Chapter 151
"Ahem, in a situation like this, shouldn't you be taking my side? Ah, no. Of course I'm not blaming Zero, but..."
Rodelin showed a cold attitude, as if she was displeased.
Faced with that sight, I couldn't help but be flustered.
That's because for a character like Rodelin, showing a 'sulky' emotion was an impossibility.
'This isn't like her character...'
Rodelin is a child who admires soldiers and hopes to fulfill that dream in the future to guard the frontier together with her family.
Maybe that's why. Her way of speaking, actions, even her attitude.
She always maintained a stance no different from a soldier.
'Users found that side of Rodelin very cute.'
Just imagine. The sight of a young girl who dreams of becoming a soldier acting like one.
Anyone would find it adorable.
And that applied not only to the users but also to the people of this world.
-Oh my, how cute.
-I hope your dream comes true.
-Haha! Looks like there's no need to worry about the future of the Empire.
Everyone was busy adoring Rodelin.
They saw her not as a soldier, but as an academy student and a young girl.
Perhaps she was angry that her dream was being treated as a laughing matter.
In addition to showing a disgusted attitude when complimented on her charm as a woman, she often hid her emotional expressions.
'A typical reaction is getting sulky or pouting.'
She probably thinks such emotional expressions are not befitting of a soldier.
But...
"Well, it can't be helped. I can't deny the fact that I lack charm."
Grumble grumble.
She's complaining that I didn't choose her.
A smile naturally spread across my lips. This was exactly what I had hoped for.
'She's acting like a child.'
A sight befitting Rodelin's age, impossibly cute.
I was happy to catch a glimpse of it.
"...Why are you looking at me like that?"
Rodelin glanced over at me.
She seemed completely unaware that she was throwing a tantrum.
"Keke, it's because I don't understand. Where else could you find someone as charming as you, senior?"
"I appreciate the consolation, but your lies are so obvious that it's not comforting at all. How could a muscle idiot like me be charming? That's impossible."
Rodelin wouldn't know. The fact that there are over hundreds of thousands of people who have fallen for her charm.
Not only in this world, but on the Earth I lived on, there was even a separate fan club community for Rodelin.
'Even when I was the only one left playing the game, that community was still active...'
The community created by people who cherished Rodelin had grown to be one of the top five in scale in Korea.
If Rodelin found out about this, she would shout loudly.
'A gathering of perverts is grounds for demerit points!' she would say.
'Well, the fan club members would probably cling to her legs begging for demerit points.'
Imagining that scene made me chuckle.
"It's not a lie. Do you know how many people like you, senior? And in the first place, you're not a muscle idiot."
"Hmm, I guess I'm a bit too smart to be called an idiot."
Rodelin has never once given up first place since entering the academy.
But that's not the part I'm talking about.
"The muscle part isn't true either. It's not like muscles are the only thing that exists, right?"
"Originally, a person must have some fat on their body. Well, there was indeed a flaw in big sister's words. I didn't point it out... I must have been too excited."
"Keke, that's right. Well, senior also has soft parts no less than Lucia."
"Yes yes, I agree. I'm no less than her..."
Rodelin, who was nodding her head, looked over at me.
She seemed to realize something was strange.
"B-But how do you know that...?"
Although not as good as Lucia, Rodelin also has a splendid(?) figure.
How do I know that?
"Keke, memories of the Demon's Shard are coming back vividly. From beginning to end. It was a very intense battle."
When we fell underground at the 'Tomb of the Holy Sword'.
Rodelin hugged me tightly and used floating magic, but due to the battle with the Demon's Shard, her clothes were badly torn here and there.
So I can't help but know well.
Well, the game's settings book also contained various information such as height and weight.
Perhaps my praise(?) was too good.
Rodelin wrapped her arms around her body.
"Keke, why are you suddenly doing that?"
"D-Don't look. Don't you know that lewd gazes are grounds for demerit points?"
I was just looking normally, but she called it a lewd gaze.
It's always a problem with these slit eyes. If only my eyes weren't like this, I could have shown innocent eyes and proven my innocence.
'Well, it doesn't seem like her favorability has fallen at least.'
It's about time to wrap things up.
I approached Rodelin, who was slightly red-faced, covering her chest with both arms.
"And if, at that time, Miss Rezé hadn't been there..."
Bringing my face close to Rodelin's ear, I whispered.
"Rodelin, I would have chosen you."
Perhaps the system also wanted to tease Rodelin. The word 'senior' was automatically replaced with 'Rodelin'.
Words mixed with half sincerity, half playfulness.
But it was enough to make Rodelin's face flush.
"Wh-wh-wh-what kind of nonsense joke is that! Are you out of your mind?!"
"Keke, my head is perfectly fine, and it's even less of a joke. I..."
Looking straight into the eyes of Rodelin, whose face was red enough to burst, I spoke.
"Have fallen head over heels for your charm."
"U-Unhealthy Relationship Punishment Punch!"
Rodelin's fist flew towards my face.
Perhaps because it was a newly acquired F-rank skill, because she was startled, or because of the experience gained from hellish training with Lucia.
Tap!
My body moved naturally and I grabbed Rodelin's wrist.
"...!"
Rodelin lost her balance in surprise, and I reached out my other arm to prevent her from falling to the ground.
Then.
'Huh?'
I don't know exactly how it happened, but I ended up hugging Rodelin.
We got even closer than before.
Our gazes, bodies, and.
Our hearts too?
Thump-!
Was it my imagination? I thought I could hear the sound of Rodelin's heartbeat.
In that startling situation, as we looked into each other's eyes.
Poof-!
There was a sound of something exploding from Rodelin's head.
"Ah, ahhhhh! Unhealthy! Unhealthy thoughts are grounds for demerit points!"
Rodelin took out a notebook and wrote down a name.
Not my name, but her own.
Could it be that Rodelin, of all people, had indecent thoughts?
I became very curious as to what those unhealthy thoughts were.
"Y-You've improved a lot. I can look forward to next time."
"...Next time?"
Is she saying she's looking forward to this kind of situation happening again?
Realizing her slip of the tongue, Rodelin's face flushed again.
"S-Sparring! I'm talking about sparring! Make sure to improve your skills a lot! I won't go easy on you next time!"
Shouting like that, Rodelin ran out.
Both Lucia and Rodelin. They're really like the wind.
The door of the tavern opened and closed with a creaking sound.
Looking at that door, I thought.
Integrity, nobility, and sacrifice.
If you were to summarize the character Rodelin, you could describe her with those three words.
A child who is proud of, cherishes, and loves the family that protects the empire more than anything else.
That's why she bears all the sins committed by her family on her own.
'Foolish child.'
Unlike that child, I'm not foolish.
Meaning I won't give up the things I have, the things I can gain in the future, just to save Rodelin alone.
Because I'm not a noble person like Rodelin.
Because I'm not someone who can be called a hero.
I'm just a dirty old gamer faithful to my desires.
'All I can do is make her smile, and as I did now, awaken the child's heart that she's hiding inside.'
I sincerely hoped that this time would provide her even a little comfort.
That in the arduous journey ahead, she could recall this moment as a fond memory and smile.
That it could console her heart even a little when she bears the sins of her family alone.
Clap clap clap-!
"Ooh~ Customer, contrary to appearances, you've got quite the skills. When you become an adult, you'll make many women cry."
The words came while I was offering a short prayer. It was Scarlet, the tavern owner.
'This isn't the time to be lost in sentimentality.'
Scarlet's unexpected appearance.
But I had sufficiently organized my thoughts while having the meal.
That's right. It's time to achieve the real purpose of today.
"Keke, I'll take that as a compliment."
"It is a compliment. A man should have a rough charm, you know." "Rough charm... So that's why. You throw yourself into a rough life."
We conversed, probing each other's gaps.
Acting as if we are harmless people, ordinary people, to extract information.
As expected, he's not an easy opponent. However.
"Business is tough indeed. Especially if you're in the information trade."
"Pardon? What do you mean by that..."
"I mean, stop the acting. Isn't that right, rat Scarlet?"
In an instant, Scarlet's eyes changed.
From the eyes of a well-mannered merchant to the sharp eyes of a beast.
"Cheeky bastard. I heard about you, but you really are an impudent one."
The one who flaunts his power while doing business with the continent in the far future.
The 'Omni Merchant' Scarlet opened his eyes. (TL Note: Previously I called him the Universal Merchant, but I'm changing it to Omni Merchant. The original one is '???', which means a store that sells everything.)
*
Yuridia threw off the black robe she was wearing.
She couldn't stand how stuffy it was.
"Playboy! Pervert! Scumbag! He's really the worst man!"
Is he going after even Rezé now, beyond Luna, Rodelin, and Lucia?
Even an octopus wouldn't have tentacles like that.
'Ugh... I feel so bad for Luna.'
Yuridia saw it. The teardrops welling up at the corners of her eyes.
She was clearly holding back tears with difficulty.
In reality, she was just yawning due to drowsiness, but Yuridia was unaware of this fact.
'To not say a word and endure it even in that situation... That's true devotion.'
She trusts Zero. Thinking there's no way. That it must have just been a simple joke.
So Yuridia got even angrier.
'Not only eating while surrounded by girls, but even making a pass at Rezé right in front of her...!'
And he did it brazenly too.
She wanted to tell her to dump a trashy man like that right away. But.
'Luna's love is real...'
If this situation continues, she would give sincere advice, but it's not time yet.
Because it's a problem that can be solved just by correcting Zero's behavior.
Yuridia made a resolution.
That from now on, she would intervene more actively!
"Luna, don't worry! I'm here for you!"
Yuridia started running. To gather Luna's fan club and inform them of what happened today.
Everything was.
For the sake of Luna's love!
--TL Notes--
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