Let the Whales Fight, This Shrimp is Leaving! - Chapter 17
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 17
No matter how wild Beval became, Sariel paid him no mind.
In fact, it seemed as though he was trying to provoke Beval further by intentionally acting oblivious.
“Utterly uncultured.”
“If you two intend to fight again, could I request that you take it to the training ground next time?”
The couch has already been ruined twice.
When I added that with a firm edge to my voice, Beval paused just as he was about to flip the tea table.
Regardless of that.
Sariel sat with his legs elegantly crossed, leisurely enjoying his tea.
“My Lady.”
“Yes?”
“Should I… bring more tea?”
Giselle asked hesitantly, glancing at the rapidly diminishing tea.
It was understandable.
To Giselle’s eyes, the angel and the demon were completely invisible.
However, thanks to my advance warning, she merely knew that two invisible entities were present in the room.
“Please. Bring some tea food as well.”
“Understood.”
“Drinking nothing but tea all day long.”
“While you do nothing but vulgar things all day long.”
‘At it again, both of them.’
Until just a few days ago, when I was carefully weighing these two against each other, I certainly didn’t regret it…
Now, I regret it a little.
‘I’ll get sick of this soon. I need to achieve my goal as quickly as possible and find a way to send them back.’
If I dawdle, my already precious household goods will be completely destroyed.
“It is a black tea blended with fruit.”
Or my high-quality tea leaves for guests will run out completely.
I watched Giselle politely brew tea for the invisible guests before standing up.
“Idir, where are you going?”
“I remembered I have something to do.”
“I want to go too, I want to go too.”
“You two stay here…”
I stopped trying to dissuade Beval, who was following me around after setting down the chair he had intended to throw at Sariel.
‘If I leave the two of them alone…’
The mansion might collapse.
“Go ahead, then.”
“I shall remain here. This black tea is quite excellent.”
Accompanied by Beval and Giselle, the first place I headed to was the room where Holdin was staying.
After a brief knock, I opened the door, and Holdin, who was leisurely enjoying a meal, jumped up in shock.
“Eek!”
Then, he curled his body as much as possible to hide behind the back of the chair.
His wary gaze was fixed on Giselle.
‘Looks like he learned his lesson hard.’
“Giselle. Could you step out for a moment?”
“Yes, My Lady.”
With a neat bow, she left the room.
Only then did Holdin creep out while checking his surroundings, cold sweat dripping down his forehead.
I passed right by the terrified man, calmly pulled out a chair, and sat down.
“Shall we have a little chat?”
When I gestured toward the empty chair opposite me with my eyes, Holdin’s face twisted overtly.
His eyes seemed to say, ‘What kind of conversation now?’
“If you don’t sit down immediately, I will call Giselle back.”
“I was just about to sit down.”
He sprang up and took a seat across from me.
“Idir. You should really form a contract with me instead. To think that pathetic fellow is my contractor.”
Beval, who had been watching Holdin’s antics with disdain, whined while resting his cheek on my shoulder.
“I’m too embarrassed to mention it anywhere.”
“I believe a double contract is impossible.”
“You won’t concede even a single word, will you?”
“Sir Holdin. How is your physical condition?”
Beval’s petty complaints had now become easy enough to ignore.
At my nonchalant question, Holdin’s face immediately contorted.
“Would I be fine? After someone tried to kill me?”
“But you didn’t die, did you?”
When I fired back shamelessly, he let out a hollow laugh and leaned back in his chair.
His neck was heavily wrapped in bandages.
I recalled that it hadn’t been severe enough to warrant such a fuss, so I couldn’t tell if it was intentional or just his nature.
He seemed to exaggerate his injuries a great deal.
“Ah, yes! Of course. Should I offer my gratitude for not killing me when you intended to?”
“Would you prefer I make you beg for death instead?”
The moment I asked with a bright smile, his face turned as white as a sheet.
“Pardon me…?”
“Because you don’t seem to understand the situation you are in.”
“I trust you haven’t forgotten who I am contracted with, My Lady.”
“Of course I hasn’t forgotten. That’s why I asked.”
Are you going to shut up and cooperate nicely, or should I make you think dying would be better?
When I offered a smile carrying that exact meaning, Holdin’s demeanor instantly turned deferential.
“The, the reason you visited… No, to think you walked all the way here… Ha, haha! I should have sought you out first to ask what you require of me…”
“It is fine. Since you are currently confined, Sir Holdin, you cannot step a single foot outside this room.”
“Serving you from this day forth is my joy. Ha! Haha…”
With trembling hands, Holdin poured tea into his single teacup and offered it to me.
I leisurely sipped the freshly brewed tea.
‘Hmm. Well brewed.’
He was a nobleman after all.
His skill at brewing tea was quite excellent.
“This is delicious. Give me some of this too, Idir.”
Beside me, Beval, who had snatched only the bacon from the sandwich meant for Holdin, smacked his lips.
Holdin, glancing at that sight, lowered his voice to ask.
“I am asking just in case, but what happened to that angel? Did he simply vanish?”
Looking at his anxious expression, I tilted my head.
‘Why is a man who should be wary of the angel looking for him?’
What sort of scheme is he cooking up now?
After a brief deliberation, I answered him honestly.
It was because I wanted to see how Holdin would react.
“No. He is in my office.”
“Phew. What a relief.”
“Why are you relieved? The angel will not intervene in our business anyway.”
“Still, whether there is someone… no, an entity to control this rogue or not makes a difference.”
“What? A rogue?”
“Whoa! What kind of demon harms his own contractor!”
Holdin shouted at the top of his lungs, pointing at Beval’s clenched fist.
‘Certainly.’
Seeing how he naturally knew that the demon could not harm him, Holdin’s knowledge regarding the contract with the demon did not seem to be a lie.
Though I would have to gradually find out how much he has shared with me and what he is hiding.
I had someone prepare a fresh spread of food.
Simple refreshments and tea were placed before Holdin and me, and a thick slice of bacon for Beval exuded a savory aroma.
“We have a lot to talk about, don’t we?”
“May I clear up my grievances first?”
“I am a very busy person. I will listen to unimportant matters when I am at leisure.”
I smiled gently and reached for my teacup.
At that, Holdin also smiled back at me.
Without anyone prompting, we both moistened our lips with tea at almost the same time.
A suffocating silence ensued.
“The tension between you two is no joke.”
Beval, munching on his bacon, chimed in.
In the end, it was Holdin who spoke first.
“I wish to know the condition of His Grace.”
‘I won.’
Maintaining my victorious smile, I replied leisurely.
“We are nursing him with the utmost care, so do not worry.”
“Did you not have many things you wished to ask me?”
“Though your treatment may vary depending on your cooperation, Sir Holdin.”
It was a warning not to challenge me with petty tricks.
Even if we had formed a sort of alliance out of necessity, this was a board I had set up.
Therefore, I was the master of the board. They had to move thoroughly according to my will.
‘To do that, I must discipline him properly at the start.’
So that he wouldn’t even dare to harbor foolish thoughts.
“Sigh.”
However, Holdin seemed rather poor at knowing his place.
“Yes. What are you curious about?”
“First, I will hear why you were at the border adjacent to Cordi.”
“I am sorry, but I am merely an ignorant man. I cannot disclose an Imperial Order delivered directly by His Majesty to the outside world.”
Holdin added indifferently.
“If you are so curious, ask His Grace yourself.”
“Just because you do not speak does not mean I have no way of finding out. I simply wished to take the easy path.”
Letting out a faint laugh, I shook the bell placed at the edge of the table.
Ting.
Immediately after the clear sound resonated.
The door opened, and Giselle revealed herself.
“Did you call, My Lady?”
“Eek!”
“Bring him to his knees.”
“Aaaah!”
With a crashing sound, the chair rolled across the floor.
Holdin, springing from his seat, scrambled around like a flea, thrashing wildly to escape Giselle’s grasp.
“…He’s annoying.”
The moment Beval, watching the spectacle, left a brief commentary.
Giselle drew a finger-length concealed weapon hidden in her sleeve and threw it.
“Hieeeek!”
A hole was pierced straight through Holdin’s trousers.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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