Chapter 18
—Raust—
「…………What?」
Hearing my answer, Zieg-san was dumbstruck .
After that, he stuck like that for a while .
Seeing his reaction, I wondered if the feeling failed to get across, I got such a worry in my mind .
「Ah, no, I’m sorry . I just didn’t think that you’re this prepared…」
But after a while, he returned to his sense .
Apparently, my worry was unfounded .
It seemed that he was just stunned by the surprise .
「No, it’s okay . Can I continue?」
「G-Go ahead . 」
Understanding that, I confirmed if Zieg-san mental faculties fully returned and then continued talking .
「About the party’s house, I have no intention to buy it now…… . The reason is pathetic, but I don’t believe I won’t make any mistake if I live together with Narsena . 」
I felt self-hatred for myself, but I still told Zieg-san the truth .
Of course, I had no intention to lose to my lust and make a move on Narsena .
……Still, if I’m asked whether or not that’s possible, I wouldn’t be able to give a positive answer .
It sounds like an excuse, but that’s just how attractive Narsena is to me .
「That’s why, until I’m in a relationship where Narsena allows me to do so, I don’t intend to buy a party’s house . Narsena may forgive me even if I make a move on her now…… Still, I don’t want to treat this in an easy-going manner when there is a possibility that Narsena could be sad . 」
That was the reason I didn’t want to but a party’s house .
It was also the reason I wanted us to not stay in the same inn .
Narsena probably doesn’t dislike me .
But, until Narsena’s feeling to me is clear whether it’s just affection or love, I won’t make a move on her .
And so, I didn’t want to buy a party’s house until I confessed .
「I-I see…」
After listening to my reasoning, Zieg-san only gave a brief answer and looked really surprised .
「…Wait, if you’re this determined, why haven’t you confess?」
However, the next moment, Zieg-san seemed to wonder about something and then he asked that with a dubious look .
That was a natural question .
Listening to Narsena would clue you how badly she wanted a party’s house .
There was a certain reason I didn’t confess yet despite that fact .
「…Actually, my preparation to confess is not finished yet . 」
「Preparation?」
「Yes . In truth, the necklace I planned to give to her alongside my confession has yet to be finished . 」
「Ah…」
The next moment, Zieg-san exclaimed as if he realized something .
Seeing his expression, I knew what he had noticed .
It was the reason I was at the accessory artisan’s store before I met him .
Yes, what I ordered from Nashia was the necklace I wanted to give to Narsena .
「If Narsena accepts the confession, I was thinking about making something a memento . Narsena would definitely be pleased in that case . 」
I talked to Zieg-san while recalling my feeling from when I ordered the necklace from Nashisan .
Having Narsena waited for too long because of an exquisite necklace could be called thoughtless .
However, I ordered the necklace was because I wanted to give her as much happiness as I could .
「…You’re going that far?」
After he finished listening to my story, Zieg-san looked visibly surprised .
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What he said was the best proof that he doubted my words .
However, I didn’t feel any displeasure from his words .
Because for adventurers, that was the natural reaction .
Normally, love between adventurers was drier .
Some high-ranking adventurers even treated women as an object .
It was common for the relationship between such adventurers to be more about physical relationships .
For Zieg-san’s perspective who knew about that, it was natural he would look at me weirdly for going this far .
But, it doesn’t matter what others think about me .
「This much is nothing . 」
If Narsena is happy, I don’t care what other people think about me, those are just minor stuff .
Narsena was so special to me that I would go that far .
Memories of Narsena resurfaced in my mind .
Our conversation in the carriage a couple of years ago .
She was my first party member when I was banished from Sword of Lightning .
Fighting with a mutated hydra .
For me, Narsena wasn’t just someone my heart set my sight on .
She was an irreplaceable benefactor, my one and only trusted comrade, and someone more precious than anyone else .
That was Narsena for me now .
I could only describe how special she was in such corny words .
However, the feeling I put into those words by no means weak .
「Even if I’m being laughed for being so awkward, I want to make Narsena as happy as I can . I want to see her happy . 」
That was why I decided to do my best to make her happy .
I might not be able to repay the big favor I received from her .
Even so, to show my gratitude, I decided to do so .
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「…Seriously, you have changed . 」
Zieg-san who listened to me muttered those words .
His eyes were opened wide, showing his surprise .
「But, that’s not bad . 」
But the next moment, Zieg-san laughed .
His words also made me smile .
Apparently, Zieg-san was someone who thought similarly like me .
「…Though, depending on Narsena’s feeling, everything might become a waste of time and effort . 」
…However, I recalled a certain concern of mine and made a clouded smile .
That’s right, even though I’ve prepared this far, I still don’t know if Narsena will accept the confession yet .
She doesn’t hate me, but I still can’t tell if Narsena’s feeling is an affection or love .
「… So dense . 」
「Huh?」
However, when he heard my serious worry, he only smiled while visibly dumbfounded .
「That attitude of yours……… No, this is not something you should be hearing from me . 」
As he looked at me while still looking dumbfounded, he opened his mouth to say something, but he immediately shook his head and stopped himself .
I looked questioningly at him, but Zieg-san never continued what he was about to say .
「Well, worry not, if it’s you, then it should be fine . 」
Instead, he gave me an awkward encouragement .
I responded to that with a chuckle .
Zieg-san considered me as weird for an adventurer, but so was him .
I’ve never seen such a soft-hearted adventurer that would listen to a love consultation like this .
Thinking about that, I laughed .
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「Thank you for everything, Zieg-san . 」
And then, after deciding there was nothing else to talk about anymore, I stood up from my chair and bowed my head .
「Ahh, do your best . 」
With those words as parting words, I left the cafe .
My gait after leaving the cafe was lighter .
For the past few days, I was a little nervous over the thought that I was about to tell Narsena about my feeling, but after talking about various things with Zieg-san, I was a lot more relaxed .
While thanking Zieg-san for that, I sped up .
Currently, I was heading toward the adventurer guild like I was planned before Zieg-san stopped me .
Concerning money, there were still leftover from the subjugation of super-high difficulty monsters, quite a considerable sum at that .
So, there was no need for me to take any quest .
However, I doubt any problem would arise from having too much money, also, I had another reason I wanted to take a quest .
It was to try the physical reinforcement I couldn’t do when I fought War God’s Great Sword .
Also, my body felt worked up from reaffirming my feeling toward Narsena .
I was in the guild, and while still feeling excited, I started looking for a quest .
「……………What?」
However, the moment I saw a big poster pasted on the adventurer’s guild reception, blood drained from my face .
…On the poster, it was written that I, Raust, and my party were prohibited from entering the labyrinth because of committing unjust violence toward another adventurer party .