I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 125

CHAPTER 125

“……”

Lionel’s body leaned forward. I felt the mana move rapidly in the hand I held.

Thunk!

“Lionel.”

When I flicked my finger in front of his eyes, like a predator fixing its gaze on its prey, his gaze finally moved toward me.

I smiled, lifting the corners of my mouth.

“That’s mine.”

She was my target, my prey.

I had been preparing to catch her all this time.

“So?”

I walked toward the evil god, brushing back the strands of hair swaying in the wind.

Just before entering the forest, my hair had been properly tied up, but now there was no hair tie no matter how much I touched it.

It must have come loose during the commotion earlier.

‘It’s annoying, but what can I do?’

For now, I focus on the one in front of me.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to say.”

“Do wanderers lack manners?”

The evil god’s eyebrows twitched as if she were annoyed by my casual remark.

“Haha.”

I laughed with only the corners of my mouth moving, glaring at the evil god with cold eyes.

“It’s manners for someone worth it.”

The tragedy had its instigator, but the evil god was also involved.

The one who brought me to the scene was also the evil god.

The one who kidnapped Lionel and created this mess was also the evil god.

Wasn’t shaking Lionel just now also the work of the evil god?

‘Darn it.’

I bit the inside of my lip.

Why am I stuck between the gods and evil gods, getting the short end of the stick?

What crime did Lionel, that kid, commit?

What’s even more infuriating is that both the gods and evil gods take using me and Lionel for their own purposes as a matter of course.

The arrogance of the gods.

‘Just wait a little longer.’

That arrogance will bring you down.

With one corner of my lips twisted upwards, I crossed my arms.

“If you sit and show manners to the person who hit you first, that’s being a fool, isn’t it?”

“Hmm.”

The evil god narrowed her eyes at me.

“You seemed like a nice person, but your personality is dirtier than I thought?”

“You seem much weaker than I thought.”

“……”

What now?

As I glared, the evil god raised both hands and wavered her head.

“I lost. I apologize for calling you a disposable item earlier.”

Her surprisingly easy retreat made me even more wary.

What exactly is she up to?

“I just wanted to talk without Lionel around.”

Lionel was standing where the evil god pointed.

And slowly, two people walked out from behind the evil god.

Familiar faces, Achel and a large dark elf.

“Ah.”

If I make a provocative remark, Lionel will react immediately.

Was the plan to let those two dark elves deal with that?

“Your methods are quite varied. For a god.”

“Traditions are eternal laws, aren’t they?”

The evil god grinned and then made a suggestion.

“What do you say? Just the two of us talking for a while?”

“Why should I agree to that?”

“Because I can solve the strangeness you’ve been feeling lately.”

The evil god opened her eyes slightly. Her purple irises were chillingly deep.

“Why should one have to die so quickly, the same question?”

“……”

Just as I feared.

Not even a few days since I regained my memory, and I’m already facing death.

Born as an elf, just to live a few years and then die.

And the moment Lionel finally finds me, I die.

It wasn’t all a coincidence.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Don’t be too guarded.”

The evil god noticed my hesitation and raised the corner of her mouth.

“It’s not perfect pure goodwill, but… it’s still mixed with some goodwill.”

“……”

“For my poor junior?”

Junior.

In a way, it wasn’t wrong.

If I were to create Nectar and become a god, I would end up doing exactly what the evil god was doing.

Working for the immortality of the gods.

“How about it? Shall we talk alone now?”

“Why should I agree to that?”

“Because I don’t like it here.”

The evil god wrinkled her brow and puffed up her cheeks.

Seeing her like this, with her youthful appearance, gave me chills.

“I need to share my matters.”

“Hmm.”

What to do?

After a moment of contemplation, I turned to look at Lionel.

“Lionel.”

“I don’t want to.”

Lionel, as expected, frowned at the anticipated response.

“Absolutely not.”

“It’s okay. Anyway, the evil god won’t attack me.”

It was the realm where the gods were, after all.

I didn’t know what was being discussed, but I didn’t want unnecessary trouble.

“But still. I’m worried, Master…”

Achel’s discomfort was evident in Lionel’s eyes, as he held onto his nape.

Should I comfort him and kiss him so he can easily let out what’s bothering him?

“If I ever get in danger, promise me you’ll come to save me, okay?”

After glancing at Achel for a moment, I turned my head.

When I gently stroked his hair, he lowered his head as if asking for more.

“You can trust me.”

“Yes.”

Lionel smiled sheepishly.

“Just trust me, Master.”

“Is the tearful farewell over?”

The evil god took a step forward. As I nodded, she raised a hand.

“Then let’s go.”

Thunk.

At the sound of the finger flicking, the scenery changed.

We were deep in the forest just a moment ago.

But now, where I stood was inside a room overlooking the sea.

“Hmm.”

It was a strange place.

The structure of the room, the furniture.

Even I couldn’t tell when it was made, it seemed ancient, yet not that old.

‘Is this real?’

I tentatively reached out my hand and touched the table in front of me.

The rough texture of the wood came through my fingertips.

‘It doesn’t seem real.’

It looked so perfect that anyone would mistake it, but there was a strange alienation.

Yes, it felt like being in the spirit world.

‘Will Shu be summoned?’

“Sit.”

Should I call him once? 

As I pondered, the closed door opened by itself, and the evil god appeared. 

Still in the form of a young girl, the evil god held two wooden cups in her hands.

“Drink up, it’s been a while since I had anything to offer.”

“This is…”

As I peered into the cups, I blinked slowly.

“It’s tea made from Eki’s wildflowers.”

“Hmm? Do you know this tea?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded.

“My grandmother used to give me this tea along with bread.”

The first time.

When I was young, my father often left me alone.

He didn’t give me food, just ignored me, or turned his head away when he saw me.

He just ate and drank, and laughed.

If I spoke, I’d get beaten. If my stomach growled, I’d get scolded.

Knowing that fact all too well, when my father was drunk…

I used to go to the house of the oldest grandmother in the village.

“Sorry for coming again. But I’m hungry… so hungry.”

Then the grandmother would squeeze dry bread into my hands, saying my throat must be parched, and gave me this tea too.

‘Brings back memories.’

Despite growing up under my abusive father, I was able to grow into someone who knew how to give thanks.

All thanks to that grandmother.

And whenever I remembered her, the taste of dry bread and this tea would come to mind.

I wanted to drink it again at least once.

I didn’t expect to drink it like this.

“Fascinating.”

Looking away from the cups, I watched the evil god sip the tea first as she sat at the table.

“Where did you get this tea? Eki’s wildflowers don’t grow anymore.”

I looked around again.

“Same here. Everything here is of an ancient style, but the items themselves aren’t that old.”

It seemed like a space filled with items made following ancient styles.

But there was nothing fake about the Eki’s wildflowers or the wood used for the table.

They were extinct and couldn’t be found anymore.

“Where is this?”

“Here is…”

The evil god, who had quietly set down the cup, stared at me.

“It’s where I lived with my mother when I was human.”

“…What?”

For a moment, I doubted my ears. 

Wasn’t she a god from the beginning?

Of course, there were those born as humans who later ascended to become gods, but they were extremely rare.

And even if you think about it positively…

It didn’t seem likely that those arrogant gods would entrust their immortality to a god of human origin.

“What should I say?”

As the evil god hesitated to choose her words, she spoke.

“I am, well, a wanderer.”

Her calm purple eyes stared at me.

“I am a man-made god, made to be in charge of the eternal life of the gods.”

Just like me.