I collapsed onto the couch positioned at the room's center, its plush surface molding around me like quicksand. The comfort should have been relaxing, but the presence of another person made it impossible to enjoy.
Standing awkwardly near the doorway was a silver-haired man with striking blue eyes who appeared roughly my age. Ducas. The walking statistical anomaly I'd taken from that cursed church precisely because of his absurd growth potential. My original plan had been simple: He should live his life, and I distance myself completely. I already had one unpredictable higher existence - Persephone - who never even appeared in my dreams. Now there was a person who would supposed to die, standing and breathing in my personal space.
Some people might suggest keeping dangerous variables close for monitoring. But how am I supposed to manage variables that can get out of my hand any second? It was nothing but unnecessary trouble.
Sigh...
The audible exhale sliced through the room's silence. Ducas immediately stiffened like a soldier caught napping on duty.
"Ducas."
"Yes, Sir Arthur!"
I scowled at the automatic honorific. This "sir" nonsense irritates me - I am not some noble lord demanding deference.
"Drop the 'sir.' Just Arthur."
"Ah... understood."
"Why are you here?"
"I wanted to speak with you, then you gestured for me to follow, and that emotionless guide brought us-"
I raised my hand to stop him from speaking. The familiar urge to smack him resurfaced. He'd completely missed my actual question, rambling about how he came to be here rather than why he sought me out originally.
+
[The Nubecula 'Who Likes Cigars And Candy' comments: "Hah! This Lower one is hilarious."]
+
Seriously I am not sure if he is hilarious or not. I studied his clueless expression before rephrasing sharply: "Why are you following me?"
"So you really were avoiding me..."
The wounded tone in his voice was weird. Not that I'd made any effort to hide it - I'd assumed he'd take the obvious hint and leave me alone. Yet here he stood, followed me all the way here.
"Ducas, I should make some things clear." I raised my index finger. "First, I didn't rescue you. I happened to find you in that church and took you along." My middle finger stretched next. "Second, you owe me absolutely nothing." The ring finger lifted as I locked onto his eyes. "Third, I want you to live freely and become strong."
If he lives his life, becoming even stronger, not that he needs to right now, but he sure will be a great help after the overload.
Ducas mumbled something barely audible: "Just as I imagined you'd be."
I said those things because I thought he might have felt indebted to me, but if that is not the case. "or do you have a problem with me? Did you come to kill me?"
The atmosphere turned glacial. Behind me, Persephone's stance shifted subtly. Ducas' eyes widened like saucers.
"Never! I'd never."
"Then why were you following me?"
It was a gamble - had he been an assassin, I'd already be dead. But his horrified reaction confirmed my assessment.
"I know you deny saving me, but I learned what happened there."
What is he talking about? I'd demolished that church facility, but...
"Every other prisoner was able to escape because of you."
+
[The Nubecula 'Raziel' nods solemnly in agreement.]
+
They were able to escape huh? I wanted to laugh. What the hell? They escaped, but it has nothing to do with me.
I'd spouted some dramatic lines and flown off, I basically left them on their own.
"I would have died in that place. You demanded no repayment - only wished for my strength to grow."
Technically true about his survival odds.
Then I realized what is going on. My avoidance strategy had backfired on me. By disappearing, I'd accidentally cast myself as some noble benefactor in his starry eyes. What kind of cliche is this? Am I really going through with this? Then he might have formed some kind of loyalty to me. I
I activated Prescient Description.
+
[Active Skill 'Prescient Description' has been used.]
+
[Name: Wynfor Ducas
Age: 113
Blessing: none
Active Attribute: Very Holy (Hero)
Active skills: Self-Defense Lvl.4, Sword Dance Lvl.4, Spear Handling Lvl.3, All Weapon Mastery Lvl.4...
Passive skills: Confidence Lvl.3, Battle Knowledge Lvl.5, Rationality Lvl.3, Loyalty Lvl.3...
Overall Stats: Strength Lvl 174, Stamina Lvl 180, Agility Lvl 181, Magic Power Lvl 182
Description: Possesses exceptional foundation but no meaningful connections. Exhibits high loyalty and profound admiration toward you.]
+
Admiration instead of Loyalty. I suppressed a grimace. His stats were undeniably impressive, surpassing even Lisa's by a significant margin. According to my records, they'd increased by another 5 points in two days. What a fraudulent existence.
"I intended to thank you properly," Ducas said, his voice rough like gravel underfoot, "but I encountered certain individuals along the way." His calloused fingers flexed unconsciously. "I... handled them. By the time I finished, you'd already taken flight."
The teacup in my hand stilled. "What individuals?"
"Church operatives." His left eye twitched "They were tracking your movements. They told me that they were stationed there in secret if something happened just in case."
Ice slithered down my spine. The Church had found me far sooner than anticipated. While I'd never expected complete anonymity, their efficiency is... concerning.
The Sixth. It had to be. That kid from the church is more cautious than I'd thought. But did he originally put any people like this?
"You said you 'handled' them?"
"Permanently." His smile revealed teeth filed to points. "They were the only surveillance team in the sector. The Church won't receive further reports."
I nodded my head. It was good. Not the killing but his intervention had unintentionally bought me time. The realization left an ashy taste in my mouth.
"And now? What do you want?"
The centuries weighed visibly upon his shoulders as he slumped into the armchair. "I don't know." His voice cracked like ancient parchment. "It's been... so long. There's nowhere left for me."
The raw ache in his confession gave me pause. If I remember correctly his subject numbers were in the double digits, he'd endured lifetimes of Church experimentation while thousands perished around him. He must be the last survivor of his batch.
This might not be a good idea.
I rose from the couch, the decision forming like frost on the glass.
"Sleep here tonight."
His startled blink was almost comical. As I moved toward the bed, his stammered gratitude earned only an absent wave from me. Dealing with all this was very tiring.—Todd's bureaucratic obstinance, Lisa's razor-wire interview, now this relic from the Church's dungeons. Too many people for one evening.
I laid down on the bed. Trivia's facilities put earthly luxury to shame; the bedding might as well have been woven from silk.
I could sleep on this forever. I pulled over the blanket on me and I immediately fall asleep.
***
Dawn arrived with fingers carding through my hair.
"Rise and shine~" Persephone's voice dripped like honey. "You have to go for your new job."
I chuckled into the pillow. This—waking to a goddess's teasing—I often fantasized about a situation like this where a beautiful woman wakes me up, even though she was just teasing me, it was a really good feeling.
"Mmm... What time—"
"Six fifteen, Sir Arthur."
The deep voice shattered the moment. I turned to find Ducas standing at parade rest beside the bed, his patched coat replaced with serviceable linen, boots polished to a military sheen.
'THIS' is not what I used to fantasize about.
With theatrical reluctance, I dragged myself upright. I looked around and everything was the same as yesterday night.
I got up from the bed, pulled a bundle of cash from inside the storage ring, and gave it to Ducas.
" Take this. Go outside, eat something, and come back after thirty minutes. Bring me something to eat as well. "
"Understood."
" No need to save it. Use as much as you need. "
I didn't know why but Ducas looked at me with gratification. He exited with unnatural quiet, the door clicking shut like a vault sealing.
After a light stretch, I retrieved the Isolation Orb from the storage ring.
"I should take a bath before meeting Lisa."
"Shall I assist?" Persephone perched on the rumpled sheets, The scene of her sitting on the bed was quite tempting but I activated the item without saying anything.
+
[ Item: Total Isolation Engaged ]
[ Effect of the item will be for one hour per day. The duration of the effect has started. ]
[ Duration: 01:00:00 ]
+
The backlash was immediate.
+
[ The Nubecula 'Gumiho' comments " Oh Cmon! " ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Who Like Cigars And Candy' comments "Nobody wanted to see you bathe anyway." ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Whose Heart Bleeds For Heartbroken' is a bit dejected. ]
+
[ The Nubecula 'Hwang Jin' is curious. ]
+
[ Some Nubecula wants the barrier to be removed. ]
+
"Would you truly demean yourself by washing a lower existence?" I deflected.
Her laughter was wind chimes in a storm. "I don't mind."
The playful lilt warned me—today's mood was impulsive. Women really do have their mood change very often. Best not to provoke whatever whimsy stirred behind those amertine eyes.
"I believe I can manage basic hygiene."
Persephone smiled mischievously, I calmly turned towards the bathroom door. Thirty minutes later, I emerged transformed—black cloak draped over a maroon shirt so deep it whispered of dried blood.
Ducas returned precisely on the half-hour, bearing a feast: golden pastries still steaming, fruits glistening with morning dew, tea leaves fragrant enough to perfume the room. After we ate, he arranged the fruits in a basket.
Time to meet my new... professor. My fingers brushed the contract in my pocket, its weight disproportionate to the single page.
It is my first day as her assistant.