Chapter 648: Guwon, the Pure-Hearted Man
Chapter 648: Guwon, the Pure-Hearted Man
“So just give up and tell me. What do you mean I made you expect something? What was it? I’m not taking a single step out of here until you tell me!”
I threatened Alicia, then took another step closer to her.
“Ugh…! Y-You psycho… Is there something wrong with your head?”
Even as she spoke in her usual rough manner, her cheeks were flushed so red it was clearly visible against her healthy, coffee-colored skin.
To be honest, I knew this was a cheap move.
After all, Alicia still liked me.
She’d just been rejected, but that didn't mean her feelings would just vanish into thin air.
That must be why she couldn't bring herself to forcibly throw me out, even as I was being so unreasonable.
And even though I knew it was a dirty trick, I had no choice but to act this way.
It wasn't just because I didn't want to lose my friendship with Alicia.
Of course, that was the biggest reason for my actions, but it wasn't the only one.
First, for the sake of our relationship with the Arachne Clan.
Unlike what I’d said to that trio before, our relationship with the Arachne Clan wouldn't be completely ruined if I just walked out now.
My words to the trio had been a jab at the entire Arachne Clan, but this business with Alicia was a deeply personal matter of feelings between a man and a woman.
Besides, the Arachne Clan also had something to gain from our cooperative relationship.
They wouldn't cut ties so easily.
But even so, Alicia was an executive here. And considering what happened at the main gate, she was someone loved by a great many people.
If I left things like this, it would be impossible to completely avoid our relationship with the Arachne Clan becoming awkward.
Right now, we had little to gain from cooperating with them, but the deeper we went into the dungeon, the more certain it was that a time would come when we would need their help.
Diana must have thought so too, which was why she was so concerned about maintaining our partnership.
And there was another reason: to be more careful about my actions in the future.
Even if my friendship with Alicia was shattered and I left, as long as we were allied with the Arachne Clan and continued our activities on the lower floors, a day would surely come when I’d run into her again.
And if, at that time, I repeated the same kind of behavior that made her expect something, I would only end up hurting her again.
No, even if it wasn't Alicia, I might do the same thing to another woman—make her expect something, just as I had with Alicia.
To prevent anything like this from happening again, I needed to know for sure exactly what I had done to make Alicia get her hopes up.
“So, what did I say?”
“Ugh… You… you…! You said it! To me! That I was pretty! That if I just acted a little more feminine, seducing any guy I liked would be a piece of cake!”
Perhaps giving up in the face of my refusal to back down, Alicia glared at me with eyes full of resentment and shouted.
Hearing her words, I couldn't help but be stunned.
…Huh? W-what?! What did she just say?!
No. Right. I definitely said that. I did. When I was teasing her with that "special training to become more feminine" or whatever.
But you… wait a minute. Now that I think about it, she did stubbornly continue the training even while I was teasing her. I remember thinking that even a beast like her must have a guy she likes.
But don't tell me that guy was me?!
Does that mean I was teasing and laughing at a girl who liked me while she was trying her best to get me to notice her…!
This is bad. My stomach… my stomach is churning.
I am, without a doubt, a piece of trash. Sometimes, I don't hesitate to do things that hurt others.
But this… this was different.
Even for a piece of trash like me, I have my own standards.
And what I did to Alicia had completely crossed my line.
Even if I hadn't known the truth.
“I’m sorry… I’m really, truly sorry…”
I couldn't bring myself to lift my head as I sincerely apologized to Alicia.
I really hadn't noticed at all.
No, I mean, you never showed any sign of it before… wait. Don't tell me it wasn't just that my words gave you hope, but that you started liking me because of them?
Like, ‘You’re the first one to ever treat me like a woman like this.’
Even so, that easily… No. Even if that were the case, it didn't change the fact that I had done something terrible to Alicia.
“Wh-what’s with the sudden apology now?”
Seeing me like this, Alicia started to get flustered herself.
“I’m sorry. I never thought you would take it that way… I’m so sorry! B-but! What I said back then wasn't a joke, I was being sincere…!”
Crushed by guilt, I ended up misspeaking once again.
“Hah!”
“Ah, sorry! I’m really sorry! That’s not what I meant! I didn’t mean it like that!”
“D-don’t apologize, you bastard! If you apologize for that, it makes it seem like I’m really a woman who can’t seduce a single man!”
Seeing my panic, Alicia finally cut me off, as if telling me that was enough.
“I’m pretty enough to seduce any man if I just act a little more feminine! That’s what you meant, right?!”
“…Yeah.”
Seeing Alicia speak as if she were comforting me, I couldn't hide my guilt.
She was the one who was hurt, yet she was acting like this.
This woman really was a bit rough, but she had an incredibly good heart.
This must be why her subordinates loved her, despite her harsh, spartan training methods.
“Then that’s fine. That’s all. I was the one who misunderstood, even though I knew you didn’t mean it that way.”
Alicia came to her own conclusion, trying to wrap up the conversation.
“No. That’s…”
“Hah! To turn down a great woman like this. For a fledgling virgin bastard like you, it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Don’t you go soaking your blanket with tears in regret later.”
Apparently embarrassed by her own declaration of being pretty, Alicia averted her gaze, her face turning bright red as she muttered quickly.
“Alicia…”
Looking at her, I couldn't hide how sorry I felt.
Seeing my expression, Alicia flinched, her body tensing, and she turned her back to me.
“Hah! Wh-what. Even if you say you’ve changed your mind now, I won’t take you back. The carriage has already left, you bastard.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry.”
“Then if we’re done talking, get lost. Don’t worry. I’ll keep up this friendship thing or whatever with you. This is Alicia you’re talking to. I’m not the type to get petty over something like this and ignore you later.”
That was a rather manly declaration.
Seeing Alicia maintain that attitude to the very end, even after being rejected for that very reason, I almost let out a laugh despite the atmosphere.
That woman…
“Alright. I’ll see you later, then. I’m really sorry. And… do your best.”
“Hmph!”
In response to my farewell, Alicia just snorted loudly, still not looking at me with her back turned.
But just as I put my hand on the doorknob to leave, her voice came from behind me again.
“…Hey. Can I really… if I just act a little more feminine… seduce any man?”
Hearing that voice, which sounded like she’d uncharacteristically lost all her confidence, I slowly shook my head.
“No.”
“Hah!”
At my answer, Alicia’s body trembled visibly.
That’s not what I meant.
“I was wrong. You’re more than charming enough just the way you are now. Even if you don’t force yourself to act feminine, I’m sure…”
“…Hey. You. Stay right where you are.”
I hurriedly tried to console Alicia before her thoughts could turn any more negative.
But before I could finish my sentence, she spoke and slowly backed toward me.
And then…
“Haat!”
“Guheok!”
She spun her body around and planted her fist right in my solar plexus.
“You bastard, you were doing it earlier too, are you really messing with me? You’re doing this on purpose to make fun of me, aren’t you?”
“N-no… that’s not…”
She started pounding on my back as my body bent over.
“Why are you running your mouth when you’re not even going to accept me if I stop acting feminine and confess right now?! Huh?! You! That’s why! I misunderstood!”
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
No, you weren’t acting feminine at all until just now. In what way were you acting feminine?!
The words almost burst from my throat, but to save my own skin, I apologized first.
“Hoo. I feel a lot better now that I’ve hit you. Alright. You can really go now.”
And so, after being beaten on the back for a good while, I was finally released once Alicia had vented her frustration.
“R-right… Take care…”
Burdened by my sins, I couldn't say anything more and had no choice but to leave Alicia’s room.
I was still bent over from the beating, unable to even look her in the face.
It definitely wasn't because I could hear the hint of tears in Alicia's relieved voice.
“You’re finally out. No, for that kind of talk, you came out rather quickly, didn’t you? Yes. Way too quickly. There certainly wasn’t enough time for sex. Hey, I’m just asking because you never know, but you’re not a premature ejaculator, are you?”
But my ordeal wasn't over just because I’d left Alicia’s room.
Lutia was still waiting for me in front of the door.
From the looks of it, she hadn't been secretly watching or listening this time.
Still, she seemed to have guessed the situation just by looking at me.
“I’m not.”
The moment she heard my answer, Lutia’s eyes grew sharper.
“Right. You’re the great Saint, after all. So, did you end up making Alicia cry?”
“…Probably.”
“Huuuh…”
Lutia stared coldly into my eyes, then turned her back without another word.
“You’re not going to scold me?”
“Nope. I was going to give you a stern lecture if you made excuses, but since you answered honestly, I’ll let it slide this time. And it looks like Alicia got to vent her frustrations enough.”
With only those words, Lutia swayed her hips sexily and disappeared down the end of the hall.
I thought she would go into Alicia’s room to comfort her, but I guess not.
Was she giving Alicia some time to calm down on her own?
In any case, that’s how I finally resolved the issue with Alicia.
Relieved… not really. To be honest, my chest felt tight and heavy.
So this is what it feels like to coldly reject someone who likes you.
No, maybe I just feel this way because I had to see a close friend look so sad.
My mood was quite gloomy, but I couldn't show it on the outside.
If I showed this face, I would just make my girls worry for no reason.
On my way out of the Arachne Clan House and back to the dungeon, I tried desperately to control my expression.
Ah, speaking of which, she asked me to explain how I found out about her feelings because of Kanna. I completely forgot.
…Well, Alicia didn't seem curious about how I knew, so it probably doesn't matter, right?
I couldn't just go back into her room for something like that.
When I returned to the town on the 4th floor, everyone was already back from their hunt and waiting for me at the inn.
It seemed the innkeeper had delivered my message properly.
No, I mean, stop winking at me! It’s uncomfortable! Though I appreciate you passing on the message!
“I heard you went topside. What happened? Did things not go well with those young ladies?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s all resolved. There was just a little something in the middle.”
“…Really?”
“Really. If you don’t believe me, you want Leia to sniff me or something?”
Diana gave me a skeptical look, but I forced a smile and held out my arm.
“No. I believe you.”
Of course, Leia looked at me with eyes full of trust.
But contrary to her words, for some reason, Leia pulled me into a tight hug.
And neither Sara nor Diana showed any signs of jealousy.
Instead, they all hugged me as if to comfort me.
“What’s this? Did you all miss me that much in the short time I was gone?”
“…Let’s just say that’s it.”
For once, Sara didn't argue with my joke and just nodded honestly, refusing to let go.
Enveloped by my girls like that, I finally felt the gloomy feeling in my chest begin to lift.
Right. I did what I had to do.
Still, I felt a little guilty. I was the one who did the rejecting, yet I was the one feeling down and getting comforted like this.
Maybe I really am trash.