The Person I Loved Asked Me to Die in My Younger Sister’s Place

Lloyd woke up from his shallow slumber.

——He felt like someone was calling him.

Gradually, he recognized that the room he was in was familiar.

“Brat.”

A low voice echoed in his head, and he jumped awake.

It was an unfamiliar room, like a storage room. It was a room with bare, distorted tree bark that didn’t even look like a proper house.

Belatedly, he remembered his current situation. The <Grey Lands>. The house of Wisteria Irene, the Guardian. He was told to go to sleep because it was nighttime, so he laid down in the room he was assigned. He wondered how much time had passed since then.

“Don’t make a fuss. Irene won’t hear about this.”

The voice echoed in Lloyd’s head again. The solemn male voice, which sounded neither old nor young, belonged to the holy sword <Salutis>.

It wasn’t in this room. Lloyd could only hear its voice.

Frowning at the unfamiliar sensation, Lloyd sharpened his nerves.

“You’re just an apprentice, and Irene is your master for now. Nothing more than that. You must keep your word.”

In the dimness, Lloyd’s golden eyes blinked. He pondered for a moment over what the holy sword was trying to say.

——What was it trying to point out about my words?

The voice echoing in his head stopped for a moment.

Finally, the voice spoke, a little lower this time.

“She’s a pitiful woman. Don’t lay a hand on her, even as a mere flirtation. Especially you.”

Lloyd’s eyes widened slightly.

He was a little late in understanding the unexpected words, and then a sarcastic smile appeared on his lips.

Those were words he had received from many other men, either in a roundabout or direct way.

——I never thought that the holy sword would speak those words.

“I was wondering what you were getting at… I don’t have that much trouble with other people. Even if she’s the one pursuing me, I won’t respond. Didn’t you hear the reason I’m seeking you?”

Lloyd spoke without thinking. He relaxed his tense body a little and sat down, resting his hand on his right knee.

He was known to be a man with many lovers and was courted often, but he had never been in a relationship that anyone could find fault with.

“By pitiful woman–do you mean the way she continues to live in this land alone as a Guardian?”

Indeed, as a Guardian, Wisteria Irene was an existence who should be marveled. A great feat unlike any other hero. She was still alive and sane while fulfilling her duties as a Guardian.

Furthermore, she was neither a witch nor a grotesque as he had imagined. She took the form of a remarkable young person, dressed in a dark outfit similar to a riding suit, her hair tied back simply because it would get in the way, and was completely plain.

Her purple eyes, which made her skin look even more pale, and her jet-black hair, which seemed to absorb the light, were somewhat eye-catching.

She was not an ugly woman. Rather, she had a face that was so well-featured that it was obvious even without makeup.

Lloyd was used to seeing people who were merely good looking, but it was not surprising that there were rumors that Labra, the head of the magical research department, was deceived by her in the past.

However, Labra wasn’t deceived by beautiful faces.

“She was…in no way a villainess. She was gentle and intelligent–strong and beautiful.”

He finally understood the significance of the naive head researcher’s voice and eyes.

(So, does that mean Master Labra’s words were right?)

The woman who was said to be a witch was completely different not only in appearance but also in her nature from what was recorded. It was enough to baffle Lloyd several times.

Even Lloyd understood that it wasn’t pleasant to see such a woman, who had accomplished great deeds, not only unpraised but also recorded as a disgrace.

The holy sword was silent. Lloyd felt as if he were being questioned by its silence, and he couldn’t help but throw back rebellious words at it.

“Isn’t it the witch who needs this warning? Isn’t she much more adept at such tricks than I am?”

This time, he heard the angry growl of the holy sword.

——Maybe it wasn’t a very praiseworthy attitude to take in order to be recognized as the sword’s true master.

The calm part of Lloyd’s mind thought so, but he had never flattered nor buttered up someone before. Nor did he intend to do so in the future.

Eventually, Salutis spoke with the remnants of anger in its voice.

“She is a foolish, sad woman who gave herself up for a clumsy love…without knowing a single kiss or requited feelings.”

It sounded somewhat like a lament.

Lloyd was taken aback.

“Love? What do you mean?”

The unexpected word prompted Lloyd to ask back.

Was it related to how Wisteria Irene Lafferty became the Guardian?

But the sword was silent.

Even when he waited for its next words or prompted it to speak again, Salutis didn’t answer.

“…What in the world do you want to say?”

He twisted his face and muttered.

The only answer was a quiet darkness that seemed to cover him.