Chapter 84: Falmouth City (4)
Ding! Ding! Ding!
『 #.... Unknown scenario generated 』
『 #.... Make Elizabeth Von Agres Love and Respect You 』
『 #.... Increase Elizabeth Von Agres' Affection To 70% 』
'How do I have another scenario when one is already ongoing?'
Before Arthur could dwell on the thought, someone burst through the door, a dagger clutched in her hand.
However, Sylvia reacted just as swiftly. She raised her wand, deflecting the strike to the side, then pointed it directly at the orange-haired girl.
"Who the hell are you?" the girl snapped.
Arthur didn't answer immediately. "I'm a friend of Eira and I've come to help."
Elizabeth glared at him. "How can I know you're telling the truth?"
Arthur paused, pretending to be mildly caught off guard. 'Yeah, like I haven't played this scene a hundred times before.'
He smirked. "You can't sleep without snoring. You eat five times more than a normal girl. Oh—and you once turned into a phantom girl because you drank your own potion thinking it was water."
With each word, Elizabeth's expression darkened until her cheeks flushed completely red.
Arthur met her gaze. "Should I go on?"
Elizabeth shook her head quickly. "No need. You've already given me a decade's worth of embarrassment, and only Eira would know all that."
She brushed herself off and pointed toward the interior. "Come in first."
Inside the compartment was a compact, cluttered room filled with alchemy flasks and books.
Arthur felt drowsy as a sweet, almost dizzying scent filled his nostrils.
"Don't you think you should clean up a little?"
Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder at him. "No. It was Eira's turn to clean before she went missing."
Arthur blinked. "What does that have to do with anything?"
She shook her head with mock disappointment. "Why would I, with my genius-level intellect, do someone else's chores?"
"Because it's your place."
Elizabeth grimaced. "Ew, you sound like some crusty old man. Why would I clean during someone else's turn?"
She turned around, nudging a stale piece of bread with her foot. "So until she comes back, I'm not lifting a finger. Instead, I'll just spray perfume around the room."
Arthur sighed and began tidying up.
In five minutes, he had the entire room cleaned and organized to the point where the difference was obvious.
Elizabeth's eyes sparkled. "So you really are friends with Eira."
"So cleaning the room proves our friendship more than knowing your secrets?"
Elizabeth nodded without hesitation, then bowed.
"Thank you for coming."
Arthur waved dismissively. "Cut it. I need to know what happened and where Eira is."
Elizabeth sat on the cushion-covered floor that doubled as a couch and gestured for them to join her.
"So what happened?" Arthur asked.
Elizabeth's expression turned serious. "By now, you've probably heard the story from some random mercenary?"
Arthur nodded. "About how a strange woman appeared and asked for this city's ruin."
Elizabeth fidgeted with her fingers. "Yes. But there's more to it."
"More?"
Elizabeth nodded reluctantly. "After the woman showed up, Eira ran to the mountains to meet her. When she came back, all she said was that everything would be fixed once a man who called himself her friend arrived. Then she vanished."
Arthur's gaze dimmed. "Did she go to the strange woman?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "No. The villagers said they saw her enter a strange building. It seems even she wasn't sure if what that woman said was true, so she tried to find an alternative."
She looked him in the eye. "I can tell you're the man she spoke of, but for your own good, I'd like to give you a piece of advice: run."
Elizabeth's voice remained cold. "The reason the mercenaries do whatever they want is because that woman is terrifying. So if I were—"
"Who exactly are you worried about?" Arthur said, rising to his feet.
Elizabeth looked up at him. "Do you think this is a joke?"
Arthur shook his head. "No. And to prove I'm serious, why don't we make a bet?"
"A bet?"
Arthur smirked. "If I can calm the woman down, defeat the mercenaries, and rescue Eira, you'll become my eternal slave. But if I fail even one of those, then I'll be your lab rat and toy."
Elizabeth gave him a wry smile. "If you're that eager to sell yourself, be my guest."
She extended her hand for him to shake, and once he did, she stood. "Then I, Elizabeth, swear to uphold the deal—even in the afterlife."
Arthur, still holding her hand, replied, "And I, Arthur, shall also keep my end of the promise—until death."
"No surname? Mister Arthur?"
"I could say the same to you, Miss Elizabeth."
Elizabeth smiled. 'He's quite easy on the eyes,' she thought, then shook her head. 'No, no, no.'
『 Elizabeth's affection for you has reached: 60% 』
'That was easy,' Arthur thought. 'As expected, this world really is obsessed with appearances.'
Arthur grinned. 'Can't waste this opportunity.'
"Hey Lisa, I can call you that, right?"
Elizabeth's cheeks tinged red. "Whatever."
He offered a gentle smile. "Can you make me some refined elixirs of mana and force?"
His grin widened inwardly. 'Become my slave before becoming my slave, dear Lisa.'
Elizabeth hesitated briefly. "Okay."
Arthur pressed. "You swear?"
She gave him a confused look. "Yeah, I swear."
Arthur grinned, prompting her to withdraw her hand and take a step back. "What—what are you planning to do to me?"
Arthur chuckled. "Oh, nothing much. Just work you to the bone, that's all."
"Huh?"
Elizabeth was the greatest alchemist for a reason.
Which meant producing refined energy wasn't difficult for her. But Arthur didn't need just one or two.
He needed as many as she could make in a day—without rest or sleep.
Elizabeth mumbled, her eyes misty. "You're not a prince, you're the devil."
"That's right, missy. You just signed a deal with the devil himself. Now get ready to work like you mean it."
'Please!' she cried internally. 'Someone save me from this maniac!!!'
That evening, Elizabeth learned something valuable: Never judge someone based on their looks.
And Arthur learned something too: affection bonds that aren't infinite… can actually decrease.
『 Elizabeth's affection for you has dropped to: 40% 』
─── ✦ End of Chapter ✦ ───