Chapter 147: Phantoms Have No Shadows, Shadows Have No Phantoms 2
*
Erica Longdagger was certain of something.
She held a strong conviction that the man known as Shin Longdagger was deeply compassionate.
Usually, he maintained a nonchalant attitude, tending to distance himself from everything by placing himself a step below others.
But in truth, he was incredibly compassionate.
While showing an attitude as if he had given up on the world’s absurdity and Iniquity, the person Shin Longdagger was the least likely to actually give up.
That was why he would calmly try to stand beside the weak.
Despite possessing strength so great it would be difficult to find anyone in this world who could stand alongside him.
He didn’t try to stand at the forefront, but beside others.
This became clear just by watching his recent work as an adventurer.
With a large number of adventurers away, the requests Shin chose to clear the backlog were—truly unbecoming of someone strong.
Transporting Magic Stone Fragments to nearby villages, delivering urgent letters, and the Subjugation of Monsters even novice adventurers could handle.
He didn’t fuss over the content of the requests just because he was strong.
He didn’t question the amount or quality of the difficulties involved; in other words, for Shin, fighting a Blackened Dragon and delivering a letter inquiring about a mother’s well-being were of equal value.
What arrogance of the strong this was.
He paid no mind to directing his own compassion towards others as he pleased.
And yet, he didn’t stand in front.
He tried to stand beside others, self-deprecatingly, humbly, humorously, while placing himself a step below.
Bashfully, timidly.
As if saying, “I get it, things are tough for ‘both of us’, right?”
What kind of mindset was this? Within Shin, there was no significant difference between the hardships he faced and the hardships the weak faced.
From Shin’s perspective, when faced with difficulties he could calmly overcome, he would stand beside those whose legs trembled and help them take that first step.
Even while bleeding from the head.
Even with a hole in his stomach.
This was completely different from the mercy shown by royalty or nobility “for the sake of the people.”
Shin was utterly unlike a noble, yet he was born one nonetheless.
Freely, with Imprudence, and indiscriminately, he showered others with his compassion.
And yet, he willingly chose a way of life (as an adventurer) steeped in Iniquity, facing it calmly.
How exactly was one raised to become Shin Longdagger?
To Erica, it was an astonishing mystery.
For Erica, who had long given up on such things (freedom) as unattainable no matter how much she wished for them, it was incredibly strange.
For Erica, raised in the world of nobility where even pure affection carried political meaning, it was far too dazzling.
—Therefore, for Erica Longdagger, anyone who called such a Shin a fool was an enemy.
And the Maiden of Light (her best friend) was a source of fear.
Although, she did slightly re-evaluate the prince, who had surprisingly assessed Shin favorably.
She appeared before Shin’s eyes.
That alone made the depths of her chest ache.
It was fortunate she had managed to prepare the tea set before Luu arrived.
Had she been holding it, she likely would have crushed it to pieces.
Erica looked at her best friend’s face and felt relieved that she could manage a smile.
To let any emotion other than happiness at seeing her best friend slip out here would be nothing less than a betrayal towards Shin.
While embracing the commoner girl’s Imprudent affection, so similar to Shin’s.
Separate from the pain in her chest, Erica felt relieved that she could simply feel happy about their reunion, and then—
Seeing Shin’s face as he squinted for just a moment as if dazzled, she felt relieved that her own expression didn’t twist.
Catching sight of Shin approaching in the corner of her vision, her heart sank, realizing it was finally happening.
Watching Shin extend his hand and introduce himself to Luu in a quiet voice as her husband, she felt disgusted with herself for making him say it, and for her own heart leaping just from that.
Why must the person she loved endure such Iniquity?
What more was she asking him to discard?
Seeing Shin calmly accept all the Iniquity head-on, Erica almost wished he would just tell her she was in the way.
Ah, no, this was cowardly self-satisfaction.
Knowing full well that Shin would never say such a thing, wishing to be told so was merely a foolish excuse.
She knew no reason why she should allow herself such a thing.
Because she herself was the very Iniquity descending upon Shin.
Seeing Shin look surprised as Luu whispered something in his ear, Erica gently pressed her hand to her chest.
Pain, she could easily endure.
But restraining the urge to pull Shin close to her side was terribly difficult.
Afterword
Apparently, he really was just dazzled.
Thank you always for your comments and likes.
They are a huge source of motivation for the author.
Currently, I’m posting with the hope of updating every Sunday.
However, next week’s post on February 11th might be delayed.
If you follow the author, you’ll be notified of updates, so
I’d appreciate it if you’d consider doing so.