Chapter 9: Please, If You Will
“Sorry to disturb you on festival night, Heidemarie, Abel.”
Camilla, sitting at her desk in the office,
looked more tired and less spirited than usual.
It was likely due to the adventurers’ guild’s cooperation request or inquiry about the 【Dragon’s Wings】 purchasing a dark map. Given that 【Night Dragonflies】 was on bad terms with 【Twilight Owl】, and with the potential misuse of secret teleportation circle, it was probable that questions about Laura had also been raised.
The city was in an uproar because of the incident’s aftermath.
However, amidst the chaos in Villeborn, the top priority for the entire 【Night Dragonflies】 was not these issues.
Of course, it was about Vim.
The organization’s greatest asset—an unprecedented talent capable of defeating labyrinth floor masters solo—was at risk of leaving. For Camilla, the leader of this large organization, nothing could be more serious.
Vim himself had no way of knowing, but Camilla had been conducting interviews with all the members since before the festival, trying to find out what had happened to Vim, what had been weighing on him, and was devising strategies accordingly. The fact that he claimed to hear the call of the labyrinth indicated a dire situation.
In this context, the worst possible timing saw the incident with 【Dragon’s Wings】, and the victim was Laura.
Everything had gone wrong.
Camilla needed to take new measures. Even if it couldn’t be resolved quickly, she wanted to at least steer things in a positive direction.
Tonight, she had called for me and Abel.
It was likely due to my connection with Vim from the same hometown and Abel’s relatively close relationship with Vim, given their similar ages. Abel was apparently the only one among the members who was allowed to have one-on-one interactions with Vim.
“Abel, how is Vim doing?”
“Yes! Compared to before, he seems more relaxed. I didn’t see any signs of him hearing the labyrinth’s call.”
When Camilla asked, Abel answered briskly.
“Does it look like he’s enjoying the festival?”
“Yes. But he didn’t have a beaming smile. I don’t think he’s ever been the type to smile so brightly anyway.”
“I see. What about the commotion with 【Dragon’s Wings】? How concerned does he seem about it?”
“…Honestly, I don’t know. However, it’s clear he feels responsible for indirectly causing harm to Laura. He seemed to avoid making eye contact with her.”
“Of course, that’s the issue.”
Camilla leaned back in her chair slightly and continued.
“I understand his feelings, but… his sense of responsibility is too strong. Laura hasn’t even blamed him.”
She self-mockingly noted the futility of her words.
Rational arguments and fair defenses were pointless.
Vim would likely dismiss them all.
Camilla somehow understood this. Hence, her initial strategy was to use indirect methods to give Vim time. At the very least, maintaining the status quo, hoping time would solve things, and eventually bringing it up for discussion.
That strategy wasn’t entirely wrong.
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But the incident had happened.
Closing the gap with Vim was no longer possible. Yet, letting him distance himself freely would inevitably lead to losing him.
“…From here, I’d like to hear from an old friend.”
Camilla turned to me and continued.
“Heidemarie, I know you have your own motives. However, I don’t think our views differ much on not cornering him. Could you cooperate with us somehow?”
I nodded in response.
After all, I was the one who brought Vim to 【Night Dragonflies】. I should be the one taking the lead in looking after him and dealing with any issues that arose.
Whether I was avoided due to my title of Sage or because I was hard to approach, either way, I had been allowed to do as I pleased for too long.
It seemed it was time for me to accept my role.
“Camilla—, and Abel too, I think you both misunderstand Vim Strauss a bit.”
When I said that, Camilla frowned.
“Continue.”
“Vim doesn’t act out of a sense of justice. It’s more out of a desire to avoid causing trouble or taking responsibility. His initial motivation for risking his life on the 98th floor was likely just to escape the guilt of not doing what he could.”
Camilla exchanged a puzzled glance with Abel before questioning me.
“Can someone risk their life for such reasons? I understand if it’s avoidance, but…”
“It’s probably closer to rejection. He’s very sensitive about his own space, so anything that might seem like his responsibility catches his eye.”
“In other words…”
“Yes. It can come across as ‘don’t get involved.’”
My blunt statement seemed to startle Camilla.
“He didn’t seem that exclusive. To the extreme, if he held such views, everyday life would be difficult.”
She asked again, looking perplexed.
“Of course, it’s just one aspect. He also has normal desires to get along with others.”
“…He’s difficult to handle.”
“Yes. He’s a real pain.”
I agreed with the words that escaped her mouth.
Camilla seemed somewhat convinced but also thoughtful, as if she found it hard to understand due to the stark differences between Vim and the rest of 【Night Dragonflies】.
She spoke heavily, clearly deliberating her words.
“We’ve built bonds, haven’t we? Surely Vim felt some fulfillment too. Is that a misconception?”
“It’s not a misconception. That’s also one of the things he actively desired.”
“He seemed to value and respect us to some extent.”
“That’s true as well.”
“Then, maintaining an appropriate distance and finding ways to interact with him that suit him seems like the right approach, doesn’t it? It’s a safe conclusion.”
Camilla’s statement was perfectly reasonable.
She was always right.
That’s where this conversation should naturally lead, and it usually wouldn’t deviate much from that.
But…
“…If that’s not the case, then I don’t know what to do.”
My lack of immediate agreement confused Camilla even more.
“It’s not that it’s wrong, but it’s pointless. It might be better to say it’s meaningless.”
“Pointless?”
She prompted me to continue.
Even I hesitated this time.
However,
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… But that cliffhanger is cruel.