Episode 113

After receiving a stern lesson from Rainiel, Wayne seemed deeply shocked as he learned about the relationship between me and Rainiel.

His face went pale, and he kept muttering “Why?” over and over. Even after receiving Rainiel’s order, he hesitated for a long time, lingering in the shop.

“Why are you still here? Go investigate already!”

“No matter how I think about it, it seems like an infectious madness…”

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, just go. Send Vaidro instead.”

“No, no. I’ll take care of it myself…”

I wasn’t sure what exact order was given, but it seemed like it involved making use of Wayne Eyeore’s public reputation.

Pressed by Rainiel’s urging, Wayne reluctantly turned to leave, his steps filled with reluctance.

After he left, the people gathered in front of the shop started excitedly shouting, “Sir Wayne Eyeore has personally come to see Giselle Roycevin!”

Their noise was so loud that it was clearly heard inside the shop, annoying Rainiel enough to put down his book and rise in irritation.

“Giselle, give up on business for today.”

Determined to clear every corner of the streets around the shop today, he stormed out.

“I’ll go to the clinic too. I have some things to pick up.”

Sullivan left as well, and the once-bustling shop quickly became quiet. I was left with Ren, Ban, and Isabel.

And, astonishingly, Dylan opened his eyes.

…Yes, I was now left to face the awakened Dylan all by myself.

“I knew from the first meeting—we don’t get along.”

As I muttered awkwardly, the butterflies quickly chimed in.

[You can just call the Master!]

[Or you can kill us instead!]

“It’s fine. He didn’t go far, just around the area. He’ll be back soon. Sullivan’s clinic isn’t far either.”

Calming down the overreacting butterflies, I sat at the counter, resting my chin on my hand, and stared at Dylan.

His legs and hands tied, he was halfway sitting up.

“Excuse me, that’s a spell cast by our boss. It won’t come undone. Just give up.”

Dylan, who had been struggling to free his hands tied behind him as soon as he opened his eyes, paused.

He glanced around cautiously before looking up at me with wary eyes.

Since he’d only been treated just enough to keep him from dying, Dylan’s face was still covered in scars.

“Do you recognize who I am?”

“Giselle Roycevin.”

With a deep, hoarse voice, Dylan uttered my name and let out a low growl. His jaw was clenched tightly, causing it to bulge.

He must have been in pain somewhere.

‘He does look like his entire body is in pain.’

I didn’t plan to show him any kindness, but he did look just a little pitiful.

Of course, this was only because Dylan was in no condition to cause me any harm.

“Luckily, it seems your head is still intact. When I heard you stormed into Vanhel alone, I really thought something had gone wrong with you.”

“This place… isn’t a prison. Is it a secret gathering place for dark mages?”

“This is a general store that was forced to close temporarily because you destroyed everything. We just reopened, and you’re already a serious disruption. If you break anything else, I won’t let it slide.”

I glanced out the window as I muttered a quiet threat.

The loitering people had long been chased away by Rainiel, but Rainiel himself showed no sign of returning. He must really be combing through the nearby alleys.

‘Should I just ask the butterflies to call him?’

While I was debating, Dylan caught my attention with a sharp voice.

“What have you done to me?”

“Well, I wouldn’t know. And if you were scared of what might happen to you, you shouldn’t have boldly come in here alone. There’s not just one or two people in this town who grind their teeth at the mere mention of your name.”

My nonchalant response made Dylan fall silent for a moment before he slowly opened his mouth.

“I came to see you.”

“What?”

“I have something I want to ask you.”

His unexpected words left me with a bewildered expression, and Dylan suddenly grimaced, lowering his head.

He flinched, suggesting he was feeling pain somewhere.

“…Excuse me, are you alright?”

I asked cautiously, but there was no response.

Feeling uneasy, I turned to look at Isabel. For some reason, I thought she might know what was wrong with him.

And it seemed my guess was right, as Isabel easily provided an answer.

[His body is currently unable to properly absorb mana.]

“His body?”

[Yes. He’s feeling pain because he’s forcing himself to manage unstable mana.]

“Unable to absorb mana? How could he have become so strong with a body like that?”

[In my opinion, it’s an acquired distortion. He must have sustained continuous damage from something.]

Continuous damage? Could someone with a grudge against Dylan have cursed him?

“So has he lost his power?”

[Not entirely. But it seems someone tried to make it that way.]

Given how many grudges Dylan must have accumulated, the fact that his life was in danger didn’t seem too surprising.

It just felt a little unsettling to have someone whose life was in danger in the general store.

…Surely, no assassin targeting Dylan would come here, right? Even if they did, I could probably dispel their attacks with my magic.

‘Still, I don’t want to get caught up in someone else’s fight. Especially not Dylan Stasi’s.’

As I glanced at the hunched Dylan, I suddenly noticed Sullivan’s belongings around him.

Seeing those things reminded me of what Sullivan had said earlier.

“…Could it be related to contaminated blood?”

[That’s not my area of expertise, so I can’t give a definite answer. But if a doctor conducts a proper analysis, they should be able to find out.]

“So, we’ll have to wait for Sullivan.”

Was there ever an incident in the original story where Dylan was drugged?

As I pondered over this, Dylan spoke up in an irritated voice.

“Who are you talking to?”

Ah, Dylan can’t hear Isabel’s voice. Just like he can’t hear the butterflies’ voices either.

Before I could reply, Dylan spoke again in a dark tone.

“Are you truly mad? So you were just rambling without meaning?”

“What?”

“If that’s the case, then in the end… have I made a meaningless journey?”

I was about to scold Dylan with a frown, but I closed my mouth. His face, with his shoulders slumped, looked utterly devastated.

“In the end… I…”

I hadn’t met Dylan often, but from our few encounters, he always seemed like someone who moved with firm conviction in his beliefs.

There had been a resolute and stubborn side to him, like someone who believed what they held was the ultimate truth.

But now, for some reason, he looked as if he had gone through a significant defeat.

‘What’s with him? It’s unsettling.’

I’d prefer it if he just charged at me threatening to burn me at the stake like usual.

“Excuse me, I don’t know what it is you want to ask, but you don’t seem to be in good shape right now.”

“What I want to ask… cough!”

His voice cracked for some reason, and Dylan suddenly let out a rough, dry cough.

‘Even if I’m going to kill him later, I should at least give him a glass of water.’

After a moment’s hesitation, I poured him a glass of lukewarm water.

After all, he was tied up, Rainiel had placed additional spells on him, and he didn’t seem to have the strength to attack me.

Besides… it’s kind of hard for me to be heartless to someone who’s sick right in front of me.

“Here, drink… Oh, wait.”

As I was about to set the glass down in front of him, I realized Dylan’s hands were tied, and I frowned awkwardly.

I didn’t have a straw. Was there something I could use instead?

…It’d be faster to just hold the cup to his lips. But that would mean getting closer to him.

Dylan must have noticed my hesitation because he spoke up slowly.

“If you’re trying to poison me…”

“Poison? Please! If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it while you were unconscious!”

Dylan’s eyebrows twitched at my retort. He seemed to accept it and quietly stared at me.

Do I really have to feed him this?

“I’ll, uh, put it in front of you, so drink it as best as you can.”

“How am I supposed to drink a glass of water with my hands and feet bound… cough, cough!”

[By the way, Giselle, he can’t attack you. This general store is a space made with your magic.]

Isabel quietly said this as if to reassure me, and the butterflies soon flapped their wings wildly, trying to stop me.

[Giselle, you flirt!]

[You said you weren’t a flirt!]

“Hey, I’m just a person practicing disinterested human kindness!”

It’s just a glass of water, just a glass! Even death row inmates get a meal before their execution!

While I was still debating, Dylan coughed a couple more times, and unable to stand his pitiful state any longer, I finally stood up with the glass of water in hand.

“What are you doing…?”

“I’m maintaining a safe distance.”

Dylan looked at me with disbelief as I stopped at a distance, stretching my arm as far as I could to give him the glass.

I might look a little ridiculous, but I don’t want to get too close and end up ambushed out of nowhere.

“Like I said, I only came because I wanted to ask you something. Cough! And in this state, I can’t do anything, so you don’t need to be so cautious.”

“I don’t trust someone who left a big bruise on my neck.”

Dylan flinched at my words, then quietly protested.

“…When you were poisoned, I gave you the antidote too.”

“Do you really think I’d be grateful for that? I asked for the poison back then!”

Giving me an antidote I didn’t ask for and expecting credit for it, seriously!

I glared at him as I questioned him, and Dylan furrowed his brows once again.

“You… really are a different person.”

Dylan’s voice, muttering as if to himself, was filled with confusion.

“No, maybe it’s that I just hadn’t been seeing things clearly until now.”

I have no idea what he’s been through, but this feels like the protagonist right before they turn to the dark side.

No, maybe it’s not that Dylan’s turning dark; it’s more like he’s finally becoming a proper person.

He’s finally starting to communicate like a normal human being!