Things That Don’t Change (1)

Alevian, who was expected to linger a bit more, unexpectedly disappeared without fuss.

He vanished after leaving a message to come to the Mage’s Tower tomorrow to look for him.

Only after his figure disappeared beyond the inn’s door did Yona realize she had forgotten to ask why Alevian was here.

‘…He’s probably here at the tower because he’s a mage.’

If she were to doubt every such thing, there were far too many suspicious points about Alevian.

Yona decided to set that aside for now.

Rubbing her stomach, Yona stared blankly at Alec.

His still shiny bald head was gleaming brilliantly, reflecting the evening sunlight streaming through the shop’s window.

‘…What exactly is this guy’s true identity?’

Come to think of it, Yona realized she had never really thought about Alec before.

But it’s not strange that Yona hadn’t.

Adventurers don’t usually go into detail about their past, and even if asked, the answer is usually “What good would it do you to know that?”

Yona didn’t particularly hide her past.

But her past was simply that she grew up in a cathedral orphanage, became a healer, and crawled into the adventurer’s guild, plus the fact that she was a man and came from another world.

And that alone was enough for rumors to spread that she was a bit crazy.

So Yona hadn’t particularly asked Alec about his past either.

She just thought he was just another guy who had learned some shield skills somewhere and had been bumming around until now, just that kind of baldy.

That’s what she thought, but it wasn’t so.

‘He seemed like a holy knight.’

While she was looking at him, Alec was tearing off the last piece of bread.

The bread, which had already cooled, wasn’t as fluffy as when it was warm, but even cold bread has its own taste.

Alec soaked the piece of bread in the stew broth and suddenly held it out to Yona.

“Here, the last piece of bread.”

Although she was full, considering the other person’s goodwill…

Yona’s head moved slowly, her gaze still fixed on Alec.

“Ah—”

“…No, wait.”

Yona’s movement stopped abruptly as she was about to take the bread in her mouth near Alec’s outstretched hand.

Then her head returned to its original position, and she took the piece of bread from Alec’s hand.

“Hey, baldy. We have some things to talk about, right? Right?”

“…Ah, um. Yeah.”

Alec nodded with a sour expression.

Actually, he thought everything had blown over since Yona hadn’t said much, but apparently not.

“Let’s go to my room.”

“Okay.”

After leaving a few copper coins on the table, Yona and Alec stood up.

*

Yona’s room on the third floor was right next to Alec’s.

Yona’s room with a bathtub was one of only four such rooms on each floor, located at the very end of the outer edge of each floor due to its structure.

It has to be in a position where water can be easily received and disposed of, so it can’t be helped.

“Whew, it’s cold.”

Yona shivered as a chill hit her when she opened the door and entered.

Alec, who followed, also frowned slightly.

“Why do you need a room with a bathtub? Couldn’t you wash in the public bath?”

“Are you really this tactless? With my arm like this, do you think I could wash well in a public bath?”

At Yona’s sharp words, Alec finally realized and closed his mouth with an “Ah.”

“Come on, sit here.”

As soon as Yona sat on the bed, she patted the spot next to her.

But Alec didn’t sit next to Yona. Instead, he pulled up a nicely decorated chair from the table and sat in front of her.

“…Baldy.”

“Yeah.”

Alec slowly organized his thoughts.

“Why did you hide it?”

“I’m actually a holy knight… Huh?”

He thought she would ask about his identity first, but he didn’t expect her to ask why he hid it.

Momentarily flustered, the thoughts he had organized in his head became a jumbled mess in an instant.

“No, I can tell that you’re a holy knight. I’m a clergy too, you know. Do you think I can’t recognize holy power? That aura you released, it’s all holy power. The one knights’ orders emit when they get excited.”

That whitish smoke-like thing that rises between the helmet and visor.

That very thing called materialized holy power.

The same holy power that emanated from Alec’s body when he confronted Berbaria.

Alec examined Yona’s face.

Although she naturally has a somewhat fierce expression, he’s spent years rolling around in the dirt with her, so he can read her.

From Alec’s perspective, Yona doesn’t seem particularly angry right now.

“I’m asking why you hid it. I get that you’re a holy knight. And I also understand that you’re probably not the same rank as me. But why did you hide it, and how long were you planning to deceive me? That’s what I want to know.”

Yona, sitting on the bed, crossed her legs.

Alec intentionally avoided her coy expression as he scratched the bridge of his nose.

“Uh, well.”

Alec racked his brain as fast as he could while bearing Yona’s gaze.

Should he confess at this point?

That he didn’t advance in rank because he wanted to be with her,

That if he had advanced, he wouldn’t have been able to take on requests with her.

That it was all because he wanted to be with her.

But at that moment, Alec’s gaze fell on Yona’s left arm.

That left arm hidden by the nun’s habit had become a new source of worry for Yona.

The tattoo that was evidence of Berbaria or its avatar having taken residence.

Yona must be confused because of it.

Even though she’s acting as if nothing’s wrong, it’s hard to tell if Yona is really okay or not.

Is this the right timing to say something like a confession — it didn’t seem so.

And at least for the confession, he wanted to say it in a nicer place with the right atmosphere,

Besides, if he confessed now, Yona probably wouldn’t accept it.

It would be a sure failure to confess now to Yona, who had come all the way to the mage community with the sole intention of returning to being a man.

Even though Alec had never been in a relationship before, he knew all too well that now was not the time for a confession.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Yona’s golden eyes were staring intently at Alec.

“—Actually, I didn’t want to say anything. I wanted to keep hiding it. Everyone has a past they want to hide, right?”

This was Alec’s answer after staying silent for a while.

And Yona was dumbfounded by his words.

*

If you asked if she was angry, she wasn’t.

If you asked if she felt hurt, she wasn’t that either.

Yona was surprisingly calm.

Normally, she would have probably made a fuss, scratching at people’s hearts by saying things like why did you deceive me all this time, or was it fun pretending to be the same rank and playing with me, until she felt better.

But Yona wasn’t in that mood right now.

Or more precisely, she wanted to say such things but just couldn’t bring herself to.

Whenever some emotion was about to surge up, it felt like Alec was there, waiting for it.

Alec, who stood in front of her, blocking her when she was overwhelmed by Berbaria and about to give herself up.

Alec, who stood firmly in front of her like a mountain, protecting her.

Alec, who drove Berbaria into a corner with the ferocity of his prayer-like words.

And—

‘…No, I shouldn’t be thinking about this now.’

Alec, who planted his shield in the ground and embraced Yona when Berbaria spewed its poison breath.

Although it was impossible, it felt like she could still feel his warmth.

These memories were coming back one by one.

‘This is why I can’t get angry.’

Yona quietly looked at Alec.

Alec, sitting on the chair, clasping his hands together and constantly fidgeting with his fingers.

As big as a mountain, but at times like this, he’s just like a puppy.

Alec, who knows he did something wrong and can’t even look Yona in the eye.

Having blurted out words without thinking, he can’t even face Yona, unable to follow up on what he said.

How could she get angry seeing him like this?

How could she get angry about why he deceived her?

How could she ask how long he was planning to deceive her?

Could she sarcastically ask if it was fun deceiving her?

‘…I just can’t.’

Yona inwardly gave a bitter smile.

Three years, such a long time.

To be precise, two and a half years, now over two years and seven months.

Haven’t they spent such a long time together?

Such a long time crossing the line between life and death tog—

‘No, wait.’

“Hey, Alec.”

“Huh?”

Yona thought something was strange.

“If you say you were a holy knight, why can’t you use holy power now? I need to know at least this much. You shouldn’t try to hide this too.”

These questions remain.

Why couldn’t Alec, who was a holy knight, use holy power normally?

Moreover, why couldn’t Yona sense even a bit of holy power from Alec?

And how did he get taken down so helplessly by that Durahhan?

“…There are some circumstances. I can’t use holy power because it’s under a ban. I can only use pure physical strength, that’s why.”

“A ban?”

It’s not common for the Celestial Church to ban holy power.

Unless one commits a major offense, it’s rare for it to go as far as a ban.

Apostasy, protecting heretics… these are the two things that come to mind first.

“It’s not apostasy. It’s really not that. So your clergy status won’t be threatened, Yona. It’s just… there were some personal issues, that’s all.”

Yona narrowed her eyes.

Alec glanced at Yona, but as soon as their eyes met, he looked down again.

“…It’s hard to explain right now. Anyway, I’ll tell you the truth for sure, so please try to understand for a little while. Okay?”

Alec looked like a rain-soaked puppy, if that’s the right way to describe it.

That’s what Yona thought.

She had said that she absolutely needed to know this, that he shouldn’t try to hide this too.

But seeing Alec like this, even those thoughts melt away like snow.

And Alec, a holy knight, to Yona who had accepted a demon—

…I’m on your side, no matter what happens. Even if you were to become not human, I alone will be on your side.

How could she forget those words?

“…You have to tell me later for sure. There’s nothing else you’re hiding, right?”

“There isn’t. Really, there isn’t.”

Yona crossed her arms while sitting.

Alec’s gaze moved to her chest area and quickly looked down again.

“…Can I trust you?”

“Yes, you can trust me. Really.”

Yona slowly nodded.

Inwardly, she let out a long sigh.

But what else could she do?

Since Alec said so, Yona had no choice but to believe him.

“…Don’t deceive me, it hurts.”

Yona muttered without realizing it.

She muttered without knowing what she was saying.