* * *
“Even now, you can still throw that thing away and come back to your master. Seriously, Bati… Even if you’ve gotten stronger, you still don’t understand how things work between people.”
Sure, it’s incredibly annoying, but still.
“If you come back to me like the good boy you used to be, I’ll take care of all the bad stuff for you. Don’t worry. I didn’t want to go this far either, but you just kept avoiding me, so I had no choice…”
“No choice? Don’t give me that crap. You came here to get your money back, didn’t you?”
I didn’t even wait for Bati to speak before snapping.
Gaspar, who had the nobility backing him, ran all the way here instead of waiting for the outcome like a gentleman.
That could only mean one thing.
He might have joined forces with the nobles, but because of his usual behavior, no one was actually willing to pay off his debt.
That must’ve made him desperate.
“Come back to me like a good boy”? What a joke.
He just wants Bati to clean up the mess he made—again—without complaint.
To use him however he likes, again.
Bati, kind-hearted enough to be chosen as a hero and soft toward those he cares about, is being this wary of him, and Gaspar still doesn’t understand what that means.
“Cut the bullshit and get lost. That’s never happening.”
“Bati, I just want to talk to you.”
This bastard.
He talks like I don’t even exist, putting on a gentle tone as he looks only at Bati.
It pisses me off to no end.
“You pathetic coward. I’m the one who did wrong, so report me if you want. Instead, you were scared the nobles wouldn’t back you, so you framed your own student and now you’re playing the victim, pretending you just want to talk? Do you really think that’d make him want to listen?”
“……”
Finally, I hear his teeth grinding.
He’s trying to act all composed, but now that Bati won’t respond, he’s getting anxious.
Did he seriously think Bati would still listen to him after pulling all this?
How little did he think of him?
The way he tries to use Bati’s compassion pisses me off beyond reason.
“You think you can still teach Bati? Teach him what, exactly? How to run scams? You got outclassed by him ages ago. Maybe how to beg a loan shark for more time while crying your eyes out? Actually, you’re pretty good at that one.”
“Could you be quiet? I’m trying to have a conversation with my student.”
“Not only are you dirty and cowardly, you’re also stupid. He’s not answering because he hates you, idiot.”
“…You really shouldn’t be treating me like this. Do you want to see your precious lover get dragged away in chains?”
There it is.
Now we see the real him.
I glance at his gray eyes—they’re trembling.
His gaze slowly darkens.
Like waves crashing in a storm, then suddenly calming after it passes.
Still unsteady, but far less turbulent than before.
“And what are you going to do against nobles just because you’re a little famous now? It’s not just one person backing me! Everyone’s waiting for their chance to bring Bati down!”
Disgusting.
Gaspar, spouting this kind of trash to his former student with a straight face, and the nobles backing him—every last one of them makes me sick.
“I don’t think there’s any point talking to you anymore.”
I grabbed Bati’s hand.
“Just watch. Watch what I’ll do.”
There was no reason to stay here.
If Bati kept hearing this nonsense, maybe he’d find it easier to cut Gaspar off for good—but I didn’t want him to get hurt any more than he already had.
Bati’s smart.
He’ll know what’s right soon enough.
“Let’s go. Time to clear your name.”
I held his hand tight and pulled him forward, smiling as best I could to reassure him.
“You won’t ever have to see that bastard again. I’ll always be right beside you.”
Bati lowered his head.
Finally… was he going to say something?
Did I mess up by confronting Gaspar like that?
I felt a sudden wave of anxiety—my fingertips went cold.
But as his face drew closer, I saw that Bati’s cheeks were flushed red.
The moment I saw it, the anxiety vanished.
It wasn’t the kind of flush you get from anger. I could tell right away.
“Raul.”
Because the anger had vanished from his eyes—and instead, I could see affection.
He was looking at me with warmth.
No soft words were spoken.
Only a gentle kiss.
A deep, heartfelt kiss.
We’d just gotten home, and I was about to ask Aimone to call over some of our friends, but… somehow, they were already all here.
Not only that, they were waiting for us.
Aimone, Carmen, Naike, Vasco, Vicente…
Honestly, I figured maybe Naike and Vasco might’ve shown up if they heard, but this?
Maybe I am kind of lucky when it comes to friends?
Still, when Aimone walked up to me with that smug, curious grin, I instinctively took a step back.
“What was it you said to me again? ‘There’s someone I kind of hope I could date’?”
“…”
“You kind of like him? Not really? Just because you’re nice?”
Ugh.
Okay, yes, those were my words.
At the time, I really thought I’d be happy to fall for just about anyone—if it helped me understand love. I was serious… back then.
So I wasn’t lying, exactly.
I want to act confident about that, but given how things turned out, I can’t help feeling a little embarrassed.
Especially with that teasing tone, like they knew this would happen.
“There are all kinds of love, sure. But not for you. Anyone could tell just by looking.”
No comeback for that.
Back then, even I didn’t know I was in love.
I really thought it was just admiration, just a kind of respect.
Did I really look like I was completely smitten already?
But maybe when you truly care for someone—whether it’s love or admiration—it ends up looking the same.
“Fine, fine! Just wait till all this is over before teasing me, alright? I’m actually super busy right now!”
But before I could get anything done, Carmen saw me holding Bati’s hand and dramatically slapped the ground, wailing in despair.
“Ugh, I’m so jealous! Two handsome guys getting together? What am I supposed to live off of now?!”
“You’ve got guys chasing after you already.”
“What? Were you even listening? I don’t want a guy who likes me! I want a hot guy! A good-looking face!”
“…Uh, sure. Hope you find a hot one.”
I had nothing else to say, so I just wished her luck—only to get smacked down again for sounding too smug.
Apparently my “blessed man” attitude was insufferable now.
She must’ve hated the fact that I, the same guy who swore up and down it would never happen, showed up holding Bati’s hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Normally, I’d smack her on the back in return, but this time, I had run my mouth too much.
If any of that had reached Bati’s ears, I’d be screwed.
So… I decided to take the hit for once.
* * *
