Ch.126Interlude, Dieta (3)

“I like you, Najin.”

She said it. She finally said it. While her rational mind was screaming and frothing at the mouth, Dieta thought to herself that, honestly, she felt a bit annoyed.

Wasn’t that the truth?

She had been showing obvious signs that she liked him, but Najin was always impossibly calm. Dieta didn’t like that fact. Am I really someone who should be overlooked? Honestly, just based on looks alone, how many women in the Empire are prettier than me?

It would be nice if he at least showed some signs of being flustered, or appeared uncomfortable when she closed the distance between them.

‘If he doesn’t understand romantic feelings and that’s why he doesn’t respond…’

She would at least make him recognize that she liked him. Once he knew that fact, could he really treat her the same as before? This relationship would change, at minimum.

Whether for better or worse.

Of course, if things went badly, it would be a little—perhaps quite—sad, but that was something to worry about later. Her future self would figure out a solution somehow. With equal parts worry and anticipation, Dieta watched Najin’s reaction.

And Najin did react.

First, his eyes widened.

Then, his pupils trembled. He tried to step back with wide eyes, but the fence blocked his retreat, preventing him from moving further away.

With a thud, Najin’s back hit the fence.

It was clearly the look of someone caught off guard.

2.

Najin possessed reaction speed far beyond that of ordinary people. He had been that way even before becoming a Sword Expert or a Sword Seeker. His innate dynamic vision and reaction speed were second to none.

As a result, situations where Najin allowed “surprise attacks” were quite rare. While he had been caught off guard by those stronger than him, he almost never allowed critical hits from opponents who were weaker or equal to him.

But at this moment.

Najin had allowed a surprise attack. One that shook him deeply. Who could have possibly ambushed this youngest Sword Seeker? Was it too fast to avoid? Or did someone sneak up from behind? Or perhaps it was a Sword Master?

None of the above.

The opponent had approached slowly from the front and was a girl who lived completely detached from martial arts. Yet Najin had allowed a critical hit from such a girl. His pupils trembled greatly.

What did I just hear?

The voice was too clear to have been misheard. The pronunciation was also clean. It was a perfect strike that didn’t allow for escape. Najin’s back hit the fence with a “thud” as he reflexively tried to step backward.

I like you, Najin.

Dieta had clearly said that.

No matter how detached from romance Najin might be, he understood what that single sentence meant. A straightforward and simple confession. It was the kind of line that would appear at the climax of a fairy tale or heroic saga.

Najin felt perplexed. He was someone who always anticipated several moves ahead and reacted to his opponent’s attacks, but he couldn’t respond to Dieta’s piercing words. It was an attack he hadn’t expected.

How should he answer? How should he react?

Not knowing, Najin’s gaze naturally turned toward Merlin. Merlin was Najin’s guide. She would surely know the appropriate response to this situation. Najin looked at Merlin seeking help, but…

-W-what… whaaat?

Merlin wasn’t much different from Najin.

If anything, she was even more flustered. With round eyes, Merlin slowly tilted her head. As her head tilted to the point of nearly breaking, her lips moved.

-Did I just mishear? I must have misheard. No, tell me I misheard. That must be the case.

Merlin looked at Dieta in disbelief.

-The most important thing in a confession is the mood. The atmosphere! You just blurt it out without setting the mood? Is romance a joke to you? A proper confession should happen in a place with good atmosphere, like by a lake under moonlight, marking the end of a journey. Not in some half-baked situation like this!

She let out a shriek.

Naturally, Merlin had never confessed to anyone, nor had she been confessed to. She had merely fantasized that such a place would be nice if she were to receive a confession. Without realizing it, Merlin had revealed her own preferences as she raised her voice.

-What woman in the world! What man! Would like such a sudden confession! I can’t believe this. Do you think the kid is so easy that he’d fall for such a cheap trick? If so, you’re mistaken. You impudent little brat!

Stomping her feet, Merlin whipped her head toward Najin.

-Right? Huh? Hurry up and answer…

Merlin’s eyes narrowed.

She glanced at Najin with half-closed eyes.

-What’s wrong with you now?

‘What do you mean?’

-Your eyes. Your pupils! Why are they trembling so much? Wait, don’t tell me you…

‘No, it’s just a situation anyone would be flustered by.’

-Arrrrrggghhhh!

Merlin grabbed the back of her neck as if she might foam at the mouth and collapse at any moment. She’s not going to be helpful right now. Najin let Merlin’s screams go in one ear and out the other as he focused on Dieta in front of him.

“……”

She was silently looking at Najin.

She didn’t seem willing to move aside until Najin gave her an answer. Najin also had no intention of casually brushing off the situation. He wasn’t rude enough to ignore the determination of someone who had confessed their feelings so directly.

Silence, and contemplation.

After a minute that felt like an hour, Najin opened his mouth.

“Dieta.”

“Yes, Najin.”

“To be honest, I’m not sure what feelings you have for me. Of course, if you ask whether I like you or dislike you, I certainly like you.”

Najin understood.

“But what you’re talking about isn’t that simple, is it?”

“To put it bluntly, it was a confession wanting to become lovers. It’s a bit embarrassing to say it myself, but…”

Dieta fidgeted with her fingers.

As if embarrassment was belatedly washing over her, Dieta mumbled in a shrinking voice while Najin smiled bitterly.

“That’s why it’s difficult for me to answer right away.”

“May I ask why?”

“I still don’t know. What it means to like someone, what feelings you have for me. I think it would be cowardly to answer your confession without knowing what that is.”

I want to approach the challenge you’ve presented carefully. Responding with a casual answer or words would be disrespectful to you. That’s how Najin answered, and…

“I see.”

Dieta couldn’t help but smile.

Cowardly, he said. It was exactly the kind of answer she’d expect from the man before her, and one she had somewhat anticipated.

“I thought you might answer like that.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. Apologizing makes it sound like you’ve rejected me. You’ve just postponed your answer, not rejected me. You’re not planning to never see me again, are you?”

“Of course not, but…”

“Then don’t apologize. There’s nothing to apologize for.”

She hadn’t made this confession without knowing what might happen.

She had even prepared for outright rejection, so this outcome wasn’t bad.

“I knew. That you don’t understand romantic feelings yet, and that this would be your reaction.”

This wasn’t something she did impulsively without knowing.

Dieta confessed to Najin knowing full well.

“Originally, I planned to take things slowly, step by step. I was going to claim each of your ‘first places’ one by one, and finally claim the place of lover, but…”

Dieta smiled shyly.

As if she couldn’t help it, as if she was a little embarrassed.

“I just couldn’t wait any longer.”

She said with a smile.

“You’re going far away, aren’t you? They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but I got anxious. A bigger stage. A higher place. A more magnificent position. You’ll surely go very far…”

The youngest Sword Seeker. The youngest dual Star.

Even now, Najin had achieved incredible feats, but Dieta was certain this was just the beginning. Because she was certain, she felt anxious. Afraid that to Najin, who would become an even greater existence, she would be remembered as just ‘a passing acquaintance.’

She didn’t want that. Not at all.

“I wanted to leave an unforgettable memory with you. You said it yourself, didn’t you? That firsts are always important. So remember this: I was the first person to confess to you.”

Saying that, Dieta curled up the corners of her mouth.

It was a charming smile. Enough to make even Najin hold his breath.

“This is the kind of woman I am. Are you disappointed?”

“Not at all.”

Najin smiled.

“I actually like it. Honesty is a knight’s virtue, isn’t it?”

“Should I try taking the knight’s exam? I feel like I could pass it now.”

“I’ll help you. I can teach you swordsmanship.”

“Now that’s tempting.”

After exchanging jokes, the two looked at each other and laughed. Because it was absurd, and because it was enjoyable. After laughing for a while, Dieta let out a long sigh and said:

“Najin? Anytime is fine. When you feel romantic emotions, please let me know. I’d like it to be for me, but it’s okay if it’s not.”

The wind blew.

Dieta’s hair swayed.

“From now on, I’ll make you fall for me… even if you fall for someone else, I’ll make you choose me in the end.”

Brushing back her light brown hair swaying in the wind, Dieta wore a confident expression. Her bright yellow eyes shone like stars.

“It’s an auction. If a competitor appears, I’ll just offer better conditions, invest more resources, and snatch you away.”

Well, she said.

“I am the Snake that Swallows the Gold Coins. I’ll become the Empire’s greatest merchant. How could I call myself a great merchant if I can’t even buy one person’s heart?”

I will definitely have you.

Najin had to admit he was overwhelmed by the spirit of the girl who declared such ambition. Najin, who had never once been overwhelmed by anyone’s spirit, who would charge forward with his head held high even against a Sword Master, retreated for the first time.

It was Najin’s defeat.

But it wasn’t an unpleasant defeat.

“That’s an impressive confession.”

“Isn’t it? I think I delivered those lines pretty well. So, did your heart flutter a little?”

“A little bit.”

Dieta chuckled.

She reached out and gently pushed Najin’s chest. She intended to naturally part ways by creating distance from Najin, but Dieta stopped after just a few steps.

Her original plan was to say “See you next time” and leave. If she kept looking at his face, she felt her heart might burst. But unfortunately, the distance from here to Cambria, specifically to her office, was quite far.

‘If I walk from here to the office…’

The sun would have already set by then.

Dieta slightly turned her head to look at Najin.

“…Um, Najin?”

“Yes, Dieta.”

“Sh-shall we go back? Together?”

Najin couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of Dieta, whose earlier confidence had vanished, now avoiding eye contact and stammering. In the end, Dieta returned to her office cradled in Najin’s arms.

As a bonus, she covered her face with her palms the entire journey, unable to even make eye contact with Najin.

3.

-No dating.

“Pardon?”

-I said no dating!

The first thing Najin encountered after parting with Dieta and returning home was Merlin, who was fuming. Merlin pointed at Najin and shouted.

-Listen well. Arthur never dated once throughout his journey. It’s not that there weren’t fools who confessed to Arthur. But Arthur was noble! He never! Allowed his heart to be given to anyone!

After saying that, she smiled confidently, as if she had discovered the perfect logic to persuade Najin.

-Now, isn’t that reason enough for you, who admires and wants to be like King Arthur, not to date?

Staring blankly at Merlin, Najin muttered to himself, careful not to let her hear:

Is this person an idiot?

It was the kind of monologue that would have made Merlin glare and scold Najin if she had heard it, but fortunately, Najin’s inner thoughts didn’t reach Merlin’s ears. Najin gave Merlin a strange look.

-What. Why. What.

“No, it’s just…”

Trailing off, Najin casually remarked:

“You said King Arthur never dated, right?”

-Of course. I, who was Arthur’s guide, guarantee it.

“Then if I were to date, wouldn’t that mean I’ve taken one step beyond King Arthur? Since I’d be doing something Arthur never did.”

-…Huh?

“Looks like I have one more reason to date.”

As Merlin was left speechless with her pupils trembling, Najin tidied his clothes and lay down on the bed. He pulled the blanket over his head and turned his back to Merlin.

-Wait. Wait a minute. That’s not what I meant… Hey! Stop pretending to sleep and get up. Get up!

Merlin shouted, but Najin ignored her.

While she was noisy, Merlin couldn’t exert any physical force on Najin, nor could she grab his shoulder to turn him toward her. Usually, such shouting would at least disturb someone’s sleep, but it was of little use against Najin, who had slept just fine in the alleys of the underground city.

-Are you really sleeping? Hey, are you really going to be like this?

With Merlin’s whining as his lullaby, Najin fell asleep.

It was Najin’s victory.