Lilia knelt there, her eyes trembling slightly, and closed them in prayer.
(We finally made it… Mom…)
She conveyed this in her heart. She also prayed for the other villagers, feeling overwhelmed to finally be there.
Memories flooded back, both the nightmares and the happiness of when nothing was lost.
She felt a pang of sadness at the thought that she’d never forget.
She hides her eyes, which are slightly filled with tears, from Fei. She knew he was nearby
but couldn’t bring herself to look at him, fearing that her tears would not stop if she did.
Lilia stood silently, back turned. They were like prisoners trapped in the past.
A breeze blew, caressing her cheek. She wished to stay like that until her tears dried in the wind.
Time passed, and she heard footsteps. Not Fei’s, but multiple, non-human sounds.
She glanced in that direction. It was a pack of White Wolves, drooling and targeting her.
Strangely, she didn’t feel like running. Standing by the gravestones, she felt she belonged there, a dead person who should remain.
She recalled the nightmares and the happiness, thinking perhaps it was fine to die with these memories….. A White Wolf leaped at her.
Its sharp teeth drew near, instinct driving it to devour her.
—Once again, the wind blew.
Red blood danced in the air. The swordsman had already finished his swing.
With a beautiful stroke, the ground was stained red.
“—Too slow.”
His heavy words dominated the scene. The White Wolves, seeing their comrade fall, attacked all at once.
Fei flicked the blood off his blade and swung again. His swordsmanship was like a graceful dance dedicated to a higher being.
“—Not even worth testing my blade.”
His disappointed voice echoed as he effortlessly sliced through the wolves, one by one, in a series of precise, refined strikes.
It is such a sophisticated slash.
The pack leader recognized the man before him as a superior being, not an enemy to confront.
Instinct dictated retreat, and the wolves scattered like spiders.
Lilia watched his back.
The boy who once struggled blindly was gone. Before her was a man determined, knowing his path and walking it with resolve.
Maria didn’t want him to walk that path alone. But seeing his back now, she felt proud of his growth. Yet, she sensed she was no longer needed by him.
Tears overflowed
as she realized he had moved beyond her reach. She lowered her gaze when he turned around.
Hiding her tearful face, she put on a brave front and spoke cheerfully as Fei approached them.
“Let’s head back…”
“Yeah.”
That was all he said. As he started walking away, Maria felt left behind, thinking he would always leave her like this. Then, she noticed he had stopped.
Without looking at her, he extended something.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s for my sake… Walking back with you looking like that would be unpleasant… Use it.”
Without looking at his face, she saw his hand offering a yellow handkerchief. After handing it over, Fei turned and started walking again, his pace slightly slower than usual. Fei, who never adjusted for anyone, was walking slowly.
As if waiting for someone.
(…I see. He’s waiting for me… He understands everything and is waiting for me to catch up.)
(—At least for now, he’s concerned for my sadness.)
She ran from the gravestones to catch up with Fei. He didn’t look back, just kept moving towards the future. She followed, looking back briefly.
(Sorry, Mom… I can’t stay yet… I have someone I want to walk into the future with…)
Lilia caught up to Fei, who kept his eyes forward, not looking at her.
“Hey, can I keep this handkerchief?”
“Do as you like. It’s just a piece of cloth.”
“I see… Then, I’ll keep it… Thank you, Fei.”
///
continue
///
He said just that and nothing more. Their eyes, which had been avoiding each other, finally met. Fei and Maria could see each other’s faces.
“──I see.”
(What…?)
For a moment, Fei had a faint smile. Maria thought she was seeing things, so she blinked and looked again. There he was, with his usual expressionless and grumpy face.
(Could it be that he smiled to reassure me… no way… but maybe…?)
The two of them began to walk towards the future. She felt as if the faint wind blowing from behind was blessing them.
◆
I thought Maria invited me on a date, but it turned out to be a visit to a grave. Seriously, who goes to a graveyard with the heroine?
Is Maria the heroine or not? I’m still undecided. We chat about various things as we head to the grave.
It’s getting colder, but it’s winter, so that’s normal. Should I be training by standing under a waterfall to prepare for enemies who control ice?
We arrive at the grave, and there’s a white wolf!
Leave it to me! I’ll stylishly take it down!
Wait, is Maria crying?
Is she scared of the white wolf?
I notice something in my pocket—the yellow handkerchief I bought recently. I ask myself:
What does a handkerchief mean to a protagonist?
Is it for personal use? NO.
For stopping bleeding in an emergency? NO.
That’s right, the answer is… for wiping the tears of the heroine or potential heroine. This is basic.
I hand the handkerchief to Maria without looking at her. As a cool type, my reason for giving it has to be a bit twisted.
I find it unpleasant to see her cry. Besides, I owe her.
Even if Maria isn’t the heroine, it’s basic for a protagonist to repay kindness. It’s common decency.
Wait, Maria seems to be feeling better?
Why…? Do you want the handkerchief? It was a bit pricey, but you can have it. I can always buy another one.
Maria said thank you.
She might really be the heroine. Her voice made me smile a bit. Close call.
As a cool type, my facial muscles should be dead. I don’t want to break character. I’ll go on with my usual expressionless face.
Alright, let’s head back. I’ll protect you on the way back, so don’t worry. You don’t have to hide your crying face.
Not that I’d say it out loud. But I’m sure she’ll understand if I act like it.
──Thinking that, I walk coolly as usual.
◆
Athena Snippet!!
On the way home!!
Komatsuna (I looked so cool when I handed her the handkerchief)
Lilia (Fei gave me a handkerchief!)
Maria (What!? He gave it to me!)
Lilia (No! Fei gave it to me!)
Maria (No, he gave it to me!)
──Maybe it’s wise to give two handkerchiefs from now on.
◆
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
At the orphanage in winter, Maria was hanging the laundry, which felt unusually cold. She blew on her hands to warm them.
There were many children at the orphanage, so there was a lot of laundry. After finishing, Maria sighed.
She remembered something and sighed again. Even though the cold wind brushed her cheeks, her face felt warm.
Maria took out the yellow handkerchief Fei gave her. It faintly smelled of Fei and reminded her of his gentlemanly demeanor
and that almost cheating smile.
Those memories tightened Maria’s heart. Especially that fleeting smile Fei showed. Was it an illusion or a real smile for Maria and Lilia? She didn’t know.
Still, it was burned into her mind. She kept sighing.
(I really do like Fei…)
She realized anew.
Fei’s smile. Completely unfair.
──The occasional smile of a cool type was very effective on Maria and Lilia.
A cool protagonist usually expressionless, but occasionally showing a smile—this is basic, no, an advanced technique. Killing facial muscles usually and then reviving them at the right moment—a patented move for the cool type.
Unconsciously doing this made Fei potentially a dense protagonist.
A dense protagonist is a troublesome existence. They make the heroine fall for them and then ignore them.
Fei smiled unconsciously and ignored it. Maria and Lilia thought the smile was just for them because of his usual grumpy face.
Clouding a beauty’s mind and amplifying their feelings without being present. Maria and Lilia were caught in this trap.
(Sigh… I look like a mother, even though Fei says otherwise. There are many young, cute girls around Fei. Maybe it’s better to give up and feel better.)
(No! I won’t give up on Fei!)
(But…)
(Then give up if you want! I won’t! I love Fei!)
(We’re two sides of the same coin…)
(I won’t give up on Fei! Never!!)
Maria’s internal Lilia was fiercely against giving up. Maria was slightly bothered by her age.
She had fallen in love. She wanted to walk the same path, but she was unsure. She didn’t want Fei to walk the path of revenge.
With her internal Lilia’s chaos, Maria couldn’t reach a conclusion. Her and Lilia’s affection for Fei just increased.
◆
The new Holy Knights were excited about an upcoming event. A training camp held annually in the makeshift castle of the Round Table in the city of Rinary before the New Year.
One of the many training exercises, not recommended for those with only non-elemental magic aptitude, was led by the second-rank Holy Knight Magnus.
It is famous as an event in which True and Arthur, the main characters of the game, are unbeatable. Although there are times when they struggle a little with the training, they show extraordinary strength in the mock battles and are slightly ignored by the people around them.
In many ways, this is a busy event in which the two are slightly ostracized and end up getting to know each other better.
Originally, Fei wouldn’t be there. Magnus believed those with only non-elemental magic were worthless and would neither invite them to training nor teach them if they came. Fei himself wasn’t interested in attending such training.
However, what would Fei do now? No one knew.
──Fei was training as usual and had gone to buy a ham and lettuce sandwich at the bakery. There he happened to meet Ese and Kamase.
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