An Unforeseen Confession
Shamyuel declared boldly that she was dating the hero. “If I don’t want to spend it alone, I need a man. That’s what it is.”
“Cough! Cough! Cough!”
Elisa spat out the drink she had been sipping in one violent spray and began coughing painfully. Yet in that moment, her mind was consumed by sheer chaos from the utterly unexpected situation, leaving her no room to care about such trivial matters.
‘What… what did she just say? Sh… Shamyuel? Shamyuel is dating the hero? Th… That kind of story—I’ve never heard anything like it!’
She vaguely recalled the two of them having worked together briefly once before, but that had been nothing more than a fleeting moment during a mission. Since then, she had never once seen the two of them together, at least not to her knowledge. Still, the news struck her with particular force—especially since she had already been paying close attention to everything concerning the hero.
‘Sh… Surely. Shamyuel is beautiful, but… even so, to steal the hero without me knowing—how could something like that… There’s no way that’s possible…’
Elisa struggled desperately to deny the reality, sinking deeper into confusion. At that moment, Nadan—who had been listening quietly—curled her lips into a faint smile and asked Shamyuel,
“Hmm… You’re dating the hero? That’s quite an interesting story. How did the two of you end up together?”
“Well, if I had to describe it… it just happened naturally? We’ve carried out quite a few missions together. I figured this guy would be all right. That’s what it is.”
“Oho…”
“Besides, the Demon King Immanuel’s birthday festival is coming up soon, and right after that it’ll be the new year. If I don’t want to spend a time like that feeling lonely like before, I need a man. That’s what it is.”
“Mm-hmm… You’re surprisingly carnivorous, aren’t you… you.”
Nadan felt her cheeks grow slightly warm as she watched Shamyuel speak so casually about something that could have been rather embarrassing. Then, after glancing at Elisa’s expression, she carefully asked,
“Then… how far have you gone? Have you kissed? Or have you gone further than that?”
“We’ve kissed. Nothing beyond that yet. That’s what it is.”
Shamyuel answered flatly while draining her cup. At that instant, Elisa felt heat rush to her face even as her heart began to pound violently. The image of the hero kissing Shamyuel was enough to send a deep shock through her—and enough to make her cheeks burn just from imagining it.
Yet Shamyuel, paying no attention whatsoever to Elisa’s state, casually delivered another devastating blow.
“But I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up going all the way during this Immanuel festival. My family’s been putting a lot of pressure on me to get married lately, so it’s better to move quickly. That’s what it is.”
“M… Marriage…?”
“…”
Shamyuel drove the final blade straight into Elisa’s heart without hesitation. Unable to endure any longer, Elisa staggered to her feet.
“E… Elisa…”
“Huh? Where are you going?”
“…S… Sorry… I suddenly don’t feel very well…”
With those words, Elisa stumbled out of the tavern. Watching her friend leave, Nadan found herself at a complete loss, her emotions tangled in ways she had never expected.
‘What on earth… Don’t tell me the hero and Shamyuel have really gone that far? With Shamyuel’s looks, even a human hero would have no choice but to fall for her… But if things turn out like this, then Elisa…’
Nadan had long since noticed that Elisa harbored feelings for the hero. To Nadan, who secretly loved Elisa as more than a friend, those feelings had been nothing short of an obstacle. That was why she had tried to crush the hero during the Narsil selection tournament—to shake Elisa’s emotions. Though that plan had ultimately failed, she now found herself troubled by the completely unexpected direction the relationship between the hero and Elisa had taken.
‘Of course, having Shamyuel take the hero—who I saw as a rival—off my hands is definitely a good thing. But at this rate, Elisa is going to be heartbroken.’
The man Elisa had loved all this time had been stolen away by another woman without her knowledge, and that woman was even thinking of marriage. While it was partly Elisa’s own fault for never confessing her feelings, Nadan still couldn’t help feeling deeply sorry for her.
Honestly, when she first heard that the hero was dating Shamyuel, Nadan had felt pure relief that an obstacle had removed itself. Yet seeing the woman she loved suffering so much because of it, Nadan realized that Elisa’s sorrow hurt her far more than her own joy could comfort her.
Feeling a painful ache in her chest, Nadan understood what she needed to do right now.
“Sorry, something suddenly came up. I should get going too. I’ll take care of the bill, so don’t worry about it.”
“If you’re offering, I’m grateful. Then I suppose I’ll see you later. That’s what it is.”
Leaving Shamyuel behind, Nadan stepped outside. Alone now, Shamyuel wore a rather complicated expression as she slowly raised her cup to her lips.
‘Something feels off. Is the fact that I’m dating Hector really that unpleasant for them? I honestly thought Elisa wouldn’t care since she likes that former hero, Elan, or whatever his name was… but apparently that’s not the case. That’s what it is.’
Feeling guilty for having soured the mood for her friends because of her boyfriend, Shamyuel set down her now-empty cup with her usual ●△● expression.
‘…But now there’s no one left to finish all this food. I suppose I should call him over.’
With that thought, she glanced down at the ring on her finger and began channeling a trace of her magic into it.
*
“Honestly… where on earth did she go?”
Even though Nadan had rushed out right after her, Elisa was nowhere to be seen. Worry and concern for her friend grew heavier with each passing moment as Nadan began searching frantically. She knew Elisa was stronger than most people realized—possessing a body and spirit more resilient than many men, which only made her all the more beautiful. But even she was not immune to heartbreak, and Nadan understood all too well that the current situation was painful enough to wound even her.
‘I hope nothing happens to her… If something really does happen to Elisa because of this, then I… I…’
Driven by growing anxiety, Nadan searched with everything she had. Then—
“Ah!”
The next moment, she spotted Elisa standing alone by the river, a short distance from the city center. Nadan immediately broke into a run toward her.
“Elisa!”
“…Nadan?”
Elisa’s voice was filled with deep emptiness as she looked at her. Nadan stopped in front of her and studied her face. Elisa’s eyes were red and swollen, as though she had been crying, and tears still streamed down her cheeks, un-wiped.
“…A… Are you all right, Elisa?”
“Ah… S… Sorry… I… It’s just… I was a little surprised, so…”
Elisa tried to act as though nothing was wrong. Watching her, Nadan felt something stir violently inside her chest. It was an impulse she found embarrassing even to herself, yet it was far stronger than her hesitation. Nadan pushed aside her own reservations and stepped forward, following her instincts.
“…N… Nadan?”
And then—
“!”
“…”
Nadan pulled Elisa into a tight embrace. Overwhelmed by the warmth of her body, Nadan’s face flushed crimson, and she found herself unable to speak. She could only hope that this small act might ease Elisa’s pain, even just a little.
And then—
“Sob… Sob sob… Waaah…”
Still held in Nadan’s arms, Elisa began to cry once more. The mask of endurance she had desperately maintained finally shattered, and she wept bitterly against her friend’s chest—despairing over the fact that her love had ended so meaninglessly, while also feeling a faint thread of gratitude toward the friend who had given her a place to lean on in this moment.
*
“Sniff… Sniff…”
“Feeling… a little better?”
“Y… Yeah. Thanks…”
Elisa’s voice still carried traces of sorrow, yet there was also a hint of calm. Relieved that Elisa seemed at least somewhat better, Nadan asked carefully,
“So… what are you going to do now?”
“I… I should congratulate them. No matter what, I can’t steal the man of a friend who’s officially dating and even thinking about marriage.”
“…I suppose… you’re right.”
Elisa spoke with a voice full of emptiness and resignation. Watching her, Nadan felt the earlier worry in her heart give way to a quiet joy beginning to bloom. She stood up.
“Then shall we head back? I already paid the bill on the way out. Shamyuel’s probably still waiting.”
“…Yeah.”
Still somewhat gloomy, yet slightly more composed, the two of them returned to the tavern. But when they arrived—
“!?!”
“….Huh?”
“...Eh?”
“You came back? I thought you wouldn’t return. This is a little awkward. That’s what it is.”