How the Regressor Loves the Reincarnated

52. Between the Saint and the Apostle (3)

1.

Is it a coincidence or inevitable? I’m not sure which one it was, but Adele and I fit in quite comfortably with the schedule we had in mind for the next full moon day.

Assuming that the system will take care of things right away and leave, it will take about 10 days from today, the last day of June, to reach Kyoguk. Instead of slightly shortening the two-and-a-half-week period of stay in Kyoguk, the full moon falls exactly in the middle of that period.

If I had been able to use the teleport gate when heading to the kingdom, it would have been perfect in terms of time. In Kyokuguk, the teleport gate is regarded as an obstacle on the ‘morning road’ that they want to follow their god, so it was a very troublesome country to visit in that respect.

Clerics who worship gods in countries other than the religious countries do not feel any objection to using the teleport gate, but seeing that, I feel sorry for those who live in the religious countries. Others actually use a faster way to travel than flying, but in Kyokugoku, it was like others were stubbornly sticking to the carriage.

“…What are these people going to do?”

After coming up from the basement to the orphanage building, I saw two men and a woman who were still asleep under the influence of my magic and asked Adele.

“Of course I should kill him…?”

She would be lying if she wasn’t surprised by Adele’s answer that came back like a knife, but what she said was the truth. If they had run the orphanage normally, there would be no way that the children who had not even been given a proper name would have been training to become assassins under Scorpio.

So these three were one of two. Either members of the Assassination Brigade, or scum who were voluntarily cooperating with Scorpio. Personally, I think the former is more likely. If Scorpio was a weak enough person to keep people not involved with the Zodiac or the Assassination Brigade close to his base, it doesn’t make sense that the Assassination Brigade could have existed for nearly 300 years.

“Is that so?”

“Um… Luke, I’m just saying this just in case. First of all, these humans are also assassins.”

“Oh? Yes, it is.”

“No matter how much I do, I’m not crazy enough to say that I’ll just kill anyone.”

“That, Adele?”

“I’m really saying this just in case, so I hope there won’t be any misunderstandings.”

“Adele, I didn’t answer with that in mind, I just agreed with you.”

“Uh, huh? Yes! I knew that. I just said it because I didn’t want any misunderstandings like that.”

Adele’s eyes let out an awkward smile, but when I looked closely, she was blinking much faster than usual. Come to think of it, when Adele showed a flustered appearance, it seems that she blinked her eyes very quickly.

Anyway, it seems that I have found a little interesting weakness. Adele habits unknown to herself, only she knows.

“Ah.”

I shuddered at the thought that flashed through my mind. The moment I realized this weakness, the time had finally come for Adele to pay off her karma.

“Well, then I will take care of these separately and come back?”

Adele gathered together, still smiling awkwardly, and pointed at the three people bound by the magic rope I had created. Adele’s eyes, whose blinking speed had gradually slowed down to the usual level, began to blink again like a butterfly flapping its wings at the slightest word I uttered.

“I’m disappointed.”

“Lou, Luke? What is that all of a sudden?”

“…Are you asking because you really don’t know why I’m disappointed?”

As I thought to myself, I turned my eyes towards Adele, saying that I was sincerely hurt, and I brought out the movie star sleeping inside me as much as possible. When was the last time you put so much effort into acting?

Perhaps the last thing you did in your previous life was when you went to an internet cafe with me without your parents’ knowledge, and bumped into your friend’s mother when you were leaving? Instead of a completely frozen friend, I remember that I came to investigate why internet cafes are harmful to students of my age because of group assignments, and I had a full-fledged performance.

My friend’s mother saw through my acting so easily, and told her friend, ‘I’ll let you see her just this once,’ and she just left. As expected, there was nothing I could do about it.

But the me then and the me now are different. It is impossible to miss this golden vaporization that will repay the resentment that has been accumulated due to the one-sided punching bag that has continued under the pretext of Adele’s affectionate pranks. Therefore, if it is me now, I can digest the acting that deserves the acting grand prize as if I were eating rice.

“Uh huh…?”

Looking at Adele, who is speechless and stumped, with an expression of ‘Isn’t this?’, The corners of her mouth twitch like crazy. But she has to put up with it. Of course, if he showed up now, everything would go to waste, and he would have to endure Adele’s retaliation that would follow.

“I guess you really don’t know.”

“That… sorry, I don’t know.”

My heart flutters when I see Adele, who hesitates, lowers her gaze, and replies with her downcast expression. I think I’m doing something I can’t…

No. Rather, the more times like this, the more you have to be sure to take care of your mind.

“As much as I believe in Adele, she doesn’t seem to believe in me, so she is disappointed.”

“What?! Luke, what are you talking about! I… Believe in Luke… Oops…!”

In the middle of continuing her answer, Adele, who muffled her words, let out her saliva as if she finally realized why I was insisting on it. Then, seeing her biting her lower lip, I belatedly think, ‘Was this a joke too much?’

“Oh, no. Don’t bite her lip like that!”

But did Adele hear me or not? She goes on, she stays that way, then she lowers her head. Ah, the moment she opened her mouth, thinking that it would be a big problem if this wasn’t dealt with right now.

“I really didn’t mean to say that…”

When I saw the water in Adele’s eyes as she raised her head and said that to me, my thoughts stopped. My prank was so bad that it made Adele cry?

“I was just saying this because I was afraid that Luke would think I was a cold-blooded person who would casually kill other people. I’m sorry to disappoint you so much…”

Seeing Adele dying in real time the more she spoke, the moment I told her that this was a joke, I thought that something big could happen to me.

How the hell am I supposed to fix this?

But apart from my head thinking about it, my body seemed to know very well what to do. When I came to my senses, it was because Adele’s body was held in my arms.

As I run my hands through Adele’s soft hair, her hand clings to my collar, her hair runs like a waterfall through her fingers. She picks out my words carefully, smelling the fresh citrus scent that rises gently.

Playing jokes should be done while monitoring the situation, but in the current situation, I think it’s only right to be prepared to face a backlash and go out honestly to some extent.

“First of all, I’m sorry for throwing out the word that I was disappointed. I wanted to see Adele in trouble, so I said it half-jokingly. I think my prank was too much. I’m really sorry.”

“…Ugh, no. Actually, you didn’t really trust me, Luke…”

Seeing Adele answer me like that in my arms in a calm mood, I thought I might have done something bad.

“And… It’s okay to put those worries aside. Do you remember the promise I made to Adele? I promised you I wouldn’t let you shoulder all the burdens on your own. I swore that the words I said back then were my complete sincerity, without even a single lie mixed in.”

“Yeah, I remember.”

“So, I will take care of those three myself. Whatever burden it may be, I am ready to share it.”

“…But, Luke! I don’t need you to do such dirty work for me-“

“Uh huh, what are you talking about so much when you say I will do it? Now, look up.”

I slipped Adele away from my arms and gently cupped her cheeks with her hands.

Eventually, when Adele lifted her head, her face revealed was so beautiful that even now that she had gotten used to it, her heart trembled.

Even though I couldn’t see her cheeks, I could feel the heat subtly, but it was clear that they were flushed red. Fortunately, her lips, which did not leave any traces, were as bright pink as always, and were very appetizing.

It’s not very high, but it’s a pretty shape, and the nose that stands up is responsible for making her look beautiful and at the same time making her cute feeling come out strongly. The impression given by her mild-looking eyes was offset by the dot beneath them, and at the same time, her slightly reddish eyes gave off a strangely erotic atmosphere.

And I like her, the second of her earthly people…? No, she loved her more than anyone else.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen Adele cry. Perhaps it’s because it’s my fault, but she’s even more heartbroken.”

“…Not the first time.”

As I was speaking my honest feelings, wiping the tears from her eyes with my thumb, I heard Adele speak in an inaudible voice.

“Was it?”

“Oh, nothing! Just forget what I just said!”

“Um, yes. Just this once, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.”

I make promises that I have no intention of keeping. This time, because I played a prank that crossed the line a little bit, the atmosphere became like this, so next time I decided to play a little lighter prank. Originally, the most appropriate time to play a light prank was when they reconciled after a fight.

Of course, Adele and I didn’t fight, but in any case, things went pretty well, so can’t we just say that?

“Oh, and I forgot to say…”

“What…?”

“Remember that I will always be on Adele’s side no matter what. Even if everyone in the world turns their backs on you, I will stand by your side. Please don’t make me suffer with unnecessary worries.”

With that last word, she lightly kisses her forehead, then steps out of the building, lifting the three assassins with her magic.

“But if today is not the first time, exactly when and why did you cry?”

“Luke?! You said you’d pretend you didn’t hear that!”

Without forgetting to lighten the mood with light pranks.