Episode 112
So that's what he ant.
A conversation with Adam from the past, one I had completely forgotten, ca to mind.
"Do you think he is in any position to grant you a reward?"
"What do you think, Count? Do you believe the sinner can, in fact, grant a reward?"
"Why ask that?"
"I believe it depends on you, Count."
Back then, I'd said it out of concern for the harsh treatnt Kassel was receiving as a sinner and for Adam, who had half-resigned himself to stopping the disaster...
Being reminded of it now by the man himself, after everything was over, felt strange.
Unable to withstand Adam's gaze, which was staring intently at as if waiting for an answer, I mumbled a reply.
"Yes. Well..."
Reward my ass. The only things I got were unwanted forced headbanging and suspicion.
But for so reason, Adam looked slightly relieved.
"Thanks to you, Count, I received it just fine."
I muttered the answer he would want to hear.
[Adam Hailey temporarily withdraws his suspicion of you.]
A rather positive system window popped up, as if it were the correct answer.
"It has gotten quite late."
As if he finally intended to let go, Adam glanced toward the window and said sothing to end the eting.
Naturally, I shot up from my seat.
"If you're finished saying what you need to, I'll be returning to my room."
"Stop by the estate soti. Serina heard your story and wanted to see you."
"?"
"Yes. The Head Maid and several of the employees feel the sa."
Figuring he was just saying it to be polite, I also observed the proper etiquette.
"I will, if I get the chance."
And just as I was about to turn around.
"They were clamoring to have you instated as the exclusive apothecary."
"...?"
At his words, I froze and could only stupidly ask the sa question again.
As I stared at Adam with strange eyes, wondering if I'd heard him wrong, he nodded once and added.
"When is your work at the Temple scheduled to be finished?"
No, he was just interrogating about running away and stealing. What kind of transition is this?
I was so dumbfounded that I stamred and asked back.
"Count... do you trust ?"
At that, he suddenly gave a faint smile.
And denied it flatly.
"No."
"You could at least pretend to think about it..."
"Did I not say it before? I am one to believe that those mad for money will stop at nothing."
He completely ignored my request to at least feign consideration and spoke.
Of course, I imdiately adopted a serious expression.
"I am not that materialistic of a person."
"I am well aware that you're the type to run away, then co back when you rember things to grab."
"..."
Ugh! It's infuriating, but I created this situation, so I have nothing to say.
Finding my trembling appearance amusing, Adam chuckled once more before getting to the main point.
"How much paynt do you require?"
He seed serious about hiring as the Count's estate's exclusive apothecary.
I was still bewildered, but I answered at once.
"It's a grateful offer, but I refuse."
As if he hadn't expected such a quick refusal, Adam's blue eyes wavered for a mont.
"...What is the reason? It should be a good offer for you."
How could I, after finally finishing that dreadful Hailey quest and escaping.
Unless I'm crazy, I would never return to the Count's estate of my own free will, even if I died and ca back to life.
And working with a boss like Adam Hailey, who's terminally suspicious, terminally quick to resign, and terminally averse to debt, is a surefire way to go crazy yourself.
But since I couldn't say that, I had no choice but to sell Kassel out.
"I've already received sufficient compensation from His Highness the Crown Prince. Did you not hear that His Highness said he would hire as his exclusive apothecary?"
"..."
As if he hadn't heard, Adam's eyes widened once before returning to normal.
Of course, he wouldn't have heard.
That bastard Kassel did say sothing like that, but it was only to threaten .
But it wasn't entirely wrong either, seeing as he was using that excuse with the Pope and priests to work like a slave.
Therefore, even if Adam brought this up, it wouldn't be too out of place.
It was then.
"This is for the best."
Adam, who had been lost in thought for a while after hearing my words, suddenly spoke.
"What... is?"
"Because I'll be able to keep a close watch on a suspicious bastard like you."
"..."
"If I kept you at the Count's estate, there's no telling when you'd run away again. His Highness the Crown Prince's exclusive apothecary is better."
Have their personalities started to rub off on each other from hanging out?
Seeing Adam spout words with a similar logic to Kassel's made feel anxious for so reason.
I clenched my teeth and forced the words out.
"...I'm not going to run away."
"..."
"Really."
Adam didn't respond, as if he didn't believe my words at all.
Of course, I wasn't being sincere in the slightest either, so I didn't care.
'The mont this Temple Quest is over, I'm gone.'
As I was thinking that.
He suddenly muttered awkwardly.
"...In any case, it's a relief to have confird you're alive."
"..., you an?"
"Yes. I thought you had been swept away by the monsters and died."
I don't know why he'd think that after sending his knights so relentlessly.
Figuring this was also just sothing to say, I replied appropriately as a final farewell.
"I'm relieved that you are also safe, Count."
"We'll be seeing each other often for a while."
"Th-then I'll be going now."
I felt like if I stayed any longer, I'd tell him to stop spouting such X-rated nonsense, so I hurriedly turned around.
It was that mont.
[Adam Hailey feels a certain level of affection or more for you.]
For so reason, a positive affection system window popped up.
Looking back and forth between Adam, who was as expressionless as an NPC, and the system window, I was suddenly overco with a complicated feeling.
'It's good, but...'
I just can't figure out the affection points for these damn AI.
Dalkak.
Only after closing Adam's door was I able to let out the sigh I'd been holding.
"Hoo..."
As if Kassel wasn't enough, another person had been added to the list of those who would tornt .
'I'm already losing my mind just progressing the main quest. Can I really handle these crazy bastards?'
Of course not.
The only way was to avoid them, holding my breath.
Compared to Kassel, Adam was at least more moderate and rational, but that didn't an he was easy or comfortable to deal with.
After talking with him at length today, I found he had a tendency to push and interrogate until he was satisfied, especially if sothing didn't et his own set standards.
That point was sowhat similar to Kassel.
No, in so ways, he seed even more persistent than Kassel...
Also, compared to what was passed around through user word-of-mouth and praise, he seed like a person with severe compulsions and a need for cleanliness in many areas.
"We have so things to settle, I believe."
Just as he said, the conversation just now was really nothing but settling accounts.
'They said he was upright and thorough in everything! This is just being stingy!'
I stood blankly in the hallway in front of Adam's door for a mont, swallowing my indignation, before finally turning toward my room.
'Hah... this ga. Let's just see how far this goes.'
The mont I clenched my teeth and took a step.
Beolkeok.
Suddenly, the door across from opened.
"Why are you coming out of there?"
Bright red eyes burned as they locked onto .
Crown Prince Kassel Ludwig
"Are you close with Adam Hailey?"
The mont our eyes t, the interrogation began relentlessly.
I felt like I had just barely beaten the mid-boss, only to run into the final boss with no ti to recover.
[Crown Prince Kassel Ludwig feels strong displeasure toward you.]
On top of that, the guy seed to be in a very foul mood for so reason.
"Why aren't you speaking? Since when were you and Adam Hailey on such intimate terms that you're in and out of his room?"
"..."
"You'd better answer by the count of three. Three, two..."
At the guy's behavior, hounding without a mont's patience, I just wanted to cover my ears.
This ga, I take back wanting to see how far it goes.
Please, just let not see anything!
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