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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Coincidence and Fate Aren't All That Different
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Kainel had always seemed like a hero to her.
"I heard from my mom that elves have super weird personalities!"
"That's why they go around seducing all the boys, right? You little vixen!"
"N-no, that's not it! They're the ones who...!"
When Ariel first arrived in Lavrans Village as a child, her striking beauty made her the object of admiration from the boys—but the target of jealousy and spite from the girls.
"There's not a single elf among the Ten Heroes~! Can't say I blame 'em!"
"Yeah, aren't they supposed to be cowards?"
"...That's not true! It's not!"
The World Tree's forest, scorched by the Demon King. She'd fled to this village, but it wasn't welcoming at all.
In this world, her situation was all too common.
Her red hair yanked hard, dirt smeared across her face. The girls surrounding her sneered.
"You think you can coast by on your looks forever?"
"Look at these ears—totally gross! Kyahaha!"
"...Hic... sob..."
Tears flowed from the stinging pain. She resented why she had to endure this. Her hands pressed against the ground, scraping as she clenched her fists.
No one seemed about to help.
"What are you girls doing ganging up on one person?!"
That's when the blond hero appeared.
"The mutt showed up!"
"Scared of Kainel? Or just don't wanna get dirty!"
"Let's go—consider yourself lucky, Ariel!"
It was Kainel, the boy from Lavrans Village.
Already known throughout the village for his kindness, there was no way he'd let this slide.
The boy charging in with a wooden stick looked just like a knight rescuing a princess.
'Who... is that boy?'
As she watched the girls scatter the moment they saw him, Ariel felt a strange emotion bubble up.
These were the same people who'd tormented her so viciously.
"They ran off. Here, can you stand?"
He extended a hand to help her up.
Thinking of her disheveled state, she made a miserable face.
"Stay away from me..."
"Huh...? Why?"
"Because I'm an elf. A monster with a nasty temper..."
She bit her lower lip. Her voice already cracking with sobs. Seeing this, Kainel just looked worried.
"..."
Several minutes passed in silence before Ariel spoke.
"You... don't hate me...? My ears are all long and weird compared to everyone else's..."
"Nah, they just look pretty to me."
"Wh-what...? What did you say...?"
"You're just a really cute girl. Don't mind the jealousy."
His eyes crinkled into crescents as he flashed a grin.
There was no ulterior motive in his smile. The boys who'd approached her before always had that lecherous glint when they saw her elven features, but his blue eyes felt... different.
"Jerks like that are always cowards—they only act in groups."
"..."
"So if they mess with you again, just tell me."
"Why... are you helping me...?"
"I can't stand people who act all high and mighty when they're nobodies."
He scratched his head sheepishly. Then he healed her scrapes with magic. The warming sensation on her skin made tears flow uncontrollably for some reason.
"There, all done! Good thing there won't be any scars!"
The moment she saw his relieved expression, she didn't even care why she was crying.
Maybe it was because hearing someone genuinely worry about her felt so new after so long. She couldn't even remember what face she was making.
Her cheeks were probably flushed.
Definitely from crying.
It couldn't have been love at first sight.
"Thanks, Kai..."
That day, Ariel met her hero.
The boy named Kainel.
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"Aaaah—! My arm, my arm's broken!"
"My leg! My leg!"
"Quit whining. I only subdued you."
"K-Kai? When did you get here?"
He'd taken down her harassers in an instant.
Kainel's face was filled with such fury it was downright scary. She understood why he was mad, but still.
"Ariel, you okay? Hurt anywhere?"
"Huh? Yeah! Just my wrist a little..."
"Let me see. I'll heal it."
Ignoring the two men writhing on the ground, the blond hero checked only on her.
His anxious eyes. His hair swayed in front of her.
'Just like back then.'
Her cheeks tinted pink. Her lips curved up uncontrollably. The warm healing sensation. It had been so long.
"...Seriously, if it weren't for Licht, this could've been bad."
Kainel let out a small sigh of relief.
That sparked her curiosity.
"Why'd the helmet guy...?"
"I was training swordsmanship with him earlier and picked up a good trick."
"What was it? Tell me too!"
"It's a secret. Licht! Thanks for today!"
From a distance, the black helmet waved back. The Black Knight gave a thumbs-up like he'd done well. Kainel smiled at him.
'Did that guy do something again?'
Come to think of it, even at their first meeting, he'd said something about connecting her and Kainel from the carriage. It had been ages since Kainel got this close to her. She'd been worried about the distance between them.
The sudden closeness might bother some,
"Hehe... You really are a hero, Kai."
"When was I ever fake?"
but Ariel didn't mind.
If anything, she was grateful enough to thank Licht herself. She loved her childhood friend that much. Her body shivered from the warmth of his hand.
"I told you to tell me if stuff like this happens."
"You were late! Even when I called with magic, it just said you were at the training grounds..."
"Sorry. Can you walk?"
Her legs had given out at some point. Her limp body spoke to how terrifying the situation had been.
"Hop on."
"Wh-what?! No, I'm fine! I'm totally okay..."
"Don't argue."
Her body swayed unsteadily. Ariel lost her balance.
"Eep."
"That was close."
Kainel caught her just before she fell. He was such a gentleman in moments like this. Ariel's heart stirred.
"...What about Helmet Guy? We're just leaving him?"
"It's fine. He told me to go ahead. Besides, he's my roommate anyway."
"Really? It's like fate!"
"Yeah, kinda. Today too. Up you go."
After a bit more back-and-forth, he piggybacked her.
Their eye levels matched now. The closeness felt like an embrace from behind.
"Where to, princess?"
His eyes curved playfully. His warm voice tickled her ear.
"Girls' dorm, please. Kai."
She avoided his gaze, afraid her face would explode if she looked. She'd stared plenty before.
'He's grown so tall.'
The solid feel of his back. The childhood friend she'd seen as a boy was starting to feel like a man.
Her heart pounded.
Thump-.
She prayed he wouldn't feel that little beat. The body heat from his back to her chest flowed warmly like blood.
"You're kinda heavy."
"What?! Liar! I'm on a diet!"
"Kidding, sorry. Licht dared me to say it."
"...I almost got mad."
Was it a shift in her feelings? He was joking like they used to in their carefree days.
Yeah, that's how it had always been with him.
Comfortable, yet heart-fluttering.
More than friends.
Would she ever confess this? Her worries deepened.
The moon dipped low, emotions ripening.
"Thanks. For protecting me."
"Don't mention it."
Ariel buried her face in Kainel's back.
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Kainel called out from afar.
"Licht! See you at the dorm!"
"Go ahead with Miss Ariel!"
"We're off! Bye, Helmet Guy!"
I waved goodbye to Ariel and him.
No problem. You've got a rough road ahead, buddy.
I just gave a little nudge. Once I smashed those flags, his real personality shone through.
Good job, my little mutt. I'll report these punks to the guards.
I felt a sense of camaraderie with Kainel.
No matter how he bailed before the ending. We'd grinded the sequel together before that—this was nothing.
So just protect Ariel, alright?
My mind felt lighter. No matter how crumbly the love lines were in [Black Heart].
We had to become lovers first in [Knight Heart] anyway. This was the right path.
'Status window's working fine too.'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Grand Route Ending Achievement Rate Calculating...] [Kainel♡Ariel 21% "NEW!"] [PS. You're really serious about the Saintess route... Σ(ㅇㅁㅇ;)]
After seeing off my two childhood friends, a little pink window popped up with the results.
Like I wasn't serious before?
'Hilarious. After possessing me and all...'
I chuckled dryly at the message. Even if there were easier paths, I'd take the one I wanted.
'My guild was full of guys like that anyway.'
Users not serious about game characters? Not these days. They act like they don't know real life. The devs must've played their own game at least a bit.
Made me nostalgic. I wonder if those guys cleared [Black Heart]?
"...Big jump."
I stretched proudly at the Love Meter gain, my joints popping. The strain from sword training was hitting now. Time to head to the boys' dorm alone.
Dozens of minutes after starting back, thinking of flags to come.
A cold sensation hit my shoulder. Water droplets splashed on the ground.
Drip, drip-.
Pour-.
"Ah, rain."
Kainel and Ariel probably made it back fine. Magic was OP. They'd dodge the rain too. The problem was me. No umbrella.
"Coming down like the sky has a hole in it."
Spring rain, huh. Existed here too. Running wouldn't help without mana—I'd get soaked. Shops were long closed, puddles filling at my feet.
Water trickled into my helmet. The fresh scent of the downpour brushed my nose.
Ripples spread endlessly in the puddles.
The area turned into a sea, like a flood.
"Ugh, shoes are soaked."
Stepped wrong. Should've dodged.
My helmet grew damp. This thing dried slow.
Screw it. Just run...
Huh?
"...What're you doing?"
"Mardol?"
That's my line.
The glass knight had cast magic, shielding my head like an umbrella.