CHAPTER 036
"I don't come here because I like it. It's where my father is buried, so I visit occasionally."
Oh, the conversation has shifted back!
"You don't come here because you like it?"
"It's tough. The memories from when I lived here."
Lewis frowned.
"There are good memories too, but they were brief."
Memories so tough that Lewis would describe them as harsh... What could the good memories be?
As I got closer to Lewis, I realized the original story was quite unfriendly.
It focused too much on Charlotte, so I knew little about Lewis.
Come to think of it, even Philip's perspective only showed his love for Charlotte, and not much about Philip himself...
I was pondering over how the original story was thoroughly romance-centric, fitting for a romance novel when I heard an old man's voice from somewhere.
"Are you Peter?"
Lewis turned to look that way.
Only after following his gaze did I realize the question about Peter was directed at us.
An elderly man walking towards us spoke again.
"Are you Peter?"
Who is Peter?
The middle-aged man next to the old man tried to stop him.
"Father, what are you talking about?"
"No, it's him. The one with a son, living with his wife, Peter."
"Peter passed away, didn't he?"
The man turned to us and apologized.
"Please understand. My father is quite old..."
But then, Lewis asked the old man.
"Did you know my father?"
Huh? Father?
I opened my eyes wide in surprise at Lewis's response. The man was equally surprised.
"Could you be... Lewis?"
It seemed like Lewis had met someone he knew.
We chatted with them for a while.
As expected, the man was a neighbor who knew Lewis's father.
So these kinds of things happen when you return to your hometown!
"I once visited your house. Do you remember me?"
"No, I don't."
Such a cold reply. Lewis kept his distance even from a neighbor he knew as a child.
Honestly, I was glad Lewis at least spoke politely.
The man was startled when he heard me call Lewis "Marquis."
"Marquis? I heard you went to the capital, but you've gained a title already?"
It seemed he didn't know Lewis's maternal family was a ducal house.
The man hesitated, unsure if he should continue speaking informally after learning about Lewis's title.
"Just speak as you usually do."
Lewis's indifferent words allowed the man to continue speaking informally.
Meanwhile, the old man kept asking if Lewis was Peter.
"Father, I told you he's not... Please understand, Lewis, my father's mind isn't clear."
Lewis said he didn't have many memories of them.
So, he seemed indifferent to whatever they said. Judging by his indifferent expression.
He really is honest in his reactions.
The old man finally turned to his son and said,
"He isn't confused! I told you I'm fine!"
He claims to be fine while mistaking Lewis for his father...
Just when Lewis looked at me as if to suggest we should leave, the old man's next words made our ears perk up.
"Peter is the one with the problem, hearing things. How is that normal?"
Hearing things? I stopped and looked at Lewis.
Lewis frowned and asked the old man.
"What do you mean by that?"
"He said he heard noises in his head. I told him to see a doctor. Is he better now?"
"······."
Lewis's expression grew more serious. With a somber face, he asked,
"Sir, are you saying 'I' said something like that before?"
* * *
We parted ways with the father and son a bit later.
Still, closer to the cemetery than the city, the streets were empty except for us.
We talked about what happened a while ago in a place with a wide meadow on one side and a dense forest on the other.
"You must resemble your father a lot, Marquis. Considering how the old man mistook you for him."
"My aunt says I look like my mother."
"Then you must look like both."
"I'm not interested."
"Aren't you curious about things like that? I find it interesting."
Despite the trivial conversation, Lewis's expression seemed complicated.
There was something from the conversation we couldn't just brush off.
I watched Lewis's face for a moment and then lowered my voice.
"What the old man said earlier... Do you think it means your father heard those noises too?"
Doesn't it?
Otherwise, why would the old man mention hearing noises in his head?
Could it be hereditary from the paternal side?
"But my noise is because of magic. My father wasn't a mage, my mother had the magic."
Believing the noise was due to magic, Lewis dismissed the possibility that he inherited it from his father.
Then what if the noise had nothing to do with magic? - That can't be!
The original story clearly stated Lewis's noise was due to corrupted magic.
What on earth is going on?
Anyway, Lewis didn't seem like he would just let this go.
"Shall we look for some records or documents about this?"
It was the moment I asked Lewis.
"Whoa!"
Suddenly, he pulled me strongly.
In an instant, we moved far from where we originally stood.
"Missed."
With someone's voice, people in black clothes appeared in front and behind us.
Turning my head, I saw arrows stuck in the ground where we had just been standing.
"Oh my."
From where we had been standing to the tree behind, there were multiple arrows embedded!
What is happening...?
As I stood there in shock with my mouth open, Lewis asked,
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, yes..."
If Lewis hadn't pulled me, I would have been dead, right?
I almost died like a mere extra...
As I shivered, one of the men in black spoke calmly.
"Next time, I'll hit you, Lewis Bloomberg."
He knew exactly who Lewis was.
Right. Knowing that they appeared like this. They say many people hate Lewis, and this proves it.
Why today of all days...!
The assassins didn't even hide their animosity towards Lewis.
"I'll kill you to avenge my comrades!"
"And who are your comrades? It's not like I've only killed a few."
Oh, adding fuel to the fire!
Lewis's nonchalant response seemed to anger them even more.
"Don't you know the Black Falcon?"
"Oh, that group I recently destroyed?"
It seemed they were referring to the assassin group Lewis had punished as an example.
It appeared that the remnants of the assassins, who were badly defeated, came for revenge.
But Lewis remained calm.
What does the empire's strongest mage have to fear!
"Do you have a death wish? You're brave for someone who can't even win."
Lewis chanted a small, unknown spell at them.
Without a staff or any tool, Lewis could cast magic directly, a unique trait of his.
Soon, a large white sphere formed above his hand, and-
Bang! It exploded towards them.
"Argh!"
The assassins screamed and scattered.
Oh my. I trembled and looked around.
Already, there were assassins falling, one by one... Are they dead?
Seeing the unmoving figures made my heart race uneasily.
Even if they're enemies, seeing people die for the first time...
I couldn't show it, though.
I shouldn't distract Lewis.
I clutched my skirt tightly and stayed quietly behind him when Lewis turned to look at me.
Oops. I straightened up as he gestured with his chin.
"Go over there."
He was pointing to a bush behind us.
Stay over there?
All the enemies were in front of Lewis.
Staying close might distract him, so it was better to move away.
"Okay!"
If I can't help, at least I should follow instructions well.
I quickly moved into the bush as Lewis instructed.
The inside of the bush was eerie. But it was much better than being out there.
Better than out there, for sure!
Even as I thought that I heard the sounds of the assassins charging and screaming in pain from being hit by spells.
Yes, better than out there!
Rustle.
That thought was fleeting.
I heard a sound from behind. It should be silent...
No way, right?
I stiffened and slowly turned around. And-
Oh no.
There was a man in black standing there. Judging by his attire, he was clearly with the other assassins.
Ugh, today is the worst luck ever!
I inwardly cried as I quickly stood up.
I was planning to run away somehow.
But the assassin was faster.
"Where do you think you're going!"
He grabbed me in an instant.
He wrapped one arm around my neck and dragged me out of the bush, shouting at Lewis.
"Stop, or I'll kill this girl!"
No!
Out of the bush, I saw the fallen assassins.
Many were lying on the ground. Only one assassin was still standing.
Judging by his severe injuries, he wouldn't last much longer.
Anyway, the situation was dire. Bloodstains on the ground, a dagger at my neck.
How did it come to this?
When we visited Lewis's father's grave, I never imagined this!
With my heart pounding anxiously, I held my breath and looked at Lewis.
Lewis's expression was the scariest I had ever seen.
"·······You."
Scary would be the right word.
Usually, he had a mischievous smile or a frown, but now Lewis's face was expressionless.
His golden eyes were piercing.
Lewis spoke in a cold voice matching his expression.
"I should have wiped them all out instead of just giving an example."
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