Chapter 62: Don’t Mess It Up This Time

“…I’m sorry for causing you trouble in so many ways.”

Once things had settled down a bit, Jihyeok apologized to me once more.

“To me, this room was… something like a sanctuary.”

‘Pfft.’

For a second, I was so dumbfounded I almost choked. What? A sanctuary? This is just my lodging.

I just picked this place because I liked it, so why the hell is he treating it like a sanctuary?

‘I don’t get it…’

He’d always been a guy I couldn’t understand at all. But I liked that about him.

“Then I’ll take my leave now. If anything happens to my senior, please make sure to let me know. I’ll definitely help.”

“…Yes.”

At Jihyeok’s words, I didn’t show it on the outside, but I felt better.

Even after all this time, he was still on my side, just like Mr. Luca. I could be sure of that. It was just a shame I couldn’t show it.

After finishing his words, Jihyeok turned around, and as he went out the window, he vanished without a trace.

And so, our reunion after three years ended short and intense.

* * *

“…Is that so?”

Late at night. I called Mr. Luca over and told him about my brief conversation with Jihyeok.

“That idiot. After spending that long together, he can’t even recognize his own comrade.”

“I can say this with confidence now.”

“What?”

“That I’m the only person besides you who recognizes me as Verdiol.”

I’d known Jihyeok for quite a long time. Even if we hadn’t met for three years, I never thought he wouldn’t recognize me at all. Of course, since I’d changed from an adult man to a girl’s body, there was no way he could.

“So. When are you planning to reveal your identity?”

Mr. Luca held out a glass to me. Naturally, it was a glass filled with cola, not alcohol. I was used to this treatment by now.

“When I’m sure that even if I reveal my identity, I won’t be a burden to Jihyeok.”

Gulp.

Hah. Cola wasn’t so bad, I guess. Maybe my body getting younger had made my tastes younger too.

“And when will that be?”

“Around the time I become an S-Rank Hunter, wouldn’t it be okay to party up with him again without worry?”

A D-Rank Hunter partying with an S-Rank Hunter would be way too conspicuous.

Of course, being with an A-Rank Hunter was also noticeable, but the way people looked at an A-Rank versus an S-Rank was completely different.

“Oho, so the legendary duo is going to be reborn?”

“That’s still a story for the distant future, though.”

Yeah. It was still far off.

Even before my body changed, it took me a full eight years to become a Hunter and reach S-Rank.

I wasted the first few years on pointless stuff, so maybe it was actually shorter than that.

Anyway, back then I ran without a single day off and broke the shortest-time record for every Rank Advancement.

But not now. I didn’t plan on climbing that fast. For now, I didn’t want to stand out.

For the time being, I planned to take on the role of Marcel’s Porter and rise slowly.

But matching the pace of Deneb, who was a typical Hunter sample, would be way too slow.

Of course, Deneb had talent too. The problem was that her interest lay more in swordsmanship than magic.

Anyway, if I matched Deneb’s pace to reach S-Rank, Jihyeok might retire before I got there.

Well, when the right time came, I’d just push ahead first.

“By the way, who are those two you’re running around with now?”

“Two?”

“You know, that tiny boy and that sturdy young man. One of them looked like the same guy you had me investigate before.”

“Ah.”

He meant Deneb and Marcel.

I gave Mr. Luca a brief explanation about the two of them.

“The sibling of the Royal Knights Guild Master?!”

While I was introducing Deneb, Mr. Luca spat out his drink in a big spray. He seemed pretty shocked.

“I had a feeling, but I never guessed she was the sibling. And she’s a woman? I thought she was a man.”

“I thought he was a man at first too.”

“Anyway, it’s impressive he chose the path of a Hunter after going through something like that.”

By “something like that,” he meant the Dungeon Break.

“The kid’s got guts, though. Last time, he took down a D-Rank Gate’s boss all by himself.”

“Doesn’t he recognize you? Didn’t you two run around together a few times before?”

“Deneb’s the one who followed me around on her own. That kid’s a lot like Jihyeok too. She does what she’s told well, but when it comes to stuff like this, she’s pretty clueless.”

Come to think of it, Deneb really does have a lot in common with Jihyeok. For one, like I just said, she does what she’s told to the letter and she’s easy to get along with. And just like Jihyeok, he’s a bit lacking in awareness. If those two had any sense, wouldn’t they have figured out who I was a long time ago?

“Are those guys trustworthy?”

Mr. Luca asked in a surprisingly serious tone.

At that question, I thought back to the time I’d spent with those two.

Honestly, that period was ridiculously short. Even if you just look at Deneb, who I’d known longer.

But still, I don’t think it was all that bad. Both of them showed me what I expected within that time.

So I quietly nodded.

“Hmph, alright then.”

Before Mr. Luca could say anything else, he took a big gulp of his cola.

Then, with a gentle smile unlike his usual self, he said,

“Don’t mess it up this time. Do it right.”

* * *

After that, my two days of sweet vacation came to an end.

Our party agreed to meet in front of the Hunter Association Office.

This time too, it was to take on mercenary work for a High-Rank Gate.

‘Come to think of it, I wonder how Marcel’s been doing all this time?’

Three days isn’t a long time, but so much had happened in between that it felt like ages since I’d been with him.

Maybe that’s why I felt oddly happy, and my steps toward the Association Office were lighter than usual.

When I arrived in front of the office, I saw the familiar two people already there waiting, just like always.

‘…Brings back memories.’

Back then, Jihyeok was always the one to come first and wait for me.

“Ms. Verdi! Hello!”

Deneb spotted me and waved in my direction.

“You’re here.”

Marcel, standing beside him, gave a short bow in greeting.

Joining the party after three days felt… a little unfamiliar, I guess. Probably because it was the first time I’d taken a long break before coming back.

‘…Alright.’

I steadied myself and spoke slowly.

“…Hello.”

“What are we doing today?”

“We’re all set.”

As soon as the greetings were over, both of them showed their eagerness for the Gate.

I’d thought this before, but these two can’t replace Jihyeok.

Setting aside their personalities, the gap in skill is too overwhelming. Hunters on Jihyeok’s level can be counted on one hand.

‘Still, it’s a relief.’

Back in those days, I always ran to take the lead. I thought it was always for myself, but after meeting Jihyeok again the other day, I realized something. Unconsciously, I was doing it for Jihyeok, my partner back then.

Other people envied and hated me, but Jihyeok never did. I thought I could do anything for Jihyeok, who always believed in me and followed me.

Even though my relationships were a wreck and I always thought of myself as a selfish person, it turns out I tried my best to treat the people who supported me with utmost care.

That feeling hasn’t changed even now.

But unlike back then, I don’t have to take the lead anymore.

All I have to do is watch these two grow and give them a bit of advice or guidance.

And those are things I’ve already experienced and felt. So they’re not difficult.

That’s why the pressure was lighter, and it put my mind at ease.

Anyway.

“Today—”

I was about to suggest taking on mercenary work for a High-Rank Gate again. But suddenly, a shadow fell over me. Curious what it was, I cut myself off and looked up.

“…Hic?”

Startled, I let out an involuntary gasp.

There was a strange man’s face I’d never seen before.

I scurried over to Marcel and Deneb’s side as if fleeing, then studied the man who had abruptly thrust his face into my personal space.

He was a blond man with a gentle impression, wearing a white robe with a golden cross embroidered on the shoulder. He was about twice my height and fairly bulky.

“…Who are you?”

Marcel stepped in front of me and asked. For some reason, that felt reassuring. Like I was being protected.

“M-Ms. Verdi…!”

At that moment, Deneb let out a small gasp.

Since Deneb’s gaze was fixed in another direction, I turned my head that way too.

And I nearly let out a gasp myself.

‘What the hell are these?’

Just like the giant man, a group of unidentified figures in white robes had formed a circle around us, surrounding us completely.

Normally, I would’ve easily noticed and shaken off a group this size tracking me. But I hadn’t sensed them at all until they got this close.

“Ah, it seems I startled you. If so, my apologies.”

The blond man in the center spoke. He seemed to be the leader of this unidentified group.

“My name is Mateo Kvachi. I am the head of the ‘Ark’ faith.”

After introducing himself, the man suddenly lowered his body and reached a hand out toward me.

And then he said this.

“I greet the Saintess.”

‘…Saintess?’

I was just starting to wonder at the sudden nonsense when—

“We greet the Saintess.”

The followers, who seemed to be his underlings, began copying Mateo’s actions.

‘Saintess my ass, you fucking bastards.’

I looked around, confused by the random bullshit, but there was no one anywhere who looked like the person they were calling ‘Saintess.’

So I studied them again.

I saw a few of the ones with their heads bowed sneak glances toward me.

That’s when I finally caught on.

‘No way, that ‘Saintess’…’

Are you talking about me?