Chapter 40
"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
I'm currently screaming. Why? Well, that's simple isn't it.
"RAPHAEL!!!!!"
Because of the runaway worker. What's worse, she didn't go alone but took a colleague too, so we're short-handed.
What I mean is
"I'm doing alone what's hard for three people!!"
Though screaming doesn't change anything, it was unavoidable because it's too hard. Got to scream at least.
Splash splash.
Every time I hear water splashing, my rage gauge rises.
[Death Reaper: Purification Progress 2%]
[Grim Reaper Robe: Purification Progress 12%]
[Skull Mask: Purification Progress 15%]
The one fortunate thing is that the blue window before my eyes reduces the gauge. There's a saying about plus minus zero, but the minus is so fast that my current state is minus.
Like that, I spent a while splashing around purifying the curse on the items with holy water.
Fortunately things like mental splitting don't come when touching them in holy water, but Death Reaper's purification progress is too slow.
It'll take a while to use.
"Phew."
I got up and roughly put the holy water in the bathtub and items back in my inventory.
[Death Reaper in Holy Water] [Grim Reaper Robe in Holy Water] [Skull Mask in Holy Water]
I've been fiddling with them alone since coming home this afternoon but only just reached 10%. Though I kept applying holy water thinking the progress would rise a bit more, the efficiency is terrible.
My stamina is at its limit too, so I got up to rest a bit after putting them in inventory.
From the start, if Raphael and Lachesis hadn't run away, efficiency would have been higher with each person handling one.
While having such thoughts, remembering Raphael who was trying to die this morning made me click my tongue.
"Let's let her rest today and tomorrow."
Just working her too much doesn't feel right either. Should feed her something delicious for dinner at least.
"Should I go look for her?"
Since it seems like she has no intention of coming back? Since I'm not worried at all?
***
[Where are you?]
I sent a text to Raphael. The 1 clearly disappeared meaning she read it but no reply comes.
Is she that upset? While walking down the darkening street feeling slightly guilty, a reply finally came.
[hELp@!3]
"What is she saying?"
Seems like this one appeared to be ignoring messages because she's slow at typing. Give me back my guilt. Take responsibility for the emotions I briefly felt.
Taking so long while holding it yet can't even type properly, even a 70-year-old grandpa would type faster than her if given the phone.
Since she can't write properly, should I unavoidably call?
As I was about to lightly press [Damn Blonde] in contacts to call.
I heard a sound.
Not familiar but one I know. A sound someone like me has rarely heard in life was coming this way.
Click. Click.
The sound of heels. A hard and dull sound made when meeting the ground.
I stopped moving and looked toward the sound. A woman was walking over.
A woman I've never seen before. But I could tell who it was right away.
Light purple hair, dark purple eyes unlike her hair.
Dignity felt in each step, and for some reason she should be holding a fan─
"She is holding one?!"
"My. I haven't even spoken yet. How rude."
Swoosh. She covers her mouth and laughs while opening her fan. I awkwardly laughed along.
"Do you have some business?"
"I came because I do, right?"
Really fucking rude. Swallowing the words that came up to my throat, I waited for her words to continue.
"I watched well. The ranking battle earlier. You use quite unique magic. First time seeing someone use relics of the past to that extent. So rank 1028─ Oh my. Not that."
Though I thought about killing her, I stayed quiet since I'd lose if we fought. That's me alright. Good at anger management in front of the strong.
This beauty covering her mouth with a purple fan, while having eaten her manners with rice, is Lucy Violet.
To explain simply, she's the daughter of a prestigious magic family. And why would someone like that talk to me.
I can only think of one thing.
"You're the one right? The person they say is Ishia's master."
As expected.
This one is Ishia's real childhood friend. Not like Yang Minji who forcefully created a connection, but a friend and rival who has competed with her since childhood.
"At first I wondered why she lost to someone like you but there was a reason. Seeing what you do, you must have achieved victory through outrageous methods."
How did she know? I rolled twice then threw an uppercut.
"Well, enough small talk. Let me tell you why I came."
Swoosh. The open fan closes. When closed what remains is an ice-cold face. The fake smile from earlier gone, an ice beauty stands there.
"Order Ishia. Tell her not to challenge me."
She spoke firmly. Like commanding. Like it's natural I would listen.
Well, being from a noble family and influential in magic and hero circles, she'd be overbearing. Normal people would back down here.
But what can I do. I'm Lee Seonghoon.
"Why should I?"
"What?"
Perhaps not the response she wanted, she showed slight confusion before clearing her throat with ahem! and glared at me.
"I don't want to fight someone who's under another person. While she wastes time supporting you, I've continued advancing as a magician. I'm saying this because I know who's superior without even testing."
Makes sense. Ishia has been busy supporting me lately. But you know.
"No."
"...What? Did you not understand me?"
I understood. Good intentions saying don't waste time since Ishia would naturally be weaker than her.
But I refuse. Ishia is a character who grows through fighting Lucy. Continuously clashing, and eventually surpassing her to become a grand magician.
The process of evolving one step further as a magician is victory over Lucy.
When Ishia becomes a grand magician my life becomes even safer, so why would I? Why?
"Seems words don't work. Then force─"
"More importantly. Haven't you been looking down too much on our maid?"
Now that I think about it, it's annoying. Our Maid No. 1 is a magic genius who becomes a future grand magician?
Though she's weaker than current rank 9 Lucy, Ishia's potential is much higher.
Well, since she eventually beats you.
"Want to make a bet?"
"A bet? Are you joking with me right now?"
Ignoring her laughing like it's ridiculous, I held out my finger.
"If you win, I'll free Ishia. Meaning I'll make her free."
Freedom? Lucy's pupils shook at those words.
"Yeah. I'll free her. Like old times, fight or whatever, do as you please."
"Fight you say─"
"But, if Ishia wins."
I grinned brightly. Lucy grabbed her arms and stepped back as if getting goosebumps.
"You kneel and crawl between my legs. Saying 'I'm sorry Lord Seonghoon, this lowly one got cocky' is obviously included."
"What?! Are, are you crazy?"
Don't do it if you don't want to. I waited for Lucy's answer whose face had turned bright red. It didn't take long.
"Fine. But you must keep your promise."
"Of course."
I stretched my arm toward Lucy. Meaning to shake hands. Though it meant having fair competition, she went "Hmph!" and slapped my hand away.
That hurts. Let's see if you have that expression when crawling under my legs.
While having a staring contest with her
Ding─!
A message sound was heard. Opening the screen reluctantly at the perfectly timed message sound.
[hELp!!!!]
"Ah shit."
I knew this would happen. I hurriedly called while running. Though I don't know the destination, I had to run first.
"You, keep your promise!"
"You keep yours!!"
Rrrrrring─ Rrrrrring─
While running hearing the connection tone, a voice came from behind.
"Why do you trust Ishia that much?"
I wanted to say because it's predetermined future, but since I couldn't, I wracked my brains.
Feels like I should say something cool at times like this. No reason. My heart is telling me to.
"Who else would believe in our maid if not me?"
***
"He's not such a bad person."
Lucy muttered looking at the street where Lee Seonghoon disappeared.
From the earlier match and information from Ishia, he seemed like trash.
But talking to him, though his words are harsh, he doesn't seem like such a bad person.
Well, who else would think of a maid like that.
"Hmm. I thought I was right but I wasn't."
"...I told you so."
Someone walked out from behind a tree. A black-haired woman. A woman in a neat uniform.
Unlike usual, she was speaking casually. Lucy Violet is one of her few casual speech targets.
"No. If you saw the ranking battle earlier, you couldn't have said that either? Should have watched but father just had to come today~"
"What on earth did he do?"
"Hmm. Watch the video later."
Ishia muttered that it's obvious what that guy did. Lucy tilted her head. This woman hasn't raised her head at all.
"What's wrong? Are you upset? I'm sorry. I won't say things like 'Let me show you that man's true heart~' anymore~"
Lucy who was approaching like that stopped walking. Something's strange. She's not staying still because she's upset.
Her hands are trembling, and her ears are bright red? No way?
"Don't come."
"No way?"
"Stay away."
"Are you embarrassed?"
"No. Wait. Hold on. Don't come!!"
Hehe~ Lucy's grin wasn't going to stop.
***
Not answering.
[Where are you]
Not reading messages either. What to do. What does she mean sending just "Help!!" then going silent.
Is this how a mother who lost her child feels? After running for a while toward nowhere like that, someone appeared in front.
A person wearing a gray robe. Their face wasn't visible with their hat pulled low. He slowly walked to block my path.
"Lee Seonghoon. Right?"
"Yes. What is it."
"..."
I could see him getting annoyed. But what can I do. I'm busy. Do you know how it feels to lose a child? Though I don't know either.
"We're protecting Raphael. Come quietly."
"What?"
When I asked back dumbfounded, the man calmly spoke again.
"We're protecting Raphael so come with us."
"Ah. Is that so? Is she happy?"
"What?"
"Please take good care of her. I was worried for nothing."
"W-wait!! What do you think we're going to do?!"
The man reached out toward me who was turning to leave. His words trembled from considerable shock.
No. Well. Gray robes are what Association magicians wear. Then they won't do anything bad right?
"Please send her home before breakfast tomorrow."
"N-no wait─!!"
Realizing I had no intention of stopping, the man ran up to block my path again. Then─
"Please come with us."
Yes. That's how you should ask.
10 minutes after saying that. Following the man, I regretted this choice to death. What could Raphael have said to follow them.
"Sit down."
That. Mr. Ishia's Father. Your eyes are scary.