Chapter 43: The Imperial Social Gathering (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 43: The Imperial Social Gathering (5)
“I was just kidding. Don’t pout.”
“I’m not pouting.”
Yeah, right. She might not be puffing her cheeks out, but I could tell she was sulking.
I was wondering how to soothe Frillite’s mood when she let out a deep sigh.
“Anyway, what are you planning to do about those two?”
“Those two? You mean Neria and Ophelia?”
“Yes. After antagonizing Gis to this extent, it will be impossible for them to return to their original places. But you can’t just make them your companions again, either. The best thing would be to take them somewhere safe where Gis can’t retaliate…”
Frillite was seriously contemplating what to do with Neria and Ophelia.
Her expression made me question her.
“What do you mean, I can’t take them as companions?”
“That’s obviously… Hmm? Wait, you don’t mean…?”
Frillite’s eyes narrowed as if she’d guessed my intentions from my expression. When I said nothing, she shook her head with a serious look.
“You can’t. I know you miss the past, but the past is the past. You need to face reality with a clear head.”
“What are you so worried about?”
“Listen. For now, those two might not be able to go back to Gis. They’d be afraid of retaliation. But it’s a different story if they become your companions. Gis will use them just to make you despair. He’ll offer to forgive them if they betray you and come back. Is there any guarantee they won’t betray you again then?”
“Ah, so that’s what you were worried about? That I’d get betrayed again and lose heart? If that’s it, you don’t have to worry.”
My definitive tone made Frillite’s expression harden even more.
“Cloud. The first time is always the hardest.”
“No, that’s not what I mean. I’m saying that even if they betray me again, I won’t break. I told you before, didn’t I?”
I flicked my finger and tapped Frillite on the forehead.
“Everyone but you is the same to me. The only one I trust here is you, Frillite.”
Her eyes widened as she stared at me blankly. A moment later, she whipped her head and body around toward the inn’s entrance.
“I-Is that so! Well then, I’m relieved. I’ll be on my…”
“Wait.”
I grabbed the wrist of the departing Frillite.
“Wh-What is it!”
“Unless I saw wrong… I’m pretty sure your face just turned a little red.”
“You saw wrong!”
“Really?”
“Yes! If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going. Let go.”
“No, actually, there is something else.”
Maybe it was my imagination, but I felt the wrist I was holding tremble slightly.
“Go upstairs and keep an eye on Neria and Ophelia for me. I have to step out for a bit, and I don’t know what tricks Gis might pull while I’m gone.”
“Ah… you have a point. Understood. I’ll do that.”
Frillite turned her back to me again, her usual expression returning as she nodded.
“Oh, and I’m just curious, but what are you doing after this social gathering is over?”
“After the gathering? I’ll probably head to the eastern part of the Empire. We received a report that an apostle of an evil god has appeared there. I must eliminate him.”
“Evil god? Apostle?”
Fuck, what’s that now?
I never heard about that in the game.
“Hm? Ah, you wouldn’t know about this. The Evil God Lebeus and his worshipers are one of the secrets the Empire keeps hidden. Don’t overthink it. They’re just one of the parasites eating away at the Empire. The Platinum Knights and I are dealing with them as they appear, so there’s no need to worry.”
Aha.
I’d wondered why Frillite didn’t appear often in the game, and now I had my answer.
While the other Heroes were busy fucking around, Frillite was busting her ass to protect the continent!
“…Are you sure you should be telling me that?”
She did say it was a secret.
Frillite smiled.
“Didn’t you say it yourself earlier? That you trust me. I trust you as well.”
Ah, I see.
“Hmm? Hoo. Your face seems to have gotten a little red, too.”
Frillite said with an uncharacteristically playful expression.
There was no need to hide it, so I nodded honestly.
“My affection for you just shot through the roof.”
“?”
You don’t get it?
It’s fine. You don’t have to.
“Well, I’m leaving those two upstairs to you.”
“You’re going to get that wizard, I assume? Be careful. Ah, I want to ask one more thing before you go.”
Frillite, who was about to head up the stairs, asked, glancing back over her shoulder.
“That story about Gis’s mother. Was that just something you made up to provoke him?”
“No, it’s true.”
If it were a lie, why would he have gotten so pissed off?
His mom really is a pro sexer.
Top of the industry, too.
*
Immediately after returning from the social gathering, Eri shut herself in her room.
The image of Cloud from the party wouldn’t leave her mind.
The image of him mercilessly beating Gis with a cold expression she had never seen before.
“Cloud…”
Cloud wasn’t originally like that.
He was a man who would just grin and bear it, even when teased or ridiculed. He was always like that, even if it drove the person next to him crazy with frustration.
He didn’t know how to hurt others.
But today, not long after Gis started teasing him, that same man had slammed Gis’s head into a table. Not stopping there, he’d thrown him to the ground and beaten him savagely.
Thoroughly, as if he’d met his mortal enemy.
He didn’t even stop when Neria, the one he was so crazy about, tried to pull him away.
—Hey, Eri. Why didn’t you believe in me?
Suddenly, Cloud’s words from that day replayed in her mind.
His voice, his expression, the look in his eyes—everything.
Vividly.
It felt like he was speaking directly to her.
I changed like this because of you.
“No..! I… I tried. I really did. But you were the one who didn’t change… If you had just shown a little potential… I… I…!”
The voice spitting out self-justifications gradually lost its strength and grew smaller. Eri fell silent, her head hanging limply.
A hollow laugh escaped her slightly parted lips.
“What am I even saying… seriously…”
What?
You wouldn’t have left if he’d shown potential?
You stupid bitch.
How does saying that make you any different from them?
How are you any different from those people who despised you for your common blood and ignored your potential?
No.
You’re worse.
Cloud believed in you.
He even acknowledged and respected you.
But you?
You threw him away just because he had no potential, didn’t you?
Without a single thought for how the betrayed Cloud would feel.
All you thought was, ‘He’s a Hero, so he’ll probably live better than the average person,’ right?
“Wow… I’m truly disgusting…”
The more Eri thought about it, the more she realized what a worldly and contradictory person she was.
At first, she just wanted someone, anyone, to acknowledge her.
She met Cloud, and he acknowledged her.
But once she had one person’s acknowledgment, a greater greed took root.
I want the whole world to acknowledge me…
‘Right… maybe Cloud’s potential couldn’t blossom because a bitch like me was with him.’
Eri had met all four Heroes.
And if asked to pick the one who best fit the image of a Hero, she would choose Cloud.
He was kind, affectionate, and cherished life. Though he was weak, he was more of a Hero than anyone.
And after he and Eri separated, that man had become powerful. A greedy person like her was nothing but a burden holding back the noble Hero’s growth.
‘…The only thing I can do is cheer for Cloud’s future.’
She had already chosen to walk a different path from him.
A unilateral decision on her part, at that.
There was no way to go back.
So all she could do was cheer for him.
However… being the worldly and greedy person she was, she couldn’t help but have one thought.
The thought that she wanted to travel by his side once more.
The thought that she wanted to feel the unconditional affection he gave.
Something like that… could never happen…
Knock, knock.
“Eri, let’s go…”
“Get lost. I’m not in the mood to deal with you right now.”
“Okay… bye…”
A dejected voice faded away.
Damn that Lorraine.
She should be comforting her furious brother, so why is she bothering me and making me feel even…
‘Huh…?’
Wait a second.
That wasn’t Lorraine’s voice. It wasn’t a woman’s voice at all. It was a man’s voice. And one that was familiar to her…
“W-Wait a minute!”
Eri shot up from her bed and bolted toward the door. In the process, she stubbed her pinky toe on a corner, fell flat on her face, and got a nosebleed, but… as if she didn’t even have time for the pain, she scrambled to open the door.
Shaking her head, she saw the back of a man walking down the hallway.
Red hair…
A back that was all too familiar.
She swallowed hard and opened her mouth.
“Cl… oud…?”
At Eri’s voice, Cloud turned around.
He spread his arms wide and said in a cheerful, sing-song voice.
“Eri~! Wanna go to a dungeon with me~?”
..?