My Childhood Friends Are Trying To Kill Me…

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Ko - fi & Pateron

Table of Contents

  • 1. Chapter 1 - Part 1
  • 2. Chapter 1 - Part 2
  • 3. Chapter 2 - Part 1
  • 4. Chapter 2 - Part 2
  • 5. Chapter 3
  • 6. Chapter 4
  • 7. Chapter 5
  • 8. Chapter 6
  • 9. Chapter 7
  • 10. Chapter 8
  • 11. Chapter 9
  • 12. Chapter 10
  • 13. Chapter 11
  • 14. Chapter 12
  • 15. Chapter 13
  • 16. Chapter 14
  • 17. Chapter 15
  • 18. Chapter 16
  • 19. Chapter 17
  • 20. Chapter 18
  • 21. Chapter 19
  • 22. Chapter 20
  • 23. Chapter 21
  • 24. Chapter 22
  • 25. Chapter 23
  • 26. Chapter 24
  • 27. Chapter 25
  • 28. Chapter 26
  • 29. Chapter 27
  • 30. Chapter 28
  • 31. Chapter 29
  • 32. Chapter 30
  • 33. Chapter 31
  • 34. Chapter 32
  • 35. Chapter 33
  • 36. Chapter 34
  • 37. Chapter 35
  • 38. Chapter 36
  • 39. Chapter 37
  • 40. Chapter 38
  • 41. Chapter 39
  • 42. Chapter 40
  • 43. Chapter 41
  • 44. Chapter 42
  • 45. Chapter 43
  • 46. Chapter 44
  • 47. Chapter 45
  • 48. Chapter 46
  • 49. Chapter 47
  • 50. Chapter 48
  • 51. Chapter 49
  • 52. Chapter 50
  • 53. Chapter 51
  • 54. Chapter 52
  • 55. Chapter 53
  • 56. Chapter 54
  • 57. Chapter 55
  • 58. Chapter 56
  • 59. Chapter 57
  • 60. Chapter 58
  • 61. Chapter 59
  • 62. Chapter 60
  • 63. Chapter 61
  • 64. Chapter 62
  • 65. Chapter 63
  • 66. Chapter 64
  • 67. Chapter 65
  • 68. Chapter 66
  • 69. Chapter 67
  • 70. Chapter 68
  • 71. Chapter 69
  • 72. Chapter 70
  • 73. Chapter 71
  • 74. Chapter 72
  • 75. Chapter 73
  • 76. Chapter 74
  • 77. Chapter 75
  • 78. Chapter 76
  • 79. Chapter 77
  • 80. Chapter 78
  • 81. Chapters 79
  • 82. Chapters 80
  • 83. Chapters 81
  • 84. Chapters 82
  • 85. Chapter 83
  • 86. Chapter 84
  • 87. Chapter 85
  • 88. Chapter 86
  • 89. Chapter 87
  • 90. Chapter 88
  • 91. Chapter 89
  • 92. Chapter 90
  • 93. Chapter 91
  • 94. Chapter 92
  • 95. Chapter 93
  • 96. Chapter 94
  • 97. Chapter 95
  • 98. Chapter 96
  • 99. Chapter 97
  • 100. Chapter 98
  • 101. Chapter 99
  • 102. Chapter 100
  • 103. Chapter 101
  • 104. Chapter 102
  • 105. Chapter 104
  • 106. Chapter 104
  • 107. Chapter 105
  • 108. Chapter 106
  • 109. Chapter 107
  • 110. Chapter 108
  • 111. Chapter 109
  • 112. Chapter 110
  • 113. Chapter 111
  • 114. Chapter 112
  • 115. Chapter 113
  • 116. Chapter 114
  • 117. Chapter 115
  • 118. Chapter 116
  • 119. Chapter 117
  • 120. Chapter 118
  • 121. Chapter 119
  • 122. Chapter 120
  • 123. Chapter 121
  • 124. Chapter 122
  • 125. Chapter 123
  • 126. Chapter 124
  • 127. Chapter 125
  • 128. Chapter 126
  • 129. Chapter 127
  • 130. Chapter 128
  • 131. Chapter 129
  • 132. Chapter 130
  • 133. Chapter 131
  • 134. Chapter 132
  • 135. Chapter 133
  • 136. Chapter 134
  • 137. Chapter 135
  • 138. Chapter 136
  • 139. Chapter 137
  • 140. Chapter 138
  • 141. Chapter 139
  • 142. Chapter 140
  • 143. Chapter 141
  • 144. Chapter 142
  • 145. Chapter 143
  • 146. Chapter 144
  • 147. Chapter 145
  • 148. Chapter 146
  • 149. Chapter 147
  • 150. Chapter 148
  • 151. Chapter 149
  • 152. Chapter 150
  • 153. Chapter 151
  • 154. Chapter 152
  • 155. Chapter 153
  • 156. Chapter 154
  • 157. Chapter 155
  • 158. Chapter 156
  • 159. Chapter 157
  • 160. Chapter 158
  • 161. Chapter 159
  • 162. Chapter 160
  • 163. Chapter 161
  • 164. Chapter 162
  • 165. Chapter 163
  • 166. Chapter 164
  • 167. Chapter 165
  • 168. Chapter 166
  • 169. Chapter 167
  • 170. Chapter 168
  • 171. Chapter 169
  • 172. Chapter 170
  • 173. Chapter 171
  • 174. Chapter 172
  • 175. Chapter 173
  • 176. Chapter 174
  • 177. Chapter 175
  • 178. Chapter 176
  • 179. Chapter 177
  • 180. Chapter 178
  • 181. Chapter 179
  • 182. Chapter 180
  • 183. Chapter 181
  • 184. Chapter 182
  • 185. Chapter 183
  • 186. Chapter 184
  • 187. Chapter 185
  • 188. Chapter 186
  • 189. Chapter 187 - The Final Chapter
  • 190. Side Story - 1

Chapter 1 - Part 1

 

 

It was Ruth.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

He seemed to recognize Lelia. Even though he was looking at her with a strange look, he greeted her happily.

 

Lelia felt her irritation rising sharply.

 

It’s because she often had nightmares of him from the last time she stayed, and then had to flee the Imperial castle. From the time she returned to the estate, until she returned to the capital.

 

They were all nightmares where Ruth was in them.

 

In her dreams, he relentlessly harassed Lelia by using his holy relic as an excuse.


For her, the days she spent in the Imperial castle were a series of misfortunes.

 

Of course, it wasn’t too bad when she thought of her friends, but it was terrible when she thought of Ruth.

 

Perhaps that’s why she couldn’t greet Ruth happily.

 

As she bowed her head slightly with a forced smile, Ruth coughed loudly. As if it was embarrassing.

 

“I won’t ask you why you did that to me, but I do have to ask you one thing.”

 

“….”

 

“Why did you exchange the holy relics?”

 

[Why would I do that? I switched it because I needed it.]

 

She was frustrated because the person she hated the most appeared and quarreled about a disturbing situation.

 

However, Ruth’s position was also not incomprehensible.

 

[You must have thought you were deceived.]

 

She felt a little sorry. Apart from that, she had no energy left to deal with Ruth now.

 

“It was because I needed it.”

 

“Then was the friendship you had with me fake?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia sighed deeply inside and raised her head.

 

When she met Ruth’s eyes, which were shining brightly with great pressure… Suddenly, she felt suffocated.

 

What do you mean friendship? She felt like Ruth always talked to her like a subordinate.

 

“Rather than friendship… I was more of a one-sided errand boy, a messenger.”

 

“What? What do you mean?!”

 

“I’m sorry, but I have nothing more to say, Sir Ruth. There’s nothing I want to say. So, can you get out of my way now?”

 

She couldn’t just pass by because he was blocking a narrow pathway to the garden.

 

Ruth looked at her with a stunned look, as if he was speechless.

 

“Move out of the way.”

 

“….”

 

At Lelia’s words full of annoyance, he stepped aside with a hurt look.

 

Lelia walked past him and moved with purpose.

 

[Why did I come back here?]

 

She wanted to  settle her relationship with Emperor Perseus as soon as possible and live in peace…

 

[I never imagined Griffith would do that to me.]

 

[And then being shameless as if nothing was wrong…]

 

He seemed to have a different way of thinking than her.

 

[I was going to ask Griffith for something else…]

 

Lelia was planning to distribute the alchemy medicine that treated her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s. Because of the fixed materials, the drug could be produced almost indefinitely.

 

She wanted to help many people suffering from the same illness.

 

It was a world where patients and their families have to live under the stigma of suffering from an ‘ethereal disease’ for the rest of their lives.

 

So she was going to ask Griffith for a favor.

 

If rumors spread that he had made medicine for the disease through his divine power, it was clear that the temple would not be able to impose any sanctions.

 

In addition, most people here were religious. She judged that people would trust and take the medicine if it was made by Griffith, who has excellent sacred powers.

 

But now, she was not confident enough to face Griffith again and treat him like before.

 

***

 

There was someone else who she didn’t want to face, other than Griffith, and wasn’t as confident around as before.

 

It was Oscar.

 

Lelia strolled around the garden for a long time to calm her head.

 

Then she realized how much time had passed and turned around. But she could see Oscar approaching from afar.

 

[Uh-oh…]

 

As soon as Lelia found Oscar, she turned around.

 

Then, she started walking fast down the path toward the forest, as if she were subconsciously running away.

 

[Why am I running away?]

 

[Is the medicine still effective?]

 

Two emotions were conflicting in her head.

 

One side demanded she not run away from Oscar because it missed him, and the other shouted to run away because it was too embarrassing.

 

She thought the medicine’s effect had disappeared by morning. However, she realized that she was still wrestling with it.

 

While walking in a hurry, Lelia opened the production screen and found a ‘decryption’.

 

It’s not a poison, but she thought it might be a little effective if she took it as an antidote.

 

  • ‘Antitoxin’ production completed! (。•̀ᴗ-)✧₊˚

 

After checking that the completion screen appeared, she immediately took the medicine out of her inventory.

 

Then stopped to take the medicine… 

 

“You didn’t run away because of me, did you?”

 

A low voice was heard from behind.

 

COUGH

 

Surprised while drinking a medicine bottle, Lelia grabbed her throat while coughing.

 

Then she felt his cold hands touching the back of her neck.

 

Lelia slowly stopped coughing and turned her head.

 

“….”

 

Oscar was looking down at her with a frown.

 

She took a small deep breath while watching him.

 

[If there’s any traces of the medicine left, it’ll disappear, right?]

 

“Lelia.”

 

“….”

 

Even as she waited for a little bit, the medicine’s effect still seemed to remain.

 

Otherwise, Oscar’s voice alone wouldn’t make her heart beat like crazy.

 

His voice calling her name felt so sweet.

 

“What did Griffith feed you?”

 

“….”

 

“Griffith was silent when I cut off his arm.”

 

Lelia frowned at his words.

 

When she visited Griffith earlier, he looked fine, without any wounds.

 

Was it Oscar who visited before that? Or after that?

 

“I won’t open my mouth even if I get tortured because I can heal myself with divine power anyway.”

 

“….”

 

If it weren’t for that, it sounded like he would have cut his arm and tortured him right away.

 

Feeling horrified, Lelia opened her mouth.

 

“…It’s just, it’s not any medicine. It’s okay now, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

 

“…Did you take hallucinogens? Or an estrus drug?”

 

“What kind of…”

 

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have done such a thing.”

 

“….”

 

“There’s no way you’d beg me to kiss you.”

 

“What…”

 

“You… Because you don’t like me.”

 

“….”

 

Lelia was embarrassed by the unexpected words.

 

[I hate you?]

 

How could he think of that… Lelia thought it was ridiculous.

 

But looking at Oscar’s expression, he seemed to really feel that way without any exaggeration.

 

His hurt expression made her feel even more miserable.

 

“….”

 

Lelia clenched her fist. The remaining medicine’s influence was affecting her impulse control.

 

It’s so pitiful and painful. 

 

She wanted to hug him quickly, and soothe him with kisses.

 

Oscar’s expression looked lonely. Like a fairy in a lake, or deep forest, where no one comes to visit.

 

“I don’t hate you, Oscar.”

 

“….”

 

“I don’t know why you think so.”

 

“Then what?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“If you don’t hate me, then do you like me?”

 

Her heart suddenly sank at the sudden question. He sounded like he was pleading.

 

She was confused with what Oscar meant by the words, ‘Do you like me?’ Of course, he was asking on the premise of a relationship between a man and woman.

 

Lelia bowed her head to avoid his eyes.

 

“Sorry. To be honest, I don’t know…”

 

“Then what about the others?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you like someone else, one of the others among us?”

 

Oscar’s eyes as he was asking the question were unusual. 

 

Oscar’s inquisitive eyes looked extraordinary. When he said that, he seemed to be hiding the motivation to tear and kill.

 

“No, I don’t…”

 

[I’ve never thought of my friends in that way.]

 

[I never thought I’d fall in love with anyone of the opposite gender and get married.]

 

Maybe because of the medicine’s effects, she suddenly began to imagine a future where she marries Oscar.

[Editor: Keep blaming the medicine, Lelia. ヽ(´ー` )┌]

 

Oscar in her imagination was sweet and lovely. With warm eyes, who longed for her affection. 

 

Lelia was happy and peaceful.

 

However, in her imagination she was cut off from the world.

 

Even her beloved family, the Superions, were never seen again.

 

For some reason, she frowned at her ominous imaginings. Oscar was really… She felt like she was really going to isolate herself like that.

 

She thought she should speak properly at this point.

 

“Just say it yourself. You will be mine… When you’ve completed what you’re going to do here, you’ll follow me and stay with me for the rest of your life.”

 

Recalling what he had said, Lelia responded.

 

“I can’t keep my promise to you.”

 

“….”

 

“I’m sorry to say this now… I can’t keep up with you.”

 

She needed her family.

 

As precious as her friends were to her, the Superion family was also important to Lelia. 

 

It was the driving force behind her will to live and see the future.

 

There was a moment of silence. 

 

Lelia bowed her head deeply, because she felt sorry for some reason.

 

At that time, a low voice was heard above her head.

 

“Of course…”

 

Strangely, the moment she heard his voice, she felt a chill run up her spine. Lelia looked up reflexively and faced a cold look.

 

Eyes that sparkled like a snake with a strange feeling of madness, stared at her gently.

 

“There’s no reason for me to behave now, right?”


“…Huh?”

 

It was a completely different cold tone and voice from when he seemed to be begging.

 

Lelia couldn’t say anything for a moment, as if her mind had frozen.

 

When Oscar removed the mask, it was as if he threw away the fake eyes that were hiding his inner self.

 

It was only then that Lelia realized.

 

Oscar’s eyes were always like that.

 

When he followed her when she ran away from the Imperial Castle, she remembered the fear she felt from those eyes.

 

While staying at the Superion Territory, Oscar had a calm look. Somehow, she forgot because he had such a warm look on his face. 

 

“….”

 

Now, his eyes were like glass that felt nothing while looking at her.

 

The corners of his mouth went up very slowly and finely.

 

“I agreed to be quiet as a condition of waiting for your answer, did you forget?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia blinked.

 

Yeah, it was definitely like that. He told her to follow him and promised to be by her side for the rest of his life… 

 

She replied that she’d answer if he were calm until the end of her work.

 

Lelia finally answered that.

 

“I expected you’d refuse.”

 

“….”

 

“However, I thought you’d think about it a little more.”

 

“…That…”

 

“You’re really…”

 

“….”

 

“You don’t like me, Leo.”

 

As soon as she heard that, she thought something was wrong. Lelia hardened and looked at Oscar.

 

Oscar somehow spoke in a pleasant voice, as if nothing mattered.

 

“Then I’ll do whatever I want now.”

 

“Because you won’t like me no matter what I do.”

 

Whispering in the background, Oscar disappeared from Lelia’s sight.

 

Chapter 1 - Part 2

 

 

It was Ruth.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

He seemed to recognize Lelia. Even though he was looking at her with a strange look, he greeted her happily.

 

Lelia felt her irritation rising sharply.

 

It’s because she often had nightmares of him from the last time she stayed, and then had to flee the Imperial castle. From the time she returned to the estate, until she returned to the capital.

 

They were all nightmares where Ruth was in them.

 

In her dreams, he relentlessly harassed Lelia by using his holy relic as an excuse.


For her, the days she spent in the Imperial castle were a series of misfortunes.

 

Of course, it wasn’t too bad when she thought of her friends, but it was terrible when she thought of Ruth.

 

Perhaps that’s why she couldn’t greet Ruth happily.

 

As she bowed her head slightly with a forced smile, Ruth coughed loudly. As if it was embarrassing.

 

“I won’t ask you why you did that to me, but I do have to ask you one thing.”

 

“….”

 

“Why did you exchange the holy relics?”

 

[Why would I do that? I switched it because I needed it.]

 

She was frustrated because the person she hated the most appeared and quarreled about a disturbing situation.

 

However, Ruth’s position was also not incomprehensible.

 

[You must have thought you were deceived.]

 

She felt a little sorry. Apart from that, she had no energy left to deal with Ruth now.

 

“It was because I needed it.”

 

“Then was the friendship you had with me fake?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia sighed deeply inside and raised her head.

 

When she met Ruth’s eyes, which were shining brightly with great pressure… Suddenly, she felt suffocated.

 

What do you mean friendship? She felt like Ruth always talked to her like a subordinate.

 

“Rather than friendship… I was more of a one-sided errand boy, a messenger.”

 

“What? What do you mean?!”

 

“I’m sorry, but I have nothing more to say, Sir Ruth. There’s nothing I want to say. So, can you get out of my way now?”

 

She couldn’t just pass by because he was blocking a narrow pathway to the garden.

 

Ruth looked at her with a stunned look, as if he was speechless.

 

“Move out of the way.”

 

“….”

 

At Lelia’s words full of annoyance, he stepped aside with a hurt look.

 

Lelia walked past him and moved with purpose.

 

[Why did I come back here?]

 

She wanted to  settle her relationship with Emperor Perseus as soon as possible and live in peace…

 

[I never imagined Griffith would do that to me.]

 

[And then being shameless as if nothing was wrong…]

 

He seemed to have a different way of thinking than her.

 

[I was going to ask Griffith for something else…]

 

Lelia was planning to distribute the alchemy medicine that treated her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s. Because of the fixed materials, the drug could be produced almost indefinitely.

 

She wanted to help many people suffering from the same illness.

 

It was a world where patients and their families have to live under the stigma of suffering from an ‘ethereal disease’ for the rest of their lives.

 

So she was going to ask Griffith for a favor.

 

If rumors spread that he had made medicine for the disease through his divine power, it was clear that the temple would not be able to impose any sanctions.

 

In addition, most people here were religious. She judged that people would trust and take the medicine if it was made by Griffith, who has excellent sacred powers.

 

But now, she was not confident enough to face Griffith again and treat him like before.

 

***

 

There was someone else who she didn’t want to face, other than Griffith, and wasn’t as confident around as before.

 

It was Oscar.

 

Lelia strolled around the garden for a long time to calm her head.

 

Then she realized how much time had passed and turned around. But she could see Oscar approaching from afar.

 

[Uh-oh…]

 

As soon as Lelia found Oscar, she turned around.

 

Then, she started walking fast down the path toward the forest, as if she were subconsciously running away.

 

[Why am I running away?]

 

[Is the medicine still effective?]

 

Two emotions were conflicting in her head.

 

One side demanded she not run away from Oscar because it missed him, and the other shouted to run away because it was too embarrassing.

 

She thought the medicine’s effect had disappeared by morning. However, she realized that she was still wrestling with it.

 

While walking in a hurry, Lelia opened the production screen and found a ‘decryption’.

 

It’s not a poison, but she thought it might be a little effective if she took it as an antidote.

 

  • ‘Antitoxin’ production completed! (。•̀ᴗ-)✧₊˚

 

After checking that the completion screen appeared, she immediately took the medicine out of her inventory.

 

Then stopped to take the medicine… 

 

“You didn’t run away because of me, did you?”

 

A low voice was heard from behind.

 

COUGH

 

Surprised while drinking a medicine bottle, Lelia grabbed her throat while coughing.

 

Then she felt his cold hands touching the back of her neck.

 

Lelia slowly stopped coughing and turned her head.

 

“….”

 

Oscar was looking down at her with a frown.

 

She took a small deep breath while watching him.

 

[If there’s any traces of the medicine left, it’ll disappear, right?]

 

“Lelia.”

 

“….”

 

Even as she waited for a little bit, the medicine’s effect still seemed to remain.

 

Otherwise, Oscar’s voice alone wouldn’t make her heart beat like crazy.

 

His voice calling her name felt so sweet.

 

“What did Griffith feed you?”

 

“….”

 

“Griffith was silent when I cut off his arm.”

 

Lelia frowned at his words.

 

When she visited Griffith earlier, he looked fine, without any wounds.

 

Was it Oscar who visited before that? Or after that?

 

“I won’t open my mouth even if I get tortured because I can heal myself with divine power anyway.”

 

“….”

 

If it weren’t for that, it sounded like he would have cut his arm and tortured him right away.

 

Feeling horrified, Lelia opened her mouth.

 

“…It’s just, it’s not any medicine. It’s okay now, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

 

“…Did you take hallucinogens? Or an estrus drug?”

 

“What kind of…”

 

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have done such a thing.”

 

“….”

 

“There’s no way you’d beg me to kiss you.”

 

“What…”

 

“You… Because you don’t like me.”

 

“….”

 

Lelia was embarrassed by the unexpected words.

 

[I hate you?]

 

How could he think of that… Lelia thought it was ridiculous.

 

But looking at Oscar’s expression, he seemed to really feel that way without any exaggeration.

 

His hurt expression made her feel even more miserable.

 

“….”

 

Lelia clenched her fist. The remaining medicine’s influence was affecting her impulse control.

 

It’s so pitiful and painful. 

 

She wanted to hug him quickly, and soothe him with kisses.

 

Oscar’s expression looked lonely. Like a fairy in a lake, or deep forest, where no one comes to visit.

 

“I don’t hate you, Oscar.”

 

“….”

 

“I don’t know why you think so.”

 

“Then what?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“If you don’t hate me, then do you like me?”

 

Her heart suddenly sank at the sudden question. He sounded like he was pleading.

 

She was confused with what Oscar meant by the words, ‘Do you like me?’ Of course, he was asking on the premise of a relationship between a man and woman.

 

Lelia bowed her head to avoid his eyes.

 

“Sorry. To be honest, I don’t know…”

 

“Then what about the others?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you like someone else, one of the others among us?”

 

Oscar’s eyes as he was asking the question were unusual. 

 

Oscar’s inquisitive eyes looked extraordinary. When he said that, he seemed to be hiding the motivation to tear and kill.

 

“No, I don’t…”

 

[I’ve never thought of my friends in that way.]

 

[I never thought I’d fall in love with anyone of the opposite gender and get married.]

 

Maybe because of the medicine’s effects, she suddenly began to imagine a future where she marries Oscar.

[Editor: Keep blaming the medicine, Lelia. ヽ(´ー` )┌]

 

Oscar in her imagination was sweet and lovely. With warm eyes, who longed for her affection. 

 

Lelia was happy and peaceful.

 

However, in her imagination she was cut off from the world.

 

Even her beloved family, the Superions, were never seen again.

 

For some reason, she frowned at her ominous imaginings. Oscar was really… She felt like she was really going to isolate herself like that.

 

She thought she should speak properly at this point.

 

“Just say it yourself. You will be mine… When you’ve completed what you’re going to do here, you’ll follow me and stay with me for the rest of your life.”

 

Recalling what he had said, Lelia responded.

 

“I can’t keep my promise to you.”

 

“….”

 

“I’m sorry to say this now… I can’t keep up with you.”

 

She needed her family.

 

As precious as her friends were to her, the Superion family was also important to Lelia. 

 

It was the driving force behind her will to live and see the future.

 

There was a moment of silence. 

 

Lelia bowed her head deeply, because she felt sorry for some reason.

 

At that time, a low voice was heard above her head.

 

“Of course…”

 

Strangely, the moment she heard his voice, she felt a chill run up her spine. Lelia looked up reflexively and faced a cold look.

 

Eyes that sparkled like a snake with a strange feeling of madness, stared at her gently.

 

“There’s no reason for me to behave now, right?”


“…Huh?”

 

It was a completely different cold tone and voice from when he seemed to be begging.

 

Lelia couldn’t say anything for a moment, as if her mind had frozen.

 

When Oscar removed the mask, it was as if he threw away the fake eyes that were hiding his inner self.

 

It was only then that Lelia realized.

 

Oscar’s eyes were always like that.

 

When he followed her when she ran away from the Imperial Castle, she remembered the fear she felt from those eyes.

 

While staying at the Superion Territory, Oscar had a calm look. Somehow, she forgot because he had such a warm look on his face. 

 

“….”

 

Now, his eyes were like glass that felt nothing while looking at her.

 

The corners of his mouth went up very slowly and finely.

 

“I agreed to be quiet as a condition of waiting for your answer, did you forget?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia blinked.

 

Yeah, it was definitely like that. He told her to follow him and promised to be by her side for the rest of his life… 

 

She replied that she’d answer if he were calm until the end of her work.

 

Lelia finally answered that.

 

“I expected you’d refuse.”

 

“….”

 

“However, I thought you’d think about it a little more.”

 

“…That…”

 

“You’re really…”

 

“….”

 

“You don’t like me, Leo.”

 

As soon as she heard that, she thought something was wrong. Lelia hardened and looked at Oscar.

 

Oscar somehow spoke in a pleasant voice, as if nothing mattered.

 

“Then I’ll do whatever I want now.”

 

“Because you won’t like me no matter what I do.”

 

Whispering in the background, Oscar disappeared from Lelia’s sight.

 

Chapter 2 - Part 1

 

 

It was Ruth.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

He seemed to recognize Lelia. Even though he was looking at her with a strange look, he greeted her happily.

 

Lelia felt her irritation rising sharply.

 

It’s because she often had nightmares of him from the last time she stayed, and then had to flee the Imperial castle. From the time she returned to the estate, until she returned to the capital.

 

They were all nightmares where Ruth was in them.

 

In her dreams, he relentlessly harassed Lelia by using his holy relic as an excuse.


For her, the days she spent in the Imperial castle were a series of misfortunes.

 

Of course, it wasn’t too bad when she thought of her friends, but it was terrible when she thought of Ruth.

 

Perhaps that’s why she couldn’t greet Ruth happily.

 

As she bowed her head slightly with a forced smile, Ruth coughed loudly. As if it was embarrassing.

 

“I won’t ask you why you did that to me, but I do have to ask you one thing.”

 

“….”

 

“Why did you exchange the holy relics?”

 

[Why would I do that? I switched it because I needed it.]

 

She was frustrated because the person she hated the most appeared and quarreled about a disturbing situation.

 

However, Ruth’s position was also not incomprehensible.

 

[You must have thought you were deceived.]

 

She felt a little sorry. Apart from that, she had no energy left to deal with Ruth now.

 

“It was because I needed it.”

 

“Then was the friendship you had with me fake?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia sighed deeply inside and raised her head.

 

When she met Ruth’s eyes, which were shining brightly with great pressure… Suddenly, she felt suffocated.

 

What do you mean friendship? She felt like Ruth always talked to her like a subordinate.

 

“Rather than friendship… I was more of a one-sided errand boy, a messenger.”

 

“What? What do you mean?!”

 

“I’m sorry, but I have nothing more to say, Sir Ruth. There’s nothing I want to say. So, can you get out of my way now?”

 

She couldn’t just pass by because he was blocking a narrow pathway to the garden.

 

Ruth looked at her with a stunned look, as if he was speechless.

 

“Move out of the way.”

 

“….”

 

At Lelia’s words full of annoyance, he stepped aside with a hurt look.

 

Lelia walked past him and moved with purpose.

 

[Why did I come back here?]

 

She wanted to  settle her relationship with Emperor Perseus as soon as possible and live in peace…

 

[I never imagined Griffith would do that to me.]

 

[And then being shameless as if nothing was wrong…]

 

He seemed to have a different way of thinking than her.

 

[I was going to ask Griffith for something else…]

 

Lelia was planning to distribute the alchemy medicine that treated her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s. Because of the fixed materials, the drug could be produced almost indefinitely.

 

She wanted to help many people suffering from the same illness.

 

It was a world where patients and their families have to live under the stigma of suffering from an ‘ethereal disease’ for the rest of their lives.

 

So she was going to ask Griffith for a favor.

 

If rumors spread that he had made medicine for the disease through his divine power, it was clear that the temple would not be able to impose any sanctions.

 

In addition, most people here were religious. She judged that people would trust and take the medicine if it was made by Griffith, who has excellent sacred powers.

 

But now, she was not confident enough to face Griffith again and treat him like before.

 

***

 

There was someone else who she didn’t want to face, other than Griffith, and wasn’t as confident around as before.

 

It was Oscar.

 

Lelia strolled around the garden for a long time to calm her head.

 

Then she realized how much time had passed and turned around. But she could see Oscar approaching from afar.

 

[Uh-oh…]

 

As soon as Lelia found Oscar, she turned around.

 

Then, she started walking fast down the path toward the forest, as if she were subconsciously running away.

 

[Why am I running away?]

 

[Is the medicine still effective?]

 

Two emotions were conflicting in her head.

 

One side demanded she not run away from Oscar because it missed him, and the other shouted to run away because it was too embarrassing.

 

She thought the medicine’s effect had disappeared by morning. However, she realized that she was still wrestling with it.

 

While walking in a hurry, Lelia opened the production screen and found a ‘decryption’.

 

It’s not a poison, but she thought it might be a little effective if she took it as an antidote.

 

  • ‘Antitoxin’ production completed! (。•̀ᴗ-)✧₊˚

 

After checking that the completion screen appeared, she immediately took the medicine out of her inventory.

 

Then stopped to take the medicine… 

 

“You didn’t run away because of me, did you?”

 

A low voice was heard from behind.

 

COUGH

 

Surprised while drinking a medicine bottle, Lelia grabbed her throat while coughing.

 

Then she felt his cold hands touching the back of her neck.

 

Lelia slowly stopped coughing and turned her head.

 

“….”

 

Oscar was looking down at her with a frown.

 

She took a small deep breath while watching him.

 

[If there’s any traces of the medicine left, it’ll disappear, right?]

 

“Lelia.”

 

“….”

 

Even as she waited for a little bit, the medicine’s effect still seemed to remain.

 

Otherwise, Oscar’s voice alone wouldn’t make her heart beat like crazy.

 

His voice calling her name felt so sweet.

 

“What did Griffith feed you?”

 

“….”

 

“Griffith was silent when I cut off his arm.”

 

Lelia frowned at his words.

 

When she visited Griffith earlier, he looked fine, without any wounds.

 

Was it Oscar who visited before that? Or after that?

 

“I won’t open my mouth even if I get tortured because I can heal myself with divine power anyway.”

 

“….”

 

If it weren’t for that, it sounded like he would have cut his arm and tortured him right away.

 

Feeling horrified, Lelia opened her mouth.

 

“…It’s just, it’s not any medicine. It’s okay now, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

 

“…Did you take hallucinogens? Or an estrus drug?”

 

“What kind of…”

 

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have done such a thing.”

 

“….”

 

“There’s no way you’d beg me to kiss you.”

 

“What…”

 

“You… Because you don’t like me.”

 

“….”

 

Lelia was embarrassed by the unexpected words.

 

[I hate you?]

 

How could he think of that… Lelia thought it was ridiculous.

 

But looking at Oscar’s expression, he seemed to really feel that way without any exaggeration.

 

His hurt expression made her feel even more miserable.

 

“….”

 

Lelia clenched her fist. The remaining medicine’s influence was affecting her impulse control.

 

It’s so pitiful and painful. 

 

She wanted to hug him quickly, and soothe him with kisses.

 

Oscar’s expression looked lonely. Like a fairy in a lake, or deep forest, where no one comes to visit.

 

“I don’t hate you, Oscar.”

 

“….”

 

“I don’t know why you think so.”

 

“Then what?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“If you don’t hate me, then do you like me?”

 

Her heart suddenly sank at the sudden question. He sounded like he was pleading.

 

She was confused with what Oscar meant by the words, ‘Do you like me?’ Of course, he was asking on the premise of a relationship between a man and woman.

 

Lelia bowed her head to avoid his eyes.

 

“Sorry. To be honest, I don’t know…”

 

“Then what about the others?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you like someone else, one of the others among us?”

 

Oscar’s eyes as he was asking the question were unusual. 

 

Oscar’s inquisitive eyes looked extraordinary. When he said that, he seemed to be hiding the motivation to tear and kill.

 

“No, I don’t…”

 

[I’ve never thought of my friends in that way.]

 

[I never thought I’d fall in love with anyone of the opposite gender and get married.]

 

Maybe because of the medicine’s effects, she suddenly began to imagine a future where she marries Oscar.

[Editor: Keep blaming the medicine, Lelia. ヽ(´ー` )┌]

 

Oscar in her imagination was sweet and lovely. With warm eyes, who longed for her affection. 

 

Lelia was happy and peaceful.

 

However, in her imagination she was cut off from the world.

 

Even her beloved family, the Superions, were never seen again.

 

For some reason, she frowned at her ominous imaginings. Oscar was really… She felt like she was really going to isolate herself like that.

 

She thought she should speak properly at this point.

 

“Just say it yourself. You will be mine… When you’ve completed what you’re going to do here, you’ll follow me and stay with me for the rest of your life.”

 

Recalling what he had said, Lelia responded.

 

“I can’t keep my promise to you.”

 

“….”

 

“I’m sorry to say this now… I can’t keep up with you.”

 

She needed her family.

 

As precious as her friends were to her, the Superion family was also important to Lelia. 

 

It was the driving force behind her will to live and see the future.

 

There was a moment of silence. 

 

Lelia bowed her head deeply, because she felt sorry for some reason.

 

At that time, a low voice was heard above her head.

 

“Of course…”

 

Strangely, the moment she heard his voice, she felt a chill run up her spine. Lelia looked up reflexively and faced a cold look.

 

Eyes that sparkled like a snake with a strange feeling of madness, stared at her gently.

 

“There’s no reason for me to behave now, right?”


“…Huh?”

 

It was a completely different cold tone and voice from when he seemed to be begging.

 

Lelia couldn’t say anything for a moment, as if her mind had frozen.

 

When Oscar removed the mask, it was as if he threw away the fake eyes that were hiding his inner self.

 

It was only then that Lelia realized.

 

Oscar’s eyes were always like that.

 

When he followed her when she ran away from the Imperial Castle, she remembered the fear she felt from those eyes.

 

While staying at the Superion Territory, Oscar had a calm look. Somehow, she forgot because he had such a warm look on his face. 

 

“….”

 

Now, his eyes were like glass that felt nothing while looking at her.

 

The corners of his mouth went up very slowly and finely.

 

“I agreed to be quiet as a condition of waiting for your answer, did you forget?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia blinked.

 

Yeah, it was definitely like that. He told her to follow him and promised to be by her side for the rest of his life… 

 

She replied that she’d answer if he were calm until the end of her work.

 

Lelia finally answered that.

 

“I expected you’d refuse.”

 

“….”

 

“However, I thought you’d think about it a little more.”

 

“…That…”

 

“You’re really…”

 

“….”

 

“You don’t like me, Leo.”

 

As soon as she heard that, she thought something was wrong. Lelia hardened and looked at Oscar.

 

Oscar somehow spoke in a pleasant voice, as if nothing mattered.

 

“Then I’ll do whatever I want now.”

 

“Because you won’t like me no matter what I do.”

 

Whispering in the background, Oscar disappeared from Lelia’s sight.

 

Chapter 2 - Part 2

 

 

It was Ruth.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

He seemed to recognize Lelia. Even though he was looking at her with a strange look, he greeted her happily.

 

Lelia felt her irritation rising sharply.

 

It’s because she often had nightmares of him from the last time she stayed, and then had to flee the Imperial castle. From the time she returned to the estate, until she returned to the capital.

 

They were all nightmares where Ruth was in them.

 

In her dreams, he relentlessly harassed Lelia by using his holy relic as an excuse.


For her, the days she spent in the Imperial castle were a series of misfortunes.

 

Of course, it wasn’t too bad when she thought of her friends, but it was terrible when she thought of Ruth.

 

Perhaps that’s why she couldn’t greet Ruth happily.

 

As she bowed her head slightly with a forced smile, Ruth coughed loudly. As if it was embarrassing.

 

“I won’t ask you why you did that to me, but I do have to ask you one thing.”

 

“….”

 

“Why did you exchange the holy relics?”

 

[Why would I do that? I switched it because I needed it.]

 

She was frustrated because the person she hated the most appeared and quarreled about a disturbing situation.

 

However, Ruth’s position was also not incomprehensible.

 

[You must have thought you were deceived.]

 

She felt a little sorry. Apart from that, she had no energy left to deal with Ruth now.

 

“It was because I needed it.”

 

“Then was the friendship you had with me fake?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia sighed deeply inside and raised her head.

 

When she met Ruth’s eyes, which were shining brightly with great pressure… Suddenly, she felt suffocated.

 

What do you mean friendship? She felt like Ruth always talked to her like a subordinate.

 

“Rather than friendship… I was more of a one-sided errand boy, a messenger.”

 

“What? What do you mean?!”

 

“I’m sorry, but I have nothing more to say, Sir Ruth. There’s nothing I want to say. So, can you get out of my way now?”

 

She couldn’t just pass by because he was blocking a narrow pathway to the garden.

 

Ruth looked at her with a stunned look, as if he was speechless.

 

“Move out of the way.”

 

“….”

 

At Lelia’s words full of annoyance, he stepped aside with a hurt look.

 

Lelia walked past him and moved with purpose.

 

[Why did I come back here?]

 

She wanted to  settle her relationship with Emperor Perseus as soon as possible and live in peace…

 

[I never imagined Griffith would do that to me.]

 

[And then being shameless as if nothing was wrong…]

 

He seemed to have a different way of thinking than her.

 

[I was going to ask Griffith for something else…]

 

Lelia was planning to distribute the alchemy medicine that treated her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s. Because of the fixed materials, the drug could be produced almost indefinitely.

 

She wanted to help many people suffering from the same illness.

 

It was a world where patients and their families have to live under the stigma of suffering from an ‘ethereal disease’ for the rest of their lives.

 

So she was going to ask Griffith for a favor.

 

If rumors spread that he had made medicine for the disease through his divine power, it was clear that the temple would not be able to impose any sanctions.

 

In addition, most people here were religious. She judged that people would trust and take the medicine if it was made by Griffith, who has excellent sacred powers.

 

But now, she was not confident enough to face Griffith again and treat him like before.

 

***

 

There was someone else who she didn’t want to face, other than Griffith, and wasn’t as confident around as before.

 

It was Oscar.

 

Lelia strolled around the garden for a long time to calm her head.

 

Then she realized how much time had passed and turned around. But she could see Oscar approaching from afar.

 

[Uh-oh…]

 

As soon as Lelia found Oscar, she turned around.

 

Then, she started walking fast down the path toward the forest, as if she were subconsciously running away.

 

[Why am I running away?]

 

[Is the medicine still effective?]

 

Two emotions were conflicting in her head.

 

One side demanded she not run away from Oscar because it missed him, and the other shouted to run away because it was too embarrassing.

 

She thought the medicine’s effect had disappeared by morning. However, she realized that she was still wrestling with it.

 

While walking in a hurry, Lelia opened the production screen and found a ‘decryption’.

 

It’s not a poison, but she thought it might be a little effective if she took it as an antidote.

 

  • ‘Antitoxin’ production completed! (。•̀ᴗ-)✧₊˚

 

After checking that the completion screen appeared, she immediately took the medicine out of her inventory.

 

Then stopped to take the medicine… 

 

“You didn’t run away because of me, did you?”

 

A low voice was heard from behind.

 

COUGH

 

Surprised while drinking a medicine bottle, Lelia grabbed her throat while coughing.

 

Then she felt his cold hands touching the back of her neck.

 

Lelia slowly stopped coughing and turned her head.

 

“….”

 

Oscar was looking down at her with a frown.

 

She took a small deep breath while watching him.

 

[If there’s any traces of the medicine left, it’ll disappear, right?]

 

“Lelia.”

 

“….”

 

Even as she waited for a little bit, the medicine’s effect still seemed to remain.

 

Otherwise, Oscar’s voice alone wouldn’t make her heart beat like crazy.

 

His voice calling her name felt so sweet.

 

“What did Griffith feed you?”

 

“….”

 

“Griffith was silent when I cut off his arm.”

 

Lelia frowned at his words.

 

When she visited Griffith earlier, he looked fine, without any wounds.

 

Was it Oscar who visited before that? Or after that?

 

“I won’t open my mouth even if I get tortured because I can heal myself with divine power anyway.”

 

“….”

 

If it weren’t for that, it sounded like he would have cut his arm and tortured him right away.

 

Feeling horrified, Lelia opened her mouth.

 

“…It’s just, it’s not any medicine. It’s okay now, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

 

“…Did you take hallucinogens? Or an estrus drug?”

 

“What kind of…”

 

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have done such a thing.”

 

“….”

 

“There’s no way you’d beg me to kiss you.”

 

“What…”

 

“You… Because you don’t like me.”

 

“….”

 

Lelia was embarrassed by the unexpected words.

 

[I hate you?]

 

How could he think of that… Lelia thought it was ridiculous.

 

But looking at Oscar’s expression, he seemed to really feel that way without any exaggeration.

 

His hurt expression made her feel even more miserable.

 

“….”

 

Lelia clenched her fist. The remaining medicine’s influence was affecting her impulse control.

 

It’s so pitiful and painful. 

 

She wanted to hug him quickly, and soothe him with kisses.

 

Oscar’s expression looked lonely. Like a fairy in a lake, or deep forest, where no one comes to visit.

 

“I don’t hate you, Oscar.”

 

“….”

 

“I don’t know why you think so.”

 

“Then what?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“If you don’t hate me, then do you like me?”

 

Her heart suddenly sank at the sudden question. He sounded like he was pleading.

 

She was confused with what Oscar meant by the words, ‘Do you like me?’ Of course, he was asking on the premise of a relationship between a man and woman.

 

Lelia bowed her head to avoid his eyes.

 

“Sorry. To be honest, I don’t know…”

 

“Then what about the others?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you like someone else, one of the others among us?”

 

Oscar’s eyes as he was asking the question were unusual. 

 

Oscar’s inquisitive eyes looked extraordinary. When he said that, he seemed to be hiding the motivation to tear and kill.

 

“No, I don’t…”

 

[I’ve never thought of my friends in that way.]

 

[I never thought I’d fall in love with anyone of the opposite gender and get married.]

 

Maybe because of the medicine’s effects, she suddenly began to imagine a future where she marries Oscar.

[Editor: Keep blaming the medicine, Lelia. ヽ(´ー` )┌]

 

Oscar in her imagination was sweet and lovely. With warm eyes, who longed for her affection. 

 

Lelia was happy and peaceful.

 

However, in her imagination she was cut off from the world.

 

Even her beloved family, the Superions, were never seen again.

 

For some reason, she frowned at her ominous imaginings. Oscar was really… She felt like she was really going to isolate herself like that.

 

She thought she should speak properly at this point.

 

“Just say it yourself. You will be mine… When you’ve completed what you’re going to do here, you’ll follow me and stay with me for the rest of your life.”

 

Recalling what he had said, Lelia responded.

 

“I can’t keep my promise to you.”

 

“….”

 

“I’m sorry to say this now… I can’t keep up with you.”

 

She needed her family.

 

As precious as her friends were to her, the Superion family was also important to Lelia. 

 

It was the driving force behind her will to live and see the future.

 

There was a moment of silence. 

 

Lelia bowed her head deeply, because she felt sorry for some reason.

 

At that time, a low voice was heard above her head.

 

“Of course…”

 

Strangely, the moment she heard his voice, she felt a chill run up her spine. Lelia looked up reflexively and faced a cold look.

 

Eyes that sparkled like a snake with a strange feeling of madness, stared at her gently.

 

“There’s no reason for me to behave now, right?”


“…Huh?”

 

It was a completely different cold tone and voice from when he seemed to be begging.

 

Lelia couldn’t say anything for a moment, as if her mind had frozen.

 

When Oscar removed the mask, it was as if he threw away the fake eyes that were hiding his inner self.

 

It was only then that Lelia realized.

 

Oscar’s eyes were always like that.

 

When he followed her when she ran away from the Imperial Castle, she remembered the fear she felt from those eyes.

 

While staying at the Superion Territory, Oscar had a calm look. Somehow, she forgot because he had such a warm look on his face. 

 

“….”

 

Now, his eyes were like glass that felt nothing while looking at her.

 

The corners of his mouth went up very slowly and finely.

 

“I agreed to be quiet as a condition of waiting for your answer, did you forget?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia blinked.

 

Yeah, it was definitely like that. He told her to follow him and promised to be by her side for the rest of his life… 

 

She replied that she’d answer if he were calm until the end of her work.

 

Lelia finally answered that.

 

“I expected you’d refuse.”

 

“….”

 

“However, I thought you’d think about it a little more.”

 

“…That…”

 

“You’re really…”

 

“….”

 

“You don’t like me, Leo.”

 

As soon as she heard that, she thought something was wrong. Lelia hardened and looked at Oscar.

 

Oscar somehow spoke in a pleasant voice, as if nothing mattered.

 

“Then I’ll do whatever I want now.”

 

“Because you won’t like me no matter what I do.”

 

Whispering in the background, Oscar disappeared from Lelia’s sight.

 

Chapter 3

 

 

It was Ruth.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

He seemed to recognize Lelia. Even though he was looking at her with a strange look, he greeted her happily.

 

Lelia felt her irritation rising sharply.

 

It’s because she often had nightmares of him from the last time she stayed, and then had to flee the Imperial castle. From the time she returned to the estate, until she returned to the capital.

 

They were all nightmares where Ruth was in them.

 

In her dreams, he relentlessly harassed Lelia by using his holy relic as an excuse.


For her, the days she spent in the Imperial castle were a series of misfortunes.

 

Of course, it wasn’t too bad when she thought of her friends, but it was terrible when she thought of Ruth.

 

Perhaps that’s why she couldn’t greet Ruth happily.

 

As she bowed her head slightly with a forced smile, Ruth coughed loudly. As if it was embarrassing.

 

“I won’t ask you why you did that to me, but I do have to ask you one thing.”

 

“….”

 

“Why did you exchange the holy relics?”

 

[Why would I do that? I switched it because I needed it.]

 

She was frustrated because the person she hated the most appeared and quarreled about a disturbing situation.

 

However, Ruth’s position was also not incomprehensible.

 

[You must have thought you were deceived.]

 

She felt a little sorry. Apart from that, she had no energy left to deal with Ruth now.

 

“It was because I needed it.”

 

“Then was the friendship you had with me fake?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia sighed deeply inside and raised her head.

 

When she met Ruth’s eyes, which were shining brightly with great pressure… Suddenly, she felt suffocated.

 

What do you mean friendship? She felt like Ruth always talked to her like a subordinate.

 

“Rather than friendship… I was more of a one-sided errand boy, a messenger.”

 

“What? What do you mean?!”

 

“I’m sorry, but I have nothing more to say, Sir Ruth. There’s nothing I want to say. So, can you get out of my way now?”

 

She couldn’t just pass by because he was blocking a narrow pathway to the garden.

 

Ruth looked at her with a stunned look, as if he was speechless.

 

“Move out of the way.”

 

“….”

 

At Lelia’s words full of annoyance, he stepped aside with a hurt look.

 

Lelia walked past him and moved with purpose.

 

[Why did I come back here?]

 

She wanted to  settle her relationship with Emperor Perseus as soon as possible and live in peace…

 

[I never imagined Griffith would do that to me.]

 

[And then being shameless as if nothing was wrong…]

 

He seemed to have a different way of thinking than her.

 

[I was going to ask Griffith for something else…]

 

Lelia was planning to distribute the alchemy medicine that treated her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s. Because of the fixed materials, the drug could be produced almost indefinitely.

 

She wanted to help many people suffering from the same illness.

 

It was a world where patients and their families have to live under the stigma of suffering from an ‘ethereal disease’ for the rest of their lives.

 

So she was going to ask Griffith for a favor.

 

If rumors spread that he had made medicine for the disease through his divine power, it was clear that the temple would not be able to impose any sanctions.

 

In addition, most people here were religious. She judged that people would trust and take the medicine if it was made by Griffith, who has excellent sacred powers.

 

But now, she was not confident enough to face Griffith again and treat him like before.

 

***

 

There was someone else who she didn’t want to face, other than Griffith, and wasn’t as confident around as before.

 

It was Oscar.

 

Lelia strolled around the garden for a long time to calm her head.

 

Then she realized how much time had passed and turned around. But she could see Oscar approaching from afar.

 

[Uh-oh…]

 

As soon as Lelia found Oscar, she turned around.

 

Then, she started walking fast down the path toward the forest, as if she were subconsciously running away.

 

[Why am I running away?]

 

[Is the medicine still effective?]

 

Two emotions were conflicting in her head.

 

One side demanded she not run away from Oscar because it missed him, and the other shouted to run away because it was too embarrassing.

 

She thought the medicine’s effect had disappeared by morning. However, she realized that she was still wrestling with it.

 

While walking in a hurry, Lelia opened the production screen and found a ‘decryption’.

 

It’s not a poison, but she thought it might be a little effective if she took it as an antidote.

 

  • ‘Antitoxin’ production completed! (。•̀ᴗ-)✧₊˚

 

After checking that the completion screen appeared, she immediately took the medicine out of her inventory.

 

Then stopped to take the medicine… 

 

“You didn’t run away because of me, did you?”

 

A low voice was heard from behind.

 

COUGH

 

Surprised while drinking a medicine bottle, Lelia grabbed her throat while coughing.

 

Then she felt his cold hands touching the back of her neck.

 

Lelia slowly stopped coughing and turned her head.

 

“….”

 

Oscar was looking down at her with a frown.

 

She took a small deep breath while watching him.

 

[If there’s any traces of the medicine left, it’ll disappear, right?]

 

“Lelia.”

 

“….”

 

Even as she waited for a little bit, the medicine’s effect still seemed to remain.

 

Otherwise, Oscar’s voice alone wouldn’t make her heart beat like crazy.

 

His voice calling her name felt so sweet.

 

“What did Griffith feed you?”

 

“….”

 

“Griffith was silent when I cut off his arm.”

 

Lelia frowned at his words.

 

When she visited Griffith earlier, he looked fine, without any wounds.

 

Was it Oscar who visited before that? Or after that?

 

“I won’t open my mouth even if I get tortured because I can heal myself with divine power anyway.”

 

“….”

 

If it weren’t for that, it sounded like he would have cut his arm and tortured him right away.

 

Feeling horrified, Lelia opened her mouth.

 

“…It’s just, it’s not any medicine. It’s okay now, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

 

“…Did you take hallucinogens? Or an estrus drug?”

 

“What kind of…”

 

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have done such a thing.”

 

“….”

 

“There’s no way you’d beg me to kiss you.”

 

“What…”

 

“You… Because you don’t like me.”

 

“….”

 

Lelia was embarrassed by the unexpected words.

 

[I hate you?]

 

How could he think of that… Lelia thought it was ridiculous.

 

But looking at Oscar’s expression, he seemed to really feel that way without any exaggeration.

 

His hurt expression made her feel even more miserable.

 

“….”

 

Lelia clenched her fist. The remaining medicine’s influence was affecting her impulse control.

 

It’s so pitiful and painful. 

 

She wanted to hug him quickly, and soothe him with kisses.

 

Oscar’s expression looked lonely. Like a fairy in a lake, or deep forest, where no one comes to visit.

 

“I don’t hate you, Oscar.”

 

“….”

 

“I don’t know why you think so.”

 

“Then what?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“If you don’t hate me, then do you like me?”

 

Her heart suddenly sank at the sudden question. He sounded like he was pleading.

 

She was confused with what Oscar meant by the words, ‘Do you like me?’ Of course, he was asking on the premise of a relationship between a man and woman.

 

Lelia bowed her head to avoid his eyes.

 

“Sorry. To be honest, I don’t know…”

 

“Then what about the others?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you like someone else, one of the others among us?”

 

Oscar’s eyes as he was asking the question were unusual. 

 

Oscar’s inquisitive eyes looked extraordinary. When he said that, he seemed to be hiding the motivation to tear and kill.

 

“No, I don’t…”

 

[I’ve never thought of my friends in that way.]

 

[I never thought I’d fall in love with anyone of the opposite gender and get married.]

 

Maybe because of the medicine’s effects, she suddenly began to imagine a future where she marries Oscar.

[Editor: Keep blaming the medicine, Lelia. ヽ(´ー` )┌]

 

Oscar in her imagination was sweet and lovely. With warm eyes, who longed for her affection. 

 

Lelia was happy and peaceful.

 

However, in her imagination she was cut off from the world.

 

Even her beloved family, the Superions, were never seen again.

 

For some reason, she frowned at her ominous imaginings. Oscar was really… She felt like she was really going to isolate herself like that.

 

She thought she should speak properly at this point.

 

“Just say it yourself. You will be mine… When you’ve completed what you’re going to do here, you’ll follow me and stay with me for the rest of your life.”

 

Recalling what he had said, Lelia responded.

 

“I can’t keep my promise to you.”

 

“….”

 

“I’m sorry to say this now… I can’t keep up with you.”

 

She needed her family.

 

As precious as her friends were to her, the Superion family was also important to Lelia. 

 

It was the driving force behind her will to live and see the future.

 

There was a moment of silence. 

 

Lelia bowed her head deeply, because she felt sorry for some reason.

 

At that time, a low voice was heard above her head.

 

“Of course…”

 

Strangely, the moment she heard his voice, she felt a chill run up her spine. Lelia looked up reflexively and faced a cold look.

 

Eyes that sparkled like a snake with a strange feeling of madness, stared at her gently.

 

“There’s no reason for me to behave now, right?”


“…Huh?”

 

It was a completely different cold tone and voice from when he seemed to be begging.

 

Lelia couldn’t say anything for a moment, as if her mind had frozen.

 

When Oscar removed the mask, it was as if he threw away the fake eyes that were hiding his inner self.

 

It was only then that Lelia realized.

 

Oscar’s eyes were always like that.

 

When he followed her when she ran away from the Imperial Castle, she remembered the fear she felt from those eyes.

 

While staying at the Superion Territory, Oscar had a calm look. Somehow, she forgot because he had such a warm look on his face. 

 

“….”

 

Now, his eyes were like glass that felt nothing while looking at her.

 

The corners of his mouth went up very slowly and finely.

 

“I agreed to be quiet as a condition of waiting for your answer, did you forget?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia blinked.

 

Yeah, it was definitely like that. He told her to follow him and promised to be by her side for the rest of his life… 

 

She replied that she’d answer if he were calm until the end of her work.

 

Lelia finally answered that.

 

“I expected you’d refuse.”

 

“….”

 

“However, I thought you’d think about it a little more.”

 

“…That…”

 

“You’re really…”

 

“….”

 

“You don’t like me, Leo.”

 

As soon as she heard that, she thought something was wrong. Lelia hardened and looked at Oscar.

 

Oscar somehow spoke in a pleasant voice, as if nothing mattered.

 

“Then I’ll do whatever I want now.”

 

“Because you won’t like me no matter what I do.”

 

Whispering in the background, Oscar disappeared from Lelia’s sight.

 

Chapter 4

 

 

It was Ruth.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

He seemed to recognize Lelia. Even though he was looking at her with a strange look, he greeted her happily.

 

Lelia felt her irritation rising sharply.

 

It’s because she often had nightmares of him from the last time she stayed, and then had to flee the Imperial castle. From the time she returned to the estate, until she returned to the capital.

 

They were all nightmares where Ruth was in them.

 

In her dreams, he relentlessly harassed Lelia by using his holy relic as an excuse.


For her, the days she spent in the Imperial castle were a series of misfortunes.

 

Of course, it wasn’t too bad when she thought of her friends, but it was terrible when she thought of Ruth.

 

Perhaps that’s why she couldn’t greet Ruth happily.

 

As she bowed her head slightly with a forced smile, Ruth coughed loudly. As if it was embarrassing.

 

“I won’t ask you why you did that to me, but I do have to ask you one thing.”

 

“….”

 

“Why did you exchange the holy relics?”

 

[Why would I do that? I switched it because I needed it.]

 

She was frustrated because the person she hated the most appeared and quarreled about a disturbing situation.

 

However, Ruth’s position was also not incomprehensible.

 

[You must have thought you were deceived.]

 

She felt a little sorry. Apart from that, she had no energy left to deal with Ruth now.

 

“It was because I needed it.”

 

“Then was the friendship you had with me fake?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia sighed deeply inside and raised her head.

 

When she met Ruth’s eyes, which were shining brightly with great pressure… Suddenly, she felt suffocated.

 

What do you mean friendship? She felt like Ruth always talked to her like a subordinate.

 

“Rather than friendship… I was more of a one-sided errand boy, a messenger.”

 

“What? What do you mean?!”

 

“I’m sorry, but I have nothing more to say, Sir Ruth. There’s nothing I want to say. So, can you get out of my way now?”

 

She couldn’t just pass by because he was blocking a narrow pathway to the garden.

 

Ruth looked at her with a stunned look, as if he was speechless.

 

“Move out of the way.”

 

“….”

 

At Lelia’s words full of annoyance, he stepped aside with a hurt look.

 

Lelia walked past him and moved with purpose.

 

[Why did I come back here?]

 

She wanted to  settle her relationship with Emperor Perseus as soon as possible and live in peace…

 

[I never imagined Griffith would do that to me.]

 

[And then being shameless as if nothing was wrong…]

 

He seemed to have a different way of thinking than her.

 

[I was going to ask Griffith for something else…]

 

Lelia was planning to distribute the alchemy medicine that treated her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s. Because of the fixed materials, the drug could be produced almost indefinitely.

 

She wanted to help many people suffering from the same illness.

 

It was a world where patients and their families have to live under the stigma of suffering from an ‘ethereal disease’ for the rest of their lives.

 

So she was going to ask Griffith for a favor.

 

If rumors spread that he had made medicine for the disease through his divine power, it was clear that the temple would not be able to impose any sanctions.

 

In addition, most people here were religious. She judged that people would trust and take the medicine if it was made by Griffith, who has excellent sacred powers.

 

But now, she was not confident enough to face Griffith again and treat him like before.

 

***

 

There was someone else who she didn’t want to face, other than Griffith, and wasn’t as confident around as before.

 

It was Oscar.

 

Lelia strolled around the garden for a long time to calm her head.

 

Then she realized how much time had passed and turned around. But she could see Oscar approaching from afar.

 

[Uh-oh…]

 

As soon as Lelia found Oscar, she turned around.

 

Then, she started walking fast down the path toward the forest, as if she were subconsciously running away.

 

[Why am I running away?]

 

[Is the medicine still effective?]

 

Two emotions were conflicting in her head.

 

One side demanded she not run away from Oscar because it missed him, and the other shouted to run away because it was too embarrassing.

 

She thought the medicine’s effect had disappeared by morning. However, she realized that she was still wrestling with it.

 

While walking in a hurry, Lelia opened the production screen and found a ‘decryption’.

 

It’s not a poison, but she thought it might be a little effective if she took it as an antidote.

 

  • ‘Antitoxin’ production completed! (。•̀ᴗ-)✧₊˚

 

After checking that the completion screen appeared, she immediately took the medicine out of her inventory.

 

Then stopped to take the medicine… 

 

“You didn’t run away because of me, did you?”

 

A low voice was heard from behind.

 

COUGH

 

Surprised while drinking a medicine bottle, Lelia grabbed her throat while coughing.

 

Then she felt his cold hands touching the back of her neck.

 

Lelia slowly stopped coughing and turned her head.

 

“….”

 

Oscar was looking down at her with a frown.

 

She took a small deep breath while watching him.

 

[If there’s any traces of the medicine left, it’ll disappear, right?]

 

“Lelia.”

 

“….”

 

Even as she waited for a little bit, the medicine’s effect still seemed to remain.

 

Otherwise, Oscar’s voice alone wouldn’t make her heart beat like crazy.

 

His voice calling her name felt so sweet.

 

“What did Griffith feed you?”

 

“….”

 

“Griffith was silent when I cut off his arm.”

 

Lelia frowned at his words.

 

When she visited Griffith earlier, he looked fine, without any wounds.

 

Was it Oscar who visited before that? Or after that?

 

“I won’t open my mouth even if I get tortured because I can heal myself with divine power anyway.”

 

“….”

 

If it weren’t for that, it sounded like he would have cut his arm and tortured him right away.

 

Feeling horrified, Lelia opened her mouth.

 

“…It’s just, it’s not any medicine. It’s okay now, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

 

“…Did you take hallucinogens? Or an estrus drug?”

 

“What kind of…”

 

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have done such a thing.”

 

“….”

 

“There’s no way you’d beg me to kiss you.”

 

“What…”

 

“You… Because you don’t like me.”

 

“….”

 

Lelia was embarrassed by the unexpected words.

 

[I hate you?]

 

How could he think of that… Lelia thought it was ridiculous.

 

But looking at Oscar’s expression, he seemed to really feel that way without any exaggeration.

 

His hurt expression made her feel even more miserable.

 

“….”

 

Lelia clenched her fist. The remaining medicine’s influence was affecting her impulse control.

 

It’s so pitiful and painful. 

 

She wanted to hug him quickly, and soothe him with kisses.

 

Oscar’s expression looked lonely. Like a fairy in a lake, or deep forest, where no one comes to visit.

 

“I don’t hate you, Oscar.”

 

“….”

 

“I don’t know why you think so.”

 

“Then what?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“If you don’t hate me, then do you like me?”

 

Her heart suddenly sank at the sudden question. He sounded like he was pleading.

 

She was confused with what Oscar meant by the words, ‘Do you like me?’ Of course, he was asking on the premise of a relationship between a man and woman.

 

Lelia bowed her head to avoid his eyes.

 

“Sorry. To be honest, I don’t know…”

 

“Then what about the others?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you like someone else, one of the others among us?”

 

Oscar’s eyes as he was asking the question were unusual. 

 

Oscar’s inquisitive eyes looked extraordinary. When he said that, he seemed to be hiding the motivation to tear and kill.

 

“No, I don’t…”

 

[I’ve never thought of my friends in that way.]

 

[I never thought I’d fall in love with anyone of the opposite gender and get married.]

 

Maybe because of the medicine’s effects, she suddenly began to imagine a future where she marries Oscar.

[Editor: Keep blaming the medicine, Lelia. ヽ(´ー` )┌]

 

Oscar in her imagination was sweet and lovely. With warm eyes, who longed for her affection. 

 

Lelia was happy and peaceful.

 

However, in her imagination she was cut off from the world.

 

Even her beloved family, the Superions, were never seen again.

 

For some reason, she frowned at her ominous imaginings. Oscar was really… She felt like she was really going to isolate herself like that.

 

She thought she should speak properly at this point.

 

“Just say it yourself. You will be mine… When you’ve completed what you’re going to do here, you’ll follow me and stay with me for the rest of your life.”

 

Recalling what he had said, Lelia responded.

 

“I can’t keep my promise to you.”

 

“….”

 

“I’m sorry to say this now… I can’t keep up with you.”

 

She needed her family.

 

As precious as her friends were to her, the Superion family was also important to Lelia. 

 

It was the driving force behind her will to live and see the future.

 

There was a moment of silence. 

 

Lelia bowed her head deeply, because she felt sorry for some reason.

 

At that time, a low voice was heard above her head.

 

“Of course…”

 

Strangely, the moment she heard his voice, she felt a chill run up her spine. Lelia looked up reflexively and faced a cold look.

 

Eyes that sparkled like a snake with a strange feeling of madness, stared at her gently.

 

“There’s no reason for me to behave now, right?”


“…Huh?”

 

It was a completely different cold tone and voice from when he seemed to be begging.

 

Lelia couldn’t say anything for a moment, as if her mind had frozen.

 

When Oscar removed the mask, it was as if he threw away the fake eyes that were hiding his inner self.

 

It was only then that Lelia realized.

 

Oscar’s eyes were always like that.

 

When he followed her when she ran away from the Imperial Castle, she remembered the fear she felt from those eyes.

 

While staying at the Superion Territory, Oscar had a calm look. Somehow, she forgot because he had such a warm look on his face. 

 

“….”

 

Now, his eyes were like glass that felt nothing while looking at her.

 

The corners of his mouth went up very slowly and finely.

 

“I agreed to be quiet as a condition of waiting for your answer, did you forget?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia blinked.

 

Yeah, it was definitely like that. He told her to follow him and promised to be by her side for the rest of his life… 

 

She replied that she’d answer if he were calm until the end of her work.

 

Lelia finally answered that.

 

“I expected you’d refuse.”

 

“….”

 

“However, I thought you’d think about it a little more.”

 

“…That…”

 

“You’re really…”

 

“….”

 

“You don’t like me, Leo.”

 

As soon as she heard that, she thought something was wrong. Lelia hardened and looked at Oscar.

 

Oscar somehow spoke in a pleasant voice, as if nothing mattered.

 

“Then I’ll do whatever I want now.”

 

“Because you won’t like me no matter what I do.”

 

Whispering in the background, Oscar disappeared from Lelia’s sight.

 

Chapter 5

 

 

It was Ruth.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

He seemed to recognize Lelia. Even though he was looking at her with a strange look, he greeted her happily.

 

Lelia felt her irritation rising sharply.

 

It’s because she often had nightmares of him from the last time she stayed, and then had to flee the Imperial castle. From the time she returned to the estate, until she returned to the capital.

 

They were all nightmares where Ruth was in them.

 

In her dreams, he relentlessly harassed Lelia by using his holy relic as an excuse.


For her, the days she spent in the Imperial castle were a series of misfortunes.

 

Of course, it wasn’t too bad when she thought of her friends, but it was terrible when she thought of Ruth.

 

Perhaps that’s why she couldn’t greet Ruth happily.

 

As she bowed her head slightly with a forced smile, Ruth coughed loudly. As if it was embarrassing.

 

“I won’t ask you why you did that to me, but I do have to ask you one thing.”

 

“….”

 

“Why did you exchange the holy relics?”

 

[Why would I do that? I switched it because I needed it.]

 

She was frustrated because the person she hated the most appeared and quarreled about a disturbing situation.

 

However, Ruth’s position was also not incomprehensible.

 

[You must have thought you were deceived.]

 

She felt a little sorry. Apart from that, she had no energy left to deal with Ruth now.

 

“It was because I needed it.”

 

“Then was the friendship you had with me fake?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia sighed deeply inside and raised her head.

 

When she met Ruth’s eyes, which were shining brightly with great pressure… Suddenly, she felt suffocated.

 

What do you mean friendship? She felt like Ruth always talked to her like a subordinate.

 

“Rather than friendship… I was more of a one-sided errand boy, a messenger.”

 

“What? What do you mean?!”

 

“I’m sorry, but I have nothing more to say, Sir Ruth. There’s nothing I want to say. So, can you get out of my way now?”

 

She couldn’t just pass by because he was blocking a narrow pathway to the garden.

 

Ruth looked at her with a stunned look, as if he was speechless.

 

“Move out of the way.”

 

“….”

 

At Lelia’s words full of annoyance, he stepped aside with a hurt look.

 

Lelia walked past him and moved with purpose.

 

[Why did I come back here?]

 

She wanted to  settle her relationship with Emperor Perseus as soon as possible and live in peace…

 

[I never imagined Griffith would do that to me.]

 

[And then being shameless as if nothing was wrong…]

 

He seemed to have a different way of thinking than her.

 

[I was going to ask Griffith for something else…]

 

Lelia was planning to distribute the alchemy medicine that treated her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s. Because of the fixed materials, the drug could be produced almost indefinitely.

 

She wanted to help many people suffering from the same illness.

 

It was a world where patients and their families have to live under the stigma of suffering from an ‘ethereal disease’ for the rest of their lives.

 

So she was going to ask Griffith for a favor.

 

If rumors spread that he had made medicine for the disease through his divine power, it was clear that the temple would not be able to impose any sanctions.

 

In addition, most people here were religious. She judged that people would trust and take the medicine if it was made by Griffith, who has excellent sacred powers.

 

But now, she was not confident enough to face Griffith again and treat him like before.

 

***

 

There was someone else who she didn’t want to face, other than Griffith, and wasn’t as confident around as before.

 

It was Oscar.

 

Lelia strolled around the garden for a long time to calm her head.

 

Then she realized how much time had passed and turned around. But she could see Oscar approaching from afar.

 

[Uh-oh…]

 

As soon as Lelia found Oscar, she turned around.

 

Then, she started walking fast down the path toward the forest, as if she were subconsciously running away.

 

[Why am I running away?]

 

[Is the medicine still effective?]

 

Two emotions were conflicting in her head.

 

One side demanded she not run away from Oscar because it missed him, and the other shouted to run away because it was too embarrassing.

 

She thought the medicine’s effect had disappeared by morning. However, she realized that she was still wrestling with it.

 

While walking in a hurry, Lelia opened the production screen and found a ‘decryption’.

 

It’s not a poison, but she thought it might be a little effective if she took it as an antidote.

 

  • ‘Antitoxin’ production completed! (。•̀ᴗ-)✧₊˚

 

After checking that the completion screen appeared, she immediately took the medicine out of her inventory.

 

Then stopped to take the medicine… 

 

“You didn’t run away because of me, did you?”

 

A low voice was heard from behind.

 

COUGH

 

Surprised while drinking a medicine bottle, Lelia grabbed her throat while coughing.

 

Then she felt his cold hands touching the back of her neck.

 

Lelia slowly stopped coughing and turned her head.

 

“….”

 

Oscar was looking down at her with a frown.

 

She took a small deep breath while watching him.

 

[If there’s any traces of the medicine left, it’ll disappear, right?]

 

“Lelia.”

 

“….”

 

Even as she waited for a little bit, the medicine’s effect still seemed to remain.

 

Otherwise, Oscar’s voice alone wouldn’t make her heart beat like crazy.

 

His voice calling her name felt so sweet.

 

“What did Griffith feed you?”

 

“….”

 

“Griffith was silent when I cut off his arm.”

 

Lelia frowned at his words.

 

When she visited Griffith earlier, he looked fine, without any wounds.

 

Was it Oscar who visited before that? Or after that?

 

“I won’t open my mouth even if I get tortured because I can heal myself with divine power anyway.”

 

“….”

 

If it weren’t for that, it sounded like he would have cut his arm and tortured him right away.

 

Feeling horrified, Lelia opened her mouth.

 

“…It’s just, it’s not any medicine. It’s okay now, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

 

“…Did you take hallucinogens? Or an estrus drug?”

 

“What kind of…”

 

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have done such a thing.”

 

“….”

 

“There’s no way you’d beg me to kiss you.”

 

“What…”

 

“You… Because you don’t like me.”

 

“….”

 

Lelia was embarrassed by the unexpected words.

 

[I hate you?]

 

How could he think of that… Lelia thought it was ridiculous.

 

But looking at Oscar’s expression, he seemed to really feel that way without any exaggeration.

 

His hurt expression made her feel even more miserable.

 

“….”

 

Lelia clenched her fist. The remaining medicine’s influence was affecting her impulse control.

 

It’s so pitiful and painful. 

 

She wanted to hug him quickly, and soothe him with kisses.

 

Oscar’s expression looked lonely. Like a fairy in a lake, or deep forest, where no one comes to visit.

 

“I don’t hate you, Oscar.”

 

“….”

 

“I don’t know why you think so.”

 

“Then what?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“If you don’t hate me, then do you like me?”

 

Her heart suddenly sank at the sudden question. He sounded like he was pleading.

 

She was confused with what Oscar meant by the words, ‘Do you like me?’ Of course, he was asking on the premise of a relationship between a man and woman.

 

Lelia bowed her head to avoid his eyes.

 

“Sorry. To be honest, I don’t know…”

 

“Then what about the others?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you like someone else, one of the others among us?”

 

Oscar’s eyes as he was asking the question were unusual. 

 

Oscar’s inquisitive eyes looked extraordinary. When he said that, he seemed to be hiding the motivation to tear and kill.

 

“No, I don’t…”

 

[I’ve never thought of my friends in that way.]

 

[I never thought I’d fall in love with anyone of the opposite gender and get married.]

 

Maybe because of the medicine’s effects, she suddenly began to imagine a future where she marries Oscar.

[Editor: Keep blaming the medicine, Lelia. ヽ(´ー` )┌]

 

Oscar in her imagination was sweet and lovely. With warm eyes, who longed for her affection. 

 

Lelia was happy and peaceful.

 

However, in her imagination she was cut off from the world.

 

Even her beloved family, the Superions, were never seen again.

 

For some reason, she frowned at her ominous imaginings. Oscar was really… She felt like she was really going to isolate herself like that.

 

She thought she should speak properly at this point.

 

“Just say it yourself. You will be mine… When you’ve completed what you’re going to do here, you’ll follow me and stay with me for the rest of your life.”

 

Recalling what he had said, Lelia responded.

 

“I can’t keep my promise to you.”

 

“….”

 

“I’m sorry to say this now… I can’t keep up with you.”

 

She needed her family.

 

As precious as her friends were to her, the Superion family was also important to Lelia. 

 

It was the driving force behind her will to live and see the future.

 

There was a moment of silence. 

 

Lelia bowed her head deeply, because she felt sorry for some reason.

 

At that time, a low voice was heard above her head.

 

“Of course…”

 

Strangely, the moment she heard his voice, she felt a chill run up her spine. Lelia looked up reflexively and faced a cold look.

 

Eyes that sparkled like a snake with a strange feeling of madness, stared at her gently.

 

“There’s no reason for me to behave now, right?”


“…Huh?”

 

It was a completely different cold tone and voice from when he seemed to be begging.

 

Lelia couldn’t say anything for a moment, as if her mind had frozen.

 

When Oscar removed the mask, it was as if he threw away the fake eyes that were hiding his inner self.

 

It was only then that Lelia realized.

 

Oscar’s eyes were always like that.

 

When he followed her when she ran away from the Imperial Castle, she remembered the fear she felt from those eyes.

 

While staying at the Superion Territory, Oscar had a calm look. Somehow, she forgot because he had such a warm look on his face. 

 

“….”

 

Now, his eyes were like glass that felt nothing while looking at her.

 

The corners of his mouth went up very slowly and finely.

 

“I agreed to be quiet as a condition of waiting for your answer, did you forget?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia blinked.

 

Yeah, it was definitely like that. He told her to follow him and promised to be by her side for the rest of his life… 

 

She replied that she’d answer if he were calm until the end of her work.

 

Lelia finally answered that.

 

“I expected you’d refuse.”

 

“….”

 

“However, I thought you’d think about it a little more.”

 

“…That…”

 

“You’re really…”

 

“….”

 

“You don’t like me, Leo.”

 

As soon as she heard that, she thought something was wrong. Lelia hardened and looked at Oscar.

 

Oscar somehow spoke in a pleasant voice, as if nothing mattered.

 

“Then I’ll do whatever I want now.”

 

“Because you won’t like me no matter what I do.”

 

Whispering in the background, Oscar disappeared from Lelia’s sight.

 

Chapter 6

 

 

It was Ruth.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

He seemed to recognize Lelia. Even though he was looking at her with a strange look, he greeted her happily.

 

Lelia felt her irritation rising sharply.

 

It’s because she often had nightmares of him from the last time she stayed, and then had to flee the Imperial castle. From the time she returned to the estate, until she returned to the capital.

 

They were all nightmares where Ruth was in them.

 

In her dreams, he relentlessly harassed Lelia by using his holy relic as an excuse.


For her, the days she spent in the Imperial castle were a series of misfortunes.

 

Of course, it wasn’t too bad when she thought of her friends, but it was terrible when she thought of Ruth.

 

Perhaps that’s why she couldn’t greet Ruth happily.

 

As she bowed her head slightly with a forced smile, Ruth coughed loudly. As if it was embarrassing.

 

“I won’t ask you why you did that to me, but I do have to ask you one thing.”

 

“….”

 

“Why did you exchange the holy relics?”

 

[Why would I do that? I switched it because I needed it.]

 

She was frustrated because the person she hated the most appeared and quarreled about a disturbing situation.

 

However, Ruth’s position was also not incomprehensible.

 

[You must have thought you were deceived.]

 

She felt a little sorry. Apart from that, she had no energy left to deal with Ruth now.

 

“It was because I needed it.”

 

“Then was the friendship you had with me fake?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia sighed deeply inside and raised her head.

 

When she met Ruth’s eyes, which were shining brightly with great pressure… Suddenly, she felt suffocated.

 

What do you mean friendship? She felt like Ruth always talked to her like a subordinate.

 

“Rather than friendship… I was more of a one-sided errand boy, a messenger.”

 

“What? What do you mean?!”

 

“I’m sorry, but I have nothing more to say, Sir Ruth. There’s nothing I want to say. So, can you get out of my way now?”

 

She couldn’t just pass by because he was blocking a narrow pathway to the garden.

 

Ruth looked at her with a stunned look, as if he was speechless.

 

“Move out of the way.”

 

“….”

 

At Lelia’s words full of annoyance, he stepped aside with a hurt look.

 

Lelia walked past him and moved with purpose.

 

[Why did I come back here?]

 

She wanted to  settle her relationship with Emperor Perseus as soon as possible and live in peace…

 

[I never imagined Griffith would do that to me.]

 

[And then being shameless as if nothing was wrong…]

 

He seemed to have a different way of thinking than her.

 

[I was going to ask Griffith for something else…]

 

Lelia was planning to distribute the alchemy medicine that treated her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s. Because of the fixed materials, the drug could be produced almost indefinitely.

 

She wanted to help many people suffering from the same illness.

 

It was a world where patients and their families have to live under the stigma of suffering from an ‘ethereal disease’ for the rest of their lives.

 

So she was going to ask Griffith for a favor.

 

If rumors spread that he had made medicine for the disease through his divine power, it was clear that the temple would not be able to impose any sanctions.

 

In addition, most people here were religious. She judged that people would trust and take the medicine if it was made by Griffith, who has excellent sacred powers.

 

But now, she was not confident enough to face Griffith again and treat him like before.

 

***

 

There was someone else who she didn’t want to face, other than Griffith, and wasn’t as confident around as before.

 

It was Oscar.

 

Lelia strolled around the garden for a long time to calm her head.

 

Then she realized how much time had passed and turned around. But she could see Oscar approaching from afar.

 

[Uh-oh…]

 

As soon as Lelia found Oscar, she turned around.

 

Then, she started walking fast down the path toward the forest, as if she were subconsciously running away.

 

[Why am I running away?]

 

[Is the medicine still effective?]

 

Two emotions were conflicting in her head.

 

One side demanded she not run away from Oscar because it missed him, and the other shouted to run away because it was too embarrassing.

 

She thought the medicine’s effect had disappeared by morning. However, she realized that she was still wrestling with it.

 

While walking in a hurry, Lelia opened the production screen and found a ‘decryption’.

 

It’s not a poison, but she thought it might be a little effective if she took it as an antidote.

 

  • ‘Antitoxin’ production completed! (。•̀ᴗ-)✧₊˚

 

After checking that the completion screen appeared, she immediately took the medicine out of her inventory.

 

Then stopped to take the medicine… 

 

“You didn’t run away because of me, did you?”

 

A low voice was heard from behind.

 

COUGH

 

Surprised while drinking a medicine bottle, Lelia grabbed her throat while coughing.

 

Then she felt his cold hands touching the back of her neck.

 

Lelia slowly stopped coughing and turned her head.

 

“….”

 

Oscar was looking down at her with a frown.

 

She took a small deep breath while watching him.

 

[If there’s any traces of the medicine left, it’ll disappear, right?]

 

“Lelia.”

 

“….”

 

Even as she waited for a little bit, the medicine’s effect still seemed to remain.

 

Otherwise, Oscar’s voice alone wouldn’t make her heart beat like crazy.

 

His voice calling her name felt so sweet.

 

“What did Griffith feed you?”

 

“….”

 

“Griffith was silent when I cut off his arm.”

 

Lelia frowned at his words.

 

When she visited Griffith earlier, he looked fine, without any wounds.

 

Was it Oscar who visited before that? Or after that?

 

“I won’t open my mouth even if I get tortured because I can heal myself with divine power anyway.”

 

“….”

 

If it weren’t for that, it sounded like he would have cut his arm and tortured him right away.

 

Feeling horrified, Lelia opened her mouth.

 

“…It’s just, it’s not any medicine. It’s okay now, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

 

“…Did you take hallucinogens? Or an estrus drug?”

 

“What kind of…”

 

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have done such a thing.”

 

“….”

 

“There’s no way you’d beg me to kiss you.”

 

“What…”

 

“You… Because you don’t like me.”

 

“….”

 

Lelia was embarrassed by the unexpected words.

 

[I hate you?]

 

How could he think of that… Lelia thought it was ridiculous.

 

But looking at Oscar’s expression, he seemed to really feel that way without any exaggeration.

 

His hurt expression made her feel even more miserable.

 

“….”

 

Lelia clenched her fist. The remaining medicine’s influence was affecting her impulse control.

 

It’s so pitiful and painful. 

 

She wanted to hug him quickly, and soothe him with kisses.

 

Oscar’s expression looked lonely. Like a fairy in a lake, or deep forest, where no one comes to visit.

 

“I don’t hate you, Oscar.”

 

“….”

 

“I don’t know why you think so.”

 

“Then what?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“If you don’t hate me, then do you like me?”

 

Her heart suddenly sank at the sudden question. He sounded like he was pleading.

 

She was confused with what Oscar meant by the words, ‘Do you like me?’ Of course, he was asking on the premise of a relationship between a man and woman.

 

Lelia bowed her head to avoid his eyes.

 

“Sorry. To be honest, I don’t know…”

 

“Then what about the others?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you like someone else, one of the others among us?”

 

Oscar’s eyes as he was asking the question were unusual. 

 

Oscar’s inquisitive eyes looked extraordinary. When he said that, he seemed to be hiding the motivation to tear and kill.

 

“No, I don’t…”

 

[I’ve never thought of my friends in that way.]

 

[I never thought I’d fall in love with anyone of the opposite gender and get married.]

 

Maybe because of the medicine’s effects, she suddenly began to imagine a future where she marries Oscar.

[Editor: Keep blaming the medicine, Lelia. ヽ(´ー` )┌]

 

Oscar in her imagination was sweet and lovely. With warm eyes, who longed for her affection. 

 

Lelia was happy and peaceful.

 

However, in her imagination she was cut off from the world.

 

Even her beloved family, the Superions, were never seen again.

 

For some reason, she frowned at her ominous imaginings. Oscar was really… She felt like she was really going to isolate herself like that.

 

She thought she should speak properly at this point.

 

“Just say it yourself. You will be mine… When you’ve completed what you’re going to do here, you’ll follow me and stay with me for the rest of your life.”

 

Recalling what he had said, Lelia responded.

 

“I can’t keep my promise to you.”

 

“….”

 

“I’m sorry to say this now… I can’t keep up with you.”

 

She needed her family.

 

As precious as her friends were to her, the Superion family was also important to Lelia. 

 

It was the driving force behind her will to live and see the future.

 

There was a moment of silence. 

 

Lelia bowed her head deeply, because she felt sorry for some reason.

 

At that time, a low voice was heard above her head.

 

“Of course…”

 

Strangely, the moment she heard his voice, she felt a chill run up her spine. Lelia looked up reflexively and faced a cold look.

 

Eyes that sparkled like a snake with a strange feeling of madness, stared at her gently.

 

“There’s no reason for me to behave now, right?”


“…Huh?”

 

It was a completely different cold tone and voice from when he seemed to be begging.

 

Lelia couldn’t say anything for a moment, as if her mind had frozen.

 

When Oscar removed the mask, it was as if he threw away the fake eyes that were hiding his inner self.

 

It was only then that Lelia realized.

 

Oscar’s eyes were always like that.

 

When he followed her when she ran away from the Imperial Castle, she remembered the fear she felt from those eyes.

 

While staying at the Superion Territory, Oscar had a calm look. Somehow, she forgot because he had such a warm look on his face. 

 

“….”

 

Now, his eyes were like glass that felt nothing while looking at her.

 

The corners of his mouth went up very slowly and finely.

 

“I agreed to be quiet as a condition of waiting for your answer, did you forget?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia blinked.

 

Yeah, it was definitely like that. He told her to follow him and promised to be by her side for the rest of his life… 

 

She replied that she’d answer if he were calm until the end of her work.

 

Lelia finally answered that.

 

“I expected you’d refuse.”

 

“….”

 

“However, I thought you’d think about it a little more.”

 

“…That…”

 

“You’re really…”

 

“….”

 

“You don’t like me, Leo.”

 

As soon as she heard that, she thought something was wrong. Lelia hardened and looked at Oscar.

 

Oscar somehow spoke in a pleasant voice, as if nothing mattered.

 

“Then I’ll do whatever I want now.”

 

“Because you won’t like me no matter what I do.”

 

Whispering in the background, Oscar disappeared from Lelia’s sight.

 

Chapter 7

 

 

It was Ruth.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

He seemed to recognize Lelia. Even though he was looking at her with a strange look, he greeted her happily.

 

Lelia felt her irritation rising sharply.

 

It’s because she often had nightmares of him from the last time she stayed, and then had to flee the Imperial castle. From the time she returned to the estate, until she returned to the capital.

 

They were all nightmares where Ruth was in them.

 

In her dreams, he relentlessly harassed Lelia by using his holy relic as an excuse.


For her, the days she spent in the Imperial castle were a series of misfortunes.

 

Of course, it wasn’t too bad when she thought of her friends, but it was terrible when she thought of Ruth.

 

Perhaps that’s why she couldn’t greet Ruth happily.

 

As she bowed her head slightly with a forced smile, Ruth coughed loudly. As if it was embarrassing.

 

“I won’t ask you why you did that to me, but I do have to ask you one thing.”

 

“….”

 

“Why did you exchange the holy relics?”

 

[Why would I do that? I switched it because I needed it.]

 

She was frustrated because the person she hated the most appeared and quarreled about a disturbing situation.

 

However, Ruth’s position was also not incomprehensible.

 

[You must have thought you were deceived.]

 

She felt a little sorry. Apart from that, she had no energy left to deal with Ruth now.

 

“It was because I needed it.”

 

“Then was the friendship you had with me fake?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia sighed deeply inside and raised her head.

 

When she met Ruth’s eyes, which were shining brightly with great pressure… Suddenly, she felt suffocated.

 

What do you mean friendship? She felt like Ruth always talked to her like a subordinate.

 

“Rather than friendship… I was more of a one-sided errand boy, a messenger.”

 

“What? What do you mean?!”

 

“I’m sorry, but I have nothing more to say, Sir Ruth. There’s nothing I want to say. So, can you get out of my way now?”

 

She couldn’t just pass by because he was blocking a narrow pathway to the garden.

 

Ruth looked at her with a stunned look, as if he was speechless.

 

“Move out of the way.”

 

“….”

 

At Lelia’s words full of annoyance, he stepped aside with a hurt look.

 

Lelia walked past him and moved with purpose.

 

[Why did I come back here?]

 

She wanted to  settle her relationship with Emperor Perseus as soon as possible and live in peace…

 

[I never imagined Griffith would do that to me.]

 

[And then being shameless as if nothing was wrong…]

 

He seemed to have a different way of thinking than her.

 

[I was going to ask Griffith for something else…]

 

Lelia was planning to distribute the alchemy medicine that treated her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s. Because of the fixed materials, the drug could be produced almost indefinitely.

 

She wanted to help many people suffering from the same illness.

 

It was a world where patients and their families have to live under the stigma of suffering from an ‘ethereal disease’ for the rest of their lives.

 

So she was going to ask Griffith for a favor.

 

If rumors spread that he had made medicine for the disease through his divine power, it was clear that the temple would not be able to impose any sanctions.

 

In addition, most people here were religious. She judged that people would trust and take the medicine if it was made by Griffith, who has excellent sacred powers.

 

But now, she was not confident enough to face Griffith again and treat him like before.

 

***

 

There was someone else who she didn’t want to face, other than Griffith, and wasn’t as confident around as before.

 

It was Oscar.

 

Lelia strolled around the garden for a long time to calm her head.

 

Then she realized how much time had passed and turned around. But she could see Oscar approaching from afar.

 

[Uh-oh…]

 

As soon as Lelia found Oscar, she turned around.

 

Then, she started walking fast down the path toward the forest, as if she were subconsciously running away.

 

[Why am I running away?]

 

[Is the medicine still effective?]

 

Two emotions were conflicting in her head.

 

One side demanded she not run away from Oscar because it missed him, and the other shouted to run away because it was too embarrassing.

 

She thought the medicine’s effect had disappeared by morning. However, she realized that she was still wrestling with it.

 

While walking in a hurry, Lelia opened the production screen and found a ‘decryption’.

 

It’s not a poison, but she thought it might be a little effective if she took it as an antidote.

 

  • ‘Antitoxin’ production completed! (。•̀ᴗ-)✧₊˚

 

After checking that the completion screen appeared, she immediately took the medicine out of her inventory.

 

Then stopped to take the medicine… 

 

“You didn’t run away because of me, did you?”

 

A low voice was heard from behind.

 

COUGH

 

Surprised while drinking a medicine bottle, Lelia grabbed her throat while coughing.

 

Then she felt his cold hands touching the back of her neck.

 

Lelia slowly stopped coughing and turned her head.

 

“….”

 

Oscar was looking down at her with a frown.

 

She took a small deep breath while watching him.

 

[If there’s any traces of the medicine left, it’ll disappear, right?]

 

“Lelia.”

 

“….”

 

Even as she waited for a little bit, the medicine’s effect still seemed to remain.

 

Otherwise, Oscar’s voice alone wouldn’t make her heart beat like crazy.

 

His voice calling her name felt so sweet.

 

“What did Griffith feed you?”

 

“….”

 

“Griffith was silent when I cut off his arm.”

 

Lelia frowned at his words.

 

When she visited Griffith earlier, he looked fine, without any wounds.

 

Was it Oscar who visited before that? Or after that?

 

“I won’t open my mouth even if I get tortured because I can heal myself with divine power anyway.”

 

“….”

 

If it weren’t for that, it sounded like he would have cut his arm and tortured him right away.

 

Feeling horrified, Lelia opened her mouth.

 

“…It’s just, it’s not any medicine. It’s okay now, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

 

“…Did you take hallucinogens? Or an estrus drug?”

 

“What kind of…”

 

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have done such a thing.”

 

“….”

 

“There’s no way you’d beg me to kiss you.”

 

“What…”

 

“You… Because you don’t like me.”

 

“….”

 

Lelia was embarrassed by the unexpected words.

 

[I hate you?]

 

How could he think of that… Lelia thought it was ridiculous.

 

But looking at Oscar’s expression, he seemed to really feel that way without any exaggeration.

 

His hurt expression made her feel even more miserable.

 

“….”

 

Lelia clenched her fist. The remaining medicine’s influence was affecting her impulse control.

 

It’s so pitiful and painful. 

 

She wanted to hug him quickly, and soothe him with kisses.

 

Oscar’s expression looked lonely. Like a fairy in a lake, or deep forest, where no one comes to visit.

 

“I don’t hate you, Oscar.”

 

“….”

 

“I don’t know why you think so.”

 

“Then what?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“If you don’t hate me, then do you like me?”

 

Her heart suddenly sank at the sudden question. He sounded like he was pleading.

 

She was confused with what Oscar meant by the words, ‘Do you like me?’ Of course, he was asking on the premise of a relationship between a man and woman.

 

Lelia bowed her head to avoid his eyes.

 

“Sorry. To be honest, I don’t know…”

 

“Then what about the others?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you like someone else, one of the others among us?”

 

Oscar’s eyes as he was asking the question were unusual. 

 

Oscar’s inquisitive eyes looked extraordinary. When he said that, he seemed to be hiding the motivation to tear and kill.

 

“No, I don’t…”

 

[I’ve never thought of my friends in that way.]

 

[I never thought I’d fall in love with anyone of the opposite gender and get married.]

 

Maybe because of the medicine’s effects, she suddenly began to imagine a future where she marries Oscar.

[Editor: Keep blaming the medicine, Lelia. ヽ(´ー` )┌]

 

Oscar in her imagination was sweet and lovely. With warm eyes, who longed for her affection. 

 

Lelia was happy and peaceful.

 

However, in her imagination she was cut off from the world.

 

Even her beloved family, the Superions, were never seen again.

 

For some reason, she frowned at her ominous imaginings. Oscar was really… She felt like she was really going to isolate herself like that.

 

She thought she should speak properly at this point.

 

“Just say it yourself. You will be mine… When you’ve completed what you’re going to do here, you’ll follow me and stay with me for the rest of your life.”

 

Recalling what he had said, Lelia responded.

 

“I can’t keep my promise to you.”

 

“….”

 

“I’m sorry to say this now… I can’t keep up with you.”

 

She needed her family.

 

As precious as her friends were to her, the Superion family was also important to Lelia. 

 

It was the driving force behind her will to live and see the future.

 

There was a moment of silence. 

 

Lelia bowed her head deeply, because she felt sorry for some reason.

 

At that time, a low voice was heard above her head.

 

“Of course…”

 

Strangely, the moment she heard his voice, she felt a chill run up her spine. Lelia looked up reflexively and faced a cold look.

 

Eyes that sparkled like a snake with a strange feeling of madness, stared at her gently.

 

“There’s no reason for me to behave now, right?”


“…Huh?”

 

It was a completely different cold tone and voice from when he seemed to be begging.

 

Lelia couldn’t say anything for a moment, as if her mind had frozen.

 

When Oscar removed the mask, it was as if he threw away the fake eyes that were hiding his inner self.

 

It was only then that Lelia realized.

 

Oscar’s eyes were always like that.

 

When he followed her when she ran away from the Imperial Castle, she remembered the fear she felt from those eyes.

 

While staying at the Superion Territory, Oscar had a calm look. Somehow, she forgot because he had such a warm look on his face. 

 

“….”

 

Now, his eyes were like glass that felt nothing while looking at her.

 

The corners of his mouth went up very slowly and finely.

 

“I agreed to be quiet as a condition of waiting for your answer, did you forget?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia blinked.

 

Yeah, it was definitely like that. He told her to follow him and promised to be by her side for the rest of his life… 

 

She replied that she’d answer if he were calm until the end of her work.

 

Lelia finally answered that.

 

“I expected you’d refuse.”

 

“….”

 

“However, I thought you’d think about it a little more.”

 

“…That…”

 

“You’re really…”

 

“….”

 

“You don’t like me, Leo.”

 

As soon as she heard that, she thought something was wrong. Lelia hardened and looked at Oscar.

 

Oscar somehow spoke in a pleasant voice, as if nothing mattered.

 

“Then I’ll do whatever I want now.”

 

“Because you won’t like me no matter what I do.”

 

Whispering in the background, Oscar disappeared from Lelia’s sight.

 

Chapter 8

 

 

It was Ruth.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

He seemed to recognize Lelia. Even though he was looking at her with a strange look, he greeted her happily.

 

Lelia felt her irritation rising sharply.

 

It’s because she often had nightmares of him from the last time she stayed, and then had to flee the Imperial castle. From the time she returned to the estate, until she returned to the capital.

 

They were all nightmares where Ruth was in them.

 

In her dreams, he relentlessly harassed Lelia by using his holy relic as an excuse.


For her, the days she spent in the Imperial castle were a series of misfortunes.

 

Of course, it wasn’t too bad when she thought of her friends, but it was terrible when she thought of Ruth.

 

Perhaps that’s why she couldn’t greet Ruth happily.

 

As she bowed her head slightly with a forced smile, Ruth coughed loudly. As if it was embarrassing.

 

“I won’t ask you why you did that to me, but I do have to ask you one thing.”

 

“….”

 

“Why did you exchange the holy relics?”

 

[Why would I do that? I switched it because I needed it.]

 

She was frustrated because the person she hated the most appeared and quarreled about a disturbing situation.

 

However, Ruth’s position was also not incomprehensible.

 

[You must have thought you were deceived.]

 

She felt a little sorry. Apart from that, she had no energy left to deal with Ruth now.

 

“It was because I needed it.”

 

“Then was the friendship you had with me fake?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia sighed deeply inside and raised her head.

 

When she met Ruth’s eyes, which were shining brightly with great pressure… Suddenly, she felt suffocated.

 

What do you mean friendship? She felt like Ruth always talked to her like a subordinate.

 

“Rather than friendship… I was more of a one-sided errand boy, a messenger.”

 

“What? What do you mean?!”

 

“I’m sorry, but I have nothing more to say, Sir Ruth. There’s nothing I want to say. So, can you get out of my way now?”

 

She couldn’t just pass by because he was blocking a narrow pathway to the garden.

 

Ruth looked at her with a stunned look, as if he was speechless.

 

“Move out of the way.”

 

“….”

 

At Lelia’s words full of annoyance, he stepped aside with a hurt look.

 

Lelia walked past him and moved with purpose.

 

[Why did I come back here?]

 

She wanted to  settle her relationship with Emperor Perseus as soon as possible and live in peace…

 

[I never imagined Griffith would do that to me.]

 

[And then being shameless as if nothing was wrong…]

 

He seemed to have a different way of thinking than her.

 

[I was going to ask Griffith for something else…]

 

Lelia was planning to distribute the alchemy medicine that treated her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s. Because of the fixed materials, the drug could be produced almost indefinitely.

 

She wanted to help many people suffering from the same illness.

 

It was a world where patients and their families have to live under the stigma of suffering from an ‘ethereal disease’ for the rest of their lives.

 

So she was going to ask Griffith for a favor.

 

If rumors spread that he had made medicine for the disease through his divine power, it was clear that the temple would not be able to impose any sanctions.

 

In addition, most people here were religious. She judged that people would trust and take the medicine if it was made by Griffith, who has excellent sacred powers.

 

But now, she was not confident enough to face Griffith again and treat him like before.

 

***

 

There was someone else who she didn’t want to face, other than Griffith, and wasn’t as confident around as before.

 

It was Oscar.

 

Lelia strolled around the garden for a long time to calm her head.

 

Then she realized how much time had passed and turned around. But she could see Oscar approaching from afar.

 

[Uh-oh…]

 

As soon as Lelia found Oscar, she turned around.

 

Then, she started walking fast down the path toward the forest, as if she were subconsciously running away.

 

[Why am I running away?]

 

[Is the medicine still effective?]

 

Two emotions were conflicting in her head.

 

One side demanded she not run away from Oscar because it missed him, and the other shouted to run away because it was too embarrassing.

 

She thought the medicine’s effect had disappeared by morning. However, she realized that she was still wrestling with it.

 

While walking in a hurry, Lelia opened the production screen and found a ‘decryption’.

 

It’s not a poison, but she thought it might be a little effective if she took it as an antidote.

 

  • ‘Antitoxin’ production completed! (。•̀ᴗ-)✧₊˚

 

After checking that the completion screen appeared, she immediately took the medicine out of her inventory.

 

Then stopped to take the medicine… 

 

“You didn’t run away because of me, did you?”

 

A low voice was heard from behind.

 

COUGH

 

Surprised while drinking a medicine bottle, Lelia grabbed her throat while coughing.

 

Then she felt his cold hands touching the back of her neck.

 

Lelia slowly stopped coughing and turned her head.

 

“….”

 

Oscar was looking down at her with a frown.

 

She took a small deep breath while watching him.

 

[If there’s any traces of the medicine left, it’ll disappear, right?]

 

“Lelia.”

 

“….”

 

Even as she waited for a little bit, the medicine’s effect still seemed to remain.

 

Otherwise, Oscar’s voice alone wouldn’t make her heart beat like crazy.

 

His voice calling her name felt so sweet.

 

“What did Griffith feed you?”

 

“….”

 

“Griffith was silent when I cut off his arm.”

 

Lelia frowned at his words.

 

When she visited Griffith earlier, he looked fine, without any wounds.

 

Was it Oscar who visited before that? Or after that?

 

“I won’t open my mouth even if I get tortured because I can heal myself with divine power anyway.”

 

“….”

 

If it weren’t for that, it sounded like he would have cut his arm and tortured him right away.

 

Feeling horrified, Lelia opened her mouth.

 

“…It’s just, it’s not any medicine. It’s okay now, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

 

“…Did you take hallucinogens? Or an estrus drug?”

 

“What kind of…”

 

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have done such a thing.”

 

“….”

 

“There’s no way you’d beg me to kiss you.”

 

“What…”

 

“You… Because you don’t like me.”

 

“….”

 

Lelia was embarrassed by the unexpected words.

 

[I hate you?]

 

How could he think of that… Lelia thought it was ridiculous.

 

But looking at Oscar’s expression, he seemed to really feel that way without any exaggeration.

 

His hurt expression made her feel even more miserable.

 

“….”

 

Lelia clenched her fist. The remaining medicine’s influence was affecting her impulse control.

 

It’s so pitiful and painful. 

 

She wanted to hug him quickly, and soothe him with kisses.

 

Oscar’s expression looked lonely. Like a fairy in a lake, or deep forest, where no one comes to visit.

 

“I don’t hate you, Oscar.”

 

“….”

 

“I don’t know why you think so.”

 

“Then what?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“If you don’t hate me, then do you like me?”

 

Her heart suddenly sank at the sudden question. He sounded like he was pleading.

 

She was confused with what Oscar meant by the words, ‘Do you like me?’ Of course, he was asking on the premise of a relationship between a man and woman.

 

Lelia bowed her head to avoid his eyes.

 

“Sorry. To be honest, I don’t know…”

 

“Then what about the others?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you like someone else, one of the others among us?”

 

Oscar’s eyes as he was asking the question were unusual. 

 

Oscar’s inquisitive eyes looked extraordinary. When he said that, he seemed to be hiding the motivation to tear and kill.

 

“No, I don’t…”

 

[I’ve never thought of my friends in that way.]

 

[I never thought I’d fall in love with anyone of the opposite gender and get married.]

 

Maybe because of the medicine’s effects, she suddenly began to imagine a future where she marries Oscar.

[Editor: Keep blaming the medicine, Lelia. ヽ(´ー` )┌]

 

Oscar in her imagination was sweet and lovely. With warm eyes, who longed for her affection. 

 

Lelia was happy and peaceful.

 

However, in her imagination she was cut off from the world.

 

Even her beloved family, the Superions, were never seen again.

 

For some reason, she frowned at her ominous imaginings. Oscar was really… She felt like she was really going to isolate herself like that.

 

She thought she should speak properly at this point.

 

“Just say it yourself. You will be mine… When you’ve completed what you’re going to do here, you’ll follow me and stay with me for the rest of your life.”

 

Recalling what he had said, Lelia responded.

 

“I can’t keep my promise to you.”

 

“….”

 

“I’m sorry to say this now… I can’t keep up with you.”

 

She needed her family.

 

As precious as her friends were to her, the Superion family was also important to Lelia. 

 

It was the driving force behind her will to live and see the future.

 

There was a moment of silence. 

 

Lelia bowed her head deeply, because she felt sorry for some reason.

 

At that time, a low voice was heard above her head.

 

“Of course…”

 

Strangely, the moment she heard his voice, she felt a chill run up her spine. Lelia looked up reflexively and faced a cold look.

 

Eyes that sparkled like a snake with a strange feeling of madness, stared at her gently.

 

“There’s no reason for me to behave now, right?”


“…Huh?”

 

It was a completely different cold tone and voice from when he seemed to be begging.

 

Lelia couldn’t say anything for a moment, as if her mind had frozen.

 

When Oscar removed the mask, it was as if he threw away the fake eyes that were hiding his inner self.

 

It was only then that Lelia realized.

 

Oscar’s eyes were always like that.

 

When he followed her when she ran away from the Imperial Castle, she remembered the fear she felt from those eyes.

 

While staying at the Superion Territory, Oscar had a calm look. Somehow, she forgot because he had such a warm look on his face. 

 

“….”

 

Now, his eyes were like glass that felt nothing while looking at her.

 

The corners of his mouth went up very slowly and finely.

 

“I agreed to be quiet as a condition of waiting for your answer, did you forget?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia blinked.

 

Yeah, it was definitely like that. He told her to follow him and promised to be by her side for the rest of his life… 

 

She replied that she’d answer if he were calm until the end of her work.

 

Lelia finally answered that.

 

“I expected you’d refuse.”

 

“….”

 

“However, I thought you’d think about it a little more.”

 

“…That…”

 

“You’re really…”

 

“….”

 

“You don’t like me, Leo.”

 

As soon as she heard that, she thought something was wrong. Lelia hardened and looked at Oscar.

 

Oscar somehow spoke in a pleasant voice, as if nothing mattered.

 

“Then I’ll do whatever I want now.”

 

“Because you won’t like me no matter what I do.”

 

Whispering in the background, Oscar disappeared from Lelia’s sight.

 

Chapter 9

 

 

It was Ruth.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

He seemed to recognize Lelia. Even though he was looking at her with a strange look, he greeted her happily.

 

Lelia felt her irritation rising sharply.

 

It’s because she often had nightmares of him from the last time she stayed, and then had to flee the Imperial castle. From the time she returned to the estate, until she returned to the capital.

 

They were all nightmares where Ruth was in them.

 

In her dreams, he relentlessly harassed Lelia by using his holy relic as an excuse.


For her, the days she spent in the Imperial castle were a series of misfortunes.

 

Of course, it wasn’t too bad when she thought of her friends, but it was terrible when she thought of Ruth.

 

Perhaps that’s why she couldn’t greet Ruth happily.

 

As she bowed her head slightly with a forced smile, Ruth coughed loudly. As if it was embarrassing.

 

“I won’t ask you why you did that to me, but I do have to ask you one thing.”

 

“….”

 

“Why did you exchange the holy relics?”

 

[Why would I do that? I switched it because I needed it.]

 

She was frustrated because the person she hated the most appeared and quarreled about a disturbing situation.

 

However, Ruth’s position was also not incomprehensible.

 

[You must have thought you were deceived.]

 

She felt a little sorry. Apart from that, she had no energy left to deal with Ruth now.

 

“It was because I needed it.”

 

“Then was the friendship you had with me fake?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia sighed deeply inside and raised her head.

 

When she met Ruth’s eyes, which were shining brightly with great pressure… Suddenly, she felt suffocated.

 

What do you mean friendship? She felt like Ruth always talked to her like a subordinate.

 

“Rather than friendship… I was more of a one-sided errand boy, a messenger.”

 

“What? What do you mean?!”

 

“I’m sorry, but I have nothing more to say, Sir Ruth. There’s nothing I want to say. So, can you get out of my way now?”

 

She couldn’t just pass by because he was blocking a narrow pathway to the garden.

 

Ruth looked at her with a stunned look, as if he was speechless.

 

“Move out of the way.”

 

“….”

 

At Lelia’s words full of annoyance, he stepped aside with a hurt look.

 

Lelia walked past him and moved with purpose.

 

[Why did I come back here?]

 

She wanted to  settle her relationship with Emperor Perseus as soon as possible and live in peace…

 

[I never imagined Griffith would do that to me.]

 

[And then being shameless as if nothing was wrong…]

 

He seemed to have a different way of thinking than her.

 

[I was going to ask Griffith for something else…]

 

Lelia was planning to distribute the alchemy medicine that treated her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s. Because of the fixed materials, the drug could be produced almost indefinitely.

 

She wanted to help many people suffering from the same illness.

 

It was a world where patients and their families have to live under the stigma of suffering from an ‘ethereal disease’ for the rest of their lives.

 

So she was going to ask Griffith for a favor.

 

If rumors spread that he had made medicine for the disease through his divine power, it was clear that the temple would not be able to impose any sanctions.

 

In addition, most people here were religious. She judged that people would trust and take the medicine if it was made by Griffith, who has excellent sacred powers.

 

But now, she was not confident enough to face Griffith again and treat him like before.

 

***

 

There was someone else who she didn’t want to face, other than Griffith, and wasn’t as confident around as before.

 

It was Oscar.

 

Lelia strolled around the garden for a long time to calm her head.

 

Then she realized how much time had passed and turned around. But she could see Oscar approaching from afar.

 

[Uh-oh…]

 

As soon as Lelia found Oscar, she turned around.

 

Then, she started walking fast down the path toward the forest, as if she were subconsciously running away.

 

[Why am I running away?]

 

[Is the medicine still effective?]

 

Two emotions were conflicting in her head.

 

One side demanded she not run away from Oscar because it missed him, and the other shouted to run away because it was too embarrassing.

 

She thought the medicine’s effect had disappeared by morning. However, she realized that she was still wrestling with it.

 

While walking in a hurry, Lelia opened the production screen and found a ‘decryption’.

 

It’s not a poison, but she thought it might be a little effective if she took it as an antidote.

 

  • ‘Antitoxin’ production completed! (。•̀ᴗ-)✧₊˚

 

After checking that the completion screen appeared, she immediately took the medicine out of her inventory.

 

Then stopped to take the medicine… 

 

“You didn’t run away because of me, did you?”

 

A low voice was heard from behind.

 

COUGH

 

Surprised while drinking a medicine bottle, Lelia grabbed her throat while coughing.

 

Then she felt his cold hands touching the back of her neck.

 

Lelia slowly stopped coughing and turned her head.

 

“….”

 

Oscar was looking down at her with a frown.

 

She took a small deep breath while watching him.

 

[If there’s any traces of the medicine left, it’ll disappear, right?]

 

“Lelia.”

 

“….”

 

Even as she waited for a little bit, the medicine’s effect still seemed to remain.

 

Otherwise, Oscar’s voice alone wouldn’t make her heart beat like crazy.

 

His voice calling her name felt so sweet.

 

“What did Griffith feed you?”

 

“….”

 

“Griffith was silent when I cut off his arm.”

 

Lelia frowned at his words.

 

When she visited Griffith earlier, he looked fine, without any wounds.

 

Was it Oscar who visited before that? Or after that?

 

“I won’t open my mouth even if I get tortured because I can heal myself with divine power anyway.”

 

“….”

 

If it weren’t for that, it sounded like he would have cut his arm and tortured him right away.

 

Feeling horrified, Lelia opened her mouth.

 

“…It’s just, it’s not any medicine. It’s okay now, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

 

“…Did you take hallucinogens? Or an estrus drug?”

 

“What kind of…”

 

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have done such a thing.”

 

“….”

 

“There’s no way you’d beg me to kiss you.”

 

“What…”

 

“You… Because you don’t like me.”

 

“….”

 

Lelia was embarrassed by the unexpected words.

 

[I hate you?]

 

How could he think of that… Lelia thought it was ridiculous.

 

But looking at Oscar’s expression, he seemed to really feel that way without any exaggeration.

 

His hurt expression made her feel even more miserable.

 

“….”

 

Lelia clenched her fist. The remaining medicine’s influence was affecting her impulse control.

 

It’s so pitiful and painful. 

 

She wanted to hug him quickly, and soothe him with kisses.

 

Oscar’s expression looked lonely. Like a fairy in a lake, or deep forest, where no one comes to visit.

 

“I don’t hate you, Oscar.”

 

“….”

 

“I don’t know why you think so.”

 

“Then what?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“If you don’t hate me, then do you like me?”

 

Her heart suddenly sank at the sudden question. He sounded like he was pleading.

 

She was confused with what Oscar meant by the words, ‘Do you like me?’ Of course, he was asking on the premise of a relationship between a man and woman.

 

Lelia bowed her head to avoid his eyes.

 

“Sorry. To be honest, I don’t know…”

 

“Then what about the others?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you like someone else, one of the others among us?”

 

Oscar’s eyes as he was asking the question were unusual. 

 

Oscar’s inquisitive eyes looked extraordinary. When he said that, he seemed to be hiding the motivation to tear and kill.

 

“No, I don’t…”

 

[I’ve never thought of my friends in that way.]

 

[I never thought I’d fall in love with anyone of the opposite gender and get married.]

 

Maybe because of the medicine’s effects, she suddenly began to imagine a future where she marries Oscar.

[Editor: Keep blaming the medicine, Lelia. ヽ(´ー` )┌]

 

Oscar in her imagination was sweet and lovely. With warm eyes, who longed for her affection. 

 

Lelia was happy and peaceful.

 

However, in her imagination she was cut off from the world.

 

Even her beloved family, the Superions, were never seen again.

 

For some reason, she frowned at her ominous imaginings. Oscar was really… She felt like she was really going to isolate herself like that.

 

She thought she should speak properly at this point.

 

“Just say it yourself. You will be mine… When you’ve completed what you’re going to do here, you’ll follow me and stay with me for the rest of your life.”

 

Recalling what he had said, Lelia responded.

 

“I can’t keep my promise to you.”

 

“….”

 

“I’m sorry to say this now… I can’t keep up with you.”

 

She needed her family.

 

As precious as her friends were to her, the Superion family was also important to Lelia. 

 

It was the driving force behind her will to live and see the future.

 

There was a moment of silence. 

 

Lelia bowed her head deeply, because she felt sorry for some reason.

 

At that time, a low voice was heard above her head.

 

“Of course…”

 

Strangely, the moment she heard his voice, she felt a chill run up her spine. Lelia looked up reflexively and faced a cold look.

 

Eyes that sparkled like a snake with a strange feeling of madness, stared at her gently.

 

“There’s no reason for me to behave now, right?”


“…Huh?”

 

It was a completely different cold tone and voice from when he seemed to be begging.

 

Lelia couldn’t say anything for a moment, as if her mind had frozen.

 

When Oscar removed the mask, it was as if he threw away the fake eyes that were hiding his inner self.

 

It was only then that Lelia realized.

 

Oscar’s eyes were always like that.

 

When he followed her when she ran away from the Imperial Castle, she remembered the fear she felt from those eyes.

 

While staying at the Superion Territory, Oscar had a calm look. Somehow, she forgot because he had such a warm look on his face. 

 

“….”

 

Now, his eyes were like glass that felt nothing while looking at her.

 

The corners of his mouth went up very slowly and finely.

 

“I agreed to be quiet as a condition of waiting for your answer, did you forget?”

 

“….”

 

Lelia blinked.

 

Yeah, it was definitely like that. He told her to follow him and promised to be by her side for the rest of his life… 

 

She replied that she’d answer if he were calm until the end of her work.