Chapter 66: Their Own Choices #3

Chapter 66: Their Own Choices #3

Mitchell and Wagner will make a good couple.

Although their personalities are polar opposites…

Perhaps that’s why they fit together better.

Isn’t there a saying?

Humans evolved to be attracted to people with opposite personalities to ensure genetic diversity.

“Mitchell-ssi, Wagner-ssi-“

“Wait, Senior.”

I took Flora’s hand. Flora, who had stopped mid-sentence, looked at me with wide eyes.

Perhaps it’s better if we don’t interfere rashly right now.

After all, it’s a matter of their feelings.

“Let me say this upfront. I like the bear, but I have no intention of clinging to him desperately.”

Mitchell continued quietly.

“If the bear doesn’t like me, I’ll let go of my feelings without regret. Honestly, it would be a lie to say it wouldn’t hurt. Ah, just thinking about it makes me sick. But there’s nothing I can do.”

Flora’s shoulders shook again.

She looked like she wanted to tell him the truth right away.

That Wagner likes you too, so just go and confirm your feelings without hesitation.

I gently squeezed Flora’s hand again.

Our role is not to prematurely lift the lid of a simmering rice cooker.

It’s better to listen to the story until the end and then judge.

“If not, and if the bear also likes me…”

Yes. This is the problem.

I know. I know what the Elven tradition is.

That’s why things are getting a bit complicated.

Mitchell, although her behavior is bad, is an Elf after all. She can’t ignore tradition.

“I’m an Elven warrior. I must not be paired with a weak man. If I were, the lineage of my children would also become weak. If the bear also has feelings for me, he must defeat me and prove he’s stronger than me.”

“What if Wagner loses?”

“Then I will also let go of my feelings.”

Mitchell’s mind seemed to be firmly made up.

Both independence and confession.

“I want you to convey this story to the bear. I should have told him myself, but it’s a bit… difficult. I’m too embarrassed to say it face-to-face. Ah, how pathetic.”

“I’ll tell him.”

“Thanks, kid.”

Mitchell left for the gambling dens with a relieved expression, having shed a great burden from her heart.

Flora and I looked at each other.

“⋯This has become troublesome.”

“It has. Independence… In the end, Mitchell-ssi is leaving, regardless of the outcome. Perhaps Wagner-ssi too…”

Flora pondered something deeply.

Is it just my imagination?

I had a feeling that Mitchell might not be the only one leaving the party as a result of this sparring match.

***

“Mitchell, Mitchell likes me…”

Wagner couldn’t close his gaping mouth.

Look at that face, so full of affection. His jaw is about to fall off.

I understand.

How happy he must be to confirm that their feelings are mutual.

The happiness of realizing that the person you like also likes you.

Wagner’s body must be overflowing with dopamine right now. Happiness must be surging through every vein in his body.

However, while Wagner was happy, he also showed a bit of bewilderment.

“I have to fight Mitchell and win? Hmm… To be honest, I’m not confident…”

Mitchell, our party’s vanguard.

She’s fast and agile like a Marine on a Stimpack, and her attack power rivals that of many A-rank adventurers.

Wagner knows Mitchell’s strength all too well.

Therefore, he must have some idea of how the fight would unfold if he and Mitchell were to face each other.

It’ll be a difficult fight.

“Don’t worry too much. We’ll help you.”

“Yes, Wagner-ssi! If you lose here, it’ll all be for nothing. Fight hard and defeat Mitchell-ssi!”

“Everyone, everyone, thank you so much…”

A small tear welled up in Wagner’s eyes.

Winning love is so difficult. It seems Wagner’s case is particularly arduous compared to others.

“I know Mitchell’s fighting style, but let’s still analyze it thoroughly from the basics.”

“Yeah, we should.”

There’s a saying that if you know your enemy and know yourself, you’ll win a hundred battles.

However, this fight might be a little different.

It’s a kind of civil war, with comrades from the same party facing off.

Wagner knows Mitchell well, and Mitchell knows Wagner well.

The outcome of the match might be decided by unexpected small details.

“I’ve thought of a surprise strategy. I’m sure it’ll work.”

Flora said confidently.

Wagner didn’t openly dismiss it, but he didn’t look entirely convinced.

It’s understandable. If it were me, maybe, but Flora’s planned strategy is a bit questionable.

“⋯We’ll do it. At the decisive moment. How about it, Wagner-ssi? Do you think this will work?”

Flora explained her strategy.

When I actually heard it, it was absurd.

It’s not like child’s play. But, it was so like Flora.

“W-will that kind of move work?”

Wagner, his face flushed red, nervously scratched his beard.

“It’ll work, it’ll definitely work! Mitchell-ssi is a woman too. However, it won’t be a method that can be used right from the start. At the crucial moment, when you feel it’s the right time! Understand, Wagner-ssi?”

“Hmm. Thank you, Flora.”

As expected, there’s no one like a comrade who has gone through thick and thin together.

We decided to unite to help Wagner’s confession and victory.

We’ll be quite busy for a while.

We need to hone combat techniques optimized for Mitchell and bring our senses to their peak by the day of the match.

Food buffs can’t be left out either.

We’ll force stat boosts by feeding them nourishing meals three times a day.

If things go well, the strength gained from nourishing meals might be useful not only in the match but also at other times.

It’s too embarrassing to go into detail, but what else would a man and woman who like each other do?

It’s obvious. They wouldn’t just hold hands and talk happily.

Alright, it starts now.

Down with Mitchell, for a happy ending of love.

***

Clink, clink-

The sound of gold coins and gambling chips clashing echoed from all directions.

The casino was so noisy that it was difficult to even understand the words of the people sitting nearby.

Addicted gamblers with bloodshot eyes yelled incoherently, and the noisy music flowed incessantly from hundreds of machines.

I’m now in the most luxurious casino in Karin.

If you ask why I’m here playing instead of helping Wagner’s training, you clearly don’t understand.

This is also a strategy to help Wagner win.

I’ve been bringing Mitchell to the casino for three consecutive days now.

The intention is simple. It’s a plan to keep Mitchell idle while Wagner is engrossed in special training.

The operation name is “The Hare and the Tortoise.”

“It’s nice playing with you every day, kid. It feels like my luck is following me when you’re around? Strangely, things are hitting well.”

Mitchell said as she pulled the lever of the slot machine.

“That’s fortunate. I lost a bit.”

I lost a few thousand gold, but it was a negligible amount. My concern now wasn’t about that paltry sum.

“But, you know. Will just a week be enough?”

“⋯Huh?”

“You know what I mean. It’ll be hard to catch up to me with just a week of cramming.”

I glanced at Mitchell’s face, hiding my guilty conscience.

Did she realize that I was bringing her to the casino all day to interfere with her?

But, it also feels like she knows and is letting it slide.

‘Is she deliberately giving me an opportunity?’

I couldn’t help but think so.

For the past few days, Mitchell has seemed preoccupied with complex thoughts.

Even though she’s at her favorite casino, she often zoned out, not focusing on the game.

I’ve even witnessed her sighing softly or blushing occasionally.

This change started after I conveyed Wagner’s feelings for her.

‘She probably doesn’t intend to lose on purpose, though.’

Mitchell is not an Elf who would insult a warrior’s pride with a half-hearted match.

She will surely fight with 100% of her strength.

That’s probably why she’s feeling so conflicted.

She wants Wagner to win, but she’s in a position where she has to prevent it.

“Oh, Mitchell! It hit! It hit! Isn’t that 777?”

Clang, clang, clang-

The three signs on the slot machine stopped at 7.

-Jackpot! Congratulations! You are today’s lucky winner!

The screen of the slot machine in front of Mitchell flashed noisily.

Mitchell, who had been lost in thought until then, was startled and flustered.

“Whoa, this is my first time seeing a jackpot. Is today special?”

Is it just my imagination, or doesn’t she look particularly happy?

Mitchell’s hands, as she swept up the gold coins, lacked enthusiasm.

***

The day of the match.

The appointed time arrived. We gathered in a sparring room at a gymnasium in Karin.

“⋯.”

“⋯Kuhum.”

Although it was the first time Mitchell and Wagner were meeting face-to-face since confirming their feelings, neither of them spoke first.

Wagner avoided eye contact, and Mitchell awkwardly cleared her throat, rubbing her toes on the ground.

From the perspective of a third-party observer, it’s a strange scene that is both cute and amusing.

“Hey, bear.”

Finally, Mitchell opened her mouth.

Wagner swallowed hard and looked at Mitchell.

“I don’t know either. It just happened that my feelings turned out that way.”

“Mitchell…”

Can’t they just hold hands and leave like this?

I had that thought.

It would be nice if they stopped fighting and went to find a scenic spot for a date.

“I’ll be direct. Bear, I like you.”

Mitchell blurted it out in one go and then closed her eyes tightly.

She seemed to be barely suppressing the emotions surging in her chest.

“Goodness me-“

Flora whispered softly. For some reason, Flora, who was watching, seemed more excited than the two of them.

“W-well, Mitchell, actually I-“

“Shh. Be quiet. Just shut up and listen to me. I like you. It’s not a lie. So, I want you to defeat me. But you need to know one thing. I have absolutely no intention of fighting half-heartedly. You know that, right?”

Mitchell continued, wrapping bandages around her hands.

Her fists, which had always been active on the front lines of the party.

Can Wagner withstand those fists?

It was a question I had personally been curious about for a long time.

“My feelings for you are as important as our Elven tradition. If you think I’ll let you win at the end, that’s a big misconception.”

“Of course.”

Wagner nodded with a serious expression.

They walked to opposite sides of the sparring arena and stood facing each other.

It was the moment of a match that would determine their future.

“Fight me with all your heart. So that you have no regrets, no matter the outcome.”

After finishing her words, Mitchell exchanged a glance with Wagner.

There seemed to be many meanings in that gaze, beyond words.

Mitchell opened her mouth as if to say something, but eventually stopped.

Instead of words, Mitchell clenched her fist.