The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 56
“…You wanted Fairy’s Tears even in our deal, you must really want them.”
Pheon was the first to respond to my bold request.
A bit of greed on my part.
“Yes, I do want them. I think it’s a reasonable request.”
I am in a position closer to being subordinate to them.
After all, they are Espers with great abilities and possessions.
But I didn’t intend to be underestimated by them all the time.
“Why?”
Pheon asked leisurely with a smile, which slightly irritated me.
“I almost died.”
I retorted with a smile.
“Because of your carelessness.”
My comment on why they couldn’t deal with the Blackbird made them avoid the topic, and I realized something when they effortlessly defeated the Blackbird.
The fact that my near-death experience was merely a result of their mistake was both irritating and bitter.
After surviving a brush with death, shouldn’t I be entitled to this much?
“…That is―”
“Karina is still under the protection of the ducal house. If you have something to say, say it through me.”
As Esban started to protest, Hedonia firmly stood in front of me in support.
However, his stance was very precarious.
Realizing the timing, I was astonished.
“Oh no, Lady Hedonia! You haven’t had any, uh, how should I say it. You haven’t had anything to eat yet!”
I trailed off, unsure if it was appropriate to openly talk about giving my blood in front of the Espers.
It was impressive that Hedonia had not shown any signs of discomfort until now.
Hedonia, biting his lip, whispered to me.
“I can still bear it, so wait. We’ll be returning to the mansion soon.”
“I could give it here…”
“I don’t intend to carve out your flesh just to get blood.”
“…There are already quite a few scratches on me.”
I pointed to the scratches on my cheek from the jewels, recalling them.
Hedonia looked at me with an incredulous face.
“So, you want me to lick that?”
No, what kind of idea was that!
I exclaimed in horror.
“…No. I was thinking of finding a cup and giving it to you later.”
“You think there’s something like a cup here?”
“…It was short-sighted of me.”
Hearing his words made me realize how absurd my idea was.
Shaelock intervened between us and filled my hands with Fairy’s Tears.
“Here.”
“Pardon?”
“You said you wanted them. I’m giving them to you because I feel sorry. I was asleep too when it happened.”
It was surprising that Shaelock had given me all the Fairy’s Tears she had diligently collected.
I looked bewildered, and Shaelock blinked.
As if she was checking my reaction.
…Checking my reaction?
Even thinking about it made me feel ridiculous.
But it seems it wasn’t a mistake.
“I’m…sorry.”
An unexpected apology sprung from Shaelock’s lips.
She apologized to me again after saying she was giving them to me because she felt sorry.
“I was too arrogant. We couldn’t possibly die, but… I forgot that you’re different.”
“We share the same sentiment. We will ensure such an incident does not happen again.”
Pheon quickly added from beside me. It wasn’t great that he wasn’t offering a sincere apology one-on-one, but…
‘Being alone with Pheon would be somewhat burdensome.’
“If you need more Fairy’s Tears, you can obtain them through a deal with me.”
Pheon reminded me that there was still business to be done with him.
“But why are you so fixated on Fairy’s Tears?”
Esban, who had been quietly standing by, suddenly asked.
I gazed silently at Shaelock, who was still waiting for my response.
Shaelock might act recklessly without considering others, but she was someone who felt most guilt.
‘It seems I’m seeing various sides of her in this dungeon experience.’
The saying that people are multidimensional seems to fit perfectly.
‘…Maybe I could get along with Shaelock better than I thought.’
Could it be that I’ve been too reliant on the content of books in judging them?
There’s nothing more frustrating than a protagonist obsessed with the original work.
‘I won’t become that kind of person.’
I’ll trust Shaelock for once.
After exhaling, I placed all the Fairy’s Tears I had just received back into Shaelock’s hand.
“…Why are you giving these to me?”
Shaelock tilted her head, puzzled.
“I wanted to receive them so I can give them to Lady Shaelock.”
“…For me?”
Shaelock seemed to still be confused.
“Lady Shaelock. I just want to become friends with you.”
Shaelock’s mouth slowly opened as she looked back and forth between the clumps of Fairy’s Tears in her hand and me.
“…With me?”
“Yes. And I’m not talking about the relationship between a guide and an Esper. Just…”
I lightly grasped her fingertips and then let go.
“Just person to person. To eat together, sometimes talk. I want to be in such a relationship with you before I have to disappear.”
When Shaelock showed her sincerity and guilt, I thought it was important to show my sincerity as well.
To allow our sincerities to connect.
She gazed intently at me.
Shaelock’s mouth slowly opened.