31. "Who Is Gauntmere?"

The next morning, when Yumino woke up, the cold air coming from outside had him hide under the blanket for another two hours.

Normally, being late to breakfast was not an option, as Nima would come and drag him out if she was left waiting too long.

This time, it didn't happen. Yumino ate his breakfast alone and went on about his day.

"Gauntmere, can I ask you something?"

"Oh? For you to be the one to start a conversation. Of course, ask me anything you wish."

"What is your end game? How does this big revenge plan end?"

"I think we've talked about this already..."

"And you didn't give me a clear answer, so I've decided to change my approach. I'll ask you this every time I get the chance. No more doing random missions until you tell me! Also, I'll start speaking loudly from now until you answer!"

Even if nobody was around to see him, Yumino put his palm on his chest—a sign that he would adhere to his promise.

"We would get in trouble if you were to do that. Can you please find something else?"

"NO!" the elf screamed at the top of his lungs. His screams were loud enough to turn the heads of people walking outside his home.

"GAUNTMERE! WHAT IS YOUR END GAME?"

"Shhhh! Okay, fine! I'll tell you something else: just stop acting like that!"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?"

"I said stop it! Look, I can't tell you how it's going to end; all I can tell you is that we are on the right path. You'll soon get to see that, I swear! When you do, I am sure you'll start agreeing with us."

"Oh? To make such a bold statement with such confidence... You've almost had me for a moment." the elf answered—this time through his thoughts.

"..."

Yumino's playful attitude stemmed from the fact he was feeling lonely. Usually, Gauntmere would have no problem engaging him in a battle of wits, competing to see who can come out on top in a fight with words.

However, this time she was oddly quiet.

"Gauntmere? Don't tell me, did that really startle you?"

"..."

"Yo, witch!"

"Yumino, what if I told you that the cards have already been played?"

For just a moment, Gauntmere's words had Yumino frozen in place.

"You mean... Revenge is ours, right? Hehe..."

With only two possible answers, Yumino's future now rested on the next words to come out of Gauntmere's mouth. Imagining that his fate had been decided, Yumino's forehead was getting covered in small drops of cold sweat.

"Yes. We will take our revenge through you."

"If that's the case, I just have to change fate!" Yumino blurted out.

The elf didn't really listen to Gauntmere's answer. He just assumed what she would say.

And the answer Yumino was expecting was a "no."

"What?"

"What?"

Both of them spoke at the same time, so what followed was an awkward pause when both waited for the other to continue.

"Ahem!"

Yumino was the one to break the silence.

"You mean I'll win against Death?! Then, why do you seem so dejected? Isn't it a good thing?" he asked, confused.

"Don't tell me... Are you afraid you won't be able to let go once this is all over? I don't blame you; I'm a pretty cool guy, after all," Yumino continued with a smirk on his face.

"Idiot..."

"Hey! No need to be so rude! Don't let those hidden feelings overwhelm you~"

It was rare that Gauntmere would have her guard down, so Yumino had the time of his life teasing her. Until she came up with a counterattack, that is.

"Ah, but don't forget where your strength comes from! Who's going to be there to borrow abilities off of once we are gone?"

Yumino's body stiffened upon hearing those words.

"Oi, you can't be serious. I thought the things y'all taught me were mine to keep. You're telling me it is borrowed power?!"

"Eh~... Did you really think that you were some kind of genius who learns years of spells and archery in just six months? Ahahaha!"

Even if he couldn't see her, Yumino could imagine the witch rolling on the ground as she laughed her head off.

"You better not skip training, hero. We wouldn't want you to be helpless one day~."

As she was speaking, Gauntmere's voice started growing faint.

"Don't drop that on me and just leave! Hey! Gauntmere! Stop right there!"

"Gauntmere? Who's that?"

From the entrance, the soft voice of a girl Yumino knew resounded. When he looked towards the door, he saw the girl—a young lady dressed in light armor. The girl stared at him confused, as if looking at a man who had completely lost his mind.

"Averin? What are you doing here?"

*****

"..."

"..."

Without speaking another word, Averin entered through the living room, pushed Yumino aside, and started rummaging through the house.

"Averin... Can I help you with something?"

The girl didn't answer. Instead, she bent her knees to check under the table; she opened the door and went to Yumino's room to check under the bed; and lastly, she flung open the bathroom door.

After carefully inspecting the bathroom, she came back to the living room and took another look around, her eyes stopping on the closed door of Nima's room.

"Don't tell me..." she said as she rushed towards the door.

Before reaching the knob, Yumino placed himself between in front of the lady, his arms spread to the side.

"Aha! So that's where you're hiding her!"

"Hiding... her?"

Confused, Yumino did his best to block the girl's path, but, with an impressive display of strength, Averin picked him up like he weighed nothing and placed him out of her way.

With a free path, she opened the door and ran straight to the closet.

"Averin, can you please calm down and explain what's up?"

"Where is she? Where did you hide her?"

The girl's words made little sense to Yumino. He took a second to think about what she could mean by "ther," but he could only assume she was talking about the other elf of the household.

"Do you mean Nima? She's out on a mission..."

"Don't play dumb with me! I know where Nima went! Where is this 'Gauntmere' you were talking to?"

"..."

Yumino was left speechless.

"Don't you think you are overreacting?"

And he chose the wrong words to speak.

"Oh? So there really is someone called Gauntmere you were talking with! I'll ask again. Where is she? Where did you hide her?"

While she was asking questions, Averin made her way to the kitchen. She looked in the drawer but didn't find anyone. Instead, she came back with the biggest kitchen knife Nima owned.

"How dare you! She welcomes you to her house, and this is how you pay her back? Just you wait until Nima finds out about this!"

"Averin... Let's calm down for a second..." the elf begged while trying to keep his distance.

For every step the girl with dark hair flowing onto her shoulder took, Yumino took a step back. As such, the two were caught in a really slow cat-and-mouse game around the house, with the elf sweating buckets at the thought he may lose his life to a misunderstanding.

"It's a... It's a fairy I saw in my dream!"

"Oh? So you're telling me you were just daydreaming?"

"Exactly! My mind just went blank for a second, and I blurted out that name. There is nothing suspicious here, so please put down the knife! I'd never dare do anything to hurt Nima, I swear!"

Swayed by his puppy eyes, the girl let out a soft sigh and did as asked.

"It's only because I know you hate lies that I'll trust you. That, and I don't put it past you to do something this dumb."

If the world inside Yumino would have been affected by his emotions, then Averin's words would have provoked an earthquake by now. Fortunately, that didn't seem to be the case, so Gauntmere could laugh without a care at the elf being stepped over.

"Gauntmere, what a somber name that is..." Averin continued, making it the witch's turn to have her heart broken.

"So, let me ask you again. Averin, why are you here?"

"Oh, yeah. About that," the girl said, acting like she wasn't trying to murder Yumino just seconds before.

"It's about Nima. I'm a bit worried..."