Sotis, don't we all take breaks by starting conversations like this? Those candid talks that can only happen when there are no n around.
While Liberta was conducting interviews for fan club applicants with the Spirit King, what were the female mbers doing?
"Phew, that completes our leveling up to Class 3."
They were clearing a mushroom dungeon.
Liberta had obtained permission from the Spirit King to form a clan, but in return, he was swamped with interviews for the flood of applicants.
At first, everyone offered to help, but Amina's presence might agitate so spirits, leaving her alone at ho wasn't an option, and they couldn't neglect Claudi and Esralda's leveling either.
Ingrid was essential for the mushroom dungeon.
Fortunately, with the Spirit King's assistance, they could manage the ti constraints, so the group proceeded without Liberta to balance their party levels.
Since they'd cleared dungeons many tis with just the female mbers, there were no issues.
"Lady Esralda, here's a towel.""Thank you, Ingrid."
With Nel, Amina, and Ingrid already leveled up, Class 3 mushrooms were hardly a challenge.
They easily defeated even the boss, completing their leveling in under three days.
Though they felt uneasy when Liberta didn't join them after three days, they continued leveling without pause.
"I hope Liberta's okay. Every ti he cos back, he looks more exhausted.""True. I told him to rest, but he insisted on continuing because there were still applicants waiting."
Yet, their conversations inevitably turned to Liberta.
For Amina and Nel, eting him had changed their lives. Seeing him struggle while they leveled up leisurely darkened their expressions.
Had Liberta been there, he would have gently refused their help—Amina's presence would cause chaos at the venue, and dragging the delicate Nel into this grueling task would be beneath his pride.
"Indeed. Even I noticed his complexion wasn't good. Now that Class 3 leveling is done, Ingrid can go assist Liberta.""Yes. Liberta said my help was crucial for this status-affected area. But now that my role here is complete, I'll support him starting tomorrow."
Still, it was clear Liberta was overworking himself—leaving early, returning late.
Ingrid, sensing the toll on his small fra, had been the most proactive in dungeon leveling. Her efficiency left even Claudi in awe.
"Claudi and I will proceed to Class 4 leveling and join you afterward.""I wish I could help Liberta too...""Unfortunately, your presence would only cause more commotion."
Each understood their role. Respecting Liberta's wishes, they prioritized growth over assisting with interviews, knowing that was what he truly needed.
"Aw, but still...""Amina, you really like Liberta, don't you?""Yeah! He's the first person besides Nel who 'acknowledged' my singing! And he gave a place to perform!!"
They were all aware of each other's feelings for Liberta.
Claudi, the most neutral and mature, voiced Amina's simple desire to be with him, making the girl nod with a shy smile.
In this dog-eat-dog world, making a living through art was nearly impossible.
Singing for money? Only a select few could do that. To most, singing was just a pasti—not a real job.
Amina, who cherished singing more than anyone, had been told her whole life—by family and peers—that she'd never succeed.
"You need to work to survive." To those around her, singing wasn't "work."
Before eting Liberta, only her best friend Nel had listened without laughing. Others mocked her dreams, urging her to "face reality."
Then she t Liberta.
He praised her singing—not emptily, but by making her dream a reality.
Clasping her hands, Amina smiled shyly, not hiding her affection.
"Plus, he says he loves my singing."
This was a conversation only won could have—one they'd had many tis before.
"I get that. I feel the sa."
It might seem odd how often this topic ca up.
But it surfaced in Liberta's absence precisely because their feelings ran deep.
"Female rchants are rare, aren't they? In my travels, all the peddlers I t were n.""Indeed. Most who visit our mansion are n too."
Though this world allowed both genders to grow strong, n dominated frontline roles like adventuring and trading, while won supported.
Claudi was an exception, but such won were few. As Esralda noted, even among successful rchants who opened shops in the capital, n outnumbered won.
"Nel, your dream was tough too. People like Dass kept saying it was impossible.""Honestly, they weren't wrong. Dad supported , but Mom wanted to take over his shop."
Won could beco rchants—so even ran shops—but most inherited them.
"But I wanted my own store. I wanted to travel like Dad and trade where my eyes took ."
Without combat skills, leaving town to source goods was impossible.
"I knew I couldn't do it. The old would've let my dream stay a dream."
In the rcantile world, those with nothing weren't even given the right to try.
"Without Liberta, I'd either be regretfully running Dad's shop or... maybe recklessly chasing my dream anyway."
Many gambled for success, but few succeeded.
Liberta knew of Nel's shop in the ga, but not Nel herself. Had he been there, he might have wondered why—was it cut content? But now, it was clear which path Nel would've taken.
"So I'm grateful to him. No—'grateful' isn't enough. He showed I could go beyond the southern continent. He called my dream wonderful. His words saved ."
For Nel, who'd faced that unjust wall, Liberta tore it down effortlessly. Her gratitude—and affection—matched Amina's.
Though still young, the girl had fallen for the boy who paved her path. It hadn't taken long.
"How lovely.""And you? Don't you feel the sa?"
Esralda smiled at the girls' stories, but when Claudi challenged her with a teasing grin, she proudly straightened.
"As a noblewoman, my path was set at birth—to continue my bloodline. But I've made peace with that."
She embraced her aristocratic duty.
"And fortunately, I have soone in mind for that. Father approves."
Her first fiancé had been a disaster, but the boy who saved her twice had more than earned her affection.
And he'd saved not just her—the first ti, her sister; the second, her father.
Twice, he'd risked his life for her family.
Though her smile was playful, she held no hostility toward the others.
"The problem is whether Liberta realizes my feelings.""Ahh..."
If anything, they'd fallen into a pattern of sharing their struggles over this.
"It's not that he has no interest in won, right?""Definitely not. He once stared dazedly at a guild receptionist.""He doesn't only like elves, does he?""I've heard no such rumors. Nor is he dating anyone specific.""Hmm, he sotis goes off alone, but it never seems romantic."
Surrounded by won, yet not a single scandal.
What would Liberta's reaction be if he heard this?
He'd maxed out their affection ters... then left them hanging.
Claudi sighed at the boy's behavior, though she suspected it was why their party got along so well.
Had he dated even one of them, cracks might have ford.
But by focusing solely on their goals, he'd made them unite—now plotting to corner him together.
This confession session was part of that.
Unspoken this ti, even the quiet Ingrid held feelings for Liberta, who thanked her for work others took for granted.
His actions stood out among n.
And he always showed them new horizons.
That was why he endlessly fascinated them.
A casual dungeon chat—the kind only possible when he wasn't around.
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