62. I Pretended
It was night, inside the Austro-Hungarian tribal city.
Two figures were moving leisurely during the time when the orc inhabitants of this Austro-Hungarian tribe had long since gone to rest.
Such a strange behavior would certainly attract the attention of the orc guards, but for these two figures, for me and Nilu, it was nothing at all.
“Nilu, there will be orcs waiting for us ahead. Should we take a detour?”
“Please don’t worry. Just leave the next part to me~ I won’t let those troublesome creatures disturb us~”
With her arms wrapped around mine, most of her body nestled against me, Nilu showed no signs of panic about the troubles I had “foretold.” Instead, when sounds came from ahead and indeed several orcs approached, her gaze reluctantly left me and casually swept over the fierce-looking orcs in front of us.
“Get lost.”
In that brief moment of coldness, when I looked at Nilu, I still saw her in my embrace, looking delicate and dependent. The orcs who had just appeared to investigate our identities were already frozen in place like wooden stakes, and then they foolishly turned around and left, as if they had never seen us.
Facing all this, Nilu, holding my arm, added a hint of pride to her gaze: “See, as long as I’m here, things that used to give you a headache are no longer a problem~”
Her smile indicated her current happiness, and her already beautiful and cold appearance seemed to have gained an extra touch of charm after a transformation. Just looking at Nilu now made me feel as if I was about to “fall in.”
I quickly averted my gaze.
At this moment, Nilu and I were in the midst of escaping from the orc’s Austro-Hungarian tribe. After Nilu saved me from being imprisoned by the tribe’s chief, who regarded me as a dangerous element with ulterior motives, I decided to follow her escape .
Although it was a hasty and awkward flight, Nilu’s mood was surprisingly good. The… mountains swayed with her steps, almost burying one of my arms in the process.
“Mr. Ohjilid, now you can finally look at me. I won’t disappoint you~”
“I’ve already seen enough.”
After finally getting Nilu to quiet down, I asked, “Do you have any plans for where to go next? If we escape so directly, the orc’s Austro-Hungarian tribe will quickly react. Plus, the chief here already knows my identity, Nilu … our situation won’t be good.”
This time, Nilu didn’t say anything like “Wherever you go, I will go.” It seemed she already had a new destination in mind.
She tightened her hold on my arm and softly requested with a hint of hesitation, “Although I want to follow you, if possible, please endure a little. I want to go to the Lawless Land in the center of the continent.”
The Lawless Land is a relatively desolate area located in the center of the continent! Because it is a border area between various countries, it has led to a long-standing dispute over ownership, ultimately becoming a paradise for those who have “committed offenses” to some extent, as well as dangerous figures who operate in the gray areas—essentially a lawless land without legal constraints!
Nilu wants to go there…
“Nilu, it’s not a pleasant place at all.”
“That’s why I want to ask you to endure a little. My fairies have told me that there are some things belonging to me there, and for our future, I want to retrieve them with you as soon as possible.”
“…”
After saying this, as if sensing that my silence was a sign of “hesitation,” Nilu turned and reached out to caress my chest.
—
“Rest assured, no matter what you think, I will do my utmost to make you feel less bored~”
The extra allure in her eyes silently told me just how she intended to help me escape from “boredom.”
I hurriedly released her hand: “Ahem, Nilu, the occasion.”
“Sorry, Mr. O’Keefe, I always need you to remind me… Next, I’d like to find a vehicle to leave; after all, I can’t let you walk. What do you think?”
“…”
Silence, in Nilu’s eyes, was an agreement. Though a hint of regret passed by, her mood remained high-spirited.
“Then it’s settled. Please follow me; I have a place prepared~”
Nilu grabbed my arm, pulling me as if to quicken our pace.
And I, after taking a deep look at Nilu’s back, which had become unfamiliar to me, slowly spoke: “I’m sorry, Nilu. I’ve made you work hard without my knowledge, and only now do I realize.”
“It’s fine; everything I have now belongs to you~”
My words made Nilu turn around, her smile more intoxicating than ever. “I won’t forget everything you’ve done for me. Now you don’t need to take risks; just watch me. It’s my turn to serve you, Mr . O’Keefe. I’ll do better than that woman.”
That’s right, Nilu, I have no doubt about your abilities, for in your script, you were meant to be one of the “protagonists” who become strong. On the contrary, it’s everything I’ve done that makes me want to apologize to you.
“I’m sorry, Nilu, I’ve held you back all this time. Every time I chose to protect you, I was actually hindering your strength and delaying your future…”
I had to say this, to admit it, because from the moment I met Nilu and realized the danger in her script, I had already acted. The many “opportunities” Nilu missed were actually all delayed by me.
“Mr. O’Keefe, I never thought you were stopping me. I know your feelings for me; I know you’re watching me, so…”
Nilu, who wanted to say something emotional, saw the intoxication on her face slowly fade in the next moment, her expression gradually returning to coldness.
In the end, it seemed she discovered something; her hand trembled as she released my arm and looked at me in surprise.
“Nilu, everything I’ve done to you has been with ulterior motives. Whether you resent me or want to kill me, please direct it at me. I won’t sit idly by, but I won’t hide or make excuses either .”
However, if your target is not me, but someone I care about…
“Mr. O’Keefe? You… wait, you!? Could it be…”
“But if you have dangerous thoughts about Kephiel, even if I’m just a powerless weakling…”
“Eh? This… could the command be lifted!? How, how is that possible… Jias! Hurry! Quickly!”
【Nilu has sensed O’Keefe’s suspiciousness!】
“I won’t show any mercy, even… if it’s against you!”