Let the Whales Fight, This Shrimp is Leaving! - Chapter 30

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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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Chapter 30
The Emperor himself had stepped in to sweep away all remnants of the political giant who had vanished without a trace.
Around that time, Holdin came to find Deyan.
“Let’s crush them together.”
“W-what?”
“Every single bastard who ruined your social life like this, Your Grace.”
Back then, Holdin looked as gaunt as an orphan kicked out onto the streets, his eyes burning with nothing but pure malice.
“I will find a way to lift your curse, Your Grace.”
Holdin ground his teeth, vowing vengeance by any means necessary.
With bloodshot eyes, he holed up in the library, tearing through all kinds of books in a desperate search for a clue to break the curse.
They were all materials concerning various religions, demons, magic, and black magic.
The only records of a different nature were those regarding the history of the Nemanic Family.
“Why are you looking at that?”
“We need to grasp the circumstances of how the Emperor became involved in this matter in the first place, don’t we?”
“Does that even matter?”
“Pardon?”
“I am already…”
“If you have the peace of mind to spout such soft-hearted nonsense, go find this for me instead.”
Holdin tried his best to unravel the secrets of the curse piece by piece, but as expected, the world was not kind to Deyan.
“Sir Nemanic. The time has come for you to prove your worth.”
“Are you insane?! His Grace is only thirteen!”
“I assume you do not wish to see this insolent servant’s head severed.”
Deyan silently observed Idir’s expression as she walked ahead, looking straight forward.
“From then on, I rolled around from one battlefield to the next. If His Majesty told me to fight, I fought; if he told me to kill, I killed.”
“You were treated as nothing less than a weapon. Your Emperor must have had it easy.”
Idir offered a faint smile.
“To possess a tool so loyal and powerful like you, Sir Nemanic.”
“…Are you envious?”
“It would be a lie to say I’m not, wouldn’t it?”
“Then you were serious when you told me to seek exile.”
“Yes. I never make empty promises unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
“And I have become someone who doesn’t even require empty promises.”
“Your sarcasm has certainly improved in the meantime.”
As he kept catching her words, Idir let out an amused laugh.
She did not seem particularly displeased.
It might have been Deyan’s imagination, but she actually seemed to enjoy his rebuttals.
“Since I have satisfied your curiosity, Lady Hubert, please answer my question now.”
“Oh? I don’t recall making any such bargain.”
“What did you do with my adjutant?”
“Did you think I would harm him?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
Idir rolled her green eyes, which were fully soaked in the warm sunlight.
She hopped forward a few paces like a small bird, then spun around to face him.
Her movements were as light as those of a ballerina.
“Actually, you’re half right.”
She replied with a beautiful face—her eyes curved gracefully into crescent moons, her pink lips softly turned upward, and her fair cheeks flushed with vibrant life.
“I did contemplate pulling out his fingernails. I thought it would be useful when threatening you, Sir Nemanic.”
“Ha.”
A hollow laugh escaped him first at the sheer innocence of her response.
With those gestures, with that face, was it truly appropriate to say such things in this situation?
“You terrify me, Lady Hubert.”
“Really? People usually don’t find me frightening.”
“You have terrified me from the very beginning.”
“Thank you.”
Idir shrugged her slender shoulders.
As she turned back around and continued walking, even her retreating figure was dazzlingly beautiful.
However, it was terrifying because he could not dare to imagine what monstrous thoughts filled that small head of hers.
“I am naturally afraid of insane people.”
“So you think I am insane?”
She asked back without even turning her head.
Knowing she could not see him, Deyan answered instead by nodding his head.
“That’s fine. I am well aware of it myself.”
“Where have you locked Holdin up?”
“I haven’t locked him up.”
“I know that’s a lie.”
“It’s the truth. I didn’t lock him up. I sent him away.”
“What? What do you mean by that?”
Idir, who had been padding along with her small feet, came to a sudden halt.
Following her lead, Deyan naturally stopped in his tracks as well.
“I sent Sir Holdin back to Adorif at dawn yesterday. I provided a heavy escort, so you needn’t worry about his life.”
Idir spoke nonchalantly, turning her upper body halfway to look back at Deyan with her hands clasped behind her back.
‘I doubt she sent him back out of the goodness of her heart.’
Deyan held his tongue for a moment instead of asking for the reason.
If he simply asked why she sent him back, he was bound to be treated like an idiot on the spot.
“…Is it because of Joaquin Perez?”
When Deyan finally deduced the answer after a brief deliberation, Idir nodded approvingly, as if praising a clever child.
“Yes.”
“I highly doubt that bastard would have willingly cooperated with your plans.”
He took long strides to catch up with her.
Her arched eyebrows twitched slightly, perhaps displeased that he had closed the distance in just a couple of steps, but he pressed her anyway, pretending not to notice.
“Are you certain you truly didn’t do anything to him?”
“Yes. I didn’t. I can deal with him whenever I wish, but that time isn’t now, so do not fret.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Then you don’t have to, right?”
Idir burst into a clear, ringing laugh.
“It’s not as if you have any way to verify it right now anyway. What will you do if you don’t believe me?”
“…”
The woman, who was an absolute master at making people feel foolish, mocked him relentlessly.
Having no words to counter her, Deyan merely walked beside her in silence.
“I told them to leave him with all his limbs intact, provided Sir Holdin doesn’t hasten his own demise with futile antics.”
Answering with a voice that still carried a hint of laughter, she offered a few more pieces of information.
“Sir Holdin will formally enter the empire leading the messengers of Adorif. When that time comes, I will ensure you can return to your homeland as well, Sir Nemanic.”
“Will you be sending me back as a corpse?”
“Who knows?”
It was a remark intended to provoke her, but it seemed to have no effect on Idir.
Replying effortlessly, she turned her direction toward the building.
“Shall we wrap up our walk for today? Let’s meet around the same time tomorrow.”
Giving him a gentle wave with her slender hand, Idir vanished briskly inside the building.
Deyan, who had been staring blankly at her retreating back which held not a single shred of lingering attachment, belatedly realized the gazes directed at him and let out another wry chuckle.
‘It was intentional.’
When he focused his senses, he could feel the presence of the workers doing their chores out of sight.
The reason Idir had suggested a walk was to put on a show for the people.
‘What a terrifying woman.’
To think that her slightly exaggerated laughter and crisp movements were all thoroughly calculated actions.
Somehow, he felt deceived.
* * *
An entry was added to my daily routine, which had previously flowed with precision down to the minute.
At two o’clock in the afternoon, just as the sun at its zenith began to tilt slightly.
After visiting Deyan Boislav Nemanic a few times at that hour when the sunlight poured down brilliantly, it seemed to have become a habit for him as well.
“Shall we go?”
When I knocked on the door, Deyan appeared, dressed in simple casual attire.
He extended his hand to escort me like a well-trained dog, and I accepted it as a matter of course.
When we entered the garden side by side, not a single presence could be felt.
It was thanks to the people who, upon learning that I walked with Deyan at this hour, took it upon themselves to clear the area.
Of course, someone among them would be watching us from somewhere.
“What is the reason for using such a tedious method?”
“Isn’t it a rule that secrets must be hidden even more thoroughly from those closest to you?”
I replied while keeping my gaze fixed ahead, maintaining a steady pace.
No matter what conversation we were actually having, it was crucial that we appeared to be on good terms from the outside.
Deyan also matched his stride to mine, casting a sidelong glance around us.
“Did you hide it from your cherished knight as well? The one named Giselle.”
“Who knows? Take a guess.”
“I doubt you told her.”
“Wrong.”
“So you do have someone you trust, Lady Hubert.”
“One cannot bear all the burdens of the world alone, can they? Giselle is trustworthy. She would take her own life if I ordered her to die.”
I confirmed that Deyan did not talk back before adding to my words.
“What about you, Sir Nemanic? How much do you trust your adjutant?”
“If you were to weigh my life against his, Lady Hubert, I would gladly forfeit my own.”
Since he answered so calmly, I deliberately added one more comment.
“So your own life isn’t particularly precious to you, then?”
I could feel Deyan’s dark hazel eyes quietly looking down at me.

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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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