The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go Chapter 67

 

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’ve arranged.”

 

“Hmm… I hope you don’t mind if I tell the rest of the ministers?”

 

“Yes, it’s fine, just don’t go and gossip to the others.”

 

“That’s a given. Now, everyone, put your ears close.”

 

With my permission, the Defense Minister motioned for the rest of the ministers to come closer.

 

“What? Are you sure?”

 

“Oh my goodness…”

 

The ministers were all quite astonished when they heard what I had in store for them.

 

‘That’s strange. Is it really that shocking?’

 

There’s nothing so strange about it.

 

Nevertheless, they exchanged meaningful glances with each other.

 

“Captain, I think this is the perfect gift. Absolutely wonderful.”

 

“Uh… Is that so?”

 

Of course, I knew it wasn’t the kind of gift someone would say was bad.

 

It’s not the kind of gift that deserves this much praise.

 

“I am merely returning it to His Majesty as he gave it to me.”

 

The Minister’s eyes widened and gaped open.

 

The others clapped each other on the shoulder, unable to hide their laughter.

 

“Did you hear that? Give back what you get.”

 

“I definitely heard that, isn’t it so romantic, I used to be like that once too….”

 

“Stop being so bashful. Anyway, isn’t it safe to say that this is a two-way relationship?”

 

 

What? Two-way?

 

What the hell are they talking about?

 

“Uh, deputies? What do you mean by two-way….”

 

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs said with a wry smile.

 

“Anyway, I think it would be preferable, indeed, highly desirable, if you kept the gift. You have good taste.”

 

“Uh… Thank you.”

 

No, I shouldn’t expect such praise for a single gift.

 

Compared to what Cedric’s given me so far, it’s probably nothing short of a bird’s feet.

 

[Hey, you need to think twice… Are you sure you want to go with that gift?]

 

‘Yeah, sure, I’ll give back what I got, and you know I already bought everything.’

 

[Um… well, in that case.]

 

And this gift, I mean, I put some effort into it.

 

It’s different from previous years because it’s my deepest wish.

 

From the start, I wasn’t going to change this gift, no matter what anyone said.

 

It was the gift I wanted to present.

 

“Okay, I think we can rest easy then. I’ll be in touch with you halfway through the year until his birthday.”

 

“Sure. If there’s anything else you’d like me to deliver, please let me know.”

 

The deputies thanked me and left, their steps seeming lighter.

 

As I watched their backs, I smiled inwardly.

 

🗡️

 

“Damn it, why can’t this work?”

 

Brian Tekarke muttered through clenched teeth.

 

“If only that damn junkie wench hadn’t come in here threatening to get more money…”

 

Just then, one of the servants burst through the door.

 

“Master, a search party has been formed!”

 

“What?”

 

“If you get caught, you’re as good as dead, you should run farther away!”

 

“You son of a…!”

 

Tekarke stood up and cursed.

 

As he did so, his eyes fell on the locket he had left on the corner of the table.

 

The locket’s gemstone, which had been lying quietly in its place just moments before, was glowing black.

 

He forgot his anger and quickly picked it up and ran his finger over it.

 

“Yes, it’s me.”

 

[Have you heard from the search party?]

 

Tekarke bit his lip hard enough to make it white.

 

“Yes, I have.”

 

[Then what are you going to do?]

 

“We’ll have to move again.”

 

[Will that be enough, the Imperial Search Force is known for being as relentless as a hunting dog].

 

“…”

 

[Still need help?]

 

The mocking voice echoed through the room.

 

Tekarke wanted to throw the locket away and erase the scoffing voice from his mind, but he couldn’t.

 

Anyone was allowed to help now, and he was desperate for support.

 

[Want me to help you?]

 

“Only if you do…”

 

[Yeah, but you can’t take it for free.]

 

And it was like this, Tekarke knew.

 

Still, the only way out was to confront him head-on.

 

“What do you want?”

 

Tekarke’s question brought a creepy laugh from the locket.

 

He frowned at the muffled laughter, which sounded like metal scraping the floor.

 

[Why are you suddenly feigning ignorance.]

 

“…How many do you think I should take?”

 

[Five.]

 

Filthy bastard. Tekarke cursed under his breath.

 

[If you’re going to run away anyway, you might as well pack as little as possible].

 

Tekarke gritted his teeth at the sound of his words.

 

“…I see.”

 

[Yes. I’ll send someone right away, so get ready.]

 

The voice inside the locket echoed grimly.

 

[Five lives.]

 

🗡️

 

“Are we having class by the lake today?”

 

“Yep. We’re going somewhere with a clear view, since we have to do some magic training.”

 

With Cedric, I strolled through the front courtyard of the palace.

 

“Today we’re going to practice something a little bigger.”

 

“Oh, a new training exercise?”

 

“Yes. We’ll do the old ones and try some new ones.”

 

“I see. That means we’ll be using a lot of magic.”

 

Cedric subtly emphasized the word ‘a lot’ when he mentioned using magic.

 

Sometimes I’m not sure if he’s human or a talking fox or snake.

 

He’s like a fox in the way he sneakily turns the conversation in his favor.

 

But the way she slyly slithers away when the odds are stacked against him, he’s more like a snake.

 

‘Nope.’

 

When he’s obsessed, he resembles a black panther.

 

“Still, it won’t be any more draining than a regular class, just normal.”

 

“But I’m a magic deficient. You know I’m going to run out of magic before anyone else.”

 

Cedric leaned his head closer, trying to convince me.

 

“That’s why you need to recharge.”

 

“That’s why I’ve been giving you a charge for eight years.”

 

‘This makes me sound like a power bank.’

 

Well, I was a power bank about to burst, so I suppose I wasn’t being exploited.

 

“And don’t worry, I’ve built up a bit of a reserve now, so I’m not as badly short of magic as I was when we were younger.”

 

So despite his lack of mana, he should be able to wield a thunderbolt.

 

Though how he got there on his own remains a mystery.

 

“I’m not worried.”

 

Cedric said, his voice calm and collected.

 

His tone was so different from what I’d heard before, it made me glance up to see a gentle smile on his face.

 

“The person I trust the most to replenish it, making sure I don’t run out.”

 

His red eyes glowed with a transparent light, and warm sunlight illuminated his sculpted face.

 

Black hair swayed in the breeze, as dark and beautiful as the night sky.

 

“…You trust me too much. What will you do if I have a malicious intention?”

 

“That’s unlikely, since you kept your oath.”

 

“You believed in me as much as I do now, even before I kept my vow.”

 

Abandoned by his mother, nearly murdered in the burning palace, and despairing of his lack of talent, unlike his father.

 

You’ve had such a rough life, and you’ve been hurt by the person closest to you.

 

And why do you lean on me so easily?

 

“You don’t make vows to just anyone.”

 

Cedric said, looking me straight in the eye.

 

“I made a promise to you because I thought you were trustworthy from the start.”

 

And yet, we made an oath not long after we met.

 

Suddenly, I wondered. What did the twelve-year-old version of you see in the twelve-year-old me?

 

“Well, whatever. To summarize, you’re asking me to hold your hand more because you’re afraid you’ll run out of magic.”

 

“That’s pretty honest.”

 

“Because you like honest students, so I’m being truthful.”

 

That’s right. So much so that you’ve been fooling your teacher for eight years.

 

“Then why do you want to hold hands more?”

 

“Well…”

 

He looked back at me and smiled mischievously.

 

“Just?”

 

But I could tell right away. This wasn’t a genuine smile.

 

I noticed that his red eyes, which had been so calm at my question just moments before, fluttered slightly.

 

Cedric never acts without a reason.

 

‘Just’ would be a lie.

 

‘I see you’re still concerned about the excess mana.’

 

He doesn’t want to tell me the real reason, because he’s afraid I might get upset if he brings it up directly.

 

‘You’re not being honest.’

 

And just when I thought Caliberne was silent.

 

[No, maybe he’s being truthful, in a sense, when he lays it all out there like that.]

 

‘Maybe.’

 

[He’s a peculiar one. I don’t think he’s particularly good at lying to you, except once in a while when he’s pulled off a big, catastrophic scam.]

 

‘Isn’t that more of a problem?’

 

Suddenly, the lake came into view.

 

“We’re almost there.”

 

“Yeah. You’ve come at a good time. It’s secluded.”

 

Just then, I heard a rustling in the bushes near the lakeshore.

 

“What?”

 

No one would be here at this hour.

 

Upon closer inspection, there was a small figure in front of the bushes.

 

“What the hell, who’s here?”

 

As I walked through the bushes to the front of the bush, I couldn’t help but be amazed at the sight before me.

 

“…?”