Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: 10. The Dunce and the Genius (3)
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Aria didn't actively try to claim Ian for herself.
It was the first time she'd ever greedily desired another person, but it wasn't enough to ruin her relationship with Sylvia.
Comparing Ian and Sylvia, Sylvia's utility was naturally far more valuable.
After all, Sylvia was a member of the 1st Hero Party, on par with her.
This position where she held everything in her grasp hadn't been achieved alone.
The greatest contributors had to be the three monstrous heroes, herself included.
So, she wanted to maintain her bonds with them.
Ian's importance wasn't nothing, but she judged it didn't measure up to theirs.
That's why she hoped Sylvia wouldn't find out...
"...Aria?"
More than when she'd stepped forward at Jeriha.
More than when they'd delved deep into demon territory.
This moment was far more terrifying.
Aria feigned composure and racked her brain.
She couldn't give away any clues.
"...Probably for reasons similar to Sylvia's."
Sylvia pondered that answer for a long while.
Then she let out a weak laugh.
"...Yeah. You're right. I'm not the only one Ian saved..."
Fortunately, Sylvia had no room to suspect Aria.
"It's not like I'm the only one who can love Ian, or that Ian has to accept only my love... But I was the first, and I loved him the most... I... sob...!"
Sylvia muttered to herself before finally bursting into tears.
Aria relaxed and kept walking.
"If I hadn't done that... It's all my fault... I ruined everything... I have no right to blame anyone..."
That was only half true.
Sylvia's rampage had indeed thrown the 1st Party's atmosphere into chaos.
But there was something Sylvia didn't know, too preoccupied with fixating on Ian.
The other three had already been plotting to drive him out by then.
At the time, Aria had grown bored, questioning just how much functional value Ian had left, regardless of what Penny said.
Even if war broke out, she wondered if Ian was really necessary anymore.
There was also the discomfort of keeping something she couldn't truly have so close.
Kaily had been on the verge of killing Ian, and at the same time, on the verge of madness because she couldn't.
Ian had said Aria's mindset was the most rotten, but she couldn't accept that.
No one had a more twisted way of thinking than Kaily.
Ian himself actually agreed Kaily was the worst.
He'd only said that about Aria because her confession back then had disgusted him so much.
Finally, Beatrice was the only one who'd believed Penny's words were reasonable from the start.
"We shouldn't have done that to Ian... Saying we didn't need him anymore, that we had no idea what he was up to... What a ridiculous excuse... Who do we owe all this to... We don't need that disgusting alibi that we didn't know because Ian never told us. At the very least, we—we, or at least I—shouldn't have ignored it..."
Sylvia was practically seething with rage.
More than anyone else, her fury was directed inward.
"If only I'd trusted Ian a little more, been a little more honest..."
Among countless memories, one scene relentlessly tormented Sylvia's mind.
'I don't love you anymore.'
The day she'd let petty revenge murder the heart of someone precious.
'I'm sorry.'
It was probably too late by then.
But if only she hadn't done it...
Would things be different between her and Ian?
Ever since reuniting with Ian, that thought loomed over her like a dark cloud, sprinkling rain across her mind.
In a different sense than back then.
To him, who would never hear it now.
To him, who wouldn't listen anyway.
She murmured her belated apology.
"I'm sorry, Ian... I'm sorry..."
She struggled to gather up the feelings she'd carelessly discarded, all because she hadn't trusted him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ It was evening, the sun dipping low, time to check on Vivian's magic practice.
Last time, at Macdullin Abbey, he'd told her to separate the unstable Lock Shot and Fireball she'd combined, and she'd done it brilliantly.
"Actually, I managed it the very next day after you told me, but you looked so busy."
"Ah... Yeah, I was pretty swamped then."
But she'd pulled it off in just one day?
Well, she had said she used it often, so it wasn't impossible...
Right now, a shallow crater scarred the ground from Vivian's Lock Shot, and atop it, her Fireball had shattered a boulder, scattering fragments everywhere.
With a display of magic this impressive, all eyes were naturally drawn to it.
She was already famous, so even more people recognized her.
"I did great, right?"
Ignoring the stares, Vivian beamed and asked.
"Hmm..."
He deliberately held back his answer, and her smile stiffened with tension.
"I don't even know how much praise to heap on you..."
"Oh, come on!"
She stomped her foot and yelled, but giggled happily anyway.
With reactions this satisfying, how could he resist?
"You can really tell you've gotten much more skilled compared to before. The size is smaller, but you've maintained the density. Your mana flow feels stabilized too... Keep it up like this, and there's nothing more to ask for."
She started off proud, chin raised at the praise, but as it kept coming, she ducked her head shyly.
He believed in giving thorough praise when it was due.
Separate from that, her reactions were so gratifying he piled it on.
"At this rate, rumors of you being the second Sylvia will fade, and it'll be all about the first Vivian..."
"S-Stop... You can stop nowww..."
Vivian looked like she was melting, so he cut it off there.
"Anyway, you did great. You could challenge the next dungeon right away, but we need to wait a bit for Helena to keep up."
"Yesss, of course. She's a teammate, after all."
...It felt strangely unfamiliar.
Had he grown so unaccustomed to normal, warm responses like this?
"I can train more in the meantime anyway."
It was nothing major, but it made him grateful anyway.
"Thanks for understanding. Let's head in then. I'll teach you the next basic projection spell after dinner..."
"W-Wait a sec!"
"Yes?"
"I have something to tell you, Ian..."
Vivian fidgeted with her fingers, avoiding his gaze.
This didn't seem like casual talk.
With all the onlookers, she was probably wary.
"Shall we move somewhere else?"
"Yes...!"
*
"Moving" didn't amount to much.
Instead of heading to their separate rooms, they went to his and Vivian's.
He deliberately took the stairs slowly.
It seemed like a serious talk, so he gave her time to think it over deeply.
He passed the room where Kati and Helena were awkwardly lounging.
Mercy was probably prepping dinner elsewhere.
Even after entering his room, he didn't rush Vivian.
He just opened the window to air it out and waited.
Vivian, who'd been silent, finally called out to him in a more serious tone.
"Ian."
"Yes."
"Remember last time? When I said I was upset with you?"
"...I remember."
"Back then..."
Vivian fell silent for a long stretch.
Finally, she swallowed hard and spoke cautiously.
"I really was upset."
"Mm..."
"You know, I owe you so much. You made it possible for me to chase my hero dreams again, for the kids to live safely... It's all thanks to you. Felix too... Without you, I would've just despaired helplessly. Even knowing what Humphrey went through, I wouldn't have known what to do. Or worse, I might've done something awful..."
"Anyway, all of that—my life now—it's all because of you. So I want to do better, work harder, repay you. Get closer to you... But those words back then felt like you were pushing me away, like you might kick me out later... It made me sad."
Beyond disappointment, pure sorrow.
Back then, he'd unknowingly pushed Vivian away.
And Vivian had voiced her hurt in a voice thick with tears.
"But when I thought about it alone, I felt like I understood your feelings."
"...My feelings?"
"Yeah. You were scared, right?"
"......"
"I know you were with the 1st Party as long as Philip was, for some reason. Getting exiled from people you've spent that much time with must hurt—a lot. Especially when you talked about being kicked out; you looked so lonely, like you'd been tossed aside without a chance to defend yourself or even talk. So, I think you were afraid I might change on you someday too."
He couldn't find words.
The situation felt too alien.
No one had ever come at him so earnestly with their inner thoughts.
Separate from that unfamiliarity, Vivian's voice pierced not his ears, but his heart.
He'd thought he'd be the one listening to her troubles, but instead, his own were prodded and laid bare.
Usually, he was just the listener in these scenarios.
"I'm probably not as amazing a mage as Lady Sylvia. But... I'm not Sylvia... I can be Ian's Vivian. I'll never betray you or kick you out. I promise. So, I... um..."
Her resolute words trailed off as she glanced around shyly.
Her already flushed face burned even redder.
He just blankly waited for her next words.
His tongue wouldn't move; he had no idea how to respond.
"Th-That...!"
Vivian suddenly grabbed his hand.
Her clasped hands were slick with sweat and burning hot.
The tremor in them told him just how tense she was.
"Can you... believe in me?"
Her eyes shook with anxiety, as unsteady as her hands.
One touch, and tears might spill.
She knew it too.
How hard it was for one person to truly trust another.
"I told you at first, remember? That I'd try believing... And now, I believe in you."
Those were the words Vivian had spoken, convinced by him.
'I'll try believing...'
Now, they'd evolved into 'I believe.'
He chose his response carefully, watching her face intently.
Her eyes trembled in fear that he might refuse.
Yet she didn't look away.
She wasn't forcing an answer, but her grip tightened, pulling him closer.
Even terrified and tense, she faced him head-on, waiting.
Despite the heartwarming atmosphere, his mind instinctively calculated their relationship with cold cynicism.
Saying he believed her—regardless of true feelings—would benefit him.
Refusing would hurt her, even if she pretended otherwise, and long-term, it could stall her growth.
Worst case, she might leave.
But claiming trust without certainty felt a bit inhumane.
Whether he could truly trust her...
Chaining those pessimistic thoughts, he suddenly felt absurd and let out an involuntary chuckle.
Her words from earlier resonated through him again.
'You were scared, right?'
...Yeah, scared. Right on the mark.
Unsure what his chuckle meant, Vivian's gaze darted anxiously.
He shoved aside all those prior calculations.
"You're someone I brought on myself. Of course I trust you."
If Vivian vowed to work hard for him, he should reciprocate in kind.
Hearing that, Vivian sniffled and grinned like a fool.
"Hehe, sniff, hehet..."
No way could he say he didn't trust her now.
"Hehehe..."
Her innocent laugh drew one from him too.
...And then came the excruciating awkwardness.
They'd been frozen in place, hands clasped, for minutes now.
What to do?
Who should let go first?
If neither suggested it, they'd be stuck like this forever...
"I should go now..."
"Ian? Dinner's about ready..."
Of all people, Mercy spotted them.
"...Oops. Forgot I left the fire going. I really need to pay more attention... Ahem..."
......
"It's not like that!"
"It's not like that!"
They spent ages chasing after Mercy to explain.
And after dinner, for some reason, Kati savagely bit his hand to shreds and smacked his heels.
"Why, you rascal."
"Nyaaang!"
He had no idea why, but it wasn't the first time, so he let it slide.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Penny sat at the desk in her office.
Two names echoed in her quiet mind.
Ian and Philip.
She'd soon uncover the truth.
To meet him, she'd covered all the expenses out of pocket.
Money was irrelevant now.
Clank.
The door burst open roughly, and Aria entered—the one who'd gone to see Ian.
"Penny."
Penny merely glanced up at her.
"As you might've heard, the entire 1st Party's been feeling a slight dip in performance lately."
"...Yes."
"I went to see Ian about it, but he wouldn't say a word."
"I see."
"This isn't something you can just sit by and watch. Managing the party's condition is your job, isn't it?"
"...Yes. You're right. But just one question."
"What?"
"Did Ian really raise you all from the beginning?"
She'd already confirmed it with Kaily and Beatrice.
Sylvia had muttered the answer to herself once, which Penny overheard.
"Yes."
"...Understood."
Penny rose from her seat with resolve.
"There are multiple A-rank dungeon requests nearby. I've left scheduling to the scouts, so just follow their lead."
"No info again this time?"
"...Only the basics."
"Seriously... You're no help..."
Penny ignored the jab.
"I'll go meet Ian myself."
"You think that'll change anything? It didn't work for me or Sylvia."
"......"
Penny left without replying.
Alone now, Aria let out an incredulous scoff.
'This is trouble...'
To Aria, Ian's existence was poison.
It stirred Sylvia's love deprivation.
Awakened Aria's possessiveness.
Touched Kaily's warped convictions—a lethal toxin.
At the same time, the 1st Hero Party had grown beyond needing Ian's help.
At least, that's what they believed.
It had been an exile born of reason and emotion in unison.
Sylvia's mutterings, grating in her ears the whole way back, shook her resolve.
'Who do we owe all this to...'
She had to admit it was getting harder to ignore.
"Sigh..."
Ian alone was headache enough, but now Sylvia weighed on her mind too.
'She couldn't have overheard that...'
She absolutely couldn't let Sylvia know she'd claimed to love Ian without actually doing so.
That mattered more than Ian.
A distribution map of A-rank dungeons lay scattered on Penny's desk.
Aria gazed down at it impassively.
Something she could have anytime held little value.
'Ian...'
But something she craved yet could never have? Its value was incalculable.
She'd driven him away because she couldn't have him.
Kept him at bay because he wasn't needed.
Yet his traces clung to her present like a stubborn ghost.
'...Ridiculous.'
Whatever info Penny brought back.
Until the results came in, Aria didn't expect much.