I Became a Gallery Manager in Another World

Chapter 101: The Cursed Child (1)

The Monday following the eventful ‘Day of Elise’.

Estelle’s seat was empty again today.

“….”

Until now, I had thought Estelle needed some time alone.

Regardless of my thoughts about Estelle, we were just friends, and I considered that my actions might be seen as overly interfering.

…But I couldn’t just sit and wait any longer.

“Evelyn, I have a favor to ask.”

“Okay.”

“…Could you look after the library today? Just handle the book loans and returns. I’ll sort everything out tomorrow.”

Without needing to say much, Evelyn seemed to understand what I intended to do and told me to go without asking for a reason.

“Thanks.”

Drrrk-

Just then, the front door of the lecture hall opened, and Professor Jamie stumbled in.

Normally confident, Professor Jamie’s expression was unusually serious today, causing the remaining students to naturally fall silent.

“Everyone… before we go to lunch, please give me a moment of your attention…”

For some reason, Professor Jamie’s voice sounded ominous.

“There’s some bad news… Last night, Delphicia was attacked by an assailant and is currently in a coma…”

“….!!”

The classroom erupted into chaos at the unexpectedly grave news.

“Please, calm down…! Fortunately, the guards heard her scream and immediately rushed to the scene, allowing the assailant to flee, so Delphicia’s life is not in danger! However, she will need to be treated at the church’s intensive care center for a while… It’s truly regrettable that such an incident has occurred…”

“….”

“Anyway, I advise everyone to refrain from being out alone late at night until the perpetrator is caught…”

As Professor Jamie finished speaking and left the lecture hall with heavy steps, whispers filled the room again.

“Delphicia… will she be okay?”

“She’s not in life-threatening condition. Let’s visit her tomorrow.”

Most were concerned about Delphicia’s wellbeing or cursing the perpetrator, but…

“…But could Estelle have done this?”

A voice murmured something unthinkable.

Bang-!

“Ah! Damn! Who just said that crap?”

“Evelyn…”

“You again, damn it? Do you really want to get hit? Didn’t you hear what Professor Jamie just said? The perpetrator escaped, didn’t they? Do you think Estelle ran away in her wheelchair? Do you think the imperial guards are idiots? That they couldn’t catch a wheelchair?”

“…Well…that’s true..”

“Damn!! Then stop talking nonsense and get lost to eat your damn lunch!!”

As Evelyn finished speaking, the classroom quickly emptied.

Thud─

“Thanks.”

“Ha! Why are you thanking me? I just did it because I’m Estelle’s friend and it sounded like bullshit… And drop your fists now.”

“What?”

“Unclench your fists; you’re going to bleed from your hands, you idiot.”

Only after hearing Evelyn’s words did I realize my fists were tightly clenched.

“Ah, right… But, Evelyn.”

“What.”

“Sorry, but I can’t have lunch with you today. I think I need to leave early.”

“Ha… Tsk, wait then.”

Swoosh─

Evelyn rose from her seat, opened her locker, and pulled out a familiar black bag.

“It’s the bag Estelle dropped. Pass it on.”

“Got it. I’ll deliver it.”

As I took the bag, Evelyn quickly turned her head and said,

“Hmph! It’s not like I thought it’d be okay just because it’s Estelle. If Estelle doesn’t come, you’d be stuck in the library all day!! So make sure to bring her!”

“Yeah, I’ll go then.”

“…Yeah, go. Be careful.”

I nodded and, slinging the bag over my shoulder, rushed out of the classroom.

‘Estelle…’

Tap-! Tap-! Tap-!

If Estelle really was in the same situation as I was, convincing her with words alone wouldn’t be easy.

But that didn’t matter.

If she didn’t get convinced the first time, I just have to keep trying until she did.

Just like Evelyn did for me.

As I was recalling past memories to find a way to convince Estelle…

Thunk─!

Feeling a serious sense of unease, I stopped in my tracks.

“…It can’t be.”

I hoped it wasn’t true.

It had to be anything but that.

However, the puzzle pieces in my mind pointed only to one possibility.

─Swoosh.

When I opened the bag to check, I saw the small notebook Estelle always wrote in.

“…Sorry.”

I knew I shouldn’t do this, but…

Hoping my thoughts were wrong, I opened Estelle’s notebook.

“Oh my~? Isn’t that Ian, senior~?”

“Elfrida.”

“This is the first-year building, what brings you here, senior~? Ah! Did you come looking for me?”

“Yes. Can you spare me a moment?”

“Eh? You really came for me? But right now? Lunch break is almost over?”

“…It’s important. Please.”

“Haah… You’re making such a serious face and came to talk to me… Can’t be helped. Let’s skip a lecture. Let’s go!”

I took Elfrida and headed to the old school building.

The story I was about to tell couldn’t be heard by anyone else, and to my knowledge, there was no place in the academy as deserted as the old school building.

“Kyaaah-☆ Senior Ian is naughtier than I thought? Bringing such a weak and young pretty girl like me to a place like this, what are you planning to do?”

Thunk-

“Elfrida, there’s something I want to ask.”

Upon reaching the classroom in the old school building, I looked at Elfrida and asked.

“Yep~ What are you curious about? My three sizes? Hobbies? Or if it’s not that…”

“…Do you know about demons?”

“Ne? Hahaha!! Senior, why are you asking such a weird question all of a sudden? There’s no such thing as demons in this world, right? Demons disappeared a thousand years ago when Lady Elise descended to this land, right?”

“….”

Until not long ago, I also thought the same.

It was such obvious common knowledge that it didn’t even need to be doubted.

Since childhood, we were taught that the reason we commemorate the ‘Day of Elise’ was because it marked the end of the ‘Dark Ages’.

But…

Equivalent exchange, price, curse, demon.

Words that were repeatedly written in the notebook.

‘What are you reading?’

‘…..’

Including “Introduction to Demonology,” Estelle had listed numerous books related to curses and demons in her loan records.

[Posted by: JustSayNiceThings■] = [Elfrida Carlerea]

[Today, my potential boyfriend had a really strange smell, but I can't figure out what it was...][13]

Seriously, I definitely smelled something, but if anyone comments saying it smells like a chicken coop, I'm really going to block them.

ㅇㅇ(74.812): Potential boyfriend lol you're imagining things lol.

ㅠJustSayNiceThings■: Yep, I've almost got him~

[Posted by: JustSayNiceThings■] = [Elfrida Carlerea]

[But really, I think I smelled a demon today?][20]

I was uncertain last time, but the smell was stronger today… Definitely a demon.

Moreover, all the days Elfrida mentioned “smelling a demon” in the gallery were related to Estelle.

“Please read this for now.”

“Hehe… What is this? It doesn’t look like a love letter…”

I handed Estelle’s notebook to Elfrida.

Swoosh- Swoosh-

“…Senior, who wrote this?”

As she read the notebook, Elfrida’s eyes, which still seemed half-joking, sharpened.

“Estelle.”

“I have eyes, you know. Her name is written here. I’m asking about your relationship with Estelle.”

“…A precious friend.”

“A precious friend… Well, okay.”

Elfrida, sitting on the desk and swinging her legs, asked.

“I was going to ignore it but… Haah… It seems I can’t. What are you curious about regarding demons? No, first, tell me everything from the beginning about what’s going on between you and Estelle.”

“Elfrida. There’s no time to joke around.”

“I’m not joking.”

Elfrida flicked her hair with her hand, and a refreshing scent tickled my nose.

“I just thought it would be faster for me to listen and understand than for you to ask the right questions.”

“…Sorry, you’re right. I was in a hurry. Let me start from the first year…”

Listening to Ian’s story, Elfrida stroked her chin.

A thousand years ago, the ‘Dark Ages,’ a time when demons roamed freely, came to an end with the descent of the goddess Elise.

This was the accepted truth among ordinary people.

But the High Elves, blessed by the World Tree, were aware of a different reality.

They knew that beings worthy of the title ‘demons,’ possessing both power and rights, still existed in the world.

However, since the ‘Day of Elise,’ the demon population had dwindled significantly, and the process of forming contracts had become so arduous compared to the ‘Dark Ages’ that most people believed demons had vanished.

“…That’s what happened.”

“Mm, to summarize your words, Estelle was reacting excessively to even minor actions, mentioning ‘price.’”

“…Yes.”

“By any chance, does your ‘precious friend’ suffer from any physical discomfort?”

“…How did you know?”

“That’s not what’s important, right? What’s the discomfort?”

“I’m not exactly sure… but it’s both legs.”

“Haah… Then it has progressed quite a bit. No wonder there was a strange smell when you were soaked… Somehow, my premonitions never fail.”

“Elfrida.”

“Okay, okay. Don’t rush me. But are you sure, senior?”

“Sure about what?”

“You really need to think about this. There are things in the world that are better left unknown. What I’m about to reveal is information ‘sealed’ by the church. And you’re willing to challenge the church just for a friend?”

Demons still existed in the world.

This level of information was accessible to those in power who sought it earnestly.

However, details like ‘demon contracts’ or ‘demon names’ were considered taboos, strictly sealed by the church.

Yet, Ian didn’t hesitate for a moment to respond.

“It doesn’t matter. Tell me.”

“Ha…”

What kind of man was he?

Why did he willingly sacrifice so much for others?

‘…And you’re so casual with me. Weren’t you like that?’

Feeling a bubbling anger somehow, Elfrida tilted her head and said,

“Okay. To conclude, it seems like Estelle has made a contract with ‘the demon of balance’?”

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