16 CHAPTER XV: NEGOTIATIONS (2/2)

Still, with surveillance in mind, I approached Lu with a very natural gesture and made a small call to him.

”Luu, I need a favor.

”............

I want to make a deal. I have something I really need. It's not much, and it doesn't violate any of the orders Luu has been given.

............ I refuse.

That's an insurmountable answer. The skeleton is looking at Luu, but the undead has no intelligence to speak of.

I am guarded and constantly under the watchful eye of a messenger, but Luu is not guarded at all and has no messenger to watch her.

She was a slave, a real weakling. A living undead, if you will, who only obediently obeyed the Lord's orders.

And the Lord's prospects were sadly very good.

After all, she had never asked for help, even in the face of the Lord's enemies, the Knights of the End. Even if she was afraid of the pain that would be rushing through her body for violating the order, the Demise Knights could have done anything.

Luu is weak. She couldn't live like this for long, and she knew it.

He bent down, looked into her tired, jet-black eyes, and smiled.

I'll make you the same offer I made you the other day. If you do me a favor, I'll take Luu safely to the city after the Lord dies. If you want, I can stay with you until you're able to make a minimal living.

”...... Master will never, ever die. It's a meaningless assumption.

He didn't look as surprised as he had at first. His body didn't shake, his voice didn't tremble. There was the same conviction in his eyes as before.

She probably would have given the same answer even if Lou hadn't been chastised because of me. That's the way Luu's world is.

I'm going to play it down a little bit.

You owe me one. If you ever need ...... help, I'll be ...... there for you.

”No, sir. I have no right to make a loan. In the first place, you'll never get it back.

Lou replies in a quiet voice and frowns.

That's true. If I had to choose between gratitude and my life, I would definitely choose the latter.

No, before that, ...... I don't think Luu is going to listen to my request.

I changed the direction of my proposal as planned.

”Then why are you listening to me?

”............ what?

Lou's eyes widened, and for the first time today he looked upset.

I was surprised by his very human expression and continued to persuade him in an impassioned voice.

If you don't want something, you don't need to listen to me. Just close your ears and go.

I don't listen to ............. I don't listen to .......

Actually, I do. I know what I want, what I've always wanted, because I'm weak like Lou. If you bring me what I want, I'll give it to you.

”............?

And while I had it in life - Luu, the poor slave of the Lord, does not have it.

Luu looks up at me with a quizzical expression. But his face was even bloodier than ever.

Maybe she doesn't know what she wants.

I didn't want to make this suggestion either. But I couldn't weigh it against my life.

I put my lips close to Luu's ear and whispered words of persuasion.

Luu's expression changed as he heard the words and understood their meaning. It was a dramatic change.

He looked like he was about to get angry, cry, or laugh, and his expression was a mixture of emotions.

”What ...... ...... oh ...... such a ridiculous thing-- --

I'll keep my ...... promise.

Lu swallowed his spit and shuddered. But there was no point in resisting now.

A single tear ran down his lower lashes and from his eyes. Luu knew now. He knew what he wanted so badly that he cried.

”What a ...... horrible ...... master, what a horrible ...... monster Holos Kamen is! --

Her dry lips cursed me. But she can't resist me anymore.

She'll do me a favor, even if it hurts like hell.

Once I reconfirmed that there was no surveillance around, I told Lou what I needed, feeling just a little bit of self-loathing.