[ What did you say? ] Zero asked with an obvious baffled expression.
[ Diana asked me to come here... She said that she would blame me if you don't come back... ] he said those words with much seriousness.
He doesn't know if he's lying or not, but if he is, then he couldn't be more of a very great actor. He just can't get a hint of a lie in him.
[ Look, okay... I seriously wanted to get rid of you... But this time, I just couldn't... Right, I just can't ignore Diana... I would kill myself if I get hated by her... ]
He looks at him and sees that he's more than serious. Zero felt that if she really gets hated by her, he would kill himself - just as he said he would.
It's already obvious to Zero what is going on. It fits everything perfectly.
[ Ehhe~ So that's what this is all about, huh? Are you seriously getting jealous? ] he made a sneer as he looks down at him.
And a glint of shame appeared on Richard's eyes as he heard his tease and his pale head turned bright in embarrassment. He paused for a moment and answers:
[ I didn't want to be the strongest without any reason, you know? I have all her attention before you arrive and now... She doesn't even want to talk with me anymore... You seriously destroyed my love life... ]
( This guy really is serious... )
[ Well, I couldn't care less about your stupid reason. ]
[ Hu-Huh!? You couldn't care less!? This is your fault in the first place...! ]
[ Look, if you want Diana-san, you can have her all for yourself. It's not like I'm aiming for her or something. ] he stood up and took a single potion as he said those words.
[ Here. ] he threw the bottle right on top of his hand.
And Richard stares blankly at him as he did so.
[ ... ] although he was the one who had asked for it in the first place, it still became a shock to him as he receives the potion.
He remained there quiet and just looking at Zero who seems to still have something to say.
[ Diana-san told me that you were a kind person and that you wouldn't hurt anyone. I'm sure you already know that she has figured out your plan. ]
[ I... I know... ]
[ And that she's also disappointed. ]
[ ... ]
Richard was not able to respond at all to what he just heard. He knows that it's the truth and he cannot change it anymore.
And so, he lays there quiet without saying a single word.
He is now completely different from his usual energetic self.
[ Well, it's not like she totally hates you now, right? She asked you to come and stop me so she must still trust you. ] he said those words as he starts to sympathize with him. And as what he had intended to do, Richard's eyes seemed to have lit up a little.
But he was still quiet so -
[ What? Are you waiting for your own death? Drink that potion. ]
[ A-Ah... Right...! ] the still quiet Richard panicked and started to drink the potion.
[ Phew... ] and as soon as its content was gulped down to its last drop, he wipes out his lips and looks at Zero.
[ Zero-san... thank you very much. ] he said those words full of gratitude.
[ Don't worry about it. ] with that, Zero turns around, thinking that their conversation is now over.
But then...
A sudden thought came into him and he stares back at Richard.
[ ... ] and Richard stares back at him.
He looks at him and he was reminded of what he had really intended to do.
He just cannot ignore the fact that he had tried to ambush him and even tried to kill him.
[ Right... Richard-san, I thought you said earlier that you thought of actually killing me, right? And you wanted me dead subjugating the Chimeras here. ]
[ Ri-Right! I did... Well... I do not now... ] he answered honestly.
[ That's good. ] and to his answer, Zero nodded, and added:
[ Just so you know, I came here because I know I can defeat these Chimeras, I'm not as stupid as you. But, if you seriously tried to ambush me and even kill me... You know what would be my response, right? ] just as how he had explained his circumstances earlier, Zero had said this statement with dead seriousness.
And him, Richard - who is considered the best adventurer gulps to his threat of a question.
[ I will defend myself, right? ]
[ ... ] he was left quiet for a second time. But this time, it was not out of regret, but of fear.
There was an intense bloodlust coming from the person in front of him - Zero - who he thought was the modest kind of guy.
Every day, he sees him inside the guild chatting with Diana with a face full of innocence yet right now, he senses a monster inside him. No, he was the monster himself.
He focused his stare on his eyes, and he was sure that it transformed - and turned into the shape of a snake's eyes, no, it turned to the eyes of a much dangerous reptile. And the pressure of looking at it seems to be crashing his very inside.
He felt as if he was slowly being crushed by a huge boulder.
And he felt great pain and confusion in his head as he looks at him.
[ You get it, right? ]
He heard his voice again, and with a blink, the reptile-like eyes transformed back, and Richard was able to snap back to reality.
[ Zero... san...? ]
Immediately, he saw the very same face he's talking with, only now, it has an innocent smile.
And as he stares, he remembered that he needed to reply to him.
[ I'm... I'm sorry... I would never even think about it anymore... ] out of fear, those were the only words that came out of his mouth.
***
( Well... I think installing this level of fear in him is already enough... )
In life and nature, there is always someone who is dominant than the others. The dominant ones, who are the source of the fear of the others, decides whether the weaker will survive or not.
With this sense, Zero was able to fear his enemy by releasing some of his Draconic Aura.
A mana-based passive skill that installs fear to everyone who surrounds him. It can only affect people with low magic resistance, but depending on the mana of the user, he can increase its output and it can then physically damage those who are affected.
He can increase the output of his Draconic Aura to further punish Richard, but any more than he did, he might permanently traumatize him.
And thinking about it, he had not done him trouble yet and he only came here to rescue him. Furthermore, he was also the person who had told him about this place and he considers that as something very helpful.
He might've wanted to hurt him, but it never happened and he even regretted trying to do it.
As far as his judgment goes, he can forgive him.
[ Can you now stand? ] he asked Richard - who is now trying to recover and is already trying to stand up.
[ I think I can... I'm much tougher than most people. ] he's now in his usual confident self and Zero felt relief seeing it.
( I can't have him go back to town crazy. ) with this thought, he continued to ask -
[ Do you think you can get out of here yourself? ]
[ Huh? ] Richard, who heard the question seems to have been surprised.
[ What, do I still need to escort you back? That would be too much... Giving you a potion to heal your self is already enough of a help. ]
[ H-Huh...? No, I'm not going back until you do. I'll go with you. ]
( ... )
[ Do you know what you're saying? You just recovered. Go back.] he looks at Richard with a baffled look on his face and urges him.
[ No, just as you said, I already recovered. I can now fight again. ]