Experience that wouldn’t rise suddenly retroactively applied, but unfortunately, there was no such thing as levels skyrocketing because of it. Aside from Magic reaching Beginner Level 7, nothing had changed. Still, I decided to take solace in the fact that the high point after Advanced Level 3 had been broken—after all, that had been the purpose of this journey. Plus, there was the unexpected reward of a Gemstone.
Day 55 of Summer. Autumn was slowly approaching. Half the year had already passed. Reflecting briefly on the eventful past, I counted the number of occurrences on my fingers. Perhaps because quite a lot had happened, all ten of my fingers ended up folded.
Meeting Anne. Fishing. Evangelin. The Mine. The Dungeon… and so on. Memories came flooding back. Even trivial matters transform into amusing laughter when viewed through the lens of hindsight. Isn’t that the charm of reminiscing?
“Have you arrived?”
As usual, Evangelin’s morning visit. Her crimson hair glistened softly as it touched the rising sunlight, forming an elegant smile.
“I’ll prepare breakfast right away.”
Every day brought a new breakfast. Every day offered delicious menus. Though we weren’t officially living together, it felt like it. Jack sat at the table, eagerly anticipating a tasty meal while kicking his legs. Me? I wasn’t kicking my legs, but I was just as excited.
A warm menu appeared, and after expressing gratitude, we began eating. It couldn’t be easy researching recipes every day. Since I told her she could freely study cooking, Evangelin’s expression had grown even brighter. Was it because I also said she could use ingredients freely?
Evangelin wasn’t materialistic, but the joy derived from self-improvement in one’s workplace certainly added its own kind of fun.
After breakfast, I headed outside. You can clearly feel summer waning in the intensity of the sunlight. As summer fades, the sunburn-inducing rays become less harsh, oppressive heat starts fading away, and trees prepare for autumn by turning various colors. A beautiful season painted with vibrant hues—autumn has finally arrived.
“How about visiting the beach after so long?”
Among the memories I reflected upon, fishing held the most significant weight. Those days spent enduring drowsiness and pain, trying hard to keep the streak alive, were unforgettable.
My starting point could be said to have been fishing. Sure, it might’ve been common in games, but applying it directly to real life was another matter entirely.
Suri perched on my shoulder as I made my way to the beach. With no real work to do besides feeding the spirits their seeds and tending to livestock, my daily routine was essentially over. So, carrying my fishing rod casually over my shoulder, I strolled leisurely toward the beach.
It’s about a thirty-minute walk. On the first day, I hadn’t realized how far it was, making even the trip there exhausting. Smiling at these memories, I found it strange how something from only a hundred days ago felt like ancient history. Maybe it was due to possessing an almost superhuman body now.
Chewing on some unknown grass blade, the man facing the sea with his back to the land had lustrous black hair. Despite the sea breeze that should’ve dried out his skin, it gleamed smoothly.
It was Maxim. The ever-present guardian of the beach.
“There you are.”
“It’s been a while.”
“Good morning.”
I plopped down beside Maxim, who grinned warmly.
“I think I saw Suri at your housewarming party. Right?”
Chewing grass steadily, his enunciation remained impeccable—a skill that always amazed me; he’d make a great modern-day news anchor.
“Oh, isn’t she cute?”
“Heh. I used to have a friend named Domino. He was a puppy.”
His words carried a faint nostalgia and longing, prompting a brief silence between us.
“Do you know the saying: ‘The more you love, the greater your longing becomes’?”
“I’ve never heard that before.”
“That’s how it goes. I didn’t know either.”
With a bittersweet tone, Maxim continued speaking calmly yet deeply.
“Was it a good friend?”
“The best friend in the world.”
Smiling, Maxim’s grass slipped from his mouth. His calmness suggested he’d processed his emotions enough to treat them as cherished memories now. Occasionally, he pulled these stories out as conversation starters, calling them love.
“Because the love grew too strong, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t love, right?”
“That’s true.”
“Not just animals, but human relationships follow the same principle.”
Maxim turned his slow gaze toward me.
“Hmph. You’re not doing that, are you?”
Relaxed as ever, Maxim caught another fish and tossed it into the bucket. His experienced ease hinted at years of practice.
“No, I’m not.”
“Good?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a relief.”
Without much fuss, Maxim resumed fishing. I reeled in another catch, throwing it into the bucket Maxim had placed.
“Did you eat breakfast?”
“Yes.”
“Evangelin must’ve prepared it, huh?”
“Yes.”
“We usually call such a relationship…”
Another fish hooked onto Maxim’s rod, interrupting his sentence briefly before continuing.
“We call it marriage.”
The word slipped out casually. My heart remained as calm as ever.
A slight thrill. A soft sense of anticipation. These feelings lingered but overall, my emotions stayed steady.
“Are you planning to get married?”
Caught off guard by the direct question, I stayed silent. Saying I hadn’t thought about it would be a lie. More accurately, I still don’t know how to proceed.
“Anne seems to have blossomed lately, selling flowers and everything. Women who understand love tend to grow even more beautiful.”
“Ahh…”
“Don’t make her wait too long. Why would I butt in unless necessary?”
“It seems pretty obvious, doesn’t it?”
“At least it’s clear that women like you. They aren’t usually so open, you know. As for your intentions… well, they’re a bit harder to read.”
“I don’t dislike it.”
The words came naturally. After hesitating slightly, I chose my next words carefully.
“I’m grateful. They’re wonderful people.”
“Sounds like laying positive groundwork before expressing negativity.”
“It’s not that. They’re simply impossible to dislike.”
“Is that so?”
Maxim’s gaze shifted toward me. Deep-set eyes. His calm and composed tone returned.
“How do you feel?”
“Hmm…”
“Do you like them?”
Do I like them?
I blinked slowly. My lips felt dry, so I licked them.
Taking a deep breath in…
And letting it out…
Finally, I answered cautiously.
“I think so… but I’m not sure.”
I like them.
But am I infatuated enough to dedicate everything?
No.
Do I constantly think about them all day?
Also no.
Little by little, I feel affection growing, but…
Something about crossing that line feels daunting.
Why does it feel daunting?
Now that I start questioning, it seems funny, but this is the first time I’m truly confronting reality. Thinking seriously about it allows me to properly recognize the issue.
“Complicated, huh?”
“Yes. It’s complicated.”
“Hahaha, then it’s fine. You’re not disliking them, after all.”
Maxim laughed heartily, gathering his fishing gear. He seemed ready to say something else but instead stretched his arms backward and stared out at the sea—not at me, but at the ocean.
“You’re wet firewood right now.”
“What?”
“There’s no spark yet. At least not until the wood dries.”
Is that so? This was actually a pleasant story to hear, but somehow it struck a chord deep within me.
“Should I look for some sun?”
“Already got two suns right beside you and you’re looking for more? Greedy much?”
“Ahaha…”
“What I wish for…”
Maxim took the fish from the bucket one by one, releasing them back into the sea. Their lively splashes filled the air with energy.
“The happiness of the village. The happiness of the villagers. Peaceful everyday life. Small joys. That’s all.”
“That’s not very grand.”
“There’s such a thing as knowing your place. I live a leisurely life.”
“Fishing peacefully?”
“That’s right. While doing that, I also watch the village grow and observe people exchanging ideas from afar.”
“Sounds like a great life.”
“Worry-free life.”
Casually heading to the beach without much thought left me feeling somewhat restless. Yet, strangely, I also felt a bit clearer.
I don’t really know.
It’s complicated.
“Think about it. No pressure.”
“Haha. Already nudging me towards what you want, aren’t you?”
“Well, I’ve known Evangelin and Anne longer than you, so it’s unavoidable. Just think about it that way.”
“I’ll consider it.”
“Preferably on the positive side.”
“You said there’d be no pressure!”
“Can’t hurt to nudge a little, right?”
Maxim grinned shamelessly while chewing grass, making me chuckle despite myself.
Ah. Someone else sees us this way. I’ve never thought about it before.
Small village. Small society. Could this be both its advantage and disadvantage?
Even if I won’t let mainstream opinions sway my decisions…
Still.
There’s no way I can ignore these two wonderful women forever, right?
“Seems like you’re grappling with a happy problem. Did you know you’ve stolen the dreams of all the other men in the village?”
“What?”
“Since when did you inherit Grandpa’s legacy and become the owner of the large farm? Good looks, diligent… you’ve taken both of the village’s flowers. Young men around here have reasons to complain.”
Had no idea.
“No, I didn’t.”
“That’s right. You’re busy, so you occasionally go around giving gifts. That’s about it.”
“Haha… There’s nothing else I can give.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. I like it. You’re earnest and kind. Just understand that sometimes we men get jealous.”
“I understand.”
“Tsk. We wondered who had taken the village’s flowers. Turns out it’s someone like you.”
“It’s not like I’ve taken them yet.”
“If you didn’t care, would you be hanging around like this?”
At that, I simply smiled. I don’t completely lack feelings, but I realize how rumors and perceptions can shape others’ views.
“Make sure to invite me to the wedding.”
“You’re putting too much pressure on me.”
“Eh? What makes you think I know who you’ll marry? I’m just saying invite me whenever it happens.”
“Hahaha, understood. I’ll definitely invite you.”
“Don’t know why, but I can’t help picturing two familiar women.”
“Isn’t this pressuring me?”
“Hmm? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just voicing random thoughts. Not a prophet or anything, can’t predict things.”
This forced casualness oddly soothes me. Maxim’s jokes mix sincerity with humor, bringing underlying issues to the surface and encouraging serious thought.
Eventually.
This was something I had to ponder eventually. It was a problem I couldn’t avoid.
Prolonging and avoiding confrontation wouldn’t lead to anything good.
Still.
This confirmed one thing clearly.
Anticipation.
Love.
Expectation.
I don’t really know.
If asked whether they exist, they probably do. But when I try to grasp them, they crumble like dust.
It’s a problem.
Something that needs resolution.
A task that must be completed first.
“Should I visit Gilbert?”
“Hm?”
“Thank you, Maxim.”
“Alright, looks like you’ve made a decision. See you later.”
Standing up, I made my way to the Tower of the Mage. If it needed solving, there was no point delaying.
There was no hesitation in my steps.
With determination, I headed straight for the Tower of the Mage.
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