Pardon the Abduction, Holy Knight - It's an Emergency - Chapter 1.3

…Judging by his reaction, it doesn’t seem like he’s going to try to kill me.

“Then, first, the ropes…”

It was when I reached for Adriel’s wrists.

Snap-

Huh?

“Your help won’t be necessary. Step aside.”

In an instant, Adriel had broken the knots and was now standing, rolling his shoulders and looking down at me.

Was it that easy to break?

It seemed he couldn’t fully exert his strength earlier because of the fairy.

While I was staring with a dumbfounded expression, Adriel looked at me as if to say, “Why aren’t you moving?”

I hurriedly stepped back.

“Um… I’m truly sorry about today’s incident.”

Although I wasn’t the one who did it, it was a matter that could be ended with a final apology before we went our separate ways.

But something felt off.

Adriel, who had seemed ready to leave at any moment, was standing still, coldly staring at me.

It wasn’t the same wary gaze as before. It was more like looking at a stranger…

“You and I should never cross paths again, my lady.”

“Ah, yes. Never again…”

“If you catch my eye like this again.”

Adriel murmured with an icy tone and threatening eyes.

“It would be best not to expect me to let you go so easily next time.”

“Ah… yes…”

Don’t worry. We’ll never see each other again after today.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Adriel turned his back without even looking at me as I bowed my head slightly to bid farewell.

This should be the end, right?

Just as I thought I had deviated from the original novel’s plot.

“Master… Master…”

Along with a sound like something hitting repeatedly, the fairy’s voice was heard.

Has it already woken up?

I turned my head towards where the fairy had fallen, and.

“Who are you?!”

My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Because instead of the lovely blonde fairy, there stood a skeleton about as tall as my knee!

“Master… love you…”

The skeleton, staggering as if drunk, came walking towards me and clung to my calf.

“Ehehe… my master…”

“Aaah!”

I shook my leg vigorously.

W-What is this?

No, dear author.

You said it was a love fairy.

What kind of fairy looks like a skeleton?!

“What trick is this now… My lady!”

Adriel, who had been walking away in the distance, heard my scream and turned back, and upon seeing the fairy clinging to me, he drew his sword and rushed over.

“Don’t come near my master!”

“Damn it!”

However, as if the skeleton had cast some magic again, Adriel was blocked as if he had hit a wall.

Adriel gritted his teeth and shouted.

“Rosemary Ferial. You, did you contract with a demon instead of a fairy?”

“A demon? Are you saying this bag of bones is a demon?”

“Why are you asking me! Don’t tell me you didn’t know? I’ve heard rumors about your ignorance, but even so, not being able to distinguish between a fairy and a demon…!”

Hey, this is ridiculous.

He didn’t know either, so why is he…!

Words of rebuttal rose to my throat, but I swallowed them forcibly and replied.

“Yes, yes! I understand! You’re absolutely right! So what should we do now?”

“We will eliminate the demon.”

“Ah, I see. Go ahead.”

I lifted my foot with the skeleton stuck to it and showed it to Adriel.

“Here. It’s here. Come on, come on, cut off its head.”

But that’s when it happened.

The skeleton, which had been out of it, suddenly lifted its head.

“Kekeke! If, if you kill me, the master dies too!”

“…What?”

“The master made a contract with me! The condition of the contract is the soul! Our souls are bound together!”

“Wh-what did you say?!”

I gaped in shock.

Then, suddenly realizing how quiet it had become around me, I slowly raised my head.

And I met it.

Adriel’s resolute gaze, as if he had made a decision.

The sword vibrates as if responding to its master’s will.

“Sacrifice yourself for the greater good.”

“What did you say?!”

What greater good?

What sacrifice?

Are you kidding me?

I spread my fingers, pointed at Adriel, and ordered the skeleton.

“Hey! Tie him up again!”

***

“Rose… no, I had a house like this?”

“Kekeke. Don’t you remember, master? You said you’d hide Adriel here.”

Blinking in confusion, I turned my head.

Just who on earth is that guy?

The skeleton had somehow returned to its blonde fairy form.

But perhaps because I had already seen its true form, this appearance felt uncanny rather than lovely.

If I recall its skeleton form from earlier, it might be closer to the former….

Lost in thought for a moment, I shook my head.

More importantly, did I say this was the place to hide Adriel?

Could this be that place? The place where Rosemary secretly hid and tortured Adriel.

“Well, it’s clean at least….”

I slowly looked around the house.

The wooden house had one bedroom and a small room used as storage.

In front of the window was a cozy dining table that could seat two people, perfect for dining while enjoying the refreshing forest scenery.

In other words.

“It’s like a newlywed home.”

To the extent that I could clearly see what dreams Rosemary had when she prepared this house.

Hmm. As I was looking around the house, the skeleton approached and tilted its head.

“But it’s really strange. Strange. Master, why can’t you remember anything?”

“……”

Is this skeleton suddenly trying to be sharp again?

Before the skeleton’s suspicion could deepen, I quickly grabbed my forehead.

“Ah, I’m dizzy. Maybe it’s because I’ve been under a lot of stress lately. It seems my forgetfulness has gotten worse.”

“Master! Why are you dizzy? Who’s been troubling you?”

The skeleton lit up its eyes as if it would tear apart anyone who was bothering me.

“There is such a person.”

“Who is it? Tell me, master! I’ll take care of anyone who troubles you!”

That’s a bit tempting, isn’t it?

For a moment, I was tempted to say it was the Ferial Count couple, but I decided against it, thinking it might be troublesome afterward.

“No, it’s fine. More importantly, can you move Adriel over here?”

I said, pointing to the bed in the bedroom, which was large enough for two people to lie down with plenty of room to spare.

“Understood, master!”

As the skeleton snapped its fingers, Adriel, who was sleeping peacefully, floated up in the air and was laid on the bed.

Looking down at Adriel with his eyes closed quietly, I thought.

It’s a truly surreal face.

Soft hair like finely spun silver threads. Long eyelashes under closed eyes. A sharp nose bridge and jawline.

If Adriel suddenly sat up and introduced himself as ‘I am the god of beauty’, I could accept it as natural, as there were no flaws.

“…Sigh. Is this important right now?”

I, who had been staring blankly at Adriel, sat down on a makeshift chair near the bed.

What should I do now?

Truly, I had no intention whatsoever of kidnapping Adriel like the original Rosemary in the novel.

But what could I do?

He was pointing his sword at me with the determination to chase me to the ends of the universe to kill the skeleton.

So I unconsciously had the skeleton knock Adriel out….

“How can I persuade Adriel?”

“How about feeding him a love potion, master?”

“I don’t like that.”

At my firm answer, the skeleton made a sulky face.

The moment I feed him a love potion, I become responsible for Adriel’s food, clothing, and shelter. Adding another mouth to feed when I’m barely making ends meet? On top of this troublesome skeleton?

Just thinking about it was irritating.