Chapter 148: 36.5

Translator: mii

Editor(s): ASplashOfMusic, sleepchaser

That’s right.

Defending the village is equal to increasing my chances of survival. So the more I reinforce and strengthen the defense lines, the better my chances of saving the village.

And myself too.

The Goddess even said that the possibility of success isn’t zero.

So I want to do what I can. No, I have to do what I can. That’s the reason why I’m here.

This time, I’ll definitely be able to protect everyone. I’ll make sure that no one will die.

I won’t let that happen again. Like that time when Father and Mother died without my knowledge. Definitely.

“Schwede, I…”

“…Lian-dono.”

Schwede lets out a quiet sigh for some reason. Then he looks at me with sad, sympathetic, and compassionate eyes.

Why? Why won’t he understand?

He gently rests his hand against my back and pushes me toward the sofa. Politely but also with force. With a strength that shows he won’t take no for an answer.

“I’m thinking about it, Schwede. That’s why, I…”

Please, just for this. Don’t take me away.

He repeatedly pats my shoulders in a kind manner. Like he’s soothing a whining child.

“Calm down. Please take things slowly. You haven’t been eating much, right? You look pale. You must be very tired. It’s okay, don’t worry. There’s nothing to worry about here. Nothing here will hurt or disturb you. If there is… I’ll do my best to erase them with this sword.”

No!

“No! Don’t do that. What I’m trying to say isn’t that! Schwede, please. Please, let me go home!”

“…Come on, please take a seat. I will brew hot tea for you. That’s right… How about herbal tea? I’ve also prepared the citrus-scented herbs that you like. Drinking some will warm your body and rest your mind.”

After forcing me to sit on the sofa, Schwede also sits next to me and stares at me with his dawn-colored eyes. It’s like he’s telling me that he won’t let me escape, causing my chest to feel tight.

“Hey Schwede, I’ll talk to the Goddess later on. It’s me who wants to return to the village. Nobody is at fault here. I’ll make sure to convince her,” I suggest. “After that, I can go home, right?”

Without a response, Schwede takes the jug on the table with one hand, intending to pour its contents into a silver goblet.

After removing the green glass stopper, he tilts the jug and lets a few drops fall into the goblet.

A refreshing citrus scent wafts through the air, soft and fragrant.

It smells good.

As I wonder what it is, Schwede holds the goblet in one hand and brings it closer to my mouth.

I stare at his dawn-colored eyes, questioning him what he put in there.

In what is probably assurance, he slowly nods and smiles back. “I only added a bit of herbal essence. Water alone tastes bland, right? See, this now has a refreshing scent that will make you feel better. I also blended it with herbs that can help relieve fatigue. I also drink this a lot, so don’t worry. You talked a lot, so you should be thirsty by now, right? Please take a sip.”

…And just who made me have to talk a lot? Hm?

In addition, I can’t trust him at all. The memory of him drugging me is still fresh in my head.

I turn my face away from the goblet. Schwede sighs in disappointment. “Since you have a bright mind, I’m sure you already understand that I can’t return you to the village. But…”

“But?”

Schwede stops talking right before the part I’m interested in. Extremely curious with what he has to say, I stare at him, head tilted. Schwede’s eyes and mouth each form a gentle curve. For some reason, looking at his face causes my mind to go blank.

“…I can tell your will to my boss.”

“Tell your boss…?”

He smiles and nods. “Yes. I will first tell my boss your thoughts and convince him to cancel the instructions he gave me. After that, I’ll ask him to persuade the Goddess in the hopes that She can reconsider. The holy grounds where the headquarters is located is the closest place in this world to heaven. If the Patriarch tries to persuade the Goddess… I mean, prays in such a place, your wish may reach the Goddess.”

What?!

“Really? You can do that??”

“Yes. Maybe. No, I believe it’s possible. The current Patriarch has communicated with the Goddess several times in the past. That’s why… Can you give me a little time? First of all, I’ll have to convince my boss, and he’s a very stubborn person… It will take some time to convince him. Is that okay?”

I nod. Many times.

Awesome! As expected of the Patriarch of the Fortuna Church!

Since they’ve talked with the Goddess several times, there’s a high possibility that they can talk to the Goddess again.

“Ok! Don’t worry about me! Thank you, thank you, Schwede! Please do that!”

“Yes, please leave it to me. Lian-dono, I’m sorry to say this, but please wait here for a while. I’ll make sure to return with good news. You may face inconveniences for a while, but… I hope you can put up with it…”

“I will be patient! This much is nothing! I will wait! So please convince your boss to persuade the Goddess. I’ll try to persuade the Goddess too.”

What a relief. Since the Patriarch will also help me, the Goddess will surely regain her composure, realize that she’s gone overboard, and reconsider her decision!

A third party is needed in matters like this. Objective opinions from uninvolved parties are the most persuasive. Especially if the people involved aren’t aware of their blunder.

“I’ll be depending on you, Schwede! Right, if you can’t convince him by yourself, I can also… Ah, but if I go there, it will be bad…”

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…In the corner of my head, I feel like a moth flying straight into a blazing fire. Very much so.

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“Hmm… You’re right. It will be very encouraging if you can come with me as well, but… Once you go there, you probably won’t be able to go back.”

Schwede smiles, jokingly wagging his eyebrows.

Hmm, that’s right. He’s right.

“Right…”

“Yes. Also, my boss is quite terrifying. He’s quick-tempered and can stop people in their tracks just by yelling at them.”

“Ah, that sounds so scary… Um, is that really true?”

Can I confront such a scary person? He sounds like the type of person who is very anxiety-inducing to be with.

“Yes, that’s right. His voice is so loud that my ears hurt every time he scolds me. The way he makes use of other people is also very crude. It’s really troubling. That’s why… Please listen to my complaints in the future, okay?”

That much isn’t a big deal.

“Oh, sure. If it’s just complaints, I can listen to them anytime! You don’t have to restrain yourself!”

“Is that so? Hehe, thank you very much. That’s really encouraging.”

We share looks before laughing together.

How great.

My firmness and my desperation have been transmitted to Schwede.

As I bask in my relief, I realize that I feel so thirsty. The back of my throat is dry and painful.

My eyes shift toward the silver goblet in Schwede’s hand, where the refreshing scent is coming from.

Perhaps noticing my line of sight, Schwede looks at the goblet then at me, before flashing a smile. “It seems you’re thirsty. I’m thirsty too. May I have a sip?”

“Oh, yeah… Sure.”

Schwede takes a sip of the goblet water. His throat moves.

He really drank it.

Huh? It’s really just herbal essence?

I drop my guard and pat my chest in relief. He knows I’m on alert mode, so he probably drank it to prove it’s not drugged.

…Since the last incident, I’ve become strangely suspicious of the drinks people offer me and wonder if they put something inside… Looks like I’m just acting overly paranoid here.

Schwede hands me the goblet.

I receive it with both hands and also take a sip.

A very refreshing citrusy fragrance spreads in my mouth, just as what he said before. It’s like a mixture of lemon and mint, very cool and delicious.

Since I’m very thirsty, I drink it all up.

For a moment, I feel like I’m floating in mid-air.

And then, extreme sleepiness attacks me, making me dizzy.

My field of view grows distorted.

“Huh…?”

It’s like my body has completely shut down. I can’t hear what I’m saying at all. Just like that, I lean backwards.

I prepare myself for the fall, thinking that my head will hit the back of the sofa, but what greets me is the sensation of an arm supporting my back. Schwede must have stopped my fall right away.

My field of vision is getting even more blurry. Everything is swaying.

It feels like I’m dreaming.

From some distance, I think I can hear the sound of rolling metallic objects.

“…Seems like I’m strong with drugs. If I don’t drink more than 5 drops, it doesn’t work on me at all. Still, I’m feeling a little sleepy. On the contrary, it works very well with Lian-dono.”

“What…”

His voice sounds so distant.

“…Well, that may be a good thing right now. Please slowly forget everything and rest peacefully, Lian-dono. Sweet dreams.”

Suddenly, that blond’s unusually angry face floats in my mind. There, he’s scolding me for my lack of crisis awareness and worries about how I’m always unsuspicious of other people. He’s even calling me an idiot.

“Al—”

When I try to call his name, a hand blocks my mouth. I can feel it.

My sight seems to be blocked by haze. Everything is blurry, and I can’t see anything anymore.

“Forget that name as well. You will never see him again.”

I want to say that I don’t want that to happen, but…

My consciousness is getting fainter and fainter.

All of me, be it my consciousness or body, is being drawn into a haze. I can’t even understand if this is a dream or reality.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

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