Ch-58: Mars (4)

You can read fully translated chapters, including the last chapter, for $20.

p(a)treon.com/Daoist02

"Cloud, you pooch, come out!"

"Woh! Woh!"

"..?"

For an instant, Isabella paused. An absurd look appeared on her face. I turned around and saw that Eri and Ophelia were also staring at me, with their breakfast before them.

Alright. The joke is ruined.

Dragging the time will make the atmosphere just more awkward, so let's move on to the main topic.

"Miss pink woman? What happened to you in the early morning?"

As I spoke, Isabella returned to her incensed expression. She strode over and slammed her palm heavily on our table.

Thanks to which, not only the tableware, but also the food we ordered was scattered all over the floor.

Eri leapt up to her feet.

"Hey, what are you doing…"

"Eri, calm down."

"Huh? But, Cloud, whatever is the case, this is just–"

"Eri, calm down."

"…alright."

Eri sighed deeply and sat down back on her chair. She then glared at Isabella with a terrifying look, but Isabella didn't care.

Her attention was focused solely on me.

"Alright, what made our miss pink so angry?"

"Don't play innocent. This is all because of you!"

"This?"

I looked down at the table. Indeed, between the table and her palm was a paper smeared in blood.

"He wrote a letter instead of saying goodbye? It's not a one-sided opinion, but a kind of consensus we found through mutual debate–"

"So the letter was also your work?"

Isabella's brows furrowed to the point that I wondered if it could get worse than this.

Hmmm. There seems to be a deep misunderstanding between us.

I feel like this conversation is going to be very long.

I made Eri and Ophelia give us some private space.

Then I looked straight at Isabella and replied.

"The letter is also what Mars agreed to. It's written there, right? Hah, I can see it on your face."

"…it's not the letter that matters. What matters is that you encouraged Mars to leave me and go on a journey, alone!"

"I encouraged him, uh… I'm sure it's true that I proposed going on a journey to Mars. I told him to take in those experiences to become more mature of a man."

"Sure enough… it's your fault! Mars left me alone and went on a journey because of your instigation!"

Isabella picked up a fork lying on the table and thrust it down straight at my nape.

—without any hesitation.

'She has got a good eye.'

I got a hold on Isabella's wrist, lowering the fork. Thanks to that, the fork stopped just before it touched my neck. Isabella's arm trembled as she tried to shove the fork right into my neck somehow.

She even brought over her other arm, adding to the force, but to no effect.

Just the level difference between her and me is over 30.

The level difference is enough to prevent me any real injury.

Nevertheless, I rather blocked it to prevent her from getting more fussy and to continue a smooth conversation.

"Miss pink, you seem to be misunderstanding something?"

"Misunderstand? That's your illusion!"

"The way you say it sounds as if I forced Mars to a journey."

"Then what else?"

Isabella burst out laughing, she sounded hysterical.

I nodded my head positively.

""

I told her the truth, only to her bewilderment.

"Like I said, I proposed him to go on a journey. However, that was only a suggestion, not compulsion. The choice was made by Mars himself."

"Mars…? Don't be ridiculous! Mars can't go on a trip without me! Even if it was him who made the decision, he would have invited me too! If it weren't for you!"

"Again, you're blaming me again. Think with your head. Why did I propose a trip to Mars in the first place?"

"That's because you want to seperate me and Mars! Because you hate me!!"

"Yeah, my motives have been explained. Let's move on to the next part. So why did Mars follow my proposal? Why did he leave for a journey without even saying a goodbye to you?"

"…"

"You must be feeling guilty, that's why your mouth is shut."

The strength drained from her hand holding the fork. Her face was filled with deep guilt instead of anger.

But only for a while.

Not long after, Isabella fiercely glared back at me again.

"Yes, I'm. But it's a matter between me and Mars. It wasn't for you to intervene!"

""

"The matter is between you and Mars…? Ah! There is one more thing you are misunderstanding. Mars didn't go on a trip because of your cold shoulders."

"What?"

"Literally. No matter how bad your behaviour was, Mars cannot just give up on you for that, can he? You know how much he likes you, right?"

"Then how? Why did Mars leave me?!"

"That… do you remember yesterday's night?"

"Yesterday's night? What are y–"

Isabella who jerked up to question with a twisted expression flat on her face, paused.

Soon her pupils began to waver violently.

"Maybe… that… no…?"

Isabella desperately shook her head again as if to deny the reality.

Looking at her, I smiled.

"I saw it with Mars. We saw you and the baron's son having a good conversation."

"Ah..Ahh!!"

Isabella staggered back as if she had received a huge shock. She didn't fall because I was holding her wrist. She was trembling as she looked down at the floor like she was a sinner.

"No, it's a lie…"

"Apologies, but it isn't. Otherwise, as you said, why would Mars leave on a journey, while leaving you alone? Hey, did we discover some secret we weren't meant to? You two really looked like a happy, young couple…"

"Don't tie me up with that bastard!!!"

Isabella suddenly bolted up her head and screamed furiously.

"Hey miss, why are you screaming so loudly? Was there really some secret for which you two were meeting at late night?"

"Not at all! It's just that guy who keeps sticking around me, and he's the baron's son, I was forced to hang out a few times with him. I have no interest in him!"

"Is that so? But Mars must have felt differently."

"That was the part where the two of us could have resolved the misunderstanding through communication! If it wasn't for you…"

"Then why didn't you talk about it with him earlier?"

Unlike before, I didn't pull out a smile, I could see pink woman bewildered at the sudden change of attitude. I didn't stop.

"Why didn't you tell him about it earlier? If you had told him about the baron's son in advance, Mars wouldn't have felt so miserable."

"But it wouldn't have been of any help. The one we are talking about is the baron's son. Even if Mars knew about it, there was nothing he could do about it, and it would only increase his worries. That's why I didn't tell him!"

"So… it was to protect Mars?"

"Yeah!"

Isabella answered the question loudly as if to confirm that she had gained more confidence towards her actions.

I clicked my tongue.

I clicked my tongue.

"What a load of crap."

"…What?"

"Mars is not a kid, he is a grown up man. One can can live independently from their parents at this age, okay? And you are protecting him? What are you?"

"I..!"

"A childhood friend? Doesn't that mean an old friend who has been close since childhood? And friends are equal. You are not a mother hen looking after her little chick."

"W-What–"

"Of course, I know why you engaged in that way of thinking. Mars is an orphan whereas you are known for having good parentage in the whole village. Mars is moderately handsome meanwhile you are so damn pretty. Mars has neither money nor friends, while you get a lot of pocket money and have a lot of friends. So, at some point, that mentality must have been established. Oh, he's a level lower than me. He is someone I need to protect."

"Don't talk nonsense! I never thought of Mars that way!"

"Then why were you behaving with him like that? That one action of yours explain many things."

""

You hide your affairs with the baron's son in order to protect him, total dogsh!t.

You don't know what Mars likes. On the contrary, Mars duly knows how much you like to sleep.

Meanwhile, you even pulled a bullsh!t action like playing hard to get on a guy like him.

"Everything seems based on a sense of psychological superiority, and it is impossible unless you let it have room in your heart. Admit it. You see Mars as someone on a level lower than you, you see him as something to be protected. Not as a life partner."

As I finished my words, Isabella's expression was nothing but miserable.

In fact, my speech contained a lot of sophistry and exaggeration. Still, looking onto the expression on her face, I may have to poke a bit more to achieve the real effect.

"But actually, you are right. Mars is indeed someone who needs a comfort roof."

Isabella's gaze changed strangely.

Maybe because I defended her this time around.

I smiled again and said.

"He is an orphan, isn't he? He doesn't have parents' emotional support. The strong-minded will overcome, but the weak ones collapse. In my opinion, Mars was the latter… you did a great job. You healed his heart that was split in half, Isabella. That's why you were more precious than anyone else."

A precious person that no one can replace.

"The feeling of being abandoned by such a precious person… can you envision it?"

Isabella's body shook violently. Not wanting to hear anymore, she tried to pull herself away from me, but…

—no way.

I didn't let go of her wrist.

"For your information, I know it so well because I'm an orphan too. Do you want me to explain how it feels?"

Holding onto Isabella's wrist, I pointed my remaining hand to my forehead.

"First, there is blood in your head. Your face turns red and veins unsightly protrude near your eyes. It feels like hot magma is boiling in your head and your eyeballs are turning upside down."

Next, I pointed to my eyes.

"In such case, it's natural for a person to cry, isn't it? But not for long, because the tear glands dry soon after. There are no tears left to shed. So, do you know what comes out instead of tears? Blood. Tears of blood come out. It's not a metaphor, it's the same blood that flows when a person gets a cut. But in reality, those preceding things are not a big deal."

Finally, I pointed to my heart.

"Compared to here, they aren't. Let's see… how do I explain this…"

I gazed around, looking for something sharp. The sword around my waist is too big… the knife is unfortunately out of sight.

Welp, I cannot help it.

I took the fork from Isabella and released her hand.

"The heart is this…"

Showing her my palm and the fork clearly…

I jabbed the fork on my palm.

Isabella's eyes widened in shock.

I heard loud gasps and startled coughs. It was not Isabella, it was the villagers who overheard while having their breakfast, just like watching a morning drama show.

I spoke a little louder so they could all hear it too.

"It tears through one's heart, you know? It just hurts so much. To the extent that even a desperate cry doesn't come out even with a opened mouth. As if your vocal cords were blocked by a lump. But if you think this is the end, it's not."

I plunged the fork through my palm!

A few drops of blood splashed on Isabella's face.

Oh, sorry.

I apologized inwardly, but Isabella didn't say anything. She just stared still at my palm pierced by the fork as if possessed.

"It feels wrenching. It feels like something precious in your chest was being gouged out. Do you understand what I mean?"

"…"

"How would Mars feel? Do you understand why I recommended a trip to him?"

Isabelle didn't answer.

She just lowered her head and stood still. It wasn't until I saw her tears dripping down and wet the floor that I realized she was crying.

Seeing her like that made me feel bothered too, but I can't help here.

Destiny here is like a magnet, and if I don't completely separate it, it will go back to its original state.

It's so f**ked up that even if I half-heartedly wish them happiness with discreet precautions, the tragic destiny of Mars could pop up back again.

So, in order not to give any room for that development, I have no choice but to accept this hard choice, to completely separate them like this.

I placed my hand on her shoulder and patted her in comfort.

"I'm sorry for you, but please forget him, for Mars."

"…I."

"It may be difficult right now, but one day you two will have a good friendship back again. Maybe the baron's son you are seeing right now…"

"…where …tell me."

Huh?

"Hm? Please say that again."

"Tell me the direction to which Mars left."

Isabella said as she raised her head up.

She had a calm expression unlike anything like before, there was no distortion and no fuss.

"…you understood what I was saying, right?"

"I understand. You are saying that I inflicted such a deep wound on Mars that it would not be strange if it accompanied him as a trauma for the rest of his life, am I right?"

"Well, you understand. So why do you want to know?"

"I understand, that's why I have to ask. Mars is struggling a lot mentally right now because of me. Then I have to go and apologize."

"…no, it's not a small wound, you realise, right? Can't you see this?"

I waved my palm, pierced by the fork, in front of her.

Even after seeing the sight, Isabella's gaze did not waver.

"I will apologize enough to make up for it. If Mars wants, I'll kneel down on my knees for him. If he remains traumatized for the rest of his life, I will love him so much that he won't even think of that trauma."

Whezz.

The wind began to move unusually around Isabella.

It was not just wind.

It was a blade of wind with sharp anticipation.

"Then tell me the direction to which Mars went."

Isabella, who had just awakened as an elemental mage, spoke in between the center of the fluttering wind blades.

Looking at Isabella who suddenly awakened out of nowhere, I gruffly rapped my forehead.

Woah… is this chunni awakening moment, right at the end, for goddamn real?

Goddess, you bleeping b!tch.

You can read fully translated chapters, including the last chapter, for $20.

p(a)treon.com/Daoist02