She certainly had become a lot more open on the topic after having done it many times. It would be a welcome proposal normally, but not today.
“Wait. There’s something we need to discuss first.”
“We can discuss later. Post-battle lust is hitting hard now.”
“Restrain yourself. We need to talk before that. It’s important.”
“No way. What’s so important that it can’t wait until after we do it?”
“Let’s find a quiet place to talk.”
“No can do. Sex first.”
She might even have become a bit too eager. I shook my head, staying firm in my opposition.
“We talk first. You’ll understand why when I tell you.”
Her face contorted, her eyes sending daggers at me.
“This is how you treat me after you took my first time?”
“No need to play the betrayed woman. Come on, let’s move.”
“Tsk. If you don’t want to do it, just say so. It’s not like I’m going to rape you. I can take care of it by myself as usual.”
This made me chuckle.
“Says that after pretty much raping me the first time.”
“I didn’t! You’re the one who forced me to do it!”
“Stop distorting reality. Enough, I don’t want you to do it by yourself. I just want to talk first. It’s serious, Selva.”
My tone finally made her realize I wasn’t joking, and she slowly nodded, even though she looked neither happy nor convinced. We made our way to her inn room, which was the place we often had sex in because it was quiet at this time of the day. Once she sat on the bed with me on the chair in front of her, she frowned a little in pain from her wounds and urged me to talk.
“So, what is it? Speak quickly so we can do it already.”
Now was the critical moment. I focused my attention as much as I could on any potential change in attitude she could have.
“Listen carefully. I came here today to tell you that Wico is dead.”
For a moment, I only saw incomprehension on her face.
“Huh? What? You can’t joke about stuff like that.”
“It’s not a joke. It’s the truth. She would have come to fetch you a long time ago since I told her you were here. The fact that she didn’t is proof that she passed.”
“…What are you saying? She can’t be dead. That’s nonsense. She’s a rank 6, and a strong one,”
“I’m sorry, Selva.”
She was staring at me, her mouth open in stupor. Her expression was now a mix of incredulousness and malaise. For a few seconds, she didn’t say anything. Eventually, she spoke again, her voice trembling a little.
“Master’s dead? Really?”
I nodded, and she continued.
“How?”
Yet another tricky part. So far, there was nothing strange about Selva’s reaction. As such, I decided to tell her the truth, to see how she would behave.
“She tried to poison me. I escaped to the city hall, and Angin Vejas killed her.”
She now looked completely bewildered.
“…What are you saying? You’re not making any sense. Why would master try to harm you?”
“I don’t know either. If anything, you should know. I’ve only known her for a few days. You’ve been with her for years.”
“It’s ridiculous. How do you expect me to accept this?”
“I swear it’s the truth. I’m the one who’s the most upset about this. Who knows what could have happened to me if she had succeeded? I might be in the middle of a torture session or be enslaved somewhere already.”
Selva opened her mouth and closed it a few times, baffled.
“No, but why would she do that…? Wait, your story doesn’t hold. How could you, a rank 0, escape a rank 6?”
“I was lucky. I faked the poison affecting me and escaped when she had her guard down.”
“What? Do you think you’re a hero in a story or something? That’s such a nonsensical lie.”
I used my most serious and persuasive expression.
“Selva, I swear that everything’s the truth. Wico tried to kill me and ended up dying instead. She’s now suspected of having been a spy from another country.”
“A spy? No way. She’s been in Geola for decades. I was just… the last disciple she took.”
“We don’t know either for sure. She was very thorough. She left no hint about her motive.”
“Then, it’s probably false!”
“Maybe, maybe not. Frankly, I don’t care about that. What’s absolutely true is that she tried to poison me. And for that, she became my enemy. Selva, what about you? Did you know about Wico’s other side? Are you an accomplice too?”
“W-What are you saying? How could you ask that…?”
“You can’t blame me. You’ve been together for years. Are you my enemy, Selva?”
Her emotions were in turmoil, between the sudden revelations and my accusations. I witnessed her feelings swinging wildly, only to finally settle on one particular emotion. Anger.
“How dare you ask that? After everything we did together?”
“I also thought I was on good terms with Wico, and see what happened.”
“Is that how you see me? I’d never betray my comrades! Never! Tila! Get out! Get out before I punch you! Get out and don’t come to see me anymore!”
Her fists and jaw were clenched, her face red in fury. I stood up, not bothering to argue with her any further.
“I’ll come to see you again after you’ve calmed down.”
“I don’t want to see you ever again!”
I didn’t respond to that last part, simply exiting her room. She slammed the door shut behind me, as if to show how upset she was.
The discussion had gone much better than I expected. No matter how good an actor someone was, it was impossible to completely conceal all hidden intentions when faced with such sudden and shocking revelations. The result of my close observation was clear. Selva didn’t have any such motives. She wasn’t my enemy.
If I hadn’t been able to reach that conclusion in the circumstances, I thought I might be better off giving up on being a trader altogether, someone who was supposed to read people out to cut advantageous deals.