Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: 12. The Shrewd Fool (4)
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I sat face-to-face with Vivian.
I had a guess about what was troubling her, but I waited patiently on purpose.
Vivian fidgeted with her hands, glanced at me, and gave an awkward grin.
"Hehe…."
"…?"
"Sorry. Actually, it's not really a worry or anything…."
"Pardon?"
This was unexpected.
"It's not like there isn't anything at all. Um. After succeeding with magic today, I feel a bit more at ease."
"…So it's not something that requires counseling?"
"Yeah…. But, should I tell you anyway?"
"No, if you don't want to…."
For some reason, Vivian's face fell instantly.
She looked disappointed.
"…But I'm curious to hear it."
"Oh, r-really?! Hehe. It's nothing much. This was the first time I'd ever failed at magic since meeting you. I was worried about what if I fail again next time… something like that."
Hm.
This was what I'd expected.
Vivian hadn't failed at any magic since we met.
They were all basic projection types, but her first failure must have been a huge shock.
There's no guarantee she won't fail at the next spells she learns.
"But now that it's happened, I think I was a bit complacent…. Once I realized it, I feel like I'll do better from now on."
"It's great that you figured it out on your own. …But this was your very first failure?"
"Huh? …Oh, come to think of it, it wasn't my absolute first. I failed a lot when I was first learning magic…."
Wow.
She already has talent that surpasses limits, but I thought it went even further….
Not a bad thing, though.
"I see. So it wasn't your first time. Hehe, thanks. Talking to you always makes things feel a bit better."
"Hm. I didn't do much, but I'm glad it helped."
I took a fresh look at Vivian's face.
Her old low self-esteem, always starting with "someone like me," was now hard to imagine.
She thinks she'll do better from now on, and she even realized it herself.
That change felt rewarding and grateful.
"But you know, has Sylvia ever stalled like this?"
Ah, her….
In my view, Vivian's talent and potential are much greater.
But Sylvia's talent is different in nature.
She understands everything at once, and that understanding turns straight into practical skill.
Sylvia's a genius at comprehension.
She's at the opposite end from Vivian's intuitive brilliance.
"Oh, maybe you wouldn't know that much…."
"From what I know, she's never stalled."
"I see…."
As expected, Vivian looked downcast.
She idolizes Sylvia as her role model, so it makes sense.
"But anyway, Vivian isn't Sylvia."
"……."
"You said you'd become my Vivian."
"…Huh?"
"You said it before. You can't become Sylvia, but you can become my Vivian. So doesn't that mean you shouldn't worry about what Sylvia did or didn't do in the past?"
"……."
Oh, her face is the reddest it's ever been?
Like a real strawberry.
It was her own words, but denying her role model must be embarrassing.
"Sylvia's just a total mess compared to Vivian anyway…."
"……."
She was too embarrassed to even tell me to stop.
Time to quit teasing.
"Did that help?"
"Yeah…."
"Then it's time to sleep…."
It was bedtime.
But it was later than when she arrived.
If Kati were awake, I could send her out quietly, but she's probably asleep by now….
No choice but to let Vivian sleep in the spare bed.
The room was spacious with the beds far apart, so it wasn't uncomfortable.
"…Helena must have slept in this bed last time?"
"How did you know?"
"A hair…."
"I said I cleaned, but it wasn't thorough. Sorry."
"No, you don't need to apologize…."
"I can't just give you my used bed."
"……."
I turned off the light and lay down.
The room plunged into darkness as if it had always been that way.
"Ian, I've been wondering about something."
"What is it?"
"You said you're a retired Hero, right? So what rank did you reach?"
Retired Hero is a lie.
In the 2nd round, there was no 'Hero' like now, and I never became one in the 3rd.
It's just a convenient excuse for my superhuman abilities….
I have wondered, though.
If I became a Hero now, how far would I go?
Not exact, but from growing the 1st Hero Party and various experiences, I have a good estimate.
"A-rank."
A-rank average.
I could aim for top A-rank depending on the opponent, but only when matchups favor me.
"…A? A-rank Hero…? The kind there are only a few hundred of on the continent…."
"…Stop being so shocked, it's embarrassing."
I could feel her staring wide-eyed even in the dark.
No wonder—she was shocked at D+ earlier; A-rank must be mind-blowing.
In my opinion, Vivian will surpass A-rank soon….
Helena too.
"I-I'll… do even better…!"
"If that makes me more embarrassed, then go ahead."
"Can I make you even more embarrassed?"
"Bring it on."
Vivian giggled at that.
Yeah, what wouldn't I do to help the Heroes I brought grow.
As her laughter faded, she spoke softly.
"Good night, Ian."
"Sleep well, Vivian. You must be tired."
We exchanged goodnights and closed our eyes.
"…Ian."
Suddenly, she called me.
Her soft voice deepened, changing the mood.
I turned to see her lying on her side, looking at me.
The room was dark, but I could make out her face.
Her once dry, split hair was now soft and glossy, full of vitality.
Her vibrant red locks seemed to glow faintly in the dark.
Her hair fell behind her ear, revealing her face fully as she lay sideways.
Her light green eyes gazed at me steadily.
I watched her slow blinks in silence for a moment.
Her past and present self overlapped in my mind.
This room is surely darker than the orphanage back then.
Yet somehow, Vivian now seemed brighter.
"…You said you fell for Helena."
"Hm… Yeah, I did."
"And me?"
"Huh?"
"What did you think when you first saw me?"
I lay back and pondered her first impression.
Vivian's first impression….
First, I was shocked by the massive scale of magic unfit for an aspirant.
When I saw no-casting, which even the Mage Tower Lord raved about endlessly in the 2nd round as theoretical only….
That hooked me too.
But saying this in this atmosphere feels weird?
No room for excuses if misunderstood.
"I fell for you."
That wasn't me.
"…Huh?"
Vivian suddenly said it.
"Huh? Oh? N-no, did I fall for you? That's what you wanted to ask? Ahh nooo…."
The strawberry glitched.
Roughly, she meant to ask if I fell for her but forgot the question mark.
Her fluster made me want to tease, but I held back.
"Well, similar. No-casting is impressive enough. …You know I don't mean it that way, right?"
"Y-yes! Yeah…. I know. I get it. Hm…."
Then Vivian groaned to herself in silence for a while.
"G-good night…."
She finally broke the quiet with effort.
"You too, Vivian."
I lay back and steadied my breathing.
Vivian and Helena will rest for a bit, but I'll be busier.
Lots to sort out.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Late at night, Kati pressed her ear to Ian's door.
-I fell for you.
Vivian's voice.
Kati froze in place.
She should go back—eavesdropping was rude—but her feet wouldn't move.
From Vivian's excuses and the mood, she realized it was a misunderstanding.
She felt ridiculous for her relief.
Why was she relieved or worried?
What could she do if Vivian and Ian got together?
Or if not?
'Anyway, I'm with Master….'
Kati stopped her thoughts and headed straight back to her room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Vivian woke early in the morning.
Ian was still asleep beside her.
She'd told him sleeping was part of training and to rest well, but he clearly hadn't.
It wasn't an environment or situation for deep sleep.
Last night.
Intoxicated by the dark, cozy atmosphere, she'd asked Ian as if entranced.
About her first impression.
And she'd blurted out something weird.
She meant to ask a question, but it came out wrong.
'So embarrassing….'
She wanted to hide under thick blankets.
Her own words made her heart race ridiculously.
"Fell for you" of all phrases.
Even now, freshly awake, that moment replayed vividly.
'Forget it, just forget….'
To shake off stray thoughts, she gazed at Ian on the distant bed.
A short distance of a few steps.
Ian lay sleeping soundly.
His body rose and fell evenly with calm breaths.
'Ian's sleeping face…. First time seeing it.'
She recalled Marie's face from the Mackdlin Abbey.
That peaceful, baby-angel look in sleep.
What face does Ian make?
Vivian approached cautiously.
Fearful of waking him, she moved slowly and peered down.
'…He's still Ian.'
Calmer and more peaceful than usual, but his sharp impression remained.
That Ian-like quality almost made her smile.
'Sleep well….'
Rare sight, so she observed intently.
His sturdy build and personality matched his bold features.
The diagonal scar from his right eyebrow toward his temple added ferocity.
No eyebrow hair there intensified it.
Compared to that, his lips….
-Gulp.
Vivian swallowed loudly for no reason.
Her eyes fixed on his lips, unable to move.
-Thump thump.
Her heart pounded annoyingly.
Loud enough to worry it'd wake him.
Still, she didn't pull away.
Her lips dry, she lightly wetted them with her tongue.
The ends of her red, soft hair nearly brushed his face.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ When is a person most vulnerable?
I firmly believe it's during sleep.
That's why I have sharp ears for sounds even asleep.
Not just sharp—insanely so.
I think it's excessive, but unavoidable.
1st round: died like a dog to street thugs.
2nd round: rolled desperately to survive.
Especially in the 2nd, I wandered alone, no watchmen at night.
Pathetically weak, hard to trust anyone.
One change of heart, and I'd be prey.
So my mind stayed half-awake even sleeping.
Never sleep deeply.
Maybe why my face looks fierce.
To sneak up on sleeping me, you'd need the Dark Legion's elite from the Demon King's seven armies.
Kati could manage it.
Anyway, not important.
"Haa…."
Red hair on my nape.
Vivian's.
I woke when she got up.
Too early to rise, figured she'd sleep more or leave, so I stayed put.
Wanted more sleep too.
But she approached.
Felt her face hovering over mine.
Assumed she was looking, would stop soon, stayed still.
But she lingered, so I planned to open my eyes and scare her.
Then her face drew closer.
Swallow, tongue flick, hair sweep, tense breaths—all crystal clear.
Panicked, hesitated; she got closer.
As I moved to open eyes, she rushed out carefully not to wake me.
And now.
"What the hell…."
No doubt.
So, Vivian, while I slept….
"Hoo…. Driving me crazy…."
I need to say it.
That I was awake when she tried something.
Can't keep hiding.
My frustration aside, hiding won't solve it.
'Vivian toward me….'
Yeah, feelings don't always need time; can arise from nothing.
Not weird.
Troublesome, though.
'Better if she had ulterior motives, but unlikely….'
How to say it matters.
Reject well to avoid backlash or party tension.
Busy day; think while handling tasks.
First, find Amos.
Report holy relic to Holy Flame Church….
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Marie glanced bored at the notice.
Not just hers; many scattered in front of the Managers' Guild.
[SS-rank Hero Lorenzo di Fiore's Ship Duel Tournament.]
[Location: Fiore County, Fiore City]
"Hmm."
Her party was already four strong; no need.
Except Rachel from Mackdlin Abbey, the other three would take temporary Hero exams soon; no changes.
Plus, hosted by that Fiore.
Divided like weight classes—above and below C-rank—but participants wouldn't be average.
'SS-rank, huh…. Curious, but no confidence I'd gain from it.'
About to discard as she recalled someone.
'Oh, right—Ian’s party still lacks a warrior?'
The former 1st Hero Party manager could do something there.
Notices reached guild managers first; Ian probably unaware.
'Perfect, I had a favor to ask anyway. Better tell him before he hears elsewhere.'
Marie pocketed the notice and headed to Ian's room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Penny's carriage entered Superbia.
'Finally….'
Hardly slept, exhausted, but her eyes gleamed.
'Philip…. You….'
She gazed toward the training grounds far off.
Ian was probably there.
And high chance that man was Philip.
"Haaa…."
Penny pressed her fist to her chest and exhaled.
Her secretary, seated opposite, asked startled.
"Penny? Are you ill? From lack of sleep…."
"No, it's nothing…."
Penny raised her lips and shook her head.
Her weary face made it look forced, but no.
She was truly ecstatic, near suffocation with bliss.
'Finally meeting him….'
Didn't even hear Felix's answer, but felt like she had.
Wanted to rush the training grounds and find Ian.
But must restrain now.
'For a perfect meeting…. For his perfection, can't do that.'
That way would just disappoint.
If wrong, it'd be trouble.
Penny steadied her breath and sat comfortably.
"To the military prison as planned."
"Yes…."
Secretary relayed to coachman; Penny calmed her racing heart.
The moment to confirm her idolized Philip's true form.
Waited endlessly for this day.
'Philip…. Just a bit longer.'
To where Felix held the clue.
To learning the truth.
Penny sensed it was near.