Chapter 287: Still Saying It Wasn't You?
"What are you talking about? Since when did I become a knight?"
Steven froze for a moment when Zofia said that, but then quickly caught her meaning. The corner of his lips twitched into a playful smirk as he answered with mock innocence.
'Her race–Kurantas—are based on horses, right? '
'Why does her nose feel even keener than a Perro's?'
'Do I have some kind of obvious scent marker or something? That shouldn't be the case, right…?'
There was absolutely no way he was going to just come clean and reveal his identity. Whether she guessed right or not, that was her business. As for him? Deny till you die.
Still… glancing at the girl sitting beside him, clearly proud of herself for piecing things together without an ounce of self-preservation instinct, he could only chuckle softly.
What else could he do? Kill her to keep the secret?
Yeah, right.
It was his slip-up in the first place. And even if she did know the truth, so what? Judging from her expression, she didn't look like someone about to go tattling to the authorities.
"Hmph, still trying to dodge, huh? Well, fine. You must have your reasons for not wanting to admit it."
Zofia didn't push the issue. In fact, she sounded more thoughtful than anything else. "Honestly, I should be thanking you again instead. If it weren't for you, even if my arm healed, I doubt I'd ever be able to move it like this again."
Thankfully, Zofia wasn't just some clueless, wide-eyed girl.
She understood that if Steven's real identity got out, it could cause him all kinds of trouble.
So, with surprising tact, she let the subject drop.
Still, the way her eyes sparkled with curiosity… it was clear she had a lot more she wanted to ask him.
But before that—she braced herself, sitting up in bed and bowing her head deeply toward him.
No matter what, she owed him her life. That was something she would never forget.
"I told you, it wasn't me. But hey, if you insist on thanking someone, go ahead. Just don't expect me to admit to anything," Steven said with an exaggerated shrug, though the smirk on his lips made it clear he wasn't taking his own denial all that seriously.
Zofia smiled sweetly at that.
"Sure, sure, 'it wasn't you.' But I'll say it anyway… back then, you were really cool, you know?"
She wasn't just flattering him either.
That armor, that aura, the strength he displayed—it had left a deep impression on her.
And the ideals he embodied, the courage he showed... that was what a real knight should look like. Not like those guys in the Major who treated knighthood like a way to earn cash and fame.
"Thanks for the compliment. Or rather—" Steven paused, raising his chin with mock pride, "—I completely agree."
Being told he looked cool—by a pretty girl, no less—was the kind of praise he absolutely couldn't resist.
He nodded in satisfaction, lips curling up even more.
'See? Finally someone gets it. If I didn't want to look cool, why would I bother using a complicated Kamen Rider Mod anyway?'
Seeing how pleased he looked, Zofia figured it was the perfect time to ask the question that had been weighing on her mind.
"Then, why did you save me back then?"
She leaned in slightly, expression serious for once.
"Or rather—what do you think that 'mysterious knight' was thinking when he decided to step in? It wasn't because I'm pretty or anything, right?"
She pointed a finger at her own cheek with an amused smile, clearly half-joking—but her confidence was unmistakable.
After all, she had been invited to join an idol-Knightclub under the Rose Papers Union Corporation. She just wasn't interested.
But if her looks alone were enough to get a mysterious masked knight to leap into action… well, she was at least going to tease him about it.
Zofia honestly couldn't think of any other reason he might've had for saving her—other than the shallow one he'd just offered.
It's not like he was particularly close to Margaret, either.
Zofia remembered him saying that, at best, they were just acquaintances. Not even close enough to call friends.
From her point of view, he had absolutely no reason to go that far for her. It just didn't make sense.
"…Hmm, how would I know?" Steven replied, rubbing his chin like he was half-joking, half-serious. "But, if I had to guess… maybe he just felt like it? Saving you could've just been something he did on a whim."
He shrugged.
"And besides, you're not wrong. If someone looks good, they leave a better first impression. When that happens, helping them out doesn't feel like a big deal. Let's be real—who doesn't judge by appearances these days?"
It was blunt. Brazen, even. But it is the truth—he had acted on instinct back then, and he wasn't about to dress it up in some noble-sounding lie.
Everything in life came down to following your gut. That's what he believed in. He felt like saving her, so he did. Why overcomplicate it?
Zofia stared at him, wide-eyed. She hadn't expected him to be so upfront about it.
Then suddenly—pfft—she burst into laughter.
"How do I put this…?" she said, trying to catch her breath. "You're so blunt it's kind of refreshing."
There was no hint of discomfort in her tone. In fact, she found it kind of charming.
Steven wasn't trying to hide behind false modesty or fake heroics.
He just followed his heart.
That wasn't a bad thing.
"…Say, all this I'm asking, all these things I'm doing—am I causing trouble for you?"
Zofia's expression sobered slightly.
"The K.G.C.C sent people to question me, you know. If it weren't for my last name being Nearl, I'd probably be in an interrogation room right now instead of lying on this nice soft hospital bed."
She looked up at Steven with genuine concern. As much as she enjoyed talking with him, she couldn't help but feel anxious. She'd already caused him trouble once—was she about to do it again?
Steven paused.
"…It's fine," he said, scratching the back of his head. "I knew this kind of thing might happen the moment I decided to step in. If anyone's losing sleep over it, it should be the K.G.C.C—not me."
He wasn't saying that just to make her feel better, either.
After thinking it over, he figured there really wasn't any reason to keep pretending in front of her.
The fact that Zofia was worried about causing him trouble told him everything he needed to know—she wouldn't spill a word to anyone.
And honestly? Continuing this whole roundabout conversation was getting annoying anyway.
"So just stay put and recover. By the time you're back on your feet, everything will probably be wrapped up. Instead of worrying, you should focus on something more important—like how you're gonna treat me to a good meal once you're better."
He gave her a teasing smile as he said it.
This girl… people kept calling her an "aunt," but wasn't she just a bright-eyed teenage girl like any other?
'Seriously, Kal'tsit should take notes. This is how a youngster is supposed to act.'
With that parting remark, Steven stood up and headed toward the door.
He had only dropped by to check on her in passing.
Now that the important stuff was said, it was time to go and speak to the person he actually came to find.
"—If Margaret returns, she'll definitely show up in the arena again."
Zofia's voice stopped him at the doorway.
"And when that happens, how are you going to face her?"
She looked at him with visible concern.
If Margaret returned, she would come back with her own answer.
That meant sooner or later, she and Steven would have to face each other in the ring.
When that time came… what would he do?
Steven didn't turn around.
He just raised one hand and waved over his shoulder, voice filled with anticipation.
"She's not like the others. I think… she might be the one to give me my answer."
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M
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