“Thank you. I’m feeling much better.”
I sat up, regretting that I had taken a long break. I must have fallen asleep because I was slightly unconscious. Thanks to that, I feel refreshed, but I also feel a little depressed, as if I’m losing my mind.
Normally, I wouldn’t sleep unprotected on a dangerous mountain.
I apologized and thanked him, but Theo didn’t seem to mind and smiled refreshingly.
“I’m glad you’re getting better. Only Amelia can do this research, and all I can do is act as a pillow and bodyguard.”
“No. You really helped me. I’ll be more careful next time.”
“Please do that. I won’t be able to go into the mountains with Amelia after a few more days.”
“Eh?”
“Huh?”
I looked at Theo in surprise and he tilted his head.
“As expected, if I recover, I have to return to the capital so I can’t go…”
“Are you going to go with me again? Not just for today?”
It’s natural to go back. Theo’s occupation is a saint’s bodyguard, and Alfie’s is a priest. The reason why they stayed in this village is because they were about to turn into monsters due to the saint’s selfishness. Once he recovers, it is only natural that he will fulfill his purpose and return home. I know that.
What I didn’t realize was that Theo was trying to help me not just this one time, but throughout his stay.
“Of course. In order to proceed with this research, you’ll have to go into this mountain many times, right? You’ll be doing something you’re not used to like this time, so I thought it would be better if I could help?”
“That’s helpful, but I’m not giving you a salary…”
My relationship with Theo may be that of a lifesaver and a patient. But I have already been given enough in return.
This research is a personal matter, and I don’t know if I will receive any money from the results of this research, so I am not at the stage where I can pay a salary.
“If I receive money for returning a favor, I will never be able to repay the favor.”
“No. You’ve already treated me well. In fact, I’ll have to repay you.”
“Eh?”
“Huh?”
I widen my eyes again as Theo tilts his head.
“No, because you helped me collect materials, and you showed me your naked body for research purposes, and on top of that, this time too, right? No matter how you look at it, I’m getting too much.”
“Even here, my life was saved, and thanks to Amelia I didn’t turn into a monster, and on top of that, I was given the hard-to-obtain monster honey and beeswax, so no matter how I look at it, I don’t think I can repay you enough.”
If I count on my fingers the things I’ve had Theo do, Theo will respond in the same way.
“But wouldn’t it be fine to just offset three and three? Besides, the honey and beeswax were sold for money.”
“No. There’s no way that helping someone collect materials just once is the same as saving someone’s life. If it’s possible, even if I’m cured, I’d still like to come here and help out from time to time.”
“No, no, no. You don’t have to feel so indebted to me. Things like that are mutual. Even Theo will help if the red signal rises, right?”
No matter how you think about it, it would be pointless to come back from the royal capital to such a rural area. Just moving costs time and money. Traveling is difficult, that’s why my father’s material shop, which can send products by magic circle, is thriving.
“I would go, but I don’t think there’s a difference between not wanting anything in return. At that time, I was really prepared to die… I thought I could protect Alfie, but in reality, we both ended up collapsing… …I really regret it.”
“But that’s because Alfie was given an unreasonable order.”
Theo must have just come along to help with that.
So I think he may have let his guard down, but I also think it was just bad luck. The worst boss is the one who tells you to go to the mountains and get things at this time of year.
“Still, I should have paid a veteran like Amelia and asked her to join me in collecting the materials. It was my own fault as a result of neglecting that kind of thing, and I am grateful that you helped me. I don’t think it’s strange to feel indebted to you. At that time, I knew from the bottom of my heart that I didn’t want to become a monster.”
“Then promise me that you will never tell anyone about my research. That’s really enough. Although it might be difficult if you’re in Theo’s position.”
“As I said before, I have no intention of telling anyone, and with my life, I will never tell anyone. Even if it means being tortured.”
“Eh? Risking your life is a bit…”
When I heard that Theo would die in order to keep my research a secret, it left a bad impression on me. I’d like to think it won’t happen, but if it does happen, I’d like you not to keep your mouth shut and sell me out.
“I wish I could keep Mr. Alfie quiet after that…”
“Alfie is easily bullied, but he keeps quiet about things he doesn’t want to say, so I think you can trust him in that respect.”
“Then that’s enough, right?”
“No. That doesn’t make sense to me, and I agree with Amelia’s research because I was saved when I almost turned into a monster, and I want to cooperate. Also, I was able to buy the honey, when I normally would have been turned away at the door, with Amelia’s offer. It’s not just an exchange of money.”
I say that’s enough, but Theo doesn’t give up either.
Theo is easy-going, but he seems to be stubborn, just like my father and grandfather.
“And I’m worried. I know Amelia is strong because she saved me too.”
“I might look unreliable because I’m younger, but…”
“That’s not true. Isn’t Amelia the type of person who tries too hard on your own? I really respect your attitude of trying to overcome things you’re not good at, but aren’t you going to research for a long time? If that’s the case, don’t try too hard. I want you to do your research with a moderate amount of effort. I understand that you want results quickly, and I also want purification of maga to become easier. That’s why I want to cooperate with you to reduce the strain even if just a little.”
At school, I was praised many times by friends, teachers, and my ex-boyfriend, saying that Amelia was amazing. Of course. That’s how much I worked hard to keep the position. On the other hand, I also heard criticisms such as “too much,” “obtrusive,” and “even though she’s a woman.”
However, this is the first time someone has offered to help me make things less difficult, rather than stop me from doing what I want to do.
He’s different from my father and grandfather, who don’t get in the way of what I want to do. I feel safe that they won’t abandon me no matter what happens, but they just give me the freedom to do whatever I want, but they don’t actively cooperate with me in what I want.
How should I express this feeling?
My heart is pounding.
I can’t speak well, so I open and close my mouth.
“Um…um…”
“No. I forced my feelings too much on you. If you feel like it’s a burden, please forget about it. However, I want to help you while I’m in this village if possible.”
“It’s not a burden. But, I think I’m probably happy. But since I can’t give you anything in return, I feel sorry…”
I received too much.
I only do what comes naturally and what I want to do. So I’m sorry.
“If you can make this research a success, you can think of it as something in return. I wanted to cooperate because of Amelia’s determination and the content.”
“Wait… I want you to ask me why I wanted to do this research, or rather, why I want to do this research.”
“The reason?”
It’s not a noble cause. On the contrary, it’s a personal grudge.
My father and grandfather will probably laugh at me because they know me, but Theo isn’t a relative, and he looks at me favorably because I helped him.
So it seems disappointing.
A person who will return to the royal capital anyway. I shouldn’t care what he thinks about me, but the fact that I don’t want him to be disappointed means that I look favorably on Theo.
But it’s cowardly to accept someone’s desire to help without explaining. It’s better to be disappointed than to realize that I’m a coward. In any case, it would be best for him to drop the offer.
“That’s right. I’m not acting out of noble ideals. The reason I started this research was… my own grudge.”
I told Theo, prepared to be looked down upon.
I completely forgot that Theo didn’t know the reason behind this research yet.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for reading!
