Each person’s choice #3

 

Mitchell and Wagner would make a good couple.

Their personalities are polar opposites, but…

Maybe that’s why it fits better.

Why isn’t there such a thing?

Humans have evolved to be attracted to people with opposite tendencies to themselves in order to secure genetic diversity.

“Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Wagner—”

“Wait a minute, senior.”

I took Flora’s hand. She paused mid-sentence, then looked at me with wide eyes.

Perhaps it would be better for us not to intervene rashly now.

In the end, it’s the two people’s feelings that matter.

“I’ll tell you up front. I like bears, but I have no intention of clinging to them.”

Mitchell continued quietly.

“If Bear doesn’t like me, I’ll give up without a second thought. Honestly, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me sick. Oh, just thinking about it makes me sick. But there’s nothing I can do.”

Flora shrugged again.

It was clear that he wanted to tell the truth right away.

Wagner likes you too, so don’t hesitate and go and confirm your feelings for each other.

I held Flora’s hand again.

Our role is not to open the lid of the rice cooker beforehand.

It would be better to listen to the story until the end and then make a judgment.

“If not, what if Bear likes me too⋯.”

Yeah, that’s the problem.

I know what the elven traditions are.

So things are getting a bit tricky.

Mitchell, despite his misbehavior, is still an elf. He can’t help but uphold tradition.

“I’m an elf warrior. I shouldn’t be with a weak man. If I do, my child’s offspring will be weak. If Bear has feelings for me, he must defeat me and prove himself stronger than me.”

“What if Wagner loses?”

“Then I will give up my heart as well.”

Mitchell’s mind seemed already made up.

Independence, confession.

“I want you to tell this story to Bear. I should have told it myself, but it’s a bit… difficult. I’m embarrassed to say it face to face. Ace, isn’t it pathetic?”

“I’ll tell you.”

“Thank you, kid.”

Mitchell left the casino with a relieved face, having had a great burden lifted from his mind.

Flora and I looked at each other’s faces.

“⋯Things have become difficult.”

“I see. Independence… In the end, Mr. Mitchell is leaving, no matter what the outcome. Maybe Mr. Wagner too…”

Flora thought deeply about something.

Is it because of my mood?

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

***

“Mitchell, Mitchell, me⋯.”

Wagner couldn’t close his gaping mouth.

Look at that face I like. My jaw is dropping.

I understand.

How happy we must be to have confirmed that our hearts are connected.

The happiness of realizing that the person I like likes me too.

Dopamine must be flooding Wagner’s body right now. Happiness must be overflowing through his veins.

However, Wagner seemed a little embarrassed while being pleased.

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

Mitchell, the leader of our party’s assault team.

It is as fast and agile as a marine with a steam pack, and its attack power rivals that of any A-class adventurer.

Wagner knows Mitchell’s power all too well.

So, you probably have a rough idea of what the fight between you and Mitchell will be like.

It’s going to be a tough fight.

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

“Yes, Mr. Wagner! If we lose here, we’re out of luck. Let’s fight and beat Mr. Mitchell!”

“Everyone, thank you so much⋯.”

A small teardrop formed in Wagner’s eyes.

Love is so hard to win. Wagner’s case seems to be particularly difficult.

“I already know Mitchell’s fighting style, but let’s go back to the basics and thoroughly analyze it.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

There is a saying that if you know your enemy and know yourself, you will win every battle.

But this fight might be a little different.

A kind of civil war between colleagues from the same party.

Wagner knows Mitchell well, and Mitchell knows Wagner well.

The outcome of a match may be determined by unexpected, small details.

“I’ve come up with a surprise plan. I think it’ll work.”

Flora said confidently.

Wagner didn’t openly criticize him, but his face didn’t seem to completely believe him.

Well, that’s inevitable. I wouldn’t know, but it’s only natural to be a little suspicious of Flora’s plan.

“⋯It’s a crucial moment. What do you think, Mr. Wagner? Do you think this will work?”

Flora told the story of the operation.

When I actually heard it, it was as absurd as expected.

It wasn’t child’s play. But it was Flora-like.

“W-will that work?”

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

“It works, it definitely works! Ms. Mitchell is a woman, too. But it won’t be a method you can use right away. At a crucial moment, when you feel the need! You get it, Mr. Wagner?”

“Hmm. Thank you, Flora.”

There is no one like a colleague who has shared joys and sorrows with you.

We have resolved to unite in helping Wagner to confess and triumph.

I’m going to be pretty busy for a while.

You need to hone your fighting skills to the best of your ability and sharpen your senses to match the match day.

Food buffs can’t be left out either.

They forcefully inflate their stats by feeding them three meals a day.

If things go well, the energy provided by the tonic may be useful not only in competition but also in other times.

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

We won’t just hold hands and talk hahahoho, right?

Okay, let’s start now.

Down with Mitchell, for a happy ending to love.

***

Clang, clang—

The sound of gold coins and gambling chips clinked together could be heard from all around.

The casino was so noisy that it was difficult to even hear the people sitting nearby.

The wide-eyed addicts were screaming, and the hundreds of machines lined up were blaring nonstop.

I am now in the most luxurious gambling hall in Karin.

If you ask why I’m just hanging out here instead of helping Wagner train, then you don’t know what I’m talking about.

This is also clearly a strategy to help Wagner win.

It’s already the third day in a row that I’ve been taking Mitchell to the casino to gamble.

The idea is simple: Wagner will focus on special training while Mitchell plays tight.

The name of the operation was “The Tortoise and the Hare”.

“It’s nice playing with the kid every day. It’s like having you by my side makes me a little lucky. Strangely enough, things just seem to go well.”

Mitchell said, pulling the lever on the slot machine.

“Thank goodness. I lost a little.”

I lost a few thousand gold, but it was nothing. My concern now wasn’t those few pennies.

“But you know, is it really only going to take a week?”

“⋯Huh?”

“You know what I’m talking about. It’ll be hard to keep up with me in a week.”

I hid my prickly heart and glanced at Mitchell’s face.

Did he notice that I was taking Mitchell to the casino all day to disturb him?

But, it also feels like they know it but just let it slide.

‘Are you giving me this opportunity on purpose?’

I couldn’t help but think that way.

These past few days, Mitchell’s mind seemed to be full of complicated thoughts.

Even though I was at my favorite casino, I often found myself absentmindedly playing and unable to focus on the game.

Sometimes I even saw her sigh softly or blush.

This is a change since Wagner told Mitchell that he liked her.

‘I don’t think I’ll give in, though.’

Mitchell is not an elf who would insult a warrior’s pride with a clumsy fight.

I’m sure he’ll be going into the match with 100% power.

That’s why my heart is fluttering.

I wish Wagner could beat me, but I’m in a position where I have to prevent that.

“Hey, Mitchell! It’s gone, it’s gone! Isn’t that 777?”

Kang, Kang, Kang—

All three signs on the slot machine stopped at 7.

—Jackpot! Congratulations! You’re the lucky winner today!

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

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

“Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen a jackpot. What day is it today?”

Is it because I’m in a bad mood that I don’t look very happy?

There was no enthusiasm in Mitchell’s hands as he swept up the gold coins.

***

The day of the match.

The appointed time arrived. We gathered in the training room of Karin’s gym.

“⋯.”

“⋯Ahem.”

Although Mitchell and Wagner met for the first time since confirming their feelings for each other, neither spoke first.

Wagner averts his gaze, and Mitchell just taps his toes on the ground and coughs awkwardly.

From the perspective of a third party watching, it is a strange sight that is both cute and funny.

“Hey, Bear.”

Finally, Mitchell opened his mouth.

Wagner swallowed and looked at Mitchell.

“I don’t know. I just happened to feel that way.”

“Mitchell⋯.”

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

That’s what I thought.

It would be nice to put aside the fight and go find a nice date spot.

“I’ll be blunt. I like you, Bear.”

Mitchell blurted out the words in one breath and closed his eyes tightly.

It was clear that he was barely able to suppress the emotions welling up in his chest.

“oh my god-“

Flora whispered softly. For some reason, she seemed more excited than the other two.

“Well, Mitchell, actually, I-”

“Shh. Be quiet. Just shut up and listen to me. I like you. I’m not lying. And I want you to beat me. But you have to know one thing. I’m not going to fight half-heartedly. You get that?”

Mitchell continued, bandaging his hand.

Her fists were always active at the vanguard of the party.

Will Wagner be able to withstand that punch?

Personally, this was a question I had been curious about for a while.

“Our elven traditions are just as important as my love for you. If you think I’ll give in in the end, you’re sorely mistaken.”

“Of course.”

Wagner nodded with a serious face.

The two walked to either side of the training ground and stood facing each other.

It is a decisive moment that determines your future fate.

“Just give it your all and give it your all. Whatever the outcome, you won’t have any regrets.”

Mitchell finished speaking and exchanged a brief glance with Wagner.

Those eyes seemed to contain more meaning than words could express.

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

Instead of speaking, Mitchell clenched his fist.