Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Was There an Opportunity?
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The last day in Yggdrasil.
Though I wondered how it was already the final day, in just three days, it felt like I'd pretty much experienced everything there was to enjoy here.
"Truth be told, it's less that we did everything and more that there just wasn't much to do."
Muttering that while sipping what they called "dew juice," Rin and Hayun gave awkward smiles of agreement.
The scenery around us was beautiful, but they'd only minimally developed it to avoid damaging the place, so honestly, it had been boring.
With swings hung from trees being the only entertainment, you'd think it was a serious problem, but thanks to that, we'd been able to focus solely on training.
Hayun's Eastern swordsmanship had its basics down pat, and she'd also grasped the framework of elven swordsmanship.
From what I'd heard, elves combined their swordsmanship with their own to create something unique.
'The basic flows of both styles are similar, so it shouldn't turn out bad.'
Lately, Hayun had been holding needles and thread more than her sword due to a lack of living expenses, but she'd always had real talent for it.
"Daniel, what do you think of this?"
Eris handed me a drink with a smile, saying it would tantalize my taste buds. I took a sip and nodded.
"What flavor is this? Tastes like they ground up pine needles."
"Uh...... Spot on."
"You're feeding me this garbage?"
"I-I thought it was pretty good, myself?"
Eris pouted oddly and slurped at her drink with a sulk.
Over these three days, things had definitely progressed with Eris.
Knowing her preferences and personality well, I'd smoothly closed the distance between us. It was my first time seriously pursuing a romantic interest, but it had been surprisingly comforting.
However.
"......"
Rin had spent much of these three days staring around with a dazed expression.
She'd once teased me wistfully for how I'd sent Eris off at the academy, but now that I was openly flirting with Eris right in front of her, she showed no reaction.
'From my perspective, it's a relief, but......'
Still, it left me uneasy and a bit worried.
I could overlook occasional odd behavior, but her carrying this different vibe for so long felt like a bad sign.
'I'll have to talk to her about it later.'
The Elf Queen smiled faintly as Eris came to see her.
It was the first time she'd seen her so excited talking about someone else—especially a man.
"Isn't it amazing? Daniel acts like he's known me forever, taking care of this and that."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. He knows my tastes, has great manners. I wish there were guys like him among us elves."
The Elf Queen sipped her tea and probed gently.
"What if he confessed and asked you out?"
"Huh?"
Eris looked like she'd never even considered it.
She froze for a moment, head tilting this way and that, then crossed her arms with a slight blush.
"N-No way! Even so, that's too much! I'm a guardian! I'm not the type to date some guy I've only known a few days!"
"Does the length of time define how serious it is? Then Pollim's affections from a hundred years ago must weigh a ton."
"......That's not it."
Eris fell silent again.
The Queen advised her greatest warrior kindly, as if to say not to worry about trivial things.
"Like you said, he's a good man. He has strong convictions unusual for a human, seems to have his secrets, and wields great power...... And."
"And?"
"He likes you."
"Whaaat?"
This time, Eris reacted even more dramatically, flailing her hands about unsure where to put them.
But the Elf Queen continued with a subtle smile.
"Think about it seriously. Humans have short lifespans, so they can't share love over centuries like us, but theirs burns deeper and more intensely."
Eris stared at the Queen, who spoke as if from experience, mouth agape. Eventually, she stepped outside.
The sky visible through Yggdrasil's massive gaps had already darkened.
The sparse starlight filtering through the trees somehow calmed her excited heart.
'Daniel...... likes me?'
She'd thought he was a good person during their time together these past few days.
Having lived so long, she knew well that no one else matched her so perfectly.
Romance?
The word, which she'd thought irrelevant to her, suddenly hit hard, making her heart race again as if she had to do something.
A surge of elation.
Regret that Daniel would leave tomorrow morning.
As these emotions swirled within Eris, the culprit appeared.
"Daniel?"
"Eris."
It wasn't too late at night, but why had he come? Just then.
Incredible words poured from his mouth.
'Oh. It was real.'
She realized the Elf Queen's words had been true.
"Hoo."
My face burned, my heart pounding wildly.
Body eighteen, mind twenty-eight, and here I was trembling over a mere confession.
But everyone has a first time, and I finally understood how hard it was to bare your heart.
"......"
Thinking that made me ache for girls like Rin or May and the courage they'd mustered.
Anyway, I'd confessed to Eris.
With departure tomorrow, I'd asked Hayun for advice on confessing, and she'd said the mood seemed good.
We wouldn't see each other for a long while after this anyway.
Better to confess outright than stew in longing.
'Pl-Please give me a little time to think.'
Eris had said that and left.
She'd give her answer when I saw her tomorrow morning, I figured.
'Does this mean there's a chance?'
If she hated it, she'd have rejected me flat out!
"Argh!"
Unable to wait for tomorrow, I lay in bed eyes closed, but excitement kept sleep away.
As I lay there wide-eyed through the night, a knock came from the door.
Thinking it was Eris, I bolted up and opened it.
"Rin?"
There stood Rin in pajamas, her vibe strangely off.
"Daniel, can we talk for a bit?"
Did she know about the confession? No, it didn't seem like jealousy—more like fear?
Sensing that, I nodded silently, grabbed my coat, and stepped out.
At her suggestion to walk, we headed to the lake.
It wasn't far, but she seemed to be sorting her thoughts.
'Chilly.'
Dawn in the forest brought real cold.
I carefully draped my coat over pajama-clad Rin; she flinched, then thanked me, clutching it tight with both hands.
'What's going on?'
Seeing her so scared was new and disorienting, but we reached the lakeside.
"......"
I waited quietly for her.
Rin stared at the lake ahead, then released my coat and began unbuttoning her pajamas.
Moonlight on the still lake.
The coat slipping off smoothly.
The beautiful black-haired girl undoing her pajamas.
Panicking, I tried to stop her—what are you doing?—but.
"......!"
She slowly gripped her collar, parting it to reveal her cleavage. The exposure was daring, but that wasn't the point.
"A pattern?"
A black pattern was etched boldly there, radiating menace.
"Daniel......"
Rin pleaded with eyes brimming, on the verge of tears.
"Help me."
I didn't know what to say.
But one thing was clear: this was the harbinger of this world's doom.
"Ever since the magic beast appeared at the festival, this mark showed up. Since then, I can't control my emotions. It feels like I'm not myself."
"......!"
"Daniel...... I'm so scared. So, so scared......"
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Leaving her like this would shatter her body and soul, so I pulled her into a supporting embrace.
"It's okay. You're still you, Rin. You're not going anywhere. I'll make sure of it."
"Daniel...... You avoided me because of this, right? You knew something was wrong with me? That's why?"
"......Yeah."
I couldn't lie to her pleading face.
"What do you know? Is it something I shouldn't? Daniel, please. Tell me the truth."
Holding her as she sobbed in my arms, I hesitated.
Could I tell her the truth?
That in the future, she'd exterminate humanity and kill me—could this girl handle it now?
No. Impossible.
Rin couldn't bear it.
So I mixed in some lies.
"Like Adriana saw fates, I learned about the future one day. That you'd lose control and become a disaster."
"......!"
"I can't tell you details. But I can promise one thing, Rin."
I gently pulled back, meeting her reddened, teary eyes.
"I'll protect you. So don't worry. I won't let you become a disaster."
"Daniel......"
Would my words comfort her?
Could I be someone she, more anxious than anyone, could rely on?
Worries flooded me, but Rin didn't voice them.
Instead, despite her tears, she nodded with a small smile.
"Nngh."
Like Daniel unable to sleep, Eris tossed sleeplessly through the night.
It was a first.
Her first confession? No, hardly.
With her exceptional looks and character among elves, she'd received countless confessions—even from non-elves.
What was the first?
A man she liked confessing to her.
A night too excited to sleep.
Finally, Eris rose, lit the room, and tidied her hair before the mirror.
Destination: Daniel's room.
She'd promised an answer tomorrow morning, but she wanted to pour out her feelings now. She knocked.
'It's dawn already—maybe he's asleep?'
It was late.
As she turned to leave regretfully, she lightly tried the knob—and it opened smoothly.
'Doesn't lock his door, huh.'
Smiling at this new side, she peeked inside.
"Huh?"
Empty.
Where was he?
Eris spun and headed out, activating Artemis's blessing in her blue eyes.
Worried something had happened, she searched and spotted him by the lake.
With Rin.
"......?"
Confused, she hurried over. As she neared, her pointed ears caught Daniel's voice clearly.
"Ah......"
She realized she'd overheard something she shouldn't, but backing away didn't appeal.
Ignoring her bitter heart, she watched the embracing pair by the lake.
And bowed her head silently.
She'd heard elves say it before.
'First love always hurts.'
Back then, she'd wondered what the big deal was about a crush.
'It hurts more than I thought.'
Unable to watch longer, Eris turned slowly.
Unsure how to calm her turmoil, she gazed at Yggdrasil for guidance—but got none.
Lips pressed tight, Eris walked.
Kept walking.
Passed her home, into the forest depths.
"He saw...... the future."
Mulling his words, she murmured softly.
Then, did he know her tastes and traits from that future?
"If that's true......"
If so, Daniel.
In that future, what were we?
Did I...... ever have a chance?