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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/vehino on 2024-10-29 08:30:41+00:00.
Chapter Theme: Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living)
Chapter 38.
With Due Respect.
The girl’s name was Emily Norus, and I got to learn more about her over the course of an early lunch. So much more. Once I got past her initial shyness, I quickly discovered that the girl was a bit of a talker, and her favorite topic of discussion was herself.
Strangely, however, her self-absorption wasn’t without its charm. Although the girl was certainly vainglorious, she was still pleasant to be around and gracious to others when she could be cajoled into paying attention to them.
There was a solid core of good-natured sweetness at Emily’s center. It’s just that it was coated in a thick sediment of spoiled obliviousness that made it difficult for her to fathom that the people around her might not be as interested in her life as she assumed they were. It was an endearing sort of obliviousness when taken in small measurements.
As it turned out, she was slightly older than Kyler Evans and had been returning from a year of studying abroad in the Ethos Kingdom when her caravan had been assaulted.
It felt unpleasant knowing that the attack that had nearly seen Emily violated and murdered had been arranged by Jamie. The thought that one woman would knowingly profit from the horrific degradation of another was a stark reminder of humanity’s capacity for darkness. If mankind’s potential for greatness was without limit, so too was its capacity for selfishness and depravity.
I didn’t want to think about Jamie anymore, nor did I want to listen to Lady Emily’s chatter. So, I instead focused on the sushi that had been prepared for us.
I wish I could say that in the months since I regained the ability to eat human food, I had gradually learned self-restraint and to slowly savor a meal. But the reality was that I was still a shameless glutton who easily lost himself to the pleasure of mindless consumption. When the tray of rolls was presented to us, I happily grabbed two massive handfuls of rice and tuna and stuffed them blissfully into my face.
By the hungering dark, Sushi was so good. Eating it was like living out the lyrics to that old Eels song that went, Hey, man. Now you’re really living! Sadly, my companions didn’t seem to share in my enjoyment of the meal.
Around the table, the girls stared at me while wearing expressions which ranged from disgust to surprise and every other emotion in between. Even Rachel seemed embarrassed by me, which felt a little hurtful.
“It’s good,” I said as I wiped my mouth with my sleeve.
It really was.
Goodness, they were drilling holes into me with their eyes.
Before the conversation could spiral into any further awkwardness, a sharply dressed young man in white, wearing a set of black horn-rimmed glasses appeared out of nowhere and quietly informed us that the Regent would see me now.
When I say this man appeared out of nowhere, I meant it literally. In the space of a moment while my attention was occupied by the Regent’s granddaughter, he was suddenly there. It was a bewildering moment to be sure. No one likes being sneaked up on, much less me, a being whose refined senses should have made it impossible to be surprised, even while wearing his humble human form.
I instantly disliked this fellow.
“If you’ll come with me, Mr. Evans,” he said in a pleasant monotone as he gestured for me to follow. “My name is Tybalt Brask, the hand of the Regent. I’m so very pleased to meet you.”
“And I am Kyler—” I began to say before he cut me off.
“Yes, Kyler Evans, I’m aware,” he said with the smallest hint of impatience. “No need for an introduction of your own. Let’s be on our way.”
“Brother, there was no need for you to collect the Regent’s guest personally,” Alvidia said with surprising nervousness, as Cross stood beside her and nodded quickly in flustered embarrassment. “I’m sure you have more important things to do with your time.”
A deeply uncomfortable silence followed.
“Where is your sword, little sister?” the newcomer, Tybalt, finally asked in response as he stared pointedly at the empty scabbard belted at Alvidia’s waist.
Alvidia swallowed uncomfortably before replying. “It was destroyed during my recent outing. I’ll have it replaced at once.”
“A member of the Brask family, known far and wide as the mightiest on the continent has not only been defeated by a fumbling amateur, but she would shamelessly parade her disgrace before our lord?” asked Tybalt coldly.
“I would…no, I see your point, brother. I apologize,” Alvidia said with an embarrassed flush to her skin. I didn’t like seeing her that way. Although I hadn’t known her for long, I’d quickly grown to like this young woman. True, she was arrogant and brash, but such a bold disposition suited a warrior as capable as her. Seeing her pushed around by a domineering older sibling displeased me.
Also, he’d called me a fumbling amateur within my earshot.
I was pretty sure that had been done deliberately.
“Have no fear, Mr. Tybalt,” I said. “Although I can’t personally speak to the capabilities of the rest of your family, I thought Lady Alvidia acquitted herself honorably. Her talent was a sight to behold.”
“It’s Lord Tybalt, Mr. Evans,” he said in the same polite tone he’d addressed me with earlier. “And speaking respectfully, although your opinion is appreciated, it wasn’t asked for.”
“Hmm. You know, it’s the strangest thing,” I said as I scratched my chin. “What you just said didn’t actually feel respectful or appreciated in the slightest. Isn’t that odd?”
Tybalt’s brow creased ever so slightly.
Alvidia stared at me with a horrified expression from behind her brother, while Cross shook her head in terror and silently mouthed the word don’t.
“Just as your report said, you have an interesting way of interacting with others,” Tybalt said. “I do admire a confident person.”
“You do? Wonderful,” I said in appreciation.
Now Tybalt was smiling.
“Kyler Evans, I am definitely going to remember you later,” he said. “But since we’re currently pressed for time, we’ll have to continue this conversation later. I’m looking forward to it, though.”
“Well, I’ll first have to see if I can pencil you in, Lord Tybalt,” I replied. “I have a busy schedule of my own, you see. I’m sure you understand. I can’t just move things around for some random nobody. But if you ask nicely, maybe I’ll make an exception.”
Once again, Tybalt smiled at me.
I smiled at him as well.
As we stared into each other’s eyes, all around us, the world seemed to slow to a crawl.
For the first time since my encounter with Sophia in my original world, I was certain that I now stood in the presence of someone capable of dealing me mortal harm.
It felt very exciting.
If I went for his throat at this very moment, would he be fast enough to stop me? If he went for me, would I be able to react in time? How much of this palace would be destroyed during our clash? How many people would die?
It was too exciting to think of. How fortunate for everyone involved that Rachel quickly picked up on my murderously intense interest and interceded before something terrible could happen.
“Well, let’s get you going on your way, boss,” she said cheerfully while deliberately clinging to my arm.
My sword arm.
“The Regent himself is waiting!” she continued. “We can’t be rude, right? Right?”
“Right!” Cross said, quickly catching on. “How silly of us would that be? But I insist on guiding Mr. Evans myself. Lord Tybalt is far too important for such mundanities.”
“Yes, far too important!” Alvidia chimed in as she grabbed Tybalt’s arm. “Thank you again for honoring us with your presence, brother. While Evans is escorted to his meeting, perhaps I could consult with you about finding a suitable replacement for my sword. Your expertise would be invaluable.”
Before Tybalt or I could say anything in protest, we were pulled in separate directions and dragged away. As we were forcibly parted, our eyes met once more, and in the intensity of our shared gaze was the promise of future spectacular violence to come.
I dearly anticipated it.
Anytime, anywhere.
__
“Well, that was fucking terrifying, thank you so much for that horrendous experience,” Cross said angrily as she led us down the hall to a floating platform that took us to the fourth floor of the building at a languid pace. “I’m beginning to form a negative opinion of you, Evans.”
“What did I do that was so awful?” I asked. “I was just sizing the fellow up.”
“Sizing him up?” Cross repeated in a dazed voice. “Hey, handsome? That was Lord Tybalt fucking Brask. The current head of the Brask family! A living legend at the age of twenty-two! He might have S-Rank potential! Do you know what they call him?”
“What?” I asked.
“Damocles,” she said excitedly. “Do you know why? Because anyone or anything that crosses him is doomed! And you just stood there mocking him like he was a forest goblin. I thought my heart was going to stop beating!”
“Damocles?” I asked. “Was Tybalt the one who picked that nickname?”
“Yep!” Cross said. “Pretty cool, right?”
“No, it’s stupid,” I snorted. “In the myth, Damocl…
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