PAHKE 36

Chapter 36

“You, how could you do something like that to me even though you’re a fairy!”
I grabbed Wit by the collar with my index finger and shook him.

“Keugh, kekggh! Wit is a fairy, master…!”
“Shut up!”

Does this make sense? Does this make any sense at all!

Did Rosmarie in the original story know this fact and still make a contract with Wit?

No, there’s no way.

That damn demon definitely must have conveniently left that part out when suggesting the contract.

“Do it again.”
“M-master?”

“Let’s redo the contract! Bring that so-called contract fairy or whatever you mentioned before and fix the terms!”

If my death had no effect on that demon, then why would he risk his life to protect me?

At this rate, my safety wasn’t guaranteed.

Right now, it was only like this because I had taken a potion.

“Ki-kik. Master, are you scared to die alone?”

“Yes!”

“Don’t worry, master! Wit can’t live without master either. If master dies, Wit will be buried together too!”

I don’t need that kind of consideration!

An ending involving skeletons and burial together was not part of my plan!

“Forget that. Wit, let’s redo the contract. Okay?”

“But master, a contract can only be broken after its purpose is achieved.”

The purpose of the contract.

Even without hearing it, I was sure it was for Rosmarie to win Adriel’s heart.

“What happens if that purpose isn’t achieved?”

“Then master and Wit will be together forever!”

“…Or I die and the contract ends?”

“Correct, master! But then Wit will die too. Master and Wit will be together even in death! Kiki kik.”

Swoosh—

The strength left my hand that was holding Wit’s collar.

This is a nightmare.

I collapsed limply, and Wit panicked and started slapping my cheeks.

“Master, you can’t die yet! Wit still has so many things he wants to do with master! Making tomato juice with master, tomato couple rings, tomato….”

You… seriously….

Talking about tomatoes in front of someone in despair like this.

With a drained voice, I asked:

“Enough with the life-and-death talk… why are you telling me this only now?”

Did you want me to faint out of anger?

Wit shouted indignantly:

“That’s strange, master! Wit didn’t want to tell master, but my mouth keeps moving on its own!”

That sounds like a terrible excuse.

“Hwaaah! It’s still moving on its own now! Something is wrong, something is wrong!”

…Maybe it wasn’t an excuse.

Well, there’s no way that simple demon could act that well.

Then why did Wit suddenly start telling me the truth?

“…Don’t tell me.”

At that moment, I remembered touching the Fairy’s Tear just before this happened.

I broke out in goosebumps and blinked blankly, while Wit continued acting franticly in front of me.

“Master, Wit will never let you die!”

So this is what happens when you touch the Fairy’s Tear?

“So don’t abandon Wit and go make a contract with Tarot!”

Gulp.

After swallowing hard, I was about to take out the Fairy’s Tear again—

Thud—

“…!”

“Hm?”

At the sound of something striking the window, both Wit and I turned toward it.

“Master, someone is outside. Kikik.”

“Shh.”

I put a finger to Wit’s mouth, signaling him to be quiet.

Then I went to the kitchen, grabbed a ladle, and slowly approached the window.

Bang—

I stopped just as I was about to swing the ladle at the figure outside.

“…?”

“Huh?”

There was no one.

No trace of anyone anywhere near the window.

“…Maybe it was just the wind shaking the window.”

After checking once more, I closed the window.

“Ahaha. That was close.”

Before the toy shop owner opened the window, Lucian Vertor slipped around the corner of the building and laughed softly.

“What an unexpected harvest.”

His purple eyes shimmered with excitement he could not hide.

He hadn’t expected the toy shop owner to be contracted with a demon.

What kind of demon was it?

The demons Tarot had gathered information on were four in total.

The demon of wealth, the demon of contract, the demon of strength, and lastly, the demon of love.

The demon of contract supposedly hated humans and lived in hiding, so that one was out.

The demon of strength, who was about to contract with Prince Deus, was also unlikely.

Then that leaves…

The demon of love.

So that was the demon of love.

According to Tarot, they called themselves fairies, but Lucian didn’t care what they actually were.

Fairy or demon, it didn’t matter.

As long as they could bring him amusement. As long as they could provide a reason for him to continue living this dull existence.

His eyes, which had been fading away after failing to steal the demon of Prince Deus, now regained life.

It was clear that the change in Serene Winter had been influenced by that demon.

If he obtained that, he could keep creating new toys endlessly.

And to steal that demon—

“…Or I die and the contract ends?”

“Ahaha.”

Lucian covered his mouth to suppress his laughter, but the corners of his eyes curved sharply, unable to hide his amusement.

The next afternoon, I was preparing to leave after leaving a note without even seeing Echo, when—

Knock knock—

Of all times, a visitor.

I stayed still, pretending no one was home.

But—

Knock— knock, knock knock knock—

What is this?

The persistent visitor began pounding on the door.

“Ki-kik. Master, should Wit chase them away?”

“…No. I’ll handle it.”

I pulled my robe over myself and opened the door, intending to send them away.

“Hello?”

And froze completely.

“Long time no see, isn’t it?”

Lucian Vertor. Why was he suddenly here…

It was fortunate my face was hidden under the robe.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to hide my expression.

I swallowed quietly and spoke in a disguised voice.

“What is your business?”

“Business? How cold. Must there be a reason to visit a friend’s house?”

I silently watched Lucian, who pretended to be hurt.

What was this? After the request from Echo, he had stopped coming here entirely—so why now?

Why at this exact moment when I was about to leave?

After a moment’s thought, I gave up trying to understand him.

Trying to understand someone insane was pointless.

“Today I’m not open for business. And I have urgent matters, so please lea—”

“On my way here, I met a guard. Do you know what he told me?”

I closed my mouth at his words.

“That there’s a lunatic living in this forest who attacks people, and to be careful.”

My lips went dry and chills ran down my spine.

It seemed Lucian had met the guard who had been knocked out by Wit.

“But when I think about it, the only person living in this forest is the toy shop owner, right?”

“Where is that guard?”

“I already sent him back.”

Lucian smiled brightly.

Seeing him like this, he strangely resembled Violet.

Well, they were siblings, so that made sense.

“Sent him back… how…?”

“Simple. He left quietly after I told him he was my acquaintance.”

As he said, the capital guards wouldn’t defy a Vertor marquis.

But why?

Why was Lucian Vertor helping me?

As if guessing my thoughts, Lucian continued:

“We can’t have anything troubling happen to our toy shop owner, can we?”

“…Why?”

“Hmm? Why, you ask? Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

A sane person cannot understand a madman’s mind.

I kept that thought to myself and waited for his answer.

“Because I like you.”

And at those words, I clenched my fist.

I was seriously considering how hard I’d need to hit him to break his nose.

Lucian, who had been smiling warmly at me, spoke in a slightly disappointed tone:

“You still don’t understand even though I’ve been showing it so clearly. I’m quite sad.”

Annoying.

I had seen this manipulative tone before, but today it felt especially irritating.

“Thank you for your help.”

Whether he truly had driven the guard away or not, I needed to leave quickly.

As time passed, Count Perial would send more guards and tighten the search net.

“But I really have urgent matters today, so—”

“Could you treat me to tea as thanks?”

“Huh? Wait…!”

Lucian didn’t even finish listening before pushing past me and opening the door.

I hurriedly blocked his path, worried he might see Wit.

But fortunately, Wit was well hidden.

I let out a small sigh and called out to Lucian.

“Sir, what exactly are you doing? You can’t just barge in like this—”

“Are you going somewhere far?”

What?

Lucian was staring intently at something.

Following his gaze, I saw my packed luggage on the floor, and I calmly replied:

“I was just planning to travel.”

“Travel…”

Lucian slowly looked around the house and muttered:

“For a trip, the house is quite empty.”

At that, I sighed and decided to just be straightforward.

I was leaving—what could he do about it?

I stood there with my arms crossed, but Lucian slowly turned back to me.

With a meaningful smile.

“You’re a noble, aren’t you?”

“…What?”

Lucian’s arms slowly relaxed as he looked at me, as if he already knew everything.

“And you’re a woman.”