable to overcome my confusion, I pulled away from her hands and backed up.

Nevertheless, being in a carriage, the distance between us remained close.

“Lady Ainer. This is too sudden.”

“It’s alright. I think I didn’t explain well enough.”

She was right about the poor explanation, but each piece of information was too overwhelming for my brain to process.

“If you don’t like it, I won’t force you. My desire to be your concubine is just my personal feeling, and I understand it might interfere with your relationship with Shiro.”

“…”

“So should we go to your inn first instead of Shiro’s? Or would you prefer to meet Shiro alone since you haven’t seen each other for days?”

The noble lady spoke calmly.

Had she anticipated my reaction?

“…”

…It was pure love, but the noble lady seemed to be a rather twisted pure love advocate.