DSFL | Chapter 120

~Chapter 120~

Peril’s face was full of words he wanted to say, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak. Instead, he just stared at me with sharp eyes.

“Could you stop looking at me so scarily…?”
Even when I first met him, he wasn’t this intense!

“So, you do know you should be scared,” Peril muttered.

“Then why do you dare to argue with me even though you know that?”

“I—I’m just struggling to survive in my own way. Being kicked out from here would be even scarier.”

“…Hmph.”

Thankfully, he didn’t add anything else. Instead, he stood with his arms crossed, sulking. The posture didn’t suit the great Master of the Tower, and that made the moment feel oddly funny to me. I let out a small laugh without thinking—only for Peril to glare at me instantly.

“You’re laughing?”

“No.” I straightened up immediately.

“Haah, because of you I feel like my lifespan is being cut in half.”

He sighed deeply and pressed his hand to his forehead.

Isn’t his purpose death anyway? Shouldn’t that make him happy?

I almost said it aloud but swallowed it just in time.

“If you knew how much I was shocked, you wouldn’t behave like this,” he said.

“…Sorry.”

His gaze drifted toward the direction Onyx had left. I waved my hand in front of his eyes.

“Hey, I’m right here.”

“….”

“Or are you looking for something?”

He immediately denied it.

“You think there’s anything in the Empire I can’t find?”

“Well, it just looked like the face you make when you want something sweet.”

“Stop saying nonsense and go back already.”

He scolded me with an exasperated face, but his real feelings were clearly leaking through.

“So… if you’re here for the same reason as me, you’re looking for the holy relic, right?”

Even though I had already guessed his intentions, he stayed silent, clearly wishing I’d leave the temple quickly.

I was the one to break the silence first.

“What, are you going to deny it now?”

“…If you already know, what’s the point of asking?”

“You weren’t planning to answer me honestly anyway.”

I sighed.

“Since you said you couldn’t stop me by force, I guess now you’ve chosen to just keep your mouth shut instead.”

“This is for your sake. I told you before—the reason I said I’d help him was to keep you safe.”

I understood why Peril wanted to send me away.

But what was the point?

“I never asked for protection. And I especially don’t want to sit around safely while everyone else risks everything.”

“…!”

“If I wanted that, I wouldn’t have recklessly made a deal with you the first time we met.”

I tapped my toe against the floor as I continued.

“You know what I’m like.”

Peril twisted his lips as if my words stung. After a pause, he let out a heavy sigh, as though finally admitting there was no way to stop me.

“…If you’ve joined Cardiff, then you’re already in a better position than me.”

I tilted my head. It was a relief he said that, but…

“Is magic unusable in the temple?”

“No. You can use it.”

“…Then?”

Why would he say I was in a better position?

“Have you been to the western tower of the temple?”

“No.”

His words were vague, but I immediately understood where he meant.

The place where the High Priest resides.

“My magic doesn’t reach there.”

“….”

“I’ve already searched everywhere else. That’s the only place left.”

So he was telling me not to waste time and head to the western tower first.

“I don’t know if what they’re guarding is really the relic or not.”

I froze at his words. Peril immediately looked regretful but stubbornly added,

“But I’ll be the one to find it first.”

“What? Who’s arguing with you…?”

“You’ll see. I’ll be the one holding it in the end.”

“Wow, you’re so childish.”

Peril blinked, then laughed incredulously.

“Did I hear that right?”

“Of course you did.”

“Hah, that’s the first time anyone’s ever said that to me.”

Naturally. Who would dare call the Tower Master childish?

“You’re really bold. Fine, how about we make a bet?”

“…What kind of bet?”

I had a bad feeling.

“Let’s see who finds the relic first.”

“And what’s at stake?”

He tilted his head with a sly smile.

“If I win, you’ll step out of this matter completely.”

“…Wasn’t that already settled?”

“Who decided that?”

“Unbelievable. Not just childish, but petty too!”

Peril grinned and nodded.

“If you win, I’ll gratefully accept that title.”

“That’s true anyway. What difference would it make if you admit it?”

“It’s better than breaking my promise to help the duke for your safety.”

He was serious. I’d hoped it was a joke, but it wasn’t.

I felt so wronged—especially since what he said actually made sense.

In the end, I had no choice but to accept.

“Fine. May the god of victory be with me.”

With a smug smile, Peril bowed.

‘Yeah right. This time he’s the one at a disadvantage, not me.’

“Victory is always with me,” I said confidently.

“Oh?”

“I’m feeling pretty confident.”

“We’ll see soon enough.”

Peril smiled broadly at me.

***

Two days left…

I spent the whole day sticking close to Onyx, trying to find some opening to approach the western tower. But he never once mentioned anything about the relic.

〈I heard from my brother you’ll be at Dremokan soon?〉

〈Haha, that’s right.〉

〈So about that…〉

〈It’s unrelated to my research. You should just rest that day and focus on your studies!〉

Each time I tried to bring it up, he brushed it aside with a smile.

After it happened a few times, I couldn’t push further. He was already doing me a favor letting me stay. If I raised suspicion, I’d be kicked out for sure.

‘…But wait. What if the so-called relic they’re talking about is actually Idette?’

If that assumption was wrong, then finding her should be my top priority.

I frowned, deep in thought, when the sound of the door opening snapped me back.

“Ah, you were here!”

Penny ran up to me.

“Why aren’t you sleeping yet?”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“But Uncle said you need to sleep early if you want to grow taller…”

She looked me up and down with her head tilted.

“Maybe that’s why.”

“…Penny.”

“Kidding!”

She quickly backtracked and plopped onto a chair.

“By the way, aren’t you going to the Lantern Festival? My aunts said they’re going!”

“Didn’t it get canceled?”

“Nope, see? You can’t manage without me! It’s canceled in the capital and other regions, but they’re still holding it in Tyrannian.”

The Lantern Festival was a traditional winter event. Since farming wasn’t possible in winter, people in the past used to fear the season, so this festival was meant to ward off misfortune.

“…It’s being held in Tyrannian?”

“Yep!”

I gasped.

In the original story, Idette nearly died in three separate incidents.

The first was by the palace lake.

The second was at the masquerade ball.
And the final one was supposed to happen during the Lantern Festival.

The causes and details had changed, but the fact that Idette was caught in these incidents remained the same.

‘Then the final accident will still happen…’

I quickly checked the festival date.

“Penny.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re the best.”

She blinked, then broke into a bright smile.