Chapter 77

Duncan was one of the villagers who had watched Theo grow up since childhood.

A lot has changed recently.

At some point, Theo had changed so drastically that he no longer seemed like the boy Duncan had always known.

It was only natural to feel that way after all; Theo had always avoided learning the sword, claiming he had no talent for it. But one day, out of the blue, he had come to Duncan himself and asked to be taught.

At first, Duncan had assumed it would only last a day or two. However, contrary to his expectations, Theo grew stronger at an astonishing pace and absorbed everything Duncan taught him like a sponge.

Duncan had found Theo both admirable and fascinating, which only made him more eager to teach him.

Even so, he had never taught Theo with the expectation that he would single-handedly take down the Demon King or bear the weight of everything on his own.

On the contrary, he had hoped Theo would use his strength to protect others.

When Estelle and Iris started staying by Theo’s side, Duncan had been confident that they would make excellent companions for him, so he never felt the need to mention them.

And yet, look at this mess.

Wanting to protect others was admirable, but Duncan had never expected Theo to shoulder everything so stubbornly on his own.

In the past, Theo had been someone who relied on others. He had never been the type to try and carry burdens alone, so Duncan had underestimated how much he would change.

“Theo, what is it that you truly want?”

When Duncan asked him this, Theo simply smiled.

“I just want to live. I want to keep on living in this peaceful everyday life.”

There was a firm resolve in Theo’s voice as he spoke. And yet, compared to that determination, his wish was so simple that some might have found his answer underwhelming.

“It’s good to want to protect your daily life. But don’t let yourself get so caught up in the future that you forget to live in the present.”

Because beyond that unshakable resolve, Duncan could see the fear that lingered within Theo.

He simply offered advice without questioning Theo’s words about wanting to protect his peaceful daily life, as if he already knew something.

“…I’ll try. For now, I do feel like my head is a little clearer. The clearest it’s been in a while.”

“That’s because I hit you earlier.”

“Absolutely not.”

When Duncan acted as if he was about to hit him again, Theo quickly covered his head and stepped back.

“I should get going.”

“Yeah, well. It’s late anyway. Your roommate must be worried.”

“He’s probably just sleeping.”

Since Theo had been coming home late often these days, he figured Marty was most likely fast asleep, not concerned in the slightest.

“Anyway, don’t come tomorrow. The butcher shop’s closed for the next three days. We’re all going on a trip, so no one will be here.”

“Even better.”

“Don’t show up unless you want me to report you for trespassing.”

“Tch.”

Seeing Theo nod as if he got the message, Duncan didn’t hold back his advice.

“The people around you. They’re not as weak as you think. I hope you stop trying to carry everything on your own, and soon.”

“I’ll try.”

There were things Theo had believed he had to handle alone.

No, he still thought there were things he had to take care of. Because he was the only one who knew the future.

But.

Maybe letting go a little wouldn’t be so bad.

He could ease up a bit, enjoy the present, and prepare for the future.

Of course, he knew better than anyone that it wouldn’t be easy.

But the people around him…

Iris and Estelle were the most notable examples. As time went on, they would only grow stronger.

Just because he let go of a few things didn’t mean the world would suddenly flash a bad ending like in a game.

If anything, isn’t this even more dangerous right now?

Ever since Theo had stepped away, Iris and Estelle had been walking on thin ice with each other.

Of course, he was well aware of that.

It wasn’t that he didn’t care; he had simply been trying not to focus on them too much.

“I’ll think about it after I get back.”

In any case, the butcher shop had closed long ago, and Theo knew Duncan had already given him more of his time than he probably should have. So, using teleportation magic, Theo returned to the dormitory.

***

“Hey, where the hell have you been?”

I was a little surprised when I got back to the dormitory.

I had assumed Marty would be fast asleep, but instead, he was wide awake, with all the lights on and a worried look on his face.

“Huh? I was just training.”

“You weren’t at the training grounds. Do you have some kind of private training area or something?”

Well… if he had to call it that.

Duncan’s training grounds weren’t exactly private, but since no one else really used them, I suppose that’s one way to look at it.

“Why didn’t you just go to sleep?”

“You weren’t at the training grounds, and lately, there’ve been rumors that you’ve been distant with the Saintess and the Crown Princess. It got me a little worried.”

“Oh, come on, that’s nothing to worry about.”

Realizing that someone actually cared about me more than I expected was a bit touching.

Marty always seemed like the type to go through life without much thought.

I had assumed he wasn’t interested in me at all, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.

“Anyway, at least let me know next time. Otherwise, I’m seriously telling the dorm supervisor that you broke curfew.”

Marty clicked his tongue and flopped onto his bed with a dramatic motion.

Looks like he had been worried, but now that I was back safe and sound, he was feeling embarrassed about it.

“Alright, alright. Thanks for worrying about me. Get some sleep.”

After expressing my gratitude and lying down, I felt all the tension drain from his body.

Even though I had slept quite a bit at Duncan’s place…

Maybe it was the fatigue catching up with me after not taking a proper break for so long, but drowsiness washed over me like a wave.

“Haah…”

What should I even say to Estelle and Iris tomorrow?

There was no avoiding it, but I couldn’t keep things as they were forever.

Still… how was I supposed to respond to something that was basically a direct confession?

Was it even right for me to take the first step?

Wouldn’t that mean I was rejecting both of them?

In that case, shouldn’t I just wait for them to move on and approach me again when they were truly okay?

Damn it. Or should I just accept it?

If it was only going to be a fleeting spark before they eventually ended up together, maybe I should just go along with it and enjoy it while it lasted.

Lost in those thoughts, I eventually drifted off to sleep.

“Hey, Theo! Wake up! You’re gonna be late!”

When I opened my eyes at Marty’s voice, the room was already bright.

“Wow… I haven’t slept that well in a long time.”

“You’ve barely been sleeping these past few days. If you let the fatigue pile up, it’ll only get worse, so take better care of yourself, man. I’m heading out first!”

After rattling off his concerns like that, Marty suddenly disappeared, as if embarrassed by his own words.

Seriously, that guy gets embarrassed over the weirdest things.

When I stepped out of the dormitory on my way to class—

“Sir Theo…!”

“Sir Theo…!”

Two familiar voices, ones I hadn’t heard in what felt like forever, reached my ears.

“Estelle, Iris.”

When I called their names, they hesitated, looking unsure of what to say. So, I greeted them first.

“It feels like it’s been a while since the three of us were together like this. Did you sleep well?”

Their faces instantly brightened at my words. That was proof enough that both of them had been struggling emotionally all this time.

Still, the fact that they had approached me first probably meant they had sorted out their feelings to some extent.

“Yes, I slept well. What about you, Sir Theo? I heard rumors that you’ve been overworking yourself lately, and I was worried.”

It was Estelle who responded first.

“Oh, yeah. I’m trying to take it easy now. Duncan chewed me out about it yesterday.”

“Oh, so you went to see Mr. Duncan. He can be loud, but his advice is spot on. I wish I had gone with you.”

“Yeah, maybe next time we should go together.”

“…! Yes, I’d love that!”

Estelle didn’t seem to have any intention of sorting out her feelings just yet.

The way she reacted so openly to my words, her emotions fluctuating with every little thing, made that clear.

“I also… slept well. I actually came to see you because there’s something I wanted to tell you…”

Iris, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, finally spoke up a little late.

“Something you want to say? What is it?”

“Ah… I’d like to talk to you alone, if possible.”

“Hmm, alright. I’ll wait here, so once you’re done, you have to come back, okay?”

For once, Estelle surprisingly stepped aside without protest, and I moved to another spot with Iris.

When I turned to face her from a short distance away, I could finally see it clearly. The expression she had tried to hide. A mix of excitement and uncertainty, her slightly trembling hands, and the hesitation in her gaze.

“Well… after hearing that Estelle confessed on my behalf as well, I was honestly a little scared, so I couldn’t bring myself to talk to you.”

Ah, right. It wasn’t a direct confession, but Estelle had certainly said a lot that revealed both of their feelings.

“Haha, is that so? Well, I guess that means Estelle owes you an apology.”

Wait. Was that why?

Did she feel guilty about it? Was that why she had so easily given me time alone with Iris?

“Anyway, I’ve spent this time apart from you thinking things through, but… I still like you, Sir Theo.”

When I looked at Iris who confessed her feelings so honestly without hiding anything, I wasn’t sure what kind of expression I should make.

“Of course, I don’t mean for this confession to pressure you in any way. I just wanted to express how I feel. So please, don’t feel burdened. Just know that there’s someone out there who likes you.”