* * *
“A bald man in his forties?”
“Forget it!”
Vicente’s dumb joke lightened the mood a little, but the underlying gloom didn’t disappear.
It was natural—none of us had a solid way forward.
I was confident I could convince Dieter once I met him, but my friends, who didn’t know anything, couldn’t fully trust what I was saying.
And I couldn’t tell them about the regression, so all I could do was sit with this growing frustration.
What should I do…?
“Raul.”
Bati who’d been silently watching the meeting, finally spoke my name for the first time.
“Hmm? Want me to bring you more snacks?”
Viscount Rosi, feeling bad about not helping in any concrete way, had generously gifted me an armful of sweets.
He said it out of guilt, but I’m pretty sure he knew full well the cake and cookies would end up in Batty’s mouth.
He didn’t ask for anything in return, so I couldn’t say no and brought them along—Batty happily ate every last bit.
It was worth carrying them.
He gave me a firm nod.
“Hold on, let me get Batty some more snacks.”
Bati must be bored since he isn’t even participating in the meeting.
At least if he has a snack, it’ll be a bit less dull.
But just as I stood up to get something, he shook his head.
“Not for me.”
Huh? Then what?
Was it for me? I looked at him questioningly, and Bati pointed to the group of friends in the middle of the meeting with his finger.
“Share it with them.”
“Huh? You mean give it out?”
I thought I’d misheard.
“It’s yours though.”
“Do you mind?”
“No, no. Of course not. If you’re giving it, I’ll gladly enjoy it.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to—it just surprised me.
Bati, sharing food with others?
Even back at the temple, where there were hungry kids around, he never once offered the food I brought to anyone else.
Though, whenever he broke something, he more than made up for it by paying several times its worth, so the temple probably ended up in better shape thanks to him.
Still, I never thought his attitude was strange.
Unlike others who would just get a little hungry and move on, for Bati, hunger was a real threat.
He has as many enemies as he does followers.
If someone figured out he weakened significantly when hungry, or if he collapsed after missing just a couple of meals—it would be incredibly dangerous.
Given his condition, and the fact that he spent 17 years in a temple where meals were often lacking, it’s no wonder he became obsessed with food.
And yet, now Bati suddenly wants to share his own snacks with others?
It was an unexpected gesture of goodwill.
What brought this on?
Did he maybe feel a bit touched by our efforts to help him?
Maybe he wanted to show support in his own way?
That thought made me smile faintly.
I returned with a tray loaded with snacks and asked Bati,
“Seeing how everyone’s been working hard—did it change your mind a bit? Like, maybe it’s okay to rely on others instead of doing everything alone?”
“…Not sure.”
The moment I set the tray down, the others swarmed in.
What the—no one said a word, but it would’ve been a disaster if I hadn’t brought anything.
“The sweet smell’s been driving me nuts from the front.”
“It’s embarrassing, but… even the smell of the butter was amazing.”
“Zerbin, you eat so well. How do you down a palm-sized cookie in just two bites?”
“Watching you eat is making me hungry!”
It’s kind of impressive, watching Bati eat like that.
He opens his mouth wide and stuffs in a huge bite, but doesn’t spill a crumb—he eats so cleanly, it’s actually fascinating.
Watching him devour mountains of food in no time is strangely satisfying.
Makes you feel good just looking at him.
It must’ve sparked everyone’s appetite.
Maybe they were all sneaking glances at him even though they tried not to show it.
I usually consider myself pretty observant, but I was so focused on the meeting, I didn’t notice a thing.
Was that why he told me to bring the snacks?
Seeing everyone working hard for his sake… maybe it moved Bati, even just a little.
While the others were busy eating, I leaned closer to Bati.
“You usually don’t like sharing your food. If you wanted to cheer them on, why not say something cool instead? That’d really fire them up.”
I nudged his side, and he frowned.
His expression darkened, but I could tell he wasn’t upset.
I’ve gotten used to reading that face—it was just him thinking deeply.
“It’s not that… I was just curious.”
“About what?”
“Why… people go so far when it’s not even their own problem.”
So even Bati could see it—that my friends and I had been doing our best to clear his name.
It must’ve left an impression on him.
Enough for him to consider sharing the food he always held onto like his life depended on it.
‘Bati’s always been alone, after all.’
He may have lived among many in the temple, but without anyone to truly open up to, he was alone in the end.
Even after being chosen by Gaspar and leaving the temple to live with his teacher, he was only used, never forming a true bond—so he was never really part of a “two.”
After that, he became afraid of relationships and chose solitude on his own.
And on top of that, he had the strength to handle anything alone.
So there was never really a situation where he needed help from others.
That might be a sign of strength… or maybe it’s just sad—how that strength took away any chance to connect with others.
Either way, having someone go out of their way to help him like this must be unfamiliar.
Unfamiliar, yes—but definitely something that feels good.
I want him to know he doesn’t have to do everything alone.
That he doesn’t have to bear every burden by himself.
“He’s asking why we’re doing this?”
I looked over at the guys still stuffing their faces.
Naike wiped whipped cream off his nose and raised his head.
“If you want a reason… I like both of you. Zerbin and Raul. I just can’t stand by and watch when either of you is in trouble.”
“I hate seeing someone I respect get caught up in this kind of scandal! And come on—adventurers roughhousing a little, and now someone’s making a big deal out of it with false accusations? That’s just childish!”
Carmen cut in, raising her voice mid-bite.
She takes pride in being an adventurer, so the idea of nobles trying to manipulate the ‘King of Adventurers’ probably pisses her off even more.
“Cool… amazing… ugh. I just hate seeing someone I like go through something awful…”
Vicente suddenly grew gloomy.
Let’s leave him alone—that kind of thing only heals with time.
“…Do we need a reason? I mean, seriously! We know him. We can’t just sit back and let something unfair happen!”
“You’re unusually soft-hearted for an adventurer.”
“Why do you only nitpick what I say?!”
Vasco looked betrayed, and Aimone laughed.
But he’s not wrong—that’s actually what makes Vasco great.
“You guys are seriously sweet. I’m just stepping in because I’m Raul’s boyfriend.”
“Dude, read the room.”
“Yeah, say something cool!”
The others protested, but honestly—I was touched.
Just the fact that he’d risk losing work from nobles who might get annoyed by our relationship, all because he’s my boyfriend…
This is why childhood friends are the best.
* * *
