NOVEL WEB
Chapter 45 – Story
[Translator – Peptobismol]
Chapter 45 – Story
“What’s up?”
Luna sat quietly without batting an eyelash.
“I told you. I came because I had something to ask about the Holy Blood.”
“What’s with the outfit?”
“Outfit? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is it a problem for me to walk around comfortably in my own home?”
Luna blinked innocently. As if to say, “What’s wrong with my behavior?”
I looked at her with dissatisfaction.
What’s the problem?
The outfit, the way she’s talking, and even her gestures.
Literally, everything is a problem.
Yeah.
It’s like she’s seeing Kyle as a man…
‘…Surely she’s not self-aware?’
Yeah, that doesn’t make sense.
Even if Luna is a crazy woman, there’s no way she could see Kyle as a man.
Of course not, because Luna still sees Kyle as her little brother.
She must just be acting so defenselessly to try to get closer to Kyle, even just a little.
That aside.
‘Where should I even look…’
Even though it’s just a nightgown, isn’t it too transparent, emphasizing her figure too much?
She even sprayed perfume, and the subtle scent of roses tickled my nose.
“…”
I slowly lowered my gaze from the ceiling.
And once again, I met Luna’s blue eyes.
As always, an inscrutable gaze.
But why?
Why do I feel particularly uncomfortable today?
“Kyle?”
Luna tilted her head slowly.
“Are you feeling unwell? Your ears seem a little red.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
“But what if it’s true? Now, look. What does your face look like now?”
She pulled out a hand mirror and held it up to my face.
The reflection of Kyle in the mirror was as sharp as usual.
‘My ears are turning red, what’s that about…’
I shifted my gaze to Kyle’s ear in the mirror.
And then I realized.
Kyle’s ear was slightly redder than usual.
“Are you okay?”
Luna leaned forward, reaching out to touch me.
“Tell me if something’s wrong.“
“Huh.”
“You don’t know, right? Maybe your sister can help.”
Luna’s face drew closer.
I couldn’t stand Luna’s approaching face.
I reached out and grabbed her face.
And then.
“Back off.”
I pushed her back with force.
Luna, losing her balance for a moment, was pushed back onto the sofa armrest.
“Ha…”
Luna flipped her tangled hair back with a distorted face.
“What are you doing?”
“If you have something to ask about the Holy Blood, just get it over with and leave. Don’t make unnecessary fuss.”
“Unnecessary fuss? Kyle, what kind of misunderstanding are you having?”
Luna sat up straight.
“I just wanted to help you as your sister.”
Then she stared at my crumpled face as if enjoying it.
“Were you thinking of something else?”
“What?”
“If that’s the case, you don’t have to worry. I don’t mind at all if you think that way.”
She said casually, smiling softly.
Her two eyes were filled with a grim madness.
‘She’s really gone insane.’
Not a drop of blood shared, yet she…
Her clinging behavior, oblivious to the hidden truth, was absurd.
I glared at Luna with contempt.
“Why don’t you just leave it at that? I have no intention of getting along with you warmly like this.”
“But we’ll still continue to see each other in the future, won’t we?”
Continue to see each other?
There’s no way.
I’m leaving this mansion as soon as I get the Holy Blood.
“You don’t need to be so cautious. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure the Holy Blood ends up in your hands, Kyle.”
“…”
“The Duke is said to be leaving the mansion in a few days, so just wait for good news.”
Luna slowly got up from her seat.
“Relax. I’ll leave for today.”
She turned her back, chuckling softly.
I watched her back while still seated.
“See you next time.”
Click—
As she turned the doorknob, a loud metallic sound echoed.
“My beloved little brother.”
****
As days passed, Luna’s behavior became increasingly more bizarre.
Her usual attire, her gait, her way of speaking.
Everything about Luna was markedly different from usual.
Knowing she would be rejected every time, yet every morning she would come directly to my room to propose to eat breakfast together.
Now, to go even further, she wanders the corridors at night in embarrassing attires.
One must be mad, but within reason.
First Isabel, and now Luna as well.
What on earth happened to them to make them so unhinged?
‘At this point, is there some hidden penalty or something?’
Like a penalty where all the heroines collectively go mad.
Unless it’s something like that, there’s no way to know why they’ve become so unhinged.
At this point, I was wondering if I was the one who had gone mad.
Each day is suffocating and uncomfortable.
I gritted my teeth and made a vow.
As soon as I get the Holy Blood, I’ll leave this mansion without any hesitation.
The unpleasant days passed by.
After a long time, I left the mansion with Diana and headed to the city center.
Since there were still a few days left before the Duke would be leaving the mansion, and above all, staying cooped up in the mansion all day was suffocating.
At first, I thought about coming alone, but then I remembered Diana would be left alone in the mansion.
And since she’s the only person I can trust, it wasn’t a bad choice.
The plan is simple.
To store all the Orestones I brought with me in the bank without missing a single one, and to discuss what will happen after I die with Diana.
I handed Diana a neatly packaged box.
“Keep it safe.”
“…This is.”
“Elixir. Keep it safe for me. When I die and am buried, discreetly retrieve my body and feed it the elixir.”
“Will you be revived then?”
“Yeah.”
I handed Diana the elixir.
At first, I thought about entrusting it to Merlin, but she still has too many suspicious corners.
So, there’s no choice but to entrust it to Diana, who was more trustworthy.
Diana looked at me silently.
With a slightly darkened complexion.
“…Do you really have to die, master?”
Diana asked slowly.
As always, her voice was polite.
“Yeah.”
I answered firmly.
Upon hearing that, Diana reluctantly nodded her head.
Twitch—
[Translator – Peptobismol]
A heavy silence descended.
Diana watched my back with a complex expression.
I didn’t say anything to Diana either.
How many minutes passed like that?
Finally, we arrived at the building we were heading to.
“Go inside and store all of these in a safe with your name on it.”
“My name? Not yours?”
“Yeah, yours.”
“…I don’t understand. Why not under master’s name…”
“Just do as I say. You’ll need it more than me.”
“…Understood.”
With a crestfallen face, Diana dragged the Orestones she had brought with her into the bank.
I sat on a bench in front of the bank building, gazing up at the sky.
Sunlight filtered through the dense leaves.
The branches swayed in the wind, and the clear view revealed a sky as blue as silk.
‘I guess I’ll live a little longer.’
It was a good decision to come out.
Even just briefly leaving the mansion was enough to change my mood.
◆ Scenario Progress
: 60%
Let’s hang in there a little longer.
We’re almost there.
The Elixir is ready.
In a few days, the Holy Blood will be in my grasp too.
Yes, it’s almost over.
To escape this damned world and return to my original body.
Lost in thought, the scent of grass tickling my nostrils felt strangely pleasant.
As I lowered my head slowly, Diana, who had just returned after finishing her task, looked down at me.
“…Is it already over?”
Diana nodded slowly.
She seemed to have hurried as she was slightly out of breath.
“Why the rush?”
Diana looked at me intently and replied in a calm tone.
“I was worried.”
“Worried? About me?”
“Yes, master.”
I blinked stupidly.
And asked.
“Why?”
What could have happened in that brief moment?
Reading my expression, Diana chose her words carefully.
“I was worried that you might disappear.”
“Why would I disappear?”
“Well… you’re supposed to leave this world.”
I was speechless at Diana’s answer.
Diana, who had been looking at my face, pursed her lips several times.
After deliberating for a while, Diana added slowly.
“I… I want to know more about you, master.”
“What?”
She wants to know about me.
That’s what Diana clearly said.
“I’m curious about the world where you used to live, what kind of life you lived, and what goals you will have once you leave this place… I’m curious about all of it.”
“…”
“It may be inappropriate, but that’s why I was worried. Worried that you might disappear before I really get to know you… before I can truly understand what kind of person you are.”
Caught off guard by Diana’s sudden sincerity, I couldn’t continue speaking as if struck by paralysis.
Was she always like this?
I thought she was only by my side out of blind loyalty.
“…”
No, actually, it’s obvious when you think about it.
No matter how deep someone’s loyalty may be, there’s no one who can accept being left alone with indifference.
Yes, I stole Diana’s future for my own purposes.
The golden future of becoming the Commander of the Imperial Knights in the distant future.
And now, I’m only contemplating leaving this world in front of Diana.
Diana’s eyes as she looked at me were calm.
There was no reproach or resentment in her gaze.
It was then that I realized.
That I, too, am no different from those I despise.
Do you hate me?
What do you think of me?
If it’s okay, would you like to come with me to my world too?
Vague thoughts swirled loudly in my head.
The chirping of crickets scratched at my eardrums.
“Sit here.”
Diana sat down slowly beside me.
Even in such a moment, her gaze didn’t leave me.
The slow heartbeat pounded in my ears.
It was just a gesture of kindness, but it stirred up strange emotions in my head.
I didn’t want to know in detail.
If I knew, I felt like I would regret it.
If I was going to leave this world anyway, there was no point in leaving room for regrets.
I couldn’t allow myself to want to stay in this world even a little bit.
There’s nothing more painful than one-sided feelings that are not reciprocated.
However, I couldn’t stop my mouth from moving on its own.
“So you want to know about me.”
“…Yes.”
What am I doing right now?
Knowing I’ll regret it.
“Would you like to listen?”
Diana’s eyes widened slightly.
I smiled awkwardly and added,
“To my story.”
A hint of curiosity appeared in Diana’s eyes.
After a moment, the corners of Diana’s eyes softened gently.
“Please.”
The smile I saw on Diana for the first time was dazzling.
More dazzling than the sunlight shining down.
[TL/N: The author is def cooking up something devious with Diana… I can feel it ??]
[Translator – Peptobismol]
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