CHAPTER 060
I warned them that if they kept messing with me, they'd end up like the assassin squad, but it didn't seem to work.
"If pests bother you, you have to eliminate them, right?"
Lewis's eerie smile was terrifying, perhaps because he was more displeased than usual.
Whoever it is, they have some nerve. Why would they mess with Lewis?
Anyway, if that's the case, it seems like I might be useful.
Since I can nullify the noise for Lewis when I'm near him.
"No matter how they try to escape, they end up here..."
The combination of exotic palm trees, bright sunlight, and the blue sea seemed like paradise.
"But what if we can't find them? What if they just came to the resort for a vacation?"
"Then we'll just consider it a vacation. No need to feel pressured. After all, it's a resort, right?"
He showed a relaxed attitude, saying we could enjoy ourselves.
Coming to Silon for such a reason felt oddly new.
Because this place was the setting for a certain incident in the original story.
The hero's exploits!
Charlotte and Philip came to this resort and ended up capturing a wanted criminal of the empire.
It was an episode where Philip's impressive actions left a deep impression...
When was that supposed to happen?
Right. It should be around this time.
Instead of Philip and Charlotte, it ended up being me and Lewis who came at the time of the wanted notice.
Was I right? Wanted posters caught my eye.
They were plastered on walls here and there.
"Alain Hood. A criminal pretending to be a wizard and committing fraud."
"There are people who fall for that? This island is supposed to be a resort..."
Lewis looked at the poster with eyes that said, "They really do all sorts of things."
After confirming the face on the wanted poster, Lewis spoke to me.
"Since there's a criminal on the island, don't move around alone. Stay close to me."
"Yes, I won't wander alone."
If Bella were here, wouldn't she try to catch him?
But someone like me, a powerless commoner, thought it best to stay put. We had to deal with Lewis's issue first.
At that moment, Lewis held out his hand.
"Stay close and hold on to me."
"What?"
I looked at his hand in bewilderment.
"There's no one we know here anyway."
"Um... that's true, but isn't it unnecessary since we'll be together?"
We'll be sticking close, so why?
"We'll stay together, but just in case. What if we get separated and the person we're looking for shows up? Without contact, there would soon be noise, making it hard to tell if they've appeared."
"Well... that's true."
Lewis used the effect I had on him as a reason.
"So, we need to maintain contact for at least three hours even if we're not together, to ensure there's no noise when the person shows up."
That's reasonable...
Alright.
I stopped thinking any further. It's not like holding hands would wear them out!
"Alright, let's do that."
It's not the first time, anyway.
When I took Lewis's hand, he smiled broadly, looking quite satisfied.
Lewis's left hand and my right hand.
Since we held hands with the rings on, my eyes kept drifting to that spot.
"With the rings on, people might really misunderstand us."
Lewis just chuckled lightly, not seeming to mind.
"Then let them misunderstand. Don't deny it."
"Just let them think what they want?"
"Yes. Denying it would be suspicious, wouldn't it?"
Once again, Lewis had a reason for everything.
Following Lewis's wishes, we walked hand in hand. No one here paid us any mind.
Well, some women did blush at the sight of Lewis.
It was truly strange to feel the envious gazes of strangers!
It felt like I was his girlfriend or something.
Maybe because of the situation, my mind began to change. 'It's just holding hands, nothing more!' turned into something else.
Had I decided too lightly? I hadn't considered this kind of situation.
It felt out of place.
The stares from people without them speaking and Lewis's face, looking unusually pleased and smiling.
Lewis's soft hair fluttered gently in the wind.
A refreshing-looking handsome man. That's how I would describe Lewis at that moment.
Oh my, refreshing?
I chuckled inwardly at the thought.
Could such a description even suit the formidable Marquis? If the wizards of the tower knew, they'd probably shudder.
It must have been because of Lewis's current atmosphere.
Not his usual cold demeanor. And his face was always handsome...
"You're staring at me a lot."
"What?"
Lost in thought, Lewis suddenly spoke to me.
"You're not looking ahead, just staring at me. Is it that interesting?"
Lewis spoke with amusement in his voice.
Caught. I was just staring at him.
I was so focused on him that I didn't notice anything ahead...
Lewis smirked.
"I can show you up close if you want."
"No, no closer!"
I shook my head vehemently at his suggestion. Seeing him up close from the bell tower was enough!
Let's move past this quickly.
I made an excuse that I couldn't help but look at him.
"Well, it's not just that. Marquis, you seem to be in a really good mood despite being here for work."
"How could I not be in a good mood on a day like this?"
Coming to an island to chase down an instigator isn't something to be cheerful about?
Lewis seemed a bit off.
It wasn't something to answer cheerfully, after all.
I finally declared a break and pulled my hand away from Lewis.
"Why?"
Lewis reverted to his usual self in an instant.
As soon as I let go, a frown appeared on his face.
"Let's hold hands later. It's three hours, right? The effect lasts for that long once we make contact."
I'll hold hands again in three hours!
At my words, Lewis looked a bit deflated.
Was it such a big deal to be disappointed about?
I was embarrassed, but what about Lewis?
I pretended to look around and changed the subject.
"Do you think we can find the culprit in three days and four nights?"
Isn't it too short a time to catch the culprit?
Lewis replied to my concern.
"On this small island, four days should be enough. If the culprit knows I'm here looking for them, they'll be terrified."
"Oh, of course. You know very well."
"Provided the real culprit is here."
Lewis smiled coldly as he said that. It felt like a smile that meant he'd show no mercy if he found them.
Where did that refreshing man go...
Holding hands or not, Lewis seemed to change his personality.
* * *
We spent the first day walking around, resting at a café window seat, and so on.
I didn't expect to find anything on the first day, but there was less progress than I thought.
"You don't have to find them. It was supposed to be a business trip, but it's also a vacation with you."
Lewis said that maybe the first day could be considered a warm-up.
The place we stayed on the island was the largest hotel.
Naturally, our rooms were separate. Sharing a room would be a big problem...
"See you tomorrow morning."
"Yes. Good night!"
Lewis's room was on the floor below, so we parted ways at the stairs after saying goodnight.
But I felt a bit regretful as I headed to my room.
Why?
It felt like a waste to just go to the room after coming all this way!
"Maybe I'll look around for a bit?"
Since it was my first time staying in such a large hotel, I decided to take a quick tour.
There were plenty of facilities like banquet halls, cafes, and performance halls. Even a casino!
I must have wandered for about 30 minutes.
The tour was quite short, just checking what was there, not really participating.
Should I suggest to Lewis that we watch a performance?
I noted a place I liked and went up to my room.
Then something strange happened.
"Huh?"
Did I not lock the door? The room door opened smoothly.
I thought I locked it earlier...
I entered, puzzled.
"What the..."
"Ah!"
I ran into Lewis.
I guess he came to the entrance at the sound. He seemed to have just finished showering.
He was in a bathrobe, towel-drying his hair.
"Selina?"
Lewis lowered the towel and tilted his head slightly as if to ask what I was doing there.
Then I realized.
This isn't my room! My room is one floor up...
Oh no!
I snapped back to my senses.
"I'm sorry!"
I quickly apologized and turned to grab the doorknob, intending to leave.
But the door didn't open right away. It just made a clattering sound.
What's going on? Why won't it open?!
As I panicked, clinging to the doorknob, I heard Lewis's voice behind me.
"You can't open it like that."
He seemed to be coming to help.
I didn't dare turn around. The refreshing scent that wafted over told me he was very close.
This is a bit embarrassing...
Fortunately, Lewis focused solely on opening the door. He turned the doorknob a few times to the right.
My room door didn't do this.
As if reading my mind, Lewis spoke.
"The door is faulty. How could they sell such a room... This hotel's business practices are amusing."
Lewis was still Lewis. Such a harsh critique!
He even asked with a slightly annoyed voice.
"Should I break it?"
"No. That's a bit..."
"Breaking it and paying for it would be much easier. Clean for everyone."
Easy for you, Marquis! The hotel staff would be distressed.
Clearly, his thinking was a bit different from an ordinary person's. Just as I regained my composure and was about to think rationally...
I turned my head and saw Lewis right behind me.
It's close, but it's not just close; the sight of Lewis in a bathrobe...
Ah, isn't this a bit dangerous?
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