The Young Lady With the Most Powerful Specs Was Just Too Cute, so I Started Teasing Her—But Then She Tried to Trap Me With a Chain, so I Kept Running Away With All My Might - Chapter 20

Even More Than Father

Side: Ludie Rock Ryurius

When I heard that a letter from Katary had arrived, the first thing I thought was: why was it addressed to Nil Metasura instead of me?

The moment Horn announced, “It is for Master Nil,” a chill ran straight through my chest.

A letter given only to Nil.
Words meant only for Nil to read.

I found that incredibly annoying.

“Give it here.”

When I held out my hand, Horn looked hesitant for a split second.

“My Lady, this is…”

“I don’t care.”

Horn didn’t say another word.
She quietly handed over the letter.

I broke the seal right then and there.

The stationery was unnecessarily cute.

Is Katary trying to flirt with Nil?

I read the contents of the letter without hesitation.

Katary was writing nonsense, as usual.

Otome games? Villainess. Chains of Ruin. Me, destroying the world.

None of it made any sense.

To be honest, I didn’t care at all about her writing that I would supposedly turn into some evil being and go on a rampage to destroy the world in the future.

Things like that mean nothing to the “me” of right now.

However, the story changed halfway through.

Father getting a major injury.
One of the knight apprentices dying.

Those two lines sank straight into my heart.

Father might die.
Nil might die.

That was the problem.

In Katary’s letter, that was the only part that mattered.

I stood there holding the paper, unable to move for a while.

I didn’t want Father to get hurt. But even more than that, I hated the idea of Nil dying.

“Hate” wasn’t a strong enough word.

It was as unpleasant as if someone were gouging out something deep inside my chest with their finger.

Nil’s presence in my life is even bigger now than my mother’s was when I lost her.

I don’t want to see Nil bleeding.
The thought of him dying is even worse.

He’s the one who made me chase him like that, laughing whenever he wanted, getting out of breath whenever he wanted, and pushing his way into my heart whenever he wanted.

I won’t allow him to just go and die.

But at the same time, another thought occurred to me.

I wondered what kind of face Nil would make if he read this.

Would he be troubled?
Would he panic?

Or would he just laugh with that bright face of his again?

I wanted to see it, just a little.

I knew myself that it wasn’t a very good thought to have.

“Horn.”

“Yes?”

“Change the envelope.”

“…Yes, My Lady.”

“I am delivering this to Nil.”

Horn looked at me. Even so, she said nothing and prepared a new, light-colored envelope.

I put the stationery back in myself. My fingertips were shaking just a little bit.

Was it because I was angry?
Was it because I was panicking?

Or was it both?

I had no way of knowing if these things would truly happen.

The only thing I knew for sure was that I had decided to let Nil read this letter.

♢

After that, Nil really was acting strange.

After he received the letter, his complexion changed slightly.

He went straight to the Knight Captain, asked about the inspection, checked Father’s schedule, and then came to see me.

The maids had been watching Nil’s every move.

When Nil came to my room, he suggested we play tag outside.

In the forests and the fields. While joining Father on his inspection trip. At first, I didn’t understand what he was talking about.

But I figured it out soon enough.

Nil was moving to protect Father.

And he was trying to take me along. He didn’t say why. He didn’t mention the letter.

He used tag as an excuse. But he is terrible at keeping secrets.

He probably figured that if I were there, our power to protect Father would increase.

Nil read that letter—the same one I read—and was trying to move me so he could save Father. Panicking, thinking, and trying to handle everything all by himself.

That was why he was acting this way.

He is such a hopeless idiot, and it’s so hopelessly like him.

That was why I decided to go along.

It was partly to protect Father. But mostly, it was to make sure Nil didn’t die.

In that case, it would be fine as long as I could protect both Father and Nil.

Until now, I thought of this power as a curse.

But Nil was asking that “me” for help.

♢

When we arrived at the town on the third day, there was a nasty smell.

The smell of blood, burnt wood, and broken things.

What we saw was just as bad.

Crumbled walls.
Crushed roofs.
Things covered in cloth lined up at the entrance of the town.

Father’s expression changed instantly.

Orders were barked out, knights moved, adventurers headed out to scout, and mercenaries set up a watch.

I watched it all happen from beside Horn and Nil.

Then at night, the monster attack began.

I summoned my black chains and crushed the monsters that came jumping into the camp.

Platinum’s mercenary group was strong too.

I thought we would be fine.

But right then, Nil moved.

He said he was heading to where Father was.

I didn’t stop him. I wanted him to keep moving according to his own will until the very end.

While crushing enemies with my black chains, I never let Nil’s presence slip away from me.

The sounds of battle.
Roars.
Shouting.

And then, from a little distance away, there was a different kind of sound.

It wasn’t like the sound of knights and adventurers clashing.

It was louder, sharper—the sound of trees and the ground itself being shredded.

“Platinum.”

“What is it, My Lady?”

“There is a powerful monster near Father.”

“…I feel it too.”

Platinum’s face turned grim.

That was when it happened.

I heard a voice from far away.

“Over here! Come play tag with me!”

It was Nil’s voice.

I understood the situation immediately.

That idiot had lured it away all by himself.

Away from Father.
Away from the town.
Dragging it away from me.

He took it into the forest.

“…Nil.”

By the time I spoke his name, my body was already moving.

“My Lady!”

Horn called out to me.

“I am going after him.”

“It’s dangerous!”

“I know.”

That is exactly why I am going.

I know the truth. I am the strongest person here.

But even then, Nil is someone that even I cannot catch, so he isn’t the type to be caught easily.

Still, I felt anxious.

I knew from the start that monsters were dangerous. I thought that as long as I was there, I could protect him.

And yet, Nil went off alone.

On his own.
Without permission.
Leaving me behind.

I couldn’t forgive him for that.

It felt incredibly cold deep in my chest, yet hot at the same time.

I was angry.
I was panicking.
I was scared.

I was scared that Nil would die.

I didn’t want to lose Nil even more than I didn’t want to lose Father.

In my world, he is the biggest presence right now.

“Platinum.”

“Are you going?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’m going too. Mercenaries, half of you stay and guard this place! The rest, follow me!”

Platinum moved instantly.

Without even saying thanks, I ran into the forest.

Under the moonlight, my black chains tore through the trees.

I followed the noise.

The sound of trees falling.
The sound of rocks shattering.
The roars of the beast.

And then, the smell of blood.

I knew instantly that it was Nil’s.

My heart shriveled up all at once.

Faster.

I coiled my black chains around branches to pull my body forward.

My breathing became heavy. I didn’t care about my footing. Trees, rocks—everything was in my way! I crushed anything blocking the path with my chains.

I could hear the footsteps of Platinum and the others behind me.

But almost none of it reached my ears. I was only searching for Nil’s presence.

When I finally reached a clearing.

There it was, standing in the moonlight.

A monster covered in blood.

And Nil, standing in front of it.

He was covered in mud, blood was flowing from his mouth, and his legs were wobbly, but he was still gripping his sword.

I knew the moment I saw him.

He was badly injured.

And yet, he was still standing. A feeling that was neither anger nor fear swelled up deep inside me at that sight.

The monster took a step toward Nil.

I won’t forgive this! In that moment, a pitch-black feeling took over my mind, and the monster was skewered.