Pardon the Abduction, Holy Knight - It's an Emergency - Chapter 1.5

“I understand perfectly well what you’re saying, Sir Knight, so please just sign now.”

Adriel, who seemed to have frozen in surprise, looked quite taken aback by my reaction.

Well, it’s understandable that he finds it strange, given that Rosemary, who always recited sweet love confessions, is now acting like this.

I pushed the contract towards him, disregarding his reaction. Adriel’s fine brow furrowed deeply.

“I refuse.”

Then he answered firmly.

“I won’t return until I eliminate the demon.”

Our gazes met in the air after a long silence.

Red eyes filled with firm resolve.

It didn’t seem like he was being stubborn out of misplaced pride.

Yes, I understand.

According to the original story, Adriel had an unfortunate background where his family was massacred by demons.

How could someone like that let a demon that appeared before him go free?

If I were him, I’d probably do the same.

I know. I understand it all. But…

I’m just as desperate.

“Then. Will you stay here with me indefinitely?”

I gestured towards Adriel’s wrists, which were tightly bound with a rope.

Considering how he had easily broken such ropes before but was now sitting helplessly, it seemed Wit had used some kind of power.

I looked out the window next to the dining table.

Wit, who had returned to his blonde fairy form, was planting tomatoes in the garden.

Come to think of it, is it okay to be with that skeleton?

He was a demon who could instantly subdue even Adriel, who could easily break restraining ropes.

Of course, Wit called himself a fairy, but I still couldn’t believe it.

After all, if the potion’s effect wore off and Wit regained his senses, he might harm me.

After pondering for a moment, I shook my head internally.

As long as the contract remains, it should be fine.

That demon said so. That he bound our souls as a condition of the contract.

If I die, that demon dies too. Could he easily kill me?

“I’ll watch the demon by your side if I must, but I won’t simply return.”

I sighed at the situation with no solution.

Adriel seemed unwilling to return until he killed Wit, and I couldn’t let Adriel go because Wit mustn’t die.

What should I do? Should I secretly release Adriel when he’s asleep and run far away with Wit?

Still, being with Wit would be somewhat safe…

No, not even that.

According to the original story, Rosemary and Wit end up being killed by Adriel.

That means Adriel eventually surpasses Wit’s power.

Even if Wit stayed by my side, if Adriel found us, we might die miserably like in the novel’s ending.

“Haa. Really.”

I stood up, hitting the table with a thud, as I racked my brain.

“Think about it some more. Call me if you change your mind.”

***

“You can’t adjust the effect of the potion?”

“Wit can’t do that, master.”

“I see….”

I wore an expression of utter disappointment, like a raccoon washed clean of cotton candy I had seen somewhere before.

I had spent all night thinking about ways to make money with the love potion.

Then one idea crossed my mind.

Selling the potion as is might get me branded as a witch, but what if I lowered its effect and sold it as something that just creates a good atmosphere?

Like using a good scent to sway people’s hearts.

Thinking it was a good idea, I suggested it to Wit, but that was his response.

I slumped my shoulders, looking more disappointed than ever before.

My dream of waking up in a bed covered in bundles of money, showering in gold dust, and eating with diamond-made utensils…

Even if not to that extent, I had hoped to at least escape a life of worrying about money.

“What a waste… such a waste….”

“Ma-master. What’s wrong? Did Wit make a mistake?”

“No… more importantly, skeleton.”

“Wit!”

“…Right, Wit. Don’t you have anything else? Something that could make money without being mistaken for a witch’s item?”

“Master, strange. Why do you keep talking like you have no money? Wit saw master’s many jewels. Kekeke.”

When did he see that?

The thought that Wit might have been watching me secretly hiding jewels in the deepest part of the kitchen cabinet in the dead of night sent chills down my spine.

I made a mental note to move the jewels somewhere other than the kitchen as I tried to persuade Wit.

“That’s for emergencies. And we can’t rely on jewels forever. We need to create a steady source of income.”

“Wit understands! Master is smart. As expected of my woman. Kekeke.”

“……”

“But master. Wit is a love fairy. The talent for making money is with Taro, not Wit.”

“Taro? Who’s Taro?”

“Wit’s friend. Taro is the fairy of wealth.”

“What?”

There’s such a fairy?

I gulped and carefully asked.

“Wit, where does this fairy called Taro live?”

Wit stared blankly at my sparkling eyes, then suddenly puffed his cheeks as if upset.

“Master, bad! Looking at others when you have Wit! Wit only has master!”

Although Wit looked adorable in his current blonde fairy form, my mind was filled only with thoughts of the fairy—or perhaps demon—called Taro.

“Taro….”

“Don’t drool while thinking about Taro!”

Wit flew right up to my face and wiped my mouth with his tiny hands.

“Tsk… I see… So Wit doesn’t have any other abilities?”

“Wit has no talent for making money. Wit is a love fairy who likes to make potions and play tricks.”

“Tricks?”

As I opened my eyes in confusion, Wit started giggling with his small hands covering his mouth.

His curved eyes were full of mischief.

“Kekeke. Wit can see paths above humans’ heads.”

Paths?

Like the paths you walk on?

“Like what humans should say to gain favor, what they should do to be liked. That kind of thing, master.”

Ah… Is he talking about something like choices?

Wit’s explanation sounded like he was describing an affection meter from a game.

This novel writer included all sorts of settings.

“So Wit likes to play tricks among humans. Kekeke.”

“Skeleton… Ah, no. Wit. Then can you see above my head too?”

As I pointed above my head and asked, Wit, who had been giggling, looked up at me.

“That’s strange, master. There’s nothing above master’s head. Why isn’t there anything? Why? Hm? Hm?”

Yeah. Why isn’t there?

Whatever the reason, it was truly fortunate.

If such things were visible above my head, it would mean I’d eventually fall for Wit’s temptations.

Phew.

Just as I was feeling relieved, a certain thought crossed my mind.

“…Wait a minute?”

This isn’t just a story to let slide, is it?

I can feel it. I can feel it.

The aura of enormous money.

“Master? Your expression is strange, master?”

“Wit. Get ready.”

This is it.

“We need to go make flyers right away.”

An easy way to make money…!

“Kekeke. Flyers! Wit knows flyers too! But master, why flyers?”

“You need to earn your keep from today too.”

“Wit, earn keep? Master, Wit will earn keep now too!”

“……”

I quietly watched Wit flying around in the air, happy about it.

I wonder if it’s just my imagination that I feel like I’ve become an exploitative boss.

I nodded forcefully as I opened the door to the room.