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Chapter 195

Chapter: 195

Was it because I overindulged in breakfast?

As Sylvia prepared to go out, the previously excited expression had vanished, and she looked extremely tired.

With her like this, it didn’t feel like we could go out together…

“Sylvia, are you okay? You seem to look unwell… If it’s because you ate too much breakfast, should I go out and get you some digestive medicine?”

“…It’s not that, so I’m fine. I’m just a bit worried thinking about the nagging Sebastian will give me for just leaving after one phone call yesterday…”

As I asked out of concern, that was the answer I received.

It’s a relief to hear it’s not because she feels sick, but…

Wasn’t it ultimately my fault that Sylvia ended up staying out late yesterday?

Thinking that my presence caused Sylvia to make such a face made me feel a sense of responsibility in many ways.

“…If Sebastian tries to nag you about that later, call me over. Since it’s because of me that you stayed out late, if he’s going to complain, he should do it to me.”

So I said that while clenching my fist, and Sylvia, who had been looking at me with a complicated expression, suddenly let out a small laugh and said,

“It’s not like I’ll be scolded too much anyway, so there’s no need for that. But I’m glad you said that. Since it’s you, Miss Scarlet, I probably thought I wanted to help you, right? Anyway, I’m done preparing to go out, so let’s head out. I think if we complete our task quickly, there’ll be less nagging when we return to the mansion.”

“Oh, okay!”

Nodding at Sylvia as she spoke while stepping out the door, I quickly followed her.

For a while, Sylvia, who had been walking briskly in front of me, glanced back and slowed her pace to stand alongside me.

“…You know, Miss Scarlet.”

Then, seeming to hesitate for a moment, she called my name and reached out to grab the sleeve of my outfit, speaking in a cheerful voice.

“Still, I’m not going to regret it.”

At that sudden statement, I tilted my head in confusion, and seeing her face as if shedding some lingering attachment, Sylvia smiled brightly.

I wasn’t quite sure, but she looked a little better, and I smiled back at her.

Until we reached our destination, Sylvia walked with a firm grip on my sleeve.

As if she wouldn’t let go, she held onto it tightly.

*

Though I followed Sylvia without thinking much about where we were going, I started feeling something was off during our walk.

The more we walked, the thinner the crowd of people became.

But thinking that Sylvia wouldn’t do anything drastic to me, I quietly followed her until we arrived in front of a shabby-looking building where Sylvia stopped.

With the shutters down and the place looking like it had long been out of business, I tilted my head and asked Sylvia.

“Is this really the place where we have business?”

“…Hold on a moment. This should be the location we were told to come to…”

Though I was the one questioning it, Sylvia looked equally flustered, glancing around with a puzzled expression.

So were we supposed to meet someone here?

Just as I was thinking that, a squeaking sound suddenly came from somewhere.

Both Sylvia and I flinched and looked around as the shutter began to open slowly.

Curious about what was going on, I watched as the shutter opened only to see a hand slowly slip out from beneath it, like something out of a horror movie.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a corpse.

The hand poked out just enough for a person to fit through, gesturing for us to come in.

When I looked at Sylvia, questioning if this was right, she gulped nervously before hunching down and stepping inside.

I wondered if it was a dangerous place…?

With a hint of tension, I followed Sylvia inside, where we found someone waiting for us.

“Uh… Uncle?”

“…Haha, it’s been a while, Scarlet.”

Waiting inside was the pale-faced Guardian Uncle, Luke.

What? The person we were supposed to meet was Uncle?

I turned to Sylvia, my face showing a hint of disbelief.

“Was the person Sylvia wanted to meet you, Uncle?”

“…You’re probably the one who knows Scarlet’s physical condition best. I thought a consultation might help prevent incidents like yesterday, so I set up this appointment.”

“I see…”

Since Uncle was the one who created this body, I figured he might have helpful advice after all.

Besides, he was one of the few people I could consult about my problems.

While I was nodding along with Sylvia’s words, she suddenly turned to Uncle and asked,

“By the way, Mr. Luke. Why did you insist on meeting in a place like this?”

I was also curious about that.

It was already common for Uncle to meet in discreet locations, but this felt a bit excessive.

I looked at Uncle, wondering if it was really necessary to be this cautious, like an undercover drug deal in a movie. Uncle, wearing a troubled expression, opened his mouth.

“Well, it’s because there are people watching me. I have to be careful to meet you all without being seen by them.”

“…You’re being watched? By whom?”

Startled by his words, I asked, and Uncle responded with a grim smile.

Even though he didn’t answer me, Sylvia muttered, as if she understood.

“…It must be Astra.”

“…That’s my hunch, yes. Ever since Sator changed, they’ve been asking me nonstop about his whereabouts. Even though I insisted I didn’t know anything, they seem convinced that I have some knowledge.”

“…You’re not in any trouble, are you?”

“Well, not yet. The worst I’ve dealt with is returning home to find signs someone’s been in and out. They might have installed listening devices or surveillance cameras. That’s why I’ve set up various hideouts.”

With him saying “not yet,” Sylvia frowned as if worried.

It seemed she was thinking there could be worse things to come.

Perhaps trying to soothe her, Uncle lightly patted Sylvia’s shoulder.

“Miss, don’t worry too much. Even though I’m a thorn in the side of those monitoring the experiments, they won’t act against me until they find Sator. Being watched is nothing to worry about.”

Yet, even with those words, Sylvia’s face didn’t seem to lighten.

Seeing Uncle’s pale face, it was clear he had gone through a lot of mental distress.

And since that was a matter relevant to me as well, I felt uncomfortable in many ways.

Noticing our changing moods, Uncle intentionally shifted the topic.

“By the way, didn’t you say you wanted to consult about something? I heard a brief overview, but I’d like to hear it in detail.”

“…Alright. Scarlet?”

Uncle’s suggestion made Sylvia glance over at me.

I nodded slowly, then began to recount the events of yesterday.

About the barriers, the miasma deficiency, and such.

Listening intently with a serious expression, Uncle grimaced when I got to the part where I almost killed Jessie.

Could he be feeling distressed knowing his creation nearly committed murder?

With that expression twisting in agony, Uncle silently gazed at me.

I asked quietly, looking at Uncle who was staring at me without a word.

“…You’re not going to scold me for almost making a big mistake?”

“…What can I possibly say? You’ve probably berated yourself more than enough already. That’s just the kind of person you are.”

But Uncle spoke with an expression suggesting he understood everything and then added,

“…Scarlet, it must have been very tough for you.”

At those words, I felt a surge of emotion.

Because, as he said, it had been really hard.

As I tried to swallow my rising feelings, Uncle’s voice came again.

“…I’m sorry. I couldn’t find a fundamental solution to improve your condition. All I can think of are these temporary measures.”

Uncle said this while handing me something.

It was a box filled with small capsules.

Seeing that, I looked puzzled, and Uncle spoke in a low voice.

“In case something like this happens, it’s a capsule made by extracting miasma from the corpses of demonic beasts. If you need to cross beyond the barrier or experience symptoms of miasma deficiency again, use it. But don’t let anyone else find out.”

At that, Sylvia gasped beside me.

“That’s… illegal. Collecting miasma without permission…”

“Yes, it is illegal. But do you know how many laws I broke while conducting those experiments? I’m a sinner who has already accumulated a mountain of debt. It’s just adding a bit more weight.”

Sylvia lost her words at Uncle’s nonchalant murmurs.

Having turned away from Sylvia, Uncle turned his gaze to me.

“Scarlet, to be honest, I think it’ll be hard for me to help you anymore. Your condition has surpassed what my knowledge can cover extensively. So all I can offer you now are these words.”

And Uncle held onto my shoulder, his voice imbued with unfathomable guilt and even stronger desire.

“Hang in there.”

He told me to hang in there.

That single line, for some reason, left a lasting impression on me.

*

Days passed since that event.

There weren’t any notable occurrences during that time.

I was simply helping with the restoration work in the city every day.

Just as it seemed we were almost finished and would wrap things up by next week…

After breakfast, I received a call from Sylvia.

[…Miss Scarlet, there’s some news I need to share. Please don’t be too shocked…]

Hearing her somber voice, I sensed something bad had happened.

[Luke… has…]

And as she continued, I unintentionally dropped the mobile phone I was holding.

Uncle Luke was dead.

The cause was suicide.


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