An Extra Who Wants To Escape The Obsessive Male Lead - Chapter 34
Chapter 34
“Are you okay, Krua?”
Diello asked as we entered the forest area. He seemed genuinely concerned, his worry evident in his expression.
“Do you feel terrible?”
He continued, worried that I might have been nervous. The pale-colored wall behind him was seen, reflecting his concern.
“It’s all right.”
I offered him a reassuring nod and turned to look at him. To exercise caution, Argenta’s intelligence had memorized the route, and some had chosen different paths, leaving Nira with us.
Nira’s and Diello’s eyes met.
“This is Sir Nira.”
As I introduced him, Nira paused for a moment before bowing his head to Diello.
“Hello.”
He greeted nonchalantly, and Diello showed no signs of hostility. However, it wasn’t the same for the other Argenta intelligence people. They were aware that Nira was an assassin of Alors, and that knowledge led them to be suspicious of him.
Creak!
As a result, Nira’s assigned spot was quite far from the carriage where Diello and I sat. It was as good as following us at the very end. While it might seem unfair to him, who had chosen to dedicate himself to Alors, it was an inevitable arrangement. I had already discussed this situation with him during our journey.
“Argenta is different from Alors. The insiders have a much stronger sense of unity and bond. They won’t easily welcome outsiders.”
When I explained to him, Nira responded with a simple answer.
“It’s already much better than dying.”
It was a concise reply. Still, it didn’t end there.
“I will follow someone who embodies Alors, regardless of their rank or status. Someone who will use Alors power for the right purposes.”
Nira had added, just as I had seen in the original story.
The Shadow Blade had pledged unwavering loyalty to the Alors’ bloodline, vowing to serve the one they recognized as their ‘master’ in accordance with their convictions. While breaking this oath would not only strip them of their disguises, which were imbued with special magic, it could also lead to dire consequences, even costing them their lives in severe cases.
This was precisely why I placed my trust in Nira. After all, I wasn’t like Diello, someone who blindly believed in others.
“Diello, I have one favor to ask.”
I said, seeking a different way to handle the situation.
“Yes, Krua.”
As he responded with a gentle smile, appearing ready to grant any request I might have, I continued to press my words casually.
“Can I use Argenta’s contract as well?”
My words caused him to pause.
“…The contract?”
“The contract that Mirta and you used.”
I clarified my intentions. Naturally, any contract we made would have to include strict provisions forbidding the disclosure of anything related to Argenta. If Nira and I were to form a contract, I would have to adjust the terms accordingly.
Upon hearing my words, Diello’s mouth slightly parted, and his hand, which had been gently stroking the back of my other hand, came to a halt.
“Are you saying that you plan to make a direct contract?”
I nodded at his question.
“Yes. I need the contract to fully trust Nira and utilize his abilities and also to gain acceptance from the other Argenta members.”
Diello looked troubled.
“Krua, as you know, a contract is burdensome.”
His voice sank as he spoke.
Thinking about the weeping Diello under the setting sun, I nodded. Indeed, it seemed like a heavy and frightening burden for him. There was an unusual quality to his voice as if he was contemplating the departed Mirta.
Despite his cold exterior, with a blood-stained sword in his hand, his eyes that gazed at me seemed to quiver ever so slightly.
Recalling the image of Diello weeping under the setting sun, I nodded in understanding.
“I know.”
Regardless, Nira’s disguise ability would be extremely useful in our plans. Even if we had to bind him with a contract to ensure absolute loyalty and make him stay here, it was necessary.
“Still, the assembly is right around the corner, and after that, Alors and Cartiel might wonder if Diello’s lilies are vanishing.”
I pointed out.
If it weren’t for the Shadow Blade’s disguise technique, there was no way to perfectly conceal the lilies… until he and his Ferro truly became of one mind, before the lilies vanished completely, it was necessary. Still, I wasn’t the Ferro, so that posed a problem.
In the end, Diello let out a sigh.
“Then, I’ll make the contract.”
“What?”
I blinked, surprised.
…Why was he suddenly taking charge?
“This involves a matter between you, the Alors, but…”
Listening to him explain as he tilted his head slightly, it caused me to raise my eyebrows.
“It’s also to conceal Argenta’s lilies.”
He added, giving a faint smile.
For someone who claimed that contracts were heavy, he appeared surprisingly light-hearted. The same person who had shown such an expression while wielding a blood-stained sword, having killed Mirta and suffering because of it, now talked about making another contract.
Not only that, it was with someone who wasn’t even originally from Argenta but from Alors.
Of course, I knew that I could trust Nira and that he wouldn’t betray us though Diello had no idea about the Shadow Blade’s secret. That was only mentioned in the original story, so how would he know?
In other words, he was just rolling with it.
When the thought crossed my mind, I furrowed my brows.
Smack!
Without realizing it, I flicked his hand with my fingers.
“….!”
Diello blinked his watery eyes.
“Just stay still, Duke!”
I warned him.
He should stop going around making contracts all the time! This man had no idea how frightening contracts could be!
* * *
Eventually, I proceeded with the contract with Nira. He seemed more curious than startled about the contract, probably because such loyalty oaths were not common in Alors.
“This is Argenta’s contract…”
While Nira murmured as he gazed at the contract in wonder, I nodded and examined the contents of the contract.
While Mirta and Diello had me as a witness for their contract, this time, Diello played that role. Therefore, he was also carefully scrutinizing the details of the contract. It was likely quite different from Argenta’s usual contracts.
The essence of the contract was as follows:
[ By signing this contract, Nira pledges absolute loyalty and swears not to disclose any of Krua’s secrets. In return, Krua promises to protect Nira to the best of her abilities and take responsibility for him as a member of Argenta.
Should either party violate this contract, their life will be taken by Alors’ power. ]
Nira’s face bore a mix of hesitation and expectancy, anticipating suspicion from others.
The next move was up to me.
With a brief exhale, I took the dagger from Vielle’s hand. Up until that point, the blood mark for the contract had yet to be given, so Vielle had already pricked my finger for that purpose. Despite this, Nira still appeared hesitant as he pressed his own finger to the contract.
It was my turn to proceed, even though it felt nerve-wracking. How many modern-day individuals intentionally cut their own finger with a sharp blade?
However, it had to be done.
“I’ll do it myself.”
I uttered firmly before taking the dagger from Vielle. It was because I thought it would be better for me to do it rather than someone else.
With my lips tightly pressed together, I bit down on my mouth discreetly and used the dagger.
“….!”
Although I lightly pressed on the contract, it seemed like I cut too much.
“Krua!”
Diello was startled, immediately wrapping my hand with a handkerchief. Still, a few drops of blood fell onto the contract.
“Wait…”
I was also taken aback as a sharp pain surged from my fingertips.
Nonetheless, I needed to complete what I started.
The contract’s power, if imbued with the Shadow Blade’s essence, would be engulfed by the blazing force of Argenta. Conversely, if it carried the power of water, the contract would be enveloped within a massive bubble of water.
As I observed the scene alongside Nira, I couldn’t help but be surprised.
The contract was encapsulated by the water bubble, vanishing as if consumed by the water’s embrace. However, should either Nira or I breach the terms of the contract, it would resurface from the water, akin to how Mirta’s contract materialized out of thin air.
“I entrust everything to you from now on.”
Nira said, bowing his head. The Argenta people who had been keeping a close eye on him relaxed their grip on him, allowing him to move freely.
…They were really thorough people.
At that moment, Diello grabbed my hand again.
“Diello?”
As he firmly pressed my hand to stop the bleeding, his handkerchief was soon stained with bright red blood.
“The dagger was sharper than I thought.”
I muttered.
In truth, it was my first time cutting myself intentionally, so I had no idea how deep it would go. I didn’t expect my skin to split so easily, like cutting tofu…
“I’m worried it might get infected.”
Diello’s concerned gaze focused on my hand.
“Let’s go get it treated.”
While he claimed that his own injury wasn’t a big deal, my comparatively lighter wound seemed to cause more worry.
“No, let’s deal with this first.”
I turned to Nira and opened my mouth again.
“Your ability could be useful right now.”
“Excuse me?”
As he question, his expression seemed to ask, ‘This soon…?’
“I need you to use your disguising ability.”
Since the assembly was imminent, I had no time to waste. When I started explaining the plan, Nira’s expression slowly changed.
“I guess I came to Argenta at just the right time.”
Well, yes. It would have been quite problematic if you hadn’t.
Of course, I kept that thought to myself.
“I’ll give it a try.”
Nira spoke, turning to Diello.
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