* * *

What kinds of love are there?

Should I look for a book or something?

Honestly, I’m not sure how many types exist.

Still, I remember hearing about friendship and parental love.

The alchemist we temporarily partied with used to talk about it often, so that’s certain.

“Friendship…”

But could someone like Zerbin really feel friendship?

Someone who doesn’t even want to make new friends?

Even when he formed a party to confront humanity’s threats, he didn’t bother building any bonds.

Humans can’t survive alone—they instinctively seek others for support in the face of great danger.

“Friendship is out.”

Then how about parental love…?

Hmm.

Zerbin having kids?

Not likely.

‘No, wait.’

It’s not just about parents loving their children—kids usually love their parents back, right?

So it’s not purely one-sided love but more like familial love.

Now that I think about it, Zerbin’s never talked about his family.

Sure, he rarely talks about himself, but that’s still odd.

When people are cornered, they tend to think of their loved ones.

Other members of hero parties have often cried, remembering the families they failed to protect during tough times.

Of course, I have too…

I should write to my parents again soon.

Anyway, while I don’t know the details, it seems like Zerbin doesn’t have a good relationship with his parents.

Did they fight?

I’ve almost cut ties with mine before because of my stubbornness.

But we made up in the end.

I don’t know what kind of rift Zerbin has with his family, but if that issue were resolved, wouldn’t he finally understand true love?

It didn’t seem like a bad idea.

At least I wouldn’t need to introduce Zerbin to someone else.

So, the next time I bumped into him, I asked outright:

“What are your parents like?”

“I don’t know.”

Zerbin answered curtly.

Huh?

Does that mean he doesn’t want to talk about it?

Or does he really not know?

“Never met them.”

Ah!

He’s never met them!

Only then did I realize how narrow-minded my assumptions had been.

Honestly, there are plenty of adventurers without families.

I was lucky to grow up in a loving household, so I often forget.

“I’m sorry…”

I felt bad just for asking.

The first kind of love a child usually experiences is parental love, but Zerbin never had that.

Is that why he struggles to understand true love?

Not having parents doesn’t mean someone can’t love, but it does mean they might have less room for it in their life—just surviving alone is overwhelming.

“But surely a child couldn’t grow up without any guardians, right?”

It’s a cruel world, full of monsters and malicious people.

Without any help, he wouldn’t have made it to adulthood.

Even though Zerbin is incredibly strong now, he couldn’t have been invincible as a child.

“I was just curious what kind of people raised an incredible adventurer like you…”

Though hesitant, I tried to ease into the topic.

I couldn’t discard the hope I had clung to so desperately.

“Even if they weren’t your birth parents, maybe, um… guardians?”

Zerbin looked down at me in silence.

My chest tightened.

Was that too personal?

Even if he didn’t want to answer, I couldn’t force him, but I really hoped he would share something.

“I grew up in a temple.”

He answered!

I was so happy he replied to such a personal question.

It was an odd reaction to have, but I couldn’t stop smiling.

I had to stifle it, though—it felt inappropriate.

So he grew up in a temple, huh?

No wonder he’s so devout for an adventurer.

His constant praying must be a habit from the temple.

And his frequent donations?

That made sense too.

Maybe he donates for kids like him who are growing up in temples.

See?

Zerbin is kind.

“But… if it’s a temple.”

Would he have experienced familial love there?

Temples might take in orphans, but they don’t have the resources to care for them as families do.

There are so many children without parents and far too few priests, not to mention the lack of funding.

Priests might keep the children alive, but that doesn’t mean they’d feel like family.

“But you never know.”

The person who raised him might have shown him some level of affection.

Even the smallest seed can grow, right?

What matters is finding the right moment.

Even if the relationship was distant, they already know each other.

For someone like Zerbin, who avoids new connections, that’s a valuable bond.

Talking about the past together might help Zerbin realize its importance, even if it’s belatedly.

I may not be great at many things, but I’m good with people.

Building connections is my specialty.

Convincing the priest who raised Zerbin to meet and talk with him wouldn’t be too hard.

Convincing Zerbin, though, is a different matter.

You can’t accomplish everything at once, so for now, maybe I’ll focus on visiting the temple where he grew up.

“The ones who raised you must’ve been incredibly devout and admirable.”

I laid the groundwork gently.

Asking which temple it was felt too direct, so I hoped to gather small clues.

Once I pieced things together, I could “coincidentally” find out later.

“…Yeah.”

His reply came a beat late.

For Zerbin, whose voice is usually flat, there was a hint of emotion in his tone.

But even though he agreed, it didn’t seem like he had positive feelings about it.

Of course, if the relationship had been terrible, he wouldn’t have answered affirmatively at all.

I couldn’t figure it out.

“Are you curious?”

…Was I that obvious?

I felt embarrassed.

“Uh, yeah. Because I’m interested in you…?”

Since I’d already been caught, I couldn’t deny it.

I fumbled through an explanation.

It wasn’t exactly a lie.

Adventurers are always trying to get close to Zerbin.

I’m no different.

Surely I don’t seem suspicious, right?

Even if it’s annoying for him, it can’t be helped.

“Hmm.”

I glanced at him.

His expression was as neutral as ever, so he didn’t seem particularly upset.

Ah.

As I looked up at him, I accidentally caught a glimpse of the red mark Aimone mentioned.

Despite his shirt collar covering most of his neck, it was visible.

How long had I been staring?

Embarrassment flooded me, and I ducked my head.

What must Zerbin think?

Talking to him and then suddenly turning red!

But for someone who claims it’s his first time, he’s so composed!

Zerbin’s unshakable demeanor is incredibly cool, but I can’t help feeling embarrassed fumbling alone.

Deep breaths.

Slow and steady.

“Ahhh!”

It wasn’t helping at all.

As memories of sleeping with Zerbin surfaced, yesterday’s events came flooding back like a waterfall.

I had been trying so hard to focus only on the newfound hope, but my thoughts completely derailed.

‘Raul… ngh…’

Even the way he moaned my name came back to me.

That face of Zerbin, one I’d never seen before, utterly lost in pleasure—his slack expression, the soft blush around his eyes, his half-open lips… the sounds of his breathy moans escaping through them.

Everything was so vivid.

“Stop thinking about it!”

You idiot!

Damn it.

I’ve never done this before.

Imagining someone’s intimate expressions while trying to have a normal conversation?

How inappropriate can I get?

And yet, the memories refused to fade.

Instead, they only grew sharper.

I could feel the heat creeping up my neck and settling on my cheeks.

Ugh, this is so embarrassing…

Especially since Zerbin wasn’t saying anything.

It was unbearably awkward.

He must think I’m acting strange.

He’d definitely think I’m weird.

Should I just leave for today?

That might be for the best.

I can ask him about things later when I’ve calmed down.

* * *