When I was playing the game, every time I tried to talk to a human NPC, all I got was 'I don't want to talk to humans.'
I felt somewhat upset and glared at Kane for a moment, but then decided to be patient since I was much older than him in terms of my age compared to him.
"I've contacted them to bring the meal I prepared now that you're awake. Let's have a chat while we fill our stomachs, shall we? Kane Raynare, who speaks so well."
"I have something to ask too, so let's do that, benevolent employer Adelian."
He doesn't back down an inch.
Still, calm down, calm down. I'm the one who knows a lot of things that this guy can't figure out.
He's like those squinting characters that often appear in comics, the ones with an inexplicable aura.
After repeating this to myself, I interlocked my fingers under my chin and spoke with a smile.
"Since we'll be seeing each other for a long time, why don't we try to get closer?"
Let's get close enough for you to stop Gadia when she tries to go for my neck later, okay?
"Is there a need to get closer? I think it would be fine if we both just adhere to what's specified in the contract."
"Why such disappointing words? We all live in this world together, don't you know that human relationships start with small talk?"
"I don't know."
Wow, if I hit him now, my hand would probably hurt more because of his toughness and physique, right?
"You should know, you should know. It's all the wisdom of life and information that becomes your flesh and blood. You're not living in this world alone, are you?"
Kane looks away pointedly as I speak with a smile that doesn't fade.
This bastard…
Wondering where he's looking, I turn my head to see a huge bookshelf decorating the wall.
It occupies nearly half of one side of this spacious room, and it seems to have been built into the wall as there are no protrusions.
Judging by its appearance, which exudes a subtle smell of money, it seems to have been made for Adelian's vanity.
I wonder if he's read all those books that fill the shelves.
I shrugged and spoke to Kane.
"If there's anything you'd like to read, feel free."
"I will."
Kane's immediate response without any hesitation annoys me for some reason, and as I'm staring at him intently, the door opens and Luna and other servants enter with food.
Bread and salad for Luna and me, along with fruit and three or four seafood dishes, and various meats that have been boiled, grilled, and braised.
And a bowl of thin soup mixed with potion for Kane to eat.
"Enjoy your meal."
"Uuuh… I-I'm sorry… They said other food might upset an empty stomach…"
"But I thought pudding would be okay, so I brought some for you too."
Sorry that we're having a feast while you're not, protagonist.
I smiled mischievously and slowly split a soft piece of bread in half, showing the white texture that appeared, then dipped it into the rich soup, unlike someone else's, and put it in my mouth.
Mmm~ Michelin~
As I was marveling at the rich taste and savoriness spreading in my mouth, Kane, who had been watching me, spoke in a calm tone.
"I don't understand."
"What?"
That's not the reaction I expected.
I looked at Kane with a raised eyebrow as he slowly sipped his soup after throwing out words I couldn't understand.
Is he trying to become a hook collector? I can't figure out what he means.
Well, considering only the original work, having a conversation with me like this is something that couldn't have been expected in the first place.
But actually, I thought he would just ignore me and eat his meal without even snorting at my teasing and joking, you know.
Whether or not I understood his intention, the fact that Kane, the 'human-distrusting communication disorder', threw some words at me made me feel somewhat strange.
If I forcibly bring up a similar feeling from the past…
It's like that time when a stray dog that used to bark at me whenever it saw me finally recognized me and stopped barking, even though I had tried to lure it with sausages many times before and it always ran away.
"Wow… The wine-braised meat is delicious too, Young Master."
Maybe because I had paused my meal and fallen into contemplation.
Luna, who had tied her droopy ears slightly above her head, probably because it was annoying when she didn't apply force, whispers while glancing at Kane.
"Oh, is it?"
I quickly stabbed the braised carrot on Luna's plate with my fork and stole it.
"Ah… Ah… Ahhh…"
I hear a mumble that sounds like 'I was saving that…', But who cares? This is delicious.
After finishing our hearty meal, we each held a cup of tea – herbal tea for Kane, berry tea for Luna and me – and placed the contract on the table.
"Earlier, I had some circumstances, you know. It seems like our great work was done without even minimal conversation. Well, read it carefully again and see if there's anything you want to add or change. Of course, you've already signed, so we can't change it."
I can pretend to listen, at least. Pretend.
"The contents of the contract don't matter. What's important to me is what you said at the end. That my sister is alive. If so, you must know where she is."
Kane flipped the contract and pushed it towards me, meeting my eyes as I smiled ambiguously.
"Is that so important right now?"
"It is important."
"You were doubting it too, weren't you? You were wishing for it, saying 'please'. Just think that your wish came true. Is it important right now where exactly that child is? No, it's not important, Kane. What's important for you is that I should have told you when, where, how, and exactly what I'm going to help you with specifically."
I slowly scanned Kane's unreadable face while continuously smiling gently.
"It is important. It will be the thread that allows me to endure whatever you demand of me."
No, even when you didn't know if your sister was alive or dead, you endured to the end no matter what harsh or disgusting things weighed you down.
"If I tell you now, you'll leave, won't you?"
"I can't leave that child alone. If you just let me go and come back, I'll…"
"You, you don't trust yourself."
Kane closed his mouth at my words and cut off his sentence.
"Do you think it might take a very long time for you to save that child? Perhaps forever? Even if I help, even if you become stronger, do you think it won't be easy with just your strength alone?"
I laughed out loud and took a sip of the cooling berry tea.
"Even if you don't trust yourself, I trust you."
"It's not that I don't trust myself. It's just that I don't trust you."
"The contract doesn't specify how much support I'll provide. So I think you calculated that I might make a contract with you for a moment's amusement, and when I get bored, I might escape through a contract with appropriate loopholes and abandon you."
Judging by the expression that briefly crossed his face, he seems to have thought something similar.
The reason I didn't specify clearly in the first place was simply because I didn't know how many gold coins were available right now.
So I decided to use all of Adelian's strengths.
But if you twist those words…
In the end, after creating a few grounds to say 'this is the extent of my strength', Kane would no longer be able to receive any more help and would remain bound to me.
But,
"But you know, I plan to push you to become the strongest and then use you to do everything I want to do. So why should I give up on you halfway?"
I said this while unknowingly gripping the teacup tightly, then lowered my aching hand and looked into Kane's eyes.
"So you trust me too, Kane."
I will save you, see a happy ending, and even see service cuts that have never appeared before. I'm going to demand the legendary all-heroine pregnancy ending for Innocent Saga!