Chapter 43: Sanity

Following Hestia, who rushed out of the inn, I also quickly exited the building, but she had already disappeared.

After that, a continuous search followed.

However, it was difficult to find the Hero, who was already at a superhuman level, through ordinary means.

Left with no choice, I even used my authority to track Hestia’s location, finally managing to pinpoint where she was.

Hestia, who had concealed herself, was found at a restaurant located on the outskirts of the village.

A few customers who had visited the restaurant early in the morning occupied the tables, but finding Hestia was not difficult at all.

Even from behind, her noble aura was palpable.

At a glance, I could tell she was Hestia.

“You were here? I looked for you for ages.”

“……”

I approached her from behind, speaking in a friendly manner, but no reply came.

Her gaze was also fixed on empty space, not on me.

I observed her mood and carefully sat in the seat beside her.

“……”

“……”

‘…I always feel this, but the proportion of silence compared to the time we spend together is too high.’

‘I thought we had already grown close enough…’

‘I wonder when we can be comfortable around each other.’

“You haven’t ordered anything yet, right?”

“……Yes.”

I scanned the dishes listed on the menu and called a server.

“Excuse me, could you take our order?”

“Yes, customer. What would you like?”

“Give me whatever you’re most confident in.”

“You must be a traveler, then? In that case, how about this…?”

Taking the server’s recommendation, I ordered a suitable meal.

Soon, the server went into the kitchen, and I moved my seat a little closer to talk comfortably with Hestia.

However, her eyes merely stared into empty space, still not directed at me.

At her unexpected and unfamiliar demeanor, I couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.

“…Are you perhaps upset?”

“……”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t considerate enough. As you know, Hestia, I’m not exactly known for my good personality, am I? So, out of habit, I just…”

“…No, you’re not.”

I was about to offer a somewhat sincere apology, but Hestia shook her head.

“It’s not that. So please, don’t belittle yourself unnecessarily. More than anyone, I know best that you are a good person.”

“……”

“I merely… have a complaint with myself.”

‘What in the world is that supposed to mean?’

As I struggled to grasp the sudden heavy topic, Hestia lowered her head deeply and spoke in a melancholy voice.

“Haven’t you… grown tired of me?”

“Huh?”

“My personality is blunt and impulsive, and I try to avoid things whenever possible…”

“……?”

“It wouldn’t be strange if you thought of me as a bothersome woman…”

Hestia said that, covering her face with both hands.

At her pessimistic attitude, which I had never seen before, I couldn’t hide my bewilderment.

‘…More than anything, her thinking of herself as a bothersome woman was the most absurd part.’

‘Her blunt personality is fine, I think, and her impulsiveness is angelic compared to Elisha…’

“I don’t think that, Hestia.”

“I know.”

“I’m not just saying that… Huh?”

“I said I know.”

‘?’

“Of course I know you don’t think of me that way. You are… kind.”

“…While I wouldn’t say I’m kind, that’s roughly accurate. So, why did you suddenly bring that up?”

“……I don’t know either.”

Hestia turned her head towards me.

Her beautifully shining golden eyes gazed at me.

I waited silently for her to speak.

Hestia stared intently at me for a moment, then subtly avoided my gaze and spoke.

“I guess… I just wanted to throw a tantrum.”

“……”

“…I’m sorry for being such a pathetic woman.”

“No, not at all. It’s a fresh side of you, and it’s nice to see…”

I shook my head beside the dejected Hestia.

She looked at me with a strange expression, then clenched her fists as if she had made a decision.

“I have something to say.”

“What do you want to say?”

“…It’s not an important matter, but… I’ll tell you after we finish eating.”

No sooner had Hestia finished speaking than a server approached us with our food.

“Enjoy your meal.”

Left with no choice, I stopped talking and focused on my meal.

Hestia picked at her food, unlike her usual self.

Aside from being cute, seeing her look like a sick hamster truly worried me.

‘Could it be that her becoming pessimistic wasn’t just due to embarrassment?’

Pondering what she might say, I forced the food into my mouth.

****

“Let’s break up.”

“……?”

That’s what Hestia told me the moment we stepped out of the restaurant.

I had a lot I wanted to say, like “What nonsense is this all of a sudden?” or “Why am I the one being dumped?”, but for now, I held back and decided to listen to her.

“May I ask why?”

“It’s not a big reason. It’s just…”

Hestia said, with a wistful expression.

“I just need time to sort out my feelings.”

“Ah… Yes…”

I didn’t know what it was about, but I had a strong feeling I shouldn’t ask further.

For now, pretending to understand, I nodded and asked her.

“So, what do you want to do?”

“I’m thinking of working as a mercenary alone for the rest of the vacation.”

“Why did you change your mind?”

“……”

At my question, Hestia avoided my gaze and spoke in a small voice.

“……Because if we’re together, I think it’ll be too hard to bear.”

Suddenly, goosebumps appeared, and I realized something significant.

‘…Wait a minute.’

‘Was I perhaps used?’

‘Now that the ruin exploration is over and I’ve served my purpose, are you just going to discard me?!’

“It’s absolutely not because I dislike being with you. On the contrary, I only want to keep being with you.”

“……”

‘Well, of course… that couldn’t be it.’

I, who knew Hestia’s good nature better than anyone, shouldn’t doubt her.

I decided to understand Hestia’s situation and coolly let her go.

“Alright. I’ll head back to the academy, so please take care of yourself.”

“…Thank you.”

She extended her hand to me, and I took it.

And so, we walked hand in hand until we reached the warp gate.

****

“I’m sorry.”

Just before we parted ways, Hestia said that.

“For what?”

When I asked, she wore an expression filled with deep regret.

“To send you back after we’ve been to the ruins, without you gaining anything… I’m truly sorry.”

A sincere apology, born of a pure and kind heart.

In response, I smiled brightly and said to her.

“What do you mean, I didn’t get anything?”

“Huh?”

To her, who looked at me with an expression that asked what I meant, I handed over a golden necklace embedded with a black gem that I had brought from the ruins.

“What… is this?”

“A necklace.”

“No, I mean…”

“I know what you’re trying to say. Actually, when I found the treasure trove in the ruins, I secretly took one.”

“Huh? But I was clearly keeping an eye on you the whole time…”

“Haha, don’t worry about that…”

Even if Hestia had meticulously monitored me, her opponent was me, who possessed the authority to deceive even gods.

It was no trouble at all to take a piece of treasure without her noticing.

‘Of course, it was absurd that I had to secretly take something that was mine…’

“I brought this necklace because its color combination is unique. What do you think?”

“…It’s pretty.”

“Right? It’s a gift.”

“……Really?”

Hestia looked at the necklace with a touched expression, her eyes welling up with tears.

I chuckled inwardly and pointed at the golden necklace with my finger.

“Please think of it as a reward for giving me a good experience. I also enjoyed our time in the ruins.”

She stared blankly at me for a moment, then, as if making a decision, handed the necklace back to me.

Then she said with unwavering eyes.

“Please put it on me.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to put it on yourself?”

“Please put it on me.”

“…Alright.”

At her firm request, I reluctantly unclasped the necklace and draped it around Hestia’s neck with both arms.

As I naturally found myself in a position as if embracing her neck…

Hestia hugged me tightly with both arms.

“Thank you…”

“He-Hestia?”

I called her name in a flustered voice, but she hugged me even tighter and said to me.

“I also know that you’ve been calling me by my name casually since this morning. I was too shy to say anything, but… I’ve been grateful all along.”

‘…So she noticed that a long time ago.’

Hestia buried her face in my shoulder and whispered softly.

“…I’ll miss you.”

I gently stroked her hair and said.

“Me too.”

And so, I ascended the warp gate, seeing Hestia off.