VIP Chapter 273: Deeply Entangled
Will removed the white earring from his ear.
He lowered his head to examine its appearance. The intricate craftsmanship indicated it was likely crafted by a professional artisan. Treya was meticulous about the workmanship and details when it came to the gifts she gave him.
Even if it could be used for tracking, it was likely that Treya had added tracking magic to it later. This was a common and versatile magic, and the demon side might have something similar.
“Disabling the magic on it won’t be difficult. It’s just…”
Detecting and dispelling tracking magic was a mandatory first-year subject at the academy.
Dungeons also contained many such traps. Furthermore, most people at Entak First Academy were nobles who were easily targeted. It was perhaps the most practical magic for the entire first year.
First, one had to ascertain the properties and structure of the tracking magic, and then destroy its construction by deconstructing it. The latter wasn’t difficult; operating it was like playing a Minesweeper minigame.
He was very familiar with it, exceptionally so. After all, being part of the Hysterm Family meant encountering many people who wanted to install “surveillance” on him.
However, performing this entire procedure would take a full half hour.
He didn’t have time right now.
So –
The only way was –
“Pfft.”
Will thought, raising his hand.
From an efficiency standpoint, simply throwing it as far away as possible was the best option. He could even go a bit further and toss it in the opposite direction of his advance to create a diversion.
This was his usual way of thinking.
As long as it shattered on the ground, he could…
But…
He lowered his hand again.
“…I can’t do it.”
He hadn’t forgotten a single gift he had received.
Whether it was Iaar’s Birthday Cake or the ring Liya had given him to wear on his hand…
And all the ornaments and practical items he received every birthday were carefully stored in a safe and important place in his room.
This particular gift wasn’t just custom-made by Treya; it was a matching couple item in a complementary color to the black earring he had given her.
Even though his giving Treya the black earring at the time was unintentional…
But…
As if in “response” to his sincere gesture back then, Treya had wholeheartedly given him this matching pair of earrings.
He opened his hand, looking at the earring in his palm.
He looked at the white earring in his hand, sparkling brilliantly in the sunlight.
It was even more exquisite than the black earring he had given Treya at the time, and its materials might not have been related to dungeons, but they were certainly more expensive.
The ice-cold sensation in his hand, its transparent surface reflecting the dappled tree shadows overhead.
He remembered that he had spent some time selecting the black earring for Treya’s ear as well. The most important thing was to consider how much it would improve Treya’s adaptability and agility against demons.
…
He rarely thought about “being reciprocated.”
But undoubtedly, this white earring in his palm was the “return” he received after his efforts.
“Phew…”
Will recalled some of the ways Treya had “controlled” him.
Although at the time, he was less “Will” and more like an illusory perfect husband for the Empress that Treya had created with fabricated memories.
But…
She had woken him up from bed with a smile;
She had held his hand and walked through the Royal Palace with a gentle smile;
She had embraced him with a sweet smile when they got engaged;
She wanted him to “see” a smile that she usually didn’t show, but was genuinely overjoyed deep down –
It was real.
“I’ve already escaped. Now, I’m just recalling the life of the ‘Empress’s little canary’ that Treya showed me in the Royal Palace.”
“Could I have developed some kind of Stockholm Syndrome too?”
“But, it’s true… the memories she poured into my mind…”
“A happy family. Parents who loved me. And a lover who would always love me and bear all the financial burdens.”
While thinking, Will first applied detection magic to ascertain the properties and structure of the earring.
He then added the highest-level information-blocking magic he could use. Although he felt that with Treya possibly using demon magic, such a block would be negligible.
But at this moment…
He still wanted to keep it as a gift, “Treya’s response to him.”
Whether he threw it away and Treya found out, or he actually broke it, it felt like it would hurt Treya’s feelings and his own as well.
Even if it was indeed possible that Treya had tracked him down for this reason.
He sighed and put the earring on his left ear.
If he was inevitably going to be tracked, he could only place his hope in Iaar’s potential… and the possibility of Shuna appearing to help him.
Since arriving in this world where he knew the story’s development, he had rarely faced “unknown” unfolding scenarios like he was now.
Having to face a situation he might not be able to control.
And…
A completely unprepared BOSS.
It was like playing a game following a walkthrough, and halfway through, discovering that someone had tampered with the game, transforming all the data into entirely new BOSSes, ten times stronger.
…And then discovering that he was the one who had tampered with it.
Step by step, from not realizing that Liya, as a “Witch,” could create separate rooms within a dungeon, to not realizing that Treya had reached the peak in her dealings with demons…
He had become somewhat unconfident.
Could the “they” he had cultivated still, as before, understand every detail about them?
And could he himself…
Truly understand the “world” he was in?
Will gently caressed the earring.
“Actually… I am indeed deeply entangled.”
“Standing ‘outside the frame,’ having no feelings for them at all, is absolutely impossible.”
“Standing at the ‘pinnacle of the story,’ completely controlling them, also seems to be…”
“Impossible.”
…
Dragging his still-healing leg, feeling the slight pain, he continued downward – downward – downward –
He had never felt that the forest in these mountains was so vast.
The fatigue from not sleeping all night gradually spread from his toes to his entire body.
“Hah… Hah…”
Will was panting. The white formal wear Treya had given him was torn and tattered.
Then, he stopped.
He sighed.
Because someone had already stepped in to block the path he was about to take.
Treya.
“You don’t need to run anymore, Will.”
She seemed to have changed into a black evening gown on the fly – no, this was still the wedding dress he had helped her pick out.
Even though it was just a trial fitting from yesterday, and it hadn’t been custom-made yet.
He had ultimately not escaped Treya…
Not only had he not escaped Treya,
But she had even had time to change into a beautiful outfit.
“You can’t be faster than a carriage, and besides, the Royal Family is more familiar with this terrain.”
“Yes… I, I am fully aware.”
“…The adventurer who came to save you, a person of considerable skill, has already been locked away in one of the dungeons by me.”
Treya spoke calmly.
However, the calmer she was, the more her words seemed to push Will towards an inescapable dead end.
“It’s a room I temporarily constructed using ‘memories.’ For a demon’s dungeon, memories are the best raw material…”
“Because memories often carry the richest emotions. I am not a ruler who completely disregards rules. I wouldn’t kill an uninvolved person – especially your friend, Will.”
“Of course…”
“If, my Dear…”
Will stared intently ahead.
The tone of her spoken “Dear” shifted from icy cold to a hint of sweetness.
“You are willing, on the condition that we complete our ‘wedding’.”
The forest was still the same forest.
Yet, the edges of every tree were adorned with white skirts.
Just like…
A wedding venue.
