小嫂子的味道

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked a rather very clichéd question. Right after Challes untapped my mouth.

"Hmm? So you can talk," said Challes as he placed another chair in front of me and sat on it.

I didn't reply to his oblivious question because asking why he bought me here was enough of a proof to justify that I can speak.

"There, you went silent again…You see, I'd spent quite a few days researching you and your sister, and during that time I was watching you. But what I noticed was that you don't speak much compared to the other students of your age. And I'd very well like to know why," he appealed as he leaned back on his chair.

"It's nothing special. I'm just not so good with words," I replied.

A part of why I didn't speak much or rather speak only when necessary is because during the last few years before I died in my former life, I was living alone in a closed room.

I went to school only to give exams and hence I didn't have friends either—some students never knew that I existed. In short, I didn't have people I can speak up to.

But the reason why I wasn't speaking much in this world was different. And it was that I don't want my words to be the reason for my own destruction. I don't want to reveal information to other people that they can use against me.

After all, the more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.

Humans are machines of interpretation and explanation; they have to know what you are thinking. But when you carefully control what you reveal, they cannot pierce your intentions or meanings.

This works the other way also; by saying less you can indirectly force the other party to leak their information.

Short answers and silences will put them on the defensive, and they will jump in, nervously filling the silence with all kinds of comments that will reveal valuable information about them and their weaknesses.

"Do you know why you are here?! Why I kidnapped you, do you have any idea of that?" Challes asked in a slightly loud tone as he looked furiously at me.

"No. I have no clue about that."

"Your sister's boyfriend—Leon, also has a partial role to play"

The plot of the novel was at work here again. Anya and Leon weren't that close but still, the general audience saw them as a couple and not as friends.

"But yes, it's mainly your fault! In fact, it is only your fault that I kidnapped you."

"What do you mean? I can't quite follow since your statements are contradicting themselves."

"What I mean is, if you haven't defeated my son in the training session then right now you would be in the academy, safe and sound. Because of you, he wasn't able to gain glory and fight with Leon afterward. Not only you defeated him but did it in the most terrible way—making fun of him.

What even was that magiken? You sliced a sword in half?! It's like pure nonsense, not in my entire life have I seen a magiken like that. It shouldn't have worked but it still somehow did!" Challes blabbered angrily.

He started off by speaking in a normal way but as he heard his own words and recalled the past events, he held his head in frustration and later it sounded like he was just voicing his inner thoughts and not talking to me.

"But that was just a match, wasn't it? I was not the one who decided that I'll be going against your son, the academy did that. If you have to blame someone, blame them."

"Yeah, what you say is true. The match students were selected randomly for a match by the academy's staff and even the teachers didn't have a say in it. You were clearly not the one who wanted to face my son and did only because it was a match, right?"

I nodded; he was talking like a madman now.

"Now here's the point! The academy selected you to fight against my son, but they didn't tell you to defeat him! It was you who decided to do that! You're the one who caused my son's downfall! YOU!!!"

He got up from the chair. Rushed forward and grabbed me from my collar. His eyes were red with anger and veins were popping out on his forehead.

"What was I supposed to be then? If I knew that you would be this angry, then maybe I wouldn't have done that. Hmm, if we look at it this way…then isn't it actually your fault for not telling me that I have to lose on purpose?" I stated as I looked into his eyes.

"What the hell are you saying?! That it's me who's responsible?! Have you lost your FUCKING mind!!" he screamed.

<strong>-Thug!</strong>

He was already holding my collar, and when the anger got the best of him he pushed me away forcefully, and along with the chair I fell backward.

It pained quite a bit since falling down while being tired up to a chair wasn't the best experience and the stab wound from before hasn't healed either.

"Hahahaha! I caused my son's fall; I was the one who destroyed his reputation! Haah, what a joke!" he laughed as if he'd lost his mind.

And I'd to say; he wasn't looking like an academy proffer at all.

I don't know what expression I'm wearing right now. I'm not scared, I'm not mad, I'm not regretting something, I'm not desperate, and I'm not on death's door either.

Then what is it? Maybe…nothing.

After calming his laughter he adjusted his glasses with his right index finger and then bent on his knees beside me.

"You'll make for a good clown. But I'm afraid that's not possible since there are only two ways left for you now. I've sent a message to your beloved sister, informing her of our whereabouts. Now it's a test to see if she loves you enough to come here and save you...though I don't think even that will save your life."