Craving the Spice of Concern
"No need to worry!"
Even after leaving the Temple, Ern's concern lingered.
"Ilisha. Are you listening? If some weird person starts following you, or if you feel like someone's watching from afar..."
Ask if it felt unpleasant? Not at all. The protagonist fussing over me like this made me so giddy I didn't know where to put myself.
Just imagining what he must think of me made my legs tremble, and watching him handle me with such delicate care was heartbreakingly delightful.
But... yeah. It was starting to get a little stale.
No, not stale exactly—wasted.
Nothing that dramatic had even happened yet, and here he was fretting in advance.
Even the most delicious food loses its appeal if you eat too much, and the sweetest attention turns bland if it keeps pouring in.
I didn't want that to happen.
I wanted the concern he showered on me to always be spicy and tangy—never settling into that same old mild flavor.
"Yes, I'm listening. I'll always stick with someone else, avoid dark and sketchy spots, and slip away if I sense anyone's watching. Right?"
"Ah, good, you were paying attention. That's all I needed."
When I parroted his advice back at him, Ern looked a bit sheepish, averting his gaze before trying to lecture me some more.
"Ern... do you want me to go back home?"
Part of me wanted him to keep going, but I didn't want it to wear thin already, so I decided to cut him off at the right moment.
"...What are you talking about?"
Ern fell silent for a beat, as if I'd struck a nerve, then pretended it was nothing.
Of course, that's probably exactly what he wanted. In the previous timeline, I'd been holed up obediently at home like a good girl, but now here I was crawling out and causing a ruckus.
Naturally, he was hoping I'd crawl right back in.
"Just... it feels like that's what you want. Every time something seems even a little risky, you tell me not to do it—like you don't really want me around."
"You know that's not why. Ilisha, the demon worshippers are targeting you. Who knows what those vicious bastards might pull? It was right there in the plan—they're after you."
Ern's reasoning was sound. Even stripping away the emotions, there were plenty of reasons for me to be cautious.
"So it's because of what's in that plan. Because they're after me."
"Yeah, Ilisha. I don't know what you think, but if those things get their hands on your corpse... the Empire might fall."
Might? No, it would fall. If my body ended up in their clutches right now.
But I had my own say in this.
"You're worried I'll get captured by them, huh, Ern?"
"Took you long enough to figure that out?"
Hmm, wasn't that a bit too openly treating me like an idiot? Sure, I played a little daft during serious talks, but still.
"Don't worry, Ern. You know I'm pretty strong, right? I won't go down easy. And if I do get captured..."
I closed my eyes, then opened them to meet his gaze.
"I'll freeze myself solid. So brittle that the slightest touch shatters me. If I break into pieces like that, they can't have me, right?"
Then I flashed a bright smile and tilted my head just a touch.
As if it were the most obvious thing. As if I truly believed it was right.
"...Ilisha. What the hell are you saying?"
Ern blinked, staring at me blankly. Like a fool, he asked what I meant.
Of course he couldn't comprehend it. A guy like him—convinced sacrifice was his burden alone—must be scrambling to make sense of my words.
So I drove the final nail in.
"So, Ern... if that moment ever comes, could you smash me to bits? Crunch. You're the only one I can ask, hehe."
Like a shy girl, I twisted my body a little, confessing my "secret" request as if it were bashful.
If I was on the verge of falling into their hands, destroy me completely so I wouldn't end up in their grasp.
Only then did it click, and Ern's face twisted into a scowl.
Not anger at me, surely.
It had to be hatred for the reality forcing those words from my mouth—for his own weakness in failing to protect me.
Aaah.
Perfect.
Right now, I could only thank my sickly body.
If I were healthy, I'd be drooling all over myself with my legs crossed like a slut.
"...Don't even say that. It won't come to that. I'll stop it. I won't let it happen."
"But it might. I hope it doesn't too—I don't want it to happen. Still... what if? If it really happens, will you... break me?"
I clasped my hands and gazed at him pleadingly, politely.
Ah, seriously. If only there were cameras, I'd snap a photo of Ern's face right now.
Should've learned a photography spell instead of useless lighting or dust-removal magic.
".........If it's a situation with no other choice."
After a long silence, Ern finally spoke.
"Thanks. For walking me to the café too. See you tomorrow!"
Having gotten his answer, I waved and headed into the café where Lucia waited.
I'd meant to greet him brightly, but her rather fierce expression made me switch it up.
"...Ehehe, Lucia. Sorry for keeping you waiting."
The moment I greeted her, Lucia shot me a savage grin.
"Came super quick, huh?"
That smile made me hiccup involuntarily.
"W-well... Saintess Cecilia called me saying she had something to say, so I met Ern on the way back... hehe..."
I didn't want to drag Cecilia's name into this, but I had no idea what might happen otherwise, so I borrowed it reluctantly.
"Oh? So while I was waiting, you were off playing with that bitch and some other guy?"
But it backfired.
Her lips twisted—I could tell I'd said the wrong thing.
"E, ehehe..."
Lucia glared at me like an angry lioness, then let out a small sigh and asked,
"So. Have you eaten?"
...Suddenly?
Flustered aside, it wasn't hard to answer honestly.
"Not yet...?"
At my words, Lucia clicked her tongue, stood up.
"Let's go."
"Go where?"
"Restaurant. You said you haven't eaten."
"Ah, did you skip eating while waiting for me...?"
"Nah? I ate."
?
Then why are you moving?
Just let me go eat alone.
"But why...?"
Utterly baffled, I asked again, and she answered like it was obvious.
"You haven't eaten. You think I'd let you eat alone?"
Her words hit me like a smack to the head.
...So this is what friends are?
You eat your fill, but still tag along just to watch me eat.
Something warm welled up inside.
"...Then let's go!"
I replied with a touch of overwhelm, and Lucia frowned faintly, like she wasn't thrilled.
"...Not just meat again? Try some veggies. Even a little."
By the time we dashed to the restaurant and I was piling my plate as usual, Lucia eyed me with mild exasperation.
"Hmm... maybe?"
No obligation, but no harm in it, so I added some well-cooked vegetables.
Lucia grumbled that a token veggie didn't count, but that was the end of it.
"Lucia's so kind."
"Shut up. Who's kind? You're just extra annoying."
"Hehe. Is that so? Well, thanks anyway."
I polished off my plate quickly, even the veggies I wasn't keen on, and Lucia sighed under her breath.
"...Sigh. Without me, you'd eat alone again."
Probably.
...On the flip side, with them around, I wouldn't have to.
And with Ern's parting advice fresh in mind.
Having friends didn't feel half bad.
Time to float the idea.
"Lucia. From now on... mind if we hang out together?"
She'd say no if she hated it, so no pressure.
But her expression shifted—colorful, almost choked up.
"...Whatever. I'm not so narrow-minded I can't handle dragging one more around."
No clue what she was thinking, but... that counted as a yes, right?
"Thanks, Lucia!"
I beamed my gratitude, and she rubbed her nose with a weird smirk.
The girls around hooted half-jokingly, half-seriously, protesting the special treatment.
"Shut it, you bitches! Can't you see how scrawny she is?! Without me, she'd drop dead on the street!"
She brushed it off playfully, but I could read that not everyone in her crew welcomed me.
Fine if I couldn't win them all—no one can.
As long as I had Lucia's favor, who cared.
And she was the boss of the group.
What could those nobodies do anyway.
Especially since their status was lower than mine.
My eyes met one girl staring daggers.
She scowled hard for a second, then looked away and backed down.
She knew full well her solo spite changed nothing.
After dessert, tea time, and lingering till evening, bedtime snuck up.
"Hehe. That was fun, Lucia."
"If you had fun, whatever. See you tomorrow. Oh, and tomorrow, meet me first. Promise."
She stuck out her pinky.
"Yeah. Promise."
I hooked my pinky with hers, sealing it.
So tomorrow, Lucia first.
What should I say next?
Musing, I brushed past that nameless noble girl still eyeing me.
"...What a pain."
Hmm.
Wanna go ask what she just said?
Nah, mood's good—let it slide. Doesn't fit my image anyway.
What could one noble girl do at worst?