Chapter 43

2-1. Sure, you have skills now, but nobody ever said you can use them as you please.

Translated by Yonnee

“Are you looking at this?”

“AACK!”

When I craned my neck to see what was hidden behind his back, Adrian suddenly brought it forward and pushed it to me. I immediately turned pale and stumbled back again.

“W-W-What are you going to d-do with such a dangerous thing?”

“This? They’re just ordinary garden shears though.”

“That’s why they’re dangerous. Those are such big scissors, so just one wrong move and you can cut your hand and bleed out and maybe bleed out to death or there’s even the risk of infection and—”

“Are you worried about me?”

No, not you. Me.

“O-Of course. Young Master, you must not be used to holding a tool like that, so I’m just worried that you’ll get hurt if you use it wrong… But may I ask, what are you going to use that for? Please, you can give it to me instead. I’ll hold it for you.”

I was thinking about taking his weapon away from him before he’d decide to stab me to death, but fwick— he somehow dodged my hand.

“No need. It’s quite heavy, Hilda. I can’t make you carry something heavy.”

This jerk. I’m sure he knows I’m trying to steal his weapon. How could he even tell such a despicable lie with a gentle-looking face like that?

“No, Young Master. It doesn’t look heavy at all. Don’t you see the shopping bag I’m carrying now? I can carry it like this. It’s really heavy, you know, but I’m holding it really well. This body of mine is strong, so… Please hand it over!”

“No, Hilda. It’s very heavy…”

“Please give it to me. Hurry.”

“But it’s heavy…”

“Ugh, then carry this bag instead and just gimme!”

“Wait, you’ll get hurt…”

I absolutely can’t die in a game like this!

With single-minded determination, I practically flung the shopping bag at him and took the garden shears, which he tried to hide behind his back again. But the moment I got them off his hands, I almost jumped up and down in triumph.

I got it! I got the murderer’s weapon!

“Hilda… Are you really so happy just to get those shears?”

“Of course…! Ack, Y-Young Master. I’m so sorry. Are you alright?”

Belatedly realizing just what I had done, I almost stopped breathing. Crazy. As if it’s not enough that I threw the bag straight at his chest, but I also dropped honorifics when I shouted! No matter how much I went out of my mind, I just went ahead and shortened my lifespan all on my own. Look at that begrudging look on his face! I’m dead. Was he boiling in so much rage now that he’d come running at me?

“I apologize immensely. I was just so worried that you’d get hurt, Young Master, that I…”

“I knew it. Hilda, you really are the only one who thinks of me.”

When Adrian said that, his expression was not good. Gulping once, I cowered. I have no idea how many peaks and valleys this day has given me.

Was he really going to kill me this time? But even if he’s decided to kill me, it’ll be back in the manor, right?

As expected, it was a good decision to take away the garden shears from him. The blades were so sharp that they’d easily pierce through someone’s stomach and even break their ribs. If he tries to kill me now, I can at least defend myself with this and escape somehow.

“I’m really, really sorry. Please give me the shopping bag again. I’ll carry everything.”

“No, it’s alright. It’s really heavy, so I’ll carry it.”

“Please just give it to me, your body’s condition also isn’t good…”

This, at least, was something I meant. No matter how cold-blooded of a devil he was inside, the shell he had was still the weak and sickly Adrian. If this much was already heavy for someone who had a firm, strong body that’s like an experienced farmer’s, then it would be that much heavier for him.

I worried about him like that, but Adrian flatly refused.

“No, Hilda. I’ll carry this, so you just hold onto the garden shears. But once you take it safely back to the manor, you’ll give it back to me then, right?”

“Yes, of course. Once I return to the manor, I’ll return it and even deliver it to you in your room, Young Master.”

Return? No way. I’m going to bring this back to the manor and bury it somewhere deep in the garden.

If he’s really going to use this to kill people, then it would be trouble no matter who he’d decide to target.

I heard that the act of murder was addicting. Would closing the windows like this stop the flood? He’s only killing people out of necessity to regain his strength, but if he starts killing in earnest, then I’m pretty sure it’ll be my turn soon enough.

If I don’t want to die, maybe the path to survival is to make sure that other people stay alive, too.

This was the conclusion I ended up with.

Still, if it’s really inevitable, at least let my turn be the last…

“But Young Master, why do you need this? They’re garden shears, but…”

“My Mother’s condition seems to be worse off these days, so I was going to trim the garden that she often goes to. We planted citrus trees together there when I was young. I thought it would comfort her a little if I planted something small and tidy up the garden a bit.”

When asked the question, a surprisingly human answer came back. The story was so detailed and intricate, and his expression looked kinda affectionate too, so it almost felt real.

Are you just… acting? You’re not being for real, are you?