435 – To Get it Back, You Must Pay the Price. -3-

The two men talked for quite some time.

-So, that’s why you did it.

-···

-I understand what you mean. But, why kill innocent people?

-····

-Yeah! I know that the people you killed were criminals who deserved to be beaten to death, like you said, but you still shouldn’t have done it!

-···

-You had no choice? Hey… do you even know what your situation is right now?

-···

-You’ll have to live on the run for the rest of your life. Hiding in a place where not a single ray of light enters, worrying about the Imperial Army storming in at any moment.

-···

-This isn’t something you can just say is okay!!! You can never come into the light again!!! You moronic b*stard!!!

I hadn’t wanted to listen to the details.

-And my magic!

-…

-You son of a b*tch…

-…

-I can’t take it anymore. Let’s fight, damn it.

Even when the voices grew loud.

Even when harsh words were exchanged, loud enough for everyone in the tavern to glance over.

-Get up!

It was their problem, after all.

I didn’t want to interfere just because I knew the story of these two men with so many complications. Just because Hans was on my side didn’t mean I wanted to defend him.

In any case, the two of them were enemies and friends.

I feared that butting in with unnecessary meddling would only result in an awkward greeting and parting, so I pretended not to notice, simply hoping that their relationship would improve from what it was.

-Fine, let’s die together today.

-…

-You won’t fight me? I will.

-…

Whether their relationship worsened from what it was.

Or became like it used to be. The result wasn’t something I had to accept, but something the two of them had to.

-…

-…

I simply had to avoid getting involved in the story and create an atmosphere where they could talk comfortably.

Though I didn’t know how it would turn out.

“It’s gotten quiet.”

Yuria, cradling the drunkenly passed-out Shuen in her lap, turned to me with a small smile.

“That’s right, isn’t it.”

She stroked Shuen’s hair, offered a bright smile, and made eye contact.

“Don’t you think it’s time we dropped the formalities?”

“Ahaha… I’m more comfortable with honorifics, but you can speak casually with me, Yuria-ssi.”

“I’ll wait.”

“Pardon?”

“Until you speak informally.”

Was it the alcohol talking?

Or was this something she’d wanted to say for a while? I managed an awkward smile, taken aback by Yuria’s unusually lighthearted manner.

She even seemed to exude a subtle, almost intoxicating allure, unlike usual.

Yuria smiled lightly, refilled her empty glass with soju, and offered a toast.

“Cheers.”

“…Cheers.”

-Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.

“Ahhh!”

Yuria emptied her glass and wiped the foam from her lips with her sleeve, a radiant smile on her face.

A stranger might easily mistake her for a seasoned drinker. I offered a small smile, thinking to myself, ‘The lessons must have been really tough.’ and then asked her,

“Have you always been a good drinker?”

The Yuria I knew wasn’t particularly fond of alcohol.

She shrugged in response and shook her head.

“No, I actually dislike it.”

“You certainly don’t show it.”

“Haha… Is that so?”

“The lessons must have been very difficult.”

“…They are.”

“…”

Yuria sighed deeply, a sigh that seemed to come from the very depths of her being, before refilling her glass and offering another toast.

“One more cheer?”

“That’s enough for today.”

“…Whyyy?”

“Too much drinking is bad for you.”

“…Awww, whyyyy!!!”

“Excessive alcohol consumption is detrimental to your health.”

“You’re so stingy..”

“I’ve always been stingy.”

“Tch…”

Was it the power of a drunken heroine?

Even Yuria’s drunken antics seemed endearing. Nodding in agreement, I understood why that Green Hair b*stard had fallen for her captivating charm as I raised my glass.

-Gulp.

“Though, of course, not quite as lovely as our young lady.”

“Why are you drinking alone!”

“Because I don’t get drunk.”

“Ugh… how cowardly.”

“If you have a complaint, become a Sword Master then.”

“Tch…”

Yuria, cheeks puffed out with air, ‘tched’ and turned her head. But she stopped, a forced smile playing on her lips, as she heard two men arguing behind her.

-You’ve always been like this! If you want something, just say it!

-Do you know how many times I *have* said it?

-I’m a blockhead, so you have to say it at least three times for me to understand!

-Is that even human?

-I’m not human, I’m algae, you b*stard!

“Pfft.”

It wasn’t me who laughed.

It was Yuria beside me.

Yuria, watching Ruin and Hans bicker, burst into laughter, then let out a soft sigh as she raised her glass.

“Those two… always fighting when they meet, just like old times.”

“You seem to know them well.”

“I do.”

“Really? When I was at the Academy, I didn’t see you and Hans together that often.”

“Is that so…?”

Yuria’s lips twitched, and she smiled faintly, murmuring under her breath. ‘Yes…if it’s you now, you wouldn’t know.’

I felt strangely left out, a peculiar sensation.

“Oh, right, Ricardo.”

“Yes?”

“Ricardo, what’s your ideal type?”

“My ideal type?”

Perhaps because Yuria’s eyes were half-glazed, I momentarily had the illusion that she was trying to seduce me. Even I, accustomed to attending to the needs of a sublime beauty, was at risk from Yuria’s drunken charm, so full of allure.

“Hmm…”

Ideal type, huh.

“I don’t know. I just like pretty people.”

“Then am I your ideal type?”

“Pardon?”

“I *am* pretty, aren’t I?”

Suddenly, Yuria leaned in close, her eyes crinkling with a playful smile. Startled, I stared blankly at her face and nodded.

“You are pretty.”

Regardless, that was the truth.

“Pfft…!”

“…”

“I’m not going to eat you, so don’t be scared.”

“Isn’t that usually something a man says?”

“…Hmm.”

Yuria, gazing steadily into my eyes, opened her lips, which were like a vivid crimson, with a sweet eye-smile.

“I wouldn’t devour *you*, though.”

“…”

“You’re too kind.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Hahaha!”

“My pride is wounded, may I be angry?”

“No. Don’t get angry.”

“…”

“When you get angry, you’re really scary, you know.”

“…”

“So, don’t get angry.”

Why is she like this?

I gave an awkward smile, watching Yuria emanate an unusual abundance of sensuality.

“You seem different than usual today.”

“…Do I?”

“I think the alcohol is the problem.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“You’ve become more alluring than usual. How should I put it, you seem more… mature.”

“…”

“In the future, you should only drink in front of people you can trust.”

“…Really?”

Yuria pouted her lips and furrowed her brow at me.

“Idiot.”

“Huh?”

“Riccardo is a fool.”

“…Oh…”

Panicked, I stared at Yuria with a broken expression. I didn’t know how to react in a situation like this.

What was certain was…

“Beeee….”

The heroine of a novel isn’t a heroine for nothing.

“Don’t get angry, and let’s drink together often from now on.”

“…What does that mean?”

“It’s a pure invitation without ulterior motives. I just think it would be better to drink with someone trustworthy like me, rather than drinking with ambiguous people.”

“Sounds like there’s a hidden, lewd thought?”

“Lewd? I’m such a kind fool that I even received certification that I *can’t* devour you.”

“…Touché.”

Yuria gave a small smile, toying with her lips.

“You know, Ricardo.”

Yuria, gazing at the sky, stretched languidly as she spoke.

“I hate you, you know?”

“Is that so?”

To Yuria’s words, I simply nodded, offering no particular reaction. I had been forgiven for the past, but I knew that hatred wasn’t an emotion that readily departed from someone’s heart.

“You’re taking it surprisingly well?”

“I’ve known I was the type to be hated since long ago. I never lived a life kind enough to even earn anyone’s favor in the first place.”

“…You sure know how to talk.”

“Of course. If you take away my mouth, I’m basically a corpse.”

“…Tch.”

Accompanying the sound of escaping air from Yuria’s lips, the stars in the night sky twinkled beautifully.

Reaching her hand towards the stars, Yuria clenched her fist as if trying to grasp a particularly bright blue star, her gaze fixed upwards.

“You know, Ricardo.”

“Yes.”

“I… you see.”

“I’m listening.”

With a faint ‘pop’ sound, Yuria released the fist that held the star, a sad expression gracing her features.

“I hate myself.”

“…”

“Just causing trouble.”

“…”

“Making mistakes I can’t take back.”

“…”

“And still trying to be forgiven….”

-Tight squeeze.

“I really hate it.”

I couldn’t see Yuria’s face.

What expression she wore as she spoke these words. What kind of light was in her eyes as she gazed at the stars, confessing her feelings about herself, I didn’t see.

Right now, all that mattered was the beauty of the stars twinkling in the night sky.

“The stars are so bright.”

“…”

“Not blindingly bright, either.”

“…”

“Not pathetic.”

“…”

“The subtly shimmering night sky… I think it’s truly beautiful.”

I spoke to Yuria.

Expressing how I felt about myself with complete honesty.

“I like myself.”

“…”

“A temper that flares up at the slightest thing, always causing trouble.”

“…”

“Claims to be a romantic, yet dreams of polygamy.”

“…”

“And I’m terribly fond of the fact that I reached the rank of Sword Master at such a young age.”

I offered, a shy compliment escaping me with a small smile.

“Of course, it helps that I’m good-looking too.”

“Pfft…”

“You could search the whole world and not find another man like me.”

“…Whatever.”

“I’m quite the rare breed, you see.”

“…Hmph.”

I gazed at Yuria, a faint smile playing on her lips, and spoke.

“So, please don’t dislike me.”

“…”

“Don’t you like me?”

“…”

“Of course, I’m not confessing anything right now, but as one person to another. As a friend. And as a potential love interest, I don’t dislike you, Yuria.”

“…”

“In fact, I suppose ‘like’ would be closer to the truth.”

“…”

“Even if you were to commit a terrible act against me, one worthy of death.”

“…”

“I wouldn’t dislike you, Yuria.”

Yuria’s gaze, previously fixed on the stars, shifted to meet mine. Her eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, stared at me, and in a choked voice, she said,

“It’s because of this…”

“…”

“It’s because of this… that I can’t help but be ‘jealous’ of you.”

“…Pardon?”

Yuria, reaching out to me with a trembling hand, abruptly turned away, sniffing loudly as she stood.

“Ah… sniff… I think I drank a bit too much.”

“Ah… I see.”

“I’m going to head in first. Sorry for acting like a drunk fool tonight.”

“Not at all. You only showed me how wonderfully impressive you are.”

“Really?”

“Of course, that was me saying I was impressive.”

“Pffahaha…!”

Yuria, her eyes still glistening with tears, didn’t look at me as she gathered the slumped figures of Shuen and Belian, helping them to their feet.

“Well, I’m going to head in then.”

“…I’ll walk you back.”

-A pause.

“It’s alright.”

“Even so.”

“They’re girls. They’ll shower and sleep well, so Ricardo, show some understanding.”

“…”

“You were thinking it’s a shame, weren’t you?”

How did she know?

Caught off guard by Yuria’s piercing insight, I offered an awkward smile and waved.

“Get home safe.”

Yuria, with her arm around Shuen’s shoulders, stopped and spoke.

“Okay!”

Yuria’s bright smile put my mind at ease.

*

And so, the next day.

“…Yuria-ssi.”

“…Yes?”

“…Don’t you have something to say?”

“Ahaha… I ate so much yesterday, I don’t remember a thing.”

Yuria couldn’t recall the events of the previous night.

The events of last night, when she was like a ‘different person.’