CH 122

“That I apologize. It came to mind suddenly, you see. I felt I had to ask today.” Mayer laughed awkwardly as he stared at me. As they said, a soft answer turns away wrath. I had no choice but to let out a deep sigh. He urged, “Considering our relationship, is it not about time to tell me?”

“…And what kind of relationship are we in again?”

“The kind with a shared destiny,” Mayer answered.

Oh, would it kill him not to use suggestive expressions? I laughed awkwardly and said, “It would’ve been better if you added ‘to defeat the demon lord’.”

“Whatever goes. During the Green Spirits incident, I dismissed it without asking due to the circumstances. Now, though, I hope you will answer me.”

His golden eyes gleamed as if probing my thoughts. They suggested a certainty too long-held to pass off as curiosity born during the memorial of the Green Spirits. Since when? From the time we met? Or… Before meeting me, from the first playthrough?

“I finally understand why you had no choice but to give up the Green Spirits to bring me over.” I sighed softly. All the pieces of the puzzle fit. “It was information. You thought I knew about the dungeons… Isn’t that right? It’s why you came for me.”

He must have already been certain about it in the first playthrough. That was why he easily accepted my words when I told him about the Green Spirits’ target dungeon changing. Although I didn’t know how he knew something I only told Fabian… the man was sharp like a beast. No doubt he caught a scent somehow. The scent that would lead to the clearing of dungeons. Perhaps his suspicion had begun from the time I gave dungeon information to Nova. This was the most likely.

My secret was revealed, but my heart was still. In fact, I thought it was a good thing. Yes. I would have had to tell Mayer anyway. The second playthrough was different from the first. Now was the time to release all the information I had in order to slay the demon lord. Since I had confided my ability to convert mana element, Mayer couldn’t betray me anyway. It wasn’t possible to find a replacement who could use that spell. Moreover, since I knew about his secret… his demonic power, it was only right that I tell a secret of mine to him as well. That was the way to be fair.

I said quietly, “Your guess is right, Captain. I do have information. Almost everything about the dungeons and abilities.”

Perhaps due to having his speculation confirmed, Mayer’s tone was grave as he exclaimed, “How in the world… Are you truly the incarnation of Saint Marianne?”

Saint Marianne’s incarnation? The absurd idea made me laugh despite myself, but there was no need to deny it. Divinity made for a good pretext, an easy excuse for ambiguity, and an effective cover against suspicion.

“How did you obtain such information? Through support magic?”

“Well now… That’s a trade secret,” I evaded his question with a sly smile.

“A secret even between us?” Mayer asked fretfully. The man’s tone was so unabashed that I felt incredulous. He kept on mentioning “our relationship”, but honestly, were we ever more than a boss and subordinate? Or allies in defeating the demon lord? I supposed that, at most, our relationship could be defined as people who shared memories of the first playthrough.

I felt pure curiosity as to how exactly Mayer thought about us, but I was afraid I’d get an unimaginable answer. Instead of asking about that, I answered by drawing a line with him. “All the more so because it’s between us.”