“I can see it all on your face.”
I smiled and responded skillfully. April was embarrassed and hurriedly smoothed her cheek.
I asked back naturally, pretending to know nothing.
“You’re not offended by my guess, are you?”
“No, of course not.”
April shook her head.
Somewhat removed from worldly affairs, she would have had no idea that the person in front of her had been healed by her.
(T/N: Sentence was lost in translation. Attempted to make of it what I could.)
April looked at Jeanne in the distance.
April had a younger sister who had once died of an illness.
As she was the same age as Jeanne, April cherished Jeanne like her younger sister.
Jeanne and Sevi were chatting happily as if their shyness earlier had been a lie. They looked so fresh.
As far as I remembered, Jeanne was a year younger than Sevi.
Although she was much younger than the expedition members, Jeanne was an ice attribute wizard who was good at defensive magic.
Because of her outstanding ability not only from the Fabian Expedition but also from other expeditions, Jeanne was often called to the dungeon despite her young age.
‘When I saw her as a character in the game, I thought they just added her because they needed a female wizard character…’
It was all too bitter to be real.
Though I couldn’t really say anything since I was rolling the 14-year-old Sevi as an expedition member hard…
While I was pondering for a while, April softly opened her mouth.
“Jeanne is usually very shy… I guess she likes Sevi.”
“That’s a relief. It’s good to be close to wizards of your age.”
“That’s right.”
Having said all that, April fell silent.
She was silent for a while as she fiddled with her skirt, and I waited willingly for her silence.
April let out a breath as if choosing her words over and over again.
When she finally stood in front of me, I wondered if her conflict had increased. There was still a hint of hesitation on her face, but she seemed to have made a decision after all, and April’s eyes lit up once and for all.
“The Vice Commander is very popular.”
“Haha. They’re all just interested because I’m the new face of the Black Knights.”
“I think the vice commander is just that attractive… Anyway, there’s nothing wrong with being careful. Just in case, make sure to go around with someone. Got it?”
April added with concern. She sounded like the commander of our expedition.
However, it felt unusual to ignore it as a joke.
From the look in her eyes and the sound of her voice, it was obvious that someone was after me.
So I didn’t think too much about the identity of the person.
Could it be Fabian, my irreconcilable enemy?
It must not have been easy for her to make the decision to tell me about the dreams of Fabian, her childhood friend and expedition leader.
It seemed that standing up for what she considered to be unrighteousness without holding back is what would later earn her the title of “Holy Angel.”
April’s title of Holy Angel was partly because of her broad kindness, but also because her earnest righteousness that did not tolerate injustice was like an angel of absolution.
I laughed quietly.
“April, you’re very kind.”
“… Please don’t let what I said go. That’s all I’m going to say. Then, goodbye.”
As if she thought I didn’t believe her, April added with a serious look and turned her body toward Jeanne’s location.
The appearance of her in the first round seemed to overlap with her back.
April was such a kind person to me in the first round. Even when all the others turned away and I was driven out similarly, she took care of me and treated me regularly.
Even when I couldn’t ask her to treat me because of the stares around me, she came to visit me and treated me.
Someone might think that this is a natural behavior for a healer, but I have experienced so many things that this natural behavior was not natural.
Honestly, it was a great comfort for me at the time to remember myself…
As much as that, my appetite was bitter.
Fabian would be so angry that he would force himself to conquer dungeons.
In the process, April, the only healer in Fabian’s expedition, might be rubbed the wrong way and end up being sacrificed.
Just like in the first battle against the Demon King.
It was a future where everything that flowed looked white to me, but what could I say to April about that?
No matter how much I tried to explain Fabian’s intentions to April, in the end, his arms would be bent inward.
No matter what I say, she’ll just look at me suspiciously.
I had a good idea at that moment, a way to make April cautious and let Fabian eat candy.
I quickly sorted out the ruse that had popped into my head and pulled April’s arm.
“Wait. April.”
The air in the quiet corridor seemed to shimmer for a moment.
April looked back at me embarrassingly as if she didn’t know I’d hold her.
“I also have something to say to you, April. Can you give me a little more time?”
***
…It was good to work, but there was a problem.
What I had done was so serious that I had to give Meyer an after-the-fact notice.
‘I started talking late about having a false relationship with Axion…. How much will he nag at me this time?’
Having been determined to hear a word from Meyer, I sighed and visited him.
But…
“Really? I’m sure you needed to.”
What’s that attitude that’s overflowing with trust?
I looked at Meyer with confused eyes.
I wondered if someone had taken him by surprise yesterday and hit him in the head.
No. Meyer, that monstrous person shouldn’t be shocked by a blow to the head.
It was more plausible that someone else had transformed into Meyer.
So when I was full of distrust in Meyer, Meyer asked back as if he was wondering.
“Why do you look at me like that? When you did that, you’d have come up with all the measures. Don’t you think so?”
“O-of course, that’s right…”
His reaction was so different from last time!
When comparing the false relationship with Axion and work related to April this time, this was more important and serious.
What I’ve done is not something I could easily move on with in one word.
Of course, I’m the one who knew that and committed it…
It was nice not to have to listen to him nagging, but it was more of a distraction.
I guess I was used to Meyer’s nagging.
I shuddered at the unfamiliarity of the air, thinking such ridiculous thoughts.
That’s right. I’ve had my luck, but we haven’t had our real discussion yet. I looked at Meyer’s eyes and spoke carefully as if stepping on thin ice.
“So… First, Fabian and I have to meet.”
“What? With that guy?”
Meyer, who had been calm earlier, jumped up.
Ah, I knew it would be hard to convince him easily.
Having guessed that the conversation would flow slowly, I patiently explained the plan, swallowing a sigh in my stomach.
Meyer, who had been listening intently to the plan, opened his mouth after a while.
“It’s good. It’s all good, but… I still don’t like the fact that you’re getting involved with Fabian. I don’t know what sophistry he’s going to use to piss you off again…”
Meyer slurred his words carefully.
It was an uncharacteristically moderate attitude for someone who had imagined all sorts of things that would be impossible to talk about as long as Fabian was involved.
Normally, he would have been dead set against this as impossible…
Even though it was getting better than expected, I couldn’t get rid of the awkwardness and drowsiness.
I persuaded Meyer to let me go willingly, holding down the soaring incompatibility.
“I’ll have more fun listening to that sophistry this time since it will choke him. Don’t worry too much.”
“Hm…”
“And I’m going to take this opportunity to give him a solid shot. I don’t think I’ve properly assessed the situation yet…”
April even came to me the first time she saw me. It was obvious even without looking. He must have been in a poor, brooding mood.
If it’s someone you have to get into anyway, it’s better to get your foot in the door early instead of waiting. You don’t have to wait for them to grow.
Meyer, who had been listening intently to what I was saying, stroked his chin and replied as if he had no choice.
“Hmm… If you want that, do as you wish. Instead, be careful.”
I didn’t think I would, but I got his permission more smoothly than I thought.
It would have been nice if he was this calm all the time.
Excited, I smiled broadly and grabbed Meyer’s hand, and shook it up and down.
“Really? Commander, you have an open mind! You’re also very understanding!”
But the excitement seemed to have gone too far. Meyer’s brow wrinkled, and I wondered if he’d get another one. Realizing that late, I hurriedly let go of Meyer’s hand.
“Haha… Then, I will proceed as I reported.”
“… Yes. Do it like that. But…”
Meyer hesitated and blurted the end of his speech. I didn’t know what he was trying to say, but he couldn’t say anything.
How long had it been?
The moment I couldn’t stand the boredom and was shaking my hips, Meyer finally opened his heavy mouth.
“Last time.”
“Yes.”
“You said Axion wasn’t your cup of tea.”
“Well… yes.”
“Then, what kind of man is your preference?”
… Why is he suddenly talking about my ideal type?
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel