Episode 105: No One Is Fooled
*
The short vacation felt even shorter.
Teaching Yusera and Elsie swordsmanship and learning it from Freira was quite enjoyable.
While learning swordsmanship, I was also able to gather information about the Demon Kings from Freira.
There’s a Demon King named Violet in the Demon King’s Castle, and through her, there’s a network connecting the Demon Kings.
Currently, the Demon King’s Meeting still holds the authority of the early Demon Kings, but they lack actual power, and the later Demon Kings have a dominant atmosphere.
I also managed to acquire information about other Demon Kings she knew.
Her information-gathering ability seemed to stem from her lineage’s trait.
The reason I say “seemed” is because she wasn’t completely sure herself. Her ability is definitely not a common one, but without a direct contract with a God, the conclusion leads to her lineage traits.
She could only explain her ability as something like a sixth sense opening when she focused.
As the vacation passed by in a blur, we soon reached its end.
The start of the second semester was just a week away.
And on that day, I was also undergoing a trial.
“It’s been a while.”
Of course, I wasn’t the only one.
I turned my head to see a thrilled Elsie.
“What do you mean ‘it’s been a while’? You’ve been here the whole vacation.”
“No, it’s been really long since it was just the two of us, Allen.”
As she said, it was different this time since I hadn’t brought Yusera and Freira along.
But there was a reason I didn’t bring those two.
“So, this means our promise is in effect, right?”
The space I had created this time with the God’s help was the school cafeteria.
I wanted to keep the promise I made to her during the vacation that next time she’d be able to eat as much school cafeteria food as she wanted.
“Yes, well, technically I have one more thing left, but there’s a saying that you should relish the food after the Ice Valley too.”
“One more thing left?”
Had I unintentionally promised her without realizing it?
As I tried to retrace my memory, Elsie spoke.
“See? You won’t remember it anyway. Let’s fill up our bellies quickly.”
Saying that, she began picking food with a delighted expression.
Seeing her, I couldn’t help but grab some food myself.
“I always thought this menu was a little scarce, but it’s nice to just bring three plates at once and eat.”
Elsie really showed remarkable eating capacity.
Where on earth did all that food go?
Watching her inhale the food, I couldn’t help but think.
‘Am I really considering her a companion?’
Of course.
I hold her dear in my own way.
In this world, if I were to count whom I have built a bond with, there would be very few.
‘But…’
Telling her about my next destination was a different problem altogether.
What kind of reaction would she show when I disclosed that I would go to the Leim Kingdom?
To solve that problem even a little, I had come into this space just the two of us.
“Elsie, how do you feel about me helping you?”
Upon hearing that, Elsie stopped eating and looked at me as if I were strange.
“What does that even mean? Why are you suddenly bringing that up while eating?”
“Remember you said before that you wanted to repay me for helping you?”
It was a bit embarrassing to say such a thing out loud.
But I had to ask.
“Then do you feel any rejection towards me helping you more here?”
“That’s a really strange thing to say.”
Now that I say it, I feel strange too.
“No, I mean, it was just a pure question. I definitely have no bad intentions…”
“It’s okay. It was very much in line with you. How can you never stop worrying about such trivial things…”
She pointed her fork at me.
“Of course, it’s true that I’m getting help from you while learning swordsmanship. The more help I receive like this, the more I’ll owe you in return.”
“Then…”
“But if I don’t receive this help, it would be impossible to repay you. So, stop with the unnecessary thoughts.”
Her point left me with no choice but to shut my mouth.
Indeed, it was a rather pointless worry on my part.
Yet, I still lacked the courage to bring up the matter with the Leim Kingdom.
I didn’t want to disturb Elsie when she was happily eating.
‘It’s probably better to talk about it when Yusera is here too.’
With that thought, I turned my gaze back to my food.
However, it seemed my meal wasn’t very satisfying in her eyes.
Eventually, she put her fork down.
“I think I’m done eating here.”
“Why? Isn’t that not enough? You can ask God to reset your fullness, you know?”
“I told you, it’s not just about filling my belly. I didn’t come here just for that.”
She stood up and said.
“Follow me; I’ll tell you what the other promise was.”
Following her, I eventually arrived at a certain place.
Her dorm room.
“Come in.”
“But this is…”
“It’s a trial, so there’s no punishment for entering a female candidate’s room.”
Reluctantly, I stepped inside her room upon her words.
As soon as I stepped in, she locked the door.
Of course, since she locked it from the inside, I could leave if I wanted to, but the important part was the reason behind locking the door.
“Uh…Elsie?”
“I mean, I didn’t really need to lock the door because it’s a trial, but ambiance matters, you know.”
“Ambiance?”
Without paying any mind, she took off the thin outer garment she was wearing over her school uniform.
“What are you doing…”
At that moment, as she turned around and fumbled with something, her blouse suddenly slipped off.
The sunset streaming through the window illuminated her translucent skin.
Her shoulder-length blonde hair gleamed, but the nape of her neck peeking through was even more radiant.
‘Wait, this is not the time to just stare.’
As I hurriedly tried to avert my gaze…
“After all, you saw me once before, didn’t you? What’s there to worry about?”
“No, you were a child back then, and now you’ve grown quite a bit…”
“Grown? Where? Can you specify?”
She smiled.
And her hand moved.
My gaze naturally followed her hand.
‘Her chest?’
No, this isn’t right.
Feeling my face heat up, I hurriedly spoke.
“You’ve grown taller, and your figure has definitely matured. It’s different from before. You need to act a bit more cautiously now.”
“I’m being cautious, okay? Have you ever seen another man approach me?”
Surely I hadn’t.
But that wasn’t because Elsie was cautious; it was more that others were wary of her.
“Then who do you think is someone to be cautious of?”
“What?”
“Now that I think about it, it’s frustrating. There’s Master Gwen, Yusera, and Teacher Freira, who are all charmed and wandering around… and you want me to be careful?”
She drew closer to me.
I unconsciously stepped back until my back hit the door.
As I debated whether to unlock it or not, she kept coming closer, ultimately stopping right in front of me.
“Wait, Elsie, put your clothes back on. Let’s talk.”
We were already in contact.
In this room, and indeed in this world, it was just the two of us.
It was really dangerous.
“This is risky.”
“What’s risky about it?”
“That’s…”
In that moment, her hand wrapped around my neck.
“How long are you going to look away?”
And she gently turned my face towards her.
Her serious gaze met mine.
“No one is fooled, Allen.”
“Elsie?”
“So it’s okay to be a bit more honest.”
Those words were similar to what Freira had said.
The only difference being the current situation.
“First of all, about what I just said was risky…”
Just then, her arm tightened as if pulling my face closer.
And she whispered into my ear.
“This is a trial, so it’s not risky at all.”
Her words made my ears and neck flush.
Before I became honest, I asked her one last time.
“Are you really okay with this?”
“Yes, I’m okay, so let’s slowly be honest, layer by layer.”
Slowly, layer by layer.
That gentle expression was enough to convince me.
So, for the first layer, I decided to try to be honest.
Perhaps I could find some kind of answer.
*
‘Did I finally do something?’
I had fallen into Elsie’s temptation, but it wasn’t smooth sailing.
Neither Elsie nor I had any particular experience.
To be frank, I didn’t even know what had happened.
‘It was a whirlwind.’
Still, it was clear that the Hero’s stamina was far superior to that of an ordinary person because when it was all over, the sun had fully set.
Of course, that only applied to Elsie; I had to beg the God for stamina many times in between.
‘Sorry, I can’t bring myself to be honest about that.’
As I looked at the exhausted Elsie, I thought.
Only the moonlight filtering through the window gently illuminated her.
By chance, her hair had turned blonde unlike usual, reminding me of her when we first met.
‘She was such a mess back then.’
I had fed her, bathed her, and put her to sleep.
Now that I think about it, that was when I started deceiving her.
Back then, she hadn’t been easily fooled.
‘Right, come to think of it, she’s never really been fooled by me.’
Even when I disguised myself as Sung Yoo-rang, she had suspected my identity.
When she confirmed it by scent, I was quite flabbergasted.
And now too, surely…
‘She must already know, right?’
Watching her sleep soundly, I spoke.
“My next destination is…”
Of course, she was in a deep sleep right now.
Telling her now meant I’d have to repeat it later.
But if I didn’t say it now, I wouldn’t be able to say it later either.
“It’s the Leim Kingdom.”
Finally, I felt somewhat honest.
At that moment, a voice came through.
It’s been a while.
‘Nice to see you again, God of Eavesdropping.’
Please don’t make such misunderstandings. This is my trial, not an inn.
‘So what’s the matter? The God of Chains hasn’t returned, has he?’
No, not yet. But I wished to let you know that my trial is nearing its end.
‘So, is there a reward or something?’
No, not really. I just wanted to express my personal gratitude and support for you.
Gratitude and support at this timing?
I looked down at Elsie.
What could this trial possibly be?
‘Not really the God of Eavesdropping, huh.’
I must reiterate, that’s a misunderstanding.
‘Anyway, it means the trial isn’t over yet, right?’
While I couldn’t explicitly put it into words, I felt that by becoming a bit more honest with Elsie, I had achieved some kind of progress.
Yet, the fact that the trial was still ongoing…
Yes, it’s still a little lacking. I’d say it’s the last step to reach your destination.
‘You can’t tell me what that last step is, right?’
No, but I want to give you a warning. That last step is probably not going to be easy. Hence, this encouragement is given.
His words hinted at the real third trial approaching.
Since the previous trials hadn’t been easy at all, I wondered what meaning this encouragement held, but it didn’t feel bad, so I’ll take it as is.
If it’s a trial I can’t avoid…
‘I hope this trial will allow me to fill something.’
Just like the previous trials had done.
*
