Ch.136136. The Last Remaining Romanticist of This Era?

“I heard only two of you had left, so I thought maybe… but I didn’t expect it to turn out like this.”

When I turned my head, weren’t Elina and Knight Commander Ellix standing there together?

After a moment of panic, fortunately, I had put on the transformation leather again, so my identity wasn’t revealed.

While moving back to the tent to have a conversation, I urged Dennis, the only one who knew my identity, to keep his mouth shut.

And now in the tent, I was having a face-to-face meeting with Elina, Ellix, and Dennis.

I grabbed my throbbing head in response to Elina’s words and spoke.

“I’d appreciate a proper explanation.”

“Dennis is a mercenary who came to help us because of my friend Casia Spear. Of course, this entire situation was conducted in secret.”

Casia Spear?

A family name I’d never heard before, so it must not be related to the original novel.

I adjusted my posture and nodded.

“So you’re quietly helping from behind the scenes to avoid causing damage to your family.”

“Yes, that’s right. To be precise, the Spear family itself is in a difficult position to help, so my friend Casia sent Dennis without her father’s knowledge.”

If that’s the case.

It makes sense that he hid his skills.

If an A-rank or higher mercenary had come to support the Parseche family, the Cardrian family might have conducted a background investigation.

A misunderstanding that led to another misunderstanding.

Fortunately, no lives were lost, so it didn’t lead to a catastrophe, but the situation was awkward for me as well.

After all, a mercenary with a B-rank badge had essentially subdued an A-rank mercenary.

I barely managed to hide my bewildered expression.

“…I misunderstood.”

“Yes, that’s right. Has the misunderstanding been cleared up now?”

“Indeed. While investigating the mercenary roster, I thought Dennis seemed unusually skilled, so I was just trying to confirm whether he was a spy.”

Elina slowly nodded and then smiled brightly.

“Then I’d like you to clear up my misunderstanding as well?”

As they say, walls have ears and fields have eyes. I had no intention of revealing my identity.

However, if I remained silent, the misunderstanding would only spread uncontrollably.

Finding myself in a situation where I had to reveal the truth, I raised my hand to my face to remove the transformation leather when—

“Lord Levan is not a spy.”

The voice belonged to Dennis.

He gave me a knowing smile and then continued speaking to Elina.

“I don’t know why Lord Levan hid his abilities, but he is definitely not a spy.”

Elina listened carefully to Dennis’s words and tilted her head.

“Do you have definitive proof?”

“Yes, I do.”

What is he saying right now?

I was about to reveal my identity because I couldn’t come up with a suitable excuse, but he says he has proof…

While I appreciated his help, it was a puzzling moment.

“Then what is your proof that Lord Levan is not a spy?”

“I realized something during our battle. Though I was hiding my skills and let my guard down, he is on a completely different level from me.”

“You’re saying there’s a big difference between you, an A-rank, and him?”

“Yes. If he were a spy sent by the Cardrians, he wouldn’t have missed the opportunity earlier when he was with me, Knight Commander Ellix, and Lady Elina.”

This time, Knight Commander Ellix’s mouth fell open.

“Are you saying that even if you and I fought against Levan together, we wouldn’t win?”

“Regrettably, that’s correct.”

Dennis, this bastard…

He’s certainly repaying me for sparing his life.

With such impressive eloquence, he seems like talent wasted as a wandering mercenary.

Honestly, I don’t understand why.

Why Dennis didn’t reveal my identity as “Selden Alphonse.”

While moving to the tent, I had urged him to keep quiet, but I never dreamed he would step forward and make excuses for me.

Elina looked at me with an expression that showed her suspicions had somewhat eased.

“If what Dennis says is true, then Lord Levan really isn’t a spy.”

“…I’m glad the misunderstanding has been cleared up.”

“Then may I ask why you hid your abilities?”

I crafted my response, skillfully mixing half-truths with half-lies.

“I thought that if I revealed my abilities, expectations would be high, and the pressure would weigh heavily on my shoulders. Although Knight Commander Ellix assigned me a position, it was never part of my original plan.”

“I understand what you mean. The Knight Commander had initially intended to assign the position to Dennis, an A-rank mercenary, but gave it to you instead to avoid drawing attention.”

“Yes, it’s always advantageous to conceal one’s true strength.”

“I apologize for the misunderstanding. We’re in a sensitive situation right now.”

“I understand as well. Naturally, since I hid my abilities, it was reasonable for Lady Elina to misunderstand.”

Elina slowly brushed her hair back.

“You’re even more impressive than I thought, Lord Levan.”

“Haha, not at all. I apologize again for causing discord by hiding my abilities when I arrived.”

After exchanging a few more light conversations, Elina left the tent.

Knight Commander Ellix went to see her off and then returned to the tent, clearing his throat.

“Ahem! I’m not sure how I should address you now…”

“Why is that? Please continue to address me as you always have. You are the Knight Commander leading the Parseche family, after all.”

After my respectful response, Ellix burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha!! Yes, I thought it would be strange to suddenly change how I address you.”

Then, with a satisfied expression, he approached me from behind and lightly patted my back.

“The Parseche family is truly blessed to have two such excellent talents serving as mercenaries.”

“You flatter me.”

“Excessive modesty can also be a form of pride. This old man will take his leave so you two can continue your conversation.”

“Yes, understood.”

Finally, Dennis and I were left alone in the tent.

I shifted from my formal posture to a more casual one.

“First, I’m sorry for the misunderstanding, but if you were in my position, you would have made the same mistake.”

“I understand. I was also planning to investigate you because your aura was unusual.”

“What’s with the ‘young master’? Just call me Lord Levan comfortably. I’ll be going by ‘Levan’ here anyway.”

“Understood.”

“But for a wandering mercenary, your skills are quite impressive. Do you have some untold story?”

Dennis smiled gently at my words.

“There’s no special story. I just got better as I hunted monsters.”

“I see. But you didn’t need to protect my identity.”

“No, I had to protect it as a fellow man because I understood Selden Alphonse’s heart.”

What nonsense is this?

I blinked in confusion at his incomprehensible words, and Dennis continued.

“The last remaining romantic of this era, who came prepared to risk his life to help Lady Elina while hiding his identity… Having experienced love myself, I can only support Selden Alphonse’s pure heart.”

The last remaining romantic of this era?

What the hell is this guy talking about??

No wonder he helped me so readily despite having nothing to gain—he thinks I came because I’m in love with Elina.

Sigh…

Judging by his expression, even if I told him the truth that “I came because of the monster blood business issue and because I’m confident we won’t lose in the absolute war,” he probably wouldn’t believe me…

I pressed my throbbing temples firmly with my fingers.

“There seems to be some misunderstanding, but anyway, it’s not what you think.”

“You can be honest with me… Or rather, I’ll just pretend not to know until the end.”

“Y-yeah. Whatever it is, just keep your mouth shut.”

Whether he heard my request or not, Dennis clapped his hands together and exclaimed in admiration.

“Not only did you historically stop the monster wave, but you immediately jumped into war for love… Lady Elina will definitely fall for you when she finds out.”

“Sigh… Isn’t that the same for Lady Casia Spear?”

“…Pardon?”

“It’s true, isn’t it? Though I’ve never met her personally, she sent you to the Parseche family despite her family’s opposition.”

“W-what are you talking about? Lady Casia is a woman, just like Lady Elina.”

“Ah! Is that so…?”

When I reacted with wide eyes, having naturally assumed Casia was a man, Dennis narrowed his eyes.

“Could it be that you were jealous? Or did you tense up thinking a rival had appeared?”

Should I have burst his lips with a “Flame Explosion” earlier?

Why does he keep writing his own novel without giving me a chance to properly respond…

I’m starting to feel embarrassed about my past self for suspecting this guy of being a spy.

“Anyway, we’re done talking, so let’s head out.”

“Come on! Don’t be like that. Tell me how you met Lady Elina! I’m quite skilled at giving advice about love.”

As I was about to spread my fingers to cast a fireball, Knight Commander Ellix hurriedly entered the tent again and raised his voice.

“Levan! News has arrived that the Cardrian family has completed their expedition!”