Book 8: Chapter 6: Looking for something to be passionate about. (2/2)
”I don't mind. Honestly, I'm glad you're taking an interest in me. Especially since you've been surprisingly indifferent to me.”
”Ueh!?” Monica yelped out unconsciously like a frog that had been hit by a carriage.
What Felix said has a point. Although Monica had some consciousness for Felix, it was as a target for her protection, not for the individual himself. At most, he had an amazing body with a golden ratio in her mind.
As Monica lingered in silence, breaking out in a cold sweat, Felix put his finger on her chin to lift her downcast face.
”If you feel sorry for yourself, then you should tell me about yourself next.”
”A-A-About myself…?”
”There are so many secrets surrounding you.”
Monica's face tensed up. Her biggest secret was the fact that she's Monica Everett, the Seven Sages, the [Silent Witch]. She thought she had managed to keep it hidden until now, but perhaps Felix had figured out Monica's true identity?
”Like you would appear in the place wherever I present. Entering the secret old garden where you can't enter without a key, witnessing my escape from the dormitory, and now… here you are.”
The reason Monica was able to enter the closed old garden was because of her spell. The reason she witnessed Felix's sneaking out of the dormitory at that exact moment was because of Nero's help. And now, the fact that Monica was standing here was because of Lynn's help.
…And all of them were things that can't be done by an ordinary student.
Felix took Monica's pale hand and placed it on his own neck. And Just like he had warmed her hand earlier, he tried to warm Monica's hand,
”When I realized you were following me, the first thing that crossed my mind was you were an assassin who wanted to kill me. But when I put your hand on my neck like this earlier, your fingers never tried to strangle me. After all, anyone who seeks an opportunity to assassinate someone would think of this as a chance.”
Monica paled immediately, realized Felix was testing Monica's response at that time.
”Since you didn't do anything because it was a crowded road, then how about now when we're on a deserted road? If you were planning to assassin me, you can do it now, whether to strangle or cut my neck.”
”I-I would never dare…”
Monica quickly denied it, and Felix simply nodded, ”Yeah, I know.” But, to her disappointment, he said plainly.
”You're not an assassin. If you were, you'd have killed me by now.”
”…………”
”Whatever your purpose is, you are far too suspicious to have been hired by anyone. I don't think you're an enemy, but you're too unreliable to be an ally. That's why I've been treated you as an interesting pet.”
”Pe-Pe… Pet!?”
Looking at the flabbergasted Monica, Felix chuckled mischievously.
”Now we're just fellow night outers sharing the same secret.”
He then extended his index finger and flicked it against Monica's forehead.
”And did you realize it? You could have made a good deal in this situation, like ‘if you didn't want me to find out that your night out, you'd do what I said.'”
”…It's just that…well…t-t-there's nothing in particular that… I want from you.”
After winning the chess match from Felix, she had requested him to stop calling her Little Squirrel. But, since Monica had given up and let him called her by her name, there was nothing more she wants from Felix.
”……I don't have anything that I want from you, nor I expect anything from you… really.”
”Yeah, I've known that much after spending together in the past few months. That you never expect anything from me.”
Felix turned his back on Monica and walked a few steps ahead of her. Then, without looking back at Monica, he suddenly said.
”Well, that's might be comforting but also a bit lonely.”
Felix started walking slowly while Monica followed behind quickly.
Feeling bad about standing next to Felix, so she walked diagonally behind him with her head hanging down, but he entangled his own fingers with hers before starting to walk again.
And to Monica's confusion, Felix said.
”I told you before, didn't I? I'm looking for things that I like and enjoy. I do enjoy playing you out, so I'm not going to pry into who you are. So why don't you give me more attention?”
”Ha… Playing… me…?”
”Oh, let me correct that. I'm enjoying playing out with you.”
”You just said ”playing me”… ”me”…”
Felix dragged Monica, who was making muffled grunting noises, by hand, then looked ahead before giving a particularly cheerful voice.
”Look, the store we're looking for is in sight.”
Even though she knew she was being deceived, she looked the way he pointed out and saw an old brick house. Hanging from the door was a small lamp and a wooden plaque, with the orange light from the lamp illuminating the words on it. And engraved in the unadorned plate were the words ”Porter Antiquarian Bookstore” in rugged letters.
”Now, Monica. Let me tell you something. This store is my favorite place.”