Ch.8484. Suspicion

Riru Garda was exceptionally quick at assessing situations.

Even after experiencing an unexpected brush with death moments ago, she could immediately grasp how the current situation was unfolding.

“Well, you see…”

Darwood Campbell was trying to say something.

He looked noticeably tense due to the intimidating presence of the woman approaching from the side.

As if she posed dozens of times more threat than the massive demon that had just collapsed.

“…”

Seeing this, Riru released Darwood’s arm and sprang to her feet.

“…I’m not entirely sure what’s happening here.”

And before she could think, her mouth moved first.

“Hey, are you threatening him right now?”

“Step aside. This doesn’t concern you—”

“Yes, it does.”

Elnore stopped in her tracks with a ‘huh?’ expression.

She seemed so dumbfounded that she didn’t know how to respond.

Probably no one present had anticipated this. Even Darwood was staring at her with a blank expression.

“…No, what relationship do you even have with—”

“I know I owe him my life from just now, at the very least.”

If someone were to ask why she was doing this, Riru herself couldn’t give a clear answer.

However, receiving kindness from someone and doing nothing in return simply wasn’t in her nature.

This man had clearly made an impression on her as someone ‘worthy’ of such an action on her part.

“If you’re planning to do something to him, come at me. Try taking me down first.”

To be honest, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t scared.

This was a face she recognized. Someone whose ‘presence’ had once overwhelmed her. The student council president of Elphante Academy.

A woman who had just destroyed with one blow the massive demon that had nearly killed her. If she fought against her, she would certainly be crushed within seconds.

It would be a miracle if she could withstand even a single exchange.

“…”

But even so.

She tried to steady her trembling arms as she took a fighting stance.

She stared down her opponent, gathering her resolve.

“…?”

And strangely enough.

Instead of responding aggressively, her opponent’s aura diminished.

More precisely, she looked ‘shocked.’

Her face even showed traces of what appeared to be sadness.

“…Very well. That’s enough.”

And before she could think about that, another voice interrupted the situation.

It came from a woman who appeared through a spatial transfer formula that opened in mid-air.

“…!”

The moment she recognized who it was, Riru’s expression instantly transformed into that of a demon.

At the very least.

On the night when most of her clan was killed.

That face, smiling with narrowed eyes like a demon, completely unfazed by the scene—she had never forgotten it even in her dreams.

After all, while Allan was dueling with Kasa, it was this woman who had been in charge of ‘handling’ the clan.

“High Priestess…!”

She growled.

It was a voice condensed with killing intent comparable to a beast’s roar, but Tatiana, directly facing it, maintained her smiling expression.

“Everyone has passed the test brilliantly! You’re truly exceptional!”

Deliberately ignoring her, which made Riru’s expression twist even more horribly. Her fists clenched. She wanted to land a blow on that woman’s face she so desperately wanted to tear apart.

However, there was a hand that stopped her from lunging forward.

Looking back, it was Darwood. He was shaking his head.

“…”

She knew it wasn’t a wise decision.

After all, she was currently an exile banished from the Tribal Union, and High Priestess Tatiana was the closest aide to the current Chief Allan Va-Thor. The aftermath of simply charging at her would be truly enormous.

It made sense that this man was trying to stop her.

And above all else.

“You can’t win against her.”

Darwood’s words lodged firmly in her ear.

For a moment, a rage so intense it whitened her mind surged up, but she couldn’t deny the truth of his statement.

High Priestess Tatiana was strong. She had single-handedly killed most of the elite warriors of the Chief’s clan in the Tribal Union.

“Not now.”

So when the man uttered those words.

Riru couldn’t help but turn to him with wide eyes.

While she stood there momentarily speechless, Darwood rose, pushed her behind him, and approached Tatiana.

“Pleased to meet you, High Priestess Tatiana.”

“…Wow, you know me even though I haven’t introduced myself?”

“You’re quite famous.”

Darwood continued in a nonchalant tone.

“You’ve sent me several ‘greetings’ before. I received them well.”

Though he hadn’t handled them personally, it was undoubtedly true that assassins had been dispatched against him several times.

Hearing this, Tatiana’s narrowed eyes opened slightly.

The killing intent flowing from her yellow pupils, slit like a reptile’s eyes, was unmistakable.

It was a completely different demeanor from how she had treated Riru like air just moments ago.

“…So you’re that Darwood Campbell?”

“You know of me?”

“Of course I do.”

She extended her hand slightly as if offering a handshake.

As if.

Unlike with Riru, she considered him someone ‘worth’ her attention.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from the person I serve.”

An ordinary person would immediately think of the Chief when hearing about “the person I serve.”

But both she and Darwood knew that wasn’t who Tatiana was referring to.

Rather than that person.

Someone far more ‘dangerous.’

“Please give them my regards.”

Darwood maintained his smile as he took Tatiana’s extended hand and shook it.

“We only met briefly last time and couldn’t talk properly. Tell them I’ll face them properly next time we meet.”

“…Well. They’re a busy person. If you have business, you might need to settle it with me first.”

“Is that so? Then shall we?”

Both their expressions were smiling. Both their demeanors were polite.

But the atmosphere…

It was like they were both walking on knife edges. As if each had hidden a dagger beneath their words.

“…Shall we head to the lodgings first? You must be tired from your journey.”

“I appreciate your warm hospitality.”

By the time they exchanged these words, everyone present had realized.

This man and this woman.

They were similar in temperament.

Undoubtedly so, in that they were both insanely cunning.

●

Being a noble guest of Tristan Dukedom’s status meant that Elnore was given a private room at the academy, making it the perfect setting for her to open up to someone.

[…Why do you look like that?]

Beatrix asked with a startled voice from the other side of the magical video receiver.

If a stranger saw Elnore’s face right now, they might first ask what was different about her usual expressionless face.

But at least Beatrix could say with confidence.

This was the worst state she had seen Elnore’s expression in recently.

It had sent chills down her spine when this woman, who rarely contacted her unless she had business, suddenly requested a video call.

[You’ve been in such a good mood lately. Weren’t you stopping everyone you passed to show off that ring?]

Of course, knowing what that ring meant, she had tried to dissuade Elnore from spreading the news too much.

But it would be a lie to say she hadn’t been pleased to see Elnore looking happy every day.

“…Hey, Beatrix.”

After hesitating for a while, Elnore finally spoke with a sigh.

“I strongly feel that Darwood might be cheating on me.”

Beatrix’s mouth fell open.

[That bastard Darwood is cheating?! How long has it been since you got engaged?!]

“It’s not certain. I just said I had a feeling.”

Elnore cut her off sharply.

“If I was certain he was cheating, I wouldn’t be asking you about it.”

[What do you mean?]

“I would have dismembered the vixen who’s after him first.”

[…]

Right. At the very least, the fact that she didn’t immediately mention doing something to the man showed how deeply infatuated she was.

[So you’re not sure if he’s cheating? But you think it’s likely?]

“…He’s always been the type to unconsciously poke at various women without realizing it. I’ve half given up on that part.”

[…]

At this point, before offering friendly advice, she was worried as a fellow human being.

What kind of man did you get engaged to…?

“…But this time, it seems a bit dangerous.”

If even someone as accommodating as her felt threatened, it was all the more concerning.

“If he can make another woman so ‘sincere’ in such a short time after meeting her… that’s not just simple flirting.”

Especially when he had given her a ring not long ago.

She could understand that Yuria woman. From what she’d heard, they had crossed the line between life and death together several times. It made sense that Darwood would have a strong bond with her.

But in the case of Riru Garda this time.

They hadn’t known each other long, there didn’t seem to be any special experiences between them, and she was even someone who had bad relations with Elnore.

‘…I wish it were that kind of situation.’

She still remembered when Riru had taken Darwood away to provoke a fight with her.

If she had been trying to use him in that way, Elnore would have split Riru in half just now.

But earlier.

That woman had sincerely tried to ‘sacrifice’ herself for Darwood. She had genuinely tried to fight Elnore to ‘protect’ him, not out of ‘interest.’

What kind of connection could have formed between them?

“…”

Her head drooped.

It was a gesture that clearly showed endless gloom welling up.

At this point, she couldn’t help but imagine the worst.

Perhaps that man.

Even after giving her a ring, with other women too.

Was trying to form ‘relationships’ as intimate as the one with her.

Surely that couldn’t be the case.

Could the ring he gave her be merely a ‘temporary measure’ to avoid disappointing her?

[…So, what are you going to do?]

“What do you mean?”

[If you confirm he’s cheating, what will you do?]

“…First, I’ll have to kill the woman.”

[…]

This part was hopeless. She had been thinking it so naturally from the beginning that no matter what was said, she clearly wouldn’t listen.

But the answer she hadn’t heard yet was…

[And what about that Darwood guy?]

“…I haven’t thought about what to do that far.”

Beatrix flinched.

The way Elnore said this…

It was so unlike her that even Beatrix, who had known this woman for over a decade, had never seen her like this before.

“…There must be a ‘better way’ than killing him. I don’t want to do that to him. I want to keep him by my side somehow.”

Something permeated her voice.

〚And above all else.〛

Something seemed to be stirring within Elnore that felt like it could blind anyone just by looking at it.

〚Simply killing him would be too… convenient, wouldn’t it?〛

[…]

Seeing this, Beatrix began to silently contemplate something else.

That Darwood fellow.

He really shouldn’t be cheating.

Because she couldn’t predict what would happen if he was.

[T-Then wouldn’t it be good to check first?]

At least talking about this seemed far better than listening to ominous talk about killing people.

In many ways, if left as is, Elnore seemed likely to cause some kind of incident.

Elnore slightly raised her head at Beatrix’s words.

“Check?”

[You only have suspicions, not evidence, right? Then start checking from now! I’ll gather whatever information I can about that guy too!]

“…”

At those words, Elnore slowly raised her head.

Though her movements were still gloomy.

Unlike before, it was clear from her body language that her interest was piqued.

“…As you say, it would be good to thoroughly check.”

[What are you planning to do?]

Seeing her looking much more energetic than before, Beatrix smiled slightly as she continued.

Seeing her stroking her chin as if she’d had a good idea made Beatrix feel better too.

Yes. At least she had succeeded in boosting her friend’s spirits—

“I’ll monitor everything about that man.”

[…What?]

“When he sleeps, when he wakes up, who he meets, what food he eats, who he talks to and what he says, who he smiles at. Everything. Without missing a speck.”

[…]

“Whether there’s someone daring to steal the affection that should fully return to me. If there is, I’ll confirm with my own eyes exactly what kind of woman she is.”

[…]

“I should start now. I’ve done something similar before, so it should be much easier—”

To clarify.

Elnore had regained her spirits, but as a consequence, someone else was about to suffer greatly.

‘…I’m sorry, Darwood.’

Beatrix sincerely apologized in her heart to someone she had never met.

●