HRB 135

Gerold carefully examined Eddie’s body. His weight had dropped a little, but since he’d been bedridden for over a week, Gerold was confident he could normalize that part quickly, so it was fine.

“Are you alright now?”

“Yes, I’ve completely recovered.”

“That’s a relief.”

Gerold smiled gently. It was a sight rarely seen, like an annual event, so Eddie looked surprised for a moment before smiling brightly along with Gerold.

Conversely, the face of the man visible behind Eddie turned cold in an instant.

Gerold and the man’s eyes met. The man’s gaze, which was always meek and quiet in front of Eddie, was quite overtly sharp.

Let go and get lost, right now.

Of course, Gerold had no intention of complying. While he did try his best to get along with them because Eddie wished it, they were fundamentally incompatible.

When Gerold hugged Eddie even tighter, the man’s eyebrows twitched.

In an instant, a gaze filled with a thousand curses flew between Gerold and the man.

Truly, there wasn’t a single thing Gerold liked about the man, from head to toe. Even though Gerold now knew the man wasn’t just an ordinary Swordsman but the Hero who saved the world, knowing that fact didn’t dramatically improve their relationship.

He recalled how both Gerold and Ebon had merely responded with a “Oh, really?” and had no other reaction, leading Sebastian, the only one in the mansion who was shocked by that fact, to jump up and down asking how they could be so indifferent.

As the thought surfaced, Sebastian suddenly came to mind, and Gerold looked towards him, making direct eye contact with Sebastian, who was staring at him with cold eyes for reasons unknown.

It wasn’t just Ketron who had turned cold.

…Why are you like this now?

“Everyone, I have something to say.”

When everyone in the mansion, including the Holy Sword, had gathered, Eddie began to speak.

About the stories he experienced on the brink of death.

Why Arthur Fontaine, the fake Hero, had targeted Eddie and why he had met the Demon King.

Gerold sensed that many things had been omitted, but since the master had decided not to tell them everything, it was right to accept it, so Gerold didn’t point out those parts.

“He saved you?”

The Holy Sword seemed extremely surprised that it was the Demon King, not someone else, who had saved Eddie.

He, who had boisterously claimed Eddie’s side, didn’t care about Ketron’s overt glare and was hugging Eddie when he jumped up at those words.

“Ugh.”

As a result, Eddie, who was suddenly hugged by the Holy Sword, let out a pained groan as if an uncomfortable spot had been touched.

“You just get lost over there.”

That, in turn, provided the catalyst for Ketron to completely separate Eddie and the Holy Sword and seat Eddie next to himself.

Ebon, who was listening intently to Eddie’s words without caring whether the two bickered or not, had a cold expression.

“As expected, I’ll kill him.”

Ebon, who had already agreed to join the Demon King subjugation party like Gerold, ground his teeth.

“……”

Gerold, though appearing quite calm on the outside, was quietly burning within.

He had lived in the shadows purely for Eddie, not because he lacked ability compared to his brother, Simon. In fact, in some ways, he was better than Simon.

If the Demon King had to be eliminated for a peaceful life, he was capable enough to contribute as a Hero.

Until now, it hadn’t been his duty, but now that Eddie was involved with the Hero, and through him, Eddie had become entangled with the Demon King, Gerold was willing to use his power if it meant Eddie’s safety and if it was the right thing to do.

Sebastian, a thoroughly ordinary person, offered no particular opinion.

The man who did the most work after Gerold at the inn, diligently managed the mansion whenever Gerold was away, and had a natural talent for brightening the atmosphere, knew perfectly well when to step forward and when not to.

Watching him intently, Gerold recalled trying to teach him Sorcery once. He thought Sebastian would use it well if he could.

Despite Gerold’s attempts to teach Sebastian Sorcery several times, only one thing was confirmed.

Sebastian had absolutely no talent for Sorcery.

What did that man say, looking dejected by that fact?

“I know this is an incredible opportunity.”

Sorcery was the exclusive domain of nobles. It was a field that a commoner like him couldn’t learn without extraordinary luck.

“And that you’re trying to give it to me. But I have no talent, so I can’t receive it.”

He had said that with a dejected look, uncharacteristic of him, as he couldn’t absorb even a little of what Gerold had taken the time to teach him due to a lack of talent.

Gerold, honestly, was a little flustered at the time.

Sorcery was a field where talent was rare. Sensitivity to mana was a given, and one needed a sharp mind for calculations.

Still, he had only intended to teach him something simple for convenience, not to disappoint Sebastian.

So.

“You’re good at other things.”

He offered clumsy comfort.

“That’s enough.”

And perhaps that was the day Gerold and Sebastian first kissed.

More precisely, it was the day Gerold had his lips stolen right before his eyes.

“Like you’re swatting away a fly! Hey, it’s my and Gerold’s job to attend to Paki!”

Gerold, lost in thought, snapped back to attention at Ebon’s sudden shout.

Night had fallen, and Ketron was waving his hands, telling the gathered people to disperse, citing that Eddie hadn’t woken up long ago.

Seeing that, Ebon, who had become agitated, started picking a fight with Ketron, and Gerold sighed. Not a quiet day in sight.

Gerold’s efforts to pull the agitated Ebon away caused a brief commotion, but since Ebon didn’t stubbornly resist Gerold, the small incident was quickly resolved.

“I don’t like a single one of them!”

Even as Ebon passively submitted to Gerold’s touch, he was frustrated beyond words.

“Who else do you not like?”

Gerold asked without much thought, probably assuming he meant the Holy Sword.

“No, that guy told me not to stick so close to you!”

However, Ebon pointed not at the Holy Sword, but unexpectedly at Sebastian.

The content was also absurd. Not to stick close? To Ebon? And to him?

They had been inseparable best friends since they were toddlers.

“Does that make sense? We’ve been together for years! And you just showed up out of nowhere!”

In most cases, Gerold would nod along with Ebon’s words.

But this time, the words slipped out before he knew it.

“He probably doesn’t like seeing it.”

Ebon’s mouth snapped shut. Reflexively checking Ebon’s face, Gerold saw a look of utter shock.

“You, you… you’re taking his side in front of me right now?”

…Am I taking his side? I don’t think so.

“It’s not that.”

“It is!”

Agitated, Ebon raged, asking how Gerold could do such a thing. He seemed genuinely upset that the Gerold he trusted wasn’t on his side.

However, Gerold was not a man who could conjure words out of thin air, even for Ebon. After a moment of thought regarding Ebon’s words, he acknowledged that his statement might have been slightly off, and calmly said.

“That’s right.”

“What?”

“I think I was taking his side.”

He himself felt that his previous words had contained a bit of emotion. That is, in favor of Sebastian.

While Gerold saw it as close to establishing the truth, Ebon looked like a mother betrayed by her own son at his casual change of demeanor.

Then, unable to contain his boiling emotions, he let out a roar after a long pause and walked away.

“I’m going to Simon too!”

Ebon, who shouted loudly as if he were going, though he wasn’t, moved away, and Gerold sighed.

He was aware that it would have been easier if he had taken Ebon’s side, but he didn’t really want to, and he didn’t quite understand his own inner feelings. It was unlike him.

His gaze fell upon the Hero and his master.

The smiling master was whispering something to the Hero, but Gerold, with his high mana sensitivity, could hear it all.

“Ket.”

“Yes.”

“I have something separate to tell you.”

It wasn’t surprising, as he seemed to be hiding a lot during the earlier conversation.

“It’s going to be quite long, is that okay?”

“Of course. My time is yours now too.”

It was a rather romantic remark for that man, and Gerold could see the master’s face blush.

…Hmm.

Gerold, watching the scene quietly, stroked his chin.

Even things that seem like they will never change, change.

There are things that seem as unyieldingly solid as diamonds, yet they change. In Gerold’s eyes, that man was one of them.

Where had his initial appearance, which seemed like it would push away and burn everything in the world, gone? Now, anyone could see he was in love.

Gerold still didn’t like the man, and he didn’t think he suited the master at all, but since the master wanted him, there was nothing he could do.

He was a servant, a being who had to follow whatever his master chose. His personal likes and dislikes were irrelevant there. Gerold turned his gaze away from the two. He had a lot of work to do and no more time to waste.

“Mr. Gerold.”

As Gerold was about to leave and attend to his postponed tasks, Sebastian, who had not left his spot either, approached him.

For a moment, Gerold felt a slight discomfort in his stomach due to the kiss with Sebastian he had recalled earlier, but instead of showing it, he asked something else.

“Sebastian, what did you say to Ebon?”

He wanted to know why Ebon was upset. Although he understood the context just from Ebon’s story, he wanted to hear the other party’s side just in case.

“Are you talking about another man in front of me?”

…?

However, Sebastian frowned at a completely unexpected point.

Gerold frowned, wanting to interject because something seemed very, very off, but he didn’t know where to start pointing it out.

Without regard for Gerold’s reaction, Sebastian continued.

“The expedition is soon.”

“…That’s right.”

“Then spend some time with me.”

Gerold’s time was precious. It had become even more so recently.

Furthermore, he couldn’t understand the correlation between the upcoming expedition and the fact that he should spend time with Sebastian.

But then, the following thought floated into Gerold’s mind.

Well, maybe for a little while, it’ll be okay.

He sometimes felt a rare leniency towards this utterly ordinary man, who looked at him with an anxious, tense expression.

Uncharacteristically.

“…Alright.”

Finally, Gerold generously nodded, and Sebastian, who had been looking at Gerold with an anxious face, smiled brightly.

Because it wasn’t an unpleasant sight, Gerold didn’t bother to pull away his hand when Sebastian made the presumptuous move of grabbing his wrist.