Chapter 17
Let’s be strangers now
“You must have enjoyed your vacation very much.”
So much so that you’d disobey a direct order to return to the Imperial Palace immediately.
Erich’s cold voice echoed through the office. Dante instinctively hunched his shoulders.
Looking at that reaction, it was certain that Erich had received a report about yesterday’s events.
That meant he’d been caught staying at an inn on the outskirts of the capital when he should have been back at work…
‘I’m doomed.’
How on earth was he supposed to explain this?
He had intended to just grab lunch at that inn and leave, but between running into Elisha and encountering a monster, he had completely forgotten about the return order.
Still, wasn’t it a feat that he hadn’t forgotten he had to come to work today!
…Not that he could actually say that.
“I apologize, Your Majesty.”
Having no choice, Dante let out a small sigh and immediately bowed at the waist.
In times like these, keeping your head down was the best policy. Especially when the opponent was the Emperor.
“I could grant you an even longer vacation if you wish.”
Erich replied with a languid smile. Dante immediately shook his head.
“No. Absolutely not.”
He wouldn’t refuse a real vacation, but he absolutely declined any more business trips disguised as vacations.
Especially when the person he was supposed to find was sitting pretty in his own mansion.
Not that this pitiful man with a split personality would know that.
Come to think of it, he looked even more gaunt than he did through the video communication stone. The only things worth looking at were his body and his face, and even those were fading.
“And you found some monster instead of Elisha.”
While Dante was busy assessing Erich’s condition, Erich continued.
“Ahaha.”
Dante let out an awkward laugh.
Actually, I found Elisha, and the monster was just a bonus.
“I didn’t know you had the ability to kill a Hide in a single blow.”
At that moment, Erich spoke, his blue eyes gleaming coldly. Dante unconsciously gulped.
This was why he hated quick-witted bastards…
“Right? I didn’t know I had that kind of talent either.”
“I heard you used lightning magic.”
“That’s right, I did.”
Elisha did, not me.
While Dante offered up half-truths, Erich continued his interrogation.
“I assume you were able to see the Hide?”
“Of course. I was so startled when something big and black suddenly appeared in front of me.”
“It matches the description of a Hide that Elisha gave.”
“What, are you doubting me now?”
That was offensive in its own way.
Dante’s brow furrowed slightly.
Erich replied, his eyes curving lazily.
“I was just making a hypothesis.”
“What kind of hypothesis?”
“Whether it was actually Elisha, not you, who caught that monster…”
What a creepy guy!
Dante almost nodded reflexively but caught himself just in time, his body stiffening.
If he got caught having met Elisha here, it would be his literal death. He couldn’t reveal Elisha’s location.
Then he would end up being a high traitor who let Elisha slip away…
‘Judging by that look in his eyes, it’s the death penalty.’
Of course, that wouldn’t actually happen, but Erich certainly wouldn’t let him off easy.
Dante swallowed hard once more.
After a moment, Erich spoke slowly.
“But that couldn’t be right.”
“…”
“Because if you had found Elisha, you would have contacted me immediately.”
At Erich’s rather thorny remark, Dante responded with a faint smile instead of an answer.
The truth is, I couldn’t contact you.
The video communication stone was destroyed the moment I tried to…
“Where is the video communication stone?”
As if reading his mind, Erich immediately fixed his gaze on Dante and asked.
As if he had expected this, Dante pulled a perfectly intact video communication stone from his robes and held it out to Erich.
You have no idea how much history is packed into this communication stone.
Still, since Elisha fixed it herself after we made the pact, it might even be in better condition than before…
“It looks newer than it did before.”
God, this guy is too sharp for his own good.
Dante simply let his eyes curve into a smile without a word.
The feeling of finding Elisha but being unable to report it to Erich and losing his paid vacation…
On top of that, having to shoulder more work made him feel so indignant and wronged…
“Why the face?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Dante immediately shook his head.
In truth, up until the moment he brought out the Pact Scroll, Dante hadn’t intended to keep his promise to Elisha to the letter.
There was no way he would just sit back and let his peace be threatened.
‘That’s why I deliberately wrote it vaguely.’
Specifically the first clause: Dante Renaud will ‘
never open his mouth
’ regarding Elisha’s whereabouts.
He had a grand plan to use the loophole in the contract—to show the information in writing without opening his mouth…
‘I shouldn’t have tried to play tricks in front of her.’
Regrettably, Elisha wasn’t a grand mage for nothing.
‘Edit the first clause. And add a clause that says no matter what happens, you will not allow anyone associated with Erich into the Renar Mansion.’
Dante let out a shallow sigh.
Prohibition of speech, prohibition of writing, prohibition of drawing. Prohibition of using any linguistic means that could identify her location, even without using the name ‘Elisha.’
Virtually every means of fully expressing his intent had been forbidden.
‘I wouldn’t have brought out the Pact Scroll if I knew it would come to this.’
In the end, he had been hoisted by his own petard.
And of all things, the price for breaking the contract was his ‘life.’
But if he hadn’t done that, there was no telling when Elisha might have run away…
“Your expression is far too strange for it to be nothing.”
The culprit behind this whole ordeal spoke up, acting as if he knew nothing.
Dante suppressed the urge to grab Erich by the collar.
That wicked bastard.
How could he say those things to Elisha and now act like he’s searching for her?
‘If I were her, I’d leave the palace immediately after hearing that, too.’
I’m someone who shouldn’t be in the palace? If you can’t recognize the value of someone as incredibly competent as me, then I agree, this palace isn’t a big enough vessel to hold me!
“…Renar. Are you listening to me?”
At that moment, a voice so cold it was chilling seeped into Dante’s ears.
Dante immediately snapped to attention and stared straight ahead.
That predatory gaze.
No matter how many times he saw it, he could never get used to it.
“Starting today, envoys from the allied nations will begin arriving at the palace.”
“Yes.”
“The position of Chief Archmage cannot remain vacant, so you will hold that position concurrently until the conference of allied nations is over.”
“As you wish, I suppose…”
It’s not like I’ve only known you for a day or two; even when the conference is over, the position of Chief Archmage probably won’t change.
They say highly competent people die young.
‘I’m definitely turning in my resignation before that happens.’
It was right as he was sticking his tongue out behind Erich’s back.
A sudden thought flashed through Dante’s mind.
If he couldn’t express it through writing, speech, or drawings…
Couldn’t he just express it with his body?
“Your Majesty, no, Erich.”
As soon as he finished the thought, Dante called out to Erich, his eyes shining with determination.
Erich furrowed his brow slightly and looked back at Dante.
“I don’t like the look on your face right now.”
“It’s a look of determination.”
“That’s why I don’t like it.”
It’s the face you make when you’re plotting something.
Erich muttered, his face contorted. Ignoring him, Dante lifted his chin and continued.
“From now on, I am going to tell you something very important.”
“…”
“It’s up to you to understand it.”
And I really, really hope you understand. So that I can escape this miserable clash of titans.
“…Go ahead, then.”
After a moment of silence, Erich nodded with a look of extreme disapproval.
Dante took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and then opened them.
They say that even if you go to a foreign country with a different language, you can get any point across as long as you use your hands and feet well.
And his opponent was Erich, a fellow citizen of the empire.
‘He should be able to understand this much, right?’
Having finished his internal monologue, Dante showed the back of his hand to Erich.
First, pointing to his fourth finger.
‘Your fiancé.’
Second, tapping his own chest.
‘Now at my’
Next, touching his fingertips together.
‘House.’
So please, take her away and settle it amongst yourselves.
‘And in exchange for keeping Elisha there, I expect a sweet rest and a high reward.’
This, is, the, most, important part!
After sending one last desperate look, Dante slowly exhaled a long breath.
Since it was a gesture he’d put his heart and soul into, unless he was an idiot, he had to have understood.
I believe in you, Erich.
That look in your eyes and the expression on your face right now definitely mean you’ve realized—
“What exactly are you trying to do?”
…Realized my foot.
“Y-you… honestly…”
He was hopeless. Beyond saving.
Dante slumped to his knees and pressed his hand to his forehead.
To think even his last resort would fail like this. He was destined to be squeezed to death between Erich and Elisha forever…
“What? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
“Forget it, I really hate you, Erich…”
“I don’t like you much either.”
Erich replied with a look of utter confusion. He stared down at Dante, who was practically face-down on the floor.
“This is driving me crazy.”
Erich let out a long sigh, pressing his own hand to his forehead in imitation.
Dante squeezed his eyes shut.
“I’m the one who’s actually going crazy…”
You damn bastard.
