* * *
In reality, since we broke up right after I insisted on staying at the temple, he’s probably already headed back to Swindlin.
There’s no reason for him to stay in a place he dislikes.
‘Even if I went to the temple, he wouldn’t be there.’
So I won’t go.
Then… where else?
‘Why am I even talking like I’m going to look for him?’
I just decided to let everything go yesterday.
How ridiculous. I
f my resolve was this flimsy, I should’ve just swallowed my pride and stayed.
…But what was I supposed to do?
I was just so hurt.
I was so upset I couldn’t contain it.
I ended up liking Batista even more than before, but realizing he wanted to push me away—it was unbearable.
But.
But yesterday, that wasn’t right either. In both this timeline and the last, I was the one who messed up.
And yet, I walked away blaming him for not saying anything?
The truth is, Batista is mad because I met someone he absolutely despises.
He told me not to, over and over, but I ignored him.
So, it’s my fault.
I let out a sigh.
If I leave things like this, Batista won’t change.
Since our relationship ended like this, he’ll never try to get close to anyone again.
And he’ll never even think about love.
“…I can’t let that happen.”
Damn it.
I’m not some noble, righteous person.
My own survival matters the most, and I’d sell my soul for the right price.
I’m a selfish, greedy adventurer.
But if I’m the only one who made it back to stop the end of the world, I can’t just sit here and do nothing.
I slowly got up. I didn’t have the energy to move any faster.
My head was pounding from exhaustion.
‘Can we… make up?’
Flattery won’t work this time.
That much is obvious.
I have no idea how to fix this.
I’ve never had to apologize any other way before.
Then.
‘I’ll ask.’
Luckily, Vasco and his companions are in town.
Thinking about it alone won’t help. It’s better to gather ideas with others.
As soon as I made up my mind, I straightened my clothes and left the inn.
Batista walks fast—if he’s already leaving town, I need to hurry.
I quickly arrived at Vasco’s inn.
I remembered which room he was in, so I went straight for it.
But then.
“So? Have you thought about what you want?”
“If a comrade is injured, it’s only natural to help. I don’t need anything.”
“Yeah, well, rewarding someone is natural too. You really don’t want anything? Huh?”
What are these guys doing?
Whispering behind the inn?
And why do they look so happy?
My whole life is falling apart, and they’re having fun?
“I don’t.”
“Then how am I supposed to repay you?”
“I already told you, you don’t need to.”
Ah. So this is about that time Arthur desperately tried to save Vasco.
And now they’re competing over it?
Just hurry up and go on a date already.
You’re both adventurers.
What’s the big deal?
It’s not like one of you is way more skilled than the other.
“I don’t like owing people.”
“A priest helping others is natural. You don’t owe me anything.”
“But you don’t act like this usually.”
Arthur remained silent.
Of course, he had nothing to say.
There was nothing he could say.
Because it was true.
“……That’s…”
His voice was barely above a whisper, but I heard everything.
I wasn’t going to barge in and interrupt them outright, but I also had nothing else to do, so I slowly crept closer.
There was no way these two would notice my presence.
Even the Hero himself struggled to detect my stealth.
Oblivious to my existence, they were too busy basking in their sweet little moment.
“What? I can’t hear you.”
Vasco took a step closer to Arthur.
If he couldn’t hear, he could’ve just asked him to speak louder.
Did he really have to move in like that?
No, he just wanted to get closer.
“Uh, well…”
Arthur turned his head, embarrassed by the shrinking distance between them, but he didn’t seem to dislike it.
Seriously?
Was I really watching this guy blush from my hiding spot?
I ruined my relationship with Batista, and yet here I was, watching someone else’s romance unfold right before my eyes.
This is so unfair.
If you’re going to get that close, why not just hug already?
“Anyway…”
Even with Vasco pressed right against him, Arthur continued to mumble, and Vasco leaned in even more, practically pulling Arthur into his arms to hear better.
Oh, come on.
I didn’t mean for them to actually hug! But at this point, what else would you call it?
Ugh, I’m jealous. Until just recently, that was me and Batista.
Arthur kept whining about how he wasn’t sure he wanted to pursue Vasco or how he didn’t know how to make him happy, yet look at them now, all cozy and comfortable together.
Just last night, Batista was the one holding me like that…
Even before bed, when he said he was training, he half-hugged me while correcting my posture…
It was nerve-wracking but also really nice.
I wish I could go back…
If I had just apologized properly, I’d be the one standing there with Batista right now.
Instead, I was stuck here, watching these two flirt in secret like some third-wheel ghost.
If I don’t make up with him, does that mean we’ll never walk through the market together again?
Never hold hands again?
I have to fix this. No matter what, I have to.
I regretted my reckless words so much that it physically hurt.
How do I fix this?
Has he already left?
“Ugh…”
What do I do?
“Ahh!”
“R-Raul?”
Crap.
I was still in stealth mode.
The pseudo-couple, lost in their little world, jumped in shock when they finally noticed me.
I wasn’t trying to interrupt them—I was just waiting for the right moment!
But now I’d crashed their little date spectacularly.
Vasco was so startled he lost his footing and stumbled, his body tipping sideways.
Arthur’s eyes widened, and he instinctively reached out, wrapping an arm around Vasco’s waist.
“Are you alright?”
Seriously?
He barely tripped!
Do you really think an adventurer would get hurt over something like that?
You’re so ridiculously smitten.
I suddenly didn’t feel bad about interrupting at all.
Nobody should be acting lovey-dovey in front of me right now.
…I miss Batista.
“Uh, y-yeah.”
Vasco’s ears turned red as he hurriedly pushed against Arthur’s chest.
The distance between them had already been close before, but I guess knowing someone was watching made it embarrassing.
“Why didn’t you say anything instead of just standing there and staring?”
“I didn’t want to be rude and interrupt.”
Vasco gave me a complicated look.
He couldn’t exactly argue that I wasn’t interrupting, but denying it outright would be a stretch too.
He must have been caught between feeling awkward and wanting to act cool.
So, he does like Arthur, huh?
And yet, he’s been pretending he doesn’t?
Ugh, that’s annoying.
I glared at Arthur in frustration.
I’m actually miserable here, and you’re just playing coy when things are obviously going well for you?
Arthur, who had been blushing just a moment ago, stiffened when our eyes met.
I was glad—because I did not want to see him looking flustered right now.
His neutral, almost cold expression was much better.
“What brings you here?”
He clearly meant, “If it’s not important, get lost.” But I ignored it. That wasn’t what mattered right now. What mattered was…
“I…”
I couldn’t get the words out.
When I first came here, I thought that if I just talked things through, I’d figure something out.
But now, standing here, I felt like if I spoke, if I actually said it aloud…
Then this would become real.
Even though it had already happened.
‘What do I do?’
Arthur and Vasco were waiting for me to speak, but I couldn’t. I just… I just wanted to see Batista.
I wanted him to come find me, just like he did back when I hid away in my room.
I wanted him to hold me again.
Or, if nothing else, I wanted everything to go back to how it was.
* * *
