Chapter 209
“I’ll tell you when something comes up later.”
“Later, you say?”
“Right now, I don’t particularly want anything.”
“You want me to accept your help first, without knowing what you’ll demand later?”
“Just putting one debt on the record.”
“I can’t accept that. What if you demand I give up succession later?”
“I wouldn’t demand something so unreasonable. Besides…….”
I shrugged my shoulders lightly.
“It’s fine with me if you don’t accept. You’re the one in trouble right now, aren’t you?”
Meliana’s face visibly tightened. She must know that I’m her only option for help.
In this unacceptable situation, I could push her to give up the trial with truly bad intentions. Just as Meliana had mentioned.
If I took the elven token and returned, the Evgenia position would be mine and the game might end smoothly.
Perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to end this game and return as quickly as possible, but…….
‘That’s not easy to do.’
There were two reasons.
First, I didn’t want to act that cowardly.
And second was the side effect of using shortcuts. There was no guarantee the system would acknowledge that I’d completed the quest properly if I used such a shortcut.
Typically in games, exploiting bugs resulted in account suspension, item confiscation, or other game issues.
Of course, I had used a shortcut before to read books quickly in the library, but that was a minor quest.
Using shortcuts for a main quest like this would make the results unpredictable.
‘I don’t particularly want to take that risk.’
I looked back at Meliana and added:
“And one more thing.”
“Don’t tell me you have another demand?”
“Yes. Is that not okay?”
“Didn’t you just say you couldn’t think of anything?”
“That’s the debt I should receive, but I think it’s right to set a separate debt that Reno should receive.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The spell you’re under now can only be helped by Reno’s spirit. So actually, you should be asking Reno for help, not me.”
“Are you saying you’ll make me owe a debt to that Medietas?”
“Not quite a debt. What you need to do for Reno is very simple. Just promise not to ignore Reno from now on.”
“What?”
“‘Medietas,’ ‘filthy’… stop using such words to insult him. Simple, right?”
“Are you joking? You want me to be considerate of that lowly creature?”
“I’m not asking you to be considerate, just respectful. Don’t speak like you just did.”
“Ha…”
Meliana let out a hollow laugh.
“How can you ask me to be considerate of a Medietas? Just because you associate with that Medietas doesn’t mean you have to drag me down to that level too!”
“Then I can’t help it. Negotiation failed.”
“No, wait! Listen to me! That Medietas is my sister’s guardian, right? It’s only natural for a guardian to obey their master’s orders.”
Meliana looked sharply at Reno and asked:
“You tell me! Am I right or wrong?”
“The Second Princess is correct. Of course I would accept whatever Your Highness commands, but…….”
Reno glanced at me with a troubled expression. This made Meliana even more confident.
“See? I’m only indebted to you, my sister. Not to that Medietas.”
“Then let’s say I’m making two demands.”
“What unreasonable—!”
“This is really the last time, Meliana.”
I spoke quietly.
“After this, I’m really leaving, so I’d like you to think carefully before you speak.”
Meliana visibly trembled at my calm voice.
“…..Fine.”
After biting her lip hard, she finally opened her mouth.
“I’ll accept. But keep your word that you won’t make unreasonable demands later.”
“I will.”
“Excuse me for interrupting your conversation.”
Killis, who had been observing us, cut in.
“You should make a formal oath.”
“An oath?”
“Swear with your mana at stake. Verbal agreements like this can be broken simply by changing your mind, right?”
That’s true, but go that far?
As I hesitated, Meliana openly expressed her dissatisfaction.
“Duke, don’t you trust me? Do you think I would go back on my word and lose face?”
“I trust the Second Princess. Still, it doesn’t hurt to be certain.”
At Killis’s words, Meliana’s face crumpled severely. However, she seemed to have no counterargument and sighed, brushing back the hair that had fallen over her face.
“Fine, whatever. We’ll do it. But my sister can’t even properly handle mana, right? How will she swear?”
“I will stand in for Her Highness.”
“Sister, you agree to this too?”
“Huh? Um, yes.”
When I nodded reflexively, Meliana irritably muttered “I have no choice…….” and held out her hand to Killis.
“Let’s get this over with.”
“Yes.”
As Killis and Meliana held hands, a blue light rippled around their clasped hands.
“I, Meliana Via Anesis, swear to grant one favor to Nepheli Leta Anesis in the future.”
“And about insulting Lord Reno.”
“I swear not to insult that Medi—I mean, Reno Harsen.”
As Meliana finished speaking, the rippling light faded.
“Is that sufficient, Duke?”
“Yes, it is.”
When Killis nodded, Meliana looked at me. Though she said nothing, her expression seemed to urge me to keep my promise.
With a light sigh, I looked at Reno. He nodded as if he had already prepared everything.
“Now you just need to follow us. The spirit has enveloped the Second Princess as well, so you needn’t worry about falling under the spell.”
“How did I end up…….”
Meliana showed signs of displeasure but nothing more. Perhaps because of the recent oath, she pressed her lips shut.
As we followed Reno again, I quietly whispered to Killis:
“Killis, about that oath earlier. What happens if someone breaks it?”
“Nothing serious. Their mana flows backward, causing internal injuries.”
“Internal injuries—like what you suffered before?”
“That’s right. Light coughing up of blood, being bedridden for days or weeks, then returning to normal.”
That’s not nothing at all…….
Moreover, Killis had suffered like that because of me. And now he was stepping up for me again.
If Meliana broke her promise, she would suffer internal injuries, but conversely, if I didn’t keep mine, Killis would be injured.
Of course, I had no intention of making unreasonable demands, but seeing him risk his health for me again made me feel both sorry and grateful.
“Thank you.”
“It’s only what I should do.”
Killis smiled faintly and looked forward again. Though I’d heard similar words from others, somehow it felt peculiar this time.
We had walked a bit further when suddenly—swoosh—a sound split the air, raising goosebumps all over my body.
‘Arrow sound!’
Having heard it multiple times when we were attacked before and after leaving the palace, I could quickly identify it.
Sure enough, an arrow cutting through the air landed on the ground. It was some distance from us.
Everyone except me and Meliana immediately went on high alert. Their reactions were reflexive.
Simultaneously, a youthful voice called from above.
—Go back, humans.
The words were incomprehensible. However, judging by the sharp tone in that beautiful voice, it certainly wasn’t friendly.
—Come any closer, and the next one aims for your head.
Looking up, I could see figures standing in a large tree opposite us.
Long, flowing hair couldn’t hide their elongated, pointed ears…….
Elves.
Each one was so dignified and beautiful that they naturally drew admiration. But something more striking than their beautiful faces caught my eye.
Namely, the bowstrings they were drawing taut, aimed at us. Though I’d sensed some threat in their voices, their actions were even more explicit.
—Leave now!
The elf shouted once more. At that resounding cry, Meliana frowned.
“What are they saying?”
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