(EP-268.1) Song #5

268 – Cicada’s Song #5

There wasn’t much time left until the appointment.

Following the map, I headed towards the place we were supposed to meet called「Fairy’s Wind」.

Was this it?

I finally arrived at a charming, upscale restaurant.

In the morning and noon, they served light lunch sets, and in the evening, they would offer elegant dinner courses with wine.

The most impressive part was the restaurant’s outdoor terrace and the exotic palm trees planted there.

I never thought I’d see palm trees downtown Angmar, so it felt somewhat awkward and at the same time had a strange sense of deja vu.

It was definitely my first time here, yet it felt oddly familiar. It couldn’t just be my imagination.

Seuk-.

I sat on the outdoor terrace, waiting for the other party. She hadn’t arrived yet, but with little time left, she should appear soon.

━Hey, look over there.

━Wow, who could that be?

After waiting for a few minutes, I heard the people around me buzzing. The atmosphere, especially among the men, seemed to become excited, as if a stunning beauty had appeared.

And my guess was spot on.

The first thing I saw was a red dress that showed off a healthy amount of shoulders and thighs.

A young lady with impressive golden hair that sparkled as if sprinkled with gold dust and wearing high-heeled glass shoes pulled out a chair and sat across from me.

Her eyes and cheeks were lightly made up, and her lips were painted with a passionate yet alluring red lipstick.

I knew she was beautiful, but seeing her all dolled up after not seeing her for a few days made my heart race uncontrollably.

A pretty and beautiful woman would naturally stir a man’s heart. There probably wasn’t a man who could remain calm with such an attractive woman in front of him.

“… You came on time. I thought you were going to run away like a coward.”

Elga, in her red dress, crossed her arms and snorted with a somewhat aloof air. It seemed like she was trying to emphasize that she was still angry with me.

I decided to humbly accept it.

Elga had every right to be angry with me. However, the fact that she had called me here to meet meant she had something to discuss with me.

And so did I.

I also had things to say to Elga, which is why I came.

“I have something to tell you, Elga-nim.”

“Why, are there still other lies you haven’t told me?”

Elga’s words were sharp. Perhaps it was because she was wearing red, but she reminded me of a thorny rose. Was this how the little prince felt when he saw the rose?

Like the little prince who had returned to his rose after a long journey….

I decided to express my sincere feelings gained from this story.

“Elga-nim, I’m sorry for deceiving you all this time. There were many reasons, but they are ultimately just excuses.”

“…….”

Elga narrowed her eyes, asking me to tell more. Though she was cold, at least she didn’t get up and leave.

Encouraged, I pressed on.

“Although many things were lies, as I said before, the time we spent together and the words exchanged were all sincere.”

“Hmph…”

“Of course, an apology won’t erase what happened. I might not have a chance to make up for my mistakes.”

“……”

“Even so, I want to say this. Please give me another chance. Elga-nim, please give me another chance. My plan is…”

My words were cut off by Elga’s scornful interruption.

“Plans, plans. Always with your plans. So what’s this great plan of yours?”

My plan.

I’d always had a plausible plan in my head.

It was the same now.

I decided to reveal my secret plan for our story at this very moment.

“To live happily ever after in a palace like something out of a fairy tale, with the blessing of countless people.”

Elga opened her mouth as if she was tired of my answer.

“… You are insane. A madman. Everything you’re trying to do is insane. Do you understand? The things you’re planning and dreaming about—they’re all crazy.”

“I understand.”

“You understand…?”

Even without Elga saying it….

I knew very well that the plans I had always been making were ridiculous. I understood it better than anyone else.

“It’s a crazy plan, I know. It always has been, and it may still be in the future. But now I understand.”

“Right now, what are you trying to say?”

“Now we can be the protagonists of this story.”

To me, this world was no longer the tale of the novel Villain Hunter.

This was my story.

Our story.

Perhaps I just hadn’t realized it.

Maybe it was like this from the beginning.

Realizing this now, I decided to confront my true feelings again and opened my heavy lips.

“I can prepare the script, the stage, and the actors. Just stay by my side as you are. That’s enough.”

“……”

“I’ll prove it in time. It will definitely be fun. So, please be the protagonist of my story.”

“…….”

Elga didn’t respond. Then, as if she had a grievance, she pouted her lips as if she were about to burst into tears and said softly.

“… I wish you had done that from the beginning. It’s too late now.”

“It’s not too late.”

“No…, it’s too late. Our time is not the same…”

I couldn’t do it in practice. I couldn’t utter a single line of a grand confession or apology. Elga’s brow furrowed more and more until tears started to fall.

Chururuk-.

As I watched her smeared makeup, various emotions spread through my heart as well. However, I had seen this scene somewhere before.

That was why I could remain so detached.

“… Elga-nim, all the men are Lioness, right? This was your decision.”

Flinch-.

Elga, who had been crying, shivered slightly at my words. Then she opened her lips and mumbled.

“But this is the only way. If I don’t do this, they said you’ll die. This is the only way… But you, you already knew everything? And yet you still came…”

“Because I missed you, Elga. So please don’t cry.”

Whiriririk-.

Then I heard something flying through the air. Something like a noose that wrapped tightly around my neck, choking me.

“Geuak…! Kek…!”

My mind turned black, as my throat was instantly constricted.

━He’s a high rank spell user. Shut his mouth, don’t let him chant! Stop him from casting spells!

━Bind his arms and legs!

“D-don’t be too rough!”

━Young Lady, it’s dangerous! Please step back!

Wudangtang, kudang-.

I felt people roughly pinning me down. As I was being captured like a wild animal, I recalled feeling this way in a dream before…

What an incredible prophetic dream.

Was it because I obtained the prophecy spell Vassago? Who would have thought I would have such a premonition? In the dream, I clearly shouted—

—Elga, you’ve sold me out after all—!

But dreams differed from reality. In reality, I didn’t want to make Elga feel guilty with such words.

Rather, it was about time!

━Kyuiing!

━Aagh-! Wh-what is this thing!

At that moment, I felt the weight on my body lighten. The noose around my neck seemed to loosen, and I was finally able to cough and catch my breath.

Then I could hear an angry woman’s voice.

Edited by: faker