Chapter 16. No One Is Born a Hero (1)
Still, what could I do? I had no choice but to go along. A laugh slipped out on its own.
Even with a curse looming right in front of me, this strange sense of calm felt oddly pleasant.
“Ah, yes. It’s an honor… sigh. What exactly did Lord Behemoth say about how unwell I am?”
“Oh, not just Ethan.”
“Pardon?”
Not just Ethan Behemoth? Someone else is worried about my condition?
Well, if it’s good for me, I might as well drink it. It was disgustingly bitter, but I did feel like my stomach was settling a bit.
Frowning deeply as I sipped the bitter tea, I noticed Camilla tilt her chin toward someone behind me.
“Kain was also worried.”
“I-Idith Crowell.”
Someone pulled back the tent flap and entered.
It was Kain Guinevere, standing there somewhat awkwardly.
What’s with him now?
…Ah. I really want to run away.
Clack.
Not wanting to deal with any of this, I downed the rest of the tea in one gulp and placed the empty cup on the desk.
Camilla blinked in surprise, glancing between the empty cup and me.
I averted my eyes and casually wiped my mouth before standing up. I had definitely overstayed my welcome.
“Well then. Thank you for inviting me.”
“Ah, you’re leaving already?”
Kain Guinevere was part of the group that disliked me.
Earlier, he had just reacted strongly to the dramatic situation where I happened to save his life. By now, his pride was probably bruised again.
If I stayed any longer, I’d only end up hearing more sarcasm. And given how unsettled I still felt, I didn’t know how I’d react.
Wait… is this because of those bratty insults earlier?
That’s a bit embarrassing, honestly.
Anyway, once is enough for feeling unexpectedly upset. Without hesitation, I bowed politely to Camilla.
“Yes. I’ll be going.”
“W-Wait…!”
Of course, Kain didn’t let me leave so easily. See? He’s trying to start something again…
Keeping a cold expression, I turned to look at him. He flinched and took a step back before clearing his throat.
“Ahem.”
“What is it?”
“Well… I just wanted to say thank you…”
Then, he spoke again, clearly embarrassed—
What?
“And I’m sorry. You’re really amazing… I don’t want to have any more conflicts with you during the subjugation training.”
“…Pardon?”
Kain bowed his head. Deeply.
“I’m sorry! I won’t pick fights anymore. About what happened with Chester… I’m sorry I didn’t stop it either.”
“…Excuse me?”
What’s going on? And why is Chester being mentioned now? Are they friends or something?
While I stood there with a sour expression, Camilla came over and draped an arm around my shoulder. Then she gave Kain a smug look.
“See? I told you she’d be really mad. Idith, you don’t have to accept his apology if you don’t want to.”
“…Did Kain Guinevere just apologize to me?”
“Is it not enough?”
I asked Camilla in disbelief. She shrugged. Kain even asked if his apology wasn’t sufficient.
“No. It’s not that it’s lacking, it’s just…”
It’s not like I place special meaning in apologies, and I know how easily people can flip their attitude like turning a page.
Still… to lower his pride this much?
It was a level of gratitude I didn’t expect from a teenage noble who had grown up in a closed academy, surrounded only by other nobles, growing more arrogant like a frog in a well.
I was genuinely surprised.
But if I didn’t give him a clear response, it felt like Kain Guinevere would keep bowing forever. With a long sigh, I waved it off.
“…No, it’s fine. I didn’t do it expecting thanks anyway.”
“Still… In that moment, Idith Crowell, you looked like an angel.”
“If I hadn’t stepped in, Lord Behemoth would’ve saved you. So I guess he would’ve been your angel instead.”
Is this “angel” talk some family quirk of the Guineveres?
…Huh. But the way Kain Guinevere blushed while calling Ethan Behemoth an angel—
That might’ve actually been a little funny.
…Blushed? Really?
Now that I looked again, Kain Guinevere’s ears were red. Surely it wasn’t because of me.
Kain declared boldly, “Still, the one who saved me was—!”
“Enough. Idith Crowell’s not someone who cares that much about her own life anyway.”
Clack.
Ethan Behemoth closed his book and cut in again.
You seriously…
“What kind of thing is that to say?”
“Am I wrong?”
This isn’t about being right or wrong. There are people watching, you know?
Camilla and Kain were staring wide-eyed at Ethan and me.
Seeing them side by side, they really did look like siblings.
The biggest issue with this regression was probably the fact that not only did Ethan find out about my regression attempt—it didn’t even work.
Still, I had decided to keep living. But if he kept being this persistent, maybe I really should’ve just died and dealt with whatever came next…
…Ugh. Thinking like that again.
As my expression twisted uncontrollably, Camilla reached out and tapped my forehead. My face relaxed a little.
“Jeez. Ethan may be annoying, but come on, cheer up.”
“…Yes.”
“I’m annoying?”
“You’re really asking that?”
Camilla and Ethan started bickering again.
It was nice of her to take my side, but I planned to use the moment to make my escape.
I absolutely hated awkward situations like this.
Just as I quietly stepped toward the tent’s exit, Kain—still standing there—gently tugged on my outer robe.
Ugh, come on!
“Um…”
“What now? I told you, you don’t need to thank me. It was nothing. Really, even if I hadn’t—”
Even if I hadn’t, Ethan Behemoth would’ve saved him! I really didn’t need to step in.
But then Kain hesitantly said something I hadn’t expected at all.
“W-Wait. There’s something I haven’t said yet… I mean, if you ever needed a favor… I’d be happy—no, honored—to help.”
“Oh my, would Idith ever need something from you?”
“You never know!”
A favor?
“Oh. Come to think of it, I do have something.”
Camilla and Kain both stared at me. Camilla looked shocked; Kain suddenly beamed with pride.
Surprisingly—and luckily—there was something I had been meaning to ask Kain Guinevere.
“It’s not really a favor, more of a question.”
“Y-Yeah! Anything.”
“Do you happen to know a knight named… Luth?”
“Luth?”
“Luth Chandler?”
As expected of Kain Guinevere, the ringleader of the academy delinquents. Just mentioning the name was enough for him to identify the person.
“I don’t know the family name, but he was in your group. He wore his hair like this.”
I gathered my hair into a small ponytail to mimic the style of the sweaty guy who had been setting up someone else’s tent. Kain clapped his hands in recognition.
“Oh, right! That’s him. Why do you ask? Did he bother you while I was gone?”
“No. It’s not that…”
…But Kain Guinevere, weren’t you also bothering me earlier, trying to pick a fight until we literally fell off a cliff?
Amazing how he pretends like that never happened a few hours later.
Anyway, that’s not the point.
“He seemed close with Limos Therion. I was curious if they were already friends. He even helped set up our group’s tent.”
“Hmm? I don’t even know who Limos Therion is.”
“Same.”
Both Kain and Camilla shrugged.
…Seriously? Is Limos Therion really that much of a mystery?
I should’ve asked the dean more about the other students in my group.
I thought if I used both of their connections, I could learn more about Limos Therion.
“I’m in the same group, but… if you don’t know him, that’s fine.”
Just as I turned away in disappointment, Ethan Behemoth spoke quietly.
“He’s a holy mage. The only one who enrolled this year.”
“Ah!”
Only then did the two of them nod in recognition. Something about remembering him from the entrance ceremony, or asking if he was the guy I was talking to earlier.
…But wait, Ethan Behemoth remembers that? Curious, I asked without much malice.
“That’s right. But it’s surprising that you, of all people—the one who seems least interested in others—would know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said.”
“Common sense.”
“Oh, come on. Are you saying we don’t have common sense?”
As I tilted my head slightly, Ethan Behemoth narrowed his eyes at me.
Ah. I had the distinct feeling that I would never, ever be able to get along with him.
