Ch. 60 The Two Witches (40)
by Afuhfuihgs
Witch – Chapter 60 – The Two Witches (40)
“Sigh…”
Nicks lay on the sofa in the adventurer’s guild’s second-floor office, covering his eyes with his hand and letting out a deep sigh.
“What’s with the sigh? Did you cause trouble again?”
Emily, who had been organizing documents at her desk, couldn’t help but speak up.
He should at least sigh in moderation. It wasn’t just once—he had already sighed over ten times, making it impossible for her to ignore.
Emily, who dropped formalities and spoke casually when they were alone, made Nicks sigh again.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I’d like to, but your face is practically screaming, ‘Please pay attention to me.’ If not, could you leave? I have work to do.”
“…….”
Why is she so friendly with others but so prickly when we’re alone?
Nicks scratched his head and got up from the sofa.
If he opened up to Emily, he’d definitely be treated like a fool.
He wanted to quietly sort out his thoughts, but if he provoked Emily and got kicked out of the guild, he’d have no idea how to explain it to Beryl.
He doubted they’d kick out a Stella-ranked adventurer, but since Emily saw him as nothing more than a troublemaking childhood friend, it was better to be careful.
“Are you leaving?”
“You told me to, didn’t you?”
Emily put down the documents she was looking at and stared at Nicks.
“Just a while ago, you were wagging your tail like a puppy with shining eyes. Why so short with your words now?”
“There’s no reason to do that anymore.”
“Is that so?”
The office fell into a brief silence.
“Good for you. I don’t know what’s going on, but congratulations.”
Nicks expected Emily to snap at him, asking why he was being so annoying, but instead, she smiled and congratulated him, leaving him feeling oddly conflicted.
What should he say…? It felt like watching a chick leave the nest, and it irked him for no reason.
“So, you finally understand my feelings? I don’t like skinny, annoying guys like you.”
“And I don’t like two-faced girls like you.”
It wasn’t like he had approached Emily when she was playing alone at seven years old out of pity.
Nicks regretted the choices he had made in the past.
It was true that he had been chasing after her with shining eyes until recently.
He thought her cold attitude was just because she was shy, but now he realized it was her true feelings toward him.
He wanted to see Beryl.
The way she blushed when he called her by her name instead of “noona” was too adorable.
But… the fact that he couldn’t go to her right now was driving him crazy.
“So, who is it?”
“Who’s who?”
“The person who stole the heart of Stella-ranked Nicks, of course. Who else? I’m perceptive, you know.”
Why is she so sharp about useless things?
She usually showed no interest, but now she was curious, and it was ridiculous.
“It’s none of your business.”
“None of my business? This is a serious matter that could affect the guild’s workforce.”
Even if things worked out with Beryl, he wouldn’t quit being an adventurer, but seeing Emily’s sly, smug expression made him reconsider.
“So, did you ask her to dance? I can ask my dad to arrange it so you can dance first.”
Emily’s offer was tempting, but he didn’t feel like taking it.
Everyone in Venetia knew the legend of the ball. The reason he had been sighing so much earlier was because of it.
Though it was called a legend, rumors were just rumors. A story from 15 years ago had inevitably gained all sorts of embellishments as it passed through people’s lips.
For example, if a woman asked a man to dance first, her wish wouldn’t come true… or if that happened, and the man asked her to dance again the next day, the rumor would lose its effect, and love would blossom…
It was a ridiculous rumor, but ever since Nicks had started feeling love for Beryl, he had been wondering how to make a confession she’d never forget. The rumor about the ball seemed like a good idea.
‘Nicks, will you dance with me at the ball?’
Did Beryl know about the rumor too…?
But it seemed she didn’t know the part about how the woman shouldn’t ask first.
He knew that even if they didn’t dance at the ball, they had already confirmed each other’s feelings to some extent, and all he had to do was tell her… but he couldn’t bring himself to answer Beryl’s invitation.
“You know, I’m the type who thinks love shouldn’t be tied down by rumors like that. Isn’t love about transcending those strange rumors? My parents got married just fine without any help from such rumors.”
Every word Emily said seemed to hit Nicks right in the chest.
Maybe he should’ve stopped her when she left back then.
Not being able to answer Beryl as she stumbled away continued to torment Nicks.
To Nicks, Beryl was a woman who held more value than just love.
Maybe it had been since that moment when he was seven, playing with Emily, and his legs were shattered, leaving him crawling on the ground.
Back then, when he had declared he wanted to be an adventurer, everyone had laughed at him. They said he’d end up dying like his father, insulting him.
But Beryl had shown kindness to an orphan with nothing, never mocked his dreams, and even cheered him on.
He had become an adventurer… thanks to Beryl.
The fact that he was the only one who knew Beryl’s true nature, hidden behind the strange rumors that surrounded her in the city, made him feel like he had uncovered a huge secret.
If there was an angel in Venetia, it would be Beryl.
Even when he couldn’t afford proper treatment as an adventurer, she had generously given him potions. She listened to his boring adventure stories with more interest than anyone else…
At first, he thought it was just pity for a poor orphan… but now, looking back, he realized it had all been love.
Maybe… the reason he could wield such strong power at a young age, the reason he had become a Stella-ranked adventurer, was all thanks to Beryl.
The world wasn’t so kind that a nobody like Nicks could achieve Stella-rank at 15.
“Emily, what would you do?”
“About what?”
“If you liked someone, could you ask them to dance first?”
Nicks wasn’t confident he wouldn’t regret not believing the rumor if things ended badly.
“You really only know how to use brute force, huh? Like I said earlier, I’d face it head-on. I’m not weak enough to let some lousy rumor dictate my feelings.”
“…….”
“And if it’s real love, those kinds of rumors wouldn’t even register. Wouldn’t you want to prove it wrong? Like, ‘I knew that rumor was a pile of crap all along.’”
That would be romantic too.
While Emily rambled on about her views on love, Nicks steeled his resolve.
He really shouldn’t have let her go alone.
He didn’t want to wait until tomorrow because of some rumor.
Even if it was late, he wanted to tell Beryl how he felt now.
“Thanks, Emily. That helped.”
“If you’re grateful, then be a lifelong adventurer. It’d be easier to have a Stella-ranked adventurer who listens well when I become the guild master. Or, help with paperwork or something.”
“Haha, I’m only good at using my strength.”
Emily let out a sigh of relief as she saw a smile bloom on Nicks’ face.
After all, they were childhood friends. He had been the one to pull her out of her lonely playroom.
As a man, he might not be much, but as a friend, she wanted to look out for him.
There had been a time when Nicks had shown interest in Emily, but his feelings… how should he put it? It felt like he was trying to find in her the love he hadn’t received from others.
If that love was finally going to the right person, Emily wanted to congratulate him.
But more importantly, how was she going to finish all this paperwork?
Despite everything, Emily also wanted to enjoy the festival.
She didn’t want to see Nicks awkwardly smiling and running away.
“If you’re not going to help, then get out. Don’t just stand there.”
Shoo, shoo.
As Emily waved him off dismissively, Nicks awkwardly smiled and was about to head to Beryl when—
Brrrrr…
The air trembled.
“Emily, did you feel that?”
“I’m really busy, okay? So please…”
Emily was about to snap at Nicks for his nonsense, but she felt it too.
Bzzzttt…!
A chilling sensation swept over her entire body.
It felt like someone was watching her, sending shivers down her spine.
“What was that just now…?”
“The world… it’s all green.”
When Nicks opened the window, the world had turned completely green.
The cityscape,
The evening sky,
Even the sun and moon on the horizon.
Emily also approached the window and was shocked by the sight. The city, dyed in green, was one thing, but the bustling crowds were nowhere to be seen.
“Nicks, just to be sure… you didn’t cause any trouble, did you…?”
“…….”
No, just one person.
A woman with green hair, perfectly matching the green-tinted world, was looking up at Nicks.
Her green eyes, unlike any human’s, met Nicks’ gaze.
“Nicks~♥”
“…Beryl.”
This is definitely trouble.
Lucent
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