Chapter 73: Playing with Trichel

After toying with Charlotte-chan to her heart’s content, she declared it was break time and left the room.

I figured she’d come back after a short rest.

"...So. Was that really okay?"

"What was?"

With her gone, this is the only chance I’ll get to talk to her properly.

If I set up a meeting with just the two of us behind Charlotte-chan’s back, it’d look suspicious. Which means this moment is the only real opportunity.

And there’s one thing I absolutely have to confirm here.

"You saw it, didn’t you? Charlotte-chan’s true hair color."

Of course. A member of the Black Clan would never overlook the white hair that marks the White Clan.

It was the same with Salem. Back then, Charlotte-chan’s hair had also shone pure white. Radiant, divine—if I had even the slightest artistic talent, I’d sketch that image from memory... But no, daydreaming can wait.

...Ah, that’s right. Her eyes changed color too.

I’d been deliberately avoiding that topic, but now it’s unavoidable.

"...I had considered the possibility of a mistake. But from the way you’re speaking, that doesn’t seem likely."

"Trying to bluff me? You don’t seem like the kind of woman who’d make that sort of slip."

"Then, what do you intend to do about it?"

What do I intend to do?

The answer is obvious. Of course, it depends entirely on her response.

"I’m asking because I need to decide that."

I slide my sleeve back just a little, ready to summon the iron rings at any moment.

This room isn’t all that big. At this distance, I’d be at a disadvantage if it came to a fight.

The window’s behind me. I could jump out to escape... maybe. But that depends entirely on what she says next.

So, how will she answer?

"...I don’t intend to do anything."

"Oh?"

Really? The Black Clan turning a blind eye to the White Clan?

Could that truly happen?

Especially from her—the one who covets treasure above all else. Would she really pass up a prize lying right at her feet?

"I know. From your perspective, that’s a statement you could never trust."

"Exactly. Which is why I’d appreciate a reason. A convincing one."

"...Salem is dead. That much is certain, yes?"

"Huh?"

"I need confirmation for what I’m about to say. Answer me."

I hadn’t expected her to ask that. She should have seen what became of Salem with her own eyes.

Does she really not know? She may be of the Black Clan, but perhaps she doesn’t understand the details.

The traits of the White Clan. The outcome of the war. Not in depth, at least.

"Hey, what’s wrong?"

"Just thinking it over."

But wait... does it add up?

Normally, the moment Salem’s eyes and ears were taken, it should’ve been clear she was White Clan. They rule over life itself. No one benefited more from that gift than the Black Clan. There’s no way they wouldn’t arrive at that conclusion.

Not knowing this town’s history in detail—I can accept that. But to be ignorant of even the basics? I hadn’t expected that.

So... she’s serious?

"...To be precise, she isn’t dead."

"What?"

"If the White Clan’s core remains intact, resurrection is possible under certain conditions. That’s why I secured that gemstone."

If that’s really true... maybe I can use it.

Trichel drums her fingers lightly against the desk, as if mulling something over.

Her gaze tilts upward toward the ceiling—then drops back to me.

"My second question."

"Go ahead."

"That meat sack... yes, the flesh slime we encountered in the dungeon. That was White Clan, wasn’t it?"

"...!"

Damn it. My reaction gave me away.

Her lips curl ever so slightly.

"Looks like that caught you off guard. But thanks to it, I got confirmation."

So. She’s finally in the mood to talk.

I don’t know what weight that information carries for her.

I felt it when we shared information before—she’s got a sharp mind. If she could just get rid of that reckless side of hers, really...

"The dungeon is a veil created by the White Clan, isn’t it?"

"...Were you just pretending not to know? That’s a pretty nasty hobby."

"No. It’s deduction. Piece the facts together one by one and anyone could arrive there."

Yeah, right!

Do you have any idea how many adventurers have spent their whole lives delving dungeons without a clue?

And yet here she is—barely half a year in this town—already grasping the true meaning of the dungeons. Even the White Clan probably didn’t expect anyone to catch on this quickly.

"And at the same time, Charlotte seems to hold a rather important position among the White Clan."

"If you understand that much, shouldn’t she be a target worth aiming for?"

"It’s the opposite."

The opposite? What’s that supposed to mean?

"My goal is to obtain a treasure worthy of the royal selection battle."

"A White Clan head, opposed to the Black Clan. Isn’t that enough?"

"It’s not that it wouldn’t be enough. It’s that it doesn’t have to be that."

...Huh. I see?

"Staying connected with her will bring greater benefits in the long run. There’s a time limit, sure, but it’s not urgent enough to rush right now."

"...Hmm?"

So, wait a second. Does this mean...?

"So then—what part of Charlotte-chan do you like best?"

"Wh—!? Cough, choke!"

Ah, I knew it.

I don’t know how serious it is, but at the very least he’s grown attached enough that the idea of killing her feels unthinkable.

Yeah... I’m starting to see it now.

She piles on fancy reasoning, but deep down she’s the type to act on emotion. The logic always comes after, crafted to match what she’s already done, and presented like, “See? Perfectly rational.”

Ahhh, I get it now. That’s why she’s careless—because emotions drive her first.

Makes perfect sense.

No matter how I listened, it all just sounded like she was desperately stringing together excuses not to strike down Charlotte-chan.

Well... I guess being able to keep up appearances is a quality you’d want in a king.

And I have to admit, this is starting to get fun.

"...It’s not like that."

"Your blush is obvious."

"Shut it! Anyway, I’m not laying a hand on her any time soon! My reasons stand, as I already said. Understood?!"

Wow. Bright red.

I wonder how Charlotte-chan would react if she found out. She probably thinks of them as just casual companions. Honestly, judging from her attitude, she doesn’t see him as a love interest at all.

If anything, she seems to dislike romance. From what I’ve seen, she gets along best with men who never bring up that subject, and distances herself from those who do.

"Okay, okay. So you’re just ‘friends,’ right?"

"Friends. Yes. That’s appropriate."

"And when did you start noticing her, hmm? Come on, tell your big sister~"

"Gah! Wipe that smug grin off your face!"

Sorry, sorry. I just can’t help it—it’s too entertaining.

I mean, come on, who saw this coming?

If Reynard found out, I’d probably get scolded... but he’s not here right now.

No way I’m letting this chance slip by.

"Come on, come on. Spill it."

"Don’t mess—"

"I’ll tattle to Charlotte-chan."

"Ugh!"

Ahh, of course. Naturally you’d understand that much, wouldn’t you?

You must know exactly what kind of feelings Charlotte-chan has toward you.

And if you do, then there’s no way I can’t ask this, right?

"By the way, not a single man who’s ever tried to court Charlotte-chan has managed to stay on good terms with her."

"What?"

"She’s been pursued by plenty in the past—and still is now—but she’s a femme fatale who’s left countless adventurers with scars on their hearts."

That expression of surprise—don’t tell me you don’t know Charlotte-chan’s history?

No, you probably did some digging. But maybe you didn’t bother to check the fine details of her behavior?

If I remember right, you were in quite a rush when you first came to town... Yeah, I can totally believe you only checked whether she was an enemy.

Ahh. Yeah. You don’t really seem the type who cares about girls’ appearances anyway. Not that I’d ever say it aloud—it’s just a thought.

"Come on, if she realizes you’ve got feelings for her... won’t she just run away?"

"Gh—"

"And if Charlotte-chan avoids you, won’t that only push you further from your original goal?"

I figured if I pressed a little harder, I might get somewhere—so here I sprinkle in a pinch of logic.

Heh heh heh. Types like him always bite once you hand them some reasoning to justify themselves.

See? Arms crossed, deep in thought.

In truth, if he just said he thought of her as a friend, she’d probably be glad. But that’s a flower best left unsaid.

"...I just can’t leave her alone. Idiots like that."

"Oh-ho."

"She can throw herself headlong into something for someone else, without a thought for herself. If nobody’s watching, people like her will keep shaving themselves down without end."

"...Well, let’s just say that’s your reason, shall we!"

"Hey."

Alright, alright, I’ll back down here. I can tell that part was genuine, anyway.

"But is it really true she’s been stringing men along? She’s the kind of woman who’ll casually flop onto a bed where a man’s sleeping—even if she can’t see or hear. She hardly seems that calculating."

"Well, yeah, she does have some pretty weird boundaries."

Despite how much she uses her body, she’s never actually crossed the line into anything indecent—almost obsessively so. She hated it when I tried it, too. She seems to have a real aversion to physical touch.

Taking that into account, it probably means she trusts us on a very deep level. Still... what’s really going on in Charlotte-chan’s heart?

...Ah. That’s as far as we get.

The door to the room opened again.

"Ughhh... what a nightmare..."

"Welcome back, Charlotte-chan."

"Why is it that someone who left for a break comes back even more exhausted?"

Did she get swarmed outside?

She looks more worn out now than before she left.

"Please, you’ve got to listen to me..."

She staggered back to her seat, gulping down tea.

Riven looked at her with a mix of concern and mild annoyance, prompting her to explain what happened.

And she did, as if she’d been waiting for the chance to vent, telling us everything that had gone on outside.

...Ahh, really.

If only moments like this could last forever.