An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 46

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#46

 

As usual, Gert was displeased to see Orphea being treated like a jester, so he approached them to stop it.

 

But perhaps because he was in a blind spot, neither Orphea nor the other expedition members noticed Gert’s approach.

 

He had clearly approached to restrain them…

 

But Gert at that time suddenly changed his mind and chose to quietly watch instead.

 

However, he couldn’t remember why he had changed his mind back then.

 

Fifty heroes moistened with drink

 

Unfurl the sails

 

Raise the flag high

 

Weigh anchor

 

Coil the ropes.

 

The white, slender fingertips striking the lyre strings became increasingly lively, as if dancing.

 

The brilliant melody poured forth as moonlight caught the lyre strings and seemed to shatter.

 

The fragments became stars, and the stars fragmented again, beginning to scatter golden dust.

 

Even though he hadn’t yet touched alcohol to his lips, his heart pounded and his mood soared.

 

Rising excitement. Confidence that he could accomplish anything. The feeling that strength was seeping between his muscles.

 

The omnipotent feeling that he could do anything gave an addictive quality that was hard to escape.

 

If Gert, being a demigod and thus less affected by Orphea’s song, felt this much, how ecstatic must the others have been.

 

He could understand why they continuously craved Orphea’s songs.

 

But understanding didn’t mean he could tolerate it. Rather, after hearing this song, Gert resolved to crack down even more on other bastards requesting songs from Orphea.

 

It was extremely unpleasant that unworthy bastards approached Orphea for their petty pleasures.

 

Embracing the wind

 

Cutting through fierce wind and waves

 

We shall advance

 

In an instant, wind swept through, rustling the leaves as if joining the performance. It seemed as if all of nature wanted to lend a hand to Orphea’s song.

 

Orphea’s following humming caressed Gert’s ears as sweetly as a southern breeze. Like a sail swelling with wind, Gert’s heart also lifted.

 

At the same time, the pain gripping his head disappeared as if washed away…

 

The rushing waves

 

Will eventually scatter

 

For glory more precious than life

 

Let us depart for the golden kingdom

 

Gert smiled.

 

As his mind cleared from liberation from pain, Gert came to realize that he too was not much different from those bastards who craved songs and circled around Orphea.

 

Under the consolation of respecting Orphea’s will, what a pathetic sight he was, circling around hoping she might pity him and throw him a scrap of meat.

 

But even such gloomy thoughts were gradually consumed by the imagery Orphea embedded in her song as it intensified.

 

The sense of liberation Orphea felt when departing on the Argo was completely transformed into melody and seeped into Gert.

 

Gert’s memory went back further from the day he heard the launching song, returning to the moment he decided on the expedition.

 

This great adventure

 

Shall resound throughout the entire world

 

That time when he decided to join the expedition at Dietrich’s request.

 

Gert had boarded the ship thinking that if he followed this expedition, he could kill monsters to his heart’s content, so at least for a while he could escape from that hateful curse.

 

What dominated Gert at that time was tedium so wearisome it weighed down his shoulders.

 

Of course, he had no resentment or regret about the choice that led to his curse. Even if he returned to that time, Gert would make the same choice.

 

But there was nothing he could do about something being worn away.

 

Will, hope, or perhaps yearning. The sparkling emotions that make a person feel alive. These flowed down like sand and pooled at Gert’s footsteps.

 

Nevertheless, at least during this moment of listening to Orphea’s song, the spirit he once possessed welled up in Gert’s weathered and parched chest.

 

Before he knew it, Orphea’s fingers had become a single will, racing toward the climax she was drawing.

 

Children of the gods,

 

Those born with the blood of heroes,

 

A journey to be remembered in history has begun

 

Fill your cups with the wine of glory

 

Everyone raise your glasses!

 

The moment Orphea uttered the last verse, Gert couldn’t contain his surging emotions and raised the wine cup he was holding.

 

Just as the expedition members had done beside Orphea in the past.

 

At that moment.

 

His eyes met Orphea’s.

 

Orphea, who hadn’t expected Gert to respond so enthusiastically to the song, widened her eyes before curving them into a crescent moon smile.

 

‘Ah.’

 

Only then did Gert remember why he had uncharacteristically acted whimsically and watched Orphea’s performance.

 

Back then too, Orphea had been smiling just like now.

 

As if utterly delighted.

 

To the point where he couldn’t muster the courage to damage that smile.

 

***

 

Orphea’s heart pounded after finishing her song. To think Gert would raise his wine cup in time with the song! No one would believe it even if she told them.

 

‘Gert… really does like my songs!’

 

Gert seemed flustered by his own behavior, awkwardly fidgeting with his wine cup. If she teased Gert here, he definitely wouldn’t give such a reaction again.

 

She couldn’t let that happen!

 

When faced with Gert’s reaction, even though the performance had ended, she suddenly wanted to touch the lyre strings again.

 

No, to be precise…

 

She wanted to write Gert’s heroic poem.

 

‘Why all of a sudden?’

 

Was it because last time Gert fell asleep while listening? She hadn’t felt this motivated then.

 

Perhaps Gert’s reaction was important. Just that alone made her creative desire burn so fiercely. It was hard to believe.

 

But thinking that it was because Gert was such a demanding audience made some sense. After all, the more difficult the opponent, the more satisfying the conquest, and the greater the feeling of being acknowledged.

 

‘…I should create opportunities to perform for Gert more often, even if I have to make excuses.’

 

When creating such opportunities, it would be meaningless if Gert didn’t react. For the sake of my motivation, I attempted positive reinforcement to make Gert respond more actively.

 

“I’m happy that you seemed to enjoy the song. Actually, I was worried when I chose the launching song. I thought it might not be your taste. I figured you probably preferred calmer or more subdued songs.”

 

“I don’t particularly like only those kinds of songs. It’s just…”

 

“I know, I know. You’re just not used to it. But everyone has preferences, and I wanted to sing songs you’d like.”

 

I jumped down from the railing and approached the armchair where Gert was sitting. Then I picked up another wine cup from the table and thrust it in front of Gert’s nose with a beaming smile.

 

“But if there’s no reaction, I can’t tell anything. So I was really happy when you raised your cup.”

 

“…How trivial.”

 

Gert raised the wine cup he had been gripping as if to crush it and lightly clinked it against mine. The metal collision rang out with a cool, clear sound.

 

I tilted my wine cup to moisten my lips while glancing at Gert. Still embarrassed about raising his cup so undignifiedly, Gert’s ears were flushed red when seen up close.

 

Still, it seemed my praise was worthwhile, as he didn’t look displeased.

 

Gert spoke in a grumbling tone.

 

“I can do that much for you easily. So if there’s something you want from me, just say it. I’m… not good at reading the mood, so sometimes I can’t figure it out until you tell me.”

 

I couldn’t answer easily and rolled my eyes around restlessly.

 

Gert said to feel free to tell him what I wanted, but that didn’t mean he’d really grant everything.

 

Gert said he wasn’t good at reading the mood, but it wasn’t like I was particularly quick-witted either. For someone like me to figure out the standards Gert would tolerate was impossible.

 

Rather than making an unreasonable request and getting on Gert’s bad side, it was better not to ask at all.

 

Because Gert getting angry was truly terrifying!

 

‘The real problem is not knowing what standards he uses to get angry.’

 

Having received countless requests, Gert sometimes got angry for incomprehensible reasons.

 

“You’re asking me for something like this? Just because you can’t catch one rampaging rhinoceros? Are the other heroes on this ship just playing around right now?”

 

Even thinking about it now, it was hard to understand why Gert got so angry back then. He had easily dealt with both more difficult and easier monsters before without a word of complaint.

 

Even Dietrich, who had been close friends with him for a long time, got scolded by Gert, so figuring out Gert’s standards wasn’t easy.

 

Dietrich was a prince and a great hero himself, so even when Gert got angry, he could quickly laugh it off and put his arm around Gert’s shoulders, but I absolutely couldn’t do that. This was true even though Gert usually treated me well.

 

If it hadn’t been related to the heroic epic, I wouldn’t have been able to propose marriage or divorce.

 

‘Though it seems like I’ve been asking for quite a lot of things…’

 

In my own way, I was only asking for things I had very carefully considered and filtered!

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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