Don't Be Holy! - Chapter 43
Shortly after first seeing the witch’s mark, Rubel witnessed it fade away as if seeping inward. Even though he checked periodically while she slept, it never appeared again.
Having never heard of a witch’s mark disappearing before, Rubel became even more obsessed with the matter.
It felt like he had let a crucial clue slip through his fingers.
Rubel continued with his sarcastic attitude as he picked at Eir’s words.
“Shouldn’t you stay tense right now? Considering I’m here.”
Though his words were loaded with meaning, they didn’t register with Eir.
She was confident that all of Rubel’s suspicions had been cleared.
Think about it. That amazing spirit of sacrifice. Eir had willingly allowed herself to be captured by that black mist, prepared to become a sacrifice in Rubel’s place. Surely no one would be crazy enough to still harbor doubts after witnessing that with their own eyes.
So why did he say she shouldn’t relax just because he was here?
Eir’s racing thoughts suddenly stopped at one particular memory.
‘You mean Rubel Shinote? He is so noble and devout that he can’t even function as a man.’
Rubel Shinote must have known about those widespread rumors, and maybe he had some…… sort of complex about it?
Right, he’s still a man after all, so he must have such feelings. Eir quickly wrapped her arms around her chest to accommodate his supposed sensibilities.
“Eek! Come to think of it, how could you enter a lady’s room without saying anything?”
Watching her spout nonsense while acting like a cute maiden, Rubel let out an exasperated sigh.
“What are you talking about?”
“Is…this not it?”
Eir lowered her hands awkwardly while rolling her eyes. Rubel felt his head throb at her stupidity. He slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again.
“Though I’m surprised I have to have this conversation with you, let’s try anyway. Are you a witch?”
“What? What do you mean?”
She gaped at him blankly, as if she couldn’t even imagine how he could think such a thing.
“This is absurd. How could you still think I’m a witch?”
Rubel uncrossed his arms while staring impassively at her dissatisfied face. He placed both hands on his solid thighs.
“There were many reasons to think so.”
His voice, slightly husky from fatigue, began listing the reasons one by one.
“Your terrified reaction to divine words, hanging divine symbols upside down in your room while muttering something every night, the witch’s spells scattered throughout this house, entering Alupu’s lair claiming to guard graves at night with your soft body that can’t even handle swordsmanship. Honestly, there were so many signs that I suspected it might be a trap. But now I see…….”
He trailed off while looking her up and down. Like a lion examining a passing mouse, his gaze revealed not just disdain but a kind of indifference.
“But now I see you’re just an idiot.”
An idiot?
Eir’s mouth fell open. Wasn’t he the idiot here?
Forgetting what just happened. Eir clenched her fists and reminded him.
“I saved you there! I took the spell in your place. If I were a witch, why would I do that? Knowing you’d catch me like a mouse when I woke up. Ah, you should know this. After investigating witches for the past three years.”
“Yes, I do know.”
He spoke softly as he rose from his chair. His eye level rose higher, and as his crumpled body straightened, she realized just how large he was.
Eir slowly pulled her neck back. But Rubel easily reached out and grabbed her chin.
“That’s exactly why. Because I know how easily witches can change their attitudes, even their faces, like turning over a palm. Now, you better answer well. First, how do you know?”
“K-know what?”
