kscans

Chapter 275 - Is He Okay?

"Montaigne…"

Realizing what had happened, Arc looked down.

"Your Highness, if you grieve over this, you are not fit to be king. A traitor deserves no mercy. It is not even necessary to hear them out. You must simply capture them and slaughter their whole clan. Otherwise, a second and third Montaigne will appear."

"I never wanted to be king."

"I imagine not. I understand that well. However, you must become king now. You denied me and chose that path. Therefore, you must succeed on that path, without fail. That is the only tribute you can offer to the corpses at your feet."

With those words, Montaigne drew a knife and lunged toward Arc. But faster than he could move, I drew my sword and sliced off his arm.

"You witch…!"

Montaigne, his arm and knife severed, stumbled back.

"Does it hurt? I’ll make it quick for you."

I readied my sword and aimed for his neck.

"Eleanor, I’ll do it."

Arc said, raising his hand. But that hand was trembling.

"You don’t have to force yourself, you know. I can take care of it in a flash."

I don’t mind at all. My sword style isn’t kendo, it’s swordsmanship. It’s meant for cutting. A certain Battousai The Assasssin said so himself.

"No, I’ll do it."

Arc wouldn’t back down.

"Your Highness, I entrust the future of this country to you…"

"I don’t need you to tell me that. I will protect this country as its king. That is all. Montaigne, farewell."

Flames shot from Arc’s hand, engulfing Montaigne. Without a sound, Montaigne collapsed and turned into a blackened mass.

"I would have just lopped off his head…"

"Those who target my life, I will dispose of myself."

Trying to act tough…

"You men, I leave the rest to you. Give the bodies inside the mansion a proper burial."

When I gave the order to the soldiers, they exchanged glances.

"Do as Eleanor says. And Montaigne’s body as well."

Arc nodded, and the soldiers sprang into action.

"Arc, we’re going back."

"I know."

Arc nodded and raised his hand. In an instant, we were teleported back to our living room. Lydia-chan and Mia were there, drinking tea.

"Eleanor, I’m going to report to His Majesty."

"Really? Why don’t you rest for a bit?"

"It’ll be quick. Well then, thank you for today."

With that, Arc quickly vanished. I watched him go, then sank onto the sofa.

"Lydia-chan, Mia, come here."

At my words, the two of them rose from the table and came over.

"Um, Montaigne is…?"

Lydia-chan asked.

"Arc burned him with magic. Even though I said I’d do it…"

"I see…"

"I think Arc will be back soon, but let him rest today. Got it? You need to be by his side."

A woman is the best at calming a man’s spirit. I knew from experience. Being with Kaede-chan had cured my bout of depression. Well, I still want to cut down that bastard of a former boss, though.

"I understand."

Lydia-chan nodded deeply.

"Mia, let’s have noodles for dinner tonight. Absolutely no grilled meat."

"Understood."

Mia also nodded deeply.

"Honestly… If he was going to turn that pale, he should have just let me do it. I would’ve lopped off his head without a second thought."

Scum who involve their own families don’t deserve to live.

"I think he felt he had to do it himself."

Kids shouldn’t push themselves so hard. Hmm, maybe I should call over Miss Murderer Yoshino-san to lessen Arc’s guilt. I’m sure she and Lin-san were targeted quite a bit when they were younger and have done their fair share of killing.

"Well, whatever. Just take care of him."

"I will."

"Understood."

The two of them nodded deeply once more.

◆◇◆

After that, Arc returned soon after, but immediately shut himself in his room with Lydia-chan. That day, I invited Nanapon and Yoshino-san over and we had a flowing somen party with a toy nagashi somen machine. And the next day, Arc was back to his usual self, playing games with Lydia-chan.

After a week passed, Arc had recovered, and our normal routine returned. That day, too, Arc and Lydia-chan were playing games in our living room, while Mia was knitting. Kaede-chan was next to me, looking at her phone.

On a whim, I went to the bedroom, changed into Eleanor-san, and created a certain item. Then I brought it back to the living room.

"Hm? Senpai, what’s up?"

When I returned to Kaede-chan’s side, she called out to me.

"Just a little something."

"What’s that?"

Kaede-chan pointed to the flask I was holding.

"The Water of Life."

"Oh, so that’s it. What are you going to do with it, in the end?"

I’d been thinking for a long time about what to do with the useless Water of Life. But just now, I decided on its use.

"Lydia-chan, come here."

When I called for Lydia-chan, she paused her game and came over.

"What is it?"

"This is for you."

I said, handing the Water of Life to Lydia-chan.

"Is it a potion?"

"No, it’s the Water of Life."

"This is the Water of Life… Huh? You’re giving it to me?"

Lydia-chan stared blankly at the Water of Life for a moment, then snapped back to reality and looked at me.

"We have no use for it. I’m retired, and Kaede-chan doesn’t go to Frontier. Nanapon and Yoshino-san don’t go to dangerous places either, so their lives are never at risk. The only one who might be in mortal danger in Frontier is your husband. So I’m giving it to you. If Arc dies, use it. It’ll save him, but only once."

"A-Are you sure? This is a legendary item."

"I don’t need legends. My cute disciples are more important."

It’s not like selling it for money would do me any good.

"Thank you…"

"Well, it’s best if Arc doesn’t die, but he’s so weak."

So, so weak.

"You’re the one who’s a monster. You’re becoming so rumored about in Frontier that there’s no one left who doesn’t know of you."

Arc retorted.

"What’s wrong with that? More importantly, don’t you dare make your wife sad."

"I know."

I wonder about that… Didn’t you get glared at just yesterday for eating the last piece of fried chicken?