CHAPTER 93……………………………….

I Don’t Do Romance-Fantasy Horror Consultations
Episode 93

If the dark mage had been prepared for my injuries, I could have attacked even more.

In that case, I might have ended up on the brink of death.

Right now, Laseil is alive purely because one of my attacks landed on the dark mage.

It was such a surprise attack that the dark mage likely fled in shock.

“Of course… you wouldn’t die that easily…”

Laseil quietly observed Yujire’s expression.

Yujire, too, should know just how strong a Swordmaster is.

Having spent so much time alongside Laseil and Irenes, she’d know even more.

And yet, she reacted this way now.

‘She must be worried.’

This was probably the first time Yujire had seen Laseil this badly hurt.

Naturally, she couldn’t help but imagine a far worse outcome.

Instead of going into theory, Laseil quietly embraced Yujire.

“Wh-what is this all of a sudden?”

Yujire asked in surprise.

Still, she didn’t push Laseil away.

“I’m alive.”

“…Yeah.”

“And I won’t die in the future either.”

“Don’t talk about dying.”

“Yes.”

“You two… seem to have forgotten about me.”

Ruzea muttered quietly.

“Wanna join too?”

“I’m fine.”

“Come here.”

And so, Ruzea joined the hug under Yujire’s lead.

“What are we doing all huddled together like this?”

“What else? Hugging, of course.”

Even Ruzea, grumbling, didn’t break the hug.

Once the hug ended, she spoke:

“If you keep doing this, I might just become independent first. Do you think I’ll stay by your side forever?”

“You said you’d stay by my side all the time.”

“I meant only as long as your honor and power remain intact.”

“So that means forever.”

Ruzea, who had paused thoughtfully, nodded.

“That’s true.”

Watching this not-quite-joke, Laseil asked a question.

“How does the Duchess look?”

“The Duchess?”

This was something she’d been pondering since the carriage.

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen a portrait.”

After the Duchess’s death, Duke Lund had cleared away all related items.

He must have loved her dearly, and his grief was equally great.

There were even stories that just seeing related items would confine him to his room all day.

“…Probably no one has seen her properly.”

Yujire’s explanation ended there.

‘Then probably no one else knows either.’

Of course, Yujire was the one with the most information about the nobles.

If she didn’t know, no one else likely would.

As Laseil pondered again, there was a knock at the door.

“May I come in?”

The voice that followed was familiar.

“Ire… Sir Sieren?”

“Now you’re using nicknames too?”

Ruzea hurriedly corrected the title, but the nickname had already been heard.

“We always use it in letters.”

Laseil tried to act nonchalant and turned her gaze toward the door.

Then, she wondered:

‘Why was I trying to hide the nickname?’

It wasn’t embarrassing or wrong at all.

“I’ll go. It’s better for you to talk alone with Sir Sieren, right?”

“I’m fine…”

“Sir Sieren wouldn’t be. Ruzea, let’s go.”

With that, Yujire left with Ruzea.

“Excuse me…”

Immediately afterward, Irenes entered the room.

She looked far more somber than the last time Laseil had seen her, as if she had committed some grave mistake.

“I’m sorry, Lord Jaen…”

Before Laseil could greet her, Irenes apologized first.

Bowing while saying that only raised questions.

“Sorry? For what?”

“I was negligent in my duties. The dark mage was originally the responsibility of my Third Knight Company. And that caused…”

Irenes continued without taking a breath.

So that was why her face was so dark.

‘Is it just me?’

Somehow, Irenes seemed a bit frightened.

If Laseil reacted emotionally here, things could worsen.

“I’m fine.”

“But you were hurt! I should have managed—”

“Was the Third Knight Company also responsible for watching the dark mage’s prison?”

Laseil suddenly asked, remembering that it probably wasn’t.

That duty would have fallen to the royal guards.

“No, the guards were responsible for that. But the escaped dark mage—”

“You didn’t go after the dark mage even though you knew it had escaped?”

“Of course not.”

“Then did Irenes do something wrong?”

Laseil asked.

Irenes seemed at a loss for words.

If she admitted fault now, it would contradict Laseil’s words.

“…Still…”

“Irenes? Could you come closer?”

Irenes awkwardly stepped near the bed.

As soon as the distance closed, Laseil hugged her tightly.

“W-what are you doing…?”

“I thought it might help you calm down.”

Laseil had never heard of a hug worsening someone’s condition.

‘This much should be okay… right?’

Seeing that Irenes didn’t resist, Laseil assumed they were close enough.

After the hug, Laseil noticed another concern.

“Irenes? Your face is very red. Do you have a fever?”

She might have been the first person to worsen from a hug.

Irenes shook her head frantically at Laseil’s question.

“No, not at all.”

“I’m glad you’re okay, but…”

Her face had turned extremely red, though it soon returned to normal.

“Could you explain something to me?”

Irenes seemed to remember her original purpose for visiting.

Laseil repeated the explanation she had just given.

“Was her appearance the same as before?”

“Yes. Black hair, black eyes.”

“Did she lose all her magic, or did she think it didn’t need hiding?”

Irenes murmured to herself while taking notes, then compared it with other notes.

“Anyway, thank you. This helps a lot.”

“Is this really helpful?”

Laseil asked, slightly embarrassed.

The only information given was that the dark mage had come to the carriage.

“You now know the last place she appeared. That’s a good clue.”

Since she was badly injured, she probably couldn’t travel far.

And there was news Laseil hadn’t expected at all:

“By the way, it seems Duke Lund plans to visit this territory. Did you know?”

“Eh?”

“I came to tell you because I thought you might not know. I’ll go now!”

Irenes left hurriedly, busier than ever.

Catching the dark mage before it got further would surely be hectic.

‘Duke Lund…’

Laseil watched the spot Irenes had left and pondered again.

‘I hope I’m not being assigned another request this time…’

Recently, she sometimes wondered if there was some kind of “fixer’s office” in the territory.

‘Then first, I should go see Enci.’

As Laseil thought deeply, her eyelids grew heavy again.

Perhaps due to her weakened state, she felt sleepier than usual.

Finally unable to resist, she lay down.

“Formal request: I would like to hire you.”

As expected, Laseil’s guess was correct.

The next day, Duke Lund arrived and said this.

“I hear you also have deep knowledge regarding fairies and demons.”

‘Who spreads these rumors anyway?’

Laseil genuinely wanted to see the face of the person who said that.

Not to punish or anything—she just wanted to see their face.

“May I request your assistance?”

But it was hard to refuse the Duke’s offer.

Especially since she already had some idea of the situation.

“I will do my utmost to provide the best possible reward.”