Chapter 05

The next morning, Lowell and I finished preparing to return to the capital.

The carriage was loaded with all sorts of valuables—jewels and gold coins Jerome had given us as compensation.

After confirming that all the luggage had been safely loaded, Jerome finally spoke.

“Are you sure you’ll be all right returning without an escort?”

Lowell replied with a gentle smile.

“Don’t worry. The fighting strength of a single imperial mage is equivalent to that of an entire battalion.”

“I suppose I was worrying unnecessarily. I wish you a safe journey back to the capital.”

Before parting ways with Jerome, I pulled out my final trump card.

[Activating the ‘Charm’ skill.]

“Hinggu… thinking about parting from you, milord, Aisha is so sad! Hinghing!”

Fine. Do whatever you want, system.

At this point, I didn’t even have the will to protest those cringeworthy lines anymore.

Then Jerome raised one eyebrow crookedly.

“Do you speak like that everywhere you go?”

As if I would.

I never imagined I’d end up saying things like that either.

In the midst of this absurd situation, I was flustered by Jerome’s unexpectedly normal reaction.

Had he finally come to his senses?

“N-No. Not really.”

“That’s a relief.”

He continued in a low, rich baritone.

“Those words are more than enough if only I get to hear them.”

[Jerome Winston’s affection has increased by 10.]
[Jerome Winston’s affection: 21]

Ah.

So… that’s why?

Well, as long as the affection went up. I supposed I didn’t mind if the man I was攻略-ing had slightly questionable tastes.

Thinking I should just hurry up and clear the game and go home, I opened the affection window.

===================
Affection

Lowell: 25
Jerome: 21
??? : 0
??? : 0
??? : 0

Good. I was catching up to Lowell. Just keep this pace.

Even so, Jerome bid us farewell with a perfectly composed expression.

“Please take care on your journey.”

Looks perfectly normal on the outside. What a pity—such a young man.

With Jerome’s send-off behind us, the carriage departed. Inside the swaying carriage, I organized my thoughts.

‘Things are going more smoothly than I expected.’

But the real problem lay elsewhere.

‘Vivian Angus.’

The noble lady who harbored a one-sided love for Jerome—and the villainess who had poisoned me.

In a previous playthrough, I died after drinking tea at a tea party she invited me to. There was no doubt she had poisoned my cup.

I couldn’t fall for the same trick twice.

But simply refusing to drink her tea wasn’t enough to feel safe.

She was vicious enough to murder someone—who knew what she might try next?

Which meant I had to deal with her in one decisive move.

As I was pondering how to get rid of that headache, Lowell spoke.

“Do you prefer taciturn men?”

“Huh?”

I looked at Lowell, confused. It didn’t take long to realize who he was referring to.

Instead of answering, I gave an awkward smile.

I didn’t want my superior prying into my personal life—especially my love life—so I pretended not to understand.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

Did my lie not work?

Lowell simply stared at me in silence.

Just as I wondered whether I should add some excuse, his eyes cooled.

He lowered his head slightly and muttered in a low voice,

“…How amusing. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?”

Unlike usual, there was a faint killing intent in Lowell’s gaze. The chilling sense of unease sent shivers down my spine.

Notice what?

Just as my thoughts began to spiral—

“Inimiki crocum me revelentur.”

As Lowell chanted the spell, a pale green ripple spread outward from the carriage.

It felt familiar. I’d seen Lowell use this magic before.

In a previous playthrough.
At the same time.
In the same place.

The memory clicked, and I finally understood his actions.

“Monsters?”

“Yes. They’re lying in wait nearby. About a dozen of them. Most likely snowfield spiders.”

After my first visit to the duke’s estate in the game, we were attacked by snowfield spiders on the way back.

What Lowell had “noticed” was the spiders lurking in hiding.

“How foolish. They must have thought we wouldn’t detect them.”

After stopping the carriage, Lowell slowly rose from his seat.

I pretended to stand as well and asked as he moved to exit the carriage,

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I appreciate the thought, but with the amount of mana you have, there’s nothing you can do.”

“Oh dear, what a shame!”

I promptly glued myself back to the carriage seat.

“I really wanted to help, but I can’t risk getting in my master’s way, so I’ll stay right here and wait!”

I was the kind of person who could faint just from seeing a cockroach in my studio apartment.

The first time I played this game, I almost threw my console when I saw the snowfield spider illustration.

I barely endured it because it was virtual. I had no desire to see human-sized spiders in real life.

Just then, Lowell—about to step outside—spoke again.

“Still, it would be good practical experience. You should observe at least.”

“……”

I should’ve just kept my mouth shut and stayed seated.

Regretting my words too late, I followed Lowell outside.

Once out of the carriage, a vast white snowfield stretched before us. There was no sign of monsters anywhere.

Then Lowell grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to him, smiling gently.

“Just don’t stray from my side.”

My heart skipped a beat.

Lowell possessed a smile so beautiful it could make legendary beauties weep.

It annoyed me that my heart had fluttered, even briefly—but I couldn’t deny his striking looks.

“Fulmen lancea ignis.”

As Lowell recited the spell, a yellow flash shot out rapidly from his palm.

It looked like it sliced through empty air, yet it crackled as if burning something invisible.

Speaking calmly, Lowell explained,

“Snowfield spiders lay webs and wait for their prey to get caught. And look—they’ve set up a rather neat net right in front of the carriage.”

Soon, as if a massive net had been cast in the air, electricity began to flow in the shape of a spiderweb.

“If you exploit their well-developed nervous systems, they’re easy enough to defeat.”

With a snap of Lowell’s fingers, the current surged through the web.

A piercing, ear-splitting screech echoed in all directions.

“KIEEEEEEK!”

The snowfield spiders sprang out from hiding.

Their fur, colored much like snow, had made them hard to spot—but now their forms were fully revealed.

Some rolled across the snow, thrashing violently, while others flipped onto their backs, legs twitching as they convulsed.

Seeing more than ten spiders writhing like that sent chills through my entire body.

“Ugh…”

My stomach churned. The sight of charred spiders combined with the nauseating smell of burnt flesh was unbearable.

I took a few steps back.

“May I go back into the carriage first?”

It looked like Lowell had already dealt with everything, and if I stayed any longer, I felt like I’d faint.

As I moved a few steps toward the carriage, I heard another shriek.

“KIEEEEK!”

A snowfield spider leapt toward me. It must have avoided Lowell’s attack and stayed hidden.

Damn it…!

Cold sweat poured down my back. I had no means whatsoever to defend myself. Just as I thought I was done for—

“Perfora tonitrus.”

A flash exploded before my eyes.

I squeezed my eyes shut against the sudden brightness, hearing a thunderous blast and the spider’s scream.

“KIEEEEEEEE—!”

As the scream faded, I slowly opened my eyes.

The spider lay in the snow, reduced to a lump of black charcoal.

And before me was a wave of shimmering silver hair.

“Hoo…”

A low sigh reached my ears. Along with it, I felt warmth—and the steady rise and fall of Lowell’s chest.

At a distance so close I could feel his breath, our eyes met.

“I told you not to leave my side.”

His violet eyes wrapped around me, as if they wouldn’t allow even the slightest chance of escape.