I can say that. I can actually say it’s thanks to me.
Because I was the one who said I’d clear Bati’s name.
Because I didn’t leave him to deal with it all alone.
Because I showed him what it looks like to have friends who truly want to help.
That’s why Bati realized he needed to cooperate too.
That’s why he came to face all those adventurers who genuinely wanted to help him.
What a beautiful chain of events!
All I ever wanted was to keep Bati from suffering under the nobles’ unfair pressure.
I loved him.
Even if he didn’t suffer any tangible harm, I didn’t want him to go through unnecessary hardship.
And now… that love of mine helped open Bati’s eyes to the world in a new way.
This is—
This is like—
“It’s like my love… changed Bati.”
Not anyone else—me. Raul Florenti.
Just by loving Bati, and doing everything I could for the person I love…
I had a positive impact on him.
I thought something like that could only be done by someone way more capable than me—someone stronger, someone who could support him more skillfully.
But it was me.
“I… I really am amazing, aren’t I?”
I changed a hero who might never have changed if left alone.
My voice trembled with the overwhelming emotion, and stupidly enough, I felt tears coming on again.
Seriously, when did I become so tearful?
When it comes to Bati, I’m such a crybaby.
My eyes were already burning.
Bati gave a dry laugh.
Can’t blame him.
“You’re something else.”
“…Is this the first time you’ve seen an adventurer cry this much?”
His thick, calloused fingers gently brushed the corner of my eye.
But even when he wiped my tears, more welled up immediately—what’s the point?
“You barely react when I praise your skills, but this kind of thing makes you cry?”
Is that true?
Now that he mentions it…
When Bati complimented my infiltration skills earlier, I wasn’t nearly this happy.
It wasn’t that I didn’t take it seriously—I just figured those skills would be useless after the demon invasion anyway.
But… maybe that wasn’t it.
Maybe it was because I’m someone Bati acknowledged as amazing, and that means I can do something worthwhile.
Only now do I really believe that.
“Thank you.”
That anxious feeling that had lingered in the corner of my heart since I realized I loved him—it’s finally lifting.
The worry that I’m not good enough to stay by his side.
The fear that I’ll make another mistake and fail again.
The dread that innocent people might suffer because of my screw-ups.
It’s not like those fears are completely gone.
But—
“I still think I’ve got a long way to go… but if you see something good in me,” I said, holding back my tears, “then I’ll try to become someone worthy of your trust.”
What’s the point in just sitting around worrying that I’ll hold him back because I’m not good enough?
What, am I going to break up with Bati?
No way.
Maybe before I realized I loved him, sure—but not now.
I’m already completely melted by all the ways Bati treats me special.
I’ve gotten used to falling asleep in his warm embrace.
I’m no longer surprised when his voice drips with affection as he says my name.
If Bati disappeared without a word, I know I’d lose the will to live this time.
If I can’t bear to send him off to someone more worthy, then I’ve only got one choice: I’ll become that person.
Every time I feel like I’m not enough, every time I realize how lacking I am, I can’t just fall into despair and anxiety.
I need to work harder to become someone who belongs by Bati’s side.
That’s the only way I can stay with the hero I love.
“I’ll be watching.”
Bati leaned in, his deep purple hair slipping gently down.
When I closed my eyes at the tickle against my cheek, a light kiss brushed my forehead.
“If you try to run again… you’d better be ready for the consequences.”
Ah, seriously.
I’m so happy.
Alright!
Time to do my best to become someone worthy of Bati!
Just knowing I’m actually helping the hero in real time fills me with energy.
Fueled by that passion, preparations moved swiftly.
While Arthur scouted out where Dieter would be staying, I raided Count Covington’s house.
That probably sounds way too casual for what I actually did, but honestly, there’s not much more to say.
For some people, that kind of thing might be the stuff of epic ballads—but for me, it’s just routine.
In fact, the more “impenetrable” a place looks, the more likely it is they’ve gotten complacent and left weak spots.
Especially since Viscount Rosie got all excited after hearing my idea and lent me an artifact long-term—it made the job even easier.
Count Covington really has no allies, huh?
Still, the moment I cracked open his office, filthy documents came pouring out like floodwater.
It became very clear why no one likes him.
I could’ve taken way more and he still wouldn’t have noticed.
I even got away with swiping a few dangerous files and didn’t see any major reaction.
But that doesn’t mean I can relax.
They might be quietly hunting the thief behind the scenes since those documents are illegal.
So, caution is a must.
We need to execute the next phase of the plan as quickly as possible.
Eventually, Arthur came back with intel.
He found out which luxury inn Dieter had just reserved outside the capital—and even which room he’d be staying in.
Competent guy.
I wanted to meet up and praise him, but I figured I’d just get a lecture about not dragging Vasco into dangerous stuff again.
So I held back this time.
He doesn’t get it—everything I’m doing is for the good of the world!
Just like that, with our preparations wrapping up and the one-week deadline given by the city guards drawing near, my friends and I fled Swindlin with Bati.
A midnight escape.
The real reason was that if we didn’t leave now, we wouldn’t arrive at the right moment.
But to the nobles?
It must’ve looked like we bolted under cover of darkness.
I hope they waste lots of energy chasing our “missing target.”
I want them too distracted to notice what I’m really up to!
I hid behind a building near the inn, waiting for my friends to create a distraction.
From this angle, they couldn’t see me, but I had a perfect view of the back entrance.
Of course, there was someone guarding it.
It was the kind of inn that catered to nobles—or at the very least, the outrageously wealthy—so naturally, security had to be tight.
Especially now, with none other than the youngest son of the mighty Marquis Zeppelin staying there.
Still…
“Just let me see him once!”
“I just want to talk—why is that so hard?”
“Please! This is a huge misunderstanding…”
If several adventurers make a scene, they’re bound to attract attention.
These aren’t just any civilians, either—my friends are nationally renowned, each known by at least one alias.
Even the guards must realize their basic personnel wouldn’t be enough to handle them.
I could see the guards at the back entrance exchanging confused glances.
An inn staff member soon rushed over to call for backup, and the guards briefly left their posts.
For now, an inn employee was blocking the door instead… but let’s be honest.
Could you really call that “blocking”?
