episode_0159

Facing each other on the boat, Edan earnestly confessed in a place where I could no longer escape.

Avoiding his gaze cautiously, I carefully uttered words to buy some time.

“Can I have a moment to think?”

“…Of course. Making a decision won’t be easy for you, either.”

Well, at least I managed to buy some time to think.

If I were to reject him anyway, it was advantageous to answer slowly and thoughtfully.

It might lessen the shock for Edan, making it seem like he reluctantly rejected me after deep consideration.

I needed to give a proper response rather than simply saying I didn’t want to date him because it would lack sincerity and be disrespectful to Edan.

I’m sorry, but due to the difference in status between us, I can’t accept your proposal.

As the future successor of the Blackwood Marquis, Edan will eventually have to welcome a different partner, so I can’t give my heart to a man I won’t love until the end.

Apologies for the disappointing response, Edan. This doesn’t mean that you’re not attractive.

‘Is this enough…?’

It wasn’t perfect, but it was a rejection expression that I could deliver with utmost courtesy in my mind.

Mentioning that I couldn’t accept the confession for other reasons and emphasizing that Edan is indeed an attractive man in the present.

Perhaps with this polite response, Edan would understand.

At least, from what I’ve seen so far, Edan was a person deserving of such understanding.

He knew how to strive for the one he loved, fix his own flaws, protect others by sacrificing himself, and express his emotions without delay.

…Even if it wasn’t me, Edan would surely meet a good woman. That was certain.

Of course, a hot-tempered woman like me, who lacked patience, was far from being a ‘good woman,’ so it was more reasonable for both Edan and me not to become lovers for each other’s sake.

“Edan.”

“…”

“My, my answer is…”

As I prepared to carefully reject Edan, thinking it was the right future…

“…”

For some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to say the next words.

It felt like verbally expressing this rejection would create an insurmountable gap between us forever.

I didn’t love Edan, but I felt the most internal closeness with him compared to anyone else.

I didn’t have romantic feelings for Edan, but I felt most at ease when I was by his side.

I didn’t desire Edan sexually, but I had felt his touch before. Quite a lot, actually.

‘I have to reject him…’

If I rejected his confession here, most of our relationship might not remain the same as before.

As soon as the thought crossed my mind, a whirlwind of complex emotions clashed in my head like lightning.

And perhaps, accepting the confession might lead to a better future for me.

If we were to become lovers in addition to being a master and maid, at least in terms of our relationship, Edan and I wouldn’t drift apart.

However, no matter how much I thought about it, the answer seemed to betray Edan’s feelings, too, making me feel the same way.

I couldn’t feel romantic emotions for a man.

The memories of my past life as a man and the knowledge that this world was created based on a game world still hindered me.

With such a conflicted mindset, Lillis couldn’t bring herself to falsely respond to Edan’s heartfelt confession.

His courageous confession felt so sincere that she couldn’t bring herself to deliver a false response.

She didn’t want to reject him.

She couldn’t bring herself to accept it either.

In a situation where she couldn’t choose either side, her pounding heart was going crazy.

“Ha, ha, ha….”

“L-Lillis…?”

“Ha, ha, ha, ha….”

“Lillis?! Are you okay?! If you’re feeling unwell, we should go to the church right away…!”

“P-Please don’t come closer!”

“….”

Seeing Edan momentarily approaching me after noticing my condition, I instinctively pushed his hand away, sensing danger.

I quickly explained my reaction to Edan, who looked momentarily perplexed by my actions.

“Lillis….”

“N-No! It’s not that I dislike you, Edan!”

“….”

“I don’t know either…. I have no idea how to respond to Edan right now, I really don’t….”

If this world were truly a game, the choices in this situation would probably not exceed more than two or three.

In my previous world, I would have carefully considered each option and proceeded with the best route.

But this world was not a game. At least to me, it was a space similar to reality.

There were no predetermined answers, no way to undo mistakes.

I want to accept it. I have to reject it.

I want to maintain the current relationship with Edan. After all, purity can be preserved with other excuses.

I have to reject it and respond seriously to Edan’s question. I can’t falsely answer to emotions I can’t handle.

“I-I….”

“…If it’s difficult, you don’t have to answer right now. I went through a lot of struggles to tell you this, so it’s natural for you to need time to think about it.”

“N-No, I w-want to answer now….”

“If Lillis wants to, I don’t mind, but….”

“I… I, Edan, to you….”

My head was spinning.

It felt like the ground was swaying.

After a long and agonizing deliberation, the answer I came up with was this irresponsible nonsense.

But that was all I had.

A response that honestly conveyed my feelings to Edan while maintaining our current relationship.

“E-Edan, as a… rational emotion….”

“W-Wait, Lillis!”

“I said I’ll answer now!”

“That’s not it, Lillis! There’s something strange about the lake right now!”

“….Huh?”

Edan’s urgent voice seemed to clear my mind of the jumble of emotions and I could barely realize that the sensation of the ground shaking wasn’t a delusion.

-Splash!

“Ahh!”

“Ahh?!”

A sudden disturbance on the calm surface of the lake with a tremendous rush of water.

It was clear that something was emerging from the bottom of the lake.

Surrounded by the lake enveloping the Isle of Knowledge, my thoughts naturally extended to whatever was emerging from the lake.

“Edan, quickly row towards the academy!”

“W-What?!”

“It’s a Kraken! A Kraken is rising from the bottom of the lake!”

“A Kr-Kraken…?!”

Despite his half-hearted expression at my words, Edan started rowing towards the academy with all his might, but it seemed too late to escape, as a giant tentacle blocked our path.

-Splash!!

“Ahh!”

“Ahh!!”

“Ahhhh!!”

With a massive wave, the giant tentacle easily pushed away small boats, but compared to the creature’s body, the tentacle seemed small.

The huge body of the giant squid that suddenly emerged from the bottom of the lake began to shoot up through the surface of the lake.

– Splash!! Aaaahhh!!!

‘Woahhh…!!’

The cry of the kraken, shooting out through the massive water stream, spread in all directions from the center of the lake.

The small boat that Edan and I were on had already become trapped, blocked by the arms of the large monster.

…This time, it seems like we’re really screwed.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

Luminor Academy, VIP room.

One afternoon. In a room in the VIP building, three men and women were enjoying a slightly late teatime.

Hero Gyeotmyeojoshegiwat Bolt.

Saint Cerista Aurelia Mireya.

Third Princess Seraphin Rozalind Valtoria.

In an isolated space where no one else’s gaze could reach, the three of them quietly had a secretive conversation.

Unlike the slightly tense Cerista, Gyeotmyeojoshegiwat and Seraphin casually discussed the events that had taken place before.

“Thank you for your hard work before, Hero Gyeotmyeojoshegiwat Bolt.”

“No, Princess Seraphin. I just did what I had to do as a hero.”

“Knowing what needs to be done as a hero and actually doing it are completely different. Even though Gyeotmyeojoshegiwat is a hero, I believe that you should receive recognition and fair rewards for your achievements.”

“By saying that, I am simply grateful.”

“Cerista, you also worked hard. I heard that the prophecy you used in the last battle played a significant role, is that true?”

“Oh, no, I just… relied on the hero’s power…”

“…That’s right, Cerista.”

“…Yes, yes! I found the underground secret room because of my prophecy! If I weren’t a saint, you wouldn’t have been able to find that demon assassin!”

“Hehe. I will continue to rely on the hero’s support in the future, Cerista.”

“Yes, yes….”

While Seraphin smiled meaningfully at Cerista, who looked a bit embarrassed and avoided eye contact, the secret meeting between the hero and the princess disguised as teatime continued.

“For now, I plan to reward you for your heroics and the saint’s actions this time. However, since we had to move in secret, the rewards will be limited to what I can personally provide.”

“I am already grateful for Princess Seraphin’s support.”

“Refusing is not always a virtue, Hero Gyeotmyeojoshegiwat.”

“…If you insist, I will graciously accept your kindness, Princess.”

“For now, if there is something I can give to both of you, it might be…”

The three of them were discussing the story of defeating the demon assassin who had infiltrated the academy, but their conversation was abruptly interrupted by Luke bursting into the room.

“Princess Seraphin! Something big has happened!”

“What’s wrong, Luke?”

“A giant monster has appeared in the Lake of Knowledge!”

“A giant monster?”

“A kraken? Could it be….”

With a slight hint of doubt in response to Luke’s urgency, Seraphin tilted her head, and Gyeotmyeojoshegiwat scratched his chin in confusion.

It didn’t take long for the expressions of both of them to change to confusion.

“According to reports from residents and students who witnessed it, it seems like a kraken has appeared…”

– Bam!

– Thud!

“Hiyaa?!”

Reacting simultaneously to the mention of a kraken, Gyeotmyeojoshegiwat and Seraphin quickly stood up from their seats.

And even Cerista, surprised by their immediate reaction, reflexively got up from her seat.

“Hero, I apologize for calling you here under the pretense of offering a reward and then delivering such news, but the situation is urgent right now…”

“No. It is my duty. I will go to subdue it immediately.”

“I will help too. Although it’s still a long way until the full moon, I can still give it my all…”

“No. I ask that you find Agnes Elizabeth Blaze, the mage of the Magic Department, Your Highness.”

“Are you referring to Agnes?”

“Yes. She is essential for this Kraken subjugation.”

“Understood. Since it is a request from the hero, it must hold significance.”

“Thank you for trusting me, Your Highness. Cerista, let’s go!”

“Yes, yes!”

Guided by Luke for the Kraken subjugation, Bolt hurriedly moved towards the lake.

Although it was an unexpected turn of events, he did not hesitate and quickly made his way to the lakeside.

As a hero from another world who knew the ‘strategy’ for defeating the Abyssal Kraken.