"Haa… You… You…!"
The parched lips are covered in scabs. One eye, bloodshot from lack of proper sleep, has a burst blood vessel, making it completely red, with the golden iris glistening.
Anyone who sees this would think it's an evil spirit crawling up from hell. How frightening…
I tried to maintain a nonchalant expression as I dragged a chair with my foot, approaching Kane and sitting down in front of him.
"I told you, didn't I? That you're full of useless stubbornness and prejudice."
I exaggeratedly sighed and shook my head.
"I want to invest in you and gain some benefit. I truly think you could become the strongest person on the continent."
Kane's head, which had been glaring at me, dropped weakly, and I looked at the back of his head with pitying eyes before quickly changing my expression as his head lifted again.
Hey, protagonist… I'm sorry. This is all for your sake.
"Honestly, you admit it too, right? That you're incredibly stubborn, denying even the facts in front of you if you don't like them, having nothing but excessive pride, and causing trouble because of that one thing you have left."
His eyes wavered as if he'd been punched in the solar plexus as I spoke with a grinning smile.
That's right, how could you not know?
Whether in the original work or the game, you knowingly acted this way despite knowing that your distrust of humans and excessive pride only brought you harm, right? You weren't lacking in some way to behave like that, were you?
"Does pride feed you? Does pride increase your magic? Or does it get you potions from somewhere? You know what, you're going to ruin your life because of that worthless pride. That stupidity of never changing your mind once you've decided something. You know that?"
I'm someone who used to argue without cursing for fear of compensation. I wanted to say this to your face even when reading the original work, and now I'm fulfilling that dream.
"What's the problem? Honestly, you know too. Whatever the true meaning of my words, whatever my intentions, in the end, one divine contract means neither of us can betray each other."
Just signing that would allow you to become stronger. It's obstinacy not to grasp that opportunity right in front of you.
Indomitable spirit.
That's the problem.
The thought of wanting to become stronger solely by your power and take revenge, I might understand it better than you, who's on your first life, after reading and replaying it countless times?
"Are you hungry? How about I feed you?"
It's not even asking for an outright oath of loyalty, just calling my name once or accepting the kindness I offer.
What's so difficult about that?
I snatched the soup from Luna, which still smelled delicious despite having cooled, and waved it in front of Kane's eyes.
"…Get lost."
You stubborn, disobedient dog. If I wanted to break and destroy you, I would have used drugs without after-effects, you know?
You know what? I'm trying to raise you properly and marry you off, you bastard.
I raised the trembling corners of my mouth again, then downed the soup in one shot and threw the bowl to the side.
"I guess it was just a week. Right? You'd only start to struggle after starving for another month… Right?"
That is If you're still alive, you stubborn son of a bitch.
I smiled and caressed the Kruger ring on my ring finger with the tip of my thumb.
The very finely engraved pattern, I pressed the end of it firmly and moved it sideways as if pushing, and only the middle part of the ring with the engraved pattern rotated with a small clicking sound.
As befitting an artifact with blood magic, it seems like the items assigned to each space are visualized in my mind for each pattern that comes to the top.
Among them, I opened the space assigned only to various magical reagents and magic stones, inserted my ringed hand into the empty air, and soon pulled out a magic stone about the size of a fist.
The soft light emanating from the magic stone turned Kane's astonished face white.
"That's…"
"Is this enough to make your mouth water?"
I tossed and caught it like an apple, shaking it, something that would be worth about the same as a small castle.
"Huge sale. If you just say the word now, I'll give this to you. Then you can eat right away and work hard to absorb it. You might be able to use a magic sword by tomorrow. How about it?"
Kane's eyes move in the direction my hand shakes.
His gaze, which had been following my hand for a long time, whether he was listening to my words or not, stopped behind me and soon he tightly closed his eyes. Just as I was about to say something out of frustration, the prison door opened.
"Lord Adelian. A message has come through the communication stone."
It seemed like he was about to give in just now, and you ruined it like this? This is really driving me crazy.
I turned my head nervously and glared at Alkaido without realizing it.
"I'm pretty sure I said not to let anyone into the prison, Alkaido."
"It's a message saying that Lady Gadia is returning."
As soon as I heard Gadia's name, the heat that was rising subsided and I felt a chill in my throat. I cleared my throat and got up with a frown.
"Is the news that my sister is returning worth interrupting me here and now as if she can't wait for me?"
"In my opinion, it is."
Alkaido, who had been outwardly polite with one hand on his chest and slightly bowing, raised his head and met my eyes.
"She will arrive in a matter of hours."
"…"
A few hours… A few hours?
I unconsciously turned my head to look at Kane.
Certainly, Gadia hates men because of her father who favors only her younger brother for being male, her brother who runs wild backed by that favoritism, and the people who are attracted to her beautiful appearance…
But just one.
Kane, fell in love at first sight, right? Saying it was the first time she met a man whose eyes were indifferent to her.
The important thing here is that Gadia fell in love with Kane at first sight and, in her first love, she went berserk and offered everything, including her family.
By blowing off the head of her younger brother, Adelian.
"I got it. I'll finish up and go, so just close the door and leave."
I casually waved my hand to dismiss Alkaido, then spun the magic stone I was holding in front of Kane's eyes like a top.
"We were interrupted. Right? Kane, do you think I'm tormenting you?"
Ah, of course, giving you only water and not letting you sleep is torment.
But this is all for your own good, man.
"If I wanted to force the words I want to hear from your mouth, wouldn't there be better things like drugs or hallucinogens?"
Of course, if you'd allow it, right away…
Seeing him glaring fiercely at my low follow-up words, I realized this wouldn't work.
"Am I asking for too much? Only you think your pride is worth more than all the money in the world, Kane. You said you want revenge. But do you want to live alone, nobly, with only your hands stained with blood and everywhere else clean?"
You're a selfish child, aren't you?
Kane's eyes waver, having reached his limit with only enough water to not die and unable to sleep properly.
"So you're saying you don't need this?"
I stopped the magic stone that was spinning like a top with my finger, then got up from the chair.
"I… I…"
Kane's haggard face. I looked down at him, raised my foot, and then forcefully stepped on the magic stone, crushing it.
Crack!
"Y-young master! Waaah! The magic stone!"
Who would have known that a magic stone of this size could be broken so easily?
The self-luminous stone shattered into pieces, its light gradually dying out, flickering a few times before shadows fell all around.
Ignoring Luna, who was jumping up and down more regretfully than me, I threw a smile at Kane, whose face seemed even more deathly than before, perhaps because the light of the mana stone had gone out.
"I don't need it either, Kane."