NOVEL NEXT Chapter 147
That night.
Whew… feels refreshing.
You, huh…
After finishing her shower, Leje changed into her pajamas and was drying her wet hair.
Rudell was staring at her with a dumbfounded expression.
Huh? What’s up?
What are you doing in my bedroom?
Of course, Leje had her own room.
But for some reason, she had come to Rudell’s room to dry her hair.
Why? Is there a problem?
No, it’s not like that…
When she asked, Rudell replied awkwardly.
Technically, they were officially dating.
So, it wouldn’t be too weird for her to be in his room, right?
Are you embarrassed, or what?
Em, embarrassed!? What’s there to be embarrassed about? We’ve seen everything already!
They had bathed together as kids and had also slept in the same bed.
Thinking like that, Rudell shook his head vigorously.
Seeing him like that, Leje let out a giggle and then offered him a small hairbrush.
Brush my hair.
Receiving the hairbrush, Rudell stood up and gently brushed her hair.
It’s been a long time since you brushed my hair.
Right? Almost ten years, huh?
For that long, you’re pretty skilled at it. Must’ve practiced a lot?
Practice? Nah, my body just remembers it.
Responding to her playful banter, Rudell chuckled.
A little while later, after letting her neatly brushed hair down, Leje looked in the mirror and said,
Come to think of it, it feels like we’ve been super busy lately. Right?
Yeah, it seems like we had a bit of a break recently though.
Up until last year, Rudell and Leje’s days had been ridiculously busy.
On top of schoolwork and student council duties, they were also involved with the Church.
It was as if they needed another body…
No, even three wouldn’t be enough.
I never thought I’d be this busy back in the day.
Guess it’s only going to get busier… now that those Church folks are back.
The Church of the Eaters of Death had returned.
As the chosen warrior to face them, his path was bound to be difficult.
Thus, after placing the hairbrush on the desk, Rudell leaned back in his chair with a weary sigh.
And then, at that moment…
…
What’s wrong? Did something happen?
With a look that suggested she had a lot to say…
Seeing Leje staring at him like that, Rudell tilted his head.
No, nothing.
She shook her head at that question.
But only for a moment…
Hey, Rudell.
Yeah? What is it?
Are you really not worried at all?
With a strangely heavy voice, Leje asked.
Huh? What about?
About being chosen as the warrior. You really don’t feel anything?
Well, honestly, it was a bit surprising. I always thought you’d make a better warrior than me.
Given that she was a warrior in the original story, it was only natural for Rudell to think that way.
Of course, in reality, he was the one who became the warrior.
Is that… all?
Huh? What else do you need?
For Rudell, being chosen as a warrior was certainly unexpected.
But that was all.
His mission hadn’t changed.
He had to crush the Church of the Eaters of Death and ensure that the story of this world—
that his own story and that of his loved ones—did not end in tragedy.
Since the moment he became friends with Leje, that goal had remained unchanged.
…
Leje?
At Rudell’s answer, Leje silently gazed at him.
Perhaps she didn’t like his response.
Thinking about that, Rudell called out to her.
And then, in that moment.
You idiot!!
Wha—?! What’s with the sudden shout!?
Leje suddenly stood up and shouted, startling Rudell.
But that was only for a moment…
Wait a second, are you crying?
Seeing the transparent tears in Leje’s eyes, Rudell could only make a flustered expression.
Why… why are you so calm!? You’ve been chosen as the warrior!? Don’t you know what that means!?
No, Leje… What are you talking about…
Do you even know why warriors are warriors?! Because they have to accomplish what others can’t!! Even if it means you might die!! You have to be ready to die if it comes to that!!
Leje, hold up…!!
Why are you so unfazed about this?! I’m so worried about what might happen to you, terrified that one day you might just disappear, and you’re acting like it’s no big deal!!
…
Rudell couldn’t say a single word in the face of her anger-fueled shouting.
I actually lied to you. I said I wanted to become a warrior to get stronger, right?
Y-Yeah…
But that was just the surface reason. The real reason is that I didn’t want to see you get hurt.
Leje…
If I become a warrior and get stronger… if I become strong enough that you don’t need to fight anymore, I won’t have to see you in danger.
…
Rudell never imagined Leje thought like that.
Faced with her unexpected honesty, he silently gazed at her.
Rudell. Can’t we just hide somewhere? If we hid in a place where no one knows, wouldn’t everything be alright if we just went somewhere they couldn’t find us?
You know we can’t do that.
The Church of the Eaters of Death aimed to destroy the world and bring the evil god Thanatos down as the one true god.
There was no way to escape that fate no matter where they ran.
Why did you become the warrior! It should have been me! If I was the warrior, you could survive…!! Huh…!!
Did she lose control of her overwhelming feelings?
Tears began to flow from Leje’s eyes, and she sobbed, wiping her tears with her sleeve.
Watching her, Rudell stood and positioned himself in front of her.
He lowered himself to match her eye level and gently touched her cheek.
Leje, look at me.
Huh…! Sniff…!!
Even while unable to control her tears, she looked at Rudell.
Their gazes met, and Rudell placed a hand on her head, saying,
You said that if you were the warrior, you could survive. That’s why you had to be the warrior.
Yeah… sniff…
Like a young child, she nodded while sniffing.
How could she be such a naïve and foolish girl?
While thinking that, Rudell spoke.
So what about me? If I survive but you die, then what happens to me?
That’s…
That’s too selfish. Just like I value you, you’re precious to me too. You know that, right?
…
Plus, I’d never think about leaving you behind and dying alone. What kind of idiot would die when they have such a lovely and cute partner?
But that…
When have I ever lied to you?
…
At Rudell’s question, Leje shook her head.
In response, Rudell smiled softly and patted her head.
It seemed effective, as Leje’s breathing gradually stabilized, and before long, she completely stopped crying.
Sorry, I must’ve looked so pathetic, huh?
It’s fine. Why worry about that?
Responding to Leje’s question, Rudell took out a handkerchief and wiped away the tear stains from her eyes.
Honestly, he felt grateful that she had followed him without any complaints until now.
…Hey, Rudell…
Yeah? What’s up?
If it’s okay, I want to sleep together tonight.
Sure, if that’s what you want.
Rudell wasn’t dense enough to refuse that request given the situation.
As he nodded, Leje beamed a bright smile and got up to head to her room.
A moment later, she returned with a blanket and pillow and laid her place on Rudell’s bed.
Come on, get in quickly. You’re tired, aren’t you?
Geez…
Rudell sighed lightly, finding it hard to believe the girl who had just been crying so hard was now smiling brightly.
But that was only for a moment.
Taking a deep breath, Rudell lay down on the bed and turned to lock eyes with Leje.
At that moment, he felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth without him realizing it.
Hey, Rudell…
Yeah?
Was what you said earlier for real?
What I said earlier? Ah…
To her question, Rudell emitted a low chuckle.
-What kind of idiot would die when they have such a lovely and cute partner?
He never thought he’d hold onto those words even in that moment.
With that thought in mind, Rudell smiled softly at Leje.
Of course. Regardless of what anyone says, in my eyes, you’re the loveliest and cutest.
Hehe…
At his words, Leje smiled so brightly that it completely overshadowed her earlier sorrowful tears.
Rudell returned that smile to her.
Rudell. I really like you.
I like you too.
Returning her sentiment, Rudell slowly closed his heavy eyelids.
And thus, the night wore on.