CH 102

Barrier? Devil bastard…?

Come to think of it, I remembered a long time ago that Neo told me that he would put a protective barrier on me and said it was a gift.

— I’ll put a barrier on your mind.

I completely forgot about it because it wasn’t really a money gift. Did that shield stop me from telling the scroll book that I wanted to stop watching…?

‘I really wanted to stop watching it, but…’

I held back my tears and endured the fantasy. Even though it was painful, I was able to endure thinking that I’m enduring it together with Evan. Lord Viscount Gerdy, approached him as a friend and got closer, ate together, and exercised together…

“He isn’t a big deal. He’s just a kid who pretends to be strong. It’s okay if you just match the tune right. It’s easy to pretend to be a friend because he’s a fool.”

Then, he found out that they were cursing and laughing at him from behind…

When he found out about that fact, Evan’s expression was truly miserable.

‘Ah, so that’s…’’

I thought of the first time I met Evan. Strangely, I thought that he was a child who couldn’t tell the truth well, even though he wanted to go to the horse racing event together…

‘It must have happened because something like this happened just before I met him.’

I didn’t know, so I thought it was weird.

Because of that, I wanted to know more. Suddenly, I remembered what Serena had said before.

“Lady Laria has to experience it to know what you like or dislike. For example, you have to try this madeleine to know whether you like it or dislike it.”

I didn’t know anything about it, so I wanted to know, as Serena said. What I hate, how much I hate it. So, what I hated the most was my weakness. I didn’t even know about Evan’s pain.

Up until now, I had only looked forward to the thought that I had to get out of the situation, and I never really thought about myself. Just like a child who didn’t have a conscience and sincerity and had a lot of greed and black thoughts?

‘…Have I thought well enough?’

— If it wasn’t for the barrier, it was a winning bet.

So, I didn’t tell the scroll book to stop until the scroll book’s voice rang in my head.

— Obviously, there was a big crisis… What a waste…

The fantasy ended when Evan began to beat Lord Viscount Gerdy. Then, I realized that five minutes had passed.

‘Good job, me.’

What’s sad is sad, and what’s good is good.

It was thanks to the barrier that Neo gave me though I had a hard time. Of course, since I was also a person, my emotions were not completely sorted out, just like a radish cut with a knife. As I kept thinking about Evan’s academy days, my heart continued to hurt.

‘He’s all grown up now, but how painful it must have been when he was young.’

No, maybe because of the pain, he grew up as a child lacking something.

Even though I was quick-witted, Evan was always confusing. Apparently, while he seemed to like me there was something strange hidden in it.

It was kindness that was disguised somewhere, and kindness that suppressed something. I didn’t know what his intention was or what his sincerity was. According to the original story, the only information I know, it must be Evan’s innate indifference…

It occurred to me that the unusual feeling that confuses people may be due to a lack of childhood.

— Well… A bet is a bet.

The scroll book spoke angrily.

― What scroll do you want?

I answered immediately.

“Teleportation scroll.”

— You asked for something good.

At my words, the scroll book sighed in anger.

― Now, the distance capacity is a hundred kaiso. It doesn’t matter how many times you use it, it’s deducted from the distance. For example, you can move a distance of fifty kaiso twice. Of course, if there are two people, it will cost twice as much.

A hundred kaiso was plenty.

It was because Vorotna was a little over forty kaiso from the capital.

― Imagine where you want to be and if you tear it, you will appear there.

Right before my eyes, one of the pages of the scroll book ripped open and fell into my pocket.

— But, you…

The fantasy of Evan’s childhood had just come to an end, and I saw the book sitting in a golden chair in front of me again.

— …You are the child who saved the crack.

“What?”

Since the scroll book was a book, there were no facial expressions and no gestures. So, I had to infer the seriousness of it just from the voice.

— You know best.

“That, that…”

― The power of black magic that I feel in you is too strong.

The scroll book continued in an indifferent tone.

— …Enough to blow up a world.

“Wait a minute. Are you saying I have such great potential?”

— Rather than potential… It’s just the way it feels. Of course, that’s not a compliment.

“Yeah, I knew enough that it wasn’t a compliment.”

— By the way…

The scroll book grinned.

― The one who came with you lost the bet, so take him along.

At his words, I found Evan leaning in the corner of the room with a hazy look.

“You…”

I was suddenly frightened and stared at the scroll book.

“…Did you show Evan a similar fantasy? Bad memories of the past?”

— No.

The scroll book chuckled, amused.

― I made a bet opposite of you with him.

“What?”

― If he says, ‘I want to stop watching this’ within five minutes, he wins the bet.

I shook my head for a moment.

That meant that he was showing Evan a very dreamy video. It must be a fantasy he never wanted to stop seeing. If I said I would stop watching, I would lose. While in Evan’s case, he would win if he said he would stop watching.

“No, he’s not stupid… He knows it’s a fantasy anyway, but why can’t he just stop watching it?”

I ran to Evan and shook his shoulder.

“Evan, Evan!”

“…Laria, not there… No, it’s not because… you can’t do it…”

Evan’s eyes widened as if he had come to his senses. It seemed like he was constantly losing his mind and staring blankly at me, so I ended up hitting his stomach with my fist.

“Wake up. Do you remember where this is? What did you see?”

“Ah… The scroll book, fantasy. Oh right. It was a fantasy.”

Evan mumbled blankly, then suddenly turned his head towards the scroll book. After blinking his hazy eyes a few times, he bowed his head to greet.

“Evan…?”

I was astonished because it was the first time I had ever seen him be so polite.

“Thank you, Sir.”

Since he lost the bet, so I couldn’t figure out what nonsense he was talking about.

Besides, Sir…

“It really was worth the entrance fee… Oh, are you out of your mind, you crazy bastard!”

Evan, who was continuing his absurd remarks, slapped his cheek again as if he had suddenly regained his senses.

‘Ah. The side effects of the truth drug must not have gone away yet.’

I dragged Evan out of the scroll book’s room.

— Ooff.

The scroll book clicked his tongue behind us.

— That perverted bastard.

* * *

After completing my purpose, I dragged Evan out of the tower and left.

“Are you okay?”

“Uh…”

Evan sighed, holding his forehead, “Actually, it may not be the head.”

I responded coldly to Evan’s words.

“You don’t look good everywhere.”

In fact, he looked like he had aged five years since he came to the tower.

“There’s still time to go before 30 minutes? I’ll go back alone for a while.”

“Let’s stay together, why?”

“I don’t really want to.”

As soon as he came out of the tower, he turned around, saying he would hand me over to the escort and go get some air on his own.

I quickly grabbed his arm.

“I want to.”

“Let go of me.”

Although I was a little hurt by the rather cold words, I clung to his side.

“I still want to be with you.”

For some reason, it seemed that there would be a conversation that had to be done now or never. No, I just wanted to be with him. Perhaps, it was because I had seen his painful past.

Evan couldn’t shake me off anyway, so I walked with him along the trail a little away from the carriage. Although there were few people, it was quite a beautiful road with afternoon sunlight pouring in. Since he still seemed like he wanted to get away from me, I spoke quickly.

“I saw your childhood in the fantasy.”

“…Huh?”

Anyway, I thought I’d have to open up the conversation from there.

“Your academy days.”

“Ah…”

Evan paused for a moment, then spoke in a slightly sullen voice.

“So, you felt sorry?”

“What?”

“Well, you sometimes see me as a thirteen-year-old kid. I must look more pitiful now. That was my most difficult and miserable time.”

“Ah, that… Still, it is natural to be concerned.”

“….”

“I…I can’t be indifferent to you, Evan.”

There was silence for a moment at those words.

…I didn’t even know why I said that. It was a bit of an impulsive remark.

Evan broke the silence that had flowed between us for a moment, “After seeing that fantasy, you can’t leave me alone again, so you’re chasing after me like this? Like at the masquerade…?”

Evan’s scarlet eyes stared at me quietly. I was a little surprised because those red eyes seemed to contain a subtle resentment.

“It’s strange. Others say I’m not cute at all, but you say I’ve been cute ever since.”

“….”

“Now, no one dares to treat me badly, everyone’s afraid of me, yet you still have pity on me. I think it’s really…”

He slowly leaned over and came closer before whispering low in my ear.

“…It’s sad and enchanting.”