171 - Predicting Riel-san
On the sea, after the sun had set and night had fallen.
I was lying in bed, resting after being carried there.
A towel was placed on my forehead; it was cool and felt good. It was a miscalculation that my face turned red just from a taste of alcohol, but since I had achieved my objective, I decided it was no problem and tried to go to sleep.
Then, there was a knock at the door. When I answered, it was Vera who entered the room.
"What, did you finally decide to accept my confession?"
Vera spoke with an exasperated expression.
"Just how optimistic are you? Just stay in bed. I only came to thank you personally. Also, I cannot respond to your feelings. There is someone I love."
As I slowly sat up, Vera approached to pick up the towel that had fallen from my forehead.
Since she reached out, I grabbed her arm and pulled her close. I saw Vera narrow her eyes and reach her hand toward the small of her back.
"That's a shame. But if that's the case, you should be careful."
"...What do you mean by that?"
I pulled Vera closer, laid her on the bed, and moved into a position where I was pinning her down. Our positions were now the reverse of before.
I hovered over Vera as she lay there.
Suddenly, a golden muzzle was pressed against my stomach.
"...This isn't funny. I'd prefer it if you didn't make me shoot my benefactor."
I laughed and moved the muzzle toward my heart.
"If you're going to aim, aim here. Besides, it seems there are no bullets in there."
When I said that, Vera looked frustrated. She turned her face away from me, and then—
"You're just after my fortune too, aren't you? You were saying something about funds... Sorry, but you'll have to look elsewhere. I can't inherit the Trace family estate anyway. Too bad for you."
Hearing that, I replied.
"I see... So the person you love is an unrequited love, or perhaps your social statuses don't match. It's the former, then."
Seeing Vera react to the mention of unrequited love, I traced her collarbone with my finger.
"I want money. I want your connections. I want many things... but I've decided I want your body and heart as well."
"Are you drunk? You're probably just hyped up from the growth, but this is going to end badly for you later."
I laughed, pinning down Vera as she resisted with a flushed face.
"I get it. Then let's have a bet."
"Again? You really never learn."
Watching Vera's breathing grow ragged, I said.
"The contract lasts until we return to Beim on this ship. We're staying at the port for a few weeks, right?"
"...We're doing proper repairs, so the period will be extended slightly. What about it?"
I directed a smile toward Vera.
"I won't do anything. But if you admit defeat by the time we arrive in Beim... give me a kiss. Be careful. Don't think about me. If you keep thinking about me, you'll fall for me."
"...I can't wait to see what happens to you tomorrow. Don't worry, there's no way I'll fall for you."
I got out of bed and lent Vera a hand to help her up. As Vera left the room, she pressed her hand against her chest.
As she departed.
"I only forgave you this far because you're my benefactor. Don't get the wrong idea. Still, thank you for today."
With that, she closed the door.
From the jewel hanging around my neck, the voice of the Seventh Generation spoke.
『This time was a failure, Riel-san.』
In the empty room, I spoke with confidence in my victory.
"I told you, didn't I? Sometimes you have to lose in order to win in the end. Now, I just have to wait for her to fall. Even if I had won that bet, she wouldn't have been convinced. Rather, if she only complied reluctantly because she lost, it would take much longer for her to truly fall. This was for the best."
The Fourth Generation laughed.
『Sounds like sour grapes to me. Well, good work this time. Rather than saying it was interesting, how should I put it... I can appreciate your more aggressive stance than usual.』
The Fifth Generation agreed, though sounded slightly worried.
『You're more proactive than usual, Riel, but perhaps too proactive. It was fine this time because you were in a situation where you couldn't escape, but in cases where you can, you should keep retreat in your sights. The growth worked in your favor this time.』
The Seventh Generation was concerned about the words of the whale—the White Whale.
『As for me, the White Whale's words concern me. Do you think the House of Walt from three hundred years ago had no relation to us?』
The Third Generation thought for a moment before replying.
『...I can't say for sure that there wasn't. The information from when Agrissa was defeated is unnaturally scarce. Besides, it's a country that's messed up a lot of things, so there might be something to its origins. Regardless, Riel-san is quite cruel. "Don't think about me," huh... when told that, you end up thinking about it even more.』
As a side note, I gave them the magic stones I had collected.
This time, I had obtained the head of the Tra-Sea. I got a large amount of scales, fangs, and metal. Since they had cooperated, I figured I had to at least give them the magic stones. However, when I said I'd take the entire head of the Tra-Sea, it bothered me a bit that Vera looked apologetic.
The way she repeatedly asked, "Are you really okay with that?" was different from someone asking for a bigger share—it felt as if she were worried about me.
I lay back down on the bed and closed my eyes.
"Well, I'll investigate various things once we return. Besides... by the time we arrive in Beim, Vera will fall for me."
At my words, the Fourth Generation replied.
『What overconfidence... I can't wait to see tomorrow.』
The Fifth Generation muttered.
『If it were me, I might not be able to take it and would jump into the sea.』
――The morning of the second day after the Tra-Sea attack.
Vera was talking with the captain on the bridge. Her body felt light, and she felt as if she could beat anyone right now; it was surely because of the growth.
However, since she was looking at Riel, she made a conscious effort to exercise self-restraint.
"We'll be late after all, won't we?"
"The distance was great, and more than anything, we wasted two days. To think growth would come at this age... honestly, I want to forget about yesterday."
Because they had defeated the Tra-Sea, everyone on the ship had shown signs of growth. While not as severe as Riel's, Vera also hadn't wanted to do anything for two full days.
Even now, she felt a sense of exhilaration and believed she couldn't make calm judgments.
Yesterday, seeing the state of the ship enveloped in an unusual exhilaration, she had judged that proceeding was dangerous and had stayed close to land to rest.
They had spent time cleaning and repairing the ship, but as a result, it seemed they wouldn't make it to the port in time.
"It would be a help if the Master would come out of his room. That skill that increases speed? I wonder if he could use it for us."
Hearing Riel's name, Vera grinned happily.
"It seems he can't come out. After all, he's in a pretty terrible state."
The captain looked at Vera.
"You're quite mean, Milady. Visiting the Master's room so many times..."
"I was just paying back the debt of a kiss. That's a cheap price, right? It was my first kiss, you know."
"That is true."
The captain laughed, but remembering that the situation was also one where he couldn't laugh, he pulled his hat down deeper.
"However, while we won't be in the red, this will become a matter of trust."
Hearing that, Vera sighed.
"That's true... I wonder if I should go ask him one more time."
Watching Vera's happy profile, the captain pretended to adjust his hat and whispered.
"She's just not honest with herself."
That's what he said――.
"Stop it! Stop it already! Don't call me Riel-san!"
Inside the room I was given, I was covering my ears under a blanket.
Voices could be heard from beyond the door, and also from the jewel.
"Master, please come out."
"Riel-san, please, we're asking you."
"The ship is delayed. At least listen to us, Riel-san."
It was fine that the crew had become friendly with me. But they kept calling me "Master" or "Riel-san."
I wanted them to stop. Because――.
『Hey now, what happened to the Riel-san from three days ago? Just go outside and use a skill or something for them.』
『You even make goddesses fall for you, right? Maybe Vera-chan has already fallen for you? Let's go see the result.』
At the voices of the Third and Fourth Generations laughing uproariously, I screamed inside my blanket.
"Stop messing around! I'm absolutely not going outside! Absolutely not!"
Then, it seemed Novem and the others had come to the door.
"Riel-sama, it is time for your meal, so please come out. You haven't eaten anything for several days, have you?"
Miranda also sounded amused.
"Hurry up and come out and whisper words of love. Look, it's a promise, right? I'll listen to them slowly and thoroughly."
Aria knocked loudly on the door.
"How long are you going to mope! You'll grow mold! Hurry up and come out. And try giving us a passionate confession too!"
Shannon spoke as if seeking help from me.
"Hurry up and come out! It's scary! Everyone's tension is so high, it's scary!"
Eva also sounded tired.
"It's exhausting dealing with them by ourselves, so hurry up and come out and take over."
Clara said to Eva.
"Using Riel-san as a scapegoat? As expected of an elf. You're good at dirty tricks."
Mei was beyond the door.
"Clara is the one who's changed the most. She's been like this since morning."
I could tell that Clara was feeling lively beyond the door.
"Riel-san, staying shut in won't solve anything. Come outside and let us tease you. It's boring with only women. The blushing spider-woman and the female powerhouse are annoying, so please deal with them."
"...Hey, who are you calling a female powerhouse?"
Aria was questioning Clara beyond the door.
"The person who got covered in blood fighting Sahagins and made the sailors recoil in horror. You can surely meet her if you look in a mirror."
Shannon's scream could be heard.
"The sailors ran away! Wait, Big Sister has a dagger at her waist... Hurry up and come out, stupid Riel!"
Wrapped in my blanket, I screamed.
"I don't want to! I'm absolutely not going outside! Just leave me alone until we arrive!"
Then, the locked door slowly opened.
It was Monica.
"Still moping... A chicken coward like that is also wonderful, but you didn't whisper love to me during your fever time. That is my greatest regret. I'll look forward to next time, but it's time for your meal. Let's wipe your body too."
As the door opened, Shannon jumped into the room.
"Hurry up and get up! Deal with these people!"
As Shannon tried to force me up, a hand landed on her head. It was Miranda's hand. Miranda grabbed Shannon's head.
"Shannon... I wonder if I'm included among 'these people'? It makes me sad to think that even you look at me with those eyes. Big Sister is sad, so I feel like using Shannon as bait for fishing."
Shannon, whose head was being gripped tightly, screamed in pain and fear.
"Higyaaaa!!"
Novem brought my meal and encouraged me to eat with a smile.
"You haven't eaten anything for several days, have you? Now, please eat."
Clara also entered the room and, upon seeing me.
"You have a terrible look on your face, Riel-san. Why don't you tell us what happened? Are you worried about confessing to Vera-san while you were high-tension after the growth? Or are you sad that the confession failed? Which one is it?"
Seeing Clara attack me with a persistent smile, I wrapped myself in my blanket with teary eyes.
Eva said things like.
"The part where you challenged the Trident Sea Serpent and the part where you saved the merchant's daughter were cool... so why are you acting like a coward now? It's not a good look. I'll cut that part out of the song."
Clara countered Eva more aggressively than usual.
"That's why elves are no good. There's no point unless the facts are recorded precisely! I'll record everything. I remember it all. We were connected via Connection, so Riel-san's words, actions, everything!"
I screamed.
"Forget about it! And what do you mean, 'record it'! Are you telling me to be laughed at for the rest of my life! Rather, just cut out all the weird parts! Recording it is torture!"
Mei was looking at the meal Novem held, and Monica was waiting with my change of clothes. As the small room became chaotic, Aria informed me that a guest had arrived.
"Riel, you have a guest. Come on, deal with her properly. She's the one you confessed to. Ahh, I wish I'd received a passionate confession like that too."
Receiving Aria's expectant gaze, I thought irritably.
(Don't keep glancing at me!)
While complaining in my heart, I looked at Vera-san standing in front of the door.
"...What is it?"
She thought for a moment, then sighed.
"Seeing you like this, I can't even tease you. Well, I'll forgive you on the grounds that your tension was high after the growth, so cooperate with us. I'll pay you a reward."
For now, wanting to escape this chaotic situation, I stood up while still covered in my blanket and followed Vera-san.
At the bow of the ship, I was lying down wrapped in my blanket.
I was using the Fourth Generation's skill, Speed, to increase the ship's velocity. Because of the ship's size and the fact that it was on the sea, the sensation when using the skill was subtly different.
As I used the skill while making those adjustments, it ground away at my magical power.
However, thanks to the magical power that had increased more than before, I was somehow able to maintain it.
"...I want to become one with the sea and forget everything."
When I muttered that, Vera-san's voice spoke.
"As a poet, that's mediocre. Besides, I don't really recommend it. So, stop thinking about jumping into the sea."
As I slowly rolled over to face behind me, Vera-san was standing there. Looking up――.
"Black... I think it's good."
Vera-san, who had been silent, sat down and handed me a drink. The cup contained soup.
She was angry, but she didn't lay a hand on me.
"You're quite composed. Drink this."
"...I thought I was going to be kicked."
As I said that, I took the cup and took a sip; it was delicious. A lot had happened, but it seemed my body was indeed craving food.
As I sat up, Vera-san sat down, leaning her back against mine.
"...The person I love, whom I mentioned before. They're my younger sister's lover."
I was on guard, thinking she was bringing up the talk from after the growth, but it seemed it was different.
"Since long ago, the only men who approached me were those after the Trace family. You were the same, right? Well, you're the first one to go that far."
"...I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. It makes me sad. Haa... I had a dream yesterday. A continuation of the dream I always have."
While listening to the story of the dream, I drank the soup in the cup. It seemed Vera-san often had dreams of sinking into the sea.
"But yesterday, I dreamed of stepping onto land. I felt somewhat relieved. It seems I won't have to worry about it anymore."
"Um, why are you telling me this?"
Vera-san thought for a moment and then stood up. After brushing off her skirt, she moved away from me. Then, she looked back.
"Who knows? Maybe I was just in the mood. I also wanted to thank you for the dream. And, maybe I wanted you to understand that I won't fall for you easily? Well, to a ladies' man, I'm probably just one of many women."
With a smile, she walked away.
(Did I really say this person would fall for me without me doing anything? ...The 'me' after the growth is an idiot... no, I'm talking about myself.)
I thought about saying something, but no voice came out.