Ch.7373. Of Course

For some reason, I felt a twinge of guilt. Rex opened his mouth with an awkward smile.

“I had my reasons.”

“You could have at least told me. I waited for you.”

Elin replied in an indifferent tone.

“I stood outside until nightfall without entering the magic tower, thinking you might show up late.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Just let me know in advance next time.”

As Rex scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression, Elin nodded generously. She hadn’t brought it up to scold him. She was purely disappointed about not seeing Rex. Having received his apology, she had no lingering resentment.

Rex, however, couldn’t easily shake off his guilty feelings. Yesterday’s situation had been so urgent that he completely forgot about his appointment with Elin. Not to mention failing to send word that he couldn’t make it. It was entirely his fault.

An image flashed through his mind of Elin lingering around the magic tower until sunset, waiting for him. She must have returned to the tower with dejected steps when he never showed up.

‘She’s cute, though?’

No, that’s not it. Rex quickly erased the stray thought and said:

“So, what brings you here?”

Elin stared at Rex blankly before tilting her head.

“That’s what I should be asking. I just asked why you didn’t come yesterday.”

“Ah.”

“Rex. You’re such an idiot.”

Elin poked Rex’s cheek with her finger. Rex cleared his throat and took a step back.

“I was planning to tell you anyway, but not now.”

“Why? Because the others aren’t here?”

“Yes. I wanted to tell everyone together.”

“That’s fine then. They’re all waiting right now.”

Elin grabbed Rex’s hand and pushed open the inn’s door. Surprised by her sudden action, Rex followed with wide eyes. Before he could voice his confusion, Elin spoke first.

“We all gathered at the Adventurers’ Guild as soon as morning came. Chloe called everyone, saying no one should miss it. I came to the inn to fetch you.”

Rex involuntarily flinched at the mention of Chloe’s name.

“What’s wrong?”

“I suddenly got a chill…”

“In summer?”

“Maybe because I got caught in the rain yesterday…”

Elin paused and stared at Rex intently. Though her expression was hidden by her robe, Rex could feel her sharp gaze scanning him from head to toe. His pupils trembled roughly.

Elin made a humming sound and then muttered in a seemingly concerned tone:

“Even Sacred Angles can catch colds if they’re unlucky. You look fine on the outside, but are you in pain? Should I prepare some medicine for you?”

“Ah, no. I’m fine.”

“Alright. But be careful from now on.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Rex turned his head and let out a small sigh. Though he hadn’t committed any crime, his body felt tense for some reason. Even her warning to be careful didn’t sound straightforward. If he were to exaggerate slightly, it felt like she was saying she’d let it slide just this once.

‘I must be imagining things.’

Rex had nothing to hide.

***

“Oh, finally here! Over here!”

Upon entering the Adventurers’ Guild, a welcoming voice called out from somewhere. It was Harald. Seated at a corner table, he raised his hand high and waved it.

“Mr. Harald.”

Rex approached the table with Elin, his lips curling into a smile. They seemed to be in the middle of a meal, with food and wooden cups set out for everyone. Corner, his face flushed from beer, spoke:

“We were going to wait for you to eat, but that big-nose over there made such a fuss about being hungry that this happened.”

“Bullshit. You’re the one who suggested eating.”

“No, I didn’t.”

Patrick, who was looking at the snickering Corner with disdain, pulled out an empty chair.

“Sit down.”

“Thank you.”

“I almost forgot what you looked like.”

Rex smiled bitterly as he looked around.

As Patrick said, it had been a full three months since he’d met with his party members. He hadn’t entered any dungeons since starting his training with Gears. He could have briefly checked in occasionally, but he’d been so focused on training that he hadn’t made the time. None of his party members were particularly idle either, so except for Chloe and Elin, this was truly a reunion after a long time.

“Well then, let’s toast—”

“Did your training go well? From what Chloe told me, it seemed quite challenging.”

Aira, who had smacked Harald on the back as he abruptly offered his wooden cup, addressed Rex with a kind face. Rex nodded with an awkward expression.

“It’s not over yet. Gears isn’t something with a set end. But I can handle it better than before. You don’t need to worry.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Aira clasped her hands together and smiled sweetly. While Rex felt he had become quite close with the other party members, she was still difficult to approach. Always caring for others meticulously, she was almost motherly. Rex took a sip of beer and shifted his gaze.

Then their eyes met.

“Ah.”

Chloe, who had been silent with a peculiar expression, let out a small sound. Though her voice was low, it was loud enough for everyone at the table to hear, immediately drawing their attention.

Chloe blushed and lowered her head. Her earlobes were as red as radishes. While the others blinked in confusion, not understanding her sudden reaction, Rex was different. Last night’s events vividly replayed in his mind. They had fallen asleep together in the same room, listening to the rain.

Recalling that memory, the image of Chloe’s moist lips suddenly came to mind.

“Kuhp.”

Rex barely managed to swallow the beer he almost spat out, pretending to casually glance at a distant empty space. The others were too focused on Chloe to notice his strange behavior.

“Don’t tell me… you.”

Suddenly, Corner pointed at Chloe. Her shoulders stiffened as she stared blankly at the floor. Rex controlled his twitching lips and slowly moved only his eyes.

‘Did you tell them?’

‘No!’

‘Really?’

‘Of course!’

They exchanged such meaningful glances. At that moment, when the awkward silence reached its peak, Corner’s eyes narrowed as if trying to penetrate the truth while staring at Chloe. Rex swallowed dryly in the suffocating tension.

“I finally get it.”

Corner slammed his palm on the table, trying his best to widen his narrowed eyes. Suddenly? The others looked at Corner with disgust for his random attempt to create drama.

Corner crossed his arms and chuckled.

“Chloe… you!”

“Um, yes?”

“You might have tried hard to hide it, but you can’t fool my eyes. You’re hiding something right now.”

The others sighed, thinking Corner was spouting nonsense again, but their mouths fell open when they saw Chloe’s reaction. Normally, she would have already punched Corner in the stomach, but now she was shyly hiding her face behind her hair.

“And that is!”

Corner shouted with an imposing voice. There was a strange power in his eloquence that captivated the audience, and they all leaned in with anticipation. So what is it?

“That is… that is!”

“W-wait!”

“—the brooch!”

“…What?”

As Chloe furrowed her brow, Corner rubbed his nose with a smug expression.

“That rose brooch. I hadn’t seen it until recently. You bought it new, right? You spent a lot of money on it and were hoping we’d notice, but no one said anything, so you felt a bit disappointed. Anyway, people are too much. How am I the first to notice? Huh? You all should reflect.”

The party members who had been silently observing the situation closed their eyes tightly, as if saying, ‘I… didn’t even realize!’ Rex just blinked, surprised by the unexpected turn of events.

As Corner was about to add more with a grin, Chloe retorted in an incredulous tone:

“That’s not it.”

“…Huh?”

“That’s not it at all. I’m not a child who would get upset because no one noticed my brooch.”

Corner touched his chin with a confused face before blurting out:

“Um… then, did you need to use the bathroom—”

His words were cut short. His head nearly got smashed. Corner ducked in terror. The wooden cup that flew past him crashed violently against the wall and rolled away. For an ordinary person, it might not have been much, but Chloe was a Sacred Angle. Among the Revelation class, she was at the top. The wall where the wooden cup hit was dented.

“Are you trying to kill me?!”

“Yes. Just die. Please.”

Chloe clenched her fist, breathing heavily. She looked like she was really going to hit him, so Corner looked around for help. Naturally, all he received were cold stares.

“The mood was down, so I just made a joke. Isn’t that too harsh?”

“Corner.”

Aira spoke in a calm voice to his indignant cry.

“Shut up.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Chloe glared at Corner for a long time before pouting. Finding the whole scene like a comedy skit, Rex couldn’t help but chuckle. He quickly closed his mouth when Chloe gave him a sulky look.

“Ah, forget it! It was because of what happened yesterday. That’s why I called everyone together today. Rather than dragging this out, I’ll tell you now.”

“Chloe.”

“I’ll tell them. It’s okay.”

Rex whispered with a worried face, but Chloe firmly shook her head.

“This is serious. Listen carefully.”

The atmosphere immediately became somber. Everyone, including Corner, straightened up with serious expressions. Chloe cleared her throat and began her story.

First, her family background.

How she was left at an orphanage as a child, holding someone’s hand.

How the Underhand Clan took away the families from the orphanage.

How she became an adventurer to pay off a huge debt to bring them back.

The negative emotions she had kept to herself, never revealing to anyone her entire life.

And finally, how yesterday, thanks to Rex destroying the Underhand Clan, the captured families could return home.

People occasionally frowned and sighed, but they never interrupted. She was grateful for that.

“…That’s it.”

Chloe nervously looked at her companions with anxious eyes. Except for Rex and Elin in her robe, everyone’s expressions were contorted. They seemed extremely angry, as if they wanted to jump up from their seats right away. Even Aira, who always maintained her composure, was gritting her teeth and trying to calm her trembling breath.

‘Of course.’

Chloe wore a bitter smile. They must be shocked. After all, they had been through thick and thin together for six years, so it was natural for them to feel betrayed. Still, she didn’t want to be hated. She tried not to cry, but contrary to her wishes, her throat tightened. Chloe forced a smile and said:

“I’m sorry for keeping it hidden—”

“I’m sorry!”

Bang! Before Chloe could finish her apology, Harald slammed his head on the table. Chloe stared at him in surprise. He kept hitting his head on the table until a red mark appeared on his forehead. Confused by this sudden self-harm, Chloe watched as Harald gulped down his beer.

After emptying his wooden cup in one go, he muttered resentfully:

“I am… unworthy to be a party leader. I’m truly sorry, Chloe. I have no face to show.”

“…Why are you apologizing? I’m the one who didn’t tell you anything.”

“It’s because,”

Corner answered with a curse:

“As comrades, we feel like shit for not noticing that our fellow comrade was suffering. Underhand Clan? They’re thirty in number and their leader is a Sacred Flame? So what? They’ll die just the same if a knife goes into their belly. If we had known, we would have snuck in at night and slit their throats.”

Patrick spoke in his usual solemn voice, though with a subtle hint of anger:

“At the very least, we could have left Lindveil for another city together. Other major cities have dungeons too. We might not have been able to save the orphanage people, but… honestly, Chloe, we only care about your safety.”

“So,”

Aira asked, reaching for the iron mace leaning on the table:

“Did you kill every last one of those damned Underhand Clan members? If any are left, I need to crush their heads…”

“It’s over! It’s all resolved. Please calm down, ma’am.”

“I wish we could have exacted revenge ourselves. Still, I’m glad. I’m sorry for not understanding your struggles, Chloe.”

Aira put down the mace and stroked Chloe’s head. That warm touch almost brought tears to her eyes, but Chloe suppressed the rising tremor. She had already shed enough tears the night before. It would be unseemly to cry again here. Smile. That’s what Rex would want.

“Thank you all.”

As Chloe smiled brightly, everyone else smiled too.

Then suddenly, Corner spoke up:

“I’m genuinely curious, when did you buy that brooch?”

“This? Rex bought it for me yesterday.”

Chloe replied in a cheerful voice. Having released her long-held burden, she was in high spirits. She could even answer Corner kindly now.

“Rex?”

“Yes. He came to my room yesterday and gave it to me as a gift. Isn’t it pretty?”

“He must have visited after dealing with the Underhand Clan.”

“No? He stayed the night… Oh.”

Chloe’s words abruptly stopped.

“It-it was raining heavily, so I told him to stay, but he said that wouldn’t be appropriate and just went back. Right…?”

Chloe stammered awkwardly, trying to cover up.

“…Of course.”

Rex looked at Elin with cold sweat.

Elin’s robe was fluttering violently at a speed he had never seen before.