Chapter 75

It seemed that the reason why the past gods were called gods was because they did not die gracefully but left behind a terrible curse. The Sea God, what a joke, this is truly the Plague God, just as the captain said.

"Huuuuuuh! Sniff, huuu, huuuuh!"

Irina, who had been trying to hold back her tears, finally broke down and burst into loud sobs, completely losing her composure. Her cries were so heart-wrenching that it was fortunate that the head of the mage guild had been sent away quickly.

In the midst of this, I realized that when a person is truly heartbroken and in a state of shock, they can cry so desperately that it makes the onlooker feel exhausted. The quiet sniffles and soft sobs are a way to maintain dignity when one still has some control. Of course, this wasn't exactly the kind of information I needed to know, nor was it something I should have known.

'Should I have left?'

Looking at Irina, who was crying so pitifully that it made me feel sad, I wondered if I should have left the scene. But leaving a child crying among the kraken corpses, or even below... that would be too cruel. I inadvertently glanced down where the water was flowing and quickly looked away. If Irina noticed me looking at that, she might never come back from the sea.

'What should I do?'

What can I do? How can I console her?

Don't worry, I didn't see anything? No, that would be ridiculous. After showing such a vulnerable side to someone who is practically an enemy of the family, how could she not be worried? I didn't see anything? That statement itself implies that I saw something.

What can I do to calm the heart of a 17-year-old high school girl who has been emotionally devastated? It's such a difficult problem.

"Irina, just a moment."

"Sniff?"

I carefully lifted Irina, who seemed to have lost her voice from crying so much. I felt bad touching her, as she was afraid of me, but I couldn't think of any other way. She looked like she might collapse from dehydration.

I tried to ignore her tear-streaked face as I carried her into the sea, soaking both of us.

"Since you were exposed to the monster's bodily fluids, it's better to wash them off. This should be fine."

Actually, it wouldn't matter if we didn't wash. The kraken is only troublesome when it's alive; its bodily fluids after death are nothing to worry about.

But I couldn't leave Irina feeling uncomfortable, and it would be less embarrassing for both of us if we were wet together. I know it's a strange logic, but this was the best I could think of. Damn kraken, you should have died gracefully.

"Let's go back. You must be very shaken up, so you need to rest."

"...Okay..."

Her small response suggested that she had calmed down a bit. It must have been surprising to be lifted without permission and taken into the sea, but at least her tears had subsided, which was a relief. Emotions often subside when faced with something absurd.

'How can I face her now?'

But just getting through this moment doesn't mean the events of today will disappear. Irina and I will never see each other again. I would grit my teeth and avoid her.

If the person who said they would be absent for a while returns the next day, many people will be puzzled. Even more so if they return with someone unrelated, both soaking wet.

"Brother? Irina?"

Just as I met Louise coming down the stairs, her confusion was confirmed. She looked at me and Irina with wide eyes, clearly very confused by the unexpected encounter.

"I'm back. The job finished earlier than expected."

"That's good. It would be sad if you came all this way just to work and leave."

I was worried about that too, but it ended in a day. The price was a bit harsh, though.

I nodded slightly, and Louise quickly approached to check me over.

"But why are you so wet? Did you fall in somewhere?"

"The waves were strong. I got hit by them on the way."

"Be more careful..."

Unlike Irina, who was in a swimsuit, I had gone into the sea in my regular clothes. But at least it helped stop one young lady's tears, so I considered it a worthwhile sacrifice.

"Irina, when did you go out? Are you feeling better?"

"Um, yeah. A little better."

"That's good. I was really worried."

Louise, holding Irina's hand and smiling, made Irina look down at the ground. She must have felt bad seeing Louise so happy, thinking Irina was faking illness.

"I met her on the way and brought her back. She looks tired, so let her rest."

"Ah, okay!"

It was better to leave Irina in Louise's care, so I stepped aside. Louise would take good care of her.

"Brother."

As I tried to pass Louise, I heard Irina's voice from behind. The first time she called me "Brother" was on the first day of the mission, when she didn't know I was the head of the inspection department. I hadn't heard it since.

I turned around to see Irina hesitantly bowing. It wasn't necessary to bow so deeply.

"Thank you..."

"Thank you? It's nothing."

It was embarrassing to hear "thank you" from someone from the Yorun family.

***

It felt like the sky was falling. I had shown a side of myself that I never wanted to show, not even to my family or closest friends, to the one person I least wanted to see it.

It's over. My life is over... as a woman, as a person, my life is over... If I had known this would happen, I would have let the squid eat me.

After that, I cried for a long time. I cried as much as I could, as loudly as I could. Dignity? It was already lost in the sea. I was already finished, and I couldn't even argue when the head of the inspection department said, "Is it because it came out of your body that it's the same color as your hair?"

"Irina, just a moment."

I never imagined the head of the inspection department would lift me up, let alone take me into the sea.

'Is he going to drown me?'

As we went deeper into the sea, I thought, "Is he going to send me away, thinking 'Since I saw you lose control, the Yorun family is guilty!'"? I wanted to struggle, but my body was stiff and wouldn't move.

But the head of the inspection department only went in enough to get us wet. He didn't throw or drop me; he held me tightly to keep me from shaking.

"Since you were exposed to the monster's bodily fluids, it's better to wash them off. This should be fine."

I stared blankly at the head of the inspection department.

'Why?'

Only now could I see his expression clearly. He wasn't annoyed, disdainful, or mocking. He wasn't even expressionless.

His expression was one of awkwardness and concern.

'Why...?'

Why are you making that face? Why are you doing this for me, the enemy of your family? Why are you coming so close when I'm trying to avoid you and am so afraid? Why are you caring so much?

Just ignore me. Then I could have passed it off as an unfortunate encounter with a natural disaster. Why do you keep showing me strange sides and giving me strange considerations?

Why are you making me feel strange things?

'Why?'

I hate you, I really hate you.

"Let's go back. You must be very shaken up, so you need to rest."

But the one I hate the most is...

"...Okay..."

Especially you, who makes my heart race.

I bit my lip and bowed my head. On the way back to the dorm, I didn't say a word. My heart was too complicated. I didn't even know what I was feeling.

So when I met Louise at the dorm, I couldn't explain why I had gone out. I felt bad that Louise believed me and was worried about me. I'm sorry, if I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have lied.

As I stared blankly at the floor, I heard footsteps on the stairs.

'Ah.'

You're leaving first. You coward, shaking me up and then running away.

"Brother."

I called out hastily, then regretted it. "Brother"? Now, "Brother"? After avoiding me, why pretend to be close? No, I shouldn't waste the word "Brother" on him.

But he saved me from almost dying, so isn't it natural to call him "Brother"? Yes, I called him that the first time we met. Yes, it's fine, it's not strange.

"Thank you..."

I'm just saying thank you. No matter how much he is the enemy of my family or how much I hate him, it's only right to thank him for saving my life.

"It's nothing."

I closed my eyes tightly at his calm response.

You are a coward. Shaking me up with just those words. You are truly a coward.

***

The captain took charge of the kraken's extermination, and the head of the mage guild confirmed the body. The news should have reached the Golden Ball by now.

- Well done. I didn't expect it to be over in less than a day.

I didn't expect to receive a message as soon as I entered the room. Ah, this is a resort owned by the Golden Ball. The staff must have informed him.

"It was luck."

- Don't be too modest. What would my vassals have done without you?

"I was just good at it."

- Yes, it's a pleasure to see such confidence.

I said that because I wanted that reaction, but the Golden Ball's emotions are hard to understand. Confidence is good? Nobles are always a bit peculiar.

- Oh, and about the reward. I need to adjust it a bit.

"Really?"

Is this guy trying to cheat me?

No, that's unlikely. Even if it ended in a day, contrary to expectations, the Golden Ball wouldn't do something so petty.

- The monster's range of activity didn't expand as much as when I first asked you, right? That wasn't mentioned in the agreement, so it needs to be adjusted.

"Ah, yes."

- And you prevented casualties, which could have affected tourism. That needs to be considered too.

The Golden Ball held up five fingers.

- This should be fair.

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

The reward increased from 30% to 50%.

Yes, the Golden Ball is always fair.

I trusted him, the Golden Ball of fair deals.