Surviving with Killer Face and Sharper Tongue

Chapter 107: Invest Carefully (3)

It was the first time.

That Rine had so firmly expressed her refusal.

“Uh… no, why on earth…?”

I asked again, flustered.

“Are you perhaps, worried that it might be dangerous to remove it? If so…”

At that, Rine, who had immediately shaken her head, touched the back of her neck, where the brand was, and answered.

“This brand is proof that you and I, Mr. Yubin, were connected by blood, even for a short while. I do not want to erase it.”

“What……?”

Hearing that answer, I couldn't help but squeeze my eyes shut.

“Anyway, the brand has no effect unless a contract is made. So──”

“No, no, wait… just stop for a moment, Rine.”

I hurriedly stopped Rine's words.

I was at a loss as to where to even begin to point out the problem.

I must not have been the only one who felt this way.

“What is this again…”

Because Ibi also frowned as soon as she heard the story.

Perhaps, Rine was still under the influence of the curse.

So if she didn't rely on such ‘proof’, she might still be anxious.

“…Rine.”

After a moment of gathering my words and breath, I looked at Rine and said firmly.

“We don't need any proof like that.”

Gently placing both my hands on Rine's shoulders.

“We are already connected by a bond thicker than blood, aren't we?”

Rine was the first, and the most, a companion and comrade who had traveled with me and crossed the line of death several times (in my case, I had actually crossed the boundary of death and come back).

Rine and I were bound by a much stronger bond than a mere contract.

“I, really want you to get rid of this brand and become truly free, Rine.”

So the brand was just an old obstacle.

“…….”

Rine, just looked up at me and listened silently to my words.

Since Rine had started to express her emotions a little more clearly, I was able to recognize her seemingly identical expressions much better.

And now Rine was clearly accepting that my words were right.

But although she understood the words, she was still a little sulky.

Like a child who was about to have her favorite toy taken away.

“Only then can we be in a truly equal relationship.”

But I had promised.

When I first welcomed Rine as a companion, that if a time came when I had to act against her will, I would do my best to persuade her to understand.

Now was that time.

“I want to stand in the same place as you, Rine.”

Sure enough.

“……Understood.” For more chapters visıt N()velFire.net

Rine finally nodded her head.

Only after seeing that could I let out a sigh of relief.

“If you say so, I will erase it.”

“Thank you, Rine.”

“…However.”

“Huh?”

Saying that there was one condition, Rine added calmly.

“A condition?”

“Please give me, a proof to replace it.”

Not only was it the first time she had refused, but it was also the first time I had been directly requested like this.

Showing a wrong obsession with the brand was a bit… strange.

But it must mean that she cherished the bond with me, with us, that much.

That alone could not but be a very happy thing.

“I promise.”

“Thank you.”

Proof, did she perhaps mean something like an accessory.

Whatever it was, I would have to give her what she wanted.

Something that Rine would like so much that she wouldn't even think about the brand again.

***

Strike while the iron is hot, we immediately began to remove Rine's brand.

First, when Rine's back hair was raised and pinned up, the brand stamped on the nape of her neck was revealed.

“I-I’ll begin…”

Nero cautiously placed a hand on the brand.

At that moment, a blue light began to glow from Nero's fingertips.

She had begun to decipher the structure of the brand.

It was a similar sight to when Rine had deciphered the seal of the safe.

Essentially, it was a similar task.

So perhaps the current Rine could also remove a 「Slave Brand」.

However, no matter how skilled a mage was, she couldn't remove the brand stamped on her own body due to its structure.

Just like when trying to destroy a contract, she would burn up just by trying.

“…! Th-This is…?”

At that moment, Nero showed a startled expression.

“What's wrong?”

“Th-This kind of magic… I've never, felt it before….”

“Because she's an elf?”

At Ibi's question, Nero immediately shook her head from side to side.

Then, as if she were thinking about how to answer.

“This person's magic… is… uh, ve-very unique…”

“What's unique about it?”

“W-Well… I don't know how to, express it…”

Nero, who had taken her hand off the brand, looked completely at a loss and hesitated.

“I-It’s as if… she’s not… a person, maybe…”

“What?”

“Ah, that’s! I-I didn't mean it in a bad way at all…!”

Nero, who had hurriedly waved her hands, added in a hurry, and Ibi showed an expression of complete incomprehension.

“Then what did you mean?”

“W-Well… so…”

Ibi had been curious about Rine's identity since the first time they met.

So she must have asked in a nagging way without realizing it.

The problem was, that Nero had absolutely no immunity to be able to look straight into Ibi's… so-called gangster-like eyes, which looked like they were glaring at her to anyone who saw them.

“Heeik…!”

So in the end, she cowered in fear.

“I-I apologize, for speaking out of turn…!”

“…Huh? What, what's wrong with her again?”

Of course, Ibi, who had no intention of scaring her at all, showed a similarly flustered expression.

“Why are you bothering her?”

“No, I…”

In the meantime, Lily approached Nero and began to soothe her.

“It’s okay, Sister. Although Sister Ibi may seem rough, she is actually a very warm person on the inside. She wouldn't have meant to scare you.”

“I-Is that really so…?”

“…I was just a little curious. More than that, what are you saying?”

Ibi glared at Lily as if to deny her words, but Lily, on the contrary, looked back at Nero and showed a reassuring smile, saying, “See?”.

“…So? What’s with that elf girl?”

“Ah, well… the concentration of her magic, is very dense, should I say…? I think the magic of the Age of the Gods, would feel like this….”

Nero was right.

Rine was not an ordinary person, who had the magic of the Age of the Gods.

However, no matter how skilled Nero was, she wouldn't be able to find out Rine's true identity now.

So what was important now was.

“But you can still remove it, right?”

This.

At my question, Nero put her chin on her hand and seemed to be lost in thought.

But a moment later.

“I-It will take a little more time… but I think, I can do it.”

She finally nodded her head.

Then she approached Rine again and placed a hand on the brand.

“Is it really possible to remove the brand…?”

Toric, who was watching this, said with an expression that still couldn't quite believe it, with his arms crossed.

“As you said, she seems to be a very skilled mage.”

“Of course.”

“How on earth did you find out about her?”

“Well, I just heard a rumor. That among this year's graduates of the magic school, there is a genius with an eccentric personality.”

“Hmm…”

While I was vaguely brushing it off, Nero had already begun the removal process in earnest.

『Essence… clarification…』

As she did, she muttered what seemed to be a magic incantation, but since it was such a small voice, I couldn't hear it well.

At the same time, the tip of Nero's hand on the brand began to glow even brighter.

And then, suddenly, the magic of the two began to fluctuate.

“──!”

So much so that even I, who didn't know much about magic, could see it.

Especially Rine's magic, was flickering in the form of a flame.

“Wh-What is this again…?!”

At that, Ibi, who was flustered by the wind of magic that began to blow as if it were being spewed out, shouted, holding down her fluttering hair.

But even in that situation, Nero continued the removal process without a care, as if she were in a completely different space.

At that moment, I saw Rine making a pained expression.

Although she was trying not to show it at all, like the usual Rine, the pain seemed to be considerable.

As soon as I saw this, I immediately ran in front of Rine, knelt on one knee, and made eye contact with her.

“It’s okay, Rine.”

And I gently placed my hands on Rine's trembling hands, which were tightly gripping the staff.

“It'll be over soon.”

At that, Rine, who had nodded, let go of one of her hands from the staff and squeezed my hand tightly.

How much time had passed since then?

Just as it had started to fluctuate, Rine's flickering magic suddenly subsided.

Then, Nero, who had been engrossed in the removal process from behind, suddenly lowered her arm.

Then, from the ‘Eastwood's Contract’ that Nero was holding in one hand, a blue flame suddenly flared up!

That blue flame instantly burned the contract, and the paper soon turned to ash and scattered.

Nevertheless, Rine was fine.

“…It's, done.”

Nero said, breathing a little heavily.

She had succeeded in the removal.

“Congratulations.”

Therefore, I, showed a smile to Rine.

“Now, you’re really free.”

“…I see.”

But Rine answered in a tone as if she still didn't feel it, as if not much had changed.

“It's a new birthday.”

Ibi said, looking at Rine with a pleased expression.

“C-Congratulations! Sister Rine!”

Along with this, the other companions also said a word of congratulations to Rine.

Although Rine still had a bewildered expression, she soon nodded her head slowly to us and answered.

“…Yes. Thank you.”

And when I tried to let go of her hand, Rine said nothing.

Instead, she intertwined her fingers with mine.

As if the concept of ‘freedom’ was still unfamiliar and anxious to her, so she was squeezing my hand tighter, as if to say not to let go for now.

***

We had to wait at least until tomorrow for the tracking of the gold coins.

It was even written in the quest window, ‘Wait for Nero's contact for a day.’.

So today, I was planning to increase my investment.

By making Nero's skills widely known in Tiaria── and further, to this world.

To do this, I had received a few potions and elixirs from Nero.

─ I-If you’re okay, with something as lacking as this……

Nero was not being humble, but was ashamed as if she were offering something really unusable, but there was no doubt.

They were all top-quality products.

Especially Toric, who had the most experience among us, was greatly surprised after immediately recognizing them.

And.

“Th-These are……!?”

The owner of the merchant company where we had come to sell these items, naturally, had the same reaction.

“T-This is the first time I've seen such a perfect elixir… with no impurities at all.”

“I see.”

“W-Where on earth did you get something like this……?”

I raised one corner of my lips in a grin at him.

“There is such a place.”

If you want, I can introduce you.