Although Kaede no longer followed Asuna everywhere like before, she still liked staying by her side. But today, Kaede set out alone.
The reason? Naturally, it was to find Heathcliff and get rid of this guard.
These past few days, Kaede had been watching Kuradeel's shifting gazes and expressions like watching a clown.
And one of those gazes was growing heavier—a gaze directed at her, a murderous gaze that wanted to eliminate her, and it was almost completely undisguised.
If Asuna hadn't forbidden her from killing, Kaede would have definitely drawn her blade and dealt with this fellow who wanted her life.
However, even so, Kaede wouldn't allow someone who might ambush and threaten her life at any moment to be near her.
So, Kaede planned to find Heathcliff. As for using messages, they were all rejected, making Kaede quite angry.
"Why are you following me?" Kaede, who wanted to go to the Knights of the Blood Oath headquarters, found that Kuradeel was actually following her and couldn't help but ask. She knew clearly that this guy's target seemed to be her sister, so why follow her?
"Is he going to act so soon?" Kaede narrowed her eyes.
"I am your guard." Kuradeel suppressed the urge to laugh and curled the corners of his mouth, speaking in a suppressed tone.
"Ah, you're finally going to be alone! Finally, a chance!"
Kuradeel was excited and happy in his heart. He had finally waited for this day, this moment. He could almost not suppress the joy in his heart, a hideous smile hanging on his face.
"I'm just going to the headquarters; you don't need to follow." Kaede looked at Kuradeel. This trip was to fire him; what was the point of him following her?
"Eh? Just as well, I know a shortcut to the headquarters, and there's a great snack shop nearby." Kuradeel said, suppressing his inner urge.
"A shortcut?" Kaede looked at Kuradeel. Was there anything faster than a teleportation gate? At this point, he was so excited he couldn't even think. Was she really that loathsome to him?
For some reason, Kaede narrowed her eyes, sensing the other party's state of mind, and a sudden sense of amusement rose in her heart.
"Oh, then let's go." Kaede nodded, not exposing Kuradeel. This was also an opportunity to reveal his hypocritical face, and Kaede seemed to be looking forward to it—looking forward to the expression Kuradeel would have when all his plans failed.
As she thought about it, a smile involuntarily appeared on the corner of Kaede's mouth.
Kuradeel, seeing all this, had no idea why Kaede was smiling. He thought she was happy about the snacks, and a strange arc curled at the corner of his mouth as he moved slightly.
"Idiot!"
Giving Kaede such an evaluation, Kuradeel began to lead the way.
Following behind Kuradeel, Kaede also smiled—a smile that would make anyone's heart turn cold upon seeing it. At this moment, even Kaede herself didn't notice that she... smiled?
Kaede herself wasn't sure why she was like this; she was simply doing what her heart wanted to do at the moment.
...
"We're here. This is it." Kuradeel said at this moment.
"Where are the snacks?" Kaede asked. She had been observing the terrain along the way; it was almost entirely desolate here. An ambush? Impossible.
So, did Kuradeel want to handle her himself? Kaede didn't think this person would be that stupid, though he really was quite dumb.
"So, how is he going to play this?" Kaede narrowed her eyes and saw Kuradeel walk into the only dilapidated house, which could barely fit a few people.
After a while, Kuradeel came out carrying a tray of bread.
"The owner seems to have left early for something. The bread I ordered earlier is ready." A smile appeared on Kuradeel's face—a smile radiating from within, a sincere smile, the smile of a plan about to succeed.
Kaede picked up a piece of bread from the plate and used her appraisal skill. Although her appraisal skill couldn't compare to that of the weapon shopkeepers, she actually managed to identify it this time.
"Heh heh, eat up, eat up, you fool. You won't be able to move very soon!" Kuradeel couldn't contain himself; his wide grin looked as if his mouth was about to tear open the next moment.
However, the next moment, Kuradeel froze because Kaede had already arrived in front of him, holding the bread from before.
"Ha!" She smiled at Kuradeel, then punched him right in the stomach.
"Ugh!" Although there was no pain sensation in this game, Kuradeel still involuntarily opened his mouth, and the next moment he felt something soft being stuffed directly into it.
Instantly, Kuradeel realized what was in his mouth and wanted to spit it out.
But the next moment, a slap landed directly on his mouth.
The powerful force sent Kuradeel's body flying, causing him to arc through the air before crashing onto the ground.
As for the bread, it was now impossible for him not to eat it.
Besides, this was a game, so spitting it out was completely impossible!
"You! You!!!" Kuradeel looked at Kaede, who was walking toward him step by step, his face filled with terror. He wanted to run, but the next moment he collapsed to the ground as the poison he had put in the bread took effect.
"Am I really that stupid in your eyes? Did you actually think I'd eat just anything?" Kaede looked at Kuradeel with a touch of mockery.
"You! You!" Only then did Kuradeel realize that his plan was full of holes. But it should have been enough to deal with someone like this fool, right? Didn't she always gobble up everything she ate? Why did she notice it was poisoned!
Therefore, the most tragic thing in life is when someone is pretending to be a fool, and you foolishly believe they really are one.
"Tsk, I knew you wanted to kill me from the start. I even wanted to see how you were going to do it, but this is really disappointing." Kaede looked at Kuradeel. She had followed him to resolve the issue with Kuradeel, and also because of her own self-confidence. She hadn't let her guard down once on the way; no one could sneak up on her. As for being surrounded, Kaede was confident she could break out before they could form a perimeter.
However, everything seemed to be in vain. She had been treated like a fool, and the fact that he tried to kill her with such a method made Kaede feel quite irritated.
"You knew from the beginning?" Kuradeel's face twisted. How was that possible?
Kaede, who wanted to continue toying with him, narrowed her eyes. She was about to open her mouth to speak, but the next moment, she couldn't say anything.
Because she froze herself. What was she saying? Confusion appeared in Kaede's eyes. Those words had definitely been spoken based on the pleasure in her heart, but they felt a bit foreign. It was the first time Kaede had felt that side of herself.
"Older sister probably wouldn't like this." To be honest, Kaede was scared by herself.
Looking at Kuradeel once more, Kaede suddenly felt a lack of interest and asked directly, "Why do you want to kill me?"
"Kill you? Who told you to corrupt Lady Asuna? That person who should be perfect was corrupted by you, you idiot. Unforgivable! Unforgivable!!" At this moment, Kuradeel's face was no longer human; he looked like a demon.
"OK, that's enough." Kaede didn't want to care about what else Kuradeel was saying. That sentence was enough; he had already admitted he wanted to kill her, and her purpose had been fulfilled.
Checking her friend list, Kaede sent the memory crystal she had just used and the coordinates to Heathcliff.
Then she sat there waiting for the Knights of the Blood Oath to arrive, thinking about what had just been said and that strange sense of pleasure.
What exactly was wrong with her?
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