āYou want to talk with me, right? As you see, Iām alone. Come outā
A while after I once again called out, a man jumped down from the ceiling.
Heās got a small build and slender physique. Despite coming down from a high place, he made no noise.
That alone makes his occupation and skill clear.
The man who raised his face still had boyish youthfulness in his looks. Black hair and⦠two red eyes. Despite his young countenance, in his eyes dwells the ghastliness of having went through countless fights.
Seeing the red glow for the first time, I smiled wryly that itās just as Iād expected.
ā⦠Whatās so funnyā
The boy said in a sullen tone while scowling at me. His voice is still youthful. His attitude clearly conveys unwillingness. To appear despite that, his reason must be that important.
ā This being the case , whatās with thatā¦ā
I urged the boy knitting his brows to sit on the guest sofa. But, he didnāt move.
Iām not a guest . His attitude was indicating so.
āYou are from Hiyuma clan, right? Iāve heard until they make a contract, Hiyuma clan members can only see with one eye. You were called One-eyed Shinigami in Sahaja. You still should have seen with one eye when you came to this country. And yet you can now see with both⦠You made a contract with Lidi, didnāt you?ā
ā⦠Yeahā
When I asked a question to confirm, the boy in front of me reluctantly nodded.
āPrincess saved me. She didnāt wish for any reward⦠Despite being aware of everything, she didnāt say Iām disgusting⦠Donāt you think these reasons were enough?ā
ā⦠Youāre rightā
I nodded to agree with the boy who gave reasons one by one like they were important memories.
ā⦠Iāve heard you were afflicted by a curse when you were found. It was Lidi who dispelled it, right?ā
When I first heard the curse was dispelled, I thought the Medicine Witch was involved, but once I learned of Lidiās ability the answer was simple. It was Lidi herself who dispelled the curse. Iām sure.
While fixing his eyes on me, the boy nodded.
He truly has guts. He boldly showed himself in the Crown Princeās office in the Royal Castle, moreover he can normally converse with me like this. On the inside I was astonished. As expected of the man who earned the name Red Shinigami at a young age and rose to the guildās top. Heās got extraordinary mental strength.
āThatās right. It was the same as that time with you. Princess saved me with neutralization magic. I may say that, but I only heard of it recently. Granny taught meā
āGranny?ā
āYouāve met her too, right? The Medicine Witchā
āI see⦠Youāre connected with her tooā
I was convinced as the boy hinted at his connection with the witch.
That witch has taken quite a liking to Lidi. Since that witch tolerates him, heās not a danger to Lidi.
Of course I know Hiyuma clanās loyalty is absolute, still itās persuasive he can demonstrate a connection with the witch I actually know.
While scratching his head, the boy in front of me spoke. His voice contained substantial confusion.
āWhat do I say, you aināt surprised. I thought youād be more suspicious. At worst I wondered if youād misunderstand me as an assassin who came to kill youā
In fact I was an assassin , the boy who shrugged his shoulders with that had no shady aspect.
Rather, he felt indifferent. His attitude of not feeling ashamed or denying having been an assassin was quite anticlimactic.
ā⦠Iād been feeling your presence since long ago. There was no bloodlust, if I had to say you were acting to protect Lidi. As I mentioned earlier, I knew Lidi had a contact with you. Since I understood this much, it was simple to figure out the rest, right?ā
Iād been feeling the presence of the boy in front of me every once in a while. He seems quite excellent so I could hardly sense it, but he touched my barrier several times. Thereās also the story I heard from Alex, it was more than enough to convince me.
As expected , his strength left him when he understood why I was convinced.
I was waiting for her to tell me, but I never expected Shinigami to contact me.
āAnd? Why have you expressly shown yourself? You were moving so carefully as to not be noticed, right?ā
When I pointed that out, the boy once again shrugged his shoulders.
āOf course, but you canāt make an omelet without breaking eggs. You know Princessās ability to take action. I just thought itād be better to share informationā
ā⦠I seeā
I could very much agree with the words he bitterly spewed.
Perhaps Lidi and this boy spend time together when Iām not there. Certainly, itās correct in the sense that weāre covering for each other. But.
ā⦠What do you think of me?ā
āHa?ā
I once again asked the boy who had lack of understanding written on his face.
If we are to have cooperative relationship, I want to at least hear that.
Then, it wouldnāt be strange if a special feeling spouted from there.
And if there is such a feeling, I thought I might rather be a hindrance.
After tilting his head and sinking into silence for a while, he nodded over and over as if he finally understood.
āAh. Aaa, itās that kind of thing. You can be relieved. I donāt really see Princess as a woman, I support you and Princess. I donāt feel like disturbing youā
āCan I believe it?ā
āNn, after all Princess loves you, right? If Princess hated it, Iād hinder it whatever it took, but she doesnāt hate it at all. Besides youāre strong. Itās honestly a relief to not have to guard her 24/7ā
I was surprised by how readily the boy answered.
The boy suddenly made a serious face.
ā⦠Besides, I aināt in love with master. I have the obligation to beget the next generation. I will without fail revive Hiyuma clan. In the first place, I couldnāt make masterās child the successor. Princess is completely out of considerationā
āI seeā¦ā
The clear explanation this time convinced me.
While still young, this boy has the responsibility for his clan. And understanding his duty, heās trying to fulfil it.
As the one responsible for the country from now on, I feel I can understand him.
I felt like I understood the reason why I strangely didnāt feel jealous of the boy in front of me.
āAre you convinced with this? Iāll say it just in case, but Princess doesnāt have an affair with me, alright? She always talks about nothing but youā
āYeah, I know that well. Iām not uneasy about Lidi⦠I know she can only see meā
ā⦠Well saidā
I showed a nod to the boy who laughed exasperatedly.
I already know plenty enough that Lidi has feelings for me. I just want to conclusively hear it from her mouth. Iām just waiting for that.
āThen, since youāre convinced. Iām Cain. Iām the last survivor of the Hiyuma clan. The present family head. I think you know me as Red Shinigami, but I aināt no longer Sahajaās assassin. I only serve Princess, and only obey Princessās orders. Think of me as suchā
When I asked a question, Cain warned me despite taking my hand.
āIf itās related to Princess. But, from the start let me refuse listening to your orders. You are not my master. Even if you tell me you donāt like my wording, I wonāt correct myselfā
āI donāt mind. Iām relieved if somebody like you is attached to Lidi⦠She tends to take nothing but unexpected actionsā
āYeahā¦ā
Something mustāve come to his mind. Cain feebly laughed with distant eyes.
āAnd? You didnāt come out just to introduce yourself, did you. Whatās your businessā
ā⦠As a preface. Princess doesnāt know Iām meeting you like this. Please understand thatā
āItās a secret from your master? Is it allowed for Hiyuma clan?ā
ā⦠To tell you the truth I didnāt want to either. But I know if I asked Princess sheād absolutely opposeā
It mustāve been a difficult decision. I nodded to the boy who made a bitter face.
āI understand. I wonāt say anything to Lidiā
āThanks. Then please listen carefully⦠Itās about the matter from before. Princess told me. The man who came today seems to be the Tarim tacticianā
āWhaā¦ā
The sudden bombshell statement left me lost for words.
I just discussed that possibility with Alex only. And yet, Lidi, why.
āIt was the womenās intuition⦠Princess said so, but I think she was convinced⦠She asked me to investigate his movementsā
āLidi did⦠Whyā
Lidi and Tarim should be unrelated. And yet, why did Lidi expressly need to grasp his movements. But if I think about it, Lidi was strange this evening.
She was awfully shaken, she shed tears⦠Perhaps he is her acquaintance.
āNo⦠That canāt beā
Thereās no point of contact between them. Recently Lidi has been staying in the Royal Palace, they wouldnāt have a chance to meet.
Ignoring me who started to ponder, Cain continued talking.
āPrincess probably intends to act alone. I also suggested itād be better if she told you, but she refused⦠Since itās a mere intuition. She said sheād tell you once she was convinced, but itās Princess, who knows when that will beā
āI seeā
Listening to Cainās story, I understood why he expressly got in touch with me.
He too is worried about Lidi whoās his master.
āNormally masterās order is absolute. But luckily Princess gave me freedom. Thatās why I moved. Like this Princess will absolutely get caught up in something strange. I want to prevent thatā
āYeahā
I understand his feelings to a painful degree.
āPrincess will surely take action soon. Of course, I intend to protect Princess, I wonāt let anybody lay their hands on her. Still, supposing something happens. Iād be consumed by regret. To avoid that, Iāll join hands with detestable royaltyā
Cain ground his teeth.
His words made me recall that Hiyuma clan was destroyed by the King of Sahaja. Of course he would be resentful. There was nothing but loathing in his expression as he said that he hates royalty.
Still, seeing him declare heāll ignore that belief for Lidiās sake, I could think of him as trustworthy man.
ā⦠Iāll keep an eye on her when sheās in the Royal Castle. I entrust the rest to youā
āI know that. If something happens, Iāll inform you. Princess appears levelheaded, but surprisingly sheās the daredevil type who tends to rush headlong. I have no idea what she might doā
As Cain said that with a straight face, I had no choice but to laugh, since sheās indeed like that.