Chapter 2

"Hmm, it's been a while since I've been back! Here it is! This is where I belong!"

Stretching her healthy, tanned skin towards the sky, Niura loosened her body. After riding in a carriage for so long, her joints had stiffened.

As she rotated her shoulders, the tense muscles gradually relaxed.

"Niura, thank you for your cooperation this time."

"No, it was fun to come back to my hometown after so long. It felt like a homecoming."

Niura, it seemed, had reunited with her family after five years. However, as soon as she showed her face, her family scolded her relentlessly, telling her to give up her dangerous adventurer life and asking if she had any grandchildren yet. But that was none of my business.

"It's a relief to hear that."

"My parents seemed to be doing well. Still, I'm glad we managed to secure it safely. I was worried about your persistence, though. But is it really a good thing? I don't think the reward from the guild is worth it..."

In a corner of the town of Branden, not far from the capital, I sincerely thanked my partner who had come with me. This was a result I could never have achieved alone, and it would determine my future.

This time, I formed a makeshift party with Niura, who was a solo adventurer for a specific purpose. She usually belonged to another party, but they were currently waiting for their next quest, so she had some free time.

"It's fine. This is all I wanted."

"You could have bought it, but you went to get it yourself. You're really something, Clay."

"Pre-made ones wouldn't have the same meaning."

"That's just a fairy tale."

I couldn't help but smile awkwardly at Niura's words. I carefully put away the small, black, round stone I was holding.

"I made a promise. He might not remember, but I really wanted to give it to him."

"I'm so jealous. To be loved like that... I'm so envious."

The face of my childhood friend, who probably found my affection bothersome, came to mind, and I shook my head.

"Well, I think he hates me."

"What? Are you serious!? No woman can resist being loved that much by a man."

No, no. He would probably say something like, "Huh? Are you crazy? Lick my feet when I die?" I would never do that!

"It's a spirit of determination. Oh, right, I want to give you a reward too. Hmm... what would you like? How about this dagger?"

"No, that's too much. --Wait! This is... a Tristan Dagger, right? Oh, the pockets of an S-rank adventurer are really deep..."

I smiled wryly at Niura's exasperated expression.

I thought it was a good choice, but maybe it wasn't?

The Tristan Dagger is a special dagger made from coral and the shell of a Dominion Turtle, and it's quite expensive. The bluish-green blade is beautiful and very sturdy, but it would cost at least 700,000 gil to buy. I got it through a connection, but it was something I had no use for. I thought Niura, a thief, might have a use for it...

Well, if she doesn't want it, she can always take it to a pawn shop, right?

◇◇◇

Niura and I spent a week traveling to the coastal border town of Zachlab. Although I finally made it back, the quest was just a side job, like an errand for the guild. The main goal required Niura's cooperation, as she was from Zachlab.

【Black Orchid Pearl】

Called a type of black pearl, it comes from the Black Orchid Shell. The Black Orchid Shell is found in shallow reefs and is difficult to locate. As someone who had never been to Zachlab, I thought it would be challenging to find the habitat. That's why I asked Niura, who was from Zachlab.

The Black Orchid Pearl is, in a sense, a well-known gem among adventurers. It appears in one of the fairy tales of adventurers, "Anne's Memoirs" (by the way, it's available at the guild in three volumes), which tells the love story of two adventurers, Anne and Ruid.

The story is a typical love tale, where two people who chose the dangerous profession of adventurers pledged their love and sent each other the pearl as a token. This anecdote is still talked about among adventurers, and giving a Black Orchid Pearl to someone you love and pledging your love is a romantic dream for any adventurer.

While it's possible to buy a Black Orchid Pearl, considering its origin, it would only have meaning if you found it yourself and gave it to someone.

"Is that really a good idea? You've left her alone for a week. If you don't go see her soon, she might break up with you before you can give it to her."

"I'm prepared for that. I don't expect her to wait for me."

"What a pessimist. I would have fallen for you in a heartbeat."

"I'm sure you have someone special too. Besides, I really wanted to get back sooner, but I thought it would be better to do this properly."

I gently stroked the newly acquired Black Orchid Pearl.

"I don't care about the size. The feeling is conveyed just by receiving it."

"Is that true?"

"Yes, it is. So go see her soon."

What kind of face will he make when I give this to him?

Will he be happy? Will he accept it?

No, he won't be happy with something like this.

The men who have approached him before must have prepared something similar.

But I've never seen him happy with any of them.

I realize I've made him wait too long. That was a mistake.

I've felt him becoming more distant towards me over time.

Especially in the past year, we haven't been able to talk as well as we used to.

Since our party grew to three, this trend has become more pronounced, and it's been lonely.

We're not fighting.

But he always seems to be in a bad mood and says harsh things to me.

His recent attitude makes me think he doesn't like me anymore.

That makes sense. He's beautiful and has the valuable gift of being a "Sword Saint."

I'm not talented at all, so I can't stand beside him.

---I lacked confidence.

---That's why I was anxious.

I prepared the Black Orchid Pearl out of cowardice. I wanted to return to the way things used to be.

No, I didn't want to go back. I wanted to move forward from our past relationship.

That's why I clung to the fairy tale of "Linne's Adventure."

He has been approached by many people.

Seeing that, I was always worried that he would leave with someone else.

On that day, we promised not to do "that" until we turned 18, and I told him I would confess on his 18th birthday. I didn't want to break that promise. A man who can't keep such a promise doesn't deserve to stand beside him.

I eagerly awaited this day, having become an adult a year earlier.

I wanted to express my feelings to him, who had always been by my side, even when I was devastated by that wicked woman.

To do that, I wanted to become a worthy adventurer. That was my pride as an adventurer, my life since leaving the island, and the result of all my efforts.

He always said the party could stay as a duo.

But it was I who accepted the guild master's mediation and increased the party to four members.

I didn't want to bury his talent.

And I wanted to reach S-rank quickly.

I thought that would give me confidence.

But even after our party became an S-rank party and received praise, I remained timid. I have no talent, and the world is full of talented people. It feels like I don't belong.

The memory of being betrayed still haunts me.

I fear that I will be betrayed by him someday.

I always wanted to be closer, to connect more.

It's been over 10 years since we first met. His feelings have probably changed.

This confession will not succeed.

I knew that.

But this is a matter of principle.

Even if I knew I would be rejected, it was undeniably him who helped me recover. I loved him.

This is the biggest challenge of my life as Clay.

That's why I wanted to take care of him until I was old enough to take responsibility.

But that long time was too much for both of us, and it was enough time for our relationship to change.

If he has someone else, I will honestly accept it and bless him.

At least, I have spent enough time with him as a childhood friend to do that.

But if he accepts me—

Then, let's move forward from this stagnation.

I mock myself for these unrealistic, convenient fantasies.

He won't turn to me, relying on something like the Black Orchid Pearl.

"Kyaa!"

Suddenly, a strong wind blew.

I quickly caught Niura, who stumbled.

"Ouch. I got something in my eye."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I think I'm fine. Got it!"

Niura's eyes were watery, but she seemed to be okay.

Five days later, that day will come.

No matter what answer I get, I will accept it.

We've spent that much time together. That's the only advantage I have.

My childhood friend, who saved me when I was devastated by Marley.

My childhood friend, who has been by my side for 12 years and said he loved me.

Hinoka's birthday is coming soon.

Let's go back to Hinoka.