Chapter 65: Their Own Choices #2

Chapter 65: Their Own Choices #2

“So what do you want me to do?”

There’s no other choice.

Still, Mitchell and Wagner are the closest acquaintances I’ve made since reincarnating into the world of “Nine Stars.”

Since it’s come to this, I should help them be happy.

To be honest, I don’t want to see these two dating some random nobodies.

I don’t want to see Wagner get entangled with a gold digger and become a sucker.

And I can’t stand to see Mitchell swooning over some blonde, tanned delinquent unless I’m dead and buried.

So, perhaps Mitchell and Wagner dating each other is the least bad option.

“Well, actually, I’ve never dated a woman before.”

“You look like it.”

“⋯What? What do you mean, Estel? You say I look like it-“

Wagner’s face turned pale.

But he really does look like it. Pretending to be nice doesn’t help.

My ability to sense perpetual virgins is accurate.

In college, at work, when I subtly asked people who seemed like they wouldn’t have girlfriends, it was right about 90% of the time.

Wagner, I’m sorry, but his appearance screamed that he’d never even held a woman’s hand.

“You want me to find out what Mitchell thinks beforehand, right?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Sigh- You’re so timid. How are you going to win over a beauty like that?”

I shook my head.

I understood what Wagner feared.

The fear of rejection.

If he confessed his true feelings and Mitchell didn’t accept them, he would be afraid of the aftermath.

If a confession fails, Mitchell and Wagner can’t go back to their previous relationship.

Perhaps one of them would inevitably have to leave the party and they might never see each other again.

“Alright. As the party leader, I should offer this much help. But there’s a condition. I’ll tell Flora too. You and I know, but if Flora doesn’t, she’ll feel left out.”

“Ah, please do. I’m fine with it. However-“

“However, what?”

“Please just make sure Mitchell herself doesn’t find out. I have no excuse for what I’m about to say, but I lack the courage until I’m sure…”

Wagner’s shoulders, as broad as a mountain range, drooped.

Well, it’s not just any woman, it’s the fiery Mitchell.

I guess I can understand Wagner’s hesitation.

“Don’t worry, Wagner.”

I encouraged Wagner as kindly as I could.

“There aren’t only Mitchells in the world. You can meet other good people.”

“Thanks, but… you’re already talking as if I’ve failed before even confessing…”

“I’m just telling you to be mentally prepared. Regardless of the outcome.”

“Hmm… I understand.”

Wagner gazed endlessly at his feet with a complex expression of anticipation and anxiety.

His trapezius muscles, piled high like mountain ranges, and his pectoralis major muscles, spread wide like the sea, seemed to offer no confidence in winning over one woman’s heart.

***

The next place I headed was Karin’s Grand Library.

It’s not just any library. The prefix “Grand” indicates a different class from ordinary libraries.

It’s said to hold over ten million volumes. And the daily visitors are said to easily exceed thirty thousand.

Deep within the vast reading room of the enormous library, where one could easily get lost, Flora was holed up.

“Senior.”

When I tapped her shoulder, Flora turned her head.

“It’s been a while – I’m sorry I haven’t shown my face since the last request-“

As it was a library where silence must be maintained, Flora whispered softly.

Since coming to Karin, Flora’s demeanor has also changed quite a bit.

She used to be a carefree young lady with her head in the clouds, but now she’s completely different.

She has dark circles under her eyes, and her hair, which she used to braid in pigtails, is now pulled back tightly with a headband.

And most importantly, those large goggles.

They are like the dizzying, swirling patterned glasses that appear in cartoons…

I didn’t even know people actually wore things like that.

“You look busy.”

“No, well – it’s okay – it would be a lie to say I’m not tired – but I’m getting used to this lifestyle… Hehe.”

Flora spoke in a voice tinged with deep fatigue.

On Flora’s desk, thick magic books were piled high enough to obscure her face.

And on one side, there were four empty coffee cups lined up.

She looked less like a mage and more like a student cramming for the civil service exam in Shindang-dong.

It’s good that she’s trying hard, but I’m also worried that she might be overdoing it.

There was a reason for Flora’s change in mindset.

The most decisive factor was the rank assignment at the Adventurer’s Guild.

I received S-rank, Mitchell and Wagner received C-rank, but Flora remained at E-rank.

Of course, none of the party members are scolding her for it.

Even E-rank is fine. After all, we can just do requests together.

But Flora didn’t seem to feel at ease even with such comfort.

-I might be a burden to the party.

-Hey, no, Senior. Don’t say that. No one thinks that.

-I’m sorry. I’ll try harder.

I thought she’d be depressed for a day or two and then get over it, but Flora was surprisingly serious, and her efforts have continued to this day.

There’s nothing I can say to her.

If she feels inadequate and I keep telling her it’s okay, it would look strange.

Perhaps Flora is experiencing a growth spurt later than others.

A process of facing her objective evaluation and leaping forward to become a better version of herself.

It’s a process everyone goes through at some point, and perhaps Flora’s time has come now.

“Let’s take a break and get some fresh air. Do you have time?”

“Ah, yes.”

We left the dark library and headed for a bench outside.

I got drinks and brought them over.

I got coffee, and Flora got sweet cocoa.

I thought it wouldn’t be right to give Flora, who drinks ten cups of coffee a day, more coffee even during breaks.

‘I wonder if she’ll collapse at this rate.’

Seeing Flora’s gaunt appearance, I was worried.

“Senior, I have something to say.”

“What I’ve been thinking lately-“

Our words overlapped.

“You go first, Senior.”

“Please go ahead, Estel-ssi. What I have to say isn’t that significant.”

“Really? Okay. It’s about Wagner – oh, and it’s also about Mitchell-“

I summarized what Wagner was going to confess and relayed it.

Flora listened intently, occasionally exclaiming in surprise, “Goodness me – Oh my -“

“Wow, really? I had no idea. How could those two-“

“We don’t know for sure yet. It’s possible only Wagner has these feelings. Or perhaps Wagner alone feels this way.”

“I hope those two work out. I truly do.”

Flora smiled brightly for the first time in a while.

Even though the glasses and headband had detracted from her appearance, her naturally cute beauty was still evident.

Come to think of it, who will end up with her?

I feel like a father with a defenseless youngest daughter.

‘This is why I can’t leave my party.’

I’m worried. I really can’t just leave them and go.

Can they manage without me? I don’t have that confidence yet.

Getting attached to people is such a heavy thing.

I realized it anew.

***

Finally, I met with Mitchell.

This one….

Unlike Wagner, who is engrossed in muscle training, and Flora, who is cramming for late-night magic studies, she hasn’t changed.

In a way, you could say she’s consistent.

She still lives as she pleases, and when she gets money, she runs to the gambling dens.

Karin has several much larger and more glamorous gambling dens compared to Garden, so she must be having a field day.

However, perhaps she has gained more experience than before.

With her increased income as a promising adventurer, it seems that even if she gets thoroughly beaten at the gambling dens, it’s not a major blow like before.

It feels like she’s created an environment where she can easily recover even if she loses.

I don’t know if that’s a good thing. From my perspective, at least Mitchell won’t starve or be kicked out onto the streets due to gambling debts.

“I’m going to be independent.”

Mitchell, whom I met with Flora, suddenly dropped a bombshell.

We came to gauge Mitchell’s feelings for Wagner, but we were overwhelmed by an even more significant statement.

“M-Mitchell-ssi? Independent?”

“Why are you so surprised? I’m thinking of leaving the party soon and traveling alone.”

Mitchell said without much emotional fluctuation, as if she had decided this long ago.

“I can handle my own share anywhere I go now. And while I like living with you guys, I also like the life of traveling alone at my own pace.”

Mitchell said, gazing at the distant sky.

Her eyes held a wistful longing. Mountains, seas, forests, deserts. A passion for adventure.

I understood.

We are a pretty good party, but there’s no need to stay together forever.

We never contracted for that, and it’s not necessarily beneficial for all of us.

Even me, an S-rank. Mitchell and Wagner, who are on the verge of B-rank. And Flora too.

Going solo.

Parting and meeting. This is also a natural flow.

It’s just sudden. And I feel a bit reluctant to accept it yet.

“So, about that.”

Mitchell wore a rare serious expression.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Ah, yes! Ask me anything.”

“Hmm… I’ve felt it for a while, but my thoughts have become firm these past few days. You know the bear.”

Mitchell shook her head slowly.

Her face was a mixture of emotions.

Anxiety and anticipation.

A slight resignation. A face that has finally become honest with her feelings.

‘Wait a minute.’

That expression, that atmosphere…

Could it be that it’s going in the direction I’m thinking?

“I like him. What do you think if I tell the bear this?”

Mitchell subtly avoided my gaze. She tried to act calm, but her earlobes turned a faint red.

We were at a loss for how to react to Mitchell’s second bombshell.

‘I knew it. As expected.’

I clicked my tongue, and Flora’s mouth hung open in silence.