Chapter 131
Chapter 131
At Cassis’s firm words, I was flustered and my voice caught in my throat.
Looking at Cassis’s stiffly frozen expression, I realized that he was truly angry with me.
“Do you know why I came here?”
I was speechless.
Of course, to eliminate demonic beasts, and thus to protect the peace of the empire…
No, more than that, wasn’t it largely because of the emperor’s orders that he had come this far?
Countless thoughts flashed through my mind.
But still, I had nothing to say.
Cassis’s expression was too grim.
After a moment of silence, it was Cassis who spoke first.
“As expected, you don’t know.”
“…”
Cassis didn’t bother to wait any longer or give me time. He spoke immediately.
“I came here solely because of you.”
I blankly listened to what Cassis was saying. His words didn’t really make sense to me.
That he came here because of me.
Why?
Because I wanted to pay off my debt quickly? Had I been that pushy? No, recently I’d been more focused on the demonic beast situation than paying off debts and expanding the business.
Honestly, I was more worried than anything when Cassis went to the border because of the demonic beasts.
The more I thought about it, the more a deep sense of indignation bubbled up inside.
When did I ever send him away?
Cassis didn’t bother to draw things out.
“I came to protect you.”
“I never asked to be protected.”
“…You strangely have too much interest in the affairs of the world.”
To my indignant response that I never asked to be protected, Cassis continued with a somewhat puzzling reply.
And what followed was a rather heartfelt and desperate plea.
“I thought you had some purpose. Not an impure one, but the kind of purpose that makes you determined to succeed at all costs.”
That’s why he had agreed to these ridiculous conditions and headed to Luwin without hesitation.
But there in Luwin, you were overflowing with energy, lovable, and full of life wherever you went…
I quietly listened to Cassis rambling on.
“I couldn’t figure out your purpose, but I was just glad that you didn’t seem to be someone who would harm me. No, actually, I think I didn’t care about your purpose at all.”
Cassis said that he enjoyed the time spent with me so much.
“Irina was truly remarkable. Creating ice cream from nothing, commercializing it, and establishing the ‘Lu & Cream’ brand.”
“…”
“It’s probably the first time in nearly 100 years that Luwin has been talked about so much.”
Cassis seemed to be trying to maintain his composure as he spoke.
But somehow he had moved from the entrance of the barracks to where I was standing in front of the bookcase.
With the interior being dark and his broad back blocking the lamp, I couldn’t see Cassis’s face clearly.
“Then the demonic beasts came… and I realized something. You always say I’m incredible, a hero even, and urge me to stay safe—but I wish I could say the same to you.”
“…”
“You love the world too much.”
What has this place done for you? The emperor, the imperial family, the high nobles don’t even act like this.
Everyone is more concerned with taking care of themselves. No one is more dedicated to protecting the empire than I am.
“If left alone, I can see you walking straight toward a pit of fire without looking back or to the sides.”
“…That’s not true.”
“It’s not?”
Cassis snorted.
He gently held both my shoulders. It was a touch with no force behind it.
“How could it not be?”
“…”
“I apologize for what I said earlier. Saying I came here because of you was unfair, shifting the responsibility to you for my own actions.”
His hands slid from my shoulders down my arms to my hands. He lightly grasped my fingertips, lifted them, and kissed the back of my hand.
It was a sudden kiss. I was taken aback.
For a moment, a tingling sensation rose from my toes and spread through my whole body.
“If left alone, it seemed like you would rush in recklessly. That’s why I moved first, and Irina… you praised me as amazing each time.”
“What?”
The moment I heard Cassis’s words, I felt like I’d been doused with cold water. All the tingling, fluttering emotions that had surrounded me just moments ago evaporated completely.
Cassis knew that I would keep throwing myself into danger to save the world, and for that reason, he had taken the initiative.
But I had consistently praised Cassis.
<I think Lord Cassis really is a hero after all.>
<Hmm, my proud master.>
I had praised Cassis as being like a hero.
I was even more openly emotional when I spoke to the System.
To me, Cassis was indeed the hero who had saved the world in the original story, so it was natural for him to stand up for the greater good.
In the end, had I been pushing Cassis into the role of a hero?
Thoughts suddenly filled my head.
[Irina.]
[Let’s calm down.]
[Clear your mind and focus on your breathing.]
[That’s right.]
I stared blankly at Cassis, and he waited for me to calm down a bit before continuing.
“This place is truly dangerous. More dangerous than any place I’ve ever been. I apologize for blaming you for my coming here.”
“Yes.”
“But it is true that I came here to protect you.”
I felt breathless with complex emotions. It felt like I could hear my heart pounding right next to my ear.
It wasn’t just nervousness.
As he had said, I hadn’t forced anything on him at all. But… But could I say that all the words I had spoken had no influence on him whatsoever?
While I was trapped in these confused thoughts, Cassis cupped my cheek. My head lifted naturally, our eyes met, and…
Ah.
While I was flustered about the mistakes I might have made, this person had been worrying about me all along.
He took another step closer to me.
His face moved nearer, his cheek approaching mine, close enough that our noses might touch. His faint breath touched my cheek.
He whispered.
“I didn’t say it to make you feel guilty.”
“I’m still sorry.”
“…You make me look forward to things.”
Cassis said this and leaned slightly against me. Our foreheads touched lightly, and his hands holding both my cheeks tightened.
Speaking with a slightly husky tone, he said:
“Irina makes me look forward to tomorrow. You make it impossible for me to run away thinking it doesn’t matter if I don’t live. I want to live a little more, experience a little more, be together a little more… I want to see Irina for a longer time.”
“…”
“That’s why I want to protect you…”
Having said this much, he stepped back a couple of paces from me without lingering. As the warm hands left my cheeks, cool air brushed against them.
Cassis’s face was a mess.
He wasn’t crying, but he might as well have been.
So this time, I had no choice but to reach out. I placed the back of my hand on Cassis’s cheek and wiped away tears that hadn’t fallen.
“I understand. I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t say it to make you apologize…”
“Yes, I’m sorry. I’ve burdened you.”
As I spoke softly, smiling slightly to comfort Cassis, suddenly hot drops began to fall onto the back of my hand.
Now it was my turn to be flustered.
“…Lord Cassis?”
“Won’t you just go back?”
“Lord Cassis, if you cry here, it will look like I made you cry. Please don’t cry.”
But Cassis’s tears wouldn’t stop. The tears that poured out like a fountain continued to flow even after wiping them away, and finally, I gave up.
Instead, I took a step closer and awkwardly hugged him to comfort him. Cassis fell into my arms in an unsteady posture.
“This place is really dangerous, Irina.”
“Yes.”
“You’ve been warning about the princess. She is truly a dangerous person. But not only her, the demonic beasts here are incomparably stronger than elsewhere, greater in number, and strangely organized.”
At the word “organized,” I paused for a moment. Could that also be the princess’s doing?
“It’s become more burdensome lately. To the point where we’re short-staffed.”
“…Won’t you come back?”
Only then did Cassis gently push me away and smile softly. It was such a handsome face that it was hard to believe he had been crying just moments ago.
His moist eyes only added to his melancholy charm.
“When dawn breaks, you must return.”
“…”
“I’ll give you a report on the current state of the demonic beasts and the situation.”
“…”
After Cassis had told me with his own mouth how dangerous this place was, I couldn’t readily say I would go back.
One thing Cassis doesn’t know is that I have the System.
So I probably wouldn’t be in much danger, but to Cassis, it would appear dangerous.
Seeing that I didn’t answer, he added another condition.
“Then, Irina, let’s do this. I’ll give you information about ‘her.’ Transport ‘it’ safely to the capital.”
By ‘her,’ did he mean Leilyranda Jackmüller?
“That would be better.”
“If it’s information.”
“Unless something is properly addressed, the battle with demonic beasts at the border will never end.”
“…”
“I’ll probably have to stay here for years.”
Cassis pretended to embrace me and whispered very softly in my ear.
“Obtain an imperial order from the emperor or the imperial family to arrest the princess.”
As he said this, he placed something in my hand. It was a small bead.
A magic stone.
“It probably won’t be easy.”
I had gone all the way to the South to change the game board. That’s how I had pulled Sian away from the princess’s side.
Perhaps even if this magic stone doesn’t immediately help Cassis, in the long run, it might be the most certain and fastest way to help him.
I carefully pretended to put it away while actually placing it in my inventory.
Ding!
[SYSTEM | You have acquired ‘Evidence of Parasitic Demonic Beast’.]
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
“Good.”
And with that, the tumultuous conversation between Cassis and me seemed to be coming to an end.
I planned to stay here quietly until dawn, and then return to Luwin through the teleport gate in the nearby forest as soon as it was light.
However, Cassis suddenly said someone seemed to be outside the barracks and flung open the door, and there was Sian, who was just about to come in.
Sian greeted us with an annoying smile.
“Hello.”
“Irina, did you come with this person?”
But Sian intercepted Cassis’s words.
“This isn’t the time to pick a fight with Irina. Irina, the princess is outside.”
“What?”
“She seems to have been eavesdropping on our conversation.”
The moment I heard those words, my heart sank. And so I had no choice but to rush out of the barracks immediately.
