IGWNI Ch 27

Malik could not finish his sentence. Right in front of him, the Ramia knelt down.

「What the! You!」

“I am sorry.”

「What did you say?」

“I am sorry. This happened because I acted without knowing my place.”

「Ramia!」

Eustace shouted. Yoon Jaewoo, with his head bowed, continued to speak.

“So please let him go. Lord Eustace… is injured.”

Yoon Jaewoo knew that Eustace had gotten hurt to the point of being unable to use one arm while protecting him. Even in the midst of that, Eustace had held Yoon Jaewoo close so that not a single strand of his hair would be harmed, and faced the swarming Ibnu.

“It is my fault, so I would be grateful if you would let him go.”

No matter what he said, Malik would not understand his words. Still, he thought it was better to speak. Yoon Jaewoo clasped his hands together and bowed his head twice towards Malik. After that, he pulled his hands back and bowed his head again.

He had recalled the posture of a Ramia making a request to a Dweord that he had seen in a book of etiquette. As he remained like that for a long while, the sound of a sigh was heard from above his head.

When Yoon Jaewoo blinked and looked up, Eustace was looking down at him with a frown. In those eyes, Yoon Jaewoo read distress.

“…Why.”

When he asked in a small voice, Eustace turned his gaze away completely.

“…Are you perhaps ashamed of me right now?”

Yoon Jaewoo exclaimed, flaring up.

Hey! You punk! For you, I’ve thrown away all my pride as a man and am kneeling and begging in front of this bird-brain! Are you embarrassed of me right now!

「…This kid is really stupid.」

Cox muttered in a surprised voice. Yatenbaum’s shoulders trembled as he tried to hold back his laughter with a strange expression on his face.

The greeting Yoon Jaewoo had performed while making his request to Malik was a plea that a Maryan could only make to the Dweord they served.

Its meaning was.

—Tonight, I ask for your favor in our sleeping arrangements.

「Ah, fuck.」

Malik let out an irritated word and removed the hand that was gripping Eustace’s arm. Eustace also removed the hand that was gripping Malik’s throat.

「What is so good about a stupid Ramia like that.」

Malik crouched down with a look of incomprehension and looked at Yoon Jaewoo, who was still blinking his large eyes.

Malik lifted Yoon Jaewoo’s chin with his fingertips and stared at his face. Glistening, dark golden hair covered his forehead as softly as honey, and amber eyes that matched his ivory skin looked up at him cautiously.

As he looked into them, he strangely felt anxious and his mouth went dry, causing Malik’s irritation to soar.

「He’s so damn ugly it’s annoying just to look at him!」

He pushed Yoon Jaewoo’s face to the side and stood up from his spot.

「Ramia. Get up.」

At Eustace’s words, Yoon Jaewoo hesitated, watching for cues, then straightened his legs. His unsound right leg could not support him, and Yoon Jaewoo unfortunately ended up tumbling right into Malik.

“……!”

Yoon Jaewoo’s face turned deathly pale as he inadvertently grabbed Malik’s clothes and fell into his arms.

He could handle any other Dweord, but… Malik was really not one of them. Malik was the one who, at every opportunity, would say he would catch Yoon Jaewoo, skin him alive, chop him into pieces, and throw him to the dogs as feed.

He had expected all sorts of curses, malicious words, and profanities to erupt from above his head, but surprisingly, Malik stood there silently, holding Yoon Jaewoo.

Yoon Jaewoo slowly raised his head. Their eyes met. Malik, who was faintly blushing, hurriedly turned his head and threw a fit.

「This filthy Ramia!」

“…….”

As expected.

「Damn it, the smell of rot is overwhelming. My noble nose is suffering. How dare you grab the clothes of a Dweord with a noble bloodline like me. I’ll have to cut your fingers off joint by joint and throw them to the pigs for you to come to your senses!」

Even while screaming at the top of his lungs in a rage, Malik did not let go of the hand holding Yoon Jaewoo. Yoon Jaewoo stared at him blankly, then cautiously called out to Malik, saying, “excuse me.”

「What? Did you just call me? Did you call this Dweord Malik-nim? You disgusting Ramia.」

“Um, this…, could you please let go.”

Yoon Jaewoo pointed to Malik’s hand that was holding him tightly. As if burned by fire, Malik snatched his hand away and turned his head.

Eustace, who had been watching the scene, pulled Yoon Jaewoo’s shoulder with a displeased face and brought him to his side.

「It seems there is nothing more to talk about.」

As Eustace muttered curtly, Cox nodded his head.

「Right. What more is there to talk about? The discussion of Vedas is almost over. We’re almost at the barrier. But, are you going to be okay with that arm? We do not know what will come flooding into this place starting tomorrow.」

At Cox’s words, Yoon Jaewoo looked at Eustace in surprise.

「Worry about yourself.」

「No, I am worried. Of course, a weak Dweord like me would be bedridden for ten days if bitten like that by an Ibnu, but you will be all better after being sick for three or four days. Hehe, though if another Dweord lent his power, you could be healed right now. But what can you do? There’s no other way, so you have no choice but to be sick.」

「You have become too talkative, Cox.」

「I was worried about what would happen if someone snatched up your pretty yummy while you are sickly and ill.」

Cox quickly finished his words and laughed.

「Do not worry. I will not receive your help even if both my hands and feet are cut off.」

At Eustace’s words, Yoon Jaewoo wore a worried expression, looked up at him, and then opened his mouth.

“Why is no one helping?”

「What?」

“If this is something someone can fix, why is no one helping?”

When Yoon Jaewoo pointed to Eustace’s arm with a tearful face, Cox, realizing what he was trying to say, nodded his head.

「Yummy. Do you think what we are doing is some kind of child’s play?」

Cox reached out his damp hand and swept Yoon Jaewoo’s hair back. When Eustace coldly slapped his hand away, Cox giggled and stepped back.

「In a situation like this, Eustace getting injured is an opportunity for a weak and only-smart Dweord like me.」

Cox’s eyes glinted despicably as he said so.

The discussion regarding Vedas was very important in deciding the position of Azhar. An amount of power and energy unimaginable to ordinary people was consumed in that place. Naturally, it was advantageous for the remaining Dweords if one of them dropped out early.

“Even so, you just watch while he is in pain like this?”

Malik, who read the reproach in Yoon Jaewoo’s eyes, lifted his chin and replied in an arrogant voice.

「Why help him when he will be all better after being sick for three or four days anyway? And it would be even better if, during those three or four days, I seize the advantageous position and take Azhar for myself.」

Yoon Jaewoo’s gaze rested on Cox.

「Hehehe. I told you, it’s an opportunity for a weakling like me.」

Finally, Yatenbaum.

He was Eustace’s cousin, and among these four, the two were the closest, so Yoon Jaewoo placed his hopes on Yatenbaum.

「I refuse.」

Yatenbaum firmly stated his refusal.

「It is cowardly, but I will take this as an opportunity to rise to Azhar. And I will take your Ramia.」

Upon hearing those words, Eustace laughed lowly. They were all able to rise to their current positions because they were ruthless at crucial moments.

To them, this was a very natural outcome.

「Then let us continue the discussion tomorrow.」

Eustace gave a brief farewell and pulled Yoon Jaewoo’s hand. Yoon Jaewoo glanced at the faces of the remaining Dweords with an expression of indignation and some regret.

Damn bastards. How can beings called gods all be so cold-hearted and despicable? It is because of you guys that life in the world is getting more and more harsh! Damn things. Damn Dweords, you bad bastards….

「Wait.」

Yatenbaum called out to them as they were about to leave the office. Yoon Jaewoo turned his head with a that’s what I thought feeling.

He believed in a corner of his heart that Yatenbaum, considering his relationship with Eustace, would definitely help.

「Are you okay?」

Yatenbaum reached out and held Yoon Jaewoo’s fingers.

“Pardon?”

「Blondie, your injury here. It must hurt. Shall I kiss it better?」

What is this lunatic saying.

「If it hurts, come to my room. I will be waiting with a panacea that heals all wounds just by applying it.」

As soon as Yatenbaum finished speaking, Eustace let out a cold sneer and pulled Yoon Jaewoo’s waist tightly against him. Then, he kissed the crown of his head and sent a farewell with his eyes to Yatenbaum.

「That, that…!」

Before Yatenbaum could even open his mouth, Eustace left the office, still holding Yoon Jaewoo. Leaving Yatenbaum’s furious voice behind, Eustace walked down the hallway with Yoon Jaewoo.