* * *
Maybe… maybe he had been expressing it little by little, and I just didn’t understand?
The Hero often closed the distance between us all of a sudden, but I was the only one surprised—what if he was actually making it obvious in his own way…?
Thinking about it like that… it’s kind of cute.
“I was just too nervous to answer properly, but some people got mad, saying I was being arrogant by acting strong, while others hated me, thinking I ignored them.”
…Adorable!
The story itself is sad, but he’s so cute!
So, he doesn’t talk much and isn’t very sociable, and that makes him nervous when communicating with others?
That’s adorable!
To be fair, speaking well isn’t exactly easy.
You can’t just say whatever you’re thinking—you have to refine it in a way the other person can accept.
And since the Hero tends to be pretty blunt, he must have gotten into fights more than a few times.
“Besides, my face is always so stiff. Even the people I somehow managed to befriend got frustrated, saying they couldn’t tell what I was thinking, and left. So, I started avoiding people more and more.”
…Hero…
Honestly, he’s really cute.
But is it okay to think that about someone’s tragic backstory?
That aside, expecting this guy to win the love of friendship sounds impossible.
At this point, I doubt the Hero is going to change his attitude just to get closer to others.
“That guy… he seems to have softened a little.”
He mumbled in a voice tinged with nostalgia.
This is what he calls ‘softened’?
“It’s probably thanks to you being by his side. If it’s your request, he might listen.”
And with those flattering words, he finally got to the point.
“I have a favor to ask. There’s a misunderstanding I really want to clear up. Could you arrange a meeting with Bati just once?”
He clasped his hands together. It was exactly the request I expected.
What am I supposed to do with this…
If I arrange a meeting and clear up the misunderstanding, that’s good for me too.
But there are too many problems to just agree right away.
For one, the Hero is currently angry with me.
So, like Gaspar said, I have no idea if he’d actually listen to me.
In fact, wouldn’t this just make him even angrier?
I haven’t even calmed him down yet, and now I’m making another request?
If I just blindly agree and fail, I’ll end up disappointing Gaspar and enraging the Hero at the same time.
Losing favor with the two people who hold the key to humanity’s salvation?
That would be a disaster.
And more than anything—
“First, explain what this misunderstanding is.”
Jumping into something complicated without knowing the full story would be stupid.
If I listen first, maybe I can find a way to calm the Hero down, too.
For a moment, Gaspar’s usually bright face showed a flicker of hesitation.
…What? Why?
Can’t say it?
“Oh, right. I should’ve started with that. I was just in a hurry and forgot.”
He quickly returned to his usual easygoing smile.
Was that troubled expression because he realized he was being rude?
…Maybe?
“It’s not like I was trying to corner you when you were totally out of it and take advantage without explaining. You know that, right?”
Gaspar added playfully.
He was acting like it was a joke, but my adventurer instincts told me he meant it at least a little.
So, he really thought he could just push through with the mood?
He looks incredibly kind and has done plenty of good deeds, but he’s definitely a bit of a snake.
Then again, most adventurers are.
Being purely nice doesn’t get you far in this line of work.
The ones who survive usually have at least some level of selfishness.
“I’ll decide after I hear it.”
I nudged him to hurry up, and Gaspar glanced around.
“It’s a long story to tell while standing. Want to go inside somewhere?”
His gaze landed on a nearby teahouse. A teahouse, not a tavern—kind of unexpected. But I agreed.
If we stayed here talking, the Hero might see us.
If that happened before I even found a way to fix things, and he decided to cut me off for good, that would be the end.
I’d be totally screwed.
I’d have no choice but to break down crying and confess that I time-traveled.
Maybe if I got on my knees and begged, he’d forgive me.
…No, better to avoid that situation entirely.
We went inside and took a seat in a private area behind a partition.
That lowered the risk of getting caught, but it still felt a bit shady, like I was hiding something from Batista.
Still, at the core, this was for the sake of all humanity.
I hope he’d understand.
And if, in the process, Batista reconciles with his mentor and realizes the power of love, that would be great too…
Damn it, this all just sounds like excuses.
Why doesn’t he just explain things himself?!
The Hero gets mad at the mere mention of this, so I have to go this far?!
I sat down.
Gaspar ordered tea and sandwiches as a snack while we talked.
Apparently, he’d just met a client recently, but somehow, he was already broke again.
He told the owner to put it on his tab, and surprisingly, the owner agreed without hesitation—Gaspar must have done something nice for him before.
That’s good and all, but how did he blow through all his money so fast?
“Well, that’s gambling for you.”
Gaspar said it so cheerfully.
“I’m leaving.”
Gambling is supposed to be a pastime.
If you’re broke and still blowing all your earnings on it, you’re just an addict!
I know exactly how awful gambling addicts can be.
No wonder the Hero wants nothing to do with him.
Yep, completely understandable.
As I actually stood up, Gaspar grabbed my arm in a panic.
“Just listen! Just listen!”
“No! What makes you think fixing this misunderstanding will be enough? Did you ever consider that the misunderstanding might not be the only problem?”
“I-I just had some debts to pay off! I swear, I’m not addicted!”
“Hey! Get a real job and earn your money properly!”
The Hero’s mentor is probably around my dad’s age.
But with how young he looks and how immature he acts, I just can’t bring myself to be respectful.
“But think about it! Is being an adventurer even a stable job?”
…Huh?
I mean… fair point?
Adventurers often have to skirt the law, and since they risk their lives daily, it’s not exactly a respectable profession.
“Wouldn’t Bati rather have his mentor safely sitting at a table, making money grow, than constantly risking his life?”
“You didn’t grow it, though.”
“……”
If he’d made a reasonable amount, this wouldn’t even be an issue.
The problem is, he lost everything.
“I didn’t lose! I just paid off my debts, so I don’t have any money left!”
“You think having debts is something to brag about? Be honest—those were gambling debts, weren’t they?”
Gaspar gave a dazzling smile.
I do that too when I’m in trouble.
This bastard.
Trying to get by on his looks?
What kind of trash mentor is this?
I’m not even into pretty-boy faces.
If I wanted to see one, I’d just look in a mirror.
“…Even if I get you two to reconcile, you’d be absolutely useless.”
Screw this.
I should just go apologize to the Hero for doubting him.
Maybe the reason he never explained himself is that just having a mentor like this is embarrassing.
* * *
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