Chapter 603: Rachel's Story
Chapter 603: Rachel's Story
Just as she’d said, perhaps because she had plenty of leave saved up, Rachel was granted permission to leave early without any issue and came out of her room.
“Guwon-ssi, I’m he—kya! W-What is all this?!”
“...That’s what I’d like to know. I told you all to go to the next desk!”
“Th-This counter is closed! I’m sorry, everyone! Please use the counter next to us!”
“Tch. So he’s got a woman with him this time, too.”
“What a shame. That’s the Saint, right? It was a rare chance to see him without a woman attached to his side.”
“I know, right? I should’ve asked him when he was free.”
Only after Rachel placed a sign on the counter asking people to go to the next desk did the long line that had formed in front of me finally begin to disperse.
It would’ve been nice if she’d put that sign up earlier. Then I wouldn’t have had to suffer through all this.
Seriously. Why were they all coming to me for assistance? Can’t they tell at a glance that I’m the only one not wearing a receptionist’s uniform?
And I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging, but aren’t I a celebrity now? They should have some sense. I’m the Saint. The Saint. Aren’t you all followers of the Goddess?
Well, I guess some of them recognized me and came over just to mess with me.
Especially those guys who clicked their tongues as they left. They definitely knew what they were doing.
Well, it’s not like being popular is a bad thing.
I see. So the reason women haven’t been hitting on me until now was because my girls were always stuck to my side.
Come to think of it, I can barely remember a time I’ve been apart from the girls since I became famous.
Even when I walk the streets alone, like when I came here, I’m usually just dashing around using my enhanced physical abilities.
“Well then, shall we go?”
Rachel must have overheard what the adventurers were saying as they left, because she glanced around warily before subtly tugging on my sleeve and starting to lead the way.
She must have put on some makeup while she was gone. Unlike her weary appearance from before, Rachel was now sparkling.
Even so, the makeup couldn’t completely hide the dark circles under her eyes.
She was only holding my sleeve with her fingertips, so I gently took her hand in mine. Only then did she give a soft smile and link her arm through mine.
She seemed to be careful not to let her chest press against my arm, but the slight brush with every step was actually more distracting.
I don’t think she was this forward before. It seems her skills at teasing a man have improved.
Anyway, we arrived at a café near the Guild—the same one I’d visited with her and Sara before. After placing a simple order, we were finally able to sit across from each other and talk.
“So, Guwon-ssi. What brings you here today?”
“...Rachel. Don’t you think it’s a bit of a stretch to ask that now?”
She must have been aware of how forced it sounded, because her face flushed slightly at my words.
“H-How are you feeling? It seemed like something happened in the Dungeon?”
“Were you worried about me?”
“Of course I was. I was so anxious I couldn’t even sleep at night, soaking my pillow with tears.”
When I asked playfully, she replied in kind, pretending to sob.
But I could vaguely sense that there was a hint of truth hidden in her playful words.
“What on earth did Silvia say to make you so worried?”
“Just that you weren’t feeling well, so she was only submitting a return report without settling the Magic Stones for the day... Silvia-ssi is blunt by nature, and she seemed so rushed that day, so I couldn’t get any more details out of her.”
Come to think of it, when I’m not around, Silvia gets this listless, dazed expression and only says what’s absolutely necessary.
Besides, she must have been eager to get back to my side, so it seems she just gave a brief report and left.
That Silvia... And she claimed she explained it properly.
No, I guess she did convey the necessary information. But she could have explained it a little more lightly.
Then again, Silvia herself didn’t think it was a light matter, so maybe it’s greedy of me to expect that from her.
“So I was worried, so worried... Really! It’s your fault for not coming to see me right away when you were perfectly fine! And after you said you’d make sure I never felt neglected, even with other women around.”
As she spoke, the memory of her anxiety must have resurfaced, because Rachel’s voice grew more and more somber.
But Rachel quickly caught herself and, as if to pretend her somberness was just an act, she lightly tapped the tip of my nose with her finger and spoke in a scolding tone.
“I-I’m sorry. It’s just... It really was nothing, but the girls wouldn’t let me go outside.”
Seeing her force that cheerful tone actually made her seem even more sorrowful, so I bowed my head and apologized properly.
The truth is, being grounded by the girls wasn’t the only reason I couldn’t come sooner, but there’s no need to bring that up.
Bringing up Vanessa now would only upset Rachel for no reason.
Even if it is related to a deep trauma.
“They wouldn’t let you go out...? What on earth happened? Are you really okay?”
Hearing that I’d been grounded seemed to make her anxious again. Her expression clouded over as she studied my face.
“I’m telling you, it’s true. You know how I was stranded on the 4th Floor before? I was bored being alone, so I made a frien—a toy. When we went to the 4th Floor this time, I happened to find it again. I was just happy to see it, and the girls started making a fuss, saying my trauma was resurfacing or something.”
Paulson... Forgive me for not being able to call a friend a friend.
Is this how Hong Gildong felt, unable to call his father ‘father’ or his brother ‘brother’?
Perhaps that bitter sentiment showed on my face, because Rachel didn’t seem entirely convinced by my explanation.
“I-I see... Are you really, truly okay?”
“I-I’m really fine! M-More importantly, what about you?”
If this conversation continues, the topic of Paulson will eventually come up, and Rachel might overreact just like the girls did.
With that in mind, I hurriedly changed the subject.
“Y-Yes?! What about me?”
“The fruit basket. Was it some kind of code?”
“Ah, a code...? It was just a get-well gift.”
It seemed it wasn't a code after all.
But if it wasn't some kind of signal or code, that only raised more questions.
“Then why did you only leave get-well gifts for several days? Every single day, at that. You didn't even come to see my face. Weren't you curious about my condition?”
“Th-That’s because...”
At a loss for words, Rachel ducked her head and couldn’t give me a proper answer.
What in the world is going on?
“Rachel?”
“I-If... If I went to see you...”
Even after waiting for a while, she couldn’t answer.
Unable to wait any longer, I called her name. As if she had no other choice, Rachel finally opened her mouth and answered in a pained voice, as if squeezing the words out.
“And... and if your condition was critical... I... I...”
Rachel mumbled, her face contorting as if the mere thought was agonizing. Tears even started to well up in her eyes.
I quickly stood up, reached across the table, and wrapped my arms around her slender, trembling shoulders to comfort her.
“It’s okay. It’s okay, Rachel. I’m perfectly fine.”
“Hic... Yes...”
Burying her face in my chest, she sobbed quietly. It took quite some time for her trembling to finally subside.
Then, a low chuckle came from my chest.
“Hehe. How was that?”
“Huh?”
“Feeling a little guilty now?”
When I pulled back to look at her face, Rachel was covering her mouth with her hand and giggling, though the rims of her eyes were still red.
“This is your punishment for neglecting such a good woman who was waiting for you all this time.”
She then reached out to me as I stared blankly and once again tapped the tip of my nose with her index finger.
“I think I’ve told you this before, but if you neglect me too much, I might really run off with another man. I have a lot of guys hitting on me, you know. It’s nothing like what you saw at the reception desk earlier. I’m serious.”
“Ah, yes...”
“Really... You don’t believe me, do you? It’s just that you usually come during off-peak hours. It’s no joke when it gets busy.”
“N-No, I believe you.”
“Hmph. Do you really? Would someone who believes me neglect me for days without any sense of urgency? Especially after I deliberately sent only gifts to make you wonder, without showing my face.”
It seemed she was determined to stick with that story.
But somehow, I knew.
The real reason she only sent fruit and didn’t show her face was the first one she gave.
She was afraid that something might have really happened to me.
But why? Why was she so afraid?
Of course, since she says she loves me, it’s natural for her to be afraid of something happening to me.
But even so, isn’t it a little strange to be so terrified that you’d come all this way and not even be able to see my face?
Besides, Rachel’s reaction just now... Anyone could see it wasn’t normal.
Could there be some story behind it that I don’t know?
Come to think of it, Rachel always freaks out whenever an adventurer goes missing in the Dungeon and rushes out to rescue them herself.
Her searching for me on the 4th Floor is somewhat understandable, considering she already loved me by then.
But what about when she rescued that Beastkin party on the 3rd Floor?
She seemed to be acquainted with them, sure, but that was it.
They clearly weren’t close enough for her to risk her own life to save them.
And yet, she went to rescue them, and even truly risked her life to protect them.
There’s something... I don’t know what it is exactly, but there’s something I don’t know.
Once the suspicion took root, it swirled endlessly in my mind.
“I’m sorry. I thought it was some kind of code and was trying to decipher it. I couldn’t figure it out, so I came to hear the answer, but I never imagined it wasn’t a code at all.”
Of course, I didn’t let any of this show on my face and decided to play along with her for now.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to force the story out of her, but she was being deliberately vague.
In her mind, she must either think it’s not something she can tell me, or that it’s not the right time yet.
If that’s the case, forcing the issue would only be counterproductive.
I’ll put off finding out what’s going on for later and just pretend I don’t know for now.
Fortunately, I have a reliable advisor.
“Honestly, Guwon-ssi. You really don’t understand a woman’s heart.”
“Yes, I get that a lot.”
“Just in case you’re wondering, that wasn’t a compliment.”
“Huh?! It wasn’t?!”
“Hehe. Really! I’m not kidding!”
“I’m sorry. From now on, I’ll come greet you the moment I get out of the Dungeon. Even if the girls ground me! I’ll somehow slip past their watchful eyes and come to your side!”
“Y-You’d better not! I don’t want to get on Diana-nim’s bad side either!”
As I spoke with firm resolve, she mumbled, looking slightly flustered.
Well, she has many reasons not to get on Diana’s bad side.
Diana is her Elven ancestor, her mother’s friend, and a fellow mage, judging by Rachel’s use of spirit magic. Plus, she’s the main wife of the man Rachel will one day join as a concubine.
Wow. Come to think of it, Rachel is in a position where she really can’t say a peep to Diana.
“Then next time something like this happens, how about you come see me instead?”
“Just make sure it doesn’t happen in the first place!”
I threw out the suggestion playfully, and she pretended to scold me back, but there was real anger in her voice.
There’s definitely something more to this.