Pardon the Abduction, Holy Knight - It's an Emergency - Chapter 2.10

Adriel, who had been taken aback by my behavior, soon calmly tried to soothe me.

“Please calm down. I have not the slightest intention of taking your belongings.”

“Of course you shouldn’t.”

I maintained my guard until the end and slowly opened the jewelry box.

“This is…”

“It seems the source of the light was this necklace.”

The source of the light was none other than the blue diamond necklace I had secretly taken from Count Ferial’s mansion.

Why is it suddenly emitting light like this? Was it not an ordinary necklace?

“Master. Is this the necklace Taro was talking about?”

“Yeah… I think so.”

“Kekeke. Stupid Taro. To lose to a necklace like this. Kekeke.”

Wit approached, fluttering his fairy wings, and examined the necklace with curious eyes. Then, just as he was about to reach out and touch the necklace.

“Wit, wait…!”

“Ack!”

Zap-!

A strong spark flew between Wit’s small hand and the blue diamond.

At the moment when the blue light flashed and filled my vision, I felt hands wrapping around my body.

“Ouch! It hurts, Master!”

Not long after, the blue light that was visible even with my eyes closed gradually faded.

I opened my eyes at Wit’s cry.

“Are you alright, my lady?”

As I slightly raised my gaze, I met Adriel’s eyes as he urgently checked my condition.

When I nodded to indicate I was fine, Adriel let out a sigh of relief.

“Um…”

When I called him, Adriel looked at me as if to ask what was wrong.

“I’m fine, so could you please…”

“…!”

Only then did he seem to realize he was still holding my shoulders, and he stepped back, startled.

As I was staring blankly at Adriel, I turned my head at Wit’s groan.

“Wit.”

For some reason, Wit had returned to his skeleton form.

Seeing him still rolling around on the floor, it seemed he was in a lot of pain.

“You saw what happened to Taro, why did you touch this? Seriously…”

I hurriedly stuffed the necklace back into the jewelry box.

Even with the lid closed, there was nothing I could do about the strong light seeping through the gaps.

“Does it react when in contact with demons?”

Adriel, who had been clearing his throat until just now, approached and asked as if nothing had happened.

I nodded.

“Yes, it seems so.”

It was as Adriel said.

The reason Taro collapsed like that, and Wit was in that state, must be because of this necklace.

To think it wasn’t an ordinary necklace but a weapon for repelling demons. Why on earth did the Ferial family have something like this?

“Wh-Who are you calling a demon! You cowardly humans!”

Taro, who had been lying on the floor, flopped around like a fish out of water.

Seeing him angry like that, he seemed to be in much better condition than before.

“Pr-Pretending to be innocent while hiding such a vicious weapon… I-I won’t let this slide, human!”

No, I also didn’t know this necklace was like this until now…

But I hid my true thoughts and asked Taro.

“This, you mean Obe… Oberon’s necklace? You’re saying this is a vicious object?”

“Are you saying it’s not? If we fairies touch that necklace…!”

Taro, who had been shouting, suddenly stopped as if he had swallowed a stone.

“Do-Don’t…”

“Taro?”

Taro’s face, marked with burn scars, began to turn pale.

“Do-Don’t look…! Don’t look, don’t look!”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t look at my face!”

Taro, who had been looking at the ceiling, whimpered as he turned over and buried his face on the floor.

Why is he suddenly acting like this?

“Wit, your friend…”

I was about to ask him to do something, but Wit was also rolling on the floor, unable to come to his senses.

“Don’t look, human! Do-Don’t look!”

What should I do? It seems I need to calm him down somehow.

“Taro.”

“Go away!”

“Please listen to me.”

“Didn’t I tell you to go away!”

“I don’t care what you look like, Taro.”

“Th-This is terrible. If the King finds out about this…!”

Taro, who had been shouting with his face hidden, fell silent.

Taro’s head turned ever so slightly towards me.

“What… did you just say?”

“I said I don’t care what you look like, Taro. Whether you’re a clock, a bird, or in your current form.”

To be precise, I’m not interested in any form, but.

Looking at how smoothly these flattering words come out, I’ve really become quite the con artist.

“Wh-What…”

A look of bewilderment crossed Taro’s slightly exposed face.

His inability to look at me properly also seemed somewhat shy.

Is this a green light?

Acting on my intuition, I carefully approached and grasped Taro’s hand.

“So, would you like to come to me?”

This, at least, was sincere.

I’ll treat you well. Break your contract with Lucian and come to me.

At my sincere gaze, Taro’s face even turned red.

“…My lady.”

Just as the atmosphere was becoming tender, a cold voice pierced through.

As expected, Adrian’s already cold face had become even more chilly.

There was no need to wonder why his mood had soured so much.

After all, I had directly heard about Adriel’s past just a few days ago.

It didn’t seem necessary to provoke Adriel further by acting friendly with Taro here.

“A-Ahem! Y-You recognize me, human.”

Taro, who had buried his face in the floor again, muttered as if talking to himself.

“That’s right. I am the great fairy of wealth. The fairy that lowly humans would sell their so-souls to possess.”

Taro seemed to know his worth very well.

While keeping an eye on Adriel, I asked Taro.

“How amazing must your abilities be…”

This was out of genuine curiosity. It’s okay to ask this much with pure intentions, right?

I waited for Taro’s answer, pretending not to notice Adriel narrowing his eyes.

“I-I can bring you wealth that you couldn’t achieve in a lifetime of effort. I can find hidden treasures, and pr-predict what will become valuable in the future. All of this is m-my ability!”

Clap clap clap!

I found myself giving a standing ovation before quickly lowering my hands after receiving Adriel’s pointed gaze.

This is insane. In other words, you’re saying you can tell which house prices will rise?

What a shame. I should have met such a valuable person in my previous life…

“Don’t be swayed, my lady.”

“…Hah.”

I hurriedly swallowed the saliva that almost drooled out.

“However, those who wish to ma-make a contract with me. There’s a condition.”

“A condition?”

“Yes. It’s your time.”

Time?

“To be precise, it’s your life.”

“…?”

“Originally, I should take ha-half of your time, but since you’re also Wit’s friend, I’ll only take half of that.”

What… a friend discount?

My face, which had been full of dreams, instantly became dumbfounded.

No matter how much money you save, what’s the use if you die early?

And the condition of the contract is life? That doesn’t make sense.

I narrowed my eyes.

“Does Marquis Berto know about this too?”

Are you trying to deceive me into thinking I don’t know anything?

Lucian Berto might seem like a person who only follows his instincts at first glance, but he’s someone who knows how to look after his own interests better than anyone else.

I couldn’t believe that he would have made a contract with Taro knowing this.

“O-Of course! In fact, that guy seemed unfazed even after hearing these contract terms to the end. I can’t understand what he’s thinking at all. No-Normal humans would hesitate in that situation. But he accepted without any regret.”