* * *

“Y-yeah?”

I stammered out a reply.

“Are you alright?”

“Me?”

Of course, he’s asking about me.

Who else would he be referring to?

The question caught me off guard, so I blurted out a silly response.

But why ask if I’m alright?

He already healed my scratch himself, so why ask again?

Was he talking about something else?

Did I miss the point?

“…Because of me.”

His weak voice startled me.

Does he think it’s his fault?

That I got attacked by Heros because of him?

Did he come to confront Heros not for himself, but to help me?

“Of course I’m fine!”

I was so surprised my voice came out louder than intended.

“How could that be your fault? That bastard just lost his mind and acted crazy.”

Heros, that scumbag. Maybe I should go kill him.

The thought of Zerbin blaming himself made my stomach churn.

Zerbin would continue to face countless enemies and dangers.

Sometimes he’d save people, but other times, he wouldn’t be able to.

I knew Zerbin prayed for those he couldn’t save, despite being a hero who couldn’t possibly rescue everyone.

Yet, he still carried that guilt.

I didn’t want to see Zerbin blaming himself anymore…

His hand was warm.

“…”

Oh, he was holding my hand.

I hadn’t even noticed, but I’d been trembling.

Was I more shaken up than I realized?

I felt bad for worrying him.

Especially since he already thought I got hurt because of him.

I tried to pull my hand away quickly, but he held on firmly.

“Sorry for making you worry. But really, I’m fine. It’s not like this is the first time I’ve dealt with jerks like that.”

I’m friendly, good-looking, and easy to get along with.

Not to brag, but objectively speaking, it’s true.

Who doesn’t like a handsome guy with a great personality?

Usually, people like me.

But you can’t win over everyone.

Some losers hate me precisely because I’m good-looking and popular.

And how do those insecure types cope with their inferiority complexes?

By picking fights.

They try to provoke me over the dumbest things.

So yeah, I’ve been attacked out of nowhere a few times.

It’s not a big deal.

“…”

But Zerbin kept holding my hand, and it was starting to make me feel… strange.

My chest felt tight, and my stomach churned as if I was seasick.

I knew he was just trying to calm me down, but his gesture was too kind—it made me feel more flustered instead.

Especially since people were watching!

Everyone around us could see Zerbin holding my hand to comfort me.

Ugh, this is so dangerous.

Just saying I’m fine wasn’t going to cut it, so I tried a different approach.

“Uh, if we stay like this, we can’t buy supplies.”

Zerbin narrowed his eyes.

It was clear I’d said something to annoy him.

What does our hero want from me?

For me to admit I was shaken and thank him for his comfort?

Sure, I was startled by the attack and grateful for his support, but saying that felt like admitting I’d been attacked because of him.

The one at fault was that lunatic, not Zerbin.

So, I just smiled.

“I’m really looking forward to spending time with you. I don’t want something trivial like this to ruin my mood.”

I was trying to lighten the atmosphere, but I meant every word.

“Meeting that lunatic was a waste of time, sure, but there’s no need to dwell on it. So, what do you feel like eating? Hmm?”

“…”

Did it work?

Zerbin finally let go of my hand.

His large hand had completely enveloped mine, and even after he let go, the lingering warmth made my skin tingle.

Maybe this is the hero’s grace at work?

“…I don’t know.”

Zerbin spoke slowly, which was unusual for him.

The cold gray eyes slowly scanned the street vendors selling food.

Was it because street food didn’t suit his taste?

During the war, Zerbin ate just about anything without complaint, but now that it was peacetime, things were different.

It’s not like I’m saying he has to choose from what’s here.

This is just the market entrance.

If we go deeper inside, there are high-end shops catering to wealthy adventurers.

Judging by how much Zerbin enjoys expensive cream buns, he’d usually frequent those.

“I don’t mean just what’s out here! The shops further in are good too, so pick anything you want.”

I said it anyway.

Zerbin’s gaze, which had been sweeping the area, landed on me, and I flinched slightly.

Even though I knew he didn’t dislike me anymore, the chilly atmosphere he carried was still intimidating.

Zerbin finally spoke.

“I don’t know.”

Did he not know what he wanted to eat?

Had he been thinking hard about it?

There was no need to force himself to choose something if nothing caught his eye!

“Then let’s just look around while deciding!”

Since we were already at the market, we might as well.

Buying food for our journey together with Zerbin!

This really feels like what close comrades would do!

I tried not to get too excited, but I couldn’t help feeling elated.

Grinning, I grabbed Zerbin’s hand and pulled him forward…

Wait, his hand?

My hand?

Startled, I let go immediately.

Swindlin’s market was always bustling, so when I came with my party, we often held hands to avoid getting separated.

It wasn’t out of some warm, considerate concern about losing each other, though.

Adventurers like us tended to wander off to explore whatever caught our interest, and it would throw off the schedule.

Still, of all times, why did that habit have to show itself now?

Especially knowing Zerbin didn’t like physical contact with others, this was outright rude.

I shivered. The floating elation I’d been feeling disappeared entirely.

“Uh, well… about that…”

Should I explain it was just a habit?

But comparing Zerbin to selfish adventurers who abandoned their party to satisfy their whims might be even worse.

That’d be insulting!

Zerbin held my hand.

“Ahhh!”

Startled, I yanked my hand back without thinking.

“…”

Ah, no.

Don’t look at me like that.

Those cold eyes made me feel like my entire body was freezing.

Even his aura rippled with a frosty intensity.

I had stupidly pulled back my hand as if I’d been holding a ghost’s hand.

Zerbin had every right to be offended.

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

But why had Zerbin taken my hand in the first place?

Did I still look anxious to him?

Did he think I had grabbed his hand out of nervousness but let go when I got self-conscious?

Considering how he’d held my hand earlier to comfort me when I’d been startled, it was possible.

If that were the case, I was incredibly grateful, though it felt undeserved.

I might be fine now, but even if I weren’t, I wouldn’t want to trouble Zerbin over someone like me.

“It was an accident, really!”

I emphasized that I hadn’t held his hand on purpose.

That way, Zerbin wouldn’t feel obligated to show me unnecessary consideration.

Consideration…

The thought that Zerbin might have worried about me made my heart feel warm and soft.

Alongside the guilt of troubling him, of course.

“…”

Zerbin stayed silent, which was terrifying.

Did he think his gesture of kindness had been rejected?

* * *