I Give Up on Conquering the Heroines

34 – Episode 34. Cologne (4)

“What are you doing?!”

“I’m sorry. I only spilled a cup of water. Isn’t it enough to ask the attendant to bring it back to you if it’s warm water?”

“······I see. I lost my temper over something trivial.”

It took a moment for Lawrence to blush at her.

He immediately ordered an attendant to bring warm water.

A steaming cup of water appears in front of me again.

It is colorless and odorless as usual, but it is different from usual.

A thorough person like Lawrence would definitely take the poison himself.

This time, it’s really just water.

“······.”

As I drink water and raise my head, I make eye contact with the mercenary sitting across from me.

He also just stays still without taking his eyes off me.

‘Could it be that you knew this was poison…?’

A ridiculous possibility comes to mind.

It is possible that the mercenary realized my situation.

It is possible that he knew it was poison and spilled it on purpose.

‘That’s ridiculous.’

That can’t be true.

Tample down unnecessary expectations before they bloom.

A commoner mercenary of unknown origin.

It would be foolish to find meaning in the act of suddenly kicking the table.

It was just a coincidence.

I decided to think so.

I thought that would put my mind at ease.

“It looks like a pretty expensive sword, doesn’t it?”

“It’s a ready-made product. I just put a magic stone in the handle.”

“Intermediate magic stone…? Is it a high-grade magic stone?”

“hahahaha. You have eyes to see.”

A peaceful dinner followed.

Lawrence and the mercenary chatter non-stop.

I just quietly chimed in and smiled from the side.

Even though it was a little awkward, this was the best time.

Because it’s time for Lawrence to play her good husband.

Because it’s a time when you don’t have to worry about him suddenly kicking you in the stomach or yelling at you.

“Now that I think about it, I think I’ve heard the name Cornelia somewhere…”

Towards the end of the meal.

It wasn’t until dessert came out that the mercenary turned his attention to me.

“I think you may have mistaken me for someone else.”

“Aren’t you Hildegard’s prodigy?”

“How do you do that…?”

It was a nickname that only circulated among nobles.

There is no way a commoner like this would know that.

“You majored in theology, right?”

“Yes. Law as well.”

“Both of you have never missed a senior position.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then I guess it’s the Cornelia I’ve heard about.”

I had to open my eyes wide and walk away like a fool.

I never thought I would meet someone who knew me.

I was at a loss because I didn’t know what kind of expression to make.

“If you studied theology, you would also know the runes.”

“That’s natural.”

“I also learned runes once, but I’m not sure if my memory of this is intact.”

“You learned the runes? Really?”

“You don’t believe me? Then I’ll prove it to you.”

Soon a servant came with paper and a pen.

The mercenary began writing down letters on paper without hesitation.

“Okay, here it is.”

Then he quickly puts down the pen and hands me a piece of paper.

But the paper couldn’t be delivered to me and Lawrence snatched it away.

“You can’t read at all?”

“Well, it’s an ancient script that isn’t used anymore. Let’s give it to Cornelia.”

“Don’t call my wife that.”

“······Excuse me.”

The paper handed over to me.

On top of it was a rune written in proper handwriting.

It is true.

I thought you were bluffing.

I calm my startled mind and read the letters one by one.

Letters become words, and words become sentences.

-That glass of water just now. It’s poison. However, judging by the way his hands were shaking, it seemed like he already knew.

“······!”

“What’s wrong, Cornelia? What does it say?”

I got goosebumps.

This man knew everything.

The fact that I am drinking poison.

The fact that I knew that.

“It’s a simple sentence, Lawrence. It means hello. Nice to meet you. You probably didn’t think I could actually write runes.”

“Yes, yes. That’s why I was surprised. That’s right.”

I hurriedly nod and correct my confused reaction.

When I came to my senses, I saw that the mercenary was smiling casually and joking with Lawrence.

The level of education is high enough to have learned the runes.

He’s also good at acting shamelessly.

He even saw through my situation.

This is an opportunity that will never happen again.

This is the person.

Only this person can get me out of hell.

‘Is it still possible…?’

But that makes me even more hesitant.

The moment you ask for help, your life is no longer yours alone.

If discovered, this mercenary will also die at the hands of Lawrence along with me.

I don’t have courage.

I can’t bear to ask you to risk your life for me.

Even in this situation, I am not brave enough to cause trouble to others.

I feel like tears are coming out of my eyes due to the frustration.

“This is a more complicated sentence. Would you like to read this too?”

The white paper is pushed in once again.

When I looked at the paper with all my might, it was written in runes.

-In order to provide trust, it would be better to reveal your name. My name is Eugene. Cornelia, please make a deal with me. I’ll deal with Lawrence Brigham…

An unexpected hand of salvation has been extended.

I had no choice but to answer in fascination.

“Yes… I like it…”

“What is it? Is that what it said?”

***

[Attribute: Fame]

[Check your reputation level.]

[Eujin: 1.0%]

[Known to few people. The presence is small. Someone has strong feelings.]

His reputation has already reached 1%.

It is natural.

Because I revealed my name to Cornelia.

“Wow, it’s tough.”

“······Eugene. Bob.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll give it to you. Just wait a moment.”

I’ve only had dinner once, but I’m already exhausted.

Because I was in a state of tension for too long, my stamina quickly depleted.

‘I’m glad the runes came through.’

There is not much information about Cornelia among the game settings.

It is natural since it was a tool to create Lawrence’s narrative from the beginning.

The only information that is available is that Cornelia was called a prodigy due to her brilliant mind.

That was enough.

If you want to be considered smart in the Holy Kingdom, studying theology is essential.

Lawrence naturally assumed that he also knew runes, and was able to write in illegible writing.

‘I cursed at the boss a lot when he asked me to create a new language. I’ve benefited a bit this time.’

For reference, I created the runes.

I guess he thought I had nothing to do because I sit quietly in front of the computer and think about my lines every day.

I received an order from the CEO to create a fictitious language that could be interpreted immediately.

I made it myself, so there’s no way I can forget it.

It’s quite a complicated and inefficient language, but it seems like the memories created by staying up all night are engraved in my head.

‘Did I act too hastily?’

A contract was signed with Cornelia.

I will deal with Lawrence and rescue you, so you must cooperate with me unconditionally from now on.

It was roughly that kind of contract.

It is a verbal contract that leaves no trace of a contract.

This means that mutual trust is more important than anything else.

Fearing that Cornelia might not trust me, she told me my real name, which I had not revealed to Lawrence.

Now there is no way to turn back.

Failure means destruction for both of us.

Nevertheless, the reason I decided to take the risk was because Cornelia judged that it would be helpful to me…

What Lawrence hates is even bigger.

After all, I can’t see evil people walking around the streets shamelessly.

Considering that such a vicious person has not been restrained in any way for the past 12 episodes, it is even more reprehensible and unacceptable.

I think my true nature will be resolved only when I pay the price I deserve.

“Okay. What should we do now?”

So do I have a specific plan?

No. I haven’t thought about anything.

You have to think about it from now on.

Aren’t you screwed?

No.

Take a listen.

Count Lawrence Brigham is definitely a strong opponent.

It has a fairly large presence even within the Holy Kingdom.

But it’s not beyond my processing power.

In the previous episode, the king of a small country was easily submerged.

I wonder if I won’t be able to catch even a count.

But the question is still ‘how’.

It is easy to catch, but the neater the method, the better.

How can I get the word out that I successfully caught this bastard and killed him?

First, there is a way to evacuate Cornelia to a safe place and then expose Briam’s atrocities.

It is a sure and safe method, but the problem comes after that.

On that day, Lawrence will be captured and the Briam family will be ruined.

Nothing that falls to Cornelia is left behind.

In the end, Cornelia has to start from zero and rise again to success.

In this way, I will become a big person who can help me in some future time.

“An unlucky widow who lost her husband in an accident and was left to lead the family. This picture is perfect.”

Since the Briam family is a family with very few roots, he does not have any elders who can be considered elders.

If Lawrence suddenly dies, Cornelia will naturally be able to take all of her wealth.

Lawrence needs to suffer a ‘sudden accidental death’.

Since she tried to kill others, she must have been prepared to die herself.

Even if you push at her with her sword, you will die saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t help it.’

Now the remaining task is how to disguise Lawrence’s death as an accident…

“My bone hurts.”

“······Eugene.”

“Why dude?”

When did he get on my back?

When I turned around, I saw Mijeong biting the back of my neck again and mumbling.

It’s not painful, but it feels strange.

“······Me too. I want to be helpful.”

“You said just being by my side would help.”

Is it since I received the magic stone ring?

I keep hearing that sound these days.

Whenever you stay quietly without saying a word, now you want to be of help to me.

[Stats]

[Strength: 13(x5) *Guardian knight effect in effect]

[Stamina: 15(x5) *Guardian knight effect in effect]

[Magic power: 43(x5) *Guardian knight effect in effect]

[Agility: 18(x5) *Guardian knight effect in effect]

[Luck: 14(x5) *Guardian knight effect in effect]

Mijeong is a key person who amplifies my stats just by her presence.

Rather, it is more of a nuisance to install it for what it will do.

So, I was going to tell him to follow along quietly like he always did.

“I remembered. What you have to do.”

“······Oh.”

It came to mind.

This is the perfect role for Mijeong to play.

Even though Mijeong looks like a human now, she is considered a monster called a blood demon.

“Kill just one person.”

“······Huh?”

In other words, to Mijeong, the dead body will look like it was hit by a monster.

This could possibly be a perfect crime.