Chapter 26: Fortunately

Murmur murmur

“…Is someone outside?”

After unintentionally “educating” Helena, I sent her away.

Now I hear voices near the entrance. Did someone recognize her as a member of the hero’s party and strike up a conversation? Or maybe she ran into another party member.

Worst case scenario… she ran into Yerin.

Ah, it’s quiet now.

Must have been nothing.

Alright, time to get back to my potion work…

Creak…

“Excuse me!!”

…Huh? That voice…

Thump!

“Noel?!”

“Oh? Allen?”

What is she doing here?

I mean… it’s not like she can’t be here.

She was Deva’s disciple too, so it makes sense… but why now?

The voices outside stopped right before she came in. She must have been nearby…

“…This is good, right?”

“I’m glad you’re okay, Noel… I was worried after sending you away with the teleportation potion…”

“You were? I’m fine! I ended up at the royal palace, but thankfully, Miss Angeline saw me. So…”

“…Wait. What? The royal palace? And Angeline? What are you talking about??”

“Oh, well…”

I didn’t expect to hear about the palace from Noel.

I ask her about it, and she tells me everything.

Her cryptic conversation with Angelina, Angelina asking her to guide her here, running into Yerin on the way, and then meeting Helena at the entrance.

“But that’s strange…? That elf lady said Allen wasn’t here, but Allen is here?”

“Haa… Don’t worry about that…”

Thankfully, Helena is keeping her end of the bargain.

But more importantly…

“So… you brought Angelina here?”

“Yep!”

“And you met the person who came to the inn today.”

“…Yes.”

Even in such a dangerous situation, nothing happened to me. It’s a miracle.

The teleportation was almost pointless.

Noel almost ran into Yerin, but Angelina somehow hid her, averting the first crisis.

And Helena stopped Angelina and Noel from entering the workshop, averting the second crisis.

The first crisis would have directly harmed Noel, and as someone important to Allen, she can’t get hurt.

Anyway, by sheer coincidence, I’m reunited with Noel after only a few hours.

“So, Noel, why are you here?”

“Oh! I came to say hello to Master…”

“Your greetings are unnecessary.”

Deva emerges from his room. His expression is sour. He doesn’t seem happy to see Noel.

“Why? Is it because I haven’t visited in a long time?”

“That, and I simply don’t want you here. Don’t come and break everything again.”

“But I’ve been busy too. Can’t you cut me some slack?”

“That’s not the only reason… You weren’t even in the hero’s party. What were you so busy with?”

“So, are you mad at me?”

“…You’re still as impossible as ever.”

“So, are you mad at me?”

“Be quiet.”

Noel probably doesn’t mean any harm.

She was probably busy, and she’s genuinely curious if Deva is mad at her.

But she’s also teasing him a little. She knows Deva’s opinion of her, but she enjoys this kind of playful banter.

She probably wouldn’t dare tease Allen like this.

Noel, who never received proper familial affection, must have a special place in her heart for Deva, who genuinely scolded and taught her.

…But did she really not visit him even once? Did she forget, or was she really that busy…?

“…Never mind. Allen, you deal with her. Another guest will be arriving soon.”

“…Another guest?”

“More like… something else… Anyway, yes.”

“Oh, okay. Noel, sit on the sofa.”

“Okay!”

Noel’s original purpose was to greet Deva, but now it’s changed.

But a guest…?

I hope it’s not the hero’s party. After Helena’s unexpected visit, I have a bad feeling the others might show up too.

I offer Noel some tea and start talking. Well, I’m the only one talking, really…

“Noel. Since you’re here, I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor? What is it?”

“Can you listen to a few warnings I have?”

“Warnings?”

“Yes. Warnings.”

These warnings are for my benefit, but also for Noel’s.

Normally, Noel wouldn’t be involved with me.

But the murdered man in the newspaper was her fiancé, and she met Angelina at the palace, creating a connection. Noel is now too entangled with the hero’s party. S

he needs to be as wary of them as I am.

Again, half of this is for my convenience, and half is for Noel’s safety.

The hero’s party is not a group you want to be associated with if you’re connected to Allen.

“First, remember the newspaper from this morning?”

“Yep! The hero who murdered Dean!”

“That hero probably dislikes Noel, so you need to avoid her as much as possible. Okay?”

“Why does she dislike Noel?”

“Uh… because Noel is so cute, she’s jealous…!”

“Really? Is Noel cute?”

“Of course, you’re cute.”

“Hee hee…”

That’s half-truth, half-lie.

It’s not because she’s cute, but because she’s Allen’s childhood friend.

She’s a threat. I got that feeling when Yerin mentioned Noel’s name at the inn.

Worst case scenario, Yerin might already be approaching Noel with murderous intent.

“And second, don’t tell Angelina anything. Especially about me.”

“Miss Angeline? Why not?”

“…That’s a secret. Angelina and I have a bet, so I can’t tell you.”

A lie, of course. But I can’t tell her the truth, and this excuse is tailored to Noel’s naive nature…

“Oh, okay! I understand!”

It works.

“And also…”

I explain a few other minor things about the hero’s party. Noel listens attentively and agrees to everything.

“I’m sorry for asking you to do this. It might be a burden… Are you okay with it?”

“Yep! It’s okay! It’s not a burden!”

“Thanks. You’re so kind, Noel.”

“That’s right! Noel is a kind person!”

“Yes. Yes.”

Pat pat

“Hee hee… I like this…”

Noel beams as I praise her and pat her head. She’s like a child.

No, considering her innocence, kindness, and eagerness to please… she really is like a child.

A child in an adult’s body.

“You should go home now, Noel.”

“Okay! It was nice seeing you, Allen!”

“It was nice seeing you too.”

“Bye!”

“Goodbye.”

Creak…

As soon as Noel leaves…

Thump

“Is she gone?”

Deva emerges from his room, asking if Noel has left. I don’t know what he was doing in there.

“Yes, Noel is gone. But if you were going to eavesdrop, you could have just stayed here with us.”

“Who’s eavesdropping? I just heard the door open, so I asked.”

Hmm… Maybe he wasn’t eavesdropping after all. His expression didn’t change.

“Anyway, who’s this guest you mentioned? You said they were… different. Not an ordinary guest?”

“Right. Honestly, not even a guest. A new assistant.”

“…Assistant?”

“Yes.”

What’s gotten into him? He never took on an assistant when Allen and Noel were his disciples.

“You have me. I can help you a lot, Master.”

“I know. But who knew you’d show up? This assistant was planned for days. You just appeared out of nowhere.”

That’s true… And I’m grateful he took me in.

“So, what are you going to do? Are you going to send them away, or hire them as an assistant?”

“There was always going to be an evaluation. If they’re useful, I’ll keep them. If not, I’ll send them away.”

“Oh…”

Knock knock

“Ah, speak of the devil.”

“Um… excuse me? Is anyone here…?”

Huh…?

“…It’s a woman?”

“So? Do you know her?”

“Well… that’s…”

I’m not sure if I know her or not… It’s definitely a woman’s voice, but it’s too soft to recognize.

Please don’t be the hero’s party…

“Come in.”

“W-Wait…!”

I’m still not sure… It can’t be…

“Ah, yes…”

Creak…

“Huh?!”

“Huh?”

The person who enters, Deva’s supposed new assistant…

“…Who are you?”

Thankfully, it’s not the hero’s party, nor anyone related to Allen.

A complete stranger.