(EP-228.2) #8

228 – Discovery #8

Since we ran into each other, we decided to have dinner together.

The two of us entered the fancy student cafeteria nearby, ordered our meals, and started eating. As we were finishing up, Mirna asked while elegantly wiping her lips with a napkin.

“Lady Lioness, why don’t you eat any garlic?”

“Whether I eat garlic or not is none of your business.”

“… Is it perhaps that you can’t eat it?”

“Hmph!”

Elga seemed annoyed.

While it might appear that she was angry because Mirna kept insisting on her eating garlic, having spent quite some time with her, I knew better.

Elga was upset because her plan had fallen through. She was frustrated about failing to go to the Guide’s house.

「You have calmly judged the situation!

You have gained experience points through the talent 《Calm Thinking》.

All job experience +5」

I didn’t know why Elga wanted to meet him, but I definitely didn’t want her to have any further contact with that man.

Moreover, Elga was pregnant. If she moved around recklessly and encountered any danger, it could lead to uncontrollable consequences.

“Sir Theo, I must say, that’s a nice hat you’re wearing.”

“Ah.”

Mirna suddenly said, so I set aside my thoughts for now.

“But don’t you think it’s better to take it off indoors? Now that night has fallen, there’s no need to wear a hat to block the sun.”

“I’m just wearing it for the style.”

“Style?”

Mirna laughed at my response, as if she had heard something amusing.

“So Sir Theo also has a childish side? Style, you say? But style needs the right time and place to shine. Indoors, you should take off your hat.”

“… I’ll keep it in mind.”

I nodded, but I had no intention of removing my hat.

Mirna gave me a strange look, then let out a long, thoughtful hum. She probably thought to herself that “Theo Gospel has no fashion sense,” and deducted points for that.

「You have calmly judged the situation!

You have gained experience points through the talent 《Calm Thinking》.

All job experience +5」

… Wait, was this for real?

Well, whatever.

I had work to do once this dinner was over. So, when was this meal going to end?

Clink, clink.

As I was slicing my meat, feeling a bit impatient—.

“Hey, Theo.”

Elga, who had been keeping quiet, finally spoke to me.

“What is it?”

“Have you ever been to the Witch Forest?’

The Witch Forest.

I knew this one.

“The Witch Forest, you mean the forest North of Angmar? The domain of the Tarantera family. A grove of lawlessness, teeming with spiders and thieves, pagans and heretics.”

“So you know it. Being so knowledgeable of the place, have you been there before? Maybe before working at the court?”

“Not really, I went there in Aira-nim’s dream.”

Aira’s dream was a mental space based on the Witch Forest. Because of that, I encountered all sorts of monsters and suffered.

Most of the memories from that time had faded and become blurry, but the feeling of ‘suffering’ remained deeply in my heart.

So to me, my impression of the Witch Forest was a dangerous place I didn’t want to visit. But why was she suddenly asking about it?

“So, you’ve never actually been to the Witch Forest?”

“That’s correct.”

“Really?”

“Why would I lie about something like this??”

Elga’s persistent questioning must have a reason. Could there be some incident revolving around her that I was unaware of?

She mentioned meeting someone from her family recently. Did they say something about the Witch Forest? Or was it a problem with the barrier beyond the forest?

There were many speculations, but no clear answers.

In times like this, the best approach was to ask directly.

“Elga-nim seems quite interested in the Witch Forest. Why are you suddenly asking about it?”

“… No reason.”

It smelled like something was definitely going on. Maybe Elga’s reason for wanting to meet the Guide was related to the Witch Forest.

After finishing our meal, I stepped outside the restaurant and stretched.

While Elga stayed behind to settle the bill, Mirna, who had come out first, poked me in the side.

“Sir Theo.”

“Yes? What is it?.”

“It seems the spirit possessing Lady Lioness is starting to influence her more and more. This afternoon, she kept going around in circles in the same spot. And now she’s curious about the Witch Forest.”

“…….”

“The Witch Forest is a haven for heretics, filled with immoral necromancers and black mages. It’s only natural for demons to be interested in such a place.”

In Mirna’s mind, Elga was already being manipulated by a demon. Mirna’s reasoning was quite reasonable if you looked at it without context.

“Mirna-nim, let’s stay calm and keep an eye for now. It might not be a possession.”

“Of course. The vote counting starts at midnight, I’ll keep an eye on Lady Lioness for today. Who knows what might happen…”

Regardless of the reason, knowing Mirna would be watching Elga allowed me to breathe a little easier.

At the same time, I realized something.

I had become complacent and too passive lately.

As Kalira in the infirmary had pointed out, after leaving the court, I had lost my edge in many ways.

I had been ignoring the principle that dealing with any potential problem was paramount. I had not been cautious enough, letting things fester.

Optimism or not, it shouldn’t be like this.

Nothing was going to be solved by sweeping it under the rug. The best way to fix the problem was to get in there and do it, even if it might be horrible and painful.

I had made up my mind.

I’d go see the Guide soon.

And, I would drive him out of Ark.

No, I would cast him far away from my life!

With this resolve, I parted ways with the ladies.

Edited by: faker