Ludia's Jealous Outburst
The distance from the hot springs village to the church branch wasn't far at all. Just the right length to wash away all your fatigue and arrive with a glowing face. But...
"Both saintess candidates have worked so hard. Your faces look so worn... You must be exhausted. Heh heh heh..."
"""......""
Both women appeared before the branch manager with hollow, sunken eyes. Less like they'd relaxed at the hot springs and more like survivors of a harrowing nightmare and endless trials.
"Lady Amelia wisely resolved the threat in the labyrinth and rushed to aid her comrades without delay. You've given the church a shining example."
"...As a saintess candidate... I merely did my duty."
Amelia's voice rang out calmly. But her eyes were unfocused and vacant as she spoke, her mouth moving mechanically. Had the taste of that ring from last time been that potent? She'd been in this state ever since the hot springs—right up to now.
"Ahem! Lady Ludia, you judged the heretic and even slayed the abomination known as the lich. Truly courageous. This will go down in church history."
"Y-yes..."
Ludia looked utterly drained, her cheeks sallow, her gaze fixed firmly on the floor. Lately, she seemed plagued by nightmares—always listless, her body slumped. When I spoke to her, she'd squeeze her eyes shut, shake her head vigorously, and pretend not to hear.
Honestly, I hadn't expected her to dive so deeply into the act. Thanks to that, keeping distance from Amelia had been a resounding success, and we'd returned without any awkwardness. But...
...Isn't it time to drop the act? This feels kinda hurtful.
"Ahem! Ahem!!"
In the end, the branch manager's eyebrow twitched. The people around us started murmuring. Here was a high-ranking official who'd prepared a whole speech to congratulate them, and both were giving such tepid responses.
Unable to stand it any longer, one of the administrative priests cleared his throat loudly to draw attention.
"Branch Manager! Lady Ludia is still recovering from the ordeal in that perilous place..."
"Lady Amelia too! She visited two sites—how exhausting it must have been..."
Finally, Mari and Medel, sweating bullets from the back, offered explanations, and the mood seemed to settle. But...
"Oh dear. Heh heh heh...! I've taken up too much of your time."
The branch manager smiled good-naturedly, but his mouth twitched faintly. Yet the two women still hadn't grasped the situation, remaining in their dazed states. Looked like I needed to whisk them away soon.
"Then, to cut to the chase."
But he had something he wanted—no, needed—to say.
"The church has issued a new trial."
"....?"
We'd only just arrived. No way—they weren't assigning more work already, were they?
Haah... In the end, the branch manager assigned us another new trial.
A mission to annihilate an orc legion that had appeared in a region not too far from here. On the surface, it sounded no different from the previous zombie subjugation. The problem was...
"Master Huu, shouldn't we discuss this trial first?"
Why the hell were we paired with Lady Amelia of all people!!! This had never happened before!
Mari and Medel had slipped away claiming they needed to prepare. I'd followed Master Huu and Lady Amelia out, but... Hmph... My mind was too muddled for conversation right now.
"Grur? (Me? Can't Ludia or Mari handle it?)"
The dumb zombie pointed at himself. ...Sir. He looked puzzled, then turned to me, but...
...Hmph!
A hot surge rose from my chest, and I whipped my head away before I knew it. Tears nearly spilled out—I barely held them back.
Why was I like this? Were my tear ducts broken?
"...? Lady Ludia, is something wrong?"
"(Female! What's wrong with you! Let's just get this over with quick!)"
"......."
No. I don't wanna talk. Not to Master Huu, not to Lady Amelia. This moment really drove home how there was no one in the world I could trust.
Saying that would just make me cry first. In the end, closing my eyes and staying silent was the best I could do.
"...Then we'll talk first among ourselves. We'll share the details once you're recovered, Lady Ludia."
"(No choice!! Rest nearby! We'll wrap it up soon!)"
"....???"
The two began drifting farther from me. Just moments ago, Lady Amelia had that dazed look too. But the instant the mission was assigned, some spark ignited in her eyes. As rumored—a total workaholic. I saw it when she even came to the Heretic's Tomb!
But in the midst of that, taking a hot springs bath with Master Huu!!! Did they think I hadn't noticed?!
"Eek!"
Seeing them cozy up like that made my blood boil. I ended up stomping after them.
I'd clearly seen them together at the hot springs last time. Staring at each other without a word. That scene haunted my mind like a ghost. On the way back to the church, earlier, and even now!
We'd agreed to keep our distance, and yet... Why meet Lady Amelia behind my back?
Thud.
"Eh?"
"(Huh? Female! What's up?!)"
"...Ah. Um, that is..."
Lost in my tangled thoughts, I'd unwittingly strode right between them. The positioning made it look like I'd forced my way in...
...What now? What do I even say?
"Y-you're... too... close... aren't you hot...?"
"""????""
Haah!!! Stupid Ludia! That's the best you could come up with?!
I should've said something elegant and refined, like Lady Amelia would! I wanted to scream aaargh!!! inside.
"I'm fine. Master Huu, are you hot?"
Ugh... Had I been too rude? It felt like a crack had formed on Lady Amelia's kind face??
She shakes her head. ?!
And then Master Huu's reaction on top of that.
"(Female! What are you doing??! This is just making it worse...)"
His voice buzzed in my head. My heart fluttered along with it. And then, inevitably...
"Why... are you only like this with me??"
"...??"
The pent-up emotion surged past my throat. Once it burst, it poured out like a dam breaking.
"Last time, you deliberately avoided me."
"Grur?? (Huh?)"
"You don't keep any promises."
"Grurrr??? (Me?? Ludia, hold on. Why are you crying all of a sudden??)"
"D-do you... hic... think I'm... a pushover??!"
There was so much I wanted to say. But it all tumbled out in a messy rush, echoing through the empty hallway: Do you see me? Do you see me??
"......."
I'm doomed...
For a stunned moment after my outburst, regret crashed in amid the silence. What had I done?
"Lady Ludia?"
"(Female! You okay?)"
"...No!! Hic..!"
Then fury flared again. Seeing them both try to soothe me at once reignited the resentment in my heart.
Wasn't Master Huu going too far?? He'd gazed at Lady Amelia so tenderly!! (No he didn't) But cold to me! (No he wasn't) No matter how I thought about it, was Lady Amelia just better than me??! (No she isn't)
Seeing them like this, they really seemed per... fectly matched! Snap.
At that moment, a soft, cool sensation wrapped around my wrist. Bandaged hand.
"(Female! Let's talk!!)"
"??!!"
It was Master Huu. His glaring eyes, hidden between the bandages, pierced straight through me.
"W-why??!!"
"(Quiet and follow!!!!)"
"Eek!!!"
S-scary... I'd grown a bit numb lately, but this was his true nature! My heart pounded whenever he stared like that, unblinking. And this was the man who cleaved monsters in one stroke. Had I messed up big time??
"(Something's been off since last time!! No matter how I think, this ain't right!! Come here!)"
He yanked me toward him with a whoosh. My balance tipped involuntarily toward Master Huu.
"I-it's a mis... No, I don't wanna... Or..."
"(No! We need to talk, female!! No funny business this time—we gotta have a serious chat!)"
"H-hiiik..!"
I was being dragged along. Terrified, trembling. But strangely... that... um...
"O-okay..."
...Why did my mood suddenly feel all soft and gooey? Was I crazy??
I took a few steps following Master Huu's lead, when suddenly my whole body felt like it was bobbing up and down.
"Wait a sec!"
Then, grab.
"Eh???"
Lady Amelia had seized Master Huu's wrist.
"Are you using that magic from before right now?"
"...??"
Her voice was urgent. Her brows furrowed slightly. Lady Amelia's expression looked off—nothing like the gentle smile I knew. What was this?
"We're partners for this trial. Are you saying you'll discuss without me?"
"Uh... um..."
"Grurr... (Wait, hold on. Ludia's in a weird state, so she's first. You later...)"
"No. Explain now."
And that pressing tone. No trace of her usual composure. Normally so calm and elegant, but now...
Wait, what were they talking about... the ring?? But that was supposed to be just for us two??! (No it wasn't)
""".....""
Mid-conversation, silence hung heavy. The two stared at each other.
Whoosh. Lady Amelia's face flushed crimson. Her eyes widened dramatically, purple irises wobbling.
Like she'd overheard something she shouldn't have, shouted loud.
...This had to be the ring talk, right???
"Eek!! No! Don't talk with that!!"
"Ludia! What's wrong?! We're just...!"
"No! Don't do it!!"
No. Don't talk secretly. Not even with Lady Amelia. Master Huu, no.
I flailed my arms desperately between them. But...
"Sorry, but don't interfere. I have something similar too...!"
"Huh?? "
"Grur?? (Huh??? Wait, no way??)"
Mwah. Lady Amelia raised her left hand and kissed her wooden ring.
"Lady Amelia. No way??"
Press. She slammed the ring against Master Huu's forehead.
"""........""
The two locked eyes in stunned silence. One snorting through her nose. The other with eyes bulging wide beneath the bandages, utterly shocked.
No way. Right now, the two of them... excluding me...???
"Eeeek!! Both of you, stoooop!!!!!"
BOOM. A massive explosion rocked my mind, and in reality, my voice shattered the air with a piercing screech.