C237: Chance Encounter (4)

Thursday.

So how did you two meet? Whats your relationship?

Casey immediately asked Selina a question after joining their tables together.

Selina, who was trying to question what she was doing, answered as if she was caught up in the baptism of questions flying like a rapid firearm.

Well, Mr. Rudger and I are teachers of the same year.

Wow! Really? May I ask what your major is?

Spiritual Studies.

Oh! Thats cool! Spirits? Usually, people say that its hard to learn that unless youre born with an affinity.

Right?

Originally, she was supposed to be angry, but she was swept away by Caseys words because Selina was weak.

Rudger looked at Caseys behavior with disapproval but Casey ignored Rudgers gaze and naturally continued the conversation.

So what brings you here with Mr. Rudger? Its a date, right?

Oh, no! What do you mean a date! Its not like that!

Casey felt as if she had been stabbed by a needle at Selinas violent reaction.

Selina seemed to like Rudger but Casey felt sorry for her.

Such a pretty girl fell for such a bad man.

In fact, Rudgers behavior was nothing more than his attitude toward his co-workers but she made it like an unrequited love. Furthermore, Rudgers real identity was not as demure as he seemed.

I cant do this. Im going to help you.

Casey was going to interrupt Rudgers date passionately, as if she were saving a person. Then Selina couldnt resist her curiosity and asked.

Well, how did you two get to know each other?

Selina sensed that there was something between Rudger and Casey.

Caseys behavior of recognizing Rudger and talking to him naturally was the same, but she didnt show her feelings normally, so she showed off that she didnt like Rudger.

Its not an ordinary relationship since Mr. Rudger responded like that.

Although Rudgers reaction was no different from irritation, Selina felt that it was similar to the behavior shown between close friends.

Its probably an illusion, right? Its an illusion.

Casey prayed earnestly.

Oh, youYou mean this guy, right? We just came across it by chance. Of course, were not that close. Thats about it.

You dont have to worry too much because youre a useless person who only bothers me.

Casey was furious at Rudgers reply.

What? No, wait. Isnt that a little too much to say?

I just said the obvious thing.

I agree with that.

Betty, who was still listening, also helped Rudger.

Its funny. Youre worse than an inconvenience.

HmmIsnt that your personal opinion?

Selinas complexion darkened when she saw the two squabbling.

You two are very close.

Selinas eyes turned to the fork in her hand.

What is this?

Casey trembled at the sudden chill and she just felt that her life was threatened.

Casey looked at Selina. It may be an illusion, but her eyes looked empty as if she had a moment of darkness.

Its probably not, right? Its an illusion, right?

When Casey thought so, Rudger looked down and saw that small mouse was looking up with a note in his mouth.

Hans?

Rudger naturally accepted the note from the mouse, just in case others would see it. The inside of the note contained a warning message.

Did someone follow me?

Rudger deliberately pretended not to know anything and acted naturally. If he shows it here, the person following him may notice something strange.

Rudger handed a nut to the mouse that brought the note, saying, Good job.

The mouse bit it with its front teeth and quickly backed away.

The mouse, trying to escape the publics gaze and return to its owner, moved under the table but brushed Casey Selmores ankle.

!

Casey shuddered at the touch of her ankle and her head didnt understand what happened now.

The mouse that she hates so much touched her body and her instinct recognized it in a very instant at the same time she also acted.

Casey used her mana and the moisture in the atmosphere quickly began to gather around her as a large spray of water spewed out to the outside of the restaurant.

The tableware flew away and the table flipped over.

It was a bolt out of the blue for the people inside the restaurant, and people walking through the streets outside stopped and watched the scene.

Whats going on?

Did the sewer burst?

As peoples eyes turned to one place, a wet mouse crossed the street and returned to Hans.

The mouse proudly showed the nuts he was biting and raised his front feet as if to be praised by Hans.

Uh

Hans felt something was wrong.

* * *

Oh.

Before Casey Selmore started the spray Rudger moved quickly as soon as the mana reaction came out of her body.

Immediately, he got up from his seat, approached Selina, and instantly used a spell with [source code].

He created a protective magic to protect Selina and him. Soon after, the spray broke out, but Rudgers quick response did not cause any damage to the two.

Miss Selina, are you all right?

What? Yes.

It happened so quickly that Selina was late to grasp the situation and it wasnt until Casey magic broke out that Selina realized that Rudger had saved her. And the warm yet tough hand that holds one of her shoulders must be Rudgers.

Selinas face was red and exploded.

Well, well, Rou, Mr. Rudger. The hand

Looking at the restaurant that quickly became a mess, Rudger caught Selina and led her.

If it wasnt for this chance, he wouldnt have had a chance to get rid of that annoying woman.

I didnt expect it, but it worked.

Casey probably acted like that because of the mouse. In other words, the series of events that happened now was an accident.

Rudger thought it was rather fortunate that Hans warned him about someone following him.

The best option was to take advantage of the current disturbance and leave the restaurant so Rudger immediately took Selina out of the restaurant. The action was so stealthy and natural, that the eyes could be deceived.

Wait a minute!

Casey immediately tried to catch Rudger, who disappeared with Selina, but the situation was not on her side.

What the hell is going on here?

Casey, who detonated a water bomb inside the store, was embarrassed by the eyes of those who rebuked her.

Oh, no, so the mouse.

What? What do you mean? What do you mean mouse when our restaurant is so clean? Are you sure you saw it right?

No, I didnt see it, but I acted reflexively.

So you did this without any conviction?

Casey had nothing to say, even with ten mouths.

Obviously, it felt like a mouse that passed by her feet. However, the mouse had already disappeared, and now it was unclear whether it was a real mouse.

No way. This guy?

Casey immediately recalled Rudgers face.

The idea that Rudger might have played a trick to get rid of her was crazy. However, no one could listen to her voice even if she complained of injustice immediately.

The guests who had their meal interrupted were staring at Casey with cold eyes.

Betty! Help me!

Eventually, she asked Betty for help, but there was no reply from her either.

Betty?

Looking closely, Betty was stiff in her posture and Casey felt sick the moment she saw it.

She got water in her body?

Betty is an automaton composed of very precise machines. It is said that she is waterproof but the effect is not that good since she couldnt withstand the water spray.

Bettys body, which had stopped, tilted to the side and fell to the floor. The manager of the restaurant, who saw the scene, hurried up to Betty, examined her condition, and shouted in surprise.

Shes dead!

Shes not dead!

She doesnt breathe! So shes dead!

That!

Thats true.

Casey was stunned.

What? A person died?

Is it murder?

Oh, my God. Murder in broad daylight!

The atmosphere of the store was unusual. People who checked what happened outside also heard the news and rumors began to intensify.

Oh, my God, a murder in a restaurant.

Murder in such broad daylight. Just how much she hated the other person?

Its not like that!

Casey protested, but no one believed her.

Argh! Rudger Chelici!

There was nothing she could do but shout the mans name out loud as she watched Rudger disappear with Selina.

* * *

Selina thought she was dreaming.

Rudger protected her, even held hands and led her.

She wanted to hold his hand a little longer but she didnt want to miss this warmth.

The fantasy moment ended in the end. Rudger, who decided that he was far enough from the restaurant, stopped and let go of her hand.

Ah.

Selina lamented because she wanted the moment to last longer.

Im sorry, Selina.

Yes?

Selina asked back in embarrassment at Rudgers sudden apology.

You must have been interrupted by me for no reason.

No, Mr. Rudger has done nothing wrong.

Thats what she said, but it was painful for Selina to be disturbed from her long meal.

Whats next?

Originally, she was going to decide on the next destination while eating leisurely. However, a series of unintended incidents disrupted her plans and now she had to make an excuse not to be separated from Rudger.

Rudger stared at Selina silently.

At the restaurant a while ago, I had a strange feeling.

For a moment, he felt appalled by Selina.

Does she still have the remnants of Esmeralda?

No. She Esmeralda disappeared so maybe there was a remnant of Quasimodo.

Teacher Selina.

Yes?

I have a question for you. What happened to your spirits after the festival?

Ah.

Rudgers questions were quite rambling, but Selina felt relieved to be able to continue the conversation for now.

For now, I signed a contract with a new intermediate spirit, but the children I used to call are still resting.

I see.

On the last day of the festival Selinas three intermediate spirits spent too much energy fighting Quasimodo and were resting now.

In other words, there is a big gap for Selina, who used to have three intermediate spirits. Fortunately, Selina seemed to have signed a contract with a new spirit.

Do you happen to know which spirit you have signed the contract with?

First of all, there are two spirits. One is the Spirit of Water, and the other is.

Selina showed a moment of hesitation as she tried to speak and Rudger was suspicious of her appearance.

Whats the other one?

Dont be surprised. I havent shown it to others yet.

Selina whispered quietly so that only Rudger could hear it, then closed her eyes and called her spirit.

Selina put her hands forward and Rudgers gaze also naturally turned to her palms.

Soon Selinas magic disappeared, and a ball of black cotton appeared on her palms.

This is

Its a spirit of darkness.

Spirit of darkness?

Rudger was surprised and looked at the black ball of cotton on Selinas palm. Then the ball of black cotton opened its white round eyes and rushed toward Rudger.