Chapter 214: Rinella’s Destiny is Her Own (7)

Chapter 214: Rinella’s Destiny is Her Own (7)

After Neris voiced her question, the conference room was engulfed in silence.

Press Club members either avoided eye contact, swallowed dryly, or tightly closed their eyes as if in agony.

Everyone knew well what kind of consequences would follow afterward.

The man's burning golden eyes indifferently turned towards Neris.

She shed tears and smiled pitifully.

"I-I was wrong."

Her voice trembled when she spoke. In those faint words mixed with a hint of weeping, there was a power that moved people's hearts.

"I-I made a mistake... It w-was never a doubt. I just unintentionally slipped out...."

Neris pleaded in this manner.

"P-Please... Ugh, Keu Kyaaaargh!"

Of course, it was an entirely futile attempt.

Ian threw his hatchet and crushed Neris's shoulder. After that, he silently raised his hand and retrieved the hatchet again.

Neris now knelt on the ground, her body slumped. The sounds of sobbing and groaning escaping from her mouth hinted at the pain and fear she was experiencing.

Ian, who had been briefly observing that miserable scene, glanced at the Press Club members and asked.

"Anybody else still harboring doubts?"

Of course, no one dared to open their mouths.

Only then did Ian nod before taking his steps away. Before leaving, his final instructions were as follows.

"Investigate the requested information by tomorrow. And take your branch manager, Neris, to the temple."

Even after Ian left, the conference room remained silent for a while.

The only audible presence within was Neris, writhing and groaning in pain.

Though it was a brief encounter, the academy branch's prospective agents had learned one rule.

Never harbor any doubts.

Just follow without questioning.

Because they had learned what would happen if they didn't.

Cold sweat trickled down the back of an unknown prospective agent.

****

"Uh, um... I-I see."

It was my only perceptible reaction after hearing Senior Neris' lengthy story.

It was fortunate that he received recognition from the Imperial Family and officially took a post at the academy branch.

Although the acts he committed in the process were quite brutal, that's how it turned out.

If someone who had undergone such a situation were asked what I had done to them, the appropriate response would have been to question why such a question was being posed. However, Senior Neris, instead, repeatedlybowed her head, trembling all over.

She kept adding something behind her words, almost like a habit.

"I-I didn't doubt. N-Never! I never doubted...."

It seemed that her fear had intensified since the last time she was on the brink of being burned alive, now that she fell victim to ‘my’ violence once again.

Furthermore, to Senior Neris, I was a superior she couldn't rebel against.

If I punched, she had to take a hit; if I struck with a hatchet, she had to be struck, and I could only assume that her helplessness was fueling Senior Neris' fear.

One of them was ointment.

I took a big stride towards Senior Neris. Although I could see her dark green eyes filled with fear in real time, that moment was brief.

I squeezed the ointment into Senior Neris's hand.

I spoke to the bewildered Senior Neris with a sigh mixed in my voice.

"...I told you to take care of yourself."

Of course, Senior Neris, who had been dealing with poisons, likely had better medicines than I did.

This was nothing more than a formality to lighten my guilt. Nevertheless, with an incredulous expression, Senior Neris repeatedly opened and closed her lips, unable to believe this kindness.

It seemed that pushing further would only cause Senior Neris' fear to escalate. Right after making that judgment, I bid her farewell.

"Well then, until next time."

Only then did Senior Neris, who had regained her composure, bow her head in acknowledgment. Regardless, I shook my hands and left.

Now, only a few questions remain in my mind.

What connection did the missing cases in the Percus territory have with the Dark Order?

Even though I didn't know what they were scheming, it was definitely not a plan based on good intentions.

As the image of the head maid, who had been manipulated by the Flesh Nest and Mitram, passed through my mind one by one, I became somewhat impatient.

It was time to return home.

****

Just as I was preparing to immediately get ready to go to the Percus territory, someone stopped me, it was someone I hadn't seen in a long time.

It was Senior Elsie.

As always, she stood in front of my room with her lovely appearance, appearing restless. Seeing her face after a few days, I couldn't help but feel joy.

"Senior Elsie!"

Just as I was about to explain the misunderstanding from last time, I couldn't help but come to a sudden halt.

Senior Elsie's outfit was remarkable today. She typically wore an academy uniform with a cone hat, but now she was dressed in colorful attire.

It seemed like she had dressed up for an outing.

In the midst of my confusion, Senior Elsie met my eyes. She, too, seemed surprised upon seeing me, and her expression became somewhat embarrassed.

Senior Elsie avoided eye contact, fidgeted with her fingers, and then tightly closed her eyes.

Then, she shouted at me with determination.

"A d-date!"

Upon hearing her speak in an informal tone I hadn't heard in a long time, Senior Elsie continued with her suggestion.

"W-wouldn't you like to go somewhere... Just the two of us...?"

With her now beet-red face, Senior Elsie lowered her head deeply.

The well-dressed Senior Elsie looked incredibly adorable.

Even for someone like me, who had seen Elsie several times, her current look was enough to make me involuntarily flutter.

So, I couldn't speak for a while.

The answer I managed to squeeze out was just one sentence.

"Sorry, it seems like I'll be busy today."

Senior Elsie's expression crumbled as if the world was falling /genesisforsaken