Chapter 78. A Mortal's Resolve
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"A fairy, huh..."
Sitting on the bed, Lord El-Melloi II rubbed his chin, deep in thought. Not even the fierce storm outside could break his concentration.
What Wills had shown him wasn't particularly surprising, but when considered in the current context, it became somewhat eerie.
A fairy eye, the appearance of fairies, warnings, every time Wills returned, someone died, the rampaging workshop, the tomb, the thunder, the resonating Mystic Eyes...
These were not two separate cases. There had to be a connection!
Just one more piece, one crucial piece of the puzzle, and everything would become clear.
"My dear brother, if you're so lost, why not pray to the Hero of Pure White?" Reines chuckled from her bed.
"Speaking of which... why am I sharing a room with you?" Lord El-Melloi II's thoughts were interrupted as he looked at her with resignation.
"I see this as a perfect opportunity to create life," Reines smirked, turning her gaze to the storm outside, her lips curling slightly upward. "The sound of the storm is rather loud, after all."
"Cough, cough! What kind of things are you thinking about?!" Lord El-Melloi II jumped up, his face flushing red.
"Though your Magic Circuits are mediocre, your genes are undeniably excellent," Reines licked her lips. "Otherwise, you might not have another chance in the future~"
"To hell with those chances!"
"I'm not joking~"
"I, Waver Velvet, would rather die than touch you!" Lord El-Melloi II retorted, somewhat exasperated. He couldn't forget how, during their first meeting, he had been hung upside down.
Even now, he recalled how that delicate doll-like Reines had casually informed him that if someone was hung upside down for too long, they would die—a sadistic remark, followed by her expressing curiosity to see it happen! He decided it was best to keep his distance from her.
With that thought, Lord El-Melloi II decisively stood up. "I'm going out for a walk. You should get some rest."
"I'm not joking, you know~" Reines pulled the blanket over her head. "As long as you pray to him, he will become your hope. At least, Wills has unknowingly placed his hope in him to clear his name. Lowering your head a bit wouldn't hurt, especially since he plans to help you."
"Indeed, asking him for help would likely resolve this quickly. With the wisdom of the goddess, he could easily uncover the truth," Lord El-Melloi II paused as he gripped the door handle. "But I refuse! A mortal has their own resolve!"
The only person he would pray to was that guy!
"Is that so? You're quite the stubborn one," Reines muttered as she buried herself under the blanket. "By the way, I wasn't joking about creating life either."
"And I'm not joking either."
Lord El-Melloi II sighed and walked out the door.
"Phew... soaking in a bath and then watching the storm—it's truly refreshing," Cyd sipped hot tea while admiring the lightning in the sky. "Hmm, as I suspected, something's wrong."
Under the bright lightning, Cyd's shadow stretched out indefinitely. Medusa, dressed in a black robe, emerged from it and stood by his side.
"There's something unusual here," Medusa raised her hand and took Cyd's right hand. "There are quite a few dead."
"Don't worry, I will... no, that guy will solve it. Though he's weak, his gaze... hmm, if this were Greece, he might have caught Athena's attention," Cyd chuckled. "He should handle this smoothly."
"Someone's coming," Medusa whispered. "I'll go back for now..."
Cyd tightened his grip on Medusa's hand.
"Mr. Cyd...?" Gray cautiously poked her head out. "I hope I'm not interrupting."
"Care to join me?" Cyd gestured toward the stormy scene outside, the ominous lightning hinting at something foreboding.
"No, thank you," Gray stepped out but kept a distance from Cyd. "I wanted to ask if you already know the truth?"
"No," Cyd chuckled, "but the truth might be more cruel, and perhaps more mundane than you expect."
"Cruel?" Gray tilted her head.
"Magecraft—where people freely trample on others' happiness for their own desires," Cyd said, gently patting Medusa's head. "Once you're entangled in the world of magecraft, the outcome often brings sorrow."
"I think... I kind of understand," Gray adjusted her hood, her past serving as the perfect example.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to remind you of sad things," Cyd apologized with a smile.
"It's okay. Not everything is bad, because at least..." Gray shook her head.
"You met your teacher, right?" Cyd winked.
"Yes," Gray blushed and looked down.
"It must be tough," Cyd glanced at the storm. "He's always making you worry."
"My teacher..." Gray recalled the time she accidentally saw Lord El-Melloi II holding a piece of red cloth with a sorrowful expression. "My teacher is a good person."
"Yes, I can see that," Cyd said, patting Medusa's head. Medusa met his gaze, nodded, and then returned to the shadows.
"So..." Gray hesitated, "I will..."
"Step back a bit first," Cyd said, patting her head.
"Huh?" Gray, not realizing how close Cyd had gotten, leaned back and fell, landing on the ground. "Ouch..."
"Ah... sorry, but now's not the time for that," Cyd extended a hand to help her up. "Step back a little."
"Okay, I understand," Gray, flustered, adjusted her hood that had come loose from the fall, then stepped back a few paces.
"It seems there's more to this," Cyd raised an eyebrow. "But I'll deal with you first."
"Boom—"
Purple light shattered the window as lightning in the shape of a hound roared toward Cyd.
"A dog? No, lightning? Or perhaps a wraith?" Cyd twisted his neck. "So, you're the one responsible for the lightning deaths."
"Roar—"
The purple hound snarled and lunged at Cyd.
"Mr. Cyd!" Gray instinctively raised her right hand with the cage. "Add... the first..."
"Mm, no one's controlling it—just carrying out a command," Cyd nodded thoughtfully. "To kill? This is even duller than I imagined."
Cyd tossed the [Reforged Pandora] on his back into the air. The black box transformed, and a scythe landed in his hand.
"It could be a bit more brutal."
With a sigh, Cyd swung the scythe, splitting the snarling purple hound in two.
"May your next life be a happy one."
Cyd rested the scythe on his shoulder and sighed softly.
"Unfortunate soul."