Is It Bad That the Main Character's a Roleplayer?

Chapter 150

Chapter 150

“I’m okay. I’m okay...”

In a place where sunlight trickled down instead of rain.

“As long as you can live... I’m... not afraid to die.”

In a moment when the ground was covered in puddles of rain that fell the day before.

“So, don’t you ever feel guilty.”

The person, smiling like a white flower, placed a hand on the back of his head and pulled him into an embrace. Crack. With each crack of the whip, the air trembled as leather tore it apart.

“You're not the one who caused my death.”

The world, faintly visible over her shoulders, was blurred by light. He couldn’t see much.

All he could see was that person, enveloped in a halo of light that made her look like some kind of divine being, as she was administered punishment and drops of her blood splattered everywhere.

“This... absolutely isn’t your fault...”

However, the voice ringing in his ears was so incredibly clear.

“So... So live. Survive. No matter what stands in your way or hardships lie before you, you must...”

Crack! With that final lash, that warm person embracing him finally lowered her head.

She didn’t appear withered or shriveled like a wilted flower, but more like the moment before the stem was separated from the blossom.

“Sal—”

Thud.

.

.

.

“Kuhuk!”

“Young hunter!”

Deathbringer gasped for air, feeling as if a tight grip on his lungs had finally released.

His neck was burning and tingling.

“Gasp, gasp.”

But the real pain wasn’t in his neck. What truly hurt, what tormented him so much...

“Breathe. You need to breathe.”

“Uwaah...”

“Hunter.”

He wished she’d blamed him instead.

For forgetting her, for not living the way she said he should.

“Argh...”

“Hunter...”

For driving countless people to their deaths in the name of revenge for her.

He wished she would chastise and blame him for everything he’d done wrong.

“Emmitte...”

But she never would, would she?

Because she was already gone.

* * *

“We received word ahead of time. You brought a letter from Mia, correct? Thank you.”

No matter how shocked I was by that murmured comment about a supposed fishy smell, the situation simply advanced.

“It was nothing. We were headed here anyway, so she asked us for this favor.”

“I see. But I do feel quite flustered. I must be the first to receive a letter hand-delivered by a renowned adventurer, the Hero, and a Great Sage.”

It couldn’t be that he was unhappy about me not greeting him properly, right? But he didn’t even give me an unpleasant look.

That would suggest he’d unconsciously muttered that after smelling a fishy scent somewhere.

I’d just showered, so it couldn’t be me! But I’d heard something similar on the streets not too long ago. This just left me feeling incredibly uncomfortable.

“Ah, right. It’s impolite to keep guests standing at the entrance. Tom, could you please prepare some tea and refreshments and bring them to the garden pavilion?”

“Yes.”

“Please, this way.”

Was it me? Was it really me?

Could it actually be me?

“What a beautiful garden.”

“Haha, thank you.”

“I heard you tend to it personally, Young Lord. Is that true?”

“Yes, though I didn't do much. It’s not something I should boast about since I’m not the only one tending and caring for it.”

Th-This couldn’t be happening. With that, I resolved to wash myself even more thoroughly—despite already scrubbing myself hard enough to leave slight bruises, so I didn’t really know how to do it any better—and use better soap, even if it was more expensive.

No matter what, I couldn’t allow myself to smell bad.

“For now, let me give you the letter.”

The host, who’d made an effort to maintain even a minimum level of decorum, took the letter.

“Ah... Thank you.”

But was it just my imagination? For someone receiving a letter from their lover, he didn’t seem particularly happy.

Instead of happy, he even seemed rather cold.

“...Aren’t you going to open it?”

“Haha, as much as I’d like to read it immediately... I feel rather shy to do so. I appreciate your consideration, but I strive to separate business and personal matters.”

He even... reacted rather unexpectedly to this question.

The young lady of Camborough had said we shouldn’t consider it rude if he wished to read the letter first and that we should just let him.

“...”

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. I just feel like I’m not really of any help and need to work a little harder.”

What was with her now?

Was she feeling down because she couldn’t detect any Demonic Energy just now? She did look kind of dejected.

“You are doing very well, Inquisitor. Everyone has different strengths and talents. Don’t let it bother you too much.”

“Yes... I guess you’re right.”

I watched as the Inquisitor lightly slapped herself on the cheeks.

“I have my own role to play.”

Seriously, Deb and the Inquisitor... both were giving me strangely precarious vibes.

* * *

“The guests have left.”

“Thank you for your work. You may go now.”

Meanwhile, after hearing the butler’s report, Leon, the young lord of Ednium, took a deep breath.

And when the butler was entirely out of sight, he raised his hand.

“Ah, that fishy smell.”

Leon, or rather the being posing as him, grimaced, waving his hand as if trying to clear the air.

“This place isn’t even near the sea, so why must I endure the smell of seafood?”

But the lingering scent continued to assault his nostrils.

Covering his nose with a handkerchief, the false Leon moved back to the garden. Despite the lush trees, flowers, and grass, a strange chill permeated the air.

“How oblivious, as one would expect from someone chosen by that creature of the sea.”

Rustle. As he walked, young sprouts and leaves stretched toward him.

It wasn’t unnatural, but as if drawn out by an overwhelming surge of life and energy.

“I overlooked the ruckus you caused in my forest as a warning and even sent my children as a sign, yet you still dared come to this land.”

As he entered the maze on one side of the garden, trees taller than a person bloomed all at once. The scent of flowers that didn’t match the current season spread in all directions.

“Especially while carrying a letter from that filthy creature.”

As he approached a specific section, the hedges parted as if trying to reveal their insides.

“Urgh, urgh.”

But the surprises didn’t stop there.

Between the branching bushes was another Young Lord Leon, his whole body bound by vines and plants.

“Have you been waiting long? My apologies. But there was little I could do.”

Young Lord Leon, or someone pretending to be him, smiled down broadly at the bound Leon.

“This was the one thing I didn’t want you to receive.”

Rustle. The letter in the imposter’s hand shriveled and crumbled into dust.

“Urgh!”

The real Leon’s eyes widened as big as they could.

“What? Were you curious about what the letter said?”

The imposter, still disguised as Leon, smiled bashfully as his white face and body slowly began to change.

“What a lovely being.”

The flat chest and waist, which had been nearly completely straight, became more womanly, the chest swelling out and waist cinching in.

Her hair, which had been a medium-length bob, grew down to the tips of her toes and took on a platinum color.

“There’s no way I could let you see it, right?”

The eyes, once soft, became sharp and long with crimson highlights.

The same was true for the clothes. The plain, slightly soft-looking cloth transformed into a silken material adorned with gold and jewels, layered with a white fur cloak.

Jingle, jingle.

Earrings, necklaces, and bracelets that swayed with every move she made sparkled and glittered in the sun.

Though still human in form, her clothes and appearance somehow made her seem inhuman.

> [I understand that, loving someone else. Humans are often foolish, unable to see the truth.]

What truly made her seem inhuman was her voice, now resonating in an otherworldly manner so very different from a human’s.

> [But marriage is out of the question.]

With that, the vegetation restraining the real Leon’s limbs and gagging him retracted.

“...You!”

Yet despite being freed, the Young Lord couldn’t move an inch.

The first reason for that was the face, which belonged to that figure made entirely of white and gold, buried in his nape. The second reason was the tight embrace firmly holding him in place.

> [I will never allow it.]

And the third, final reason...

> [The only one who can stand by your side is this Skyflow Tiger.]

...was this person’s true nature, something a mere human couldn’t even dare to handle.

> [So, stop denying it and accept the natural order.]

Ah. Had he known it would come to this, he might never have offered food to that white cat shivering in the rain.

> [In return, I will gift you life that blooms even during a drought and abundance that will never end.]

With a sigh, Young Lord Leon closed his eyes, lamenting that one simple act of kindness had ruined his life.

He so longed to see his beloved.

____