READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 16.1
Chapter 16 – “The Beast of White Rock” (1)
Claire flinched at my cold response, her shoulders trembling slightly. Unsure of what to do, she hesitated as I gestured behind her. The soldiers waiting for their meals stood there awkwardly.
This was exactly why I didn’t want to hang around with them.
The mere mention of the Hero’s Party was intimidating enough to make people hesitate and shy away from approaching us.
It didn’t matter much in the game, but now that this was reality, it posed a real problem.
“If you have something to say, later.”
“O-oh… okay…”
Claire nodded, retreating to the back of the line. The waiting soldiers finally stepped forward, casting quick glances her way as they received their food.
—
After a while, Claire returned, carrying her tray.
“Um… you’re going to eat dinner, right?”
“I am.”
“Can I… eat with you?”
“I don’t care.”
I filled my tray with soup, bread, and stir-fried meat, then headed to a seat. Claire followed close behind, sitting across from me. She stole a glance in my direction before taking a small sip of the soup, a bashful smile spreading across her face.
“It’s good… just like how you used to make it.”
She ate the soup slowly, taking small bites, as if savoring the memory. We ate in silence for a while, but it was Claire who eventually broke it.
“Do you… not plan to forgive me?”
I paused mid-bite, dipping a piece of bread into my soup, then looked at her.
Seeing the unease in her eyes, I let out a small laugh.
“Why would I?”
“…Ah.”
“The only reason I’m even talking to you right now is because back then, you were just a bystander.”
“R-really…?”
“But if you’re planning to intervene now…”
—Thud!
I stabbed my fork into the meat on my tray and popped it into my mouth, chewing deliberately.
“Wouldn’t that make you an accomplice?”
Was she expecting this kind of response? Claire’s orange eyes wavered as I stared at her, biting into my bread again.
“And this relationship is already over. If we’re to rebuild anything, it would require establishing something entirely new.”
“…I guess that’s true.”
“And since I have no intention of continuing this relationship, your insistence is becoming a burden.”
Claire fell silent, fidgeting as she avoided my gaze.
When the meal ended, I stood up from my seat.
“By the way, I haven’t seen Evangeline.”
“Ah… well…”
Claire hesitated, unsure how to respond.
I’d heard she had completely changed. I was curious to see for myself, but…
“Do you want to see her?”
“No, not really.”
She could manage on her own.
My indifference seemed to surprise Claire even more. As she lingered hesitantly, I placed my tray in the collection bin and returned to my tent.
—
The sky had grown dark, and the Red Moon—a symbol of Hardcore Mode—was rising in the heavens.
If the White Moon Church lunatics who rejected the Red Moon were truly turning it into a White Moon to lower the difficulty, I’d consider helping them. But since that wasn’t the case, I’d have to deal with them.
—
“How long do you plan to follow me?”
“W-what? Oh, um…”
“Do you have something more to say?”
“I… Hyun Woo… um… Hyun Woo…”
“What?”
“…You’re at least willing to listen to me, aren’t you…”
“As I said, you were just a bystander.”
Claire’s expression twisted, her features betraying her distress. I glanced at her before giving her a small, amused smile, patting her shoulder lightly.
“So I don’t see any reason to get angry with you.”
Of course.
That doesn’t apply to the other two.
—
As Hyun Woo bluntly ended the conversation and entered his tent, Claire bit her nails in frustration.
He was clear. She had been a bystander. He wouldn’t hold her accountable for more than that.
But what about Leventia and Evangeline?
Claire let out a heavy sigh and moved toward a secluded corner of the camp.
In a tent hidden away where few dared to tread, she hesitated before slowly opening the door, squeezing her eyes shut.
Inside, a half-dressed, breathtakingly beautiful woman lay sprawled on a bed, giggling to herself.
Her once-proud elven ears, a source of immense pride, were now half-shorn, and her long black hair framed a dazed expression. The woman muttered to herself as she stared blankly at the ceiling.
“You’re amazing… hehehe… yes, you are. I’ll grant you the title of honorary elf… hahaha… yes, that’s it…”
Evangeline Ruthveitch.
The proud and arrogant descendant of the elves I had known since childhood.
But now, what lay before Claire was nothing but a tragic woman, intoxicated by drink and drugs, lost in her delusions.
—
“Ah… Sage… once again… hehehe… hahaha…”
Claire knew all too well what Evangeline was looking at.
Hyun Woo.
There was a time when the relationship between Hyun Woo and Evangeline wasn’t so bad.
No, in fact, it was arguably quite good—so much so that both Claire and Leventia often complained about it.
Whenever Evangeline grumbled about her discomfort during their travels, Hyun Woo went out of his way to ensure her accommodations were more comfortable.
When her appetite waned as a vegetarian, he somehow found fruits and vegetables to prepare meals that suited her tastes.
Knowing her love for music, he learned new songs and melodies just to perform them for her.
Even demands that bordered on childish whims were met with unwavering patience, leading others to joke that he coddled her.
—
“Ah… yes… I’m sorry. So please… forgive me, won’t you? Hmm? Haha… you’re so kind. Honorary elf… no, no. I’ll make you a true elf. Isn’t that right, Hyun Woo? Did you know? If you marry an elf, we’ll accept you as one of us. Hehe… haha… yes, I could accept you. You… you…”
The voice steeped in euphoria began to waver.
Here it comes.
“The Side Effects of Alcohol and Drugs”
“A-Ah… Aaah… AAAAH!! I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
Evangeline screamed, clutching her scarred ears as she hunched over. Her hands flailed, desperately searching for a dagger to harm herself again.
“Ev-Evangeline!”
Claire grabbed her in a panic.
“Let go! LET ME GO! What’s an honorary elf?! What’s an elf?! AAAARGH! LET GO! LET ME GO!”
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