Luss’ words unsettled the atmosphere.

The serious Aide party members either smiled or looked back and forth at Stion, making a fuss.

“She is young.”

The bald man, Boyle, said with a big smile.

The only ones whose expressions didn’t change were Stion and Luss.

Luss was that sincere, and Stion didn’t like that sincerity.

Just as the atmosphere began to lighten, Stion spoke heavily again.

“It’s too late. Starchis already has a lover.”

“What? Starchis got a girlfriend?”

“Really? Is that true?”

But the atmosphere didn’t settle down.

The party members were too busy asking questions, surprised by the new information.

“I’ll, I’ll tell you later.”

He calmed the surprised party members for the time being.

Stion looked at Luss.

“Anyway, it’s over. He has a girlfriend. You should give up your feelings too.”

“....”

“They’re happily dating. There’s no room for you to interfere.”

Luss’ tears flowed again.

“Then there’s no reason for me to teach you either. How long do you think you can keep this up for a feeling that won’t be reciprocated? Maybe for a while, but not for long. I don’t want to put effort into someone who will give up.”

“....”

Luss sat back down, lowering her head after her confession.

Her black hair cascaded beautifully like a waterfall.

“So go back. You should have done better when you had the chance.”

“...It’s not that...”

“What?”

Tududuk-

Luss’ tears continued to wet the desk.

“...I’m not doing this because I want something in return. I’m doing this because I can’t give up...”

Luss couldn’t give up her feelings for him.

Ever since he got a girlfriend, it had been a continuous torment.

Every night, she couldn’t sleep because of the pain in her chest.

Sighs came out frequently, and it felt like a massive stone was placed on her chest.

The pain of flesh tearing and skin splitting was nothing compared to this.

Experiencing this every day was driving her crazy.

Maybe it would be easier to give up her feelings for him.

But she simply couldn’t do it.

She couldn’t imagine herself not by his side.

The future without him was terrifying and unbearable.

So, she had to act.

She had to work hard to stay by Starchis’ side.

-Thud!

The sharp-looking woman, Fioren, slapped Stion’s shoulder.

“Stion, you should be more considerate of a woman’s heart.”

“What?”

“If it were a feeling that could be easily discarded, it wouldn’t be love.”

Fioren tucked Luss’ falling hair behind her ear.

“Sweetie? Stop crying. Can someone get a handkerchief?”

The large bald man, Boyle, stood up and brought a handkerchief.

Fioren wiped Luss’ face and said,

“You’re admirable, knowing how to make an effort for someone you love.”

“Why are you making that effort now? You should have done it before he got a girlfriend.”

Even as Fioren wiped her tears, Luss’ face remained soaked.

“Stop making her cry, Stion.”

“No, I need to say this. Why did you draw the line if you liked Starchis?”

“...What?”

“I heard it from my brother. You kept saying you were just friends.”

Stion pointed at the ring on Luss’ finger with his chin.

“That ring too. It’s a friendship ring. Who gives a friendship ring to someone they like?”

“...”

“...Is that true, sweetie?”

Fioren bent down to meet Luss’ eyes.

Once again, Luss’ friendship ring seemed pitiful.

She couldn’t bring herself to speak about the ‘Starchis Pact,’ that foolish agreement.

It was an embarrassing part of her past.

“Did you not want to date him, but felt regretful after losing him?”

“No!!”

Luss quickly raised her head and said,

“That’s... absolutely not it..! For years... only Starchis..”

“Years...?”

Stion laughed.

“Wow... haha... Should I tell you this..?”

“...?”

“Stion, if it’s something mean, don’t say it.”

“Stop defending her, Fioren. Do you know how much trouble she caused Starchis?”

“...She’s struggling just as much... Everyone makes mistakes.”

“Stop preaching.”

Stion ignored Fioren and continued.

“Luss, do you know why I remember your name?”

Stion and Luss first met at Starchis’ sickbed.

Stion had approached Luss and greeted her warmly.

“...Starchis talked about me..”

“That’s right. He mentioned you a lot. Especially a few years ago. Back then, he praised you so much. Saying Luss is good at this and that.”

Luss sensed the atmosphere taking a strange turn.

‘No way.’

“Every time we met, he talked about you. So much that I felt left out. He even shared the smallest details.”

Luss felt time slowing down.

She shook her head slowly, denying the inevitable truth.

“Honestly, I’m not sure if he knew it himself. He’s quite insensitive to his own feelings.”

‘No.’

Luss’ heart was racing madly.

“Starchis never said it outright, but I’ve known him all my life. He had feelings for you.”

“...No!! No!!”

Luss covered her eyes with her palms and began to cry loudly.

Regret over the past consumed her.

If what Stion said was true, she didn’t become Starchis’ lover because she drew the line.

Had she just let things flow naturally, that place would have been hers.

Her fear that such a wonderful person couldn’t possibly like her and her desperate desire to keep him from other women had made her firm.

If only she had been a bit braver.

“Sob... sob...”

Despite her efforts to hold back, Luss’ sobs echoed loudly in front of the Aide party members.

Luss buried her forehead into the desk and clutched her chest.

He had liked her too.

The tingling feelings she once felt with him weren’t just a misunderstanding.

She thought it was a misunderstanding.

She thought Starchis was just being extra kind because he was a nice person.

Luss cried for a long time.

Luss finally calmed down with a sniffle.

Next to her, Fioren had settled in and was comforting her.

Stion, having made her cry, felt a sense of relief.

The lingering discomfort about how she had troubled his brother seemed to dissipate.

Now, watching the crying Luss made him feel sorry for her.

He didn’t regret what he did, but he couldn’t help but swallow nervously, feeling the bitterness of making someone cry.

In the tense atmosphere, Luss spoke through her sobs.

“...Sniff... I, please, sniff... teach me how to fight, sniff...”

Luss’ breaths were irregular, making it hard for her to speak clearly.

Fioren looked at her with a motherly smile, finding her endearing despite the sharp first impression.

“...No. Do you think my mind will change just because you cried?”

Stion shook his head.

What was done was done.

“Sniff... I’ll, I’ll do well, sniff... I promise... sniff...”

“Hey, stop crying!”

Stion snapped.

He felt like the villain.

Unlike before, many party members were now giving him disapproving looks, siding with Luss.

“Stion, just teach her.”

The bald man, Boyle, said.

“If you’re so keen, you do it, Boyle. She’s in the front line. You’re in the front line too. You should have a lot to teach.”

“...I’m not good at teaching...”

“Neither am I. I fought my way here to survive. What do I have to teach her...”

“Stion, are you really going to shut up after making someone who likes your brother cry?”

Of course, Fioren sided with Luss.

“She found the courage to be honest and tell you everything. And now you’re just going to send her away?”

Stion felt like he was sitting on a bed of nails.

‘Damn it...’

“I’m telling you, I have no talent for teaching. I developed my skills just to keep up with Starchis and feed myself. You know, I fight roughly.”

“Even that... sniff... if you could teach me...”

“It’s all instinctive movements. There’s nothing to teach.”

“Please, just show me...”

Luss’ desperate plea and the weight of everyone’s stares finally got to him.

Stion firmly set his stance.

He wasn’t lying.

He was not the type to teach anyone anything.

Luss showed her disappointment.

‘So then... How can I possibly be of any help to Starchis?’

She thought. She believed that if she improved her skills, she could contribute somehow, but

she was stumbling from the very beginning.

Luss felt embarrassed as tears kept flowing.

She realized she was being a burden to Aide.

Stion had told her she couldn’t stay.

She didn’t want to be a hindrance any longer.

Luss staggered as she got up from her seat.

“Sweetie, where are you going?”

Fioren grabbed her hand and asked.

Luss took a deep breath, steadied her breathing, and bowed.

“...I’m sorry for being such a nuisance... Thank you for talking with me... It was a selfish request, wasn’t it? I’ll be going now...”

She quickly turned around.

As she wiped her tears with her arm and headed for the door,

Stion called out to her.

“...Wait.”

“...Yes?”

“Damn it. I don’t want to do this...”

“Stion.”

“Damn it, Fioren. Your eyes light up whenever you see a pretty girl. If you didn’t have skills, you’d be out of this party! Got it?!”

Stion snapped at Fioren irritably.

“Thank you, Stion.”

Fioren, understanding why Stion was doing this, smiled at him.

Stion looked at Luss and spoke.

“I can’t teach you. Like I said, I’m not the kind of person who can teach others. I didn’t even teach Starchis, who wields the same weapon.”

“....”

“But I can give you experience. And you all better take responsibility. Don’t just dump it on me!”

Stion shouted at the party members.

“Those who aren’t here might feel it’s unfair, but you guys convince them. Luss, follow our activities from now on.”

“...What?”

“Anyway, Starchis’ party is taking a break now. Follow us around and improve your skills.”

“Do you mean to join you on A-rank quests..?”

“If you’re scared, quit.”

“It’s not that, but won’t I be a burden..?”

“Why would you be a burden? We’re not going to help you. Whether you live or die, we won’t care.”

“...You’re lying again, Stion. You value life the most.”

“Anyway, I’m accepting you for my brother’s sake, not for you. Got it?”

Luss bowed her head again.

She also did it to hide her face, which seemed like it might cry again.

“Thank you... so much...”

“Come here tomorrow morning. We handle a lot of emergency missions.”

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