Chapter 21: Water and Oil?
A friend of the protagonist.
They appear in various stories, providing support to the protagonist who is troubled and in distress, or rushing to their aid in times of crisis.
I wonder if it’s okay for me, who was supposed to be an enemy, to stand in the position of a so-called sub-protagonist.
Such doubts were blown away.
When she directed her carefree smile towards me.
“I will be counting on you from now on! Slayer-san!”
“. . .Yes.”
Her hand was warm and gentle.
Unlike mine, her’s was a pretty and pale hand that befitted a girl.
Someone from the heroes’ party was supposed to take this hand first
But I’ve taken on that role.
“Fufu, Slayer-san’s hand is warm.”
“. . .I can’t beat you.”
And so, we became friends.
◇◇◇
It was after school.
Classes were over, and it was time for everyone to go home.
As the sky started to turn orange, I visited the courtyard.
Of course, I wasn’t alone.
She was with me.
I wanted to go to a place where no one else was, to have an important conversation with her.
I couldn’t let anyone else hear it.
“I’m looking forward to our secret talk!”
“It’s not something to be excited about.”
“Well, it’s a problem you’re facing, so I’ll listen carefully!”
She was relentlessly cheerful.
This brightness was her great weapon.
“By the way…who is this person?”
“You finally asked.”
We’re going to have a secret talk.
Naturally, it’s not just me and Flare.
There is one more person, who shares the secret… He’s here.
“Has he been following us since…is he a suspicious person?!”
“How rude of you! What’s suspicious about me?”
“It’s your appearance!”
“You’re too straightforward…”
“Fufu.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
This kind of exchange was also in the original work.
Belfist would always make cheerful and elusive remarks while Flare would always retort them.
It stings because there is no ill will.
As I saw this unfold before my eyes, I was reminded of the contents of the book.
“Slayer-san, is it okay to have this person here too?”
“Yes, she’s a collaborator…for now.”
“A collaborator…”
Flare looked at Belfist with caution.
Belfist coughed once and introduced himself formally.
“I’m Belfist Krone! Her fiancé.”
“F-Fiancé?”
“No, it’s not like that.”
“Oh, I see. That’s a relief.”
Besides me, who denied it easily, Flare seemed to be relieved for some reason.
“Hey, Slayer, that’s not fair! We promised to get married in the future, you know?”
“Really? I didn’t know that.”
“…Well, we’ve talked about it.”
It’s more like a contract than a promise.
We accepted each other’s demands to fulfil our wishes.
“But we’re not engaged.”
“It’s almost the same thing.”
“No, it’s not. It’s complicated.”
“It’s your fault for making it complicated.”
“We’re both to blame, aren’t we?”
Flare silently watched our exchange
she seemed somewhat dissatisfied.
“She’s my future bride.”
“For now, he’s just a collaborator.”
Belfist and I didn’t agree on this.
He looks at me and says something like he wants me to call him my future husband.
I ignored it.
“Ugh, this is such a hassle.”
“. . .Slayer-san, I still think this person is dangerous.”
“Yes, I agree.”
“You two are so mean!”
Was it just intuition as the protagonist?
He really is dangerous, after all.
Because he’s the final boss of the story.
“He’s a weirdo, but he’s indeed a collaborator.”
“We may get married in the future.”
“. . .I suppose.”
If he can protect my safety, I have no objections to marrying him.
It’s all necessary for me to survive in this world.
I understood that much.
However, there is someone next to me who clearly disagrees.
“Slayer-san, do you like this person?”
“Not really.”
“You say it so casually. . .”
Well because, it’s the truth.
If I had to choose between liking or disliking him, I’d say I dislike him.
I hope she can appreciate that I didn’t say it outright.
“Well then! I think there’s someone more suitable for Slayer-san!”
She says as she clings to my arm.
As if. . .
“You look like you’re saying that that person is you!”
“――! N-No, that’s not what I meant! As Slayer-san’s friend, I don’t approve of someone like you!”
“I don’t think I need your approval!”
“But it’s about my important friend!”
Their gazes clashed with each other.
The protagonist and the final boss.
Water and oil.
Maybe it was a mistake to bring together two entities that would never mix.
“. . .sigh.”
Will we be able to get along from now on?
All I feel is anxiety.
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