"When I was a child, I loved sweets too much. My parents worried I'd get too fat, so they sent to this country and had beco Kurogane Ryouma's disciple to learn swordsmanship."
"...Then how did you beco so strong?"
Eiji looked at her incredulously.
"I don't know either. I just naturally beca stronger, and naturally broke through to beco a Magic User."
Edelweiss said this very seriously.
So much so that Eiji couldn't doubt whether what she said was true or false.
"Perhaps this is what talent is."
She sighed deeply, a worried expression on her face.
"Compared to you people who have clear determination to beco stronger, I only have talent. I don't have the corresponding will at all. Sotis I really feel I can't compare to you."
So humble-bragging!
You really can't tell from appearances, Edel—you're really good at humble-bragging!
None who break through to beco Magic Users have poor willpower.
That Edelweiss could break through to beco a Magic User ans her own willpower isn't poor—she just lacks an obsession with becoming stronger.
Then where does her willpower co from?
For weight loss?
Hahahaha!
No wonder her desserts are so delicious!
So you really put more effort into making desserts than practicing swordsmanship!
"I can understand your pain. After all, I'm soone who surpassed you in just a few months—my talent is just too high!"
Eiji sighed deeply.
His words left Edelweiss montarily speechless.
As they chatted, this guy just had to kill the conversation!
...
Night.
A crescent moon hung in the night sky, and loud cicada cries carried on the cool night breeze.
"Shop owner, thank you for taking care of during this ti."
Edelweiss expressed her gratitude to the shop owner.
"No problem, no problem! You've brought plenty of custors to our shop too!"
The shop owner laughed happily, then sneakily leaned closer.
"You better hold tight to such a good boyfriend! That young man is really popular right now. If you don't hold on tight, who knows when so temptress might steal him away!"
"Shop owner, he really isn't my boyfriend."
Edelweiss's face flushed slightly.
At most, she had only t Eiji a few tis, and the age gap was too large.
"Then you need to seize the opportunity even more! Don't be like —just because I couldn't swallow my pride, soone stole my man!"
The shop owner showed an expression of grinding her teeth in frustration—seed like she had her own story.
"Alright, don't keep him waiting any longer. You should go now!"
Edelweiss nodded helplessly.
It really wasn't a matter of whether she could swallow her pride or not.
Carrying a small bag, Edelweiss walked out of the café.
Eiji was waiting for her at the entrance.
"Good luck! I think you two are a great match!"
The shop owner rushed up and shouted, then fled into the back kitchen as if flying.
"Don't mind her too much. The shop owner gets a bit carried away sotis."
Edelweiss looked sowhat embarrassed.
This was the first ti Eiji had seen this expression on her face—it was quite interesting.
"Damn, I forgot to take a photo!"
His gaze fell on Edelweiss, and he imdiately slapped his forehead, unable to contain his regret.
"A photo? Of what?"
Edelweiss looked at him curiously.
"Nothing."
Eiji shook his head.
But his eyes still looked at her full of regret.
"I won't be able to sleep well tonight!"
Edelweiss tilted her head, her silver hair cascading down like fringe.
Following Eiji's gaze, she looked at herself.
She had already taken off the maid uniform she wore for work and changed back into her plain, ordinary casual clothes.
She imdiately understood.
"Let's go."
She pursed her lips slightly, her gaze flickering.
The two left the coffee shop, stepping on the shadows cast by the streetlights as they walked forward.
Ahead lay a dark road hidden amidst the neon lights.
Within the darkness, faint glimrs of light flickered.
They walked side by side.
Not a single passerby disturbed them; though deep in the bustling city, they felt detached from the world, as silent as an eternal night.
As if this mont were eternal.
Should they continue walking like this?
Edelweiss thought to herself.
In her mind, this road before her wasn't just neon and concrete—it symbolized the future and what lay ahead.
Walking together like this was a rare experience for her.
Since becoming the world's strongest, she had gained fa, status, and endless honors, but in exchange, she faced countless instances of alienation. To avoid being implicated by her, her country had willingly abandoned the territories around her. Even though she would hesitate for a long ti before killing anyone, people had slandered her as the world's most vicious criminal.
To find a place where she could belong, she had no choice but to join 〈Rebellion〉.
But she only participated as a guest, never crossing any lines.
Of course, she had no regrets—it was an inevitable outco to protect her country.
"You're a good person."
Eiji's earlier words resurfaced in her mind.
Those words made her feel warm whenever she recalled them.
What would happen if she were to walk alone now?
If the person beside her were gone.
She would have to walk alone again.
Walking along this night road.
With only darkness beside her, all the noise, laughter, love, and friendship would have nothing to do with her, and no one would understand her.
For so reason, a sense of loneliness suddenly welled up in her heart.
When all those familiar faces had passed away, with whom could she share this loneliness?
Though the world is vast, there is no place for .
"What are you thinking about so deeply?"
A voice abruptly broke the silence, startling her.
Eiji looked at her curiously—it was unlike the world's strongest swordsman to be so lost in thought.
"Nothing."
Edelweiss paused for a mont, then shook her head self-deprecatingly.
What's wrong with ?
Hadn't the past decade or more been spent the sa way? Why was she suddenly feeling so sentintal today?
Was it because she was getting older?
Edelweiss wondered to herself.
"If sothing's bothering you, why not tell ? Didn't I say I owe you a favor? You can call it in anyti."
Eiji didn't press her.
She seed unwilling to say more.
"Hmm..."
Edelweiss suddenly understood.
Why had she been thinking so much today?
Because there was soone else by her side.
Eiji's presence made her see the possibility of walking forward together. Having soone who could share both joy and hardship, soone who could understand her, had shaken her heart, long accustod to solitude.
Even she had to admit that Eiji was a perfect match for her.
It was because of this compatibility that she felt disoriented.
"You must hold on tight—don't let pride get in the way..."
The shop owner's words from earlier surfaced in her mind.
"Actually—"
She suddenly spoke up, wanting to say sothing.
But just then.
A pitch-black figure materialized before the two of them.
Without any warning, as if teleporting.
In that instant, both Eiji and Edelweiss's expressions tightened simultaneously.
The person who appeared before them wore a straight-lined black trench coat, and even late at night, he showed no intention of removing the sunglasses from his face.
Superman!
Abraham Carter!
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