Chapter 155: The Dagger is Short, the Light Pierces, and the Flame Runs 6
*
I’ve done it.
Even as she ran, Erika was already regretting it.
But more than that, she was confused.
She couldn’t manage her own emotions.
While regretting that she’d “done it,” she didn’t even understand what exactly she thought she had done.
Ever since hearing Shin’s words—I can’t betray her—her own heart had become too incoherent to comprehend.
Even though she knew Shin had merely stated the obvious, she couldn’t believe she was unable to accept it.
It was only natural for that Shin Longdagger to say such things; even if Luu didn’t grasp his true meaning, a man like him would say it without hesitation.
Hearing it, she felt a joy akin to understanding—Ah, yes, this is the kind of person whose very being I found beautiful.
And yet, at the same time, she was surprisingly stunned that she herself was not the subject of those words.
He doesn’t hesitate to step into a pathless wilderness, heading in the direction he wishes to go.
Surprisingly arrogant, yet kind.
His freedom doesn’t permit him to hurt others.
And therefore, the person walking beside him through that wilderness… is not her.
She was simply stunned by that fact.
Not angry, not sad, just completely lost about what to do.
Perhaps if she could have been honestly jealous, there might have been something endearing about it.
But all she felt was confusion.
Her incomprehensible emotions were truly terrifying.
She couldn’t even recall what expression Shin wore as she exposed her disgraceful state.
No, still, that face is unacceptable.
Erika recalled it, skillfully dodging the residents who were startled by her.
The face Shin made when he told Luu, I can’t betray her.
That, she thought, was truly unacceptable.
What was with that gentle look?
Seeing it from the side, hadn’t her heart involuntarily pounded?
That’s unacceptable, truly unacceptable, unquestionably an enemy of maidens.
She couldn’t help but feel jealous that she wasn’t the one at the receiving end of that gaze—no, no, jealousy is wrong, that’s wrong.
It was only natural that she wasn’t there.
No, this is bad. How am I supposed to live?
What am I supposed to do with a life like this?
Should I just burn the world to ashes?
She was tossed about by her scattered thoughts.
She just couldn’t organize her thoughts, couldn’t organize her emotions.
And yet, Shin’s face floated in her mind, and she couldn’t help it.
What is with that face? That face is unacceptable, isn’t it?
As if running away, no.
Despite having run away, she already wanted to return to his side.
Knowing he couldn’t possibly be there, she found herself searching ahead, wondering if Shin might be where she was running towards.
No, no, wait, please wait.
For the first time, Erika became aware of her own utterly illogical thoughts.
She had repeatedly called him someone she liked, someone important, yet this realization now felt so belated that she surprised herself.
As if to confirm, the palm she placed on her chest felt her pounding heart.
Good heavens, all ladylike etiquette had flown from her thoughts.
“What should I do? I’ve fallen in love.”
The moment the words left her lips, she felt like screaming.
What is this? What is this?
The instant she acknowledged it, blood rushed to her head.
An incomprehensible embarrassment washed over her.
She desperately clamped her mouth shut to keep from screaming.
She felt restless, light-headed.
Right now, she could fly through the sky, cleave the earth, level mountains.
For his sake.
Do people in the world go around saying they like someone or whatever while being tossed about by these incomprehensible feelings?
Is this world populated only by superhumans? Erika wondered.
Ah, what should I do?
I’m in love.
The thought made her so happy she almost cried.
Running through the crowd, Erika stuffed the baked goods she was still holding into her mouth.
She didn’t understand the meaning of her own actions.
But for now, that felt fine.
The mouthful of baked goods was sweet.
*
It wasn’t hard to spot Erika’s back.
Hecate, while not as large as Noel Jeun, the greatest city in the Margraviate of Makikomarkrow, was still an exceedingly huge city.
To cram so many people into the city, buildings of five or six stories were commonplace.
Which meant—all I had to do was get up on the roofs.
Clinging to the edge of a balcony with just my right hand, I spotted Erika’s back.
Amidst the crowd, where just walking without bumping into people seemed difficult, her red hair streaked away into the distance with incredible speed, leaving afterimages.
She was running without hitting anyone while using Physical Enhancement capable of that speed.
As always, she was so far beyond standard it didn’t make sense.
If I tried that, it’d be a disaster.
“Hup!”
Using the momentum from swinging my lower body, I launched myself from the balcony edge onto the roof.
Careful not to damage the roof tiles, I chased after Erika.
Ahead, I saw Erika envelop a person she nearly collided with in Wind Magic, then dash past them.
That wind probably smells nice.
The thought popped into my head, and I hurriedly shook my head.
No, no, what am I thinking?
Erika weaved through people, and even running on the rooftops, I still couldn’t catch up.
I didn’t have time for stupid thoughts.
I continued chasing Erika as she headed straight north from the district commonly known as the Adventurer Town, due to the Adventurers Guild being located there, along the main street—that is, towards the center of the Barrier.
Where is Erika heading?
More importantly, why is Erika running?
The question finally surfaced, belatedly.
Having heard that voice from Erika, no matter the reason, even if she came to hate me, not chasing her wasn’t an option.
But why is she running?
“…Huh? How should I call out to stop her?”
Chasing after a woman who suddenly started running for some reason, what should one say to stop her?
Isn’t the difficulty level of this problem a bit too fiendish?
“Dinner’s ready!” wouldn’t work; she’s not Shara.
“Let’s duel!” is for my master or Elza.
“There was a weirdo over there!” would probably only work on Jen.
I listed the words that might make the women who immediately came to mind stop in their tracks, but none of them seemed right for Erika.
Even someone unpopular like me could figure that much out.
Actually, come to think of it, I don’t have any decent women among my acquaintances that immediately come to mind.
Alright, in times like these, let’s think simply.
Meaning, I just need to be simple (stupid).
I inhaled deeply.
“ERIKAAAA!”
I yelled with my throat at maximum Physical Enhancement.
*** Author’s Note ***
Since the end of the fiscal year seems to be over, I’m jumping the gun.