12. Old Relationships – 04

About 15 minutes had passed since then.

Since the situation has come to this point, there is no need to hide anything, so I sighed deeply and explained in detail how the hell the current situation was going.

No, to be honest, I felt relieved on one side of my heart.

Up until now, every word that came out of my mouth was going around, and there was no place where I didn’t lie everywhere, but I should say that I feel refreshed that I don’t have to lie in front of Celica like this.

Looking at things like this, the idea that being a shepherd boy can’t be anything other than a really bad job is growing rapidly… .

“… Well, that’s how it turned out.”

At the end of the last episode, Erekaya returned with me.

A fucking status window like a taffy seller suddenly popped up in front of my eyes.

And in the end, I explained all the facts at a glance about the current situation, where making Erekaya ‘happy’ was the only hint that could break the end.

“Well… I roughly grasped the situation.”

On the other hand, Celica, smart as a woman in the role of vice-president of the student council, looks at me and slowly opens her mouth, as if she clearly understands my messy story.

“In other words, the reason Master tried to seduce Erekaya del Pendragon was to ultimately make her happy by making her fall in love.”

“To sum up, yes.”

When I agreed with Celica’s two-line summary, she tilted her head slightly as if she didn’t understand something.

“But there is something in the master’s story that I don’t understand.”

“… What part do you not understand?”

What else is it? Do you really want to talk about making all kinds of friendships with this woman and that woman on the subject of having a plan to seduce Erekaya?

If that’s not the case, do you want to point out that the two of us haven’t even been able to hold hands yet, let alone make Erekaya, who can be said to be the ultimate goal, fall in love with me?

However, the words that came out of Celica’s mouth far exceeded my expectations.

“Why don’t you kill Erekaya del Pendragon right now?”

“… What?”

“According to Master’s explanation, Erekaya del Pendragon is the one who is chosen as the protagonist of the end that will come soon and at the same time as the vessel of the third end. It is unknown how the woman became the protagonist of the end, but there must be an inevitable reason why the ‘old snake’ chose her as his vessel behind it.”

“In other words, wouldn’t it be quicker and easier to just kill her in your heart rather than worry about making her fall in love or make her happy? Why are you so lenient toward her?”

In an instant, I deeply agreed with Celica’s words.

Yes. In fact, there was no need for me to go round and round like this.

As Celica said, a woman named Erekaya was a woman who could be said to be the main cause of the future destruction of the world. And it was certain that whether or not she would awaken as the vessel of the end in the future was something close to an indeterminate factor that I could never control.

Also, at that time, didn’t the ‘old serpent’ say this to me?

If his own flesh and blood had been alive, the possibility of killing himself would certainly exist.

To put it another way, wouldn’t it mean that the ‘old serpent’ was able to exert such mighty power because he used Erekaya’s body as a vessel to manifest himself?

If so, just kill it. Nothing else, for the future of mankind and for the sake of this world.

It won’t be too late to think of something else after removing one risk factor that will soon destroy the world. No, I just think it’s a rather wise move.

But, but why did he join in the absurd plan to seduce Erekaya and fall in love with her, rather than kill her, even though he knew so well?

Just at the moment when I was about to move my lips to answer something, someone answered with a firm voice as if to restrain my actions.

– No, that’s too hasty. Celica von Wallenstein.

It was Erekaya in my head.

“… huh? This… Could this voice be the ‘Erekaya Del Pendragon from the future’ that the master spoke of?”

The current Celica was able to recognize Erekaya’s voice without any problems, probably because she was physically and mentally connected to me through ‘communication’.

– yes. I am another Erekaya del Pendragon who returned together with Jin in the future 10 years from now.

“And the stupid woman who destroyed the world with her own hands. In addition, she is a parasite-like woman clinging to the master’s image world, unable to let go of her lingering attachments.”

– You’re quite sharp in your tone, Celica von Wallenstein. As far as I know, I’ve heard that the Duke of Ballenstein’s education for the heir is quite strict, but looking at your attitude now, I can understand how far-fetched and misleading that rumor is.

“Whoops, that’s because there is no etiquette you need to have for a ghost who harbors resentment for your previous life. Moreover, it is all the more so if that evil spirit clings to the body of its master and tries to lead him according to its own will.”

“… Can’t both of you be quiet?”

As soon as we recognized each other’s existence and opened up a conversation about each other, I let out a small sigh as I saw the two growling at each other like fighting dogs in an arena.

I didn’t even expect that the two of them would get along in the first place, but for now, it can be said that they’re in the same boat, so can’t they be a little indecisive?

“… If it’s the master’s will, there’s nothing you can do about it. I just have to be a little more patient.”

– That’s what I’m going to say. Celica von Wallenstein. If only I had a body, I would have given you a lesson with my own hand, so consider yourself lucky indeed.

Saying that, Erekaya and Celica clicked their tongues as if they didn’t want to see each other.

“Anyway, Erekah, do you think killing yourself at this point is a little hasty?”

– Yes. Even if you look at it like this, I’m a woman who annihilated my family with my own hands and ended up destroying the world. If I could ask for atonement with my life like that, that would be the perfect thing to do, but no matter how much I thought about it, it could be said that it would do more harm than good. Well, it seems that the woman who wears her hair as an ornament over there didn’t realize it even after dying.

Erekaya, who had been sarcastic towards Celica for a while, continued speaking in a serious tone.

– We do not know why the ‘old snake’ made the future me his vessel. As the woman just said, there must be a valid reason why the ‘old snake’ made me a vessel. And behind the reason, there may be important information or vulnerabilities related to the ‘old snake’.

– For every variable in the world, there is a cause and effect that fits it. Even if it is possible to eliminate one of the future threats by killing the present me, if the ‘old snake’ appears in the present world wearing a vessel different from the previous one, wouldn’t all efforts be in vain as a result?

“Um… .”

– There are times when it is more effective to find a different breakthrough and pave the way because you cannot control all the variables on this side. And I think of the breakthrough as nothing else but the status window.

– I’m not asking you to trust me. And I’m not saying you should trust the status window unconditionally. However, I am suggesting this to you in the sense that you should look back on the path you have not taken so far and think carefully about what is the ‘correct answer’.

Erekaya’s words were extremely correct and valid. Even Celica, who had been listening to her words, reluctantly nodded.

“… Certainly, it seems that the master also agreed, so there’s nothing we can do about it. If so, I have no choice but to come up with an idea on how to seduce the current president according to the owner’s will.”

With Celica’s understanding, it seemed that the war of nerves between the two had come to an end. Then, at the very moment when I was about to open my mouth to see if I could finally get to the main point.

– Wait, Celica von Wallenstein. First of all, before entering the meeting, I want to sort out the titles.

Suddenly, Erekaya started saying some strange nonsense.

“Name? What else do you mean by that?”

– Why are you treating me so rudely while calling me the current ‘Chairman’ by the honorific title? Come to think of it, didn’t you call Altina von Rudel Serias by the title of ‘Madam’? Do you have a personal crush on Altina von Rudel Serias?

“Crush? It can’t be. I don’t have big feelings for Altina. However, Altina-san was once the closest woman to my master’s companion, so I just used an honorific title appropriate to her.”

– Then the story would be simpler. Celica von Wallenstein, aren’t you planning to actively participate in seducing me at this point in the future according to Jin’s will?

“… It does.”

When Celica nodded her head in a somewhat confused expression, Erekaya opened her mouth to her with a more elated voice.

– Then shouldn’t you also call me ‘Madame’ from now on? Because Jin intends to seduce the present me from now on, and if everything goes according to our plan, I will date Jin at this point, and as a result, Jin will become Pendragon’s Daryl son-in-law.

“…..”

I’m getting married to Erekaya? Wasn’t our plan to end at the level of making Erekaya fall in love at this point?

But to what extent is he looking into the future? Erekaya at this point would only consider me as a friend at most, but isn’t that going too far ahead?

“That is funny. The reason I use honorifics for the current president is because he is my superior and at the same time he is someone I can respect. Above all, even though he is the same person, the current president is also a person who has not committed any accidents and is completely flawless.”

– … what?

“In addition, I think the courtesy toward you is enough for me to use respect towards you. Ah, come to think of it, this might be the treatment of women who are “older” than me. Because Erekah, you are an old woman who returned 10 years from now.”

If I thought that something was cracking and cracking at those words Celica smiled at, was it just my misunderstanding?

– … Serika von Wallenstein, from my memory, you must have been a year older than me?

“Ah, it is. But aren’t you an old woman who is nine years older than me? If you think about it, you can say that the disappearance of your body is truly heavenly luck. I’m in my late twenties… At that age, her prime as a woman would have already passed and all that remained would be her ugly body.”

– There is no such thing as a mouth that is pierced by a subject older than me. Even if I were to reach that point, by that time the smell of an old widower would fill the room.

“… Can’t we just call each other by our first names, since we’re going to growl like this?”

Why did everyone go crazy because they couldn’t catch and eat each other like this? What is the importance of such an alternative name?

After I distorted my face, both of them took a step back, as if they had calmed down a bit.

The meeting hasn’t even started yet, and I’m already exhausted. My head also seems to hurt. Damn it.

“… Then, master, would it be okay if I dare to post one piece of advice about love for you?”

And, taking advantage of such a lull, Celica made a soft gesture toward me and lowered her head while talking quietly.

In a corner of my head, I heard Erekaya clicking her tongue as she watched Celica, but I tried to ignore it and opened my mouth to Celica.

“advice? what is that?”

“I heard that the beauty of dating between a man and a woman from ancient times is that they learn about each other’s unknowns.”

“What do you not know?”

“That’s right. Traditionally, a secret is something like a spice that adds to the attractiveness of a man or woman. And isn’t the essence of love a kind of tug-of-war, a struggle between the two to gain dominance over each other and to uncover secrets about the other?”

Saying that, Celica put her hand in her chest and then handed something to me.

What the hell is that and quietly accept what she offers… It was nothing but two tickets.

“… This?”

“This is a pair ticket to an amusement park not too far from Nineveh. I happened to keep a few copies that came to the student council, and I’m really glad I got to use them at a time like this.”

Saying that, Celica had a wide smile on her face as if she was really happy that she could be of my help.

“Since ancient times, wouldn’t a date just the two of you be the most standard way to dig out each other’s secrets and to greatly improve your relationship?”