CH 16

Two days before Ronan told Vivi he needed money, he received a letter from his sister Ezette.

To my brother.

Brother, please forgive me for only sending you a letter after a long while. The reason I couldn’t send one will be written below, but let me tell you about Mother’s condition first.

Her condition has gotten worse in the past week. Fortunately, they say she can survive with a new drug. However, this drug is too expensive, and I can’t ask you for more money because I know you’re in a difficult situation. And so I tried to save money by joining a mercenary guild a few days ago. That’s right. I couldn’t send you a letter because I was busy with this. In the end, I completely failed to get a job. I could do nothing because the owner of the Venuttae group blocked me from doing anything.

To get out of their influence and make money, I either have to wear the necklace to disguise myself and find a job or marry Viscount Venuttae. But I couldn’t use it in vain because wearing the necklace would bring curses to people around me and myself.

I don’t have much time to ponder. So please forgive me for making a hasty decision without telling you in advance.

I think I’ll have a ceremony with Viscount Venuttae in a week… Had I known this would happen, I would have gotten married sooner. I’m sorry to say it so late. I didn’t have time to talk to you before deciding.

I’m telling you because I’m worried, but I don’t want you to blame me. This is my choice. Thank you, as always.

— Ezette, who always loves you

As soon as Ronan finished reading the letter, he cursed Venuttae and clenched his fists.

Venuttae was an old man who bought the title of viscount with money, an ugly man who was obscenely clinging to Ezette.

He mistakenly believed that the small kindness that Ezette had done to the old man simply out of respect was a great affection for him and began clinging to Ezette.

[You’re so kind to me in poor and shabby clothes! A woman like you doesn’t see men from his money but their hearts!]

He tormented Ezette with his dog’s voice.

They’d put pressure on him as soon as the High Priest’s ceremony was over, and now he made it so Ezette couldn’t engage in any economic activities.

Ronan felt indescribable anger, but there was no other way to express it. He had no way out of this situation.

The Phylaxis had once been a prestigious family that caught dragons, but now only the name remained. The people in the family blamed the necklace, saying that the necklace obtained by killing the dragon caused a curse.

One by one, they began to obsess over gambling, entertainment, and luxury, as if possessed by something, and they began to go crazy mentally.

‘Never use the necklace.’

He didn’t believe in the necklace’s curse, but that didn’t mean he could just sit quietly watching his sister wear the necklace.

But what was the difference between wearing the necklace or being sold to that old man?

Ronan looked at the letter with empty eyes.

If he had the power, that old man wouldn’t be able to touch Ezette. Or, if he had more money, he wouldn’t have been bothered by the old man’s interference.

A superior approached Ronan’s side. He looked at Ronan’s expression and nodded as if he knew. He patted Ronan’s shoulder with a scornful expression, pretending to be friendly.

“I guess our bum needs money again.”

“…”

“Oy. Aren’t you going to answer me?”

Ronan didn’t answer. He folded the letter and tried to leave his seat.

“Ohhh. Hey, now you’re ignoring what your superiors say? You never learn, huh? Hey. Sit and stay.”

Ronan walked forward as if he had heard nothing.

“Hey. Sit down. Do you need money? I’ll tell you something nice.”

Ronan stopped walking at the word ‘money’. He turned his body with a hardened face.

“This is a secret. I know how to make a big sip. Do you want to?”

“What is it?”

“Hey, man. If you keep acting like that- Ah, never mind. I’ll cut you some slack today. Listen. It’s 1,500 gold.”

Ronan couldn’t walk any further because of the talk of money. The immediate supervisor winked and grinned.

“You know it’s the season for monsters in the sea soon, right? The one that comes out once every twenty years, the Ketaclos. People think it’s nothing because it’s over quickly, but isn’t it all a lie? There is a reason why it’s over quickly.”

“Just get down to business.”

“… Hooo. Do you want to get beaten? I’ll cut you some slack just this once. So the point is, it can only be killed when it eats. Once it has something in its mouth, it won’t even care about anything else because of its big appetite.”

“…”

“But it is so picky. It won’t eat bratty children. They say it has to eat paladins. You get what I’m saying?”

“Do you mean a sacrifice?”

“Right, that’s it. But what I’m proposing isn’t just about making sacrifices. Come closer.”

Ronan didn’t come close. The man raised his fist as if to hit Ronan but lowered it again. The man lowered his voice and whispered, “I really want to be promoted this time. If you become the first contributor, you will be promoted on the same day.” The man looked around him and lowered his upper body. “So what I mean is, you jump off the boat when I signal. Then I will give you 1,700 gold.”

Ronan’s jaw tightened at the mean suggestion. In addition to buying new medicine, that amount could let Ezette live comfortably for the next few years.

It wasn’t an easy choice for Ronan, but not because he had many regrets. Rather, he had no regrets in life.

Still, he had a reason to hesitate.

He worried about the rest of his family. Just giving them enough money for a few years wasn’t enough.

‘If the fact that I’m dead gets into the old man’s ears, he won’t leave Ezette any longer.’

The marriage could be prevented so far, thanks to Ronan’s paladin status.

Thinking of Ezette, who would be left alone with his mother, he couldn’t readily answer. Seeing Ronan like that, the man persuaded him as if frustrated. “The Empire gives 1,500 gold to the person who will be sacrificed, but I’m talking about an extra 200 gold there. You don’t have any connections anyway, so after working for 10 years, your career as a paladin will be over.”

Unlike priests, where rank was divided only by holy power, there were many corruptions in the paladin society. Everything the man said was right. Ronan was struggling now, and it wouldn’t be strange if he lost this position in five or ten years.

The man looked at the troubled Ronan and clicked his tongue. “I’ll give you a week. Think carefully.”

The man left. Ronan stood still and stared into the air.

Would he give up his life and hope for Ezette’s tranquility, or would he have to find other means of stopping Ezette’s marriage? He had to choose.

‘But there is no other way to raise a lot of money.’

After Ronan heard the man’s offer, he went outside to work for now. He couldn’t see anything outside. There was nothing but black despair before his eyes.

And then, he met Vivi, who was walking through the shopping mall.

He remembered her words that she would definitely pay him back.

Maybe that person can help me. Ronan looked at Vivi and hesitated. He didn’t have many options. He had to seize any opportunity.

Eventually, the day he met Vivi, he began to write a letter. He didn’t expect Vivi to help him, but he had to do everything he could.

So Ronan knelt before Vivi.

***

“I need money.”

I was stunned when Ezette said she needed money.

Did I mishear?

But she didn’t turn around and looked at me steadfastly. I didn’t think I misheard. So I tried my best to understand Ezette’s words.

Was she in such a hurry because her mother’s condition had worsened? Or had she reached the state where she couldn’t even make money because I was so flippant and messed up the original story?

I was a little flustered. But I had no reason not to help her.

“How much do you need?”

There was a small ripple in Ezette’s eyes. It was as if she hadn’t expected me to give her the money.

“I need 500 gold.”

“Okay. I’ll send it to you right away when I get home today. Leave me your address.”

Ezette’s eyes widened as if she hadn’t expected things to be resolved so quickly.

“… You’re not going to ask why I need that much money?”

“Yes. I’m not that curious.”

I know you will use it well. Ezette wasn’t the type of person to spend money on nightlife. I’d gotten the idea that her problems would be solved if I gave some of my spoils.

“Is money all you need? Now, let’s sit down.”

Fortunately, food had already been ordered. I was interested in the food on the table.

‘Is this iced Americano? Is that cheesecake?’

I felt bad about the serious situation, but I was distracted by the coffee and dessert. I didn’t know how long it had been since I’d seen them. The tip of my nose wrinkled in delight.

‘It’s been a while since I was admitted to the hospital and couldn’t eat because I couldn’t digest and vomit my food up.’

I missed digesting these kinds of food healthily. I grabbed the drink with a trembling heart.

As expected, it was iced Americano. As caffeine circulated around my body, my eyes sparkled in an instant.

‘Ah, this is life.’

It was such a touching taste.

I gulped down my Americano and blinked at Ezette, who was still not seated in her chair. After a few more blinks, Ezette finally got up from the floor and sat down.

“You’re leaving soon, so I know it will be hard for me to repay you. So instead of paying you back, I will escort you to Tehran.”

She was saying that she’d ride the boat with me. She shouldn’t have said that. She had work to do here.

“Just take it. Think of it as payment for escorting me at the time and keeping my plan a secret.”

“But…”

Ezette didn’t make eye contact with me, worried about getting the big bucks.

Play

Unmute

“If it bothers you that much, can I ask you a favor?”

“Please.”

“It’s not that great, and I don’t need you to do it right now.”

I licked my lips and began to lay the groundwork.

“As I said before, can we meet again here at 9 AM on the day of my departure?”

“Of course.”

“Oh. I’m telling you in advance in case you’re worried, but it’s not illegal.”

“It’s okay, even if it’s illegal.”

Wow. Indeed. This determination is so like the female lead. I grinned as I cut the cake.

“Do you like being a paladin?”

“There’s nothing I can do if I want to live.”

Oh, I never thought I’d actually hear that. While eating the cake, I glanced up at Ezette’s bitter smile. I asked after swallowing the cake, “Then, is that the end of your request?”

“… Yes. This is enough.”

“Is there anything you need to do right now?”

“There is none.”

Good for you. I applauded once.

“Then sit down and enjoy before you leave. It’s a waste to leave this behind.”

Being with her made me feel at ease, and my appetite increased. Even my fatigue seemed to be gone.

I glanced at Ezette with a glaring eye. Let’s have a girl’s day. It’s been so long since I did this.

It was evident that Ezette was contemplating whether to leave or not. It would be nice if she could remove the necklace as well. I also wanted to see Ezette’s face. With white hair and blue eyes, the female lead looked like Ronan, so it was obvious that she would be pretty.

Ezette hesitated and answered lowly, “Then I’ll eat a little bit before I go.”

Hurray. That’s it. I clapped inwardly and slid the plate out. “I’m sorry I ate all the cake. Is there anything you want to eat? I will buy it for you.”

“That’s all right.”

Ah, you’re pretending to be okay. I know that you like sweet things and have a good appetite.

I stood up from my seat, winking at her.

“Then I’ll order everything I want to eat. Let’s eat together.”

The good thing about being with someone who eats a lot is that you can order a lot of food. The cake here was an opportunity to realize my grand dream of tasting all the cakes.

***

Wow. As expected of the female lead. I clapped as I looked at the clean dishes in front of me.

“You said you’d only eat a little, but you ate really well.”

I felt a little sad. If I stay, I would’ve been able to befriend the female lead.

We ranted to each other while eating. Ezette was apparently more cynical than I thought.

Clatter. She threw a fork on the plate.

“I think I’m going to die. From now on, I won’t even touch sugar.”

He was a friend I could secretly joke with bluntly. It would be nice if we could continue to be friends, but it was a shame.

She looked down at her empty plate with dismayed eyes. Was it because there was no more? She’d said she would die, but I interpreted it as empty words.

“Do you want to eat more? Do you want me to buy you more?”

“No. This is enough. No, it is already too much.”

The casual frown around her eyes implied that she was really full.

“Mm, then. Shall we go now?”

It felt good to see her eating well. I left the cafe with a happy heart.

“Ah, today was fun. I want to play again, but it’s a pity that there’s no next time.” We won’t have much time the next time we meet and won’t be in the mood to play. I shook my head in pity.

“If you need anything else, tell me right away. Do you understand?”

“It’s enough already.”

You’re saying that until the end. Ezette joked easily, but she didn’t easily accept a gift.

“Ah, you’re not fun. Well, that’s fine. I’ll be off now.”

“… Have a safe trip.”

It had been a very brief break in hell. I stretched and stretched. My body was still aching, but it was tolerable because I was in a good mood.

‘Now, let’s go back to hell.’

Before getting on the carriage, I saw a nearby flower shop and bought a bouquet of flowers. This was to prevent the nervous Kid from squealing that I’d been too insincere.