Don’t Be Holy! - Chapter 181

After thinking for a moment, Eir nodded as if she had made up her mind.

“Alright.”

“What do you mean ‘alright’?”

“I’ll help you get Uldir out of the Central Temple.”

Chrome stared at Eir as if she were insane. Even though he was the one who asked, he never expected Eir to actually agree.

‘No. Did I really not expect it?’

But then a cold voice inside him suddenly questioned. Chrome knew what kind of person Eir was. Would he really not have expected that this innocent woman—who hugged and greeted the very person who had nearly severed her wrist—would answer like that?

Perhaps Chrome did know. And he also knew well that the moment Eir rescued Uldir, her relationship with Rubel would crumble.

But he was cunning enough not to mention this to Eir. Instead, Chrome only added with his last shred of conscience:

“You don’t have to do it. Really.”

“But you said this person is precious to you. I’m not trying to keep score, but if it weren’t for you, I would be dead. So I should help save someone precious to you too.”

Eir smiled with dignity.

Chrome looked at Eir and, unable to bear it any longer, held out his pinky finger.

“Promise me you’ll give up if it gets too dangerous. I’ll figure something out myself.”

“Are you really doing something so childish?”

“Promise me.”

At his serious tone, Eir finally linked her pinky with his. As their fingers briefly intertwined, a small spell transferred through his hand, but Eir didn’t notice at all.

Suddenly her body was pulled forward. Chrome had yanked her hand and didn’t stop there—he thoroughly messed up her hair and undid the cloth covering her wound, tossing it somewhere.

“What are you doing!”

When Eir pushed his hand away in surprise, Chrome looked at her face seriously and said:

“Going with me will only increase the chances of being caught. From now on, let’s move separately.”

“But why my hair! And now my wound has reopened and it hurts!”

“You look too put-together. If it seems like you had time to treat your wounds, they’ll think you have an accomplice inside. They might even argue that you betrayed the Divine Empire and passed on information, which is why you’re in good shape.”

As if he had never been confused, Chrome returned to being his sharp, always-has-a-plan self. Eir realized that Chrome was sticking to his original plan of turning her over to the priests.

“If you manage to rescue Uldir, come to the eastern forest after leaving the Central Temple. I’ll wait for you there.”

Chrome added. Eir frowned at his vague words and objected:

“How can you wait indefinitely when you don’t even know when I’ll go?”

“I can just transform into a small animal. Going without sleep isn’t that difficult. When Uldir sends out a magical signal, I’ll find you. You just need to bring Uldir to the eastern forest and then return.”

“And after that?”

“That’s not something you need to worry about. Uldir and I will handle it ourselves.”

I don’t think you can handle it.

She swallowed those words. Chrome had declared in such a cold tone that he absolutely would not get further involved beyond that point.

“That should do it.”

Seemingly unwilling to touch her clothes, Chrome pulled back his hands. Eir wasn’t sure what he expected of her, so she started tearing the buttons of her shirt as if someone had grabbed her by the collar.

“What are you doing!”

But her hand was immediately caught and stopped.

“Why? I’m making it look like someone grabbed my collar.”

Eir responded casually. Chrome looked at her as if she were an idiot. With eyes that seemed to ask, ‘Have you never been grabbed by the collar before?’ he stared at her coldly, so Eir lowered her hand, figuring this wasn’t what he meant.

And so, under Chrome’s supervision, she gradually transformed into a prisoner who had just luckily escaped from the witches.

After tousling Eir’s hair one last time, Chrome looked at her with a gaze that said this would suffice, then rose to his feet.

Sensing that he was about to leave, Eir extended her hand as if for a handshake. Chrome stared at it blankly before lightly touching her fingertips and giving her hand a brief shake.

As if deliberately trying not to leave any lingering feelings, Chrome walked away with long strides, never once looking back.

Eir recited a blessing prayer toward his retreating figure, wishing for their safe reunion.