Editors: sleepchaser, ASplashofMusic, Katie_WanderingFujoshi
This takes place between chapter 6 and 7 (After Ilya reunited with Kenneth, before the trip).Â
Let’s talk about the hero.
Having defeated the Demon King and his army, the hero finally fulfilled the dearest wish of mankind. And just the other day, he made his triumphal return to the capital. Renowned as the strongest and kindest man in history, always extending a helping hand to the inhabitants of the places he visited.
The hero’s perpetual icy expression was also known to the masses. A mask hiding all his innermost thoughts.Â
Some people even worshipped him as God. But now… that same man was carrying an empty plate in a tavern, an apron tied on his waist.
At the moment, his beautiful red eyes were slightly narrowed, his face looking icier than usual.
Could anyone please notice this abnormality?
Looking into my eyes, Ilya greeted, “Welcome! What would you like to order?” And he came closer to better hear my words amidst the bustling tavern.
“For now, give me the usual beer,” I responded.
“Okay, got it! I’ll bring it to your table in a short while!” Ilya flashed a smile, a bright aura around him.
The hero’s gaze grew colder.
His friendly, hospitable attitude when dealing with customers was just a part of Ilya’s job description. Though being straightforward and friendly was certainly in his nature as well. His smile was pretty amiable, but… how could I ignore the guy shooting daggers at me with his eyes? He looked ready to kill.
Daringly, I met his piercing gaze head-on, shrugging my shoulders.
The hero’s expressionless face turned slightly sullen. He shot me a side-glance, scrutinizing me, before nonchalantly going after Ilya.
As my eyes followed their figures, I recalled the recent happenings.
Even though spring was already approaching one step at a time, the nights were still freezing cold.
As I stood outside the entrance of the tavern, I squinted at the scenery of the main street, cheeks flushed from the cold alcohol.Â
Some time had already passed since we made our triumphal return, but a festive atmosphere still enveloped the entire country. No, the majority of the world was also in celebration. The hero was probably the only gloomy person in the world at this time… But he was also starting to express his emotions, even if only a little.
Warm air suddenly blasted against my back. I turned around, and my gaze met with that of Ilya.
Apparently, he especially came to see me off. So very courteous. So different from a certain waiter who told me to go home.
“Mister Elmer! Sorry, I wasn’t able to entertain you during your time in our tavern…”
It then hit me that I had yet to ask him about his feelings toward the hero. I used this time to voice out my curiosity. “Ilya, do like the hero?”
Ilya turned rigid. “…Eh?”
In the blink of an eye, his face grew bright red. His brown eyes shifted aimlessly in panic.
“Well, I do like him. He’s my childhood friend after all,” he said. He tried to hide his nervousness with a laugh, but it didn’t look very convincing to me.
Looked like he wasn’t aware it was love yet. But it was only a matter of time. I could tell just from the awkward atmosphere between them just now.
A wide grin spread across my lips at Ilya’s reaction, which was the exact opposite of the hero’s.
If Allen’s death had caused the hero to encase himself in an armor of ice, then Ilya would be the one to melt it.
Even if they didn’t rely on something uncertain like love, their feelings for each other were still quite deep.
But based on his reaction, they weren’t too far away from becoming a couple.
An angry pout formed on Ilya’s face. “Stop grinning!”
“Sorry, sorry. I won’t laugh anymore. I don’t want to disturb other people’s love affairs!”
But unbeknownst to the both of us, the hero was watching us through the gap of the slightly open door.
Later on, he asked me to practise with him. Then proceeded to beat me up with his sword until I cried and begged for mercy.
Of course, the current me didn’t know that yet.