Chapter 15: The Girl, Yoschua Verdi

“You must have seen it too. The footage of that girl’s exam.”

“Yes…”

Wilhelm’s eyes as he spoke while watching the video were sincere.

“That girl’s talent is real. We absolutely cannot let her be snatched away by another guild.”

Deneb had no choice but to admit that her talent was real, but ‘cannot let her be snatched away’…

Didn’t that make it sound as if the girl was already part of the Royal Knights?

“But, Master… I don’t know anything about this kid…”

It would have been better if he hadn’t known.

He’d already proposed a party on the way here and been rejected—how was he supposed to approach her now?

Deneb wanted to turn back time.

At least to before he’d made that party invitation.

Getting rejected once was something he could just brush off.

But getting rejected twice made him look like he was obsessed. He wasn’t a stalker.

So he’d deliberately pretended not to know her. His older brother wouldn’t tell him to approach her without any reason.

“You were in the same exam hall. That alone is already a connection.”

“…Huh?”

What do you mean…?

He wanted to ask, but Deneb swallowed his words.

His brother’s gaze was anything but ordinary. The moment he tried to argue, it felt like something ominous would happen.

“If you were a man, I wouldn’t have made this request. But you’re the same gender, and you seem close in age. Can’t you get close to her and introduce her to the guild?”

“…”

‘If you were a man,’ he said.

Deneb’s lips curled down slightly.

But his brother, not noticing the change in his younger sibling, continued in an overbearing tone.

“Bring that girl here by any means necessary. If you bring her, I’ll grant you whatever you want, within the limits of what I can do.”

“…”

His brother’s words weren’t light.

He was the head of the Royal Knights, one of the Five Great Guilds, and an S-Rank Hunter.

For someone like that to say he’d grant a wish meant he would definitely fulfill it, unless it was truly impossible.

For example, demanding a huge sum of money. Though no one in their family would ask for money from a relative.

But Deneb found it hard to readily agree.

He recalled Verdi’s face shaking her head left and right as she refused his party invitation.

People who wanted to party with a huge guild like the Royal Knights were overflowing.

Deneb had seen many people who harbored hopes that if they got lucky, they might form a connection and join the guild.

Especially those who heard his surname, Lucius, would cling to him even more.

But when Deneb had said his name, he couldn’t find any such sign from the girl.

Even if he suggested joining the guild, the outcome was obvious. She’d definitely shake her head left and right…

Just as Deneb, having decided he couldn’t do it, was about to cautiously open his mouth.

“I’m expecting great things.”

“…!”

At words he rarely heard, Deneb’s eyes shifted slightly.

When had his brother ever expected anything from him?

He couldn’t remember. Maybe this was the first time?

“…Yes.”

In the end, swayed by that single sentence, Deneb accepted his brother’s request.

He wondered if there had even been an option to refuse in the first place.

“Then go on.”

“Yes, hyung— I mean, Master.”

Rising from his seat, Deneb bowed to his brother and silently stepped outside.

And just as the guild master’s office door closed.

‘What do I do…?!’

Deneb’s face flushed with dismay.

‘She’ll definitely refuse…’

Just get rejected coldly after suggesting it?

Actually, that would be the easiest way out.

Or he could just not meet her and lie, reporting that he’d failed.

But if he did that, his brother would definitely look at him with disappointed eyes.

‘I don’t want that…’

Even if he failed, he wanted to give a reason his brother could accept.

Something like, ‘I tried that hard and it didn’t work, so there’s nothing I can do.’

‘Let’s meet her again first.’

There was no other choice.

To prove his effort, he had no choice but to get close to Verdi first, just as his brother had said.

* * *

One week after Rank Advancement to D-Rank Hunter.

When he first advanced and entered a D-Rank Gate, one level higher than E-Rank, he’d felt a new sensation… but that lasted only a moment.

‘This is boring.’

Even after becoming a D-Rank Hunter, the work I did wasn’t all that different from when I was E-Rank.

Tossing out the weakest magic or lightly swinging a Mana Sword just turned the Demon Beasts to ash…

I felt like I finally understood why those overpowered protagonists I’d seen in comics before possessing this other world always felt so hollow.

I wanted to fight at full power, but the enemy couldn’t hold up, so I couldn’t relieve that urge.

Countless Hunters lose their lives in dungeons.

I know that well.

Because I’ve seen people die right in front of my eyes.

So I try every time not to lose my beginner’s mindset…

But when it’s this boring, even that resolve starts to waver.

“Huaah…”

The moment a yawn naturally slipped out.

A chill—

“Ugh, the bathroom…”

At this point, the signal from down below felt more urgent than the Demon Beasts.

‘Let’s finish this quick and head back.’

In a hurry, I ran without even glancing at the Demon Beasts I passed along the way.

The Demon Beasts spotted me running and lunged to kill the intruder, but their sluggish speed couldn’t catch up to mine, even without Swiftness magic cast.

As I kept running, a strange structure soon came into view.

The Boss Room door.

*Creak—*

Once inside, I saw a plant-type Demon Beast in the center that looked like the boss.

“Kieeeeek!”

[ D-Rank Demon Beast, Mandrake (Boss) ]

At a glance, it looked similar to a Mandragora, but this one had something like a face attached to it.

One leaf at the center resembled a drake’s face, hence the name Mandrake.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I charged at the boss.

Normally, I’d observe how strong it was first, but right now I didn’t have that luxury.

I grabbed my skirt with my left hand. Just to hold out even a second longer.

[ Flame Element — Fireball Lv.3 ]

I stretched my right hand toward the Mandrake.

WHOOSH—!

My hand spat fire like it’d turned into a flamethrower.

“Kieeeeeeeek!”

The Mandrake let out a shriek and turned to ash in an instant.

“Hurry… hurry…!”

Even though the boss was dead, I was still in a rush.

The signal from down below was coming nonstop!

Even so, I grabbed the Magic Stone and hurled myself toward the exit as if throwing my body.

“Ugh…!”

The moment I passed through the Gate, an unpleasant sensation wrapped around my whole body.

I’d always felt it, but today it was worse than usual.

Maybe that’s why it was so hard to hold it in.

I forced my eyes open and endured somehow, and soon familiar scenery began to appear.

I was outside. But I didn’t feel any relief.

On the contrary, I couldn’t afford to feel relieved! I had to get to the lodging as fast as possible!

Otherwise.

Otherwise, something irreversible would happen!

‘I’ll exchange the stone tomorrow!’

Exchanging the Magic Stone was important, but the bathroom was more urgent.

So instead of heading to the office, I ran toward the lodging.

*Rattle, rattle.*

Every time I ran, I heard the Magic Stones in my backpack clatter.

They kept hitting my back and getting in the way the whole run, and I felt like throwing them away, but I held back.

I had to pay off my debt!

‘Ah, right.’

Realizing there was no one around anyway and it wasn’t the time to hold back, I recalled the magic I needed in my mind.

[ Swiftness Lv.1 ]

The magic activated instantly, and my body moved twice as fast as usual.

Thanks to that, I reached the lodging quickly.

“What, you’re back alrea—”

As I stepped inside, Mr. Luca, who met my gaze, seemed to say something, but I had no time to listen.

I dashed up the stairs and headed straight for my room.

But…

‘Hm?’

The moment I entered the room.

I sensed a strange presence inside.

Like someone else had broken into my room besides me.

I prided myself on having sharp instincts.

No doubt about it. Someone had definitely come in and left.

Who could it be?

‘Mr. Luca was downstairs.’

Every once in a while, Mr. Luca would barge into my room without a word, claiming he was cleaning or inspecting it.

But Mr. Luca is on the first floor right now. That means some stranger broke in illegally.

‘Did a burglar get in? Seriously…’

What the hell is Mr. Luca doing? Someone’s trying to pull a robbery in broad daylight, huh?

As the one paying rent, I can’t let this slide. I’ll have to chew him out later. I should demand compensation.

And while I’m at it, I’ll ask him to lower the rent for this security-lousy dump.

Asking for half off should work, right?

Imagining Mr. Luca’s face looking troubled, begging me to forgive him just this once, a laugh slipped out on its own.

Well, if he begs that hard, I suppose I could let it slide, Mr. Luca—

“Hey, Verdi. You okay—”

“Wh-whoaah?!”

It was the moment I was startled by a voice suddenly popping out from behind me, making me jump out of my skin.

A chill.

The moment I felt a creepy sensation in my lower abdomen, I could remember.

Why I’d rushed back to my room without even exchanging the Magic Stone.

But by the time I remembered, it was already too late.

The moment I heard Mr. Luca’s voice, I got so startled that the strength in my legs gave out.

…

…

…

…I didn’t want to say what happened next out loud.

“Ah…”

A faint groan escaped my lips.

‘…Fuck.’

Tears leaked out.

I felt like my spirit was about to break.

No, it was already broken.

Looking down at the scene I’d caused, I couldn’t help it.

On the outside, it’s a girl’s body, but my mind is an adult.

And I’d done something my pride as an adult couldn’t tolerate.

‘I want to die…’

I genuinely wanted to die.

Doing something even a kid wouldn’t do.

And in front of someone else, no less…

Fucking hell…!

“Verdi, you…”

Mr. Luca’s flustered voice reached my ears.

It was always a reliable and grateful voice, but right now, it was the most resentful voice in the world.

*

After finishing my shower and stepping out, I saw the neatly tidied room and Mr. Luca sitting quietly alone on a chair.

“I’m sorry.”

Seeing me come in, Mr. Luca fidgeted with his sunglasses and apologized with an embarrassed face.

But I didn’t have the energy to accept the apology. I was that deep in a post-mortem trance.

“…Why did you come?”

I barely managed to open my mouth.

If you hadn’t come, this wouldn’t have happened.

But it’s already done.

Once spilled, water can’t be gathered back.

…But comparing it to water makes it feel even shittier.

“…I was worried, so I followed you. I wondered why you were rushing upstairs like that.”

I glared at Mr. Luca with enough force to shoot beams from my eyes.

Damn it! This guy has no sense of delicacy!

I cursed inwardly, but I didn’t say it out loud.

Because I knew that wasn’t something he’d just made up on the spot.

I know from living with Mr. Luca all this time.

That guy doesn’t know how to lie.

But this humiliating feeling just wouldn’t ease up.

‘…Wait.’

Now that I think about it, isn’t Mr. Luca in a shittier spot than me?

Mr. Luca is the only one who knows I was Verdiol, that I was a man.

If he overlays my current appearance with how I was as Verdiol, well…

‘Ugh, damn.’

Imagining Mr. Luca’s feelings, my shame immediately subsided.

Can’t be helped. Let’s just forgive him…

“…Fine. But next time, please at least knock before coming in.”

“Yeah, sorry.”

Mr. Luca apologized repeatedly. Still, thanks to him volunteering to clean and do the laundry, I was able to wash up in peace.

‘…Come to think of it, Mr. Luca has a daughter.’

The image of Mr. Luca cleaning and doing laundry like it was routine flashed through my mind from earlier.

Maybe Mr. Luca’s daughter made a similar mistake once?

‘No, what am I even thinking right now?’

I guess I was really that shaken up…

“Well then, I’ll head back downstairs…”

“…Yeah.”

In the awkward atmosphere, Mr. Luca got up from his seat.

His back as he trudged away, looking drained. The moment I saw that.

—How about we just stop here?

A line I’d spat out a long time ago came to mind, and at the same time, a feeling of unease crept over me.

If I didn’t stop Mr. Luca here.

I didn’t want to let him go like that guy, but it felt like I’d end up sending him away forever.

“Hey, Mr. Luca.”

So I called out to Mr. Luca.

I didn’t want to fall out with the only person I could talk to without holding back.

“…What is it.”

At my call, Mr. Luca turned his head toward me.

It was hidden by his sunglasses, but I could tell Mr. Luca was a little deflated.

We’d been together for so long, you see. I could tell just by looking at him.

But, what should I say?

“…Good night.”

The moment I called him out but had nothing to say, so I just blurted that out without thinking.

“…Yeah. You get some good rest too.”

A voice tinged with the faintest hint of laughter reached me.

So I, too.

“Yes.”

At those words, I was able to answer with a faint smile.