10-13 minutes
Kena hesitated before speaking in response to rc’s threats, or rather persuasion.
“I-I’m originally from the Kingdom of Sphinia.”
“The Kingdom of Sphinia… That’s where Astard cos from.”
That’s also where Estert and Foldia t Astard for the first ti and invited him to join their group.
“So you were aware…”
“Did you say sothing?”
“No, it’s nothing. When I was younger, I lived with my parents in the Kingdom of Sphinia, where they ran an inn. The Great Sage, who was almost penniless at the ti, wasn’t even an adventurer and didn’t even have a na, began freeloading at our inn at that ti.”
“Freeloading you say?”
When Estert and Foldia t Astard, he had indeed been freeloading at an inn. The innkeeper had relied on his abilities because he was already skilled in magic at the ti. Which is also why Estert and Foldia had invited him to their party.
rc also recalled a child with gray hair staying at that inn. She couldn’t recall the child’s na, but she rembered him being a big fan of Astard and following him around everywhere. She also rembered the child clinging to Astard and crying when Estert took Astard away from the inn.
“I see… So you were a girl.”
“What?”
“It’s nothing.”
Kena tilted her head with an intrigued look as rc muttered to herself.
rc had said what she did involuntarily because the connection was so unexpected. She found it difficult to believe that the child she had paid no heed to all those years ago would suddenly appear by Astard’s side.
Naturally, the situation had changed, but the reality that they were once again living under the sa roof, as they had been before, was undeniable. Even rc couldn’t conceal her surprise.
I assud she was a boy because of her short hair, but it appears that I was mistaken. No wonder I didn’t rember her.
rc had been convinced since their first eting that she knew Kena from sowhere. There was no way rc, who had an incredible mory for won with large breasts, could forget soone like Kena. That’s why, in the end, rc had concluded that she’d never t Kena. However, given that rc had initially misidentified Kena as a boy, everything made sense.
There was no way she could have rembered her.
“I’ve always admired Mr. Astard, and even after he beca known as the Great Sage, I yearned to see him again.”
“And so you ca here?”
“Yes. After coming of age, I studied self-defense and dabbled in magic. After that, I persuaded my parents to let leave the house. All in the hopes of tracking down Mr. Astard and becoming his student.”
“You’ve sure had it rough…”
As far as rc knew, Astard had moved around a lot. He’d only recently settled down in Logholt. He’d apparently been traveling all over the place before that.
rc empathized with Kena, who had apparently left ho at the age of 14, shortly after becoming an adult, and had only recently discovered Astard, when she was in her mid-20s.
“Fufu. It wasn’t that bad. I was honing my skills as I traveled. In fact, I could have found him sooner if I had wanted to. However, I wanted to et him only after I’d gained so expertise, which is why I focused on training. If I hadn’t done so, I was certain Mr. Astard would have sent away.”
“And you were right in thinking that. He’s not the type of guy who would train an apprentice from the ground up.”
rc was convinced that Kena understood a little about Astard’s personality from their ti together in the inn. She wouldn’t have chosen to suppress her desire to see him just to train if she hadn’t.
“While passing through the Lezau Duchy, I overheard a rumor that soone resembling Mr. Astard was in Logholt. To be honest, I had intended to et Mr. Astard after so more training, but after hearing that rumor, I couldn’t stop myself, and before I knew it, I’d arrived in Logholt…”
“I see. As such you passed out in front of his house because you were exhausted from your frantic march? It’s all starting to make sense now.”
Kena’s face dropped when rc said that, and she shifted her body for so reason.
“Is sothing wrong?”
“N-No… It’s just that… You’re probably going to hate for saying this, but I wasn’t actually exhausted…”
“What?”
“I made it to Mr. Astard’s house, but as you know, the warding spell made it impossible for to get there. Furthermore, it had been a long ti since we parted in the Kingdom of Sphinia. I convinced myself that Mr. Astard had completely forgotten about , and I was worried that the mont I knocked on his door, he’d send out. That’s why, as soon as I saw him show up, I pretended to be unconscious…”
“So that’s what happened.”
While her body shook slightly and she averted her gaze, Kena confided in rc. She probably didn’t an to admit it, but after telling rc everything, she couldn’t keep quiet any longer. For better or worse, Kena was an honest child, whether it was the glance she’d originally sent rc or anything else.
“Sure enough Mr. Astard didn’t seem to recognize , and the longer I kept quiet, the more difficult it beca to tell him that I was the girl of the inn where he was staying and that I wanted to be his apprentice…”
“I see. And so, in a last futile attempt, you offered yourself as a housekeeper. Quite bold.”
rc had no idea what it was about Astard that managed to draw Kena in so strongly, but objectively speaking, Kena’s feelings seed to go beyond the realm of admiration.
By this point, she was clearly head over heels for him.
“Kena, do you like Astard?”
“W-What?! T-That’s…”
rc addressed her as simply Kena at this point, though she did so unconsciously because she realized she’d known Kena since she was a child. And the fact that Kena didn’t react at all was most likely due to the shock she was feeling as a result of the unexpected question.
Kena’s face flushed, her lips trembled, and she flailed her arms frantically.
“I-I-I… It is true that I idolize Mr. Astard, but to call those emotions love is…”
“I advise you to leave this house if you don’t see Astard as a man and a love interest. I don’t believe he would ever compromise a woman, but he is still a man. Everything is possible. And you’ll be the one who suffers in the end.”
rc said in response to Kena’s evasive answer.
“……”
“However, if you do happen to like him, then I won’t say anything. If you’re not bothered by him laying his hands on you, I won’t butt in.”
“I-I like Mr. Astard. I won’t be bothered even if he l-la-lays his hands on …”
Kenna covered her face, which had never been redder, with both hands, as if forced to confess to rc’s serious question. rc, in turn, simply nodded with a serious expression hung over her face.
That damn sage! Drop-dead, you bastard!
Were the curses that ran through her mind.
“Ahem. In that case, I’ll respect your wishes. I won’t tell Astard about you and I won’t say anything about you staying here.”
“Thank you.”
“However, and this may just be my senseless concern, Astard already has soone he loves. His feelings are the real thing. It’s possible that your love will go unrequited.”
rc decided that, even though it was none of her business, she should tell Kena because she had been harboring feelings for Astard for more than ten years. Because Kena had t Astard long before she or Foldia had, rc felt it was appropriate to tell her.
“I am aware.”
Kena replied with a nod.
Kena’s cheeks were still flushed, but she didn’t hesitate when she looked at rc.
“Despite the fact that Mr. Astard isn’t ho very often, I’ve managed to interact with him on several occasions. It was then that I found out that he has soone that’s close to his heart. However, that does not bother . That girl may be Mr. Astard’s number one right now, but I swear that one day I will beco his number one. I’ve already decided that. That is why… That is why it doesn’t bother !”
Even rc, who was a complete moron when it ca to love, could tell this was Kena’s declaration of war. rc finally understood why Kena had glared at her when she first saw her, why she’d make an upset face now and then, and why she always smiled at Astard.
It was all due to her inextinguishable affection for Astard, which she had felt since she was a child.
I guess it was pointless for to say that.
Kena was clearly head over heels for Astard. There wasn’t anyone who could change that. Kena’s feelings could not be shaken by words or adversity.
“I am unable to support your feelings Kena, however, given that Astard allowed you to stay in his ho, I believe you have a good chance. He’s not the type to take in strangers.”
“I know.”
Kena nodded happily as rc consoled her, then slowly tilted her head to the side and spoke.
“I knew it. Miss rc, I knew you weren’t Mr. Astard’s lover.”
“Wut?!”
rc made a slightly jumbled sound in response to the surprise comnt. If words had the power to cut, rc’s body would have been left a bloody ss.
“?! That fool’s lover? No shot. He’s just an old friend. I’ve already said that.”
“Fufu. I know. I had my doubts when I first t you, but now I believe you. After all, when you speak with Mr. Astard you really remind of that person.”
“What? That person?”
“That’s right. When I was younger, he would frequently visit the inn to persuade Mr. Astard. He is also the one who stole Mr. Astard from right under my nose.”
“You don’t an…”
There was no way rc could have missed who Kena was talking about after hearing so much. Of course, Kena wasn’t entirely incorrect in comparing rc to him.
“Sword Saint Estert. One of the four heroes, just like Mr. Astard. I know it’s impolite to compare a beautiful woman, such as yourself, to a man, but I really can’t help but feel this way. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize.”
rc smiled and shook her head as Kena bowed lightly as if apologizing for her rudeness. Her chest was filled with a strange sensation. rc didn’t quite understand what she was feeling, but she can kind of see why a smile was creeping up her face.
Just like Kena’s feelings, no matter how much ti passed or how much rc’s appearance changed, there were so things that just stayed the sa.
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