Chapter 24
“Yujin, should we go to our bookstore? You said you were interested in alchemy.”
“You remembered?”
“You talked about it so much.”
Yujin let out an ah of amazement at my answer. His cute reaction made me think of Lotte, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“What made you interested in it?”
“Hmm… I’m not sure? I think it started when I was really sick as a kid. I had a high fever, I lost my voice, couldn’t eat—I really thought I was going to die. But then I drank a potion and recovered completely in one go. Since then, I think I wanted to make helpful potions myself and help other people.”
Listening to Yujin speak thoughtfully, I admired him inwardly.
He was the second son of a marquis’s family in the kingdom. With his status, he could’ve tried to overthrow the eldest son or fallen into greed—but how did he end up with such an upright character?
He didn’t look down on people because of their status either. Whether commoner or noble, he treated everyone equally.
This kid will go far.
“Um… do you have someone you li—like, like?”
“Huh? No?”
Wait. Why did Kiel suddenly come to mind?
Was it because I’d been so pushy that he stuck in my memory? I mean, during the tea party, I even said something about marriage…
“Why did you answer like a question? Do you… have someone?”
One embarrassing memory after another surfaced. I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them again when Yujin cautiously asked. He was looking at me like a puppy that desperately needed to go to the bathroom.
I sighed.
I’d been trying to ignore it, but now it felt like I needed to reject him cleanly. I was planning to visit another kingdom soon anyway.
“Yujin. Um… I hope I’m mistaken, but… do you maybe—”
“I like you.”
Yeah. I knew it.
“I’m sorry.”
“I knew it. You only ever see me as a little brother. You know what I regret these days? I should’ve been born earlier! If I had, maybe you’d look at me differently.”
He said it calmly, but my eyes spun in place.
You really don’t need to regret that. Physically speaking, I’m actually six years younger than you…
The words hovered in my throat, but I couldn’t say them.
“Don’t make that apologetic face! I’ll come after you again once I grow up enough that you won’t see me as a kid anymore! So let’s pretend I never said that. Forget it quickly, okay?”
“Ah… yeah. Okay.”
His eyes curved softly, gentler than usual, and I stammered in surprise. Yujin burst out laughing, clearly pleased.
What am I supposed to do with this kid? This is driving me crazy.
And why does he keep reminding me of Kiel, even though they don’t look alike at all? Is it because they both have that puppy-like look?
I shook my head hard, trying to clear Kiel from my mind. That was when a husky voice cut in.
“Why don’t you take your flirting somewhere else?”
“Huh, Melissa! I was just thinking of coming to see you this evening.”
When I turned around and saw her black, glossy hair, I broke into a bright smile.
“Come in.”
“Mm…”
When she hesitated to step forward, Melissa shot me a look, as if asking what I was waiting for. She must have immediately noticed I was troubled because of Yujin.
“Yujin, let’s stop by for a moment. I have something to take care of with Melissa.”
“Ah… okay.”
His weak reply bothered me, but paying it any more attention felt like false hope, so I decided to pretend not to notice.
Yujin needed to give up quickly and live his own life.
“What you said you needed is in the lower room. But why do you need the schedule of a ducal house from the Empire, especially one that’s so far away?”
After separating Yujin, Melissa whispered to me.
“Come on, Melissa. Why are you acting like you’ve never done business before? I just need it, that’s all.”
I waved my hand casually and smiled.
Melissa sighed, then opened a secret passage in the tea-leaf storage at the back of the shop. She led me underground, to a place ordinary customers could never access.
She pulled out a document from a stack of materials. It was packed with dates and itineraries—the ducal couple, Kiel, and Lotte’s family trips.
I’d waited an entire month for this information!
“T-the tickets? Melissa?”
“Here.”
“As expected of you, Melissa! I love you!”
I hugged her tightly, then immediately began scanning the documents.
…Wait. Isn’t this the day after tomorrow?!
Startled, I forgot Melissa was right in front of me and shouted from the bottom of my heart.
“You’re going here?”
“…Of course.”
That was why I’d asked her to tell me.
They were characters from the novel I wrote. Out of guilt alone, I intended to save them no matter what. I wanted them to live lives that weren’t filled with hatred and revenge, if possible.
I wondered how Kiel and Lotte were doing. I’m sick, and they didn’t come to see me even once. How petty. So unfair. I keep thinking about them…
Muttering inwardly, I stood up.
It was time to leave this kingdom too.
“Melissa, thank you so much for everything.”
“…You’re leaving?”
“Yes. I didn’t plan on staying here this long to begin with. But things came up, so it’s time to go.”
“You can leave and then come back.”
Melissa grumbled. Even if she pretended otherwise, she’d grown attached. We did have a lot in common—our tastes, among other things.
“Well, I’m not sure. But I’ll come back someday! I promise!”
I smiled vaguely and held out my pinky.
Melissa sighed again, then hooked her pinky with mine.
“You really are… I can’t figure you out. No matter how much I dig, nothing comes up. Like you don’t even exist.”
“Hehe. Did you try digging into my background, Melissa?”
I choked on the tea she handed me.
I mean, she was an information broker, so it made sense… but it felt strange.
“Of course.”
Her matter-of-fact reply left me speechless, and the odd feeling disappeared instantly.
“Melissa, you’ll need to try harder. Just don’t grab your neck in shock when you find out who I am.”
I smiled, but Melissa’s expression turned complicated.
I’m not some mafia member or another race, so that face is a bit much.
We exchanged a silent conversation through our eyes, then, noticing how much time had passed, I retraced my steps.
“Yujin!”
“Where on earth were you?”
I couldn’t answer his question and just laughed awkwardly. Still, unlike what I feared, he didn’t press further.
Seeing that, Melissa clicked her tongue, but I pretended not to hear.
“Yujin, I need to find Ben.”
“Ben…?”
“Yeah. As soon as possible. So we should part ways for today—”
“I’ll help. I’ll come with you.”
Huh? No, it’s fine—
I tried to refuse, but his pleading gaze defeated me.
Damn it. He definitely knows I’m weak to that look.
In the end, I accepted, and we searched all over for Venters.
“Haa… found you. Ben. We need to go now.”
I grabbed Venters by the hem of his clothes.
Technically, I could’ve used tracking magic over the entire district, but releasing that much mana might alert someone, so we had no choice but to search on foot.
“Why did you run around like this? You could’ve just made a messenger bird with magic and sent it.”
“Oh.”
Right. That was an option.
I let out a sigh. I must have completely lost my head because everything felt so urgent.
“Big sis, you should cool down first.”
“Yeah. You too, Yujin.”
I fanned myself with my hand and slowly caught my breath. My ankles throbbed from all the running, but all I could think about was packing up and leaving as soon as possible.
“Yujin, thanks for helping me find Ben.”
I stopped fanning myself and gently ran my hand through Yujin’s hair.
Kiel used to pat my head like this too…
I absentmindedly kept stroking Yujin’s hair before stopping.
It was really time to wrap things up.
“Yujin, we’re leaving today.”
Why does it feel like I always announce departures like a notification?
I reflected briefly.
“L-leaving? Where?”
“Far away?”
I stared at the burning red sunset, lost in thought. I hadn’t decided what to do after saving the ducal couple, Kiel, and Lotte.
Living happily and leisurely like this was nice… but I should probably go home and let people know I’m okay.
“Are you… not coming back?”
“No. I don’t know when, but I will. I promised Melissa.”
Remembering how she’d sulked despite pretending otherwise, I smiled warmly.
Just from that smile, Yujin’s face turned pale, as if he’d been struck by lightning.
“M-Melissa probably already has someone she likes! No! You can’t!”
“Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden, Yujin?”
I didn’t know what misunderstanding he’d come up with, but my intuition was screaming at me.
That’s not it!
When I crossed my fingers seriously, Yujin finally relaxed. Instead, Venters’s expression beside us darkened visibly.
What is wrong with these people?
“I won’t say goodbye. We’ll meet again anyway.”
With that, I headed home with Venters.
He asked me,
“So suddenly? Where are we going this time?”
“The southern port of the Empire.”
“The Empire means…”
At his suspicious look, I answered with a nod.
While searching for Venters, I’d already told people I was suspending my mercenary work and informed the landlord that I’d be moving out today.
Everyone asked why—whether it was because of what happened in the busy district earlier—but I just shook my head and replied lightly, “I’m leaving!”
It was sad and frustrating, but there was no time.
Who would’ve thought?
The day I have to save our female lead and her family is the day after tomorrow.
