Chapter Forty-Two: Gamble
Friday,
11:35 A.M.
Finally, they arrived.
In front of an apartment, specifically, in front of a door with the number 305 on it, stood a boy and a girl.
These two were none other than Morgan and Kurumi.
Both of them had contrasting appearances, with Kurumi having the refined look of a young lady.
While Morgan, despite having an average look, had a casual air of composure around him.
Oddly, this contrast drew eyes towards them as they passed.
Never mind that,
This was their destinatiom.
On the third floor of a seven-story apartment building, positioned just right to overlook the city below.
Morgan couldn't help but wonder just how far the old man's influence reached.
The way he'd casually said, "I'll handle it," and then delivered something like this.
He must've been the type who always "knows a guy who knows a guy that can handle it."
But he tossed that aside for now.
Knock knock
Lightly, Morgan knocked on the door.
"Aye-aye, coming~"
Just as he knocked, a somewhat carefree tone came from behind the door.
Click~!
The lock turned, and the door cracked open. Morgan and Kurumi briefly exchanged looks.
Without speaking, Kurumi stepped forward and pushed the door open fully.
The interior came into view.
"Hehe~ so these are my benefactors, huh? Iyaa, thank you kindly for helping little ol' me."
It was the silver-haired girl, with blue eyes, wearing casual clothes.
A white shirt and blue jeans.
She had a somewhat strained smile as she addressed both Kurumi and Morgan.
"Now, come in, come in~"
"Pardon our intrusion then."
Kurumi answered as she stepped inside first, Morgan following her into the entryway.
After a few steps, they arrived at the living room.
It was a simple setup with sofas, a TV, a central table, and a few decorations.
"You can take a seat over there. Ah, I guess I should get you both something to drink."
With a small wave, she hurried into the kitchen, leaving the two alone.
Morgan's gaze lingered in the direction she disappeared.
"…It's not just me, right? She doesn't seem fully recovered."
He brushed a hand lightly along the sofa before sitting down.
"Mmm~ looks like I wasn't the only one who noticed."
Kurumi echoed him, sitting beside him on the two-seater sofa he sat on.
"Here here~"
Soon enough, Nia returned with a tray carrying two glasses and a pair of chilled canned drinks.
Placing the set on the table, then took the seat directly across from the two.
"Uh, wait just a second."
Just as she settled down, she blinked in surprise.
Her gaze moved back and forth between them, taking in their positions and how naturally they sat together.
"…Are my two benefactors dating?"
For a moment, her question caught both of them off guard, though both had a high level of acting skills.
Morgan wore an unimpressed expression while Kurumi let out her usual smile.
"Ufufuf~ no we're not. But to this kind of question, perhaps we should have left her there for a while more."
"You're right, how bold of her."
They were clearly teasing, but their delivery was enough to make Nia stiffen in her seat.
A bead of sweat ran down her cheek as she raised her hands defensively.
"Ah—s-sorry, sorry! You both looked so serious, I thought I'd lighten the mood, hahaha…"
After saying that, she then cleared her throat.
Kahun~
"Nice to meet you properly, my benefactors. I am Nia Honjou. Once again, thank you both."
Her tone changed.
She sounded like a proper adult this time, greeting both of them, prompting a nod of acknowledgment from the two.
But to Nia.
How to proceed?
She didn't know.
Using her powers, she had seen everything.
From how they rescued her to how he personally ensured she received treatment.
She was grateful.
Yet, more than thanks, she was scared.
These are people who could casually wipe out islands with a mere flick of their fingers.
And what's with 'Excalibur Morgan'?!
Seriously, what kind of narcissistic name was that? Yet it was undeniably cool because it worked.
And what was with that anime worthy line!?
Nia couldn't contain her excitement.
Morgan was practically a manga protagonist walking around, and she could already picture the panels for a new manga.
But...
"I—I'm sure my benefactors had some kind of plan in mind for saving me, right?"
As soon as those words left her lips.
The room fell into silence.
Kurumi kept her smile, while Morgan leaned his temple against his hand, watching Nia calmly.
"U-Uhm… benefactors?"
Nia tilted her head.
Did she get it wrong?
No way… right?
"Haah~ to think this powerless little bird is still acting bold. Should I put her in her place?"
Kurumi spoke without even acknowledging Nia, looking only at Morgan.
What a strong ignoring ability.
Nia thought in horror when she whipped her head toward Morgan in alarm,
and nearly froze when she saw him actually considering it.
Please don't consider it!
Obviously, despite wanting to scream that, she couldn't.
She might be a spirit, but her fighting ability is literally zero when it comes down to it.
However-
"Alright, enough scaring her, I've had my fun."
Morgan dropped the act with a faint smile, leaning forward slightly on the couch.
Kurumi nodded along, though her expression remained unchanged, which wasn't comforting at all.
"I came to ask for your help. Don't worry. There's no danger to you, and I'll guarantee protection from DEM."
Here it begins.
Nia thought with a slight frown.
That offer was practically too good for her. If she thought about it rationally, then...
Wasn't she just stacking debuffs on herself?
In her mind, she could already visualize Morgan as an underworld boss.
Helping her now, only to blackmail her later with a lecherous smile.
Iyada~ mou~
"Ufufufu~ Clair has no reason to blackmail you, so you can stop your little fantasies, Nia-san."
"Gah! She knows!?"
Nia recoiled dramatically.
A brief pause followed before she exhaled and composed herself.
"So? What do you want? Information? Or… do you want me to work for you?"
Nia Her voice dropped slightly at the end as she held her tongue.
Honestly, she'll be very troubled if he goes with the latter.
As much gratitude as she felt towards Morgan, she too wanted her peace.
She deserved that much.
But having said that earlier, she couldn't deduce him.
Perhaps, she should use [Raziel] to dig out everything about him to know her fate?
But Kurumi had said that wasn't the case.
Either way, if that was going to be the case, especially if pressure was applied.
She would have no choice.
Of course, to work under him.
She braced herself.
But then,
"There are two things I want to ask from you, working for me is not included."
Nia flinched.
It was the last thing she expected.
She had braced herself for some heavy demand in return from Morgan, like the you-know-what genre.
After all, no one goes as far as fighting an organization of that level just to ask for a simple favor.
Unbelievable.
"Aah… that's…"
"Nia-san~, as absurd as it may sound, he means exactly what he says."
Morgan immediately spun his attention to Kurumi with an exasperated gaze.
"Why do I have a feeling those words are deeper than they mean."
"Ufufu~ why not guess?"
Kurumi, too, held a personal interest.
How far Morgan could go.
And at the end of that journey, devour him and become one with him.
'Ahn~ ahn~ what a lovely dilemma.'
Obviously, he treated her like a normal person.
He was the only one aware of her identity without showing fear towards her.
Nor was he preaching to her.
Obviously, the ideal answer was right in front of her.
But now that a
Her choice will be far more easy.
Yet she couldn't openly ask such question such things while he was present.
"E–eh? That's it? Come on, don't leave me hanging."
Nia almost waved her hands, visibly frustrated.
"Your powers are Omniscient, right? Then looking into the future should be easy, no?"
That's not how it works.
Nia bit her lips.
Yet, it felt like the male was baiting her, so she held back for now.
Her power wasn't truly omniscient.
She could monitor the present and observe the past. That much was possible.
But to judge Morgan, she would need to view everything.
His past entirely up until now.
And she had been avoiding digging too deeply into anyone's history.
"Ugh… all of this is driving me crazy with suspense."
Nia slumped back into her seat like a disgruntled adult.
She hated unnecessary work.
The thought of what he might ask from her later already made her groan.
"Why complain? Do you want to work under me..?"
Morgan crossed his arms and cracked one eye open at her.
Nia cutrently doesn't have a goal.
Having saved her this early, her goals or motives are still uncertain.
Whether she wants to get sealed or not was completely up to her.
Obviously, he knew Nia couldn't foresee the future.
There were too many limitations on her
But he had guessed she was wary towards him and Kurumi.
Honestly, the two of them really did look like a match made in hell.
"No, no, I just wondered if a deal this good is even real. Hahaha…"
Morgan shot her another flat stare.
"Alright then. In exchange for saving you… help Ratatoskr."
"Eh?"
It wasn't only Nia that let out that dumbdounded sound, the same went for Kurumi too.
One could sum up their current relationship as collaborators.
Both knew it'd be a waste of time to claw at each other's throat.
Morgan understood full well that he couldn't take down Kurumi.
In that regard, she was like a cockroach that simply refused to die.
And Kurumi, on her end, knew it wouldn't be easy to pin him down either.
He had too many ways to slip through problems.
If things really went south, he could even side with DEM or the AST.
And that itself was a problem.
Perhaps there was a future where he sided with them—DEM.
[Inc_99: An alternative route. Should I write it?]
Because of that, she chose not to chase after him… for now.
However,
Thus came a ridiculous declaration from him.
"I've said it. I'm not on the side of the Spirits. But when that time comes…"
Morgan pictured a future where, at the critical moment, he would use Nia to influence Tohka.
At that point…
The path to the otherworld would open.
For that reason, he needed Tohka to become human.
It had always been his intention, though Maya interfered and stalled it.
Opportunities were few.
But Tohka required emotions far stronger than what the current Princess form allowed.
Morgan was gambling on that.