Chapter 431

“Oh my God, Eri.”
Adrian jerked to his feet. Her usually stoic expression was wavering precariously. She covered her lower lip with her fan to hide her agitation and asked the question again.
“Eri—no, Erzebet. Are you all right now, and how are you feeling?”
Erzebet remained silent. Impatiently, Adrian gestured aside. The door to the parlor opened softly, revealing the cloaked figure of the girl.
“Hic.”
Asel gulped, looking like he’d found a corpse in the closet. I was surprised, too. If it weren’t for Adrian’s violet eyes, I wouldn’t have recognized him.
“What the hell happened?”
Erzébet was no longer the elegant noblewoman she had been.
Uncombed hair covered most of his face. His limbs hung limp like the ropes of a gallows. The flesh peeking out from beneath the translucent slip was so pale it was like looking at snow on a grave.
Pardon the rudeness, but it was like he was a junkie.
“Young lady, you can’t come out like that.”
Just then, a familiar maid rushed over and draped a blanket over Erzebet’s shoulders. It was Liz, who had taken Asher’s underwear and pride with her.
“You’re one thing, but there are men from the outside, and you’d better watch your demeanor.”
Liz smoothed the blanket meticulously, making sure it didn’t show any skin. I don’t know if it’s because I’m used to it, but it’s a skillful, careful touch.
“——.”
But Erzebet didn’t say thank you or even glance at Liz until she was gone. Her purple eyes moved like beads, alternating between me and Aselman.
Adrian was about to say something when his daughter looked at him with concern.
“You’re taking the —— exam?”
Erzebet’s lips finally parted.
“Huh?”
“You’re giving these crooks who don’t know where they’re coming from–a chance to be part of Acalusia?”
There was a edge to her tone. The flesh on his slender shoulders flared like wildfire. Despite his intent to intimidate, the only one who cowered was Asel.
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“What kind of rude thing is that to say, “I’m a scammer”?”
“I’ve heard it all, and you’re just buying into that nonsense? Parallel worlds, soul-devouring giants–there’s no way such things exist.”
“Hah—I must have been uneducated to eavesdrop on Gazoo’s conversation.”
Adrian folded the fan. His face hardened into a hard line. The sternness of his patriarch’s demeanor overlay the worry in his eyes.
“I don’t know where you heard it, but everything Ronan here told me was the truth. Judging by all of my information and experience, including classified information, and the knowledge of the leading House of Akalusia, have you forgotten the family maxim that if it’s true, no matter how fictional, it must be accepted as such?”
“Even if what they’re saying is true, I can’t accept this one. How can you tolerate people who forged the invitation that Adeshaan’s sister got and came in? Have you forgotten her face already?”
“That’s—!”
Adrian bit his lower lip, unable to answer.
I was about to say something more, but stopped myself.
“It’s probably not a good idea to interject here.
She listened, not intervened, in arguments between husband and wife or mother and daughter. Moreover, it was clear that Erzebet was in no condition to have a normal conversation.
Trying to prove my innocence by pointing to Adeshan’s secrets, which only Erzebet and I knew, didn’t seem to work at this point. He has a mole deep on his left thigh, or he doesn’t grow any body hair below his neck, or something like that.
Oh, shit. I really miss you.
“I don’t understand, how long has it been since he was buried—did you throw him out because he could no longer work for Acalusia?”
“Watch what you say, Erzebet, you know it’s not like that.”
“Yes, I’m sure you are, and I know you’ll never bend to my will, and I know my rant sounds like an immature rant, but I’ve got ideas, there, you.”
“Me, me?”
Suddenly, Erzebet turned to Asel.
Asel froze in place as he met the murderous eyes.
“Yes. You said you’re taking the hardest test of all. It’s against an Akalusian insider. You’ll have to test your skills against a knight, a mage, or an adept already in the business.”
“What the—!”
“You’re a wizard, so a wizard should go up against you. I don’t know how talented you are, but I’m sure that’s enough to gauge your skills. I’d like to go up against him, but that shouldn’t be a problem, should it, Gazoo? It’s first come, first served.”
Erzebet glanced back at Adrian, her face stiffening like a sarab who’d taken a jab to the jaw. Biting his lower lip, Adrian nodded.
“——Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with the rules.”
“Okay then, your opponent is me, and you don’t have to tell me his name because I don’t want to know. I’ll be over in three seconds anyway.”
Erzebet snorted. It was a small laugh, but it was enough to make Asel, whose liver was the size of an ant’s asshole, shudder.
Adrian looked at his daughter with a wistful expression and shook his head.
“But I can’t grant that proposal, Erzebet.”
“—Why?”
“It is Gaju’s judgment. The test for entrance into the sacred Akalusia must be done with pure goodwill, which is impossible for you at this time.”
“This is unheard of, my lord. Do you think I would kill or maim that impostor–that challenger, do you think I would do that to a lamb who isn’t even worth the trouble?”
Erzebet asked, but Adrian didn’t answer. Asel was still a honeyed dumbfounder, a crippled little man who couldn’t speak a word.
An awkward silence ensued.
“Oh, fuck you. Come on, let me fight you.”
Scratching my head, I opened my mouth.
Adrian’s eyes widened.
“Ronan?”
“I’ve been living on my high horse, and it’s about time I broke it. I know it’s hard, but a little foolishness goes a long way, and you know what comes out of your mouth.”
“——what?”
Erzebet’s brow furrowed. Asel stared at me, mouth agape.
His eyes were a half-and-half mix of ‘I’m fine’ and ‘Gazoo is in front of me, you crazy asshole’.
Or not,” he said.
“It’s about time you broke one. Has your earwax clogged your eardrums from the long chipper?”
“You–you mean you know who I am?”
“I know you well enough to know that, so watch your tongue, you little bitch. You forgot how to wash your face, and you’re talking smack about my friend, and you think Adeshan would be happy to see you the way you are?”
“How dare you use that name—!”
Erzebet raised an eyebrow. The flesh on her shoulders grew thicker, and a creaking sound began to echo throughout the parlor.
“Ro, Ronan–please stop.”
Asel was clinging to my back, almost crying. I was still facing Erzebet with my hands in my pockets. She gritted her teeth and growled low.
“Just one more word. Then—”
“What are you going to do about it?” Adeshan would have said, “Eri, please come to your senses. Eri, please wake up!”
“Whoever said that name, put it in your mouth!”
Erzebet roared.
At the same time, a violet flash exploded between me and her.
Kaaaahhh-!!!
A fierce shockwave swept through the parlor.
All the windows were shattered at once. Books spilled out and the chandelier that lit the parlor snapped its strings.
Soon the flashes faded, and Erzebeth emerged, breathing heavily, looking like a ghost.
“Ha, ha, ha—!”
“Whoa.”
I rolled my eyes and marveled. Exactly three steps in front of me, a meteorite had fallen and formed a hole of indeterminate depth, the sidewalls of which revealed the underlying stone.
“Ugh, ugh.”
Asel’s legs gave out, and he fell back. It was a force to be reckoned with. A direct hit from there would have been far worse than the lion statue at the gate. I was about to move when I realized that I could probably squeeze in a honey chestnut.
A blast of intangible shockwave from his back slammed into Erzebet.
“Ugh!”
My slender body jerked backward. I turned my head in the direction of the shockwave.
Adrian squinted, fan outstretched. The broken chandelier and the portraits that had fallen from the walls lingered as if stuffed into thin air. For some reason, there was no sound, but she must have telekinetically captured it.
Taking a deep breath, Adrian muttered, “I’m not going to lie.
“Erzebet. Go back to your room.”
“I’ll do it even if you don’t tell me ——.”
Erzebeth staggered to her feet. Adrian flicked his fan and slammed the door before her back was turned. A harsh echo rang out.
Her fists clenched into tight fists, she opened her mouth to speak.
“—Sorry, everyone. Let me apologize on my behalf.”
“No, I understand, that’s what happened after Adeshan died, right?”
“It’s ——.”
Adrian grumbled. As expected, the different parallel worlds hadn’t changed their relationship. Adeshan was Erzebet’s sister and her eternal crush. I’m sure she’s the only one who likes Adeshan more than me.
“That’s a lot better, isn’t it?”
“Sometimes I thought it was because he’d come out of his room, and I was glad to see him, but I couldn’t believe he was still that messed up—I mean, it’s all because I didn’t pay attention to him, because I used Gazoo as an excuse, and I’m not a parent.”
“Don’t be so pessimistic. It’s just the way things go when you’re busy. It’ll get better with time.”
“Wow–that’s so nice of you to say, it would be so much better if he were alive.”
“He? Do you mean your husband?”
“Yeah. He was the epitome of a stroke of genius, and Eri was really good at following him—— I’m sorry, I don’t really want to talk about it.”
Adrian trailed off and closed his eyes. Something dark seemed to be going on. She set the fan down on the table and looked back at me.
“I apologize again for the inconvenience my daughter has caused you, but rest assured that Asel will not be facing off against Erzebeth, and I think I’ll have to search the treasury for the tools Ronan requested.”
“You mean there might not be?”
“I can’t say for sure, because, as you know, blood needles are very rare, but I’ll do my best to get you one, so don’t worry too much.”
Adrian chuckled. The awkward laughter was accompanied by a determination to somehow make amends for the disturbance earlier.
“For now, get some rest tonight. There will be treasures, visits, and tests tomorrow—I’ll show you to the safest quarters in the manor.”
“Thanks, that’s all I need.”
“Thanks for your understanding. Oh, by the way, there’s one thing you need to know.”
“What?”
I shook my head at the unintelligible words. After a moment, Adrian’s smile faded, and he turned serious.
“Just don’t go into the basement, and I need you to protect this one.”