Chapter : 24
I’ll Save You on the Bad Ending Route
Fate
“Those people are illegal arms dealers. I took the request, and the young master wanted to help.”
“Ah…”
A ‘request’ is a sort of part-time job only available to 3-star mages. It’s like a ‘quest’ in this game, where you can choose the postings on the school bulletin board.
I, too, planned to take on various requests and earn money once I passed the Orion exam.
“Rowen was doing part-time jobs even before the protagonist entered the school.”
During winter break, he earned money not by studying, but by fulfilling requests.
“Really impressive.”
Rowen is the youngest to pass the 3-star mage promotion exam. He fiddled with his bangs, then looked at me and smiled. His gentle smile was lovely.
“I want to pass the Orion exam quickly and start taking requests, too. I’ll get out of this poor life soon.”
Aaron suddenly gave Rowen a fierce look.
“That guy sneaked in alone and got caught, causing a real headache.”
Rowen bowed deeply to Aaron.
“I thought if we let him go now, he’d struggle for several more days.”
“Don’t act recklessly! If you’re hurt anywhere, say it clearly.”
Rowen bowed a couple of times toward Aaron, who looked displeased, and smiled awkwardly.
“I’ve already healed, young master. You know my abilities.”
“Change those blood-stained clothes first! You charge ahead without listening to my plan…!”
“Haha… I’m glad Miss Ailan showed up just in time.”
Rowen smiled brightly, trying to move past, but Aaron furrowed his brows again. He sighed shortly and asked:
“So, if Ailan hadn’t been there, you wouldn’t have made it here.”
Aaron’s scolding barrage continued. I suddenly remembered something from the past.
“Now that I think about it, the two of them had such good chemistry that some female players paired them in BL stories.”
Seeing them like this in person felt strangely emotional.
Aaron then handed a few gold coins to Rowen and sent him to a nearby clothing store. Aaron was expressionless as usual but seemed a little troubled. Watching them made my heart feel warm. They really are close and care for each other. It must be hard for commoners and nobles to get along like this…
As I was thinking that, Aaron suddenly looked at me.
“Your turn now, Ailan.”
“Huh?”
His gaze was shockingly sharp. I suddenly felt nervous.
“W-what do you mean?”
He took a deep breath and unleashed his scolding barrage.
“Why are you here alone? What were you thinking coming to this street? Do you know what kind of street this is? And what time is it now? Did you come here alone without any communication device? Do you even have a plan…?”
His words were too fast for me to reply.
Wait, why am I getting scolded by Aaron?
“Ah… well…”
“This is a dangerous back alley. It’s full of criminals. Freara would surely stick to the main streets. Why aren’t you with her and here by yourself?”
I stared blankly at Aaron’s face.
“Do you have anything to say? Any excuses?”
His pointed voice continued. I was so flustered I didn’t know what to say.
He kind of felt like a dad…
I took a deep breath, thinking carefully, and then spoke.
“Yes. I do have something to say…”
“Go on.”
I explained to Aaron that I had stopped by the Twilight Shadow bookstore and somehow ended up in this strange alley. Aaron thought for a moment, then spoke.
“I see, I’ve heard of it. That special bookstore run by a fairy. So you went in there and teleported to this alley?”
I nodded vigorously.
“Alright, I understand.”
Thank goodness. I thought I’d be scolded forever.
I definitely don’t want to hear scolding from Aaron, whose nickname is “The Blade Tongue.”
Aaron closed his eyes, thought for a moment, then opened them and approached me. With just a few steps, his long legs closed the distance between us almost instantly.
I felt his strong arm touch my back.
“Still, getting lost in the first place was your mistake.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
I felt my body lift into the air. Aaron had scooped me up in a princess carry.
“W-wait a minute! Wh-what are you doing all of a sudden?!”
Aaron’s refreshing scent hit my face. My face flamed in this unexpected situation.
“Stay still. Your ankle will flare up.”
“Huh? Wha—? No, this is…!”
I considered insisting that he put me down, but I suddenly realized my ankle was throbbing.
“…Did he notice?”
He’s quick to notice everything. No wonder his nickname is the Judge’s Eye.
In the end, I sat quietly on a nearby wide bench in Aaron’s arms. He knelt and looked at my shoes.
“Your shoes are damaged.”
He said calmly. Looking down, I noticed the heels were bent.
“I thought they just hurt from walking too long…”
I glanced at the top of Aaron’s head as he examined my shoes closely.
“It’s fine. I can buy new ones.”
“I’m talking about your ankle.”
“This isn’t a big deal.”
I figured it wasn’t serious enough for Aaron to fuss over.
“Rowen, get the lightest shoes in the store, the most comfortable ones.”
“Yes~”
Rowen, who had been standing behind, quickly went into the store on Aaron’s command. Aaron turned his head to the lantern on the bench.
He picked it up, then reached out to Rowen, who returned shortly with slippers. He knelt and placed them before my feet.
Aaron’s gentle demeanor made me feel awkward.
“Thank you. Should I repay you?”
“For the price of Rowen’s life, that’s cheap.”
“Why do you say that like I don’t need to repay you?”
I laughed softly, removed my shoes, and slipped into the slippers. They were light and comfortable.
“I’ll heal your ankle.”
Rowen quickly approached and reached for my foot. Yellow light radiated from his hands, and the throbbing pain in my ankle vanished as if it were gone.
“This… is light magic…”
Experiencing it firsthand, it was the best magic.
Aaron held my hand and helped me stand lightly from the bench. Leaning on his strong hand, I could feel solid ground beneath my feet.
“Now let’s get out of here. Freara must be worried.”
“I’ll guide you out.”
The two of them walked ahead with the lantern. Aaron held my hand briefly to ensure I could walk properly, then let go.
I suddenly remembered the game I played right before entering this world:
[Run! You have to survive!]
[You must survive. Don’t forget us.]
“Even before entering this world, Aaron and Rowen were my allies.”
Back then, it was natural for the protagonist to recruit various characters. Now, I’m Ailan, a weak character specialized in bad endings, yet the two of them were by my side.
I felt a strange sense as if our past-life fates had connected.
I felt happy.
I exited the maze-like alleys with Rowen and Aaron escorting me. After about 20 minutes, we reached a wide street, where Freara and Demian stood by a carriage, talking with town guards.
“Ailan!”
Freara and Demian called my name at the same time.
“Aaron, Rowen? What’s going on? Why are you two with Ailan?”
Freara widened her eyes at them.
Rowen stepped forward and briefly explained what happened. Freara already knew him; Aaron is her childhood friend, so the three often hang out together.
After hearing the explanation, Demian yelled at me in relief:
“I was so worried! I should have been there with you…”
“Ah, no, Demian. It’s not your fault. Sorry for worrying you.”
I answered awkwardly, and Freara, looking like she might cry, spoke:
“Yeah, how could you wander around when you don’t even know the streets! What would you have done without Aaron? I was really… really worried. Are you hurt anywhere?”
Her hand in white gloves tightly gripped mine. It was icy cold, showing how much she cared. My heart ached.
“I’m fine. Rowen healed me.”
“This isn’t fine. Miss Ailan saved me.”
Rowen interjected, briefly telling Freara how I saved him. She nodded.
“My training paid off, huh?”
Freara smiled, still catching her breath.
“Thanks to you, we even fought off those guys.”
“Even as a Loas Academy student, you have to do at least that much.”
Aaron’s comment sounded like praise in his usual understated way.
“Still, that’s enough for the Orion exam.”
“Yes.”
Her smile melted the tense atmosphere and the worry of the two. Soon, Freara and I were smiling at each other.
“Sorry for worrying both of you.”
Freara patted my back and turned toward Rowen and Aaron.
“Now I owe Ailan, so I have to repay her, huh?”
“Indeed. You may use my life freely, Miss.”
Rowen said playfully while bowing politely. Demian stood by, tapping my shoulder, still worried.
“It’s fine. Next time, I won’t move recklessly.”
“…Okay…”
As I reassured him, Demian exhaled deeply.
“Now I’ve met all four S-tier characters.”
I realized this moment was the perfect scene I had imagined in the game.
“Now, it would be perfect if only the protagonist were here.”
In the game, you could recruit four allies.
A year later, I would have to leave here. I’m Ailan, a bad-ending expert. I can’t stay.
“The kids… will connect with the protagonist… I just have to make sure my future doesn’t end in a bad ending… After passing the Orion exam…”
As I carefully planned in my mind, Freara suddenly hugged me tightly with her thin, soft arms.
“Huh?”
“Aaron! Rowen! Both of you protect Ailan. Don’t forget!”
Aaron exhaled long and responded:
“Ailan seems capable; she fought well.”
Rowen smiled faintly.
“Miss Ailan will be treated as the savior of my life.”
Demian muttered suddenly beside me:
“Yeah, be careful. Stay with me.”
I was surrounded by four people who cared about me. The feeling was strange.
As a bad-ending route expert, I shouldn’t be here.
“What should I do?”
Have I gotten too close to them?
