The Hypnosis App Was Fake – Chapter 19

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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I could see Ia Aris’s expression hardening in real time. She seemed offended by my request for the repair bill.

She’d called me virtuous, but that was just her being nice.

Well, even I wouldn’t be happy if someone I’d just rescued asked me to pay for the damages.

Even though she’d burst in through the wall, Ia Aris had come to save me.

I wasn’t sure how she knew I was in trouble, but she’d probably come rushing over, worried because I was late for our appointment and hadn’t contacted her. I’d never broken a promise with Ia Aris before.

But who breaks down a wall to enter someone’s home? Did she think I was in that much danger?

Regardless, Ia Aris was my savior. Even though I hadn’t actually needed her help, and I’d subdued Scarlet myself, and she’d contributed to the destruction of my apartment, she’d still come to rescue me.

I knew it was wrong to ask my rescuer to pay for the damages. It went against every principle of decency.

But I had no choice. Repairing this place, which was practically in ruins, was beyond my means, especially with my massive debt.

And if I asked Scarlet, the one responsible, to pay, she’d probably say something like, ‘Oh, this works out perfectly. You can just move in with me!’

And then she’d add, ‘I’ll even pay off all your debts. But you have to live with me. Of course, you can’t refuse. And if you do, I’ll invoke my immunity, and you’ll be stuck with the bill. Think carefully about what’s best for you.’

Then, I’d have no choice but to live with Scarlet.

Just the thought made me shudder. It was a nightmare. Even seeing her at the guild was unbearable. Living with her? I’d rather die.

…Well, maybe not die.

Anyway, I had no choice but to rely on Ia Aris. Actually, she was the only person I could rely on.

To think that I, an orphan who’d always relied on myself, would be forced to depend on someone else… Life was full of surprises.

As I pondered this with a wry smile, Ia Aris’s expression grew increasingly grim.

It wasn’t exactly a scary expression, just a neutral one, but it felt like… a ticking time bomb.

Spending time with Scarlet, a walking volcano, had sharpened my senses. I could tell Ia Aris was getting angrier by the second.

Was she really that upset about the repair bill?

I couldn’t feel indignant, knowing I was in the wrong. Her anger was understandable.

But what I found strange was that if she was going to be this angry, why had she agreed to help in the first place? Why had she nodded so readily, as if she’d do anything for me?

Just moments ago, I hadn’t sensed any anger from her. She’d seemed happy, even joyful.

I wasn’t sure why she’d been so happy…

But now, she was so angry she was about to explode. Her sudden mood swing, even considering my transgression, was confusing.

What was this? What was the problem? Should I retract my request for the repair bill? No, I couldn’t add to my already massive debt. I had no choice.

But even so, was I doing the right thing? Even if I smoothed things over now, would I regret it later?

“…”

“…”

Damn it.

The suffocating silence pressed down on my conscience. The guilt was starting to outweigh my concern for my financial situation.

Then, Ia Aris’s tightly closed mouth finally opened.

“You’ve crossed the line.”

Her words made my heart sink. It felt like a betrayal, a mix of anger and despair directed at me, evident in her voice and eyes.

Compared to Ia Aris’s wealth, the repair bill was nothing. She could rebuild this penthouse a hundred times over without even making a dent in her fortune.

That’s why I’d thoughtlessly relied on her, assuming she’d be fine with it.

But I was wrong. She was right. I’d crossed the line.

Taking advantage of someone’s kindness was a betrayal. I’d betrayed Ia Aris, the only person who’d ever been truly kind to me.

Scarlet was the one who caused all this, yet I hadn’t held her accountable, choosing instead to hurt Ia Aris, who’d offered me help, simply because she was an easier target.

Shame washed over me, and my heart pounded uncomfortably. I’d crossed the line. Ia Aris’s cold gaze confirmed it.

But I hadn’t crossed it completely. If I mustered the courage, if I was willing to take responsibility, I could still fix this.

Believing that, I looked into Ia Aris’s cold eyes, eyes I’d never seen before, and apologized sincerely.

“I’m sorry. Ms. Ia Aris, I took advantage of your kindness.”

“Excuse me?”

Ia Aris, seemingly taken aback by my sudden apology, raised an eyebrow. It was difficult to convey sincerity without actions.

I bowed to her and confessed my wrongdoing.

“You came here to save me, Ms. Ia Aris, and Scarlet is more responsible for the damage to this place, yet I shifted all the blame onto you, simply because it was… easier.”

“E-Easier? Than asking Scarlet… over there?”

Ia Aris’s surprised question flustered me.

Was that really so surprising?

Since I was the one at fault, I answered her question seriously.

“Yes. You’re the only person I can truly rely on.”

“Wh-What about Dr. Eme? She’s been kind to you too, hasn’t she? Why do you say I’m the only one you can rely on…?”

“The Doctor is my benefactor, but I recently discovered something she’d been hiding from me. I can’t trust her completely anymore. So… right now, you’re the only one I have.”

Technically, Ia Aris was also complicit in the fake hypnosis app scheme.

But Ia Aris, who was so kind, always on my side, and had even come to rescue me, was in the same league as that bitch Scarlet? That was ridiculous.

There had to be a reason why Ia Aris had cooperated. Maybe she’d been threatened with political ostracization within the guild, or maybe she’d been blackmailed.

I believed in Ia Aris.

And I regretted betraying her kindness, even for a moment.

“you can only rely on me…? I’m special…? You prefer me over Scarlet, who’s lying over there, over Dr. Eme, over all those other S-ranks…? All those years of enduring and holding back… it was worth it…! Thank you, past me…!”

Ia Aris was muttering something inaudible. She seemed to be contemplating whether or not to forgive me.

“Hee… Hehehe… I’m the best… He can only rely on me… Ehehe…”

Seeing her cold, neutral expression melt into her usual cheerful smile, I felt like I might actually be forgiven.

How kind could someone be to forgive someone who betrayed them so easily?

I was amazed by Ia Aris’s magnanimity. But even if she forgave me, my apology wasn’t complete.

A true apology meant taking responsibility for my actions.

Smiling brightly, I continued my apology to Ia Aris, who looked ready to forgive me.

“Ms. Ia Aris.”

“Hehehe, yes, Mr. Faster?”

“I’ll retract my thoughtless request for the repair bill. Thinking back, it was incredibly rude of me. I sincerely apologize again.”

“Excuse me?”

“And I’ll hold Scarlet accountable for all of this.”

“Scarlet… accountable? You, Mr. Faster? What are you…”

Ia Aris’s previously cheerful expression hardened in surprise.

She was probably surprised because she knew I’d be stuck with the entire bill if Scarlet invoked her immunity.

“But if Scarlet uses her immunity, you’ll have to pay for everything, Mr. Faster.”

Ia Aris was asking, ‘What are you planning to do?’ Her tone was slightly sharp, but I could sense the concern beneath it. She was truly a kind person.

I smiled gently, as always, and reassured her.

“It’s okay. Scarlet won’t use her immunity. She’ll gladly pay for the repairs. She’ll probably ask me to live with her while the place is being fixed, but… that’s my problem.”

Even if I hated taking responsibility, it wasn’t right to burden others with my problems. So, I decided to face the consequences.

Ia Aris, her face etched with worry, looked devastated. I forced a smile and made a small joke to reassure her.

“Don’t worry so much. Scarlet might be a bitch, but she’s incredibly hot, so it might not be so bad…? Ahahaha!”

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Well there a lot misunderstanding from the start🥹