Lord of Disease (JP-GL) 423

423: A Possessive Type

The work would begin tomorrow night, and it would be a long haul of about two weeks.

Since we were dealing with nature, we couldn’t make a strict schedule.

I hadn’t decided on a travel period to begin with, but I sent a letter to Rebecca via pigeon post, explaining the situation briefly and asking her to take care of things while I was away.

When that was done, I looked at Liz. She was sitting on the bed, in her nightgown and a thick shawl, gazing at the embers in the fireplace. A single Black Hound Barghest was curled up in front of the fireplace, its eyes closed.

I couldn’t help but stare at her profile, illuminated by the fire.

“…Ah, are you done?”

Liz, who had noticed my gaze, looked up at me.

“Yes.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Her gaze, which had been distant, as if she were looking at something far away, turned into a smile… and for some reason, my chest tightened.

I stood up from my desk and sat down beside her. And for some reason, the words just came out.

“…You’re so polite to me, Liz.”

“Huh?”

“With Amy, and the villagers… You seem… closer.”

“Because we’ve known each other since we were children… And I’ve been in the army for longer, so in fact, it feels a little strange to not use polite language.”

“I see.”

“But when I start talking, the words just come out. The way you interact with people, the atmosphere… it’s something you don’t forget.”

“…I see.”

I had forgotten. And even if I hadn’t, there was no way to confirm it. There was no one in this world who had known me from a long time ago. And I was not a childhood friend of Liz. I hadn’t even been born.

“Can I hug you?”

“I don’t mind, but…?”

Liz, though with some hesitation, opened her arms to welcome me. I hugged her, as usual…

“Master, that hurts a little.”

“…I’m sorry.” I had put too much force into it, and I loosened my grip. But I didn’t let go, and I kept her in my arms.

“What’s wrong? You’re not… yourself.”

“…You, too.”

It was her first time back in her hometown in a long time. I knew that the face she showed to her subordinates, her superiors… her colleagues, and even her lover, was different. In fact, it was because I had wanted to see that different side of her that I had come on this trip.

“…Um, Master, could it be that…”

Liz gently pushed my shoulder, and I, without resisting, released my hold. She looked at me.

“Are you jealous?”

“…Maybe.”

Come to think of it—my enemy had not been a specific person. It had been my own position, the humans… and Liz herself.

I had never thought that she might be taken by someone else.

“I’m so petty. …But it was so… unpleasant. My heart was so rough… I was scared.”

It wasn’t that I had really thought she would be taken. I loved Liz… and I believed that Liz loved me, too. But… I had wanted to occupy the most… and as much as possible… of her heart. I hadn’t wanted to give up even a little.

“Come to think of it, you did say you were a possessive type.”

I was ashamed of my own smallness, and I looked down.

“…I’m sorry.”

“…No. I’m the one who should be sorry.”

“Huh?”

“I was a little carried away. …I wanted to show everyone that this person was my spouse. It seems I’m a possessive type, too.”

“…Am I a spouse to be proud of?”

“Of course.”

“…Maybe if I hadn’t been here, you would have been with a better person—”

I could no longer choose that option. And while I wished for her happiness… I couldn’t forgive a future where I was not there.

Liz leaned in and kissed my cheek—or rather, she pretended to, and she bit my cheek. Gnash, Liz, who had bitten my cheek with a weakness that was just enough to leave a mark, pulled away, and I was taken by surprise.

“…The flaw of my bride is that she sometimes has too low of a self-esteem.”

“…Because. I’m aware that what I say and what I do is strange. And I’m easily carried away, and since everyone has been so kind to me lately, I have a feeling I’m overdoing it.”

Liz’s expression turned serious.

“I won’t deny that.”

“I was kind of hoping you would say that’s not true.”

“Master, I am a possessive type.”

“…Yes.”

“—I will not give you to anyone. Neither me, nor you, Master.”

Liz’s words were filled with a strength that made the air—my soul—tremble.

“I have no intention of casually making a vow of marriage with a woman of a different race, for the first time in this country.”

And she hugged me. Gently… strongly, tightly. Of course, not so much that it hurt. Liz held me like that, until the pounding of my heart had calmed down.

She gently pulled away… and Liz, who had moved closer to fill the empty space, stole my lips, so naturally, and my heart rate rose again.

After our lips had parted, I looked into Liz’s eyes.

“…I have a request.”

“Alright. I’ll listen, in the spirit of a trip.”

“…I want to see the Liz who doesn’t use polite language.”

“…Is that all?”

“Yes. …That’s all.”

Liz chuckled. And she smiled, a smile without any bitterness. She took my hand.

“I love you, Daisy.”

I was startled.

Daisy Finis. A name that had been decided on in consultation with Liz, for the sake of administrative convenience, and for when I needed to conceal the fact that I was the Lord of Disease. I had used it once before, and since it sounded similar to ‘Disease,’ it was somewhat familiar. But what was important to me was the ‘Finis’ that followed Daisy. I had almost never been called that. Even by Liz, this was the first time.

“So, you see? Trust me. The me who says she loves you.”

My cheeks grew hot. Perhaps because I had been listening to Amy’s conversation, it felt as if I were being told that by a childhood friend of the same age.

“W-wait, with polite language.”

“Ehh?”

Liz smiled mischievously and, as she pulled me closer, she brought her lips to my ear and poured a potent drug of a voice into my brain.

“I love you, Daisy.”

…I had a feeling I could come to like this name. Because it was a name that Liz would call me.

“—And please, no voices.”

“Huh?”

I blinked at Liz’s words, which had returned to a polite tone. To me, who couldn’t keep up, Liz continued.

“…It’s a honeymoon, isn’t it?”

“Wait, Liz, to do that on a trip. And we have work to do.”

Liz, who had pushed me down, smiled, a smile like a cat that had found its prey.

“…I’m not listening.”

Liz, without her polite language, was too destructive. I could only nod.

—The next morning, I was told that Liz had used a soundproofing spell beforehand.

I wondered what the point of me desperately suppressing my voice had been.