Chapter 79

"--- Unfortunately, I must refuse. I can't entrust my life to such a princess, raised in a hothouse, with nothing but comfortable fantasies. I told you, I have no intention of dying."

As he spat out these words and closed his mouth, his expression wavered.

Ah, he had said it. He had said it. He didn't know why. But he had to say it. If he hadn't, it wouldn't have worked.

If he had just bowed to her words, if he had just been looked down upon by her eyes, nothing would have changed. His mind would still be imprisoned. Besides, he had no intention of simply going along with such a flimsy plan.

His lips, which were supposed to maintain composure, twisted, the corners of his eyes trembled, and his knees would have buckled with fear if he hadn't held them back. A moment of silence filled the room. There was no sound, no voice. It was quiet. But it was undoubtedly the calm before the storm.

Forcing his expression to remain composed, he raised his head. Elthis's blue eyes came into view. Look at those eyes. Yes, those eyes. The very ones he had feared.

Her already large eyes were wide open, filled with rage. It wasn't that his words were wrong; she was just irritated that he had defied her.

At that moment, he realized that if it had been in the past, he would have been dead right there. Such deep irritation. What a dangerous bridge he was crossing.

Now, what was holding Elthis back was the pride of a noble and the rationality cultivated over a long period. That was his lifeline, the thin thread that kept him alive.

Scary. He was so scared.

"What's the matter? So, you're not giving up, are you? Was what you said just a lie?"

Elthis's piercing words cut through the air. The edge of her voice trembled as if shaken by emotion. He clenched his teeth hard.

"I hate people who don't take responsibility for their words. In the end, you're just putting on a show—"

Her anger, having passed, now contained a mocking tone. It was a voice that laughed off the chirping of insects, with mockery and a hint of relief shining in her eyes.

Damn it. What was happening? His tongue felt numb and wouldn't move. He could feel a waterfall of sweat running down his neck.

Now, he understood. He couldn't let her keep spouting words like this. It wouldn't do. It wouldn't change anything.

But what was wrong with him? His body, his tongue. After being looked down upon by those eyes, his body and mind wouldn't function properly. What was going on?

Even the flow of the wind seemed to mock him, playing around his ears.

"--- In the end, you're the same. Cowardly and incapable of doing anything. I heard you were somewhat well-known. I don't know what kind of luck you've had, but your allies and enemies who follow you—"

--- are probably just as worthless as you.

The elf princess continued her words.

Indeed, those were wonderful. Wonderfully meaningless words.

What was this feeling? What was this? His heart was still filled with fear, and the memory of being crushed like an insect still lingered in his mind. It was an undeniable fact.

But something different was welling up from the depths of his chest.

It wasn't the same anger that had once consumed him. It wasn't the same hatred that had covered his entire body. What was this emotion, this feeling, called?

But there was one thing he knew for sure.

He was, after all, nothing more than a sewer rat. His mouth opened naturally.

"--- Thank you, Princess. I see. I haven't changed, have I? No matter how much I clean myself up, I'm still a sewer rat. I've only had a handful of moments of confidence in my life."

Unconsciously, he had stood up from the bed. The fog in his vision had cleared, and the heartbeat that had shrunk in fear was now pounding.

He threw his words at the wide, slightly shaken blue eyes.

"But there is one thing I can swear. My allies and enemies. They are undoubtedly, without a doubt—heroes. I am certain of this, and I have no doubt."

Indeed. He had rarely felt confidence in himself. How could he be confident? In what part of this body that crawled on the ground? In what part of this mind that had survived by selling his dignity?

So, if there was something he could say, it was about them. Masters of swordplay, geniuses of magic, and undeniable heroes.

They were his deepest pride and his hated enemies. What a complex emotion. It couldn't be summed up in a single word. How could he not feel something when they were mocked and equated with someone like him?

Ah, his lips, which had twisted in fear, had returned to him.

"By the way, don't use me as an excuse."

He said this as if speaking to the stunned Elthis, who had opened her mouth in shock. She had said whatever she wanted. Now it was his turn.

The pleasant feeling that seemed to rise from his heels filled his heart. It felt good. He was now trampling on the fear of the past.

And there was something he had to say to this woman.

"An excuse? When did I ever make an excuse to you?"

Elthis's lips trembled. Her gaze seemed to lack the usual strength.

"Who wants to give up, Elthis? It's you, isn't it? You're the one who wants to give up, by your own will."

He thought this woman had a cunning side. The look of relief she had shown when mocking him earlier. It was unmistakable. Ah, it's good. Now I don't have to take a step forward. That was the relief she had exhaled.

He understood that feeling well.

In the end, this Elthis was still uncertain in her heart. She had only provoked him with words because he hadn't given up. She might have taken back her words to Variann tomorrow, saying it was a joke.

Indeed, the look on her face when he had spoken to her and made her understand was absent. Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, her eyes were trembling with shock, and she couldn't respond.

In the past, he had lost his sanity and didn't know this.

Elthis, the elf princess, was different from the other heroes. Celia Bardonic, Fialaart La Borgograd, and Helt Stanley. She was not a hero with outstanding abilities and a strong mind. She was just a pitiful woman with overwhelming power.

After all, she had barricaded herself in this tower, unable to take a single step outside, despite having power.

Her nature was undoubtedly very cowardly, just like him.

"Princess, as I said, I can't go along with your words. So, you will go along with mine. I will pull you into my flow and make it so you can't escape."

As if to prove this, he closed the distance and met her eyes, and Elthis couldn't say a word in response. She just trembled, her blue eyes shaking in fear.

Ah, then it was good. This woman was the same.

Not a hero who controlled their emotions, but a scarecrow danced by them.

If that was the case, then Elthis, you are no longer my enemy.