Chapter 104 The Red Rouge Is The Color Of Lies
Dear Goddess, it's been a while. It's me, the protagonist.
Right now, I'm in a room at an inn rented by a theater troupe, having dinner with a famous actress from a well-known theater troupe.
How did it come to this?
"I went up north for a show before, and the cheese I got from a fan was super delicious. It goes really well with red wine."
"Damn, that's fire."
"Even our quirky troupe leader has good taste in wine. It would have been even better with some sliced ham, but I can't be too picky here."
"This dude's got game."
"...Are you maybe feeling nervous?"
"Nah, I'm chill, don't worry 'bout me."
"Hmm."
That's a lie; I'm actually pretty nervous.
(Pfft. Master is so stiff. Usually, he's such a clueless idiot.)
(Ugh, shut up!)
But I can't help it! This isn't like me at all; it's such an adult situation!
A table with a vase of roses, wine, and cheese──what is this, noble? It's crazy!
I've had dinner with a girl in my room before, but the vibe is totally different.
(Seriously, how did it come to this...?)
You see, at first, I tried to refuse. If this gets out, Captain will be furious again, and the awkwardness from yesterday is still fresh.
Then she teased me, saying, "If you turn me down when I'm inviting you like this, you're really not that great of a guy." Before I knew it, we were alone on the same floor. Yeah, I brought this on myself.
"Well then, let's have a nice evening."
"Uh, yeah."
"Cheers!"
And so, with the sound of clinking glasses, the dinner with the annoying actress began.
* * *
"So, I told dat beast, 'Yo, your show's over.' Check it out, ain't nobody else got skills like me, startin' to see me in a different light?"
"Well, I suppose that sounds like the kind of move that earns you the title of a hero knight, but only if your story isn't embellished."
"Everything's straight up true, can't nobody give me some props for once? Quollio, Shura, even the captain!"
"I don't know about that. I mean, isn't it a bit unknightly to just blab about your teammates' complaints?"
"But you were all up in arms 'bout Marcus flirtin' with ya and that theater director bein' crazy, right?"
"I'm fine with it. I'm a wicked woman, after all?"
"Ugh! Whatever!"
So annoying.
It's super annoying to suddenly act all defensive like this.
And Ruthless has been laughing in my head this whole time, which is also annoying. I just want it to stop because my head is spinning.
"If you want to hold your head high, maybe you should stop drinking so sloppily. Your tone has been all over the place too, you know?"
"Hold up, it's legit me! When I'm hyped, it avoids drama, and sometimes I can finally spit out what's really on my mind."
"...You need a mask to hide your true feelings. In your case, the disconnect is huge, but you're more delicate than you look."
Hey, hey, what's with the sudden kindness?
If you hadn't added that unnecessary comment about me not looking delicate, I might have accidentally fallen for you.
But seriously, this wine is delicious. The cheese is so good too.
"Yo, by the way, what's Rose's gig in this play?"
"Hmm. Are you talking about this play? If so, I'm playing 'Yulirn' in the piece called [The Betraying Witch]."
"...The Betraying Witch? What's that about?"
"You don't know? It's the story of [Witch Yulirn], who rebelled against Sigmund, the first emperor who founded Asgardam, by controlling the 4 great spirits. It's a classic tale that even kids know (Edda)."
"Meh, I think I heard of it, but it's vague. Quollio would probably rattle off the whole thing like an encyclopedia."
"Oh, that glasses guy. He seemed pretty knowledgeable."
"Yeah, that bespectacled nerd is a walking encyclopedia. But still, for a supposed 'soothing' play, using this twisted tale as a theme? Gross."
"...Yeah, I think so too. From the heart."
I think it was Joosa's side that specified the play, right?
If we're going to do this, we might as well make it a knight story that really gets the heart racing. I wonder if there's a super exciting story that I just don't know about.
But it seems like Rose, the one playing the role, feels the same way.
Hmm, I really don't get it.
"But for you, isn't it thrilling?"
"What're you even talkin' about?"
"Well, you hate me, right? Good for you. In the climax of the show, I'm going to be burned at the stake as a legendary witch."
"Yo, is that a spoiler? You're just a twisted broad!"
"That's fine. That's why I'm a witch."
"Hold up, objection! Just 'cause you're a piece of work don't mean you fit the bill. Witches ain't always about bein' nasty. It's all romanticized, ya know? I'd actually like to chill with one."
"You want to meet one...? You're strange."
"Eh, really?"
"Well, witches are usually in a position to be hated. In stories, they always do bad things, deceive the public, and then get burned in the flames of judgment. That's how it goes, right? For you, a knight, to say you want to meet one is just odd."
"But that's just fiction, right?"
"Huh?"
"I ain't got time for rumors, but messin' with one might be a sick thrill. If we clicked, maybe I could cop some magic tricks. Just 'cause someone's a witch don't mean they're inherently trash - ain't nobody deserves to get hated on just cuz of a label."......, ──."
In fact, in hero stories, it's common for the heroine to play a role.
They train alongside the protagonist and become a power-up flag. Sure, there are wicked types, but that doesn't mean Rose fits that role. Yeah, Rose is more like...
"Listen up, ya got it? Rose's a straight-up bad egg, so you'd be more suited to playin' some rich, evil villainous lady than some witch, period!"
"......"
Yeah. I think I hit the nail on the head. She'd probably suit a high laugh too.
"......A villainous noble lady rather than a witch... heh, heh. Ahahaha! So, would you be my sidekick?"
"Why me?! I'm a knight, got honor!"
"Oh, you're just sitting here drinking instead of patrolling the town? What a terrible knight you are."
"You were the one who asked me in."
"You should be just fine being tossed around by a girl you don't like."
"W-wait a minute..."
That's exactly the problem. I didn't say I hated her, just that I'm not good with her.
"But..."
"What is it?"
"...I actually kind of like people like you."
"...Huh?"
She like me? Wait, what?
Why is this happening all of a sudden? It's not just that she doesn't hate me, but she actually like me?
What's with that sad look in her eyes?
This has to be a joke, right?
Calm down. It's just that mean girl; she's probably just messing with me.
"...That's why I can't help but wonder why now."
"Huh?"
And she's mumbling something too.
I was already in a bit of a panic, and her voice was so quiet that I couldn't catch what she said.
So, I leaned in closer to see her face.
Rose suddenly stood up as if startled.
"I said I'm going to open a new bottle. The special one, you know. Enjoy it; you won't get to taste something like this often."
"A special bottle?! You serious? Think that's legit?"
"Yeah. Just wait a moment."
Now? At this moment, she's bringing out an extra bottle. And it looks like a fancy wine from a hidden shelf.
She even went out of her way to prepare a new glass and is pouring it for me.
Wait, is this for real? Is this a sign that the night is just getting started?
What do I do? What am I supposed to do?
As the dark red wine flows and spills, my heart rate is rising too.
"Here you go."
"O-oh, hey!"
I guess I was pushed to the edge of nervousness that even the alcohol couldn't mask it.
My hand, reaching for the glass, was shaking.
"...Oh."
"!"
(Gimmmeeeee!!!)
The wine spilled from the tipped glass, spreading like blood.
It soaked the beautiful table, my right hand, and even the ring-shaped Ruthless.
(I messed up!!!)
(What the heck is this!!!)
Oh no, oh no, oh no. I messed up. I really messed up.
The tipsy feeling I had just a moment ago is fading away like a lie.
With the loud screams of Ruthless echoing in my head, I was completely frozen in shock from the unexpected blunder.
"────."
All I could do was watch Rose, who looked completely dazed.
From there, everything felt like it was in slow motion.
Her tightly pursed, red lips twisted for a moment.
With a sigh, she shot me a glare.
"Go home."
"What're you talkin' 'bout?"
"It was a somewhat fun time, but you ruined it. If you feel bad, don't show your face again."
"Nah, wait, I'm sorry, man. I messed up bad. But at least lemme help wrap this up..."
"That's enough."
Of course, Rose looked furious, and there was no way to get back in her good graces.
"Sorry, but spilled wine can't go back in the bottle."
Not even allowed to help clean up, I was kicked out of Rose's room.
* * *
That's how it went.
After making one of the top 5 biggest mistakes of my life, the walk home felt absolutely terrible.
I almost wanted to jump into a waterfall just to wake up my fuzzy brain.
But.
What woke me up from the little alcohol left in me was...
(Oh man, this is the worst. I still feel it inside me, and I feel so sick. But hey, Master got lucky, huh?)
(Lucky? You think so? I'm the one who botched it and gotta eat this regret...)
(Huh? Messed up? Wasn't that on purpose? I thought Master sensed danger or something.)
(Danger...? Hey, Ruthless. What're you talkin' 'bout?)
(Huh? I mean, the new wine... If you had drunk that, Master would probably be dead, right?)
".........Huh?"
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