* * *
I know it’s probably just because his standards were lower before the Demon King’s invasion, but it still made my heart leap with joy.
Honestly, I’ve always been cautious around Zerbin, and I definitely acted out of character this time.
I confidently pushed for us to get ready quickly, gave orders to him while he was still confused, and threw myself into action without waiting for his agreement.
Even if he criticized me for that, I’d understand.
But the fact that he started with praise must mean I was genuinely helpful, right?
My chest swelled with pride, almost too full to bear.
Sure, I may not do much, but at least I’m good at clearing the area so Zerbin can fight more effectively!
‘…Though that’s pretty much all I do.’
Zerbin does the fighting while I hang back.
Even if he gets hurt, there’s not much I can do to help.
In fact, stepping in would probably just make things worse.
Damn it, I can’t even let myself fully enjoy this.
“I understand now why you refused to train with me,” he added.
…Huh?
Wait, what’s he talking about?
Does he think I refused because my abilities are more focused on support and I didn’t need his help in that area?
Ah, crap!
“No, no! It’s not like that! I mean, I’m happy if you see me in a good light, but that’s not why!”
Flustered, I rambled nonsensically, my voice rising despite myself.
I knew I must look like an idiot, but I couldn’t let him misunderstand.
“I just… wanted to help you. That’s all. I’ve never thought of it as anything extraordinary.”
Zerbin took a step closer.
Every time he got nearer, my chest tightened uncomfortably.
I couldn’t tell if my racing heart was from fear or something else entirely.
Meanwhile, under the faint moonlight, Zerbin looked stunning.
Even the dim light seemed to pour down on him alone.
He reached out and placed a hand lightly on my head.
The gesture was casual, but the way he ruffled my hair was undeniably gentle.
“You made things a lot easier.”
Oh, no. I think I’m going to die.
What do I do?
It feels like my heart just stopped.
If I die right now, I’ll go down in history as the dumbest person to ever exist.
“Whoever you partnered with before… I don’t know. But from what I can see, this is more than perfect.”
“R-really?”
Hearing Zerbin—of all people—say there’s nothing better made me feel like I wouldn’t regret fainting on the spot from sheer joy.
I was so elated that I asked again without thinking, but he didn’t answer.
Oh, no.
Did I get too excited over something he said out of courtesy?
Feeling embarrassed, I averted my gaze, but then I noticed Zerbin looking away too.
Wait… is he embarrassed about giving me a compliment?
Now that I think about it, Zerbin doesn’t seem like the kind of person who’s used to praising others.
Considering how rarely he interacts with people, it makes sense that saying something nice wouldn’t come naturally to him.
Maybe it wasn’t just polite words—maybe he was genuinely awkward about it.
The thought calmed me, and I waited quietly to see if he’d say anything else.
“There’s no need to overthink it.…”
My heart pounded.
“…Just focus on fighting.”
His words were sweet, like a reward I’d been craving. Like a thrilled puppy, I eagerly nodded.
“Yeah, yeah! Fighting’s already tough enough. Trying to handle everything else on top of that would be a headache! When you’re in a party, it’s all about dividing the roles! Besides, I’m not much use when it comes to actual combat, anyway…”
Zerbin’s hand, which had been ruffling my hair, stilled.
Did I nod too much and annoy him?
Who keeps moving their head while someone’s petting them, anyway?
I let out an awkward laugh.
“Anyway, yeah. I’m trying my best, but it’s not like that’s why I turned down your training offer—”
“What?” Zerbin interrupted.
“Huh? Oh, I mean, I’m trying my best, but it’s not like that’s the reason I—”
“Not that.”
Then… what is it?
The part before that?
About dividing roles in a party?
Did I sound like I was bragging?
I must’ve looked utterly confused because Zerbin withdrew his hand entirely.
Even though he’d already stopped petting my head, I felt an odd sense of loss.
“You seem unusually fixated on combat strength.”
“Do I? I thought that was natural for an adventurer.”
“You’re not… as weak as you think.”
I froze in shock.
“No way!”
I immediately denied it and clamped my hands over my mouth.
But… no, seriously.
I am weak.
Suddenly cheering at a compliment and raising my voice?
Even I found my behavior startlingly rude.
Covering my mouth, I cautiously gauged Zerbin’s reaction.
Thankfully, he didn’t seem offended—just perplexed.
“You always react like that.”
Or… was he upset? His tone sounded a bit flatter than usual.
It was hard to tell, given how subdued his voice typically was.
“You…”
His gaze dropped momentarily before locking onto mine again.
“Even if you’re really weak, do you need to get stronger? You’re usually with a group anyway.”
Hmm.
A fair question, considering the current situation.
The beasts adventurers face these days are manageable as long as everyone plays their part.
But Zerbin had no idea.
He didn’t know the Demon King would eventually lead a demon army to attack humanity.
I couldn’t give an honest explanation without revealing too much.
How could I frame it?
“Those… attacks.”
I decided to tie it to something plausible, weaving in a partial truth to muddy the waters.
“You mean the beasts targeting villages?”
“Yeah. You haven’t seen it happen before, but I have. It’s going to happen more often. We can’t afford to stay stagnant.”
Good. That sounded convincing enough.
“You saw the numbers, didn’t you? They swarm in hordes.”
“You’re certain this will happen more frequently?”
…Oh.
Oh no.
Did I just sound like someone from the future?
“N-no, that’s not what I meant!”
This was a time when beasts, which didn’t even need humans to survive, almost never attacked human villages.
They had their own ecosystems and rarely overbred.
Even if their population boomed due to some fortunate conditions, it wouldn’t simultaneously happen across multiple groups.
They had no reason to risk retaliatory strikes by invading human territory.
Beasts valued their lives too, after all.
So, my statement might’ve been too definitive.
“I mean… the beast population has been increasing lately, hasn’t it? We’ve seen it with our own eyes—more of them, stronger ones.”
“Hmm.”
“That’s why adventurers are in higher demand across the continent. The signs are everywhere. Instead of blindly hoping things will get better, isn’t it more rational to prepare for worse?”
I scrambled to patch together an explanation, dragging in recent continental trends for support.
It must’ve been somewhat convincing because Zerbin nodded.
But I couldn’t relax just yet.
Despite accepting my explanation, his expression remained displeased.
Why?
“Did someone you used to travel with tell you that?”
“Huh?”
“That if attacks increased, your skills would fall short?”
His voice was so icy it sent a shiver down my spine.
* * *
