Ch.BONUSAfterword) Age doesn’t matter.

“White Mask, why don’t you stop obsessing over trains and try dating a man?”

“What’s with that sudden comment, Deputy Commander?”

“I just think it looks pitiful for you to be alone.”

“Oh my, giving me dating advice now that you’re close with the Commander?”

“…Kuk, what nonsense.”

“It’s not like I’m desperate for a man anyway. Unless someone who matches my ideal type suddenly appears, why bother?”

“What is your ideal type anyway?”

“My ideal type? Well…”

– A man strong enough to save me from danger, with a foolish smile?

Nancy’s pupils trembled violently.

The man before her had pulled her into his arms, saving her from being hit by a train.

Perhaps still in shock, his arms remained firmly around her.

His strength was so impressive that she unconsciously thought how dependable he felt.

“Haa, haa. Nancy, are you alright?”

Raedan Tanthyn looked down at her with a worried expression, as if her safety was his personal concern.

Nancy felt as though she were being drawn into him.

“…Yes.”

At her barely audible response, Tanthyn let out a relieved sigh.

Then he smiled brightly.

Like a fool.

“Thank goodness. That was a close call.”

Ah.

Nancy felt a pain as if someone had squeezed her heart tightly, making it difficult to remain still.

No, this wasn’t pain.

It was what people commonly call a racing heart.

What people commonly call…

Excitement.

#

After our outing with Nancy ended, we returned to Nancy’s building.

Perhaps because of the major incident earlier, Nancy’s expression hadn’t been good for a while.

Considering her personality, rather than being shocked, she was probably embarrassed about making such a mistake in front of her disciple.

Hmm.

Well, stumbling while walking isn’t really due to lack of skill anyway.

Squeak, click.

The sound of the door closing came through doubly muffled.

Did I not close the door properly when we came in earlier?

Some doors needed to be pulled firmly to close completely.

“Nancy, are you alright? You don’t look well.”

“…Yeah, I’m fine.”

Seeing Nancy still unable to lift her head properly, I sighed inwardly.

I’m getting a bit worried since she’s been like this for a while.

Oh, or maybe she’s shocked because she almost died doing something she loves?!

You know, like those people who love seafood and eat it like crazy, then suddenly develop an allergy and end up in the hospital.

Though it was my fault, that unpleasant feeling of betrayal that makes the back of your head tingle is truly an emotion difficult to put into words.

“Um, Nancy.”

When I called her name, for some reason Nancy pulled her chair right next to mine and sat down.

Wouldn’t she normally sit across from me at times like this?

Why specifically…

Well, never mind.

This way she can hear me better.

Thinking that direct honesty would be better than inadequate emotional comfort, I began to speak.

“There’s a saying that you don’t know until you try, right? I think that applies to everything – you can’t know how things will turn out unless you experience them. And I believe we learn gradually by experiencing various things.”

As I spoke, I was reminded of my former self living in a parallel world, which made me smile involuntarily.

Though it was shocking, it’s ultimately in the past.

I wondered why I had been so consumed by the past, thinking how pathetic I had been back then.

“What do you think, Nancy?”

As I said this, I turned my head slightly toward Nancy.

She was staring at me intently with sparkling eyes – and an open mouth – as if deeply moved.

Mission accomplished.

I was relieved to see her mood had definitely improved.

Good, comfort mission complete.

Now it’s time to find a hiding place.

“Well, shall we end our conversation here? Now about where I can hide…”

“…So you’re saying we should try things first to know, right?”

Nancy interrupted what I was about to say and stood up.

And I could tell that the aura emanating from her was not normal.

A chilling, eerie sensation.

I had felt it before.

For instance:

When I pretended not to hear Zumiya’s name but accidentally said it.

When I was ignoring Fiore’s words.

And recently, when Aphta filled an entire village with text.

“…You said it first.”

I instinctively tried to move away, but…

When someone who realizes too late tries to escape from someone who’s already positioned themselves, it’s nearly impossible.

Thud.

Pinned against the wall by Nancy, I tried my best to face her through my shaking vision.

“W-wait…”

“It started when I was able to forgive The Dragonslayer.”

Nancy began to speak of what now felt like the distant past.

“For me, who had always walked my own path without being swayed by others, it was the first time I acted based on someone else’s persuasion. Why? I don’t know. Was it because you remained calm even after seeing the hideous face I had hidden behind my mask? Or was it because you pushed yourself to the limit even when you could have cleared up the misunderstanding in a more favorable situation?”

Nancy looked up at me with frighteningly subdued eyes.

“I realized it when you restored my face. Acting boldly for my honor, to heal my wounds, despite knowing you would suffer greatly. And then acting so nonchalantly afterward. Who would sacrifice themselves for something that wasn’t life-threatening, even for their master?”

“W-wait a moment. Calm down…”

I reached out to make her rest a bit as her head seemed too hot, but Nancy instead grabbed my arm and pushed me against the wall.

W-wait a moment.

“As I said earlier, I’m older. So I deliberately didn’t show it. I thought it would be inappropriate. Besides, you were already dealing with enough from many other women, so I thought it wouldn’t be right for me to join in. But… this is your fault. You provoked me first.”

What, what?

Provoked?

I absolutely never…

Swimming in feelings of injustice, I started to recall what I had just said.

‘I have no one but you!’

‘Isn’t your acceptance of me what matters!’

‘With you as my master, I fear nothing!’

Oh, you idiot!

Thinking about it now, I said nothing but suggestive things!

Why didn’t I realize how strange it was at the time?!

“You asked me to hide you. Don’t worry. I’ll protect you. I’ll take responsibility for… the rest of your life.”

If you just heard the words, they would sound very sweet and romantic.

But when the speaker’s eyes were dead, it became more frightening than any death threat.

I had avoided a ghost only to meet a tiger.

“W-wait! No…”

Nancy was getting closer and closer.

No.

If I become even more of a playboy, I’ll lose what little escape route I have left!

Help!

Please, help!

Without realizing it, I called out that name I reflexively called in the most dangerous moments.

“Oko!”

As I called that name and squeezed my eyes shut, the pressure pushing against me suddenly disappeared.

Slowly opening my eyes, I saw Nancy had moved a bit away from me and was glaring at something.

I slowly turned my head in the direction of Nancy’s gaze.

“…Oko!”

Oko was really there.

Seeing Oko standing there with a gentle smile felt as welcome as finding an oasis in a desert.

“…Raedan.”

“Yes, Oko.”

She called my name and I promptly answered.

“…You found another woman in the meantime?”

The sentence that followed froze my body.

No.

This was beyond my control.

I didn’t try to seduce anyone, you know.

So…

“…Tanthyn, come here quickly. Didn’t you say you wanted to escape from that divine being?”

“What does that mean? Raedan was desperately calling ‘my name’ because of you.”

The glares Oko and Nancy exchanged were so fierce it felt like sparks were flying between them.

Wait.

If I move slowly and secretly from here, couldn’t I escape?

I could hear the sound of steam from a train approaching outside.

“Ridiculous. Though I may have been somewhat forceful, Tanthyn had already said he had no one but me.”

“It must have been some misunderstanding. He often acts without self-awareness.”

Step by step.

“Even if that wasn’t his intention, he must have said it because the situation was that desperate, right?”

“…Sigh, it’s troublesome if you keep slandering like this.”

Step by step.

“Whether it’s slander or not, we can just ask him directly, can’t we?”

“That’s a good idea. That would clarify things. Rae… dan?”

Squeak.

Ah.

“…Um.”

“…”

“The train is about to leave, so I’ll be going now!”

I quickly closed the door and ran.

“Aack! You made me miss him because of you!”

“Tanthyn, stop right there!”

No way?!

I’m absolutely not stopping?!

Do you know what will happen if I get caught!

I heard the sound of a door opening, but I didn’t dare look back.

Even using Aryong’s power and my physical abilities to their limits, there was no guarantee I wouldn’t be caught by those two.

I just need to shake them off until I can board the train!

In the distance, I could see a train at Rondan Station with passengers disembarking.

It looked like everyone was getting off, and the train would depart as soon as I boarded.

What luck!

Inwardly rejoicing, I arrived at the front of the train and…

“…?”

I stepped back with a look of despair.

“…I knew you’d be here.”

“My husband would have nowhere else to run but here.”

“Zumiya, that was my thought.”

“W-well anyway!”

For some reason, Fiore, Zumiya, and Aphta were getting off the train.

Not only them, but a crowd of women behind them.

“…Fufu, Tanthyn. I never imagined you would flee like this, defying the imperial order.”

“P-Princess.”

“Hmm, what punishment would be appropriate…”

Despite her clearly noble status.

The Princess’s expression turned infinitely gloomy.

“…Perhaps five months of bed confinement would be just right.”

“H-hieek.”

I looked back to escape, but Oko and Nancy were running toward me.

Ah.

Please.

Don’t do this.

This can’t be happening.

“…R-Ria.”

Ria peeked her head out of my pocket.

Her cheerful expression gave me faint hope that there might still be an escape route.

“C-can you show me a way to escape from here?”

And Ria…

Crossed her arms to make an ‘X’ sign.

Haa.

Damn it.

As the train departed, I saw the women surrounding me from all directions leap toward me.

“Uwaaaaah! U-ubbbub!”

….

….

After Princess Selvia’s inauguration ceremony.

They say no one has seen Raedan Tanthyn since.

It was summer.