The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 282

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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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Part 2, Chapter 80

It certainly wasn’t enough to be described as panic.

However, the same voice kept echoing in my head.

“That’s not my concern.”

“What you do with the rest is your freedom. Spolia, Ash Pager too.”

Lu’s expression, tone, voice when he said those words…

Was he sincere? His eyes were so terribly cold that it seemed genuine. What did that mean? What on earth was Lu thinking?

“Do you understand now?”

I felt a cold sensation embrace my back.

Welcome. And pity.

Rien’s voice, carrying contradictory emotions, reached my ears.

“Calepa doesn’t care if you die.”

Maybe that’s true, I thought.

“Haha… In fact, you’re no different from me after all. Destined to be used as toys by old gods and then discarded. That’s what we are. Calepa is exactly like Spolia. Sinister and cruel beings.”

Could Rien be showing me lies?

That possibility couldn’t be ruled out.

No, objectively speaking, that was more likely. Hadn’t Rien desired my heart while also wanting me to take his hand and destroy Spolia together?

As if seeing right through me, Rien’s mockery grew louder.

“Ah- Ah-. Poor Daisy! The ancient gods are inherently like that! It can’t be helped… Their only concern is remaining on this land instead of ascending to the distant cosmos. That’s all.”

Rubbing his face against my shoulder, Rien took a deep breath and stepped boldly from behind me to the front, waving his hands dramatically as if performing a play.

“So they create groups. The Rogues…”

The figures of Rogue mages rose like smoke in the air.

“The Divine Knight Order…”

Next came the image of knights sitting around a round table.

“Yes, my followers are no different in some sense either.”

Finally, Rien’s followers armed with crude weapons rose like smoke before disappearing without a trace.

“Cherishing, cherishing, cherishing the power of glorious blooming! To plant shields and swords that will keep us on this land forever.”

The power of blooming.

It felt like lightning struck through my tangled, sunken thoughts.

‘Right, that’s why this bastard wants me…’

Thanks to that, my mind became clear.

“So wake up, newcomer.”

Rien grabbed my chin and lifted it, warning in a heavy voice.

“The one you should choose is not Calepa, but me.”

Is that so? …Really?

‘No.’

Swish-

The energy that spread from my fingertips like a blade struck directly into Rien’s chest. Standing there dazed, he slowly stepped backward while looking down at his reddening torso.

“I told you, Rien. You’d better summarize everything in three lines from now on.”

His shoulders trembled slightly.

“…Pitiful and foolish thing.”

Cold purple eyes glared at me. Though filled with anger, his smile contained nothing but satisfaction.

“You’ll be betrayed if you trust them. You must remember that fact…”

Was it satisfaction about the fact that not only you, but I too would be abandoned?

After Rien’s figure gradually scattered and disappeared, leaving only a handful of flames.

I was left alone in the darkness.

Lu must be waiting. I have to get out of here.

With that single thought, I gathered energy in my hand to create a small dagger. Like all mental magic, pain pushed to its limits would wake me from the spell.

But would Lu really be waiting?

“…”

Huh.

After taking a short breath, I stabbed my abdomen.

.

.

.

.

.

“Ah!”

I sat up to relieve the rising nausea.

I dry heaved several times, but nothing came up. It was natural since I had barely consumed any food.

I’m dizzy.

“Calm down, Daisy.”

My vision was spinning, and despite breathing rapidly, I felt severely short of breath.

Moreover, an indescribable unpleasant sensation, like insects crawling through my organs, kept surging near my abdomen.

“Your body is fine. Nothing’s wrong. Focus and feel the sensation in your palms. How is it?”

Someone took my hand and placed it on my stomach. That someone was undoubtedly Lu. Deeply relieved, I leaned against him, letting all the strength drain from my body.

As my heartbeat gradually slowed, I began to see my surroundings. The place where Lu and I were situated was a forest shrouded in darkness.

I traced through memories that had been terribly vivid as if they were reality.

“Just now… Hah. I’m not certain, but I think I was trapped inside Rien’s mind. Right?”

“Excellent interpretation. You really have good instincts, Daisy.”

Lu rubbed his thumb and index finger together and slowly swept the ground. Then, things that weren’t visible before began to appear.

“Can you see?”

Spider web-like lines were surrounding the forest.

“They’re all lines connected to Rien. The moment you step on them, you’re linked to his mind. Though you woke up later than expected…”

As if relieved that I had awakened now, Lu gently stroked my abdomen.

I asked, trying to remove as much suspicion from my emotions as possible.

“Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“I wanted to wake you immediately, even with a kiss if necessary, but unfortunately I couldn’t force you awake. It wasn’t just your mind that was connected, but your body too.”

I looked down at my upper abdomen, which still felt numb and was being carefully tended by Lu.

My stomach still ached inside. Was that because my body was also connected?

“Don’t tell me I’m fine now because…”

“I reversed your body to two days ago.”

Oh, my goodness.

I blankly raised my hand. Right, I thought something felt strange. I had returned to Andert’s body again.

“Three times.”

“…”

“Exactly three times your body suffered major injuries and healed itself without time to tend to them. Plus you experienced the airship accident… If I had left it alone, your balance would have collapsed far beyond necessity. Really… it’s obvious.”

So that’s what Rien was aiming for.

‘He was trying to destroy my balance through repeated injuries.’

If the balance completely collapsed, my very existence would disappear into space. If he couldn’t have my heart, he intended to kill me outright.

But it became useless in the end, so it doesn’t matter. What I’m more worried about is…

“Why did you do that?”

I can’t forget that voice speaking with cold eyes.

“As long as you keep two promises, what you do with the rest is your freedom. Spolia, Ash Pager too.”

After saying that, how could he…

“Lu, I understand your feelings. I know you’re worried about me and pushing yourself. But why do you keep… making me…”

Feel miserable?

Ah!

I swallowed a sigh of relief. What a fortunate thing that I didn’t voice such nonsense! To think such pathetic thoughts. I couldn’t believe myself.

‘Lu is worrying about me right now, you idiot. If you’re going to blame someone, blame yourself for being ignorant about magic.’

But what if it’s just pretending to be worried?

‘No. Lu and I… we haven’t known each other for just a day or two. It would be foolish to doubt his sincerity based on glimpsing just one moment.’

But what if what Rien said was true?

‘…The one saying it is Rien, and it wouldn’t be strange for him to lie at any time.’

It’s nothing but denial of reality.

Lu’s condition, and the reason Rien became one-armed – it was a scene where everything fit together perfectly…

Ah, damn it.

“Lu!”

I called out his name loudly.

Half of it was to shake off the thoughts that wouldn’t leave my head, and the other half was my resolve to ask for the truth to resolve this anxiety.

But when our eyes actually met.

“…Lu.”

When I saw him transformed back into a small blue cat again.

[Don’t worry. A small body is more comfortable for me.]

The anxiety that had been eating away at my mind disappeared, and where waves had been churning and crashing, calmness settled.

‘…Phew, good.’

Let me pull myself together. Truth or lies – none of that matters. What I need to focus on right now is this very moment.

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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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