Why are they here?
I muttered to myself, staring at the four pairs of eyes fixed on me.
I was heading to the carriage stop to return to the dormitory, but all the key figures from yesterday's incident were gathered there.
The princess sisters, the Saintess, and our protagonist.
Did they also have business near the main building?
It's a strange coincidence to run into them all at once.
"Greetings to your esteemed selves."
I immediately bowed my head in respect.
The stars of the Empire and the Saintess.
Even as the eldest son of a Duke, they were figures that commanded respect.
"Hello, Mr. Lishite. It's a surprising coincidence to meet you here."
"......"
"......"
"......"
I had clearly greeted 'everyone',
but only the Saintess responded.
The other three just stood there silently, without a word.
'Are they ignoring me now...?'
Just a few days ago, they didn't hide their dislike for me, but they didn't completely ignore me.
A wave of disappointment washed over me.
Pushing down the complicated emotions, I raised my head again and met their eyes.
But,
there was something strange about the way they were looking at me.
"......"
The Saintess and Neria looked uncomfortable.
Allen was biting his lip and glaring at me.
Lucy was shrinking back, avoiding my gaze.
'......What is this?'
Even someone as socially inept as me could tell.
The signs were too obvious.
They were wary of me. Or perhaps, afraid.
Even though I realized this, I couldn't believe it, so I shifted my gaze to each one of them.
The moment our eyes met, they flinched.
As if they had seen a monster.
The warmth that had filled my heart just moments ago froze over instantly.
'Why?'
Why are they looking at me like that?
I didn't do anything.
I even risked my life to save them.
-Stay away from him if you value your career...
-Countless people have ruined their lives by being nice to him, like Changho...
-Ugh, damn it... I wish he would just disappear.
It was the same as back then.
Their cold gazes pierced through me.
As I stood frozen, Allen, who had been glaring at me, stepped forward.
He looked tense.
"What business do you have, Young Master Lishite?"
His tone was sharp.
His voice trembled.
A wave of coldness washed over me.
I felt a surge of confusion.
Looking at Lucy's fearful reaction,
the awkward, emotionless faces of the Saintess and Neria,
and you, standing before me, hand on your sword hilt,
I felt a strong sense of confusion.
What did I do wrong this time?
What mistake did I make?
I thought I did enough, but where did I go wrong?
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my shaky breathing, and took a step forward.
"Everyone... why are you..."
-Shing...!
My question was cut short.
By the clear sound of a sword being drawn.
"S-Stop...! Stay back!"
Allen shouted, pointing his drawn sword at me.
His face was filled with panic, as if he had acted out of sudden fear.
I stared blankly at him.
His stance was familiar somehow.
A stance I had definitely seen recently.
As I thought for a moment, my mind retrieved the origin of that familiarity.
'......Ah, it was then.'
Yesterday, when I was finishing up the situation.
The scene of Allen pointing his sword at me with a horrified expression.
Now that I think about it, it was the same confrontation as that moment.
'He was definitely glaring at me then too...'
I stopped my advancing foot.
In place of my unfinished question, only confusion remained.
'What did you see in me?'
What did you see,
'to fear me so much?'
I stood still, staring at them, filled with surging questions.
The silence that had settled over the carriage stop was broken after a few minutes, by none other than...
"Ice Spear."
A single chant.
As chilling mana surged through the air,
a spear of ice shot from behind me towards Allen.
Allen's sword clashed with the ice spear, creating a violent impact.
-Crack...! Clank!!
"Ugh...?!"
Allen barely managed to deflect the attack and looked towards the direction it came from.
There stood a girl with red hair, radiating blue mana.
"Ariel...?"
The girl's red eyes were tinged with a faint purple, enveloped in a blue aura.
Ariel glared at Allen, emanating a murderous aura.
And then she spoke.
"Hey, who do you think you are?"
The air around her, turning purple, seemed to reflect her extremely foul mood.
The girl, cloaked in chilling frost, spat out a curse.
"You shitty little bug, messing with my brother?"
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God dammit why did you have to end it there.
ReplyDeleteDamn.... Good work Ariel!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chapter
Ariel Best Girl Confirmed?
ReplyDeleteGET THEM FOR ME, ARIEL!!
ReplyDeleteYESSIR, YOU FUCKING TELL THAT BITCH OFF.
ReplyDelete