11. Loveless Love

"Are you feeling any better?"

Nima answered with a small nod.

"I must say I'm surprised. You pulled out the red dress rather quickly."

"I shouldn't have?" said Nima, her expression having gone back to that of a shy elven girl.

"Oh, no. I'm not saying it was a mistake. I just didn't take you for such a straightforward girl. You've only known him for a couple of days, after all."

"So you think that too. It really does make me look desperate, huh?"

"Desperate? Is that why you took him?"

"It's not that! I think..."

"Then? What made you pick him so fast? Don't tell me... you don't like mixed blood?" Averin asked with a cheeky grin.

"It's not that! Honestly..."

An awkward silence flooded the room. A silence that made Averin feel deeply uncomfortable.

"If you don't want to talk about it, it's fine. I won't pry," the knight girl said.

Playing with her hair, the elven girl answered in a low voice.

"It's just. Do you think we'll ever be able to find more survivors?"

"So it really is about blood!"

Nima's face turned bright red as she started shouting.

"I said it's not! It's just... I was so happy when I saw him. I felt that if I don't do something, I'll lose him just like I've lost everyone else..."

"Hmm? That still doesn’t explain why you’re acting so natural around him~" Averin poked fun at her.

Nima answered with an almost silent laugh.

"Haha... I guess he isn't a bad guy, at least. He also looked after me last night..."

"Ah! It's that thing where two people go through a scary experience together and end up falling in love! It's my first time seeing it!"

"Come on... Can you stop teasing me?"

"Ahaha! Ok, sorry. I'll stop now. So tell me this—who's the one who asked for the red dress?"

"I proposed, but there were circumstances! I think he was hinting at it!"

"Okay, okay! No need to get so worked up about it! So tell me, if we were to find more elves from your forest, would you dump him because you'd have more options?"

The mood suddenly shifted as Averin posed a serious question.

"I'm not that type of girl..."

"I never said you were."

Catching on to what Averin was hinting at, Nima looked at the ground, gathering her thoughts.

"No, I wouldn't!" said Nima, puffing her chest out.

"I've made a choice, and I'll stick to it. If I get to know him better, I am sure I can fall for him!"

"You seem to have fallen already~."

"I said no teasing! Besides, he's alright; you think so too, right?"

Averin froze in place, her cheeks turning pink.

"That's beside the point! Anyway, let's see what the boys are up to! There's something we wanted to talk about with Yumino."

But when she opened the door, the boys were...

"GONE!?"

*****

"So, where are you taking me?"

"Is that what bothers you? Not the part where you've got a girlfriend?"

"I'm still debating on whether I should believe you on that."

"Wah, that's cold," Gavin said while walking shoulder to shoulder with the elf.

"Actually, Lucien was the one who summoned us. Averin and I came to get you when we stumbled upon that spectacle."

"He summoned me? Is he mad about that arrow?"

"Haha! I doubt he even remembers it. But just in case, maybe don't bring it up with him around."

"Got it."

Yumino cut short the conversation. It's not like he had a problem with Gavin, but he wasn't sure how to speak to him.

"So..."

"Ah... Fine! So, what is it about me and Nima?"

"I don't know; you tell me~," the hero answered with a wide grin.

"Are you making everything up just to annoy me?"

No, Yumino didn't think that was the case. After all, it was true that Nima had gotten really close to him out of nowhere.

"Not falling for it, huh? So you really don't know what that dress means."

Yumino didn't answer.

"Ok, so. In elven culture, wearing a red dress when going out with somebody can only mean one thing..."

"That we are dating?"

"Specifically, it symbolizes your first date as lovers!" said Gavin, his hands spread in excitement.

"As if I'd believe that."

The pain that struck Gavin upon receiving such a cold answer seemed palpable. But he continued.

"Are you sure believing is the problem? Or is it wanting to believe? Taking responsibility, maybe?"

As the mood took a turn for the serious, Yumino took a deep breath.

"Look. It's not about not wanting to believe. Even if I believe it, what am I supposed to do? Should I just act like I feel something for her?"

"You don't?"

"I...I don't."

"Aha! You hesitated! Makes sense; Nima is pretty cute after all."

"What I've seen from her the past few days is anything but cute..." Yumino whispered to himself.

"What's that?"

"Nothing! Anyway should I just break up with her?"

"Wow, hit the brakes a little! If you like her, why not give it a shot? What's there to lose? You're already sharing a roof."

"That's exactly why I want to treat her with respect. I can't just leave things as they are? This is all a big misunderstanding."

"Damn, you're even more righteous than me. And they called me a hero."

"I don't think there is anything wrong with hating trickery," said Yumino with no hesitation.

"Even though trickery might sometimes be the best solution?"

"It never is. That's just another lie we tell ourselves."

"And a lie is what you hate most. I got it, I got it."

"Glad you catch on quick. Leaving that aside, what's up with that whole hero business?"

"Hm? Business? It's as simple as it sounds. I'm the Hero of Veston," said Gavin, his facial expression completely straight.

"I don't know, I feel like there should be a lot more 'aura' when talking about heroes."

"Aura?" Well, I do have this sword. Does it count?"

As Gavin unsheathed his weapon, light itself got swallowed by the pale, grayish aura of the blade. The energy emanating from it was so intense that even the voices inside Yumino cowered in fear.

"Wowow! OK! You can put that back!"

Gavin did as asked with an unbothered expression.

"How do you even get your hands on something like that?" Yumino asked as he was trying his best to catch his breath.

That reminded me of that rider a bit too much...

"I got it from the Demon Lord."

"Demon Lord?!"

"Yeah. I told you already... I'm a hero. Heroes defeat demon lords. Oh, here we are."

Gavin's pace quickened, leaving Yumino behind.

"What's the matter with those guys?" Yumino asked himself, staring at the back of the careless man.

He looked just like anyone else—normal—yet his deeds were nothing short of amazing.

"This dude has saved a country? Maybe even the world..."

Yet he acted like there was nothing special about him. That alone was enough to baffle Yumino. Such a big shot was just there, existing with him as a living person with their own quirks and past.

And this guy also has a party, Yumino thought, afraid of the day when he will have to talk to them again.

*****

"Come on, Gavin... You should’ve told me the cutie was coming too~," said Velmira, her hands running through the white hair of the elf, who did his best to hold back his shivers.

That day came way faster than I thought... Yumino pondered in distress.

"Slow down, Velmira! This elf is already taken!"

"Can you stop saying that?" Yumino protested.

"Ehh~? Taken? Yumino, how could you do this to your dear little witch~?"

"Like I said, it's not like that..."

The heroes—who were keeping themselves busy while waiting for the lord of the castle—found really unusual ways of entertaining themselves.

"Come on, Little Averin, take your blade!"

"Garron, please calm down! We can't make a mess of Lord Lucien's hall!"

While all of this was going on, Lucien stepped in front of them, standing tall as he faced the party.

"Now that you've all gathered, I would first like to thank you for your continued service to our nation. Yumino, I want to make it clear that we are not forcing any tasks on you, but I feel like your prowess with the bow may come in handy, supposing you wish to help us."

Ahh... So he didn't forget about it... Yumino concluded.

"I know it may seem sudden, but I think it is about time we gave it our all to fulfill our promise towards the late elves."

"Oh! We're getting to the fun part!" Garron celebrated.

"Indeed. I would like to ask the renowned hero party, together with Miss Averin and Mister Yumino, to go on a final, ample search through what was once the most respectable elfdom!"