Vol 13 Chapter 245 (1/2)

Aria’s Profit

Night

As everyone was sound asleep, I had Monica take up watch

Everyone lay around Porter’s loading tray, but I was called by the Fifth, so I faced him in the Jewel

The Third, Seventh, and Milleia-san atching over us froame of it

『Is it that? As expected, was the Fifth troubled by harelad I only had one wife』

『Quite right It’s a trial ouldn’t understand If I had to say, I reached h love Well, Zenoire’s status did technically exceed the post of House Head, so I do ade on favorable circumstance』

『He got the hareh What problems did he see from his point of vieonder? If it were me, I’d have left for my hometown the e as itit out』

I ignored the faces taking intrigued glances at the Fifth, listening to his explanation on Aria The one who advocated her was the First, while the Second hated her The other ancestors didn’t have any particular opinions on regards to her

But come so far, when Aria said she wouldn’t ed his hand

『Listen well, Lyle! That Aria… Aria Lockwarde is an extreirl for you』

“No, did you ever say anything remotely like that up to now? And if Aria wishes for that, I can’t…”

The Fifth was in the Jewel In the round table rooalient blade, turned its blade sideways, and hit the ainst my head

Seeing that, Milleia-san was shocked

『Oh ot mad at a child Now that’s a rare scene』

I held the hit part with a hand He hadn’t hithim out

『Listen and learn, Lyle Women will occasionally tell lies if it is for their benefit They’ll present their bodies for your money There are ti beneath their sht they should learn from the purity of animals… but let’s put animals aside for now Anyways, women spit lies easier than men』

“Well, I’m sure there’s some truth to it I was an adventurer, and I’ve heard a bit, and that one came up quite often”

Wo I are, but I couldn’t understand why the Fifth was bringing that up with me As I was unable to understand it, I heard the Third’s loud whisper

『Huh? That Lyle really doesn’t get it』

Milleia-san also looked fed up

『My recommendations are Miranda and Shannon, and while I don’t care about the rest, I’m really not sure what to think of that』

The Seventh alone was as inco between the Third and Milleia-san

The Fifth looked at me, looked down, and perhaps his head hurt, as he held a hand to his forehead, and thought a bit And lifting his face, he spoke in regards to me

『Lyle, Aria lied For her profit Do you understand what profit that may be?』

Hearing Aria’s profit, I instantly thought it was for herself Rather thanme, I’m sure she would find more happiness with another man It wasn’t just Aria It was a plausible statement for the others of the fe the one they love not being their own?

But the fact the Fifth was asking itelse

“So Aria’s profit isn’t her own?”

The Fifth looked at my face, and spoke

『Aria’s is pulling out for your sake That child is terrible at lying Her body moves before her head, and she says whatever coirl like that hate it when you kissed her?』

I shook et it,’ he said, and I could hear some more whispers It was Milleia-san

『Lyle’s that He’s dropped every woman he’s ai hated』

Hearing that, the Fifth raised his face as if reers

『Right! You, hoere you treated at the Walt , how did people respond!?』

I recalled When I had begun to be hated at theto those around, they would coan to treat me as a nuisance The worst hen they treated me as if I wasn’t there at all

“Their eyes were really cold As if it would be better off someone like me weren’t…”

『I’, she’ll outright say she hates it Yet that girl followed you all the way to Beiht Celes with you Why do you think? Do you think it was all for her own future? Just how et the continent in your hands? Even now, it’s a goal that arrant bursts laughter if put to mouth No about Aria when you told her before Beim? I’m sure she needed a considerable resolve Perhaps she was even resolved for death』

When I heard that, I lost sight of what her profit could be And what her happiness was…

“… Fifth, I hold Aria dear I want her to be happy Having followed someone like me so far, whether she can find happiness or not… the others are the same!”

The Fifth hit his sword against ain This time, it hurt considerably I heldteary

『… Lyle, you needed the feht Celes You decided you’d accept theht out Will she be happy? That isn’t it You’llthe humans you’ll kill froht over ould happen to Beiht? For what sake do you kill? For what sake do you trarasp your own happiness, was it』

The Fifth tossed his galient blade into the air Watching it disappear into grains of light, I listened to his words

『I couldn’t do it So I’ve no qualifications to say it And while I know that well, I’ll say it anyways The others won’t have a proble you her power, they may even tell you to look out for her to an extent But I definitely won’t accept it It was so important, so I wanted you to notice for yourself, but if you still don’t get it, I’ll tell you』

Unlike the Fifth, as long as we still had Aria’s cooperation, the other ancestors would definitely say it wouldn’t matter if she becaive thanks for her cooperation If that hat Aria wanted, if that was her choice, I wanted to respect it

But the Fifth told me with confidence

『Aria’s profit is… you, Lyle It’s your happiness』

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Morning

Exiting Porter, I saw Aria swinging her spear around

The cold round was moist, and as I walked, they wet my boots I could hear the cries of insects around The sun had yet to rise

Everything looked a shade of blue

Within that, Aria eating as she swung her spear It see her face, she spoke

“What? You’re distracting, so if you want to o somewhere else?”

Her blunt, cold attitude felt a little different than usual Was she really thinking of me when she decided to pull out? Could it be the Fifth’s h my head, as I extended my left hand to the side

A ic circle manifested, and from it, a wooden treasure chest popped out It was the Seventh’s Skill… Box What e sabre

One of the mass produced ones A few of them were still in the box

I grasped the sabre’s scabbard with ht, and unsheathed it

With the scabbard still in my left, I pointed the blade’s tip towards Aria

“… Let’s have the condition of the other day Last tirown since then Don’t you think we should test and see who’s stronger now?”

Aria’s body stopped; she stabbed her spear into the ground, and turned to me Confused, yet resolved… a complex expression

“What? No need for women who don’t swoon for you? Then you should’ve driven me out from the start”

I didn’t kno to respond to her I didn’t know, so I didn’t speak There, the Fifth’s voice came from the Jewel

『Lyle, don’t think your worries are yours alone You… shouldn’t make the same mistakes as me』

Letting out a light breath, I stepped in, and thrust the sabre towards her

That she stopped it with the spear hilt likely ood quality, and robust shaft

If it were one of the Katanas I had him make, it may have been different