Baron of Lafdonia.
Hero of the Explorers.
New Chieftain of the Barbarians.
Leader of Clan Anabada.
All these titles referred to one person.
Bjorn Yandel, the Giant.
"He's... really alive..."
Misha Carlstain clenched her fists.
She had gone to the city at dawn and asked around. Lee Baekho's words had been true.
"Then what have I been doing all this ti...?"
A mixture of emotions washed over her.
Joy, sadness, relief, and a sense of emptiness.
And anger.
Why had Bjorn Yandel faked his death?
And deceived her?
If he hadn't...
She wouldn't have had to spend the past few years with those criminals.
"No."
She shook her head, dismissing the thought.
There must have been a reason.
Bjorn Yandel wasn't that kind of person.
She would trust him.
Until she heard his explanation.
"...Yes, that's right..."
She muttered to herself and headed towards Bjorn's address.
But the house was empty.
"He... moved...?"
Why now, of all tis?
She found a nearby inn and stayed the night. The next morning, she asked around again and finally found his new address.
"Comlby..."
It felt strange.
We had talked about moving to the city center soday...
'This is his house...'
She stood in front of the house, but she couldn't bring herself to knock.
Her mind raced.
How would Bjorn react when he saw her?
What if he wasn't happy to see her?
She had heard he was living with that fairy and Emily Raines.
'Emily Raines... the one from Parune Island.'
What was their relationship?
How had they beco companions?
Were the rumors about them true?
Anxiety gnawed at her.
"..."
Misha Carlstain spent the entire day wandering around the house, occasionally peeking inside.
'At least I saw him...'
She had seen Bjorn return late at night, but she hadn't been able to talk to him.
He had looked tired.
'Yes, that's the reason. Nothing else...'
She would co back tomorrow.
But the sa thing happened the next day. Bjorn left early in the morning and returned late at night.
She could have talked to him, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
"Have a good day, Mister!"
"...I wish you were staying for dinner."
The two won would see Bjorn off in the morning, and he would scold them for coming all the way to the door.
She finally understood.
'He's... okay.'
Even without her.
Bjorn Yandel's life hadn't changed much.
One day, two days, three days, four days...
Ti passed.
She continued to watch him from afar, occasionally using her ability to conceal her presence.
The two won were sensitive to presences, and she almost got caught a few tis. But she hadn't entered the house, so she had managed to avoid detection.
But she gradually beca bolder.
She moved from the street to the window.
And from the window to the backyard wall.
She watched them, hidden in the shadows.
And one day...
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
A magic circle appeared, and Bjorn returned.
He asked about the changes in the backyard, and the two won answered.
"This...? It just... happened. It looks a little crude, but... we didn't have a choice."
"We couldn't let one person have it all, so we decided to share."
Were they really talking about the backyard?
Misha didn't think too much about it.
They went to the kitchen, and the mysterious man prepared a al.
"How is it? Does it suit your taste?"
"It's perfect. Just the right amount of seasoning. And plenty of at."
He always complained about my cooking being bland...
"The ladies instructed to always prepare extra, in case you ca ho hungry."
"...Ladies?"
Misha froze.
Were the rumors true?
Bjorn didn't say anything.
He didn't deny or confirm it.
Thump—
Her heart sank.
She had also been misunderstood while living with him, but he had always denied the rumors.
"Mister, you don't have anything scheduled for today, do you?"
After the al, they went to the garden and chatted over tea.
The backyard, divided into a training ground and a garden.
A round table with three chairs.
'...They're too close.'
She couldn't stay here any longer. She would be discovered.
She carefully moved towards the wall, trying to avoid making any noise.
One step.
Two steps.
As she moved away from them, a single thought kept repeating in her mind.
What if...
She had accepted Lee Baekho's offer.
And waited for him.
Would she be sitting there with them now?
She didn't know.
But one thing was certain.
"I was just wondering what it would be like to have a family."
There was no room for her here.
So...
Rustle.
She would leave.
That's what she had decided.
But at that mont...
"!"
Two figures charged at her from both sides.
She had been too distracted to react.
"...Eek?!"
When she ca to, she was kneeling on the ground, her arms pinned behind her back.
The situation was clear.
She had been caught spying on her forr teammates... or rather, her ex-boyfriend.
"..."
What could she possibly say?
"Ahaha..."
She chuckled awkwardly and tried to greet him.
"I-It's been a while... Bjorn... Ugh!"
She bit her tongue.
It was a terrible reunion.
___________________
A room on the second floor, overlooking the backyard.
A woman stood by the window, nervously biting her nails.
"Why is she back now...? After abandoning him...? And she's trying to... steal him away from ..."
Her muttered words revealed her anxiety. Alia, who had been watching her, finally spoke up.
"...I can't hear her. She's using a magic tool... Is there anything we can do...?"
"There is, but..."
"Then we should—!"
"Bjorn won't like it."
Erwen imdiately shut her mouth.
And she continued to bite her nails, staring out the window.
Alia, unable to stand it any longer, asked,
"Then why don't you do sothing about it? You've been passive for too long."
Erwen turned and glared at Alia. Her eyes were cold and sharp, but Alia just shrugged.
"What? Am I wrong?"
She knew.
Even if Erwen looked like she was about to lose it, she wouldn't do anything that would jeopardize her relationship with Bjorn Yandel.
Beneath that prickly exterior was a scared, insecure girl.
"..."
Erwen didn't answer.
She avoided the question and remained silent.
'I don't usually ddle in other people's business, but...'
I can't just leave her like this.
Alia walked over to the window and sat down next to Erwen.
And then she asked,
"Tersia, what kind of relationship do you want with Yandel?"
"..."
Erwen didn't answer.
Normally, Alia would have just given up... but she persisted.
"If things continue like this, nothing will change, even if Misha Carlstain returns."
"..."
"Do you want to be in a romantic relationship with him?"
Finally, Erwen answered.
"...Is that... wrong...?"
It was a typical response from soone who lacked confidence.
"I didn't say it was wrong."
"...Then what are you trying to say?"
The cornered coward beca aggressive, and Alia took a step back.
"I'm just curious. Why haven't you expressed your feelings?"
"..."
"You know, don't you? Yandel is oblivious. He's too busy thinking to notice anything."
"..."
"So tell . Maybe I can help."
"...Ha! You? Helping ?"
Erwen scoffed and then asked,
"What about you...? What kind of relationship do you want with him...?"
It was a sensitive topic, but Alia answered honestly.
"I'm happy with the way things are. I'm already having fun."
She didn't mind Erwen's childish tantrums or the fact that she always had to clean up after Yandel's sses.
The reason was simple.
"Like Yandel said, this is what it's like to have a family."
Erwen was speechless. The coldness in her eyes had vanished, replaced by confusion.
"..."
"..."
A long silence followed.
Erwen finally spoke, her voice barely a whisper.
"...Tell ... what should I do?"
Her prickly exterior had finally cracked.
Alia smiled gently.
"Wait."
"...Wait?"
"He'll run away if you approach him now."
A hunter had to corner their prey before making a move.
Alia calmly explained the situation.
"Yandel probably thinks you're not thinking straight. He thinks your feelings are just a temporary infatuation. That's why he's avoiding you."
And there was one more thing.
"He doesn't want to ruin your current relationship."
The fairy and the barbarian were similar.
They both hid their insecurities behind a tough exterior.
"So you have to wait. If you approach him now, he'll just make excuses and run away."
"How long...?"
"Until he thinks you're over it. Until he thinks you're thinking rationally."
When that happened, he would finally face her feelings head-on.
"Of course, you can't just wait. You have to nurture your relationship in the anti."
"...How?"
"Stop using honorifics."
"...What else?"
Alia then gave her so advice on romantic relationships, and Erwen listened intently.
Her advice was surprisingly effective.
It all made sense.
"Tying his tie for him...? That's..."
Erwen looked at Alia with a newfound respect.
"Have you... been in a relationship before?"
"...No."
Erwen frowned, her trust wavering.
"Wait, then how do you know all this?"
Alia chuckled awkwardly and said,
"...I read it in a book."
Well, it was true.
___________________
Ten days after eting Lee Baekho,
I finally reunited with Misha.
'I never imagined it would be like this...'
I let Alia and Misha inside and activated a portable sound barrier.
I didn't want Erwen to overhear our conversation.
"..."
"..."
An awkward silence followed.
It wasn't a heartwarming reunion.
My muscles tensed, and my neck felt stiff.
'Why is this so awkward?'
I finally spoke.
"Your hair... it's long."
"Ah... this...? Yeah..."
It wasn't much of a conversation starter.
But I continued, trying to break the ice.
"I don't think I've ever seen you with your hair tied back like that."
"I used to do it all the ti when I was cooking... Ah, I an... I did..."
There it was.
Her usual awkwardness.
I smiled, feeling more relaxed.
"Just speak normally. It's not like we're strangers."
"But... I really did fix it... while you were gone..."
"...Fix it?"
"Yes... I still... revert sotis when I'm nervous... But I've fixed it... mostly..."
So she was nervous too.
"A-Anyway, now that we've greeted each other, I-I have to go—"
What was she talking about?
Didn't she understand the situation?
"Where are you going?"
I took a step forward and grabbed her wrist.
'...She's so thin.'
She couldn't escape now, unless she had a Blink skill.
Had she learned one while I was gone?
I couldn't be sure.
"Misha Carlstain."
I looked at her and said,
"You're not going anywhere."
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