Perhaps because of their over-ambitious and demanding schedules, the faces of the special forces were beginning to show shadows.
Even though they exaggerate so much with their mouth, they still follow me. I let the children’s grievances pass through me from right to left.
The thoughts in my head were erased cleanly, my mind worked well, and my sense of skill became sharp.
“Jeanne, the timing of your defensive magic doesn’t match Nova’s!”
“I-I’ll do my best…!”
“Anasta, too! The timing of your heals is too early. Assume that Priest August is not there and put on heals!”
“Yes!”
I adjusted the timing by dividing it into seconds.
The trio was used to having their hands full, but Anasta and Jeanne took a little longer to adapt.
However, both of them are talented enough to be chosen for the hero’s expedition. They quickly got a feel for it, and after a month or so, their timing was almost perfect.
Then there was nothing left to do but run. We spent the remaining four months rolling around in dungeons like crazy.
As a result of such strenuous marching, we had all reached well over level 50. We had grown to the point where we could now compete with Began in level.
Even though they are not as good as the elite troops, they have become as good as the troops headed by the elite troop members.
Once the hunt was over, Anasta bumped her head between her knees and mumbled.
“I thought the Vice Commander cared about welfare…”
“I’m sure about the awards and punishments, but I’m not sure about the welfare…”
“I’ve been deceived…”
They never said a word about going back to the base while talking.
Instead of comforting Anasta, I told her more sternly.
“Now comes the real part. The speed of leveling up will be so slow that we won’t even be able to compare it to before.”
“It’s always the same to have to go around dungeons no matter how high your level goes.”
Sevi meaninglessly answered. As soon as Sevi finished speaking, Nova listened, wiping his sweat mixed with the demon’s blood.
“In addition, we don’t even know when our level goes up.”
“That’s right. It’s chaotic to just roll around…”
I’m not sure if they’ve given up or if they’ve adapted… Still, it was positive that the dungeon work permeated like life. I looked proudly at the special unit.
We had fulfilled the five months we had planned, and we returned to Castle Nokentoria somewhat crumpled, but full of confidence.
Everyone was happy to welcome me back, unlike five months ago when I had returned unexpectedly.
“I wonder how much the special forces leveled up.”
“I think they’re more than level 60?”
“I heard that the Vice Commander knows exactly what the levels are. I’ve heard that she’s more accurate than a level measuring device.”
“Then they don’t have to worry about how much their levels have risen while going around dungeons.”
While the Black Knights were giving words of envy and blessing, I glanced around. It was just in case Meyer came out.
I still couldn’t be aware of it when I came back with vigor after the dungeon bang, but it was awkward when we were about to meet again.
There was no reason to be awkward if I was meeting as vice commander, but still, this would be the first time since I confessed my feelings to him. I had no idea what kind of expression I should use to face him.
But he had a presence that could not be hidden, and not a single hair was seen.
For some reason, I breathed a small sigh of disappointment and relief.
But as soon as I was relieved, Nova asked.
“The Vice Commander will report to the Commander right away, right?”
“Huh? Yeah.”
“Are you going to have an after-party with the Commander?”
Sevi also asked as if it were natural. It was a question, but it was almost a definite tone.
Of course, I couldn’t say no… It’s been five months since I confessed my feelings to him, and this is the first time we’re meeting, but I couldn’t just give him a quick report and leave.
I nodded slowly.
“Um… Probably.”
“Then we’ll start before you do! Whether you’re late or not, we’ll do the same!”
It has a very similar pattern. I don’t know if I should say he’s good at learning, or if that pattern is so obvious…
I scratched my head.
In the past, I would have reported right away, but now that I’ve looked at it again, it looks awful. I’m concerned about my smell, too. First of all, stop by the room, wash up, change clothes, and…
“Oh, my. Vice Commander. Long time, no see. Are you back?”
Mary, who had just changed the bedding in the bed, welcomed me. Thanks to Mary, the room was clean and dust-free for the five months I was away.
“Yes, I just arrived.”
“Did you meet the Commander?”
Mary asked.
Everyone seemed to not doubt that I would go see Meyer first. Meyer didn’t come to see me.
I smiled awkwardly and pulled my shoulders out.
“I feel a little uncomfortable. I wanted to take a bath as soon as I came out of the dungeon.”
“I understand. May I add some fragrant oil to the bathwater?”
“Um… It doesn’t need to have a strong scent.”
I wanted to wash up, but I didn’t want to go with the smell of flowers. I thought I was the only one who was excited.
Mary guided me to a bathroom with a flavor similar to the scent of eucalyptus.
Having become such a neat and at least polite person, I firmly moved toward Meyer’s office as if it were a showdown.
“I’m back, Commander.”
“…! Welcome.”
As soon as I opened the door, I made eye contact with Meyer, who was nervously walking in the room.
Meyer immediately approached me and opened his arms.
I guess he was thinking of hugging me, but when the large man opened his arms, his spacious office seemed full.
After advancing like that, he suddenly stopped with me just around the corner.
Then he hesitated and asked, looking at my complexion.
“Even if we’re not in a relationship, we can hug each other….? Can I hug you?”
No, after all this time?
As I was preparing to hug him, I muttered without realizing it ridiculously.
“You used to hug me before you confessed…”
“That’s…”
Meyer laughed bitterly.
“I didn’t know how I felt back then.”
“Did getting to know me cause problems?”
“I became more aware of you.”
I did not seem to reject him, and Meyer finally held me.
His broad chest wrapped around me as if to erase me from the world, and all my vision was filled with black.
I’m glad I washed up. I felt a pang of relief inside.
Meyer, who didn’t know how I felt, whispered to me, trying to relieve his overwhelming feelings.
“I also wanted to run out right away knowing that you were here. But I refrained because I was afraid of hugging you again. Because you don’t like me doing this in front of others.”
“It’s not that I don’t like it, but I care about other people’s eyes a little.”
I pressed lightly on his chest as I seemed to be getting too close to Meyer.
I could almost hear my heart beating too loudly against his.
I’ve noticed my heartbeat, and now I’m noticing every single other thing.
The temperature of Meyer’s arms, the position of his fingers. The sound of his breath tickling my ear…
At first, I only pushed out my chest, but anywhere he touched made me itch, and now I had to get out of his chest.
As if he were showing off, Meyer had no dating experience, so it was embarrassing to say something.
I took off his arms as naturally as possible and continued to pretend not to be shy.
“This time, the results are good. At this rate, everyone will be able to hit level 60 at the next performance report session. Maybe there will be a title.”
“You can talk about levels slowly. More than that, are you hurt?”
Meyer let go of me in his arms and began to look around. In the meantime, he held my hand tightly.
“I’m not, at all.”
I secretly pulled my hand out of his grasp. But if I avoided him repeatedly, even the most insensitive person would have noticed. What’s more, Meyer is the kind of person who can read my expression clearly.
Meyer’s face hardened.
“… Do you feel bad when I touch you? If that’s the case…”
“No, that’s not it.”
I hurriedly denied it.
But it’s already too late.
“I’m not trying to touch you. Of course, I want to touch you because I like you, but… I just want to know more about you…”
Meyer, who was full of sensitivity, was thinking about what I was avoiding, and in the meantime, the accident reached its extreme.
Meyer said somberly with a dark face.
“If you decide to go out with me because I’m the Commander and it might be detrimental to you if you go against my moods, talk to me. I don’t like you being conscious of me.”
You’re the one looking at me consciously! I hurriedly tried to calm down Meyer.
“It’s not like that. I like you, too.”
“But why are you avoiding me.”
“… That’s.”
I actually said no, but I couldn’t bear to say that I refused because I was nervous about contact with Meyer.
I struggled and tried to come up with other excuses.
Looking at me like that, Meyer said as if it was unfair.
“Do you think I would crush you? You’re afraid I can’t control my power?”
“…”
Oh, there was that, too.
I remembered now how messed up my body had been when I had kissed Meyer, or rather when I had broken through his mana.
Perhaps noticing the silence of the moment, a startled Meyer cajoled me.
“What? Is this for real? Is that true? Did I ever hurt you before?”
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