-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Proof
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After my conversation with Derren ended.
As I stepped out of the carriage, it immediately began to move, disappearing from my sight before long.
Derren, who was likely still lost in thought inside that carriage, had told me.
He would cooperate, but only if I first proved I possessed the necessary ability.
To do so, I had to survive against Gluttony, the Sin of Gluttony, and Envy, the Sin of Envy.
'Perfect.'
For others, it might have been a terrifying and overwhelming task, but not for me. No, I was rather pleased.
'I was already annoyed at having to find them.'
If I didn't kill all of them, I, the 'Vessel,' would die.
Yet, these very Sins were now, thankfully, presenting themselves to me.
So, for me, in my position of having to find and kill those Seven Deadly Sins, whether I liked it or not, this was a natural development.
That the news of the Sins and Derren's demand felt pleasing.
'When will they come?'
I figured they'd show up by the end of this semester at the latest.
The original story's flow had already changed significantly, and those Sins were so fickle that it was hard to predict their exact timing.
"I wish they'd come quickly."
I wish they'd come quickly, and die quickly by my hand.
I wish that news would spread quickly, so the other Sins would also die by my hand in the same way.
Since they're going to die anyway, I wish they'd die quickly and help me achieve a comfortable life.
Just as I was mumbling to myself and about to move.
I saw Daisy, her face bright red, hesitantly approaching from a distance.
"Camel-nim…"
"Huh? Were you waiting for me?"
"Not exactly…"
Daisy fiddled with her fingers and mumbled.
'Not exactly,' she says, but I saw her hiding behind that building and coming straight to me as soon as the carriage left.
In any case, I was glad to see Daisy.
Thinking about it, it was the first time. Since the day she babbled her delusions to me, Daisy, who had always been awkward around me, was now initiating conversation.
"There's something I wanted to tell you…"
"What is it?"
As I tilted my head, Daisy bowed her head deeply and replied.
"I'm sorry about back then. I ended up having such a ridiculous misunderstanding…"
"It's fine. It happens."
I truly meant it. While it was true my head had throbbed at the time, I hadn't actually suffered any harm.
More importantly, it was also true that Daisy's delusions had led to a greater connection with Derren, and things were unfolding more smoothly because of it.
Perhaps that was why. Today, Daisy's shimmering light-gold hair and delicate features looked even prettier, and I found myself speaking in a kinder tone than usual.
"If there's anything you want to say, don't hesitate."
"Well… Hi, hiccup!"
I spoke kindly, so why are you hiccuping?
Feeling awkward, I handed Daisy a small water bottle. After taking a sip, Daisy finally opened her hesitant lips.
"Did… my father say anything?"
So that's what she was waiting to ask.
For a moment, I hesitated. Should I tell Daisy exactly what Derren and I had discussed?
'She's his daughter, so he must have told her, right?'
Concluding as such, I replied concisely.
"He said I needed to prove myself to be acknowledged."
"Prove… What did you say, Camel-nim?"
"Of course, I said I would prove it."
I had told Derren. Not just that I would survive the Seven Deadly Sins, but that I would kill them.
"…Just as I thought!"
Had my resolute will been conveyed?
Daisy's already large eyes widened even further, and she clenched her fists, exclaiming in admiration.
Her ears were red, so she must have been quite impressed.
"Can I ask one more thing then?"
"Of course."
I nodded at Daisy's voice, which for some reason was growing brighter.
"Th-that… Camel-nim, aren't you dating Rose, that girl?"
Why is she asking this now?
It seemed she was changing the subject because the Seven Deadly Sins topic was too serious.
However, I couldn't help but be flustered, so a naturally curt tone escaped me.
"No."
"But why were you ravenously exploring each other's lips…?"
"When did I ever act ravenously? At that time…"
Flustered by Daisy's blunt phrasing, I scratched the back of my head and began an explanation that really wasn't necessary.
What kind of relationship Rose and I had,
What kind of man Zetti was, who had targeted Rose in Arbik,
Why Rose felt grateful to me, and so on.
Furthermore, I even explained that I suspected Rose had kissed me as a gesture of gratitude.
"So…"
Then, Daisy, whose expression had brightened for some reason, said in an excited voice.
"So you're not a couple yet. And it might stay that way. I understand."
Is that so?
I tilted my head, and Daisy, her eyes curving into a smile, continued.
"Camel-nim."
"Yes?"
"I'll be rooting for you, so please, definitely prove yourself!"
Daisy firmly grasped my hand with her slender one, then stared intently at me with her large, rabbit-like eyes and spoke.
Fighting the Seven Deadly Sins. Was it because this was the first time I'd received support from someone for this?
Feeling pleased, I thanked Daisy and replied confidently.
"Of course! Just trust me!"
Then, strangely.
Daisy's face turned beet red.
****
My father, who arrived in Adenia yesterday, had told me.
"Daisy, I'll ask him definitively tomorrow."
When I asked what he would ask, my father spoke in a serious tone.
"Why Camel, that fellow, hasn't accepted your feelings."
When I flared up, saying I had never given him my feelings, my father replied with a stern expression.
"Daisy, for your information, I am against this marriage. At least, until that fellow pleases me."
When I asked what nonsense he was suddenly spouting, my father, claiming to be tired, ordered me to leave.
Thanks to that, I had to stay up all night.
I was terrified. I couldn't possibly guess what kind of nonsense Father would babble to Camel-nim.
What if he, despite them not even dating, started getting violent with Camel-nim, opposing their relationship?
What if he spouted insults, saying a commoner like him wasn't suitable for his daughter?
That was why I had been secretly waiting for Camel-nim.
So that whatever nonsense Father might have said, I could immediately rectify it, unlike last time.
Yet, the words that flowed from Camel-nim's seemingly soft lips were very different from what I had imagined.
"He said I needed to prove myself to be acknowledged."
The moment I heard those words, my heart began to pound uncontrollably.
My father, who had sternly opposed me, was now presenting a possibility to Camel-nim!
I didn't know what Father had asked Camel-nim to prove.
But one thing was certain.
"Of course, I said I would prove it."
That Camel-nim had accepted the condition Father had set, in order to win me.
"Of course! Just trust me!"
He even told me to trust only him.
"And he said he wasn't dating Rose…"
All I had to do was wait.
Until Camel-nim accomplished whatever proof it was for Father.
"No, snap out of it, Daisy!"
Then, suddenly coming to my senses, I slapped both my cheeks and shook my head vigorously.
I haven't opened my heart to Camel-nim yet.
I don't like him yet, nor do I love him.
So it seems I need to be even more careful with my body and mindset from now on.
Until Camel-nim completes whatever proof it is, and violently… no, until he opens my heart.
****
With two days left until midterms, the atmosphere at Aden Academy was as quiet as a wilderness just before a war.
Especially the library.
Countless students occupied every seat, pushing their brains to their limits, and this was true even for the combat faculty students.
Because, even for the combat faculty, written exams weren't non-existent, and while their weight might be less compared to other faculties, they still affected grades and rankings.
'Damn it.'
Sitting in the reading room, deeply engrossed in memorization, I couldn't help but curse inwardly.
'Why do I have to memorize this stuff?'
I clearly enrolled in the combat faculty, yet.
The names and effects of seemingly identical weeds,
The characteristics and weaknesses of monsters that could simply be cut down,
The long history of the Empire and the absurdly long names of its nobles.
No matter how prestigious this academy was, why did Aden Academy try to cram such useless knowledge into the students' heads?
'I'm not doing it. Damn it.'
I slammed the book I was holding onto the desk and closed my eyes.
It was hard to suppress my anger. And I just couldn't understand.
What kind of idiot would come up with names long enough to fill an entire page?
Barely suppressing the urge to leave immediately and erase an entire noble family from history, I turned my gaze sideways.
There was Rose, her red hair tied back, her forehead bared, intensely memorizing with dead eyes.
"Ughhh…"
It was a pathetic sight. Just two days ago, Rose had been brimming with spirit, declaring she could do it.
Now, she had lost human speech, becoming an academy ghost capable only of ghoul-like wails.
'Well, it must be hard.'
I understood. Rose wasn't just preparing for midterms; she was also learning swordsmanship and magic from Malik every night.
This was true for me as well.
Lately, I had been learning and practicing a new mana manipulation technique from Malik, but I was worried about the lack of progress.
'I want to master it completely before they arrive.'
I didn't know exactly when that would be.
But it was certain that Envy and Gluttony would seek me out before long.
And it was also certain that no matter how much they struggled, they would die by my hand.
I only wished for one thing: that when I killed them, the durability number displayed in my status window wouldn't decrease.
If this were my only worry, it would be better.
"Haa."
Perhaps because I'd had so much to think about lately, a sigh escaped me naturally.
Recent news came to mind.
First, Lily's news.
Lily's pilgrimage schedule, which should have taken place in winter, had been moved to summer.
'It's good that I can free Lily from her suffering sooner.'
The problem was that a butterfly effect was happening somewhere, and I couldn't grasp what it was.
What could have triggered it?
Is something happening that I don't know about?
What will happen that might become a variable for me?
'Anyway, setting that aside.'
Honestly, up to this point, it was still somewhat manageable.
Because no matter what situation arose, I had enough ability to control it.
'The biggest problem, however…'
Was the existence of my Master, who was approaching me step by step, no matter what anyone said.
"Junior, look at this."
Malik showed me a specific part of a weekly magazine, and the content written there could be summarized in just two sentences.
A woman is traveling across the country, destroying the Armad Merchant Guild. The reason is to find out someone's identity and transaction history.
'Damn it.'
By all accounts, the woman written about in the weekly magazine was my Master, and that 'someone' was me.
Furthermore, judging by the momentum, it was also clear that Master would be arriving here soon.
So, I had to start preparing.
An excuse that would lessen the beating, even if I still got one,
A brilliant trick that would quickly put my displeased Master in a good mood.
But.
"Camel-nim, please have some of this."
"Grrr…"
"Give me your hand first!"
"Camel, the child misses you."
"Daddy! Boobie!"
Recalling my usual surroundings, I could only despair.