Episode 82
"Then, I'm going to sleep a bit. You all watch over Lulu."
"It's morning and you're sleeping again?"
Irina, who had come up to the second floor after talking with Kania for a while, tilted her head at Frey's words and asked.
"Sorry, lately I'm not feeling rested no matter how much I sleep. Just one hour."
As he said this, dark circles had settled under Frey's eyes, as if to prove his words weren't lies.
It was an appearance far too exhausted for someone who had supposedly slept for a full week.
"Alright... then sleep well."
"Thanks, let Kania know when she comes."
After saying that, Frey lay down on the bed and immediately fell asleep.
"Frey... is asleep?"
Irina, who had been staring blankly at that sight, began to approach the deeply sleeping Frey.
"...He is asleep."
Irina, who was carefully examining him sleeping so deeply that he wouldn't notice if someone carried him away, began to recall memories of nursing Frey over the past week.
"How difficult must the trial have been for him to still be this tired after sleeping for a week."
Irina, who had moved Frey to a secret hideout in the forest near the mansion after he fell into a deep sleep due to the trial a week ago and nursed him all day long, had a rough understanding of how harsh the trial Frey endured had been.
"I, I want to get out..."
"Frey! Are you conscious?"
"This place... is the worst..."
This was because Frey, lying on the bed in the hideout, had been having such sleep-talking episodes every few minutes.
"Irina..."
"F-Frey?"
When Frey called her name, she thought he had finally overcome the trial and woken up.
"Why did you change like that... why..."
But Frey hadn't woken up.
Rather, he was despairing while looking at Irina within the trial.
"...Sigh."
Irina, who had been watching that sight back then, couldn't bring herself to stay by Frey's side with a clear mind.
This was because the trial, which was clearly caused by her own mistake, was causing Frey pain every single moment.
"Mmm, mmmm..."
"F-Frey!"
Then one day, when Frey started convulsing with a pale face. Irina's guilt reached its peak.
"W-what should I do? What should I do!"
"Irina-sama. Please calm down first..."
"Kania. Take me into Frey's dream. Please."
Irina, who wanted to somehow help Frey who was clearly going through a terrible experience, desperately begged Kania who had been trying to infiltrate Frey's trial.
"An unknown power is blocking entry. I apologize."
Kania only shook her head as she said that.
"Frey, he's sleeping peacefully now, right?"
Irina, who stopped her reminiscence, stroked Frey's head as he lay with a comfortable expression and asked carefully.
Of course, there was no way a reply would come from the deeply sleeping Frey, but Irina could finally feel at ease.
At least Frey wasn't sleep-talking with a painful expression.
"...Irina-sama? What are you doing?"
"Ek!"
Irina, who had been carefully stroking the sleeping Frey's head, flinched at Kania's voice coming from behind and turned her head.
"Well... ah, please take care of Lulu over there."
"Me?"
When Irina, who had trailed off for a moment, pointed at Lulu who was slumped beside Frey, Kania began to frown.
"Yes, Frey said to leave Lulu to you."
"And Irina-sama?"
"I... was told to clean the room."
Irina, who said that while avoiding Kania's gaze, picked up a broom placed in the corner of the room and started cleaning.
"...Sigh."
Kania, who had been looking disapprovingly at that sight, sighed as Lulu, who was slumped on the floor, started tossing and turning, and began approaching her.
"Please clean thoroughly."
When Kania, who had picked up Lulu, said that and left the room, Irina, who had been sweeping the floor with a calm expression, stopped sweeping and started looking at Frey again.
"...Oh my."
Irina, who carefully approached Frey's side again, discovered the wound on his shoulder that had been there until now and quietly lowered her head.
'That... was the wound he got protecting me from Fenrir in the Ashen Forest.'
Irina, who recalled Frey desperately protecting her when she couldn't use magic, remembered the time when she had recklessly thrown fireballs at him during the practical evaluation and lifted Frey's clothes with a trembling expression.
".....!"
On his body, burn scars left by Irina were clearly visible.
'Strange... all the wounds have remained as scars?'
Irina, who saw that not only that but all the wounds Frey had received until now remained as scars, wore a stunned expression and began stroking those scars.
'...As expected, I need to go find that person.'
Irina, who had been stroking the scars for a while, finally made her decision.
For Frey, who had countless indelible scars because of her, who had undergone trials to the point of near death, and yet still forgave her... she decided to find that person she thought she would never visit in her lifetime.
And if she found her, she would pay any price, even if it meant shaving away her own life.
Somehow, she would extend Frey's lifespan.
"That would be the only atonement I can offer you."
Irina, who muttered that, hesitated for a moment before carefully pressing her lips to Frey's cheek.
"I, I should clean."
Irina, who then spoke loudly to herself even though no one was watching, blushed and started sweeping again.
If her past self, the proud archmage, had seen that appearance, she probably would have fainted in shock.
.
"So you've been taking care of Lulu until now?"
"Yes, that is correct. Since it was the young master's command..."
When Frey, who had slept for an hour and woken up, called Kania, she immediately came running from the next room where she had been caring for Lulu.
"And Irina?"
"I heard Irina-sama was ordered to clean by the young master."
"...Was that so?"
Frey, who didn't remember clearly because he had said it while half-asleep, thought it didn't matter since Lulu was safe and the room was clean, and got up from his seat.
"Young master? Where are you going?"
When Frey, who had gotten up, started preparing to go outside, Kania asked with a curious expression.
"Ah, I need to prepare for the 'Slave Market Raid Incident' soon. I'm going to the information guild to collect information."
"Information collection? I can handle that for you."
When Frey kindly answered her, Kania started to look puzzled.
As the butler and effective head of the Starlight Duke family, Kania was well-versed in information collection, so such a reaction was natural.
"Actually, I have another purpose for going to the information guild besides collecting information."
"Another purpose?"
"Yes, the 'information guild leader's daughter' who is a sub-heroine that I mentioned before. It's about time I showed my face."
Hearing that, Kania changed her expression to a cold one and spoke.
"I see, then I will accompany you as well."
"Alright, take good care of the hou... what?"
Frey, who was about to say goodbye to Kania and head outside, asked back with a bewildered expression.
"You'll accompany me?"
"Yes, as you heard."
"And Lulu?"
"Leave her to Irina-sama."
When Kania, who had a cold expression, said without hesitation, Frey sighed quietly and said.
"I appreciate your concern for me... but the person I'm meeting this time isn't an ordinary person. So I want to hide our relationship if possible..."
"She's just the information guild's daughter, isn't she?"
Kania, who took pride in her position as the butler who effectively managed the Starlight family, frowned and asked, and Frey chuckled and answered.
"True, she is the information guild's daughter."
"Then why on earth..."
"...She's also a duke family's young lady at the same time."
Kania started to wear a blank expression.
"That means she's the young lady of the 'Sunset' family, one of only three duke families in the empire alongside the Starlight and Moonlight families."
"The Sunset family... do you mean the branch family of the Sunrise Imperial family?"
"Yes, you know well."
When Kania spoke with a confused expression, Frey chuckled and answered.
"Perhaps because they're a branch family pushed out of power, they're not treated well and have extremely little external activity... but a duke family is still a duke family."
"But why is a young lady of such a duke family the daughter of an underworld information guild? Considering that even I who experienced the previous round didn't know this information at all, it seems like a fact that was thoroughly hidden..."
"There are some circumstances, and she only enters as a new student in the second round. Well, I'll explain the details later. I need to go soon."
After saying that, as Frey headed toward the entrance, Kania spoke urgently.
"Young master, then at least let me accompany you to the information guild..."
"Kania, I have a good idea..."
But Irina, who had stuck her head out through the door of the room next to Kania, interrupted her words, and Kania frowned heavily and said.
"What is it?"
"Um... Lulu is deeply asleep right now. So use your black magic to infiltrate Lulu's unconsciousness and..."
"Let's do that next time."
"Huh?"
Kania, who was listening to Irina's explanation, clenched her fist tightly and interrupted her words as Frey started looking in the mirror, grooming his face, and even spraying perfume.
"...Something I absolutely need to check has come up."
Kania, who added that, had her eyes fixed on Frey, who was now humming a tune and combing his hair.
.
"Hey. Stop here for a moment."
"Yes, yes! Understood! Young master!"
Kania, who was eventually allowed to accompany Frey on the condition of waiting at the entrance of the information guild, started to look puzzled when Frey, who had been riding the carriage somewhere, suddenly stopped the carriage.
"Young master? Why are you stopping the carriage suddenly?"
"I have something to buy briefly."
When Frey said that and got off the carriage and started walking somewhere, Kania narrowed her eyes and started looking outside.
"...A flower shop?"
Then, the sight of Frey entering a flower shop came into her view.
Kania, who was trying to maintain a calm expression as she watched that flower shop, saw Frey coming out of the flower shop holding a bouquet full of roses, and her expression rapidly darkened.
"Depart again."
But whether Frey knew or didn't know about Kania's state, he was just quietly looking down at the bouquet.
"...Young master? What is that bouquet for?"
Eventually, when Kania, who couldn't hold back, asked first, Frey sighed and answered.
"A gift for Rosewin."
"Rosewin?"
"I said it's a gift for the duke family's young lady I mentioned earlier."
When Frey said that and leaned back in the carriage seat, Kania, who had been anxious, carefully asked.
"Young master... do you perhaps like that person?"
"...Huh?"
When Frey tilted his head at those words, Kania started speaking with a tearful expression.
"That is... you're wearing makeup you don't usually do, and even spraying perfume... and that bouquet too..."
"So? If I do like her, what will you do?"
"W-well... that is..."
When Frey asked with a mischievous expression, Kania averted her gaze and said.
"Hmm... I really don't know."
Though Kania spoke shyly, black aura was rising in wisps from her body.
"Just kidding, kidding. I prepared this on purpose to get on her bad side."
When Frey, who was startled by that sight, stopped teasing and spoke seriously, Kania asked with an expression of disbelief.
"How does the young master grooming himself and bringing flowers become getting on her bad side?"
"That's the best method to get disliked by her."
"...I don't really understand."
Kania, who said that with an expression of not understanding, looked out the window with a slightly relieved expression.
"So, what exactly is your relationship with that person?"
When Kania, who had maintained silence for a while, asked indifferently, Frey, who had been blankly looking down at the bouquet, answered in a low voice.
"...You'll naturally find out later."
When Frey said that and closed his mouth, Kania, who still had an indifferent expression, quietly extended her hand outside the carriage window.
- Shuuu...
From her hand, black energy was rising.
.
"Kania, you wait here."
"...Understood."
When the carriage stopped in a secluded alley, Frey, who was getting off the carriage with a sigh, stopped Kania who was trying to follow him down.
"I'll be back soon, so you don't need to worry too much."
"Ah, young master. Your collar is disheveled."
Kania, who grabbed such a Frey, started fixing his collar with wide eyes.
"Huh? I definitely fixed it properly before coming out..."
"It's done. Now it's perfect."
When Frey started tilting his head at Kania's behavior, Kania smiled and moved away from him.
"Then, have a safe trip."
Frey, who was looking suspiciously at such a Kania, scratched his head and entered the entrance of the information guild.
"Welcome, cus...gasp."
The woman at the counter froze while smiling and greeting, upon seeing Frey.
"You know, right? To the VIP zone. Bring Rosewin."
"...Yes."
Frey, who said that to the extremely nervous guide, started going down underground with her guidance.
"How has Rosewin been lately?"
"Um... I'm just a guide so I don't really..."
"You should know at least roughly."
"I apologize... I really don't know."
"Tsk, useless."
Frey, who gave the guide a hard time, sighed and stopped in front of a magnificent room.
"Please go in first. I'll go get Rosewin..."
- Creak...
Frey, who entered the room without even listening to her words, sighed and started muttering.
"It's been a while here too..."
At that moment, as he was looking around, the door opened and someone slowly entered the room.
"Ah, Rosewin!"
And at that moment, Frey, who changed his expression to a foolishly grinning face, propped his chin on his hand and started talking.
"Have you been well? Any troubles lately?"
"Hoho, you must have missed me quite a bit?"
Then, the girl who was looking at such Frey smiled with her eyes and sat in the seat in front of Frey.
"So... what request have you come to make this time?"
"Well, do you happen to have any information about the 'Slave Market' matter?"
"Oh my, you mean that?"
When Frey asked carefully, the girl answered with a smile.
"Give me a thousand gold. Since you're a regular..."
"...Only a thousand gold? I'll give you two thousand gold."
When Frey said that and took out a gold coin purse from his bosom, the girl widened her eyes and covered her mouth with her hand.
"That's too much! You don't need to give this much..."
"It's okay, Rosewin. You know I have lots of money, right?"
When Frey said that and shrugged his shoulders, the girl called Rosewin said with a worried expression.
"But... I heard rumors that intruders broke into the Starlight mansion and stole the assets..."
"Huh? Where is such nonsense circulating from?"
"Is it really not true?"
"Yeah, if that were true, I couldn't even give this money. Haha."
When Frey answered with a bright and stupid expression, Rosewin momentarily showed a sharp expression and nodded.
"Yes... I see? I understand well. Then, I'll tell you the current information..."
"Ah, I'll add another thousand gold... so please do some additional information investigation too."
"...Gasp."
When Frey took out gold coin purses from his bosom and said so, Rosewin started gaping.
"Are you really sure it's okay? Even giving this much..."
"It's fine, I said it's fine."
At Rosewin's worry, Frey, who kept waving his hands, suddenly blushed and took something out of his bosom.
"Oh right, this is a gift I prepared while thinking of you."
"Wow..."
In Frey's hand was a bouquet with various roses in full bloom.
"I've never received something like this before..."
"So, Rosewin, do you happen to have time this weekend..."
Rosewin, who had been looking at the bouquet with moved eyes, quickly showed a regretful expression when Frey tried to casually ask.
"Ah, what should I do? I have an appointment this weekend."
"Then this week..."
"This week my schedule is completely full... I'm sorry..."
"Then sometime this month..."
When Frey was persistently trying to make an appointment with her, suddenly Rosewin clapped her hands and said.
"Ah, by the way, there's new information about the 'Slave Market' incident!"
"Ah, r-really?"
"Yes! I'll go get that, so please wait a moment!"
"Uh, um..."
When Frey, who was rejected by Rosewin, scratched his head and answered, Rosewin, who was looking at him, smiled and said.
"Oh right, thank you so much for this bouquet! I'll treasure it carefully!"
Leaving those words, Rosewin gave a smiling glance to Frey, who started to look shy again, and went outside.
"...Ha, I fucking hate this."
And as soon as she went outside, Rosewin threw the bouquet at the guide next to her and said coldly.
"Burn that."
"C-can't I keep it? This is expensive..."
"Do whatever you want. I don't even want to look at it."
When Rosewin said that and passed through the corridor, the guide who quickly followed her side started asking with an expression of disbelief.
"Why do you dislike that person so much? He has lots of money, he's handsome, and he does everything you ask..."
"The empire's greatest scoundrel, someone who thinks people can be bought with money, a pathetic bastard who acts all high and mighty relying only on his face, and you want me to like him?"
Rosewin, who answered sarcastically to her, sighed and continued.
"I hate bastards like that the most in the world. If he wasn't a VIP customer, I would have kicked him out."
"Then, what is Rosewin-nim's ideal type?"
"Me...?"
Rosewin, who was thinking for a moment at the guide's question, blushed slightly and answered.
"...The hero who will soon appear in the world."
"The hero?"
When the guide frowned and asked back, Rosewin answered again with an expression of pure bliss at the mere thought.
"Assisting that person is my dream and destiny."