I stand up in agitation after getting a monster reaction from the magic <Search Floor>. But then I realized that I was feeling a bit drowsy earlier.\n
If not for my thigh hitting the table when I stood and spilling the glass of water all of a sudden, I probably wouldnāt have remembered. The water is even now spilling onto the floor.\n
.\n
ā¦But then, my eyes met with an orange haired girl I had never met before.\n
Sheās looking at me with a strange expression on her face as she greets me first.\n
.\n
[ā¦Uhm, err, morning?]\n
.\n
ā¦What can I sayā¦ I can only look at the other people around me for an answer.\n
First, to the pretty blonde girl with round eyes that canāt help herself anymore from containing her giggle.\n
.\n
[Fufufufuā¦ Just what kind of dream are you having, Jannet-san? Weāre walking around the city all this time you know~.] (Katie)\n
[Thatās rare coming from yah. Still tired?] (Vince)\n
.\n
Hearing Katie-san and Vinceās reactions made me realize what I have just done.\n
.\n
Weāre supposed to welcome a new member who will be joining our party so weāre meeting with that person in the guild. And before I knew it, Iād already fallen asleepā¦\n
ā¦H ā how embarrassingā¦ Are all the overthinking Iām doing just backfiring at meā¦?\n
.\n
The effect of the magic <Search Floor> has already ended, and I can only see humans all around me.\n
That should be obvious considering this is the city.\n
Still, I use my magic to be able to determine when the new member might suddenly appear but I really just have to fall asleep and miss my timing. How futileā¦\n
.\n
Iām just running around in circles at this point, arenāt it Iā¦\n
.\n
[Uhm, can I call you Jannet-san?] (Orange haired girl)\n
[Oh, yes. I am the sage, Jannet.]\n
[I see, I see. This partyās composition is indeed great, Katie-san!]\n
[Aria, you think so too? Fufu, I told you~]\n
.\n
There are two things I need to take note with this exchange.\n
This orange haired girl is named Aria andā¦ sheās on lower standing compared to Katie-san.\n
Katie-san had been talking even with rude adventurers in such a polite tone but this is the first time Iāve heard her talk like a casual senior.\n
.\n
[More importantly, Aria-san, is it?]\n
[Yes! Iāll do my best!]\n
.\n
Aria-san stands in ceremony putting her fingers to a salute like the people in the army.\n
Her refreshing orange hair sways beautifully as she moves.\n
A girl brimming with energy.\n
.\n
But thereās one more thing thatās been bugging me.\n
.\n
(ā¦This girlā¦ Is a *blessed* one as wellā¦)\n
.\n
Aria is bigshot in different ways.\n
She appears to have a good physique with the same height as Katie.\n
But more importantlyā¦ her huge chest. Hers arenāt as ridiculous as Katie-san but due to her high stature, hers apparently look larger than mine.\n
ā¦Who would have thought that in just a few days, Iād be kicked from my throne down to the bottom in the chest size of this partyā¦ Well, since itāll divert the disgusting gazes that had been coming my way then I guess thatās okayā¦\n
.\n
Now that Iām done checking out Aria-sanās high spec appearance, letās ask her first of the things going on in my mind.\n
.\n
[Aria-san, can I ask where you are staying and what activities were you doing all this time?]\n
[All this time? Err, Iāve just always been in this city though.]\n
.\n
So sheās operating as a solo adventurer in this city.\n
ā¦Really? A beauty like this with assets so outstanding?\n
.\n
[My class is actually <Magic Swordsman> but as you can see, Iām wearing a heavy armor and working as an Armored Knight. Please donāt think much of me as a woman and use me as necessary.]\n
.\n
Aria-san then reaches out her hand.\n
I also extend mine in return and shake hers.\n
.\n
[But anyway, Iāll always remember this as a fine first meeting.] (Aria)\n
[ā¦Please, forget about what just happenedā¦] (Jannet)\n
.\n
Seriously, I canāt even laugh at thought of myself sleeping so peacefully then suddenly scream in panic in front of someone I am meeting for the first time.\n
Perhaps I was really dreaming of being attacked by monsters. Still, as common as any other dream, I canāt really recall any details about it.\n
ā¦But, I donāt think Iāve just been dreaming earlier at allā¦\n
.\n
.\n
.\n
.\n
We went back to the receptionist and I was notified that a letter was sent to me from an anonymous sender. I receive it and go a separate way from the three and find a back alley for myself.\n
This letter, after allā¦ Is something that Iāve been really waiting for.\n
.\n
(He forgave herā¦!)\n
.\n
This small paper contains how Emmy was accepted and had been forgiven by Russell with every detail.\n
She also included Russellās abilities andā¦ his transformation. Thereās also a story about a girl who is her new found friend and rivalā¦\n
She really put everything she wanted to say in such a little piece of paper. It seems that Emmy wonāt back out this time and would really give it her all. I canāt stop chuckling at the thought.\n
.\n
But thereās one thought in it that I canāt just let goā¦\n
.\n
(to be able to reunite our childhood friendships, huhā¦)\n
.\n
Emmy accepted Russellās words and forgiveness in tears.\n
It seems like my fears and worries arenāt that necessary.\n
For a prince who is always saving Emmy unaware, he is indeed dense.\n
And this time, he once again saved Emmy from herself by just stating the obvious.\n
.\n
(I wonderā¦ Can I rekindle such friendship with him tooā¦)\n
.\n
I entertain the thought even for a little butā¦ I canāt help but deny the possibility even myself.\n
.\n
āJust, what are you thinking, Jannet?\n
Do you really think you have the right to reach out to himā¦?\n
.\n
Iā¦ Not to Russell; Vince; not even Emmy, knowsā¦ I didnāt talk about it to them.\n
And I hope not a day comes where this secret has to reveal itself.\n
.\n
Russell already has Emmyā¦ I am a bit intrigued as well with the rival that she described in her letter.\n
And now, they are all both traveling together, mending and improving their relationship.\n
This is fine. It should be.Ā \n
.\n
Now, along with the small piece of paper containing the precious stories told by my best friend, I burn and turn to ashes all the conflicts and regrets in my heart that I keep hidden.\n
Yeah, this is it. This is for the best.\n
.\n
Now thenā¦ Time to get back to the reality that Iāve chosen.\n
.\n
.\n
.\n
.\n
A few days have passed since then.\n
Weāre exploring the dungeon as a team and weāre doing quite well.\n
It wasnāt really that bad when we still had Russell but it was indeed harder fighting at the same time protecting our low level healer.Ā \n
Today, the heroās party steps forth toward the tenth floor of the dungeon.\n
.\n
The tenth floor is dyed red and seeing such, Katie-san gives a suggestion.\n
.\n
[Weāve traveled enough for today. Letās go back now and be ready for tomorrow.]\n
.\n
Me and Vince nod our heads as there are no disagreements there.\n
Aria-san, to be honest, is just like receiving instructions as to what we are saying and follows them obediently.\n
Yep, I think sheās good for a comrade.\n
.\n
I immediately feel drowsy after arriving at the inn.\n
I wonderā¦ perhaps Iāve been too restless before and now that I know that Emmy is safe, Iāve now completely let go of the tension Iāve been holding all along.\n
.\n
I slept immediately once we got back and by the time I woke up from my nap, Katie-san and Aria-san were also around.\n
Aria-san isnāt as *amazing* as Katie-san, but, I have to say that the way she cares less about her clothes to the point that the situation could immediately be in danger doesnāt make her any better.\n
ā¦Really, how can a person like her be alone until we meet her?\n
.\n
But everythingās going well.\n
Itās all doing so well that Iām having a creepy feeling about it.\n
.\n
And so I woke up from my nap once again.\n
And ofcourse, thereās the two of themā¦\n
.\n
ā¦Or rather, notā¦?\n
.\n
I keep my mouth shut and move closer towards the windows.\n
The memory of the talks I had with Emmy resurfaces into my memories and soā¦ I decide to sneak up and look through the mirror from the gaps of the curtain.\n
.\n
ā¦And there she was, standing by herself.\n
Itās Katie-san bathing under the light of the moon in a deserted garden.\n
.\n
[ā¦ Impossibleā¦ takenā¦ it got taken awayā¦ Noā¦ This canāt be happeningā¦ Unacceptableā¦ I wonāt accept this. Was it accepted immediately? Itās been a long time but, thereās no helping itā¦ itās as far as they can go. This canāt be tolerated anymoreā¦ NoĀ moreā¦]\n
.\n
.\n
.\n
āThis is itā¦ā¦!!!\n
This is what Emmy was talking aboutā¦!\n
.\n
I put my hand towards my mouth to make sure that even my breath wonāt get past as I slowly move back towards the bed.\n
As for Aria-sanā¦ She should be asleep. I wonder if sheās aware of this side of Katie?\n
āAccepted immediately?ā āItās been a long time?ā. Just what is she talking about? Just what is the thing that the girl who even casually knows chantless magic finds āimpossibleā and āunacceptableā?\n
Is it the information about Russell? Butā¦ isnāt it too late already for that?\n
Perhaps I should try to peek a little more.\n
.\n
But ā the following words I heard thereafter almost made my heart stop.\n
.\n
[ā¦ At the very least, we canāt let Jannet-san get takenā¦]\n
.\n
Right now, at this very moment, I really really really want to give myself some praise for not even letting out a little scream.\n
ā¦No need to overthink about itā¦ Sheās just talking to herselfā¦ I didnāt get caught peekingā¦ Definitelyā¦\n
.\n
I lift my blanket and tuck myself again inside my bed.\n
Iāve been dozing off quite a lot lately butā¦ Now, I doubt if I can even get some sleepā¦\n
.\n
Emmyā¦ This must have been the anxiety and fear sheād been keeping beforeā¦\n
It might be too late now but for someone like you whoād been the brightest among us keeping all these bottled up dread all on your own while I am sound asleep makes me more disgusted with myself.\n
ā¦How can someone as carefree as me stand beside you as your best friendā¦\n
.\n
But still, you are the best I could ever have and I can only wish for you to be happy and better.\n
<ol>I feel bad for Jannet. Because I experienced fighting with those fears in sleep as well. I think some people do. Really. There are nights where you will feel thankful that exhaustion can put you to sleep, otherwise, you have to get yourself tired just so you can involuntarily put your mind in shut down mode. Ugh, it feels so bad. I just wish and pray for everyone who are having these battles to not give up. Things will get better. Hold your Faith.</ol>\n.\n
Hereās my lullaby song ā rather, the song I put on repeat until I can fall asleep. Cos there were nights I donāt really want the moon to fall down and for the sun to rise again. Thankfully, itās getting better for me.\n
2. Theoryyy ā I wonder whatās takenā¦ A dungeon core? Or the holy knight who now converted to the dark side? Until the line where Katie wants to secure Jannet, I was really confuse about it. But I think now it leans more on the top tier classes.\n
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<hr class="wp-block-separator">\nAppreciate the post? Maybe you can buy me a cup of coffee?~\n