By Zephyria =======
Wolf rubbed his knee with his fingertips, retracing his memories. The careless appearance of Black Weasel, gulping down liquor without a care for his pursuers. It would make sense if there had been no pursuers to begin with.
Wolf stole a glance at Red Eagle. Perhaps thinking along the same lines, Red Eagle looked restless.
“You know, Silver. There’s something I want to tell you.”
Wolf threw out the bait.
“What is it. Go ahead.”
Silver responded indifferently, without even glancing his way. Wolf cleared his throat and spoke.
“The Prince and I want to leave this place. With your help. The three of us escaping together. …I bet Uncle predicted I’d say that to you, as clear as looking into a mountain stream, right?”
“Yeah. Ice Armor Warrior is an idiot, but he can think that much.”
“Now, here is my question. Even without your help, the Prince and I could leave this place. We just have to shake you off, open the door leading outside, walk eight steps, push through the brush, and cross the cloud bridge. So why did Uncle leave us alone?”
“Because you can’t open the door.”
The answer Wolf expected came back. Silver continued speaking as if reading from a book.
“Ice Armor Warrior locked the door from the outside when he left. That door is an iron door covered in wood. Since he’s an Ice Armor Warrior, he opens and closes it easily, but in reality, it wouldn’t budge even if seven or eight ordinary men clung to it. Well, are you disappointed?”
“No. I figured the door would be locked. I just didn’t know it was an iron door.”
Unlike Wolf, Red Eagle had his head bowed low. It seemed he had secretly hoped for a twist, even though the answer was obvious.
“Just pray that the Prince’s mother drops dead, like Ice Armor Warrior said. If the Prince can’t do it, you do it. It’s just some lady you’ve never even seen, right?”
“I feel sorry for the Prince, but if that’s truly the only way, I suppose I should offer a prayer of curse.”
At Wolf’s words, Red Eagle gave a bitter smile.
“You don’t need to feel sorry for me, Wolf. If Mother dies, it won’t be because of your curse, but because of foolish greed.”
“Did you hear that, Silver? The Prince is such a mature person. I’m lucky to have a foster-brother like him.”
“Still just a lord-vassal relationship.”
Silver stood up abruptly. Wolf’s eyes widened at the ensuing action.
“Silver…?”
Silver dashed forward and leaped, clinging to the cave wall. He moved nimbly from spot to spot, climbing toward the cave opening. His movements were so fast he was like a squirrel climbing a tree. Wolf stood up hurriedly.
“Silver! What are you doing! It’s dangerous!”
“It’s not dangerous.”
“That…!”
Wolf started to say something but stopped. Silver was no ordinary boy. If the assistant of a contract killer says it’s ‘not dangerous,’ then it really isn’t. In that case, there was a different question he needed to ask.
“Silver, are you going outside right now? Why?”
“To hunt.”
“There’s plenty of food here too.”
“Shut up if you don’t know.”
At those words, Wolf shut his mouth. Red Eagle nudged Wolf’s side and gestured with his eyes.
To get… food for me?
While Wolf was dazed, Silver vanished outside in a leap. Red Eagle, staring at the pouring light, suddenly spoke in a barely audible voice.
“Wolf. Can you hear me?”
“Huh? Ah, yes.”
“I have something to tell you. Come closer.”
Red Eagle beckoned Wolf. He seemed afraid that Silver might overhear their conversation.
“What is it, Prince? Silver seems to have gone far away, so don’t worry.”
Wolf also spoke in a whisper, leaning his head toward Red Eagle. Red Eagle whispered into Wolf’s ear.
“Silver likes you.”
“…Eh?”
It felt as if a very cold droplet of water had suddenly fallen onto the top of his bare foot. Wolf instinctively flinched his entire body.
“I said he likes you. Silver does.”
“S-s-suddenly, why… I-I-I don’t think S-S-Silver h-h-hates me, but….”
Damn it, why am I stuttering. Even my face is flushing…
Would the heart of someone listening to the verdict of a long-awaited lawsuit beat like this? Wolf had subconsciously felt it too. That Silver seemed to like him… But that was merely a vague ‘guess,’ not a confirmed fact.
“When we were talking earlier, Silver only called you ‘you.’ Not ‘you guys,’ but just ‘you.’ He meant Wolf, ‘you.’”
Red Eagle’s observation was something Wolf hadn’t even noticed.
“Was that so? But he might have done that because he’s clumsy with the Atania language….”
“Would he really confuse simple personal pronouns? Think back to the situation; he didn’t even pretend to listen when I spoke, but as soon as you spoke, Wolf, he turned into a chatterbox. It was completely different from when he was prepping meat with me. You don’t know how taciturn Silver was then, do you?”
The corners of his mouth kept trying to lift. Wolf desperately strained his facial muscles to maintain a stiff expression. I-I mustn’t smile…
“He probably wasn’t in the mood to chat while draining the blood and butchering cute rabbits and baby goats.”
“No, no. Silver became talkative because you spoke to him. Didn’t you know? Even while we were on the rowing boat, he was staring only at you….”
“He did? But when I asked for a comb, he made me feel so awkward. I was so embarrassed.”
“He was rough, just like a person from Stohl. The point is, that rough Silver consistently dealt with you. Moreover, he even went out to get food for you. Silver likes you.”
“Do you think so? Really?”
“Yeah. I’m telling you, Silver likes you.”
It felt as if pink wine bubbles were flowing through his veins. The words that Silver liked him were so sweet they made him dizzy, and he wanted to keep hearing them.
“Silver’s personality is obvious. The difference between his interest and lack thereof is stark. Because he likes you, he saved your life, talked to you, and is getting you food.”
“But there’s no reason for Silver to like me….”
“Why isn’t there? You’re good at fighting.”
“…….”
It felt like suddenly being hit by a rainshower. The mood that had been soaring plummeted in an instant. Wolf stared blankly at Red Eagle.
“The reason Silver likes me… is because of my fighting skills?”
“Yeah. When you first met, Silver kept questioning you about your fighting skills. He recognized you as a warrior, Wolf.”
Recognized as a warrior.
“I was too distracted to say it until now, but you were incredibly cool back then, Wolf! I’m proud to be your foster-brother! You are my hero! When did you build up such skills? Why didn’t you tell me you were good at fighting! Watching martial arts matches is my hobby! I heard commoner boys do something called back-alley fighting; perhaps you did too, Wolf… Aaaah!”
Red Eagle clenched his fists and panted. He seemed excited on his own, perhaps imagining a scene where a gallant Wolf, revealing his muscular upper body, knocked out a giant back-alley brawler in one hit.
“That’s enough for Silver to acknowledge. They say people from the underworld recognize their own perfectly. Silver definitely smelled the same scent on you.”
Their own.
That was it? The reason Silver liked me?
Well, I don’t really know any other reason either. But…
Strangely, Wolf was overwhelmed by a miserable and sad emotion. Like a sandcastle swept away by a wave, something inside him collapsed helplessly. Wolf slowly sank to the ground.
“Wolf?”
Red Eagle hurriedly grabbed Wolf’s shoulder.
“What’s wrong? Are you dizzy?”
“No, Prince. My legs were numb, so I just sat down to be comfortable.”
“That’s not it. There’s another reason, right? …Is it perhaps Silver?”
Damn, this guy is only sharp when it’s useless. Feeling like whatever happens, happens, Wolf nodded with his fingers interlaced.
“Were you uncomfortable because I said Silver likes you? I meant it in the sense that it would be easier to bring Silver to our side… I suppose my expression was clumsy.”
“No, Prince! I was happy when you said Silver likes me. You did nothing wrong, Prince.”
Wolf shook his head vigorously and looked up. Red Eagle looked down at Wolf with a bewildered gaze.
“Then why….”
“I can’t fight.”
“Huh?”
Red Eagle looked as if he couldn’t understand Wolf’s words.
21 – Hell Execution Order