NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 135
I think everyone has had that kind of experience.
For instance, when a friend claims that a question they gave will definitely appear on the test, and you respond with, “If it does, I’ll treat you to a meal!” only to end up losing money when it actually comes true.
But since I ended up benefiting from it anyway, I couldn’t really argue back and had to let my friend take the credit.
In such cases, I usually treat them to a meal and even offer a bow as a gesture of thanks.
If that helps my grades or standings improve, isn’t that practically having a guardian angel in life?
Moreover, if the benefit I received is overwhelmingly great, I might even end up giving that person a kiss of gratitude on the back of their hand.
That was yesterday, though.
“Young master?”
It was a moment of truth.
I realized that if there’s even the slightest chance of a somewhat absurd plan becoming a reality, it’s best to avoid placing any bets.
I returned to my room, wrapped myself in a blanket, and pretended I couldn’t hear anything.
Even if I did try, I couldn’t block out the voice shooting directly into my head.
To be honest, I never expected this plan to unfold perfectly.
I thought it would turn out like every typical comic cliché where the character runs away just as the situation gets intense, leaving things open-ended for later!
After all, I was possessing the body of a God of War.
Surely, it wouldn’t be easy to catch me like you would with an Elite Outsider!
But who could have predicted that the Knight Commander would just stand up and snap her fingers, ending it all so quickly!?
Had I known it would be this easy, I would have just gone along for the ride.
“Have you made your excuses yet?”
That voice, though.
So intriguingly sinister!
What could that dragon-wishing for formality possibly mean?
Of course, it must be that!
Calling out names!
At the moment I grabbed the horn, I was already in quite a predicament, but back then, I could at least make some excuses.
I could say I didn’t know or something like that.
But once you call out a name, you fully understand its implications, and it forced me to say Fiore’s name as well.
Doing the whole clueless act in that situation?
Oof… that’s going too far.
Since I’d already called Fiore’s name, someone might say, “Well, if you’ve done that, why not also call out the Dragon Slayer’s name?”
That’s the problem.
It’s problematic that I had already called out Fiore’s name.
The Saint’s words echoed again.
Elite Outsiders are much like noble young ladies; they can be very possessive.
Once that happens, I might end up confessing to both of them, and they’d both accept.
I’ve seen works where a guy treads so blindly through a series of mischief, only to end up lost with just his head resting in a woman’s lap.
As much as I’d like to avoid splitting myself in two, that’s not an experience I want to have.
By this point, I thought Fiore should be able to calm the Dragon Slayer down, but she was utterly silent.
Could it be that things were flowing along the lines of just following the Dragon Slayer’s plan for now?
No way!
She should be able to stop things at this point!
Don’t give up, Fiore!
You can do this!
“Is it correct to say that continuously calling out a weed’s name is a provocation against the main lady?”
Ugh… right.
Since it’s come to this, let’s just confront this head-on!
I’d rather become a ghost and float around in mid-air!
“…Very well. Then let’s prepare for bedding first…”
No, no, no, that’s not what “confronting” means!
And why would you want to share a bed with someone you just provoked?
That’s a bizarre notion!
“Tch. It seemed so natural.”
Not one bit natural!
It’s so forced that it’s almost frightening!
Ugh, my head hurts.
How do I get out of this situation?
Just then, as I was desperately trying to hold my head together—
“…Dragon King. Calm down a bit.”
“Wha-what?! You just called the main lady ‘Dragon King’…!”
Then a voice, more beautiful than any I’ve heard before, appeared.
It was Fiore.
You made it, Fiore!
Oh, my savior!
“Actually, I think you’re mistaken about something.”
“…What are you talking about?”
And Fiore struck at the weak point I had forgotten all about.
“You never did reach Tanton with that name, did you?”
“…”
Oh, right. I had that to consider.
Originally, the only Elite Outsiders who recognized that name were Fiore and the Cook—just those two.
No way to know the Dragon Slayer’s name if I wanted to.
“That’s still something we don’t know, right? You’ve become much stronger thanks to that pervert’s abilities.”
“Ugh, sure. Go on and ask the Record Keeper to engrave something for you.”
Huff.
I felt like I was gradually returning to normal, the version of me that was getting too close to Tanton was on its way back.
This feeling of having come back from the dead.
“Wait a moment!”
It felt as if the Dragon Slayer was disappearing from somewhere in my mind.
Is she really going to ask the Record Keeper or something?
It wouldn’t amount to much anyway.
It seems like I finally got a chance, but I didn’t want to let it slip by so easily.
“…What’s the point of helping like this, if she won’t even come for the house keys?”
I heard Fiore mumbling.
Hmm.
Certainly, given everything that’s been happening these days, I really haven’t been able to do much of anything.
Even my outing to the market with Asti fell through due to bumping into a Hunter halfway.
So I hadn’t been able to get to the Gardener’s Park that I said I’d visit later either.
Sorry, I’ve been really busy lately.
“Hmph.”
…Fiore.
“Oops.”
As I cautiously called her name, Fiore let out a surprised sound.
If I’m being so cautious, then what’s the point of names to the Outsiders anyway?
“…Just in these times?”
How sweet, cute, and lovely…
“Stop it! Don’t add those strange modifiers!”
Although I couldn’t see her face, I had a good guess what expression she must have been making.
She was probably blushing and waving her arms around.
“You’re going too far, you idiot.”
“What, what?”
Suddenly alert, I heard Bell’s voice causing Fiore to freeze.
…Of course, I was surprised, too.
Isn’t there someone teaching Bell languages?
There’s no way she’d learn such profanity otherwise.
But I had already figured out why Bell might say such things.
“Bell, a walk?!”
I raised my voice in excitement, as if talking to a puppy.
“Woof, woof?! A walk?! A walk!”
…She snapped back to her original energy in an instant.
Yes, that’s it.
Bell had done quite a job helping in defeating the God of War.
She even took care of all the illegal slave traders in Bandre Village; I just wanted to pat her head heavily.
All it takes is a walk, and she’ll align herself with me.
Maybe I should find some edible bone-shaped treats later on.
…I wonder if such a thing exists in this world?
As I was pondering, suddenly something started to be inscribed on the wall of the room.
з҉͉̰̠͈͚͐̅͜͡м̷̡̗͍̪̋̏͛͡е̶̢̲͔̍̉̈́̕я̸̰̟̭̲͉̈́̌̑͢͞ф̸̨͚͈̣̾̓͊̀̒͡о̸̨̞͙̙͈̉̽̅̒͋͡н̷̡̜̠̎́̿͊̕о̸͎̯͛̈́̏̒͐͢͠д̸̬͍͓͌̀͜͞и̸̢͈͖҇̈́̀͗н̴̨̦̘͚̩͋͋̊͒͝о̵͎̯̙͊̓̕͜ͅк̶̧̙͕͈̞͎̍̓͆̑͡а҉̨̥̭͖̥̝͊̄͝я̶̧̟̙̟̗̂̔̌͠
Hmm.
Looks like it’s tattooing the Dragon Slayer’s name right there.
But I can’t see it at all.
“How is it? Can you see it?”
It looks strangely broken.
“Th-that…!”
I can hear the Dragon Slayer’s voice heavily filled with despair.
C’mon, don’t be like that.
Wishes can’t just be granted by one or two events.
I can share miraculous cultural experiences with you.
“I can’t accept it!”
And from somewhere, that disquieting voice echoed again.
Sure enough.
Boom!
Just like in the Gardener’s Park, the sound of the dimension breaking apart resonated.
I thought it wouldn’t get through this time due to the Hearth’s protection, but that was a big mistake on my part.
The force was enough to smash through the barrier of the branch that’s far from the Hearth.
“What the hell?!”
“I refuse to accept this!”
N-no.
Why is she so obsessed with this?
It’s not like it’s necessary to come looking for me like this, right?!
“Listen, young master. Pay attention.”
“No, saying it by name just makes it harder for me to hear…”
“My name is з҉͉̰̠͈͚͐̅͜͡м̷̡̗͍̪̋̏͛͡е̶̢̲͔̍̉̈́̕я̸̰̟̭̲͉̈́̌̑͢͞ф̸̨͚͈̣̾̓͊̀̒͡о̸̨̞͙̙͈̉̽̅̒͋͡н̷̡̜̠̎́̿͊̕о̸͎̯͛̈́̏̒͐͢͠д̸̬͍͓͌̀͜͞и̸̢͈͖҇̈́̀͗н̴̨̦̘͚̩͋͋̊͒͝о̵͎̯̙͊̓̕͜ͅк̶̧̙͕͈̞͎̍̓͆̑͡а҉̨̥̭͖̥̝͊̄͝я̶̧̟̙̟̗̂̔̌͠! Do you still not hear me?!”
The Dragon Slayer raised her voice and cried out.
Hey, just because you shout louder doesn’t mean it’ll get across.
How could she wish to overcome something so far out of reach?
Huff.
I let out a sigh of relief internally.
It looks like we’re headed to the other side after all.
“Sorry, but I can’t hear you.”
“Th-that….”
I was overly joyful, but spoke in a tone that pretended to be pained.
The Dragon Slayer’s expression seemed to grow worse as she stubbornly called her name again.
“з҉̢̛м̷̡̕е҈͜͞я̸̢̛ Phone҈̨̛ о̵̢͠д̸̧҇и̸͢͡н̶͢͞о̷̧͝к̴̡͠а҈̕͢я̸͜͝”
Yeah, no matter how many times you shout, it won’t make a difference….
…Wait, what?!
Was that just my imagination?
“З҈ми҈̛̉̔͗̄̽̒̃̓͗̅̌̍́я҉̧̯͔͎̭̜͉͈̩͈̗ Phone о̵̢͠д̸̧҇и̸͢͡н̶͢͞о̷̧͝к̴̡͠а҈̕͢я̸͜͝!”
For some reason, the more the Dragon Slayer repeated her name, the fainter something seemed to echo in my ears, and I froze for a moment without realizing it.
But, unfortunately, it seemed like the Dragon Slayer noticed that fleeting moment as she stared intently at me with wide eyes.
“…”
“…”
After an awkward silence passed.
The Dragon Slayer’s lips curved into a gentle smile.
“Hehe, young master.”
“….”
“I hope you can be honest with me.”
The shine in the Dragon Slayer’s eyes was dazzling.
“I heard you.”
…I’m, I’m scared.