* * *
“Have a great date!”
I left the house amidst teasing remarks.
Aimone’s cheerful smile was infuriating.
‘Zerbin and I, on a date? That’s absurd.’
How could that possibly lead to true love?
Aimone keeps talking about how I’m supposed to show Zerbin what true love is, but I don’t even know what that means.
There’s nothing good about me being involved with him.
If anything, I’m just a nuisance.
When I arrived at the meeting spot, Zerbin was already there.
Seeing the hero standing tall and composed made me panic.
I’d come thirty minutes early, worried about keeping him waiting!
Did he have some business early this morning?
Even though it’s already quite early, he must have had a good reason to come even earlier.
Flustered, I ran over.
“Zerbin!”
“You’re here.”
His calm voice made my chest tighten.
It’s not like we’re in a war where everyone has to cooperate for survival—this is peacetime, and yet Zerbin agreed to accompany me.
He didn’t seem annoyed or uneasy about it either, greeting me with the same calm demeanor.
You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but it still moves me.
Maybe it’s because my respect for him hasn’t diminished one bit over time.
“Sorry to keep you waiting!”
Zerbin shook his head.
“Let’s go.”
I followed him as he took the lead.
Last time, we borrowed horses to get to Cheps, but this time, we were walking.
Since this was a personal errand, there was no need to rush.
Zerbin could have hired a carriage for convenience, but he probably didn’t want to spend the money.
Honestly, considering his speed, he could get there faster on foot anyway.
“Something wrong?”
We were still on a smooth path, but Zerbin kept glancing back as if something was bothering him.
Our eyes met.
“Do you sense something? Should I prepare for a fight?”
I couldn’t sense any beasts or monsters nearby.
We weren’t far from the village, and this wasn’t exactly a dangerous road.
Still, with monsters acting up lately, if Zerbin was on edge, there must be a reason.
“……No.”
“No? Then why?”
He didn’t answer. Maybe he felt something but wasn’t sure? That happens sometimes.
Those vague feelings, when you can’t tell if it’s intuition or just paranoia.
During the war, those bad hunches often turned out to be true, but now it’s peacetime.
“We’re still near Swindlin. No need to be so tense. If anything approaches from behind, I’ll let you know immediately.”
I’d heard that someone as strong as Zerbin develops such sharp instincts that even small disturbances catch their attention.
That must be exhausting.
I wanted to ease his mind, even if just a little, so I put on a bit of a brave front.
My skills might be laughable compared to Zerbin’s, but after years of fighting demons, I’d gotten good at sensing enemies approaching.
“For that reason?”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, Zerbin grabbed my wrist.
In one swift motion, he pulled me to his side, leaving me standing close to him.
“W-What the heck?”
Did he dislike having me at his back?
Well, I suppose that makes sense.
Even if we’ve grown a bit closer, it’s only been a few weeks since we met again after my regression.
How could he trust me to not stab him in the back?
A true adventurer’s instincts, I suppose.
He could’ve just told me to move, but instead, he dragged me away.
Zerbin really dislikes wasting words, doesn’t he?
My wrist burned where he had grabbed it.
Zerbin didn’t let go right away.
Did he think I wouldn’t listen to him and would sneak behind his back again?
Honestly, I listen to most of what Zerbin says.
His orders are the commands of a hero, after all—if not now, then eventually.
“What, are you holding on so tight because you’re afraid I’ll run away?”
His gray eyes were particularly cold, so I cracked a joke to lighten the mood.
Zerbin didn’t laugh, but the tight grip on my wrist loosened slightly.
Still, he didn’t let go.
“Will you?”
Huh?
“Run away?”
He nodded.
What kind of question was this?
“How could I leave you behind?”
Whether I like it or not, I have to stay glued to Zerbin’s side.
Ever since I regressed, time has flown by.
It’s already been weeks, and the six-month deadline has shrunk to five.
There’s no time to waste. I need to stay close and help Zerbin realize true love.
“……”
Oops, maybe that was too intense.
“You’re the one with the map. If I leave you, I wouldn’t even be able to find our destination. It’d be a disaster.”
Worried I sounded too serious, I made an excuse.
Traveling with Zerbin is critically important to me, but to someone who doesn’t know the full story, it might come off as overdramatic.
“…Alright.”
Zerbin released my wrist.
I was surprised to see a vivid red mark where his hand had been.
He’d only held me for a moment, but of course, he’s the hero.
Strength like that is necessary to save all of humanity. Impressive, really.
He glanced down at my hand.
Worried he might feel bad, I pulled down my sleeve to hide the mark.
It was just a slight sting—no big deal.
Still, the feeling was oddly bittersweet.
Traveling alongside Zerbin like this…
In lands conquered by demons, an ambush could happen anytime, anywhere.
If a sudden fight broke out, I’d just be dead weight.
That’s why I used to keep my distance, walking behind him so I could flee quickly if necessary.
It allowed me to avoid being a burden and made it easier to evacuate others.
For a long time, my place had been behind Zerbin.
Walking beside him had never even crossed my mind.
The only time I tried to befriend him by speaking directly to him was when I couldn’t afford to stay at his back.
But now, even though we’re outside a village…
I feel uneasy, like I’m overstepping my bounds.
Even though I know it should be fine, I can’t shake the nervousness.
“No, everything’s peaceful right now.”
The Demon King’s invasion is still five months away.
No one’s going to attack us.
There’s not a single demon in sight.
Just look around—the forest is nothing but serene and lush greenery.
There’s no reason to be scared.
“Absolutely none.”
The beasts around here might be getting stronger, but they’re nothing I can’t handle.
It’s fine.
What I need to focus on isn’t this.
I need to think about “true love.”
“What was the temple you grew up in like?”
Breaking the silence, I asked.
If helping him understand romantic love is too much, I could at least try to guide him toward familial love.
To do that, I needed information.
It was a personal question, so I hesitated for a moment before asking.
“What kind of atmosphere did it have? What was important to them? We’re heading there now, and I’d rather not make any mistakes out of ignorance.”
I added a reasonable justification.
Zerbin, who had been walking as fast as a panther, slowed his pace slightly.
“The temple… was nothing special.”
Hmm, sounds like a typical temple.
* * *
