CH 2. De Libertas

 Chapter 2 Part 1

As the sun began to set, the streets began to bustle with people.

As befits the name of the Festival of Freedom, there were many people wearing revealing outfits.

“XX…” 

Iona brought the binoculars to her eyes, observing the naked men. 

“Leader, you’re drooling. Drooling.” 

“Don’t worry about the Leader, just take this, you guys.” 

The guild’s mage, Chagall, started distributing magic stones to the members. 

They were replicas of the couple stones given by the client. 

“Here, Leader, take one too.” 

“No, I don’t need it.”

As Chagall held out the magic stone to Iona, Austin stopped him. 

“Why?” 

“Because you will oversee the situation here.” 

“Umm…” 

“Isn’t that right?”

“…….” 

…Me? 

I wanted to ask back, but I kept my mouth shut because I could feel Austin’s frustration from earlier.

Iona felt the pressure of his piercing gaze. 

…Damn it. 

Judging by Austin’s expression, it seems very troublesome if I insisted on going down now, 

Iona let out a small sigh, raised her binoculars, and lowered her head towards the street again. 

“Everyone remembers what we discussed, right? The target is a very illuminating woman with blonde hair and purple eyes. When you get close, the couple stone will resonate. We can identify her with that.” 

“We should go to a place with a lot of people for sure.” 

“Hey, are you an idiot? She’s definitely at Madame Peace’s salon!” 

“Right. There’s a rumor that there are many handsome male employees there, right?”

“Understood, everyone?! Don’t put it in your pocket, hold it in your hand! Then you can immediately recognize it even if she passes by just a little!”

“Then let’s disband. Let’s meet here again at midnight.”

“Yes!”

“Good job, everyone!”

“Hey, Chagall. Don’t get lost following pretty girls. Hahaha.”

“Hey! Do you think I’m the Leader?! When I work, I work!”

…That XX.

Iona briefly glanced at the guild member who spoke and then turned her head back to look outside. Just then, a man who had taken off his coat came into the view of her binoculars.

‘Crazy. Look at those muscles.’

Just as she was admiring his sweat-drenched muscles one by one, a rough hand snatched her binoculars.

“Uh, huh!”

“…….”

Austin, who she thought was heading outside with the other guild members, was standing there with his face ruthlessly distorted.

Thunk.

His rough hand threw the binoculars to the ground.

How the hell did he get that!

“Why! What! Aren’t I the one who’s supposed to be angry?!”

Without saying a word, Iona shouted at Austin, who was staring at her.

“Do I look angry to you right now?”

“If that’s not it, then what?”

Austin’s handsome features were ruthlessly distorted.

A large hand grabbed Iona’s chin.

“Why.”

“…….”

“Why not me?”

Austin led Iona’s hand into his clothes.

His muscles flexed under his leather clothing.

“I’m a man too.”

What the Leader wanted so badly.

Sparks flew from Austin’s pupils. Embers were flickering in his calm eyes.

‘This is dangerous.’

The expression in his slanted eyes was unusual. She felt like she should push him away slowly.

When I tried to push him away and reach out my hand, Austin seemed to sense something and held onto my hand.

“…Don’t push me away.”

He whispered in a low voice. His large hand that held onto mine felt hot.

Just then, when Austin was closing the distance between us,

“Hey, Sub-Leader! Come here quickly!”

Runkel’s voice was heard from the stairs.

“…Go and look. We came here to work.”

Feeling like it was the right time, I took a step back to avoid Austin. Sparks flew from his pupils at the sight of me doing so.

Austin’s neck turned red. With his lowered eyes, he said in a low, menacing voice,

“Please stay here quietly.”

“…Okay.”

As if unwilling to let his steps falter, Austin turned back several times, glancing in my direction.

***

— I’m a man too.

“…Ah, seriously.”

His image kept lingering in my mind. I tried hard to erase his annoying gaze. No matter what Austin did, to me, he was just…

I moved my gaze and looked down the street. The guild members were scattered around, holding the couple stone, and searching for something.

If it weren’t for the masks they made to recognize each other, it would have been hard to tell the guild members apart in this crowd.

“…This is good.”

A slightly cold night breeze swept over the terrace. The wind tickled her hair as it passed by.

The place where Iona was located was a terrace on a high-rise building where you could look over the street at a glance.

The streets were full of people.

I expected there to be a lot of people, but I didn’t expect this many. No matter how famous the festival is, I didn’t expect it to be this crowded.

“To find his wife among all these people…sigh.”

It seemed like it wouldn’t be easy because there were too many people.

Well, I didn’t expect to find her in just one day. The festival lasts for several days, so we just had to find her within that time.

Yes, the festival lasts for several days.

“…So today, we can have fun.”

Iona muttered, not planning to play just for today.

But. I don’t know when I might be taken to the imperial palace. Huh!?

Anyway, the guild members are working hard instead of her.

Ah, it’s because of the salary, the salary!

Besides, she’s in charge over here, so she’s just watching over things.

She could leave her post. It wouldn’t matter, no one would know.

Iona pulled out the purple mask she had hidden in her arms while making excuses for herself.

Intent on playing properly and away from the prying eyes of the guild members, Iona put on the purple mask she had gotten separately and headed towards the street.

“What the…”

The moment she stepped out of the door that led from the terrace to the street, she was so surprised that she couldn’t speak properly.

The vividness of the scene was different from what she had seen from above.

The people on the street were half-naked.

It was a cultural shock for Iona, who had lived in a Confucian cultural society for 2N years.

Some people were wearing only masks!

“Oh Lord.”

Thank you for giving me life.

Iona felt like she knew why she was born only now, at this very moment!

She slowly walked through the crowd of people.

She couldn’t concentrate because of the energy she felt around her. Her purple eyes rolled around here and there.

The streets were crowded with people. There were so many people that just walking made her feel suffocated.

Iona opened her eyes wide and took in her surroundings. She had to hold down the corners of her mouth so that they wouldn’t rise up to her ears.

People were freely enjoying themselves. They were holding hands, hugging, dancing, and even kissing.

Without realizing it, Iona raised her hand and clenched her chest. Even though she was just watching, she couldn’t control her pounding heart. Her heart was beating so fast that it felt like it was about to burst out of her chest.

This is what free love is all about! She was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes. Now she could hold hands with anyone she wanted.

She wanted to grab anyone passing by, but she held onto her sanity and kept walking.

Walking slowly, she watched the people and bought a glass of beer from a street vendor. With beer in hand, she observed the street. Well, to be precise, the men on the street.

That man has the face of an actor. 

His T-zone is crazy. Look at the bridge of his nose. It looks like it’s going to cut someone.

…He must be an idol center. He looks exactly like an ending fairy.

Look at those muscles, that’s insane…!

She couldn’t tell if the beer was going into her mouth or her nose anymore.

After watching the men for a while, she arrived in the middle of the street where a performance was taking place.

***

“What’s the matter, Sub-Leader?”

“…….”

Austin stared at the tall building where Iona was. The realization that he’d left Iona alone clung to his ankles like a shackle.

— Go and look.

“…….”

Her voice, that used to push him away so easily, echoed in his ears.

Even her emotionless purple eyes.

Someone who’s like a butterfly that can’t be caught unless you catch them.

Iona, as defined by Austin, was that kind of person. 

From the moment he’d laid eyes on her, she’d imprinted herself on him. He can’t see anything but her.

Unfortunately, in Iona’s eyes, everything seemed visible except for him.

He’s been waiting for years for that butterfly heart to fly to him.

“…….”

Iona would never know. How hard he’d worked to be in her eyes.

He’d make sure his guild’s affairs were in order, he’d try every new makeup that came out, and on his days off, he’d lock himself in his room and work out for hours on end to build his muscles.

‘But why is it still like this.’

Austin clenched his fist. He promised to himself.

Taking advantage of the festive atmosphere, he must reach Iona this time.

“…Wait a minute.”

Something suddenly flashed through his mind. 

It was an instinct that was almost like a sixth sense.

De Libertas. The festival that Iona was so excited about.

— Please stay here quietly.

— …Okay.

Iona avoided his gaze when she answered.

“…Damn it!”

“Hey, Sub-Leader! Where are you going? Austin!”

Avoiding eye contact was Iona’s old habit when she was lying.

Austin ran toward the building, leaving his guildmates behind.

Sparks were flying in his eyes as his heart raced.

***