<b>? Confrontation (1) ?</b>


    “First, let go of my hand.”


    Vera said while snapping his fingers.


    At that gesture, Renee flinched and let go of the hand she had been holding.


    “Ah, sorry…”


    Words that the usual Vera would never have uttered made Renee realize that the current him was not the Vera she knew.


    As her body drooped at the somehow sullen feeling, Vera continued his words.


    “Then, let me ask. I definitely don’t remember making such a promise with you. Can you exin why I’m lying here in a strange ce like this?”


    His following words were words that even Renee had no idea about, but at the same time, revealed a secret that had been shrouded in a veil.


    Promise.


    Renee’s expression began to harden at the new keyword. Her brain was spinning faster than ever.


    ‘As expected, they’ve met before. Hearing him mention the word promise…’


    This Vera and her pre-regression self must have shared some sort of secret promise, and now the current Vera thought he was in this unfamiliar ce because of that promise.


    If that was the case, there was only one thing she needed to do.


    ‘I need to find out more information first.’


    Above all, it was urgent to find out exactly what that promise was.


    “What are you talking about?”


    Not wanting to make him feel suspicious, Renee asked him a question with the same tone as her pre-regression self used, to which Vera responded with irritation.


    “Are you going to y dumb?”


    Immediately after, Vera sat up, causing the bed to creak.


    “Hey Saint. Did I look like such a good-natured person in your eyes?”


    “I can’t see with my eyes.”


    “Enough with the wordy.”


    “What do you mean by wordy? Doesn’t Ve… Brother know that I am blind?”


    ‘Oops, I almost slipped.’


    Renee almost stumbled over her words, as calling him Vera had be a habit and speaking like that woman wasn’t easy at all.


    Renee, who had no talent for this kind of thing, tried to get rid of the rising tension and vented her dissatisfaction with Vera.


    ‘Would it hurt if you just say it out? Why are you being so picky?’


    While she was barely able to endure her lips from pouting at the thought that there’s no other greater miser than him.


    <i> Clutch</i><i>—</i><i>!</i>


    Vera grabbed Renee’s neck.


    “Keugh…!”


    “You know what? You’re such an annoying woman. That said, I’ve spared you because I don’t want to cause unnecessary friction.”


    <i> Squeeze</i><i>—</i>


    His grip on her neck tightened.


    Renee struggled to keep her face calm even as she felt her heart sinking.


    ’…It’s okay. Vera has no intention of killing me.’


    This was just a threat. He was doing it in hopes of scaring her.


    If this was a sincere act, the oath in Vera’s heart would have been the first to respond.


    “Enough with the bullshit. I only promised you one thing. To lend you my power just once someday, whenever you wish. In return, you won’t inform the Holy Kingdom of my existence. Nowhere in that promise does it say you can kidnap me in a ce like this.”


    Vera pulled Renee’s body closer to his, so that they were within breathing distance of each other, and then finished his words in a very quiet and low tone.


    “Everyone around you praised you, so you think you can do anything? Huh? Know your ce. No matter how well you’re adorned as the Saint, you’re just a useless bitch who can’t do anything on your own. You’re just an insect who can do nothing but squeak while being choked.”


    The sensation of his hot breath touched her face. Feeling dazed at that for a moment, Renee’s expression crumpled at his following words.


    ‘Look at this foul mouth.’


    Where did Vera learn to speak like this, and how dare he say that to her?


    Renee felt ridiculous.


    ‘So that’s the promise…’


    Fortunately, she had heard all she needed to find out.


    Deciding that she had no reason to put up with this any longer, Renee grabbed Vera’s wrist and then lifted her foot to kick Vera in the stomach.


    It was not an effective blow.


    However, it was enough to divert Vera’s attention elsewhere.


    Vera let out a snicker and said.


    “What are you trying to do?”


    Renee answered as she felt the pressure on her neck loosen.


    “I feel like my heart breaks every time Vera says harsh words to me.”


    The answer she gave while putting on a very sad face was the trigger words that Vera had told her.


    “Keugh…!”


    A stifled groan escaped from Vera.


    <i> Thud!</i>


    The sound of something falling echoed through the room.


    Renee took a few deep breaths as her airway was finally freed and then stood up with her cane before speaking.


    “How dare you be so insolent against me, Vera. You’re being rude.”


    She let out a snort with a ‘Huff!’ and spewed words with a lot of strength.


    …That’s the case. Renee, who grew up watching Vera during her most important growth period, had be someone who believed that violence was more effective than persuasion.


    ***


    Themotion passed, and with the calmed-down Vera in front of her, Renee pondered.


    ‘What now…’


    She had heard what promises were made.


    She had subdued Vera as well.


    Now that they had pulled out the Vera from his problematic days and even achieved meaningful results, he would remember all about this and what had happened when he returned to normal.


    In other words, there was no more business with the pre-regression Vera.


    “…I didn’t expect that one called ‘Saint’ could be this violent.”


    Even in the midst of having such thoughts, Vera continued to run his mouth.


    They were mainly words reproaching her, such as saying that the Saint was too violent, asking what kind of trick she used, asking what she would do, and that he would never act the way she wanted.


    She felt the same repertoire from his words even though they brought out Vera from a few yearster than thest time.


    “Phew, can’t you zip that mouth up? You are so noisy.”


    Vera shut his mouth.


    It was not to follow Renee’s words, but out of a sense of absurdity.


    Only after that did Renee make a satisfied face and nodded.


    “Now that’s better.”


    Vera gnashed his teeth as he felt his pride being ripped apart.


    ‘Nasty bitch…’


    How could a person like this have no redeeming qualities?


    From the first meeting, when she acted coy, to this moment when she showed her true colors, she was a woman with no cute side.


    ’…What the heck is going on?’


    Vera continued his thoughts as he looked at the window behind Renee’s back.


    The dark blue sky bore some resemnce to a night sky, but Vera knew.


    This was the Cradle’s sky.


    In other words, they were in the Cradle of the Dead.


    Why was he in the Cradle when he was in the Empire just before he fell asleep? And why did the oath change, and what was the Saint in front of him thinking when she kidnapped him?


    While his head was swimming in the sea of questions.


    “Ah, it’s time to eat.”


    Renee said as she put her hand on her stomach.


    “…What?”


    “It’s meal time. I’m getting hungry, so it must be lunch. Let’s go get some food.”


    Vera let out a hollowugh.


    It was augh that came out because he was dumbfounded at the way she said with full conviction, ‘It must be lunchtime because I’m hungry.’ as if she had a clock attached to her body.


    Standing up with her cane, Renee held out her hand.


    “Your hand, please.”


    “…What?”


    “Give me your hand. Let’s go eat.”


    At such a shameless statement, Vera felt a pain in his neck.


    ***


    Back in the room after eating lunch, Renee pondered what to do with the pre-regression Vera and soon came to a conclusion.


    ‘Let’s use the promise.’


    That one-time promise this Vera spoke of. She concluded that it would be a good idea to make use of it.


    There was still one day left for Vera to return.


    This Vera was the Vera that was brought out from his memories, so even if she were to use the promise now, it would be nothing.


    If so, it would not be a bad idea to use that promise to finish a task that had been stalled.


    Where to use the promise… there’s one right ce.


    [What’s this, did youe for a walk with your master?]


    That was to interrogate Annalise.


    Since Vera himself said that this current Vera was when he was very vicious, she figured that he might be better than the present Vera at things like interrogation.


    Renee kept her mouth shut and gestured with her chin.


    Vera grimaced at that gesture and took a step forward.


    “…You also look like a wreck.”


    He said that because he had heard about how the Tower Master of Auric was captured beforeing here.


    ‘Didn’t she say that the soul is bound by the Apostle of Death?’


    Of course, those were words Renee made up in haste, but it was highly unlikely that Vera would realize that.


    ‘The Ancient Species will go on a rampage, huh…’


    He was told that there would be a great upheaval in the future, and that this Tower Master had a clue about it.


    Vera judged that spending the promise with this interrogation wasn’t such a bad thing.


    ‘I need to change the trade item.’


    If he knew when and where disaster would strike, he could use it to his advantage.


    Vera sat down in front of the doll where Annalise was sealed.


    <i> Tap. Tap.</i>


    Tapping his knee in his seat as he continued to think, Vera concluded that since he was asked to do this in the form of an ‘interrogation’, he should go out with an attitude that suited that.


    “She’s probably not going to open her mouth easily.”


    Words leaked out while he was thinking how to interrogate a soul trapped in a doll.


    However, the chuckling response was going off the track from the topic that had been going on until just before.


    [It’s starting again. Why? Did your master scold you to do something quickly?]


    “What?”


    [Such a poor thing. Your master must have been disappointed that I kept my mouth shut, huh? You have a very rotten face.]


    Vera tilted his head in confusion, which caused Annalise to add in a more excited tone.


    [Look at this dog bastard, putting in so much effort just to receive praise from your master. What a pathetic sight…]


    Vera lifted his eyebrows.


    Even amidst his puzzlement, Vera wasn’t oblivious enough to not understand the derogatory tone behind thosements.


    From the circumstances, ‘master’ must be referring to Renee while ‘dog bastard’ must be referring to himself.


    “Hah…”


    Vera let out a hollowugh.


    “I never thought I’d hear that from an asshole trapped in a doll. How about taking off that Tower Master title? What kind of Tower Master couldn’t stop a single spell and ended up stuck in such a shoddy doll?”


    Being not present here… might have been great luck for Norn.


    What Vera now described as a shoddy doll was a doll that Norn made.


    [But unlike someone, I didn’t surrender my heart away. I’d rather perish than live as a rag mat.]


    “Why? Even though I can just make you perish on the spot?”


    [Try it then.]


    “If you want…”


    Just as Vera was about to raise his hand at Annalise’s provocation, Renee stepped in.


    “Vera.”


    Vera stopped moving. His expression soured even more.


    [Oh my, you understand words quite well for a puppy bastard.]


    Annalise sneered at that sight as if it was pleasant to irritate Vera.


    Renee let out a deep sigh and poured out her frustration.


    ’…It’s useless.’


    She was brewing the thought that the pre-regression Vera was somehow also useless in this area.


    “If you think you can’t do it, let’s just go. It’s a waste of ti…”


    “I can do it.”


    Vera’s head snapped back. Though Renee couldn’t see it, Vera’s face was burning with anger.


    “Didn’t you call me because you couldn’t do it yourself? If you can’t help, stand back. Don’t bother me for nothing.”


    His words, growing increasingly hostile, elicited an ‘Oh’ from Renee.


    ‘So, Vera is the type who works harder when underestimated.’


    It was a reaction that came out as she realized a new side of Vera’s personality that woulde in handyter.


    “Yes, well… Go ahead and try it then.”


    Renee, a quick learner, said words of encouragement that could only be heard as sarcasm and smiled.


    Veins sprouted on Vera’s forehead, which wasn’t even slightly unusual given the circumstances.