Chapter 2. Pouring water into the hole. (4)
I felt a warm affection that I could not hide from my gaze towards Melina. A look that Abel hasn’t seen in years.
“…….”
I didn’t know why one side of my chest was throbbing for no reason.
I tried to look away from Melina. Alessia, who had been bending her waist for a moment to examine Melina’s complexion, raised her body.
“Thank you, Master. I am sorry for your inconvenience. My daughter has been rude.”
“well.”
I shrugged.
“I just felt sorry.”
Alessia’s eyebrows slightly raised as if she had heard an unexpected answer.
“But why are you in Magna Morten…?”
“Is this a place I shouldn’t go?”
“That’s not true. You’ve never been to Magna Morten before…”
A light of suspicion spread in Alessia’s eyes. I looked at her and just smiled at her.
“You could have ordered servants to do it.”
Alessia seemed to have read something from my smile and changed the topic.
“I’m sorry for making you have to walk all this way.”
“Oh, I have something to receive.”
“You’re going to get it?”
I lifted one foot up. I showed Alessia the shoes with clear yellow stains.
“This is Melina’s work.”
“Huh? Are you Melina?”
“Yeah. He tried to get into a headbutt fight with the tombstone, so I stopped him, but he ended up giving me a gift.”
Alessia’s whole body trembled.
Even though he was simply stating the truth, Abel’s low voice had the power to make it sound like a threat.
“Well, master….”
Alessia fell flat on the floor.
“I’m sorry, Master! Please forgive me!”
She pleaded with a desperate voice.
“I’m still a child. I didn’t mean to put pressure on you, Master!”
“You’re still young. Do you think you start drinking alcohol in broad daylight?”
“that…….”
“I need to get paid for my shoes.”
Despair crept into Alessia’s eyes.
I was able to read it straight through. And of course, I didn’t think she could afford to pay this price.
What I was currently wearing were custom-made shoes made by slaughtering the calves of cows that can only be raised in the warm south and tanning them at a top leather shop in the capital.
Even if I sell this blacksmith shop, will I be able to pay for my shoes? Probably not.
“Yes, master.”
Alessia opened her mouth with difficulty.
“I’m sorry, but I’m currently unable to work. I haven’t received any requests for months…”
“If it doesn’t work out, we have to make it happen.”
“…….”
Alessia lowered her head at the cold dismissal.
“I’ll give you three days.”
I looked down at the top of her head and said indifferently.
To pull Alessia out of the pit of despair, throwing her a rope was not enough. As she was now, she didn’t have the strength to hold on to it.
“Make me some gauntlets I can use.”
Instead, I decided to pour water into the hole.
“……yes?”
Alessia raised her face. He had a blank expression, as if he didn’t understand anything I said.
“One gauntlet is all you need.”
“…….”
“I’ll take that to pay for the shoes.”
If the water reaches below your nose, you will have no choice but to swim for your life.
After finishing speaking, I turned around without any regrets.
“Yes, master!”
Just before I took one step, I heard Alessia’s urgent cry. When she glanced behind her, Alessia was standing there with a puzzled look on her face.
“W-are you really… serious? What you just said?”
“okay.”
“B-but.”
Alessia looked at my yellow-stained shoes. She, too, probably knows now how absurd this deal is.
“How can a pair of gauntlets pay for those shoes?”
“So we have to make something to match that.”
I looked at her and added in a meaningful tone.
“Go into production with the mindset that you have to protect your daughter.”
“…….”
“You never know. Maybe a legendary gauntlet will be born?”
The tight period of three days and the pressure of not knowing what Abel will do will awaken Alessia’s hidden talents.
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When she made gauntlets for the main character Cain, she was full of thoughts about wanting to ‘protect’ her husband’s grave. That single thought made her realize her talent called ‘Guardian’s Hand’.
‘The target to protect is a little different this time, but the effect will be much better.’
I gave Alessia a refreshing smile.
“Do you understand?”
“…….”
Of course, it would only seem scary to her rather than refreshing.
Anyway, I was very satisfied with my current situation, where I could give Alessia a chance and at the same time pay off my debt.
Now that the bait was thrown, all we had to do was wait.
❖ ❖ ❖
Surprisingly, the bite came quickly. Also from the side I didn’t expect.
“Yes, master.”
I visited Magna Morten the next day. Because of Melina’s incident yesterday, she wasn’t able to fully look around the inside.
When I heard a small, shy voice coming from behind me, I slowly turned around. Guessing who will be standing behind you.
“Oh, hello.”
Melina stood with her hands folded together politely. Her slender shoulders were tense and tense with fear.
“ah.”
I awkwardly pushed up the corner of my mouth.
“You’re the drunkard from yesterday.”
Melina’s face turned bright red. My smile grew even brighter when I saw that.
“Have you been drinking today? Your face is red.”
“Oh, no!”
Melina, who had been screaming out loud, quickly covered her mouth and said, “Oops.” Melina’s face was still as red as a tomato as she hurriedly looked around her and then looked at me again.
It was just like the Melina from the original that I now knew.
‘It makes me want to keep teasing you.’
I had such a crooked thought, but I held it in for now.
“What’s going on?”
Because I was curious why Melina looked for me. There is no way the gauntlet has already been completed.
“Can you give me a moment? I have something I want to tell you.”
I took a quick look around.
Well, I saw almost everything. Just like yesterday, I feel like I’m constantly being disturbed by this guy.
“What?”
“Well, it’s because of what happened yesterday.”
Melina said in a crawling voice.
“I’m really sorry. I was rude to you, Master.”
“Do you remember?”
“……no.”
Melina’s voice became quieter.
“My mother told me. Oh, and….”
Melina took something out of her arms.
“I want to return this.”
It was the handkerchief I handed over yesterday.
It was different from yesterday, when it was badly wrinkled and wet. It had been cleaned and had regained its original color.
“Thank you so much, master.”
Melina held out a handkerchief with trembling hands. I laughed and quickly erased my smile.
“okay.”
Actually, I had no intention of getting it back. However, there was no need to refuse the sincerity of washing and returning it with such care.
The moment I took the handkerchief and put it in my arms, a faint scent passed my nose. The scent that lingered on Melina’s body the whole time.
“…….”
His lips twitched for a moment, but then he lowered his hand that was in his arms.
“Okay? Now go.”
The work isn’t done yet. I had to look around every section of Magna Morten and guess where Requiem would appear.
I turned around and looked at the compartment I was looking at. But I felt someone like a squirrel following me from behind.
“…Why are you following me?”
I just turned my head back. Melina, who was crouching behind me, trembled.
“Well, that is.”
“Is there anything left to say yet?”
“Oh, yes. I mean.”
I saw Melina clutching the hem of her skirt tightly. Eventually she mustered up her courage and squeezed out her voice.
“I have something to ask you.”
“what?”
I guessed what the question would be, but I deliberately gave him a chance to speak.
“I heard that I soiled your shoes yesterday.”
Sure enough, what came out of Melina’s mouth was within my expectations.
“And I also heard that my mother decided to pay the price back.”
“so?”
“Please take back that order.”
The wrinkles on Melina’s skirt became deeper. Her voice became clearer.
“Making a gauntlet that matches your shoes… doesn’t that mean you have to use gems?”
It’s not?
But he didn’t show it and just gestured as if to tell me to keep talking. I was curious what this little boy with his liver sticking out of his stomach would say.
“My family is not in a position to do that. We can’t repay the cost of the shoes the way you asked.”
A sigh full of resignation flowed from Melina’s lips. She swallowed her saliva and continued her sentence.
“I am the one who committed the crime against you, Master. So…”
Her face turned red with shame. She seemed to have made a very important decision.
“I will pay for my sin.”
“…….”
“I’ll do anything.”
I looked at Melina’s face and asked back with an expressionless expression.
“Anything?”
Melina’s eyes fluttered. It seemed like he had a million different ideas about what I was going to do.
That would include the option of giving up her physical freedom and embracing me while experiencing humiliation every day.
‘Can I really do anything?’
You were crying and emptying a bottle of alcohol in front of your deceased father’s tombstone.
The moment I laugh,
“yes.”
The conflict disappeared from Melina’s eyes. At that moment, her eyes were like burning wood in a furnace.
“…….”
I felt a little caught off guard. Eventually, a hollow smile came out between my teeth.
‘Indeed, it’s the mother and the daughter.’
With the gloomy dark clouds cleared, the two eyes looked like the winter sky. It’s infinitely cold and desolate, but it holds strong. Those frosty eyes.
I burst out laughing.
“If I take you away, what will I use you for?”
“yes?”
“You seem to think you have great value, but that’s okay.”
He waved his hand exasperatedly.
“First of all, I hate drunkards. Your face isn’t my type either.”
Objectively, Melina was a pretty pretty girl. As her delicate features grew, she would shine even more.
Nevertheless, I poured out merciless evaluations.
“What more…”
He narrowed his eyes and looked Melina up and down.
“I have no hobby of messing with children.”
“……!”
Melina’s face lit up. She took a step away from me, wrapping her arms around her.
‘What is that reaction?’
I feel like I’m being treated like a pervert even though I haven’t done anything. However, if you don’t say this, they will make pointless attempts, so it is right to block it from the source.
“anyway,”
I shrugged.
“I understand your strong will, but there is no need for it.”
“But my mother-”
“I think Alessia misunderstood what I said. My request is simple.”
I held up a finger.
“A set of gauntlets. The material is good leather. There’s no need to use expensive ones. Something that’s light but strong and durable.”
He walked up to Melina and pulled her hand.
“Ouch!”
Melina stumbles and is dragged away,
“It’s about this size.”
He touched her palms and spread them out.
fantasy,
