I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 151

CHAPTER 151

‘Are you getting hit again?’

What’s funny was that Lionel was being hit again, his ears ringing with the blows. 

Is he the type to just take it quietly? 

“Sister?” 

“Uh, umm……” 

At Arkin’s call, I reluctantly lifted my head from under the desk. 

Then I looked at Arkin and Raven standing in front of the desk. 

“But why are both of you in the study?” 

“We’re looking for you to talk about something. Betty told us you were here.” 

“Talk about what?” 

“Sister.” 

Arkin’s eyes sparkled. 

“I want to go with you to the temple of the Lord.” 

“No.” 

The answer was swift. 

“Why?” 

I shook my head firmly. 

“You absolutely cannot come.” 

“Listen, it’s said that even that rascal will be going!” 

Arkin’s face crumpled. 

“Why can’t I go?” 

“No. That’s how it is. And I’m not even confirmed to be going myself.” 

“It’s practically confirmed. They say you kept asking Father, and given Father’s personality, he won’t refuse your request. So, it’s confirmed, right?” 

“That might be true, but Arkin.” 

I looked Arkin straight in the eye. 

“I can’t take you with me.” 

If it were just a regular temple festival, there would be no reason not to take him along. 

But right now, I was on my way to confront the Lord himself. 

There was no reason to take him along. 

Besides, Arkin almost died trying to save me from Kyres. 

‘I must not let that happen again.’

The fact that I was able to communicate with Deron and bring back Arkin’s soul was almost miraculous. 

Miracles don’t happen twice. 

The god of the underground, Deron, wouldn’t release a soul that easily. 

So if something happened to Arkin this time, I had to assume he would die. 

‘Furthermore, if Arkin dies this time, there’s a high chance he’ll go to the Lord.’

Arkin’s soul, which I cherished, would be held hostage by the Lord to control me. 

Even if I suffered, Arkin wouldn’t be at peace either. 

If I made a mistake… 

‘He might wander forever like me.’

Living continuously without rest, dying continuously. 

A life of wandering where you get used to sending your loved ones away and being alone. 

To think Arkin, of all people, would get used to such a life—it chilled me to the bone. 

He was already a lonely child. 

To make such a child live a life like mine? 

I couldn’t bear to see that. 

I bit my lip. 

“Everyone else can, but not you, Arkin.” 

Even if it means I have to die, I can’t bear to see Arkin die. 

I had to draw a clear line. 

“Why, Sister?” 

“No matter what you say, Arkin, it can’t happen.” 

My voice turned cold involuntarily. Arkin’s face crumpled. 

“Sister, I just…” 

“Arkin.” 

I got up. 

And I swung open the door of the study. 

“This is all I have to say.” 

It was a clear dismissal. 

There was no way Arkin wouldn’t understand this meaning. 

The crumpled look on Arkin’s face now seemed like he might cry. 

“…The reason.” 

Arkin bowed his head.

“Can’t you tell me the reason? Why can’t you?”

“Like I just said, what I’ve already said is all there is.”

I pushed his way back outside.

“…!!”

Arkin jerked his head up. Tears welled in his fiercely upturned eyes.

“…I hate…”

Mumbling something, Arkin dashed out of the study.

Raven, with a bewildered expression, followed after him and then looked at me.

“His Highness Arkin seems upset, Your Highness Lottie.”

I smiled bitterly at Raven’s words.

“It’s alright. I know.”

Then I brushed Raven’s hair.

“Thank goodness you’re here. Could you go and comfort Arkin? Make sure he doesn’t cry too much.”

“…Yes.”

Raven started to follow Arkin again but paused.

“Your Highness.”

Looking up at me with a pure face, Raven asked.

“There must be a reason for why you were so harsh, right?”

“There is.”

I laughed bitterly.

“But it doesn’t seem important to Arkin.”

“…….”

Raven nodded silently and left. I closed the door.

“Ha…”

And I sighed deeply, wiping my face.

“Master.”

Lionel, with Shu on his head, called out to me.

Sitting on the edge of the desk.

“When did you sneak out?”

“When you opened the door making all that noise.”

“No wonder no one saw you.”

I pressed my temples.

“Now you go too. I’m tired.”

I waved my hand.

I just wanted to bury myself in a soft bed.

Since I figured out a way, I could take a break.

And then, if Father mentioned going to the temple, I could prepare and then ask Arkin if he was okay…

“Master.”

As I looked up again, Lionel had his arms outstretched.

It was an invitation to embrace.

I hesitated for a moment and then let myself be hugged. It felt warm.

“Because of Kyres, isn’t it?”

I nodded firmly while being hugged.

“You met Deron back then.”

“If you keep calling out the names of the three gods, you’ll get in trouble.”

“That’s what they say.”

Lionel laughed.

“But you don’t have to worry too much. That guy is quite talented.”

To call someone else’s precious brother “that guy” is harsh.

“Every time I see him, he seems to have significantly improved his skills. The one next to him, too.”

While gently stroking my hair, Lionel continued.

“If he keeps growing like this, he’ll become a famous knight. Strong and honorable.”

“You didn’t see him.”

I muttered quietly.

“Do you know how old Arkin was when he confronted Kyres? He was ten. Ten years old.”

“…”

“That kid, who was serious beyond his years, tried to protect me.”

And died.

“I still can’t forget that sight…”

I trailed off.

“I keep thinking, what if I weren’t a wanderer? What if I didn’t have ‘that gift’ I received from the gods before? What could I have done?”

I would have just held the dead Arkin and cried.

If Arkin were to die this time, I might have no choice but to do that.

“It’s better that way. If the Lord takes Arkin hostage, and he ends up living a life like mine…….”

“What about your life, Master?”

Lionel gently nudged me and met my gaze.

“Please don’t say that.”

“But still…”

“Master, you’ve lived a remarkable life, and you continue to do so.”

Locking eyes, he continued earnestly.

“How many people have been saved because of you? If you hadn’t lived that kind of life, I wouldn’t even be here.”

“…”

“And there wouldn’t be this spirit above my head, and the future of the spirits would be dreadful to think about.”

Is that so?

I blinked slowly. Tears welled up in the corners of my eyes.

“Still, I hope I didn’t live a life like mine. Especially Arkin. He’s already so lonely…”

Sniffling, I buried my face in Lionel’s chest again.

“He’s finally found happiness communicating with his family. I don’t want to take that away. I hope he doesn’t cry.”

I murmured.

“I want to make him happy…”

Honestly, I wished everyone around me could be happy.

I know it’s selfish, but still.

Because I’ve been unhappy, I wanted those around me to be happy, to avoid getting hurt…

“But that guy must have been hurt by what you said earlier.”

“…I suppose so.”

He must have been hurt a lot. 

He’s the one who likes clinging to me the most. 

And yet, I drew the line.

“And if that guy had been told the reason, even if not the real reason, he would have understood. Even if it’s not the real reason, at least a roundabout explanation…”

“You’re right.”

Arkin is quite clever, so if I had sat him down and explained things carefully, he would surely have understood.

Though disappointed, he wouldn’t have been hurt.

“I have the answer now.”

Lionel wiped the tears from my cheeks and smiled.

“Now that you’ve calmed down, shall we go apologize?”

I nodded in response to Lionel’s suggestion.

“Yes.”

Then, I forced a bitter smile.