Suicide Before Defeating the Final Boss – 130
EP.130 Gathering Part 1
Jeong-hyeon had a few questions to better understand what Hana referred to as the "trial bestowed by the Holy Sword."
"Hana, could you ask when one can start receiving this trial?"
At his request, Hana conversed with the Holy Sword. After seemingly achieving a satisfactory result, she smiled bashfully and told him, "They said... just a little more achievements...!"
Achievements, huh. Jeong-hyeon chuckled at the thought that all trials boiled down to achievements and then told her he understood.
"Then, could you ask what the content of the trial is?"
"Okay!"
Perhaps because it was helpful to him, Hana seemed to enjoy his questions. She smiled even more brightly than before and eagerly conversed with the Holy Sword. Finding her adorable, Jeong-hyeon patted her head, and she soon provided an answer to his question.
"They said... they don't know..."
Feeling sorry for not being able to give a clear answer, Hana glanced up at him, gauging his reaction. "There's no need for her to worry at all," he thought. Unable to do anything else, he picked her up and patted her back, feeling her hug his neck tightly. Her childlike laughter indicated she enjoyed being held.
While listening to this, Lucia, who had woken up at some point, spoke to him.
"It's so nice to see Hana laughing instead of crying... I wish she was like that when she was with me too."
Lucia, who had spoken with a bitter expression, soon pouted and sat on the sofa. Watching her chest bounce due to its size, Jeong-hyeon cleared his throat awkwardly. Lucia tilted her head, puzzled by his reaction.
"Is something wrong?"
"It's nothing."
Lucia looked at him curiously, then turned her head and said, "Oh, by the way, Jeong-hyeon. How about going on that outing you mentioned before today?"
"Outing?"
"Yes. You said you would take Hana on an outing."
There wasn't anything particularly urgent except for the gathering, which would be held in the evening, so he would have plenty of time in the morning. Thinking it was a good idea, he agreed and asked Lucia.
"Should we invite Miria too?"
The maid... no, Miria... no, that's not right either. Anyway, inviting the ever-prepared Miria would make things easier in many ways. However, contrary to his expectations, Lucia responded unexpectedly.
"No. Just the three of us should go."
"... Just the three of us?"
"Yes."
Lucia hesitated for a moment, then blushed slightly and said, "Well, because the three of us are like family...!"
At her words, Jeong-hyeon felt a sudden urge to cough and ended up doing so several times.
***
If Jeong-hyeon were to count the peaceful days since coming to this world, this day would surely be among them. He smiled as he watched Hana happily hugging a mysterious, chubby cat.
'Maybe it's because of the World Tree, but animals and spirits seem to follow her very well.'
The cat, despite having Hana clinging to it, didn't seem to mind, meowing contentedly. As he watched, Lucia subtly approached him and spoke.
"Um, Jeong-hyeon."
"What is it?"
"You know..."
Lucia seemed to have something to say, glancing around nervously. Then, blushing, she lowered her head as if she wanted to bury it in the ground. Concerned, Jeong-hyeon looked at her, and she, having made up her mind, tugged at his sleeve and spoke.
"I heard... that couples hold hands. So, maybe we could..."
She couldn't finish her sentence, embarrassed, and turned her gaze away. Seeing her like that, Jeong-hyeon couldn't help but feel equally flustered.
'Couple...?'
Technically, they weren't a couple since they hadn't registered their marriage. However, considering they had a child and lived together, one could view them as a couple from a certain perspective.
'The problem is we haven't even dated to be a real couple.'
Before Jeong-hyeon could process the situation, he found it hard to believe Lucia had said such a thing. When he looked at her, she covered her face, unable to bear the embarrassment, and spoke.
"Actually... Miria told me to do this. So I had no choice..."
Ah, so it was Miria's doing. Realizing how everything was connected, Jeong-hyeon chuckled. Suddenly, Miria's voice came from behind.
"Hey, you idiot! You should've endured the embarrassment!"
Miria quickly approached Lucia, pulling her cheek in frustration and began lecturing her.
"If you keep hesitating like this, that sly Demon King will snatch him away. Do you think Jeong-hyeon will notice if you keep acting like a fool? He'll just wonder what you're doing."
Miria, you do realize I'm right here, don't you? Dumbfounded, Jeong-hyeon watched the scene unfold. Lucia, looking dejected, nodded her head.
"But it's embarrassing... And even if I do something like that, Jeong-hyeon probably won't care."
"Hey, no guy would dislike a pretty girl carrying something this fierce. So just go for it."
Miria, truly frustrated, continued lecturing Lucia. Watching this, Jeong-hyeon decided it was best not to listen any further and pretended not to notice, approaching Hana nearby.
'I should focus on playing with Hana.'
The main purpose of the outing was to entertain Hana. So, deciding to focus on her, he crouched down and patted her head. Suddenly, he felt a warm sensation from behind.
"Well done, Lucia!"
Along with the praise, he turned to see Lucia, her face flushed red, avoiding his gaze and pacing back and forth.
"What are you doing?"
"I... I don't know."
Seeing her flustered expression, Jeong-hyeon watched her. From behind, Miria urged Lucia to push further.
"Appeal more, more!"
Isn't the rule for helping from behind to do it discreetly? Sighing at the absurd situation, Jeong-hyeon watched Lucia press against him and hold his head.
'This is crazy.'
He decided he would have to scold Miria later. Shaking his head, Lucia, clinging to his back, spoke to him.
"Um, Jeong-hyeon... You don't dislike me, right?"
Like mother, like daughter. Her actions were similar to Hana's. Without thinking, he patted Lucia's head, just as he did with Hana, to reassure her. Lucia, unable to contain her embarrassment, blushed deeply and shouted at him.
"Th-thank you!"
Thank you? What does she mean by that? Watching Lucia run away after saying that, Jeong-hyeon shrugged his shoulders.
***
Regina sighed as she looked at the list of tasks she had to do along with the order to hold the gathering. Certainly, if things proceeded as planned, the cult would grow significantly. However, it seemed like there would be enormous side effects as well.
'That's why it would be better to avoid it if possible...'
Refusing wasn't an option, so she had to grit her teeth and proceed. Balancing her duties as the student council president and the cult's tasks was dizzying. While thinking about this, she suddenly noticed a phrase at the bottom of the document.
[Be especially cautious as he will be attending]
The "he" mentioned here must refer to Jeong-hyeon. The thought of him, her Achilles' heel and weakness, attending made her shiver. She forced herself to endure it and closed her eyes tightly.
'I must use every means to ensure the gathering ends perfectly.'
Only then would she avoid being pierced by the sword. She sighed deeply, closing her eyes tightly, when a thought crossed her mind.
'Come to think of it, the inquisitors have been quiet, haven't they?'
Among the information she had heard was a rumor that the cult had sent inquisitors to the academy. However, with the cult's collapse, it seemed to have vanished without a trace.
'Of course, since it's unreliable information, it's hard to believe it blindly.'
Still, it wouldn't hurt to be prepared. If they had indeed sent inquisitors, it would cause various problems.
'This is giving me a headache...'
Just a year ago, she had been a noble child walking a straight path, thinking only of the future. How things had come to this, she couldn't understand.
'I should have just stayed put...' Regret kept flooding in.
'But it's already over, so there's nothing I can do.'
There was no turning back, so it was just a headache. 'Anyway, I need to finish this task well, gain some recognition, and keep making them think it's better to keep me alive, hoping for a chance to take revenge someday.'
... Though she wasn't sure if she could actually take revenge. Deciding to prepare for the inquisitors, she planned to increase the number of guards.
'Next is... this.'
A letter from her family, the Erza. She thought she had been abandoned due to the lack of contact, but suddenly receiving a letter left her bewildered.
'And usually, it's not good news.'
The contents were likely negative. After a moment of hesitation, she slowly began to read the letter.
'......?'
What she saw was rather shocking.
'Engagement?'
The fact that Charlotte, the first princess, and that crazy guy... no, Jeong-hyeon, were getting engaged. This news left her mind in turmoil.
'What on earth is his identity?'
The proud Duke of Filothes personally hosting the engagement ceremony? Her mind raced with this information.
'One thing is clear, whether I like it or not, I have to make a good impression on him.'
She almost cursed but held back, calming herself down.
'Yes, the tasks remain the same. So calm down.'
Deciding to proceed as planned, she focused on the gathering.
***
The next day, Jeong-hyeon heard that the gathering would be held that night and began preparing to attend. However, there was one problem.
'It's tricky to leave Hana behind.'
Initially, he thought of taking her with him, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized it would only expose her to unpleasant things. So, he decided to go while she was asleep and asked Miria and Lucia for a favor.
'I'll sneak out while she's sleeping.'
Of course, if he just left, she might wake up in the middle, so with Charlotte's help, he lit some incense to help Hana sleep more soundly.
'They said it would make her sleep deeply for at least three hours.'
He planned to resolve everything within that time. Thinking it was a good opportunity to stretch his body, Jeong-hyeon slowly entered the auditorium where the gathering was to be held.