Each person’s choice #2

 

“So what do you want me to do?”

What can I do?

Still, Mitchell and Wagner are the closest friends I’ve made since being immersed in the world of “Nine Stars.”

I have to make him happy since it turned out like this.

To be honest, I hate seeing two people dating some worthless bastard.

I don’t want to see Wagner get entangled with some snake and get taken advantage of.

I can’t stand the sight of Mitchell being slapped around by some blonde-tanned punk, unless I get dirt in my eyes.

So maybe Mitchell and Wagner dating isn’t such a bad choice.

“That’s—actually, I’ve never dated a woman before.”

“It looks like that.”

“⋯What? What, what do you mean, Estelle? It looks like that-”

Wagner’s face turned white.

But that’s actually how it looks. Trying to force a positive spin on it doesn’t help much.

My eyes are accurate in detecting Mosul.

When I was a college student or working, if you asked people who didn’t seem to have girlfriends, nine times out of ten they were right.

Wagner, I’m sorry, but it was obvious that he had never held a woman’s hand.

“You want me to know in advance what Mitchell thinks?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Oh my—you’re being timid. And you’re going to get your hands on a beauty like that, huh? That’s what I’m saying.”

I shook my head.

I understood what Wagner was afraid of.

Fear of rejection.

If Mitchell doesn’t accept my sincerity, I’m afraid of the repercussions that will follow.

If the confession fails, Mitchell and Wagner cannot return to their previous relationship.

Maybe one of them will inevitably leave the party and we will never see each other again.

“Okay. The party leader will help me out to this extent. But there’s a condition. I’ll tell Flora. I know, and you both know, but if Flora doesn’t know, it’ll feel like you’re ignoring her.”

“Oh, okay. I’m fine. Just-“

“Just what?”

“I’ll just ask Mitchell not to find out. I have nothing to say, no matter what you say. But I don’t have the courage until I’m sure of it…”

Wagner’s broad shoulders slumped.

Well, it’s not just any other woman, it’s that sassy Mitchell.

I think I understand Wagner’s hesitation.

“Don’t worry, Wagner.”

I tried to encourage Wagner in a kind way.

“Where in the world is there a woman like Mitchell? You’ll find another good one.”

“Thank you, but… you’re already talking like I failed even though I haven’t even confessed yet.”

“First of all, I’m saying you should prepare yourself mentally. Regardless of the outcome.”

“Um… I understand.”

Wagner stared at his own feet with a complex expression that was half anticipation and half anxiety.

Neither the trapezius muscles, which were built high like a mountain range, nor the pectoralis major muscles, which were spread wide like the sea, seemed to be enough to win the heart of even one woman.

***

The next place we headed to was Karin’s Great Library.

It’s not just any library. It’s so much more than just a library, it’s a different level from most other libraries.

It is said that the library’s collection exceeds ten million volumes, and that its daily visitors easily exceed thirty thousand.

Inside the deep, inner reading room of a huge library, it is very easy to get lost.

Flora was stuck there.

“senior.”

Flora turned her head when I tapped her shoulder.

“It’s been a while. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to show you my face since the last request.”

Flora whispered softly, as it was a library where silence had to be maintained.

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

She used to be a carefree girl with a flower garden in her head, but now she looks 180 degrees different.

There are dark circles under her eyes, and her long braided hair is tied up with a headband.

And above all, those big sleeping glasses.

It’s a pair of round glasses with a swirling pattern that looks like something out of a cartoon…

It was the first time I realized that there were people who actually wore things like that.

“You look busy.”

“No, well- it’s okay- I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hard- but I’m slowly getting used to this kind of life⋯ hehe.”

Flora said in a voice thick with fatigue.

On Flora’s desk, thick grimoires are piled high enough to obscure her face.

And four empty coffee cups lined up in one corner.

Rather than a wizard, he looks more like a student preparing for the civil service exam in Sillim-dong.

It’s good to try, but I’m worried that it might be a bit too much.

There was a good reason why Flora’s attitude changed.

The most decisive factor was the ranking of the Adventurer’s Guild.

I got an S rank, Mitchell and Wagner got a C rank, but Flora is still stuck at an E rank.

Of course, there is no party member who is criticizing it.

Even an E-rank is fine. We’ll just do the request together anyway.

But Flora didn’t seem to feel at ease even with that consolation.

—I might be the bane of the party.

“Hey, no, senior. Don’t say that. No one thinks that way.”

—I’m sorry. I’ll try harder.

I thought she would be depressed for a day or two and then give up, but Flora surprisingly became sincere and her efforts have continued to this day.

I have nothing to say.

It’s strange to feel like you’re lacking something, but then someone next to you keeps telling you that it’s okay.

Flora may be experiencing growing pains later than others.

The process of facing one’s own objective evaluation and taking a leap forward to change for the better.

It’s a process that everyone goes through at least once, and perhaps that time has come for Flora now.

“Let’s go get some fresh air. Is this a good time?”

“Oh, yes.”

We left the dark library and headed to the bench outside.

I brought the drink.

I like coffee, Flora likes sweet cocoa.

I thought it was a bit odd to feed Flora coffee even when she was resting, as she drank ten cups of coffee every day.

‘I don’t know if I’ll collapse like that.’

I was worried when I saw Flora looking so gaunt.

“Senior, I have something to say.”

“I’ve been thinking lately-”

Our two words overlapped at the same time.

“You speak first, senior.”

“Estelle, please begin. What I’m about to say isn’t that great.”

“Oh? Okay. It’s about Wagner—oh, and also about Mitchell—”

I summarized what Wagner was about to confess.

Flora listened intently, and occasionally exclaimed with a look of surprise, “Oh my god!”

“Wow, really? I had no idea. How could those two be like that—”

“I don’t know yet. I don’t know if they both feel that way. Maybe Wagner is the only one who feels that way.”

“I hope things work out for you two. I really do.”

Flora smiled brightly for the first time in a long time.

Flora’s appearance has been nerfed by the bang-bang glasses and headband, but her natural cute beauty is still there.

Come to think of it, who will take this kid?

I feel like a father with a youngest daughter who is lax in her guard.

‘This is why I can’t leave our party.’

I’m worried. I can’t just leave you behind.

I wonder if you can do well without me. I’m not sure yet.

It’s such a heavy thing to become attached to someone.

I realized it anew.

***

The last party member I met was Mitchell.

This guy⋯

Unlike Wagner, who was obsessed with muscle training, and Flora, who was obsessed with belated, sudden magic training, there was no change.

In some sense, it could be said to be consistent.

He still lives however he wants, and when he gets money, he runs to the casino.

Karinen Garden is incomparably bigger and more extravagant than other gambling establishments, so it must be a real bustle.

However, I should say that I have gained more experience than before.

As a promising adventurer, his income had increased, so unlike before, even a miserable loss at a gambling house didn’t seem to be a huge blow.

It feels like we’ve created an environment where you can recover anything you lose.

I’m not sure if it’s a good thing. From my perspective as an observer, I just think that at least Mitchell won’t be starving and living on the streets because of gambling debts.

“I will become independent.”

Mitchell, who met Flora and me, suddenly dropped a bombshell.

We came to see what Mitchell thought of Wagner, but we were overwhelmed by a statement of even greater significance.

“Hey, Mr. Mitchell? Independence?”

“What are you so surprised about? I think it’s time to leave the party and go on a trip alone.”

Mitchell said without showing any emotional agitation, as if he had already made up his mind.

“Now, wherever I go, I can easily do my part. While I enjoy living with you all, I also enjoy a leisurely, solo life, traveling wherever my heart desires.”

Mitchell said, looking at the distant sky.

There was a faint longing in those eyes. Mountains and sea, forests and deserts. A yearning for adventure.

I get it.

We’re a pretty good party, but we don’t have to stay together for the rest of our lives.

We have never made a contract like that, and it is not necessarily beneficial to us.

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

Standing alone.

Partings and reunions. This too is a natural progression.

It’s just that it’s sudden. It’s still hard to accept.

“So that’s what I’m saying.”

Mitchell’s expression was unusually serious.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Oh, yes! Ask me anything.”

“Um… I’ve been feeling this way for a while now, but my thoughts have become more certain over the past few days. There’s Gomtang.”

Mitchell shook his head excitedly.

It was a face with a mixture of emotions.

Anxiety and anticipation.

A slight resignation. A face that finally became honest about its feelings.

‘wait for a sec.’

That expression, that atmosphere⋯

Surely, you’re going to go in the direction I’m thinking of?

“I like him. What do you think he’ll think if I tell him that?”

Mitchell averted his gaze. He pretended to be calm, but his earlobes were flushed.

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

‘I knew it. As expected.’

I clicked my tongue, and Flora just opened her mouth without saying anything.