Seeing my expression, he looked at me in disbelief.
Taking the opportunity, he raised bangs on his left.
âLook at this eye. Itâs red. Furthermore, I canât see with the other eye. Donât you think itâs disgusting, being the mark of the cursed clan?â
âEven though itâs so pretty? No wayâ
I laughed off the words Cain said in self-derision.
I fixedly peered into his eyes.
When I drew close enough to feel his breath Cain showed a bewildered expression, but I didnât care.
His glittering red eye is still beautiful.
Even if he canât see with one eye, I donât think it makes him inferior.
âCain, your eye is pretty. When I saw it for the first time some time ago, I thought that it was pretty like a jewel. I donât think itâs disgustingâ
âHaâŠ? Pretty? This eye?â
Although I told him honestly, he seems unable to believe it.
He made a face like a pigeon struck with a peashooter.
Once again I affirmed to him whoâs making such a face.
âYup. Iâve also heard of the story of the cursed clan. But seeing it in reality, I canât think of it like that. Cain, your eye is so sparkling. I like that eyeâ
ââŠâ
When I gently told him what I think, he hung his head and fell silent.
I tilted my head at Cain who stopped moving.
âCain?â
â⊠Yup, wait a momentâ
âEhâ
As he hung his head and nodded together with his words, I observed his appearance, and⊠His ears are red?
âLeave it at that. The stimulus seems too intense for the innocent boyâ
When I was about to call out to him again, Delris-san stopped me, with laughter mixed in her words.
âYou said youâre Cain. That red eye, youâre from Hiyuma Clan, right?â
âDo you know of them!â
With Delris-sanâs few words, Cainâs face turned so severe itâs like he became a different person, and he asked to confirm.
Seeing that reaction, she nodded I see .
âAh, after all it was that. Itâs surprising thereâs a survivor. Iâve heard they were completely annihilated 8 years agoâ
He shook his head in silence.
He clenched both fists tightly. His hands were trembling.
â⊠I managed to escape, everyone else died. As the survivor, I inherited the title Luxâ
âHoo? Youâre a direct descendant of the clan. I see. Then perhaps, you are Sahajaâs Red Shinigami? After all, Iâve heard heâs still a young man, but I can understand if heâs the next Lux of Hiyumaâs Clanâ
Hearing the phrase âRed Shinigamiâ Cain showed a displeased face for an instant.
How should I put it, âRed Shinigamiâ⊠what a chuuni name.
I inadvertently laughed in my mind, but the expressions of these two were serious.
âYou know surprisingly much about me. I may have been saved by you, but just who are you?â
Once again, Cain looked at Delris-san with vigilance, but Delris-sanâs next words seemed to blow it all away.
âIâm a witch. The witch Delrisâ
When she mischievously informed him, Cain opened his mouth wide for and instant and showed a foolish face. Then, as soon as he understood the meaning of her words, he looked amazed and greatly leaned forward.
âHa? The witch Delris!? That witch famous for her medicine!â
He gazed at Delris-san with his expression painted with surprise.
âWell, yes, because I wish to avoid being found by fools, I live in hiding like thisâ
âEh? But wait, if youâre the real thing, why am I here? Arenât you famous for misanthropy?â
When Cain pointed that out Delris-san shrugged her shoulders.
âYouâll understand if you think a little. This child brought you here. Thatâs allâ
When Delris-san turned her gaze towards me, Cain followed and fixed his gaze on me.
âIs that so⊠Youâre amazingâ
âNo, itâs not really like thatâ
For some reason I objected to what he said with a strangely serious face.
I donât think Delris-san is really a misanthrope.
After all, she treated me kindly from the first time we met.
Cain looked around and relaxed as if he understood.
âIs that so⊠This is the medicine witchâs dwelling. Itâs no wonder the famous medicine witch would know about me. Iâm sorry for distrusting youâ
He apologized saying he didnât think such a being would help him.
Delris-san returned a wry smile.
Of course, I knew Delris-san was a famous witch.
Sheâs the only witch who can make contraceptive for women, so itâs only natural I contacted her.
But, I didnât think she was famous enough to be known in other countries.
âDelris-san is an amazing personâŠâ
I unconsciously interjected.
I casually dropped by with daifuku, but she seems like a considerable big-shot.
Seemingly unconcerned, Delris-san waved her hand lightly.
âI donât care about othersâ evaluation. I am myselfâ
âFufu⊠youâre rightâ
I unintentionally giggled at the words typical of Delris-san.
Yup, I like her being like this.
Once again, I turned towards Cain.
I donât know if heâll answer, but it doesnât hurt to ask.
âHey Cain, youâre from that Hiyuma Clan, right? Is that the red eyed clan from the north?â
âYeah, thatâs right. The clan was driven off and annihilated. I am the only one who escapedâ
Cain answered plainly like him shaking earlier was a lie.
However, as the person hearing it, I found it unbearable.
âAnnihilatedâŠâ
As I said with a gasp, Cain nodded thatâs right .
âIn order to let the young me escape, everybody died. I ran away south and was picked up by Sahajaâs Assassinâs Guildâs guild master. From then I just single-mindedly lived as an assassin, I spent my days only to return the favor of being savedâ
âI seeâŠâ
He told me about his life back-to-back, to sum it up in one word itâd be fierce.
Naturally, I canât impertinently disparage the way he lived as an assassin until now.
Listening to him, I understand it really was the only way he could live.
I am aware of the circumstances of Sahaja.
The disparity of wealth is intense, Sahaja that wages numerous wars has an abnormally great number of orphans.
And because they are too numerous, thereâs no institution to care for them.
There are very few occupations they can chose not having parents.
Like working in a brothel, or falling to slavery. There is truly nothing decent.
You could say something dreadful like an assassin is preferable among the few choices.
Thatâs the reason something as wasteful as Assassinâs Guilds developed in that country.
Sahaja is too harsh for those without power.
Itâs a country where might makes right.
Itâs unthinkable in our country.
But, different countries have different common sense.
I thought that I couldnât condemn him.
I lowered my head slightly. I felt his gaze piercing me.
âSorry for making you say things you donât want to say. You ran away from the Assassinâs Guild, right? Yup, Cain, youâre already free. You can go anywhere, you can do anythingâ
âYouâŠâ
As he didnât expect to hear something like that, his eyes wandered about.
I firmly looked into those eyes and returned a nod.
âYou mentioned your fatherâs last request, right? Will you fulfill it? Good luckâ
I told him recalling what he said a while ago.
Next, I faced Delris-san and placed my hands together.
I feel guilty, but I have nobody other than her to rely on.
âIâm sorry. Until he recovers a bit more to the point he can move, could you let him stay here? Iâm truly sorry, but I cannot take him home. Of course, Iâll pay the expenses. It may be little, but this is all I have on meâŠâ
âI donât need thatâ
When I took a Wilhelm gold coin from my purse and looked at Delris-san, she immediately shook her head.
âEven if you hadnât asked, I was planning to do that from the start. You couldnât bring such a troublesome guy back, right?â
âWell, itâs true, butâ
Speaking of hopeless people, Delris-san looked at the direction of the desk delightfully.
Her line of sight fell on daifuku.
âI donât need money. But if youâre bothered by it, could I ask for more daifuku? Especially the strawberry one was a masterpieceâ
I hurriedly nodded to her words.
âIf itâs fine Iâll bring as much as you like! I will also bring new products! Thank you, Delris-san!â
âI donât think Iâd trade your sweets even for goldâ
Suddenly, she stroked my lowered head with her wrinkled hand.
It felt very comfortable.
â⊠Besides, you didnât refuse my tea. Iâd like to thank for thatâ
âEh? What did you say?â
Her voice was so quiet I missed what she said.
I raised my head and asked, but she smiled to gloss over it.
âNothing. You over there. Thatâs why, youâll be staying here until you recover your strengthâ
Being called out in a sharp voice, Cain flinched, still he tried to refuse.
âNo, but any more than that would be a troubleâŠâ
âDonât think you have a say in it. Itâs this child who saved you. Without asking for a reward this child did what she felt was right, isnât there something only you can do?â
When Delris-san said that, Cainâs eyes opened wide.
Then he once again bowed his head.
â⊠Got it. In that case, Iâll accept the offer. I was truly saved. You have my thanksâ
âYeah, thatâs enoughâ
Seeing their exchange, I patted my chest in relief.
When I casually checked my watch, I realized the agreed time was steadily approaching.
Woah, thatâs bad.
Angry faces of my escort and Father appeared in my mind.
âI am sorry. I have to go now. I promised to return by eveningâ
When I hurriedly informed of that, Delris-san nodded.
âAh, youâre going already. Please take care⊠Youâll come again, right?â
I nodded strongly.
âOf course! Next Iâll also bring a new product! Cain too, sorry. But, Iâm glad your curse was removed. I donât think weâll meet again, but I pray your fatherâs last wish will be fulfilled. Stay healthy!â
âOi!â
Can tried stopping me in a fluster, but I already started walking up the stairs in a hurry.
Even so, I looked back and once again spoke.
âDelris-san also said you can stay here until youâre healthy. Of course Cain, you can leave whenever you want. Donât mind meâ
âWait, do not decide on your own⊠Do you truly want nothing from meâ
I shook my head with I donât at Cain who said that canât be .
âI already told you I donât need a reward, didnât I. If I had to say, I saved Cain. That was the best rewardâ
âYouâ
I energetically waved my hand at him who stared here in disbelief.
âSee yaâ
I unilaterally bid goodbye to Cain who still seemed to have something to say and quickly went up the stairs.
I have to hurry. I really canât make the person I selfishly asked wait.
When I climbed the stairs and opened the door, I heard Cainâs voice from behind.
Although it was directed at me, I didnât turn back.
Going by his tone heâll surely be okay.
Satisfied by his lively voice, I went through the door and hurriedly ran to the meeting place.
The next chapter is a bit of a monster with double length of an average chapter, so first Iâll be translating 3 left-over side stories from the first arc to give myself some time. Please bear with me.