Chapter 151

(4)

7.

A kid born as the only daughter of an ordinary family.

Yoomina was just a typical girl you’d see anywhere. She loved gaming and reading and was pretty much invisible to others.

But then, in her third year of middle school, her peaceful everyday life shattered.

Suddenly, she started getting bullied.

The craziest part? There was no special reason for the bullying.

“Hey, is it really okay to go this far?”

“It’s fine. No one will care anyway.”

“Right? You’re practically invisible.”

“If you jumped off a building, no one would even notice.”

The perpetrators sneered and mocked her.

Unable to endure it anymore, she finally asked the teacher for help. That she was being bullied in class. Please, help her.

But the response she got was cold.

“It happens sometimes when friends hang out. I went through the same thing.”

With just a few words from the teacher, all of her suffering was reduced to mere child’s play.

After that, word got out that she had asked for help, making the bullying even worse. So, she decided to tell her family about it.

But their reaction was the same.

“You must have done something wrong.”

“You think they would bully you for no reason?”

And at that moment, Yoomina’s world shattered.

No matter how much she screamed for help, no one would come to her aid. Eventually, she gave up on everything and locked herself in her room.

The first few months, she lived like a hermit.

Trapped in the memories of her past bullying, every day felt like a nightmare. Panic attacks began to hit, and she developed social anxiety.

How long had it been?

By chance, she stumbled upon a game.

‘Chronicles of Arsen Continent.’

A game that no one had cleared before.

This fact piqued her curiosity.

However, that was just curiosity; the real reason she started playing was due to the introduction line.

“To stop the abyss that will engulf the world, your help is needed. Please save this world on the brink of destruction.”

A completely ordinary premise.

Yet, the desperate request for help caught her attention. After that, she connected to the Chronicles of Arsen Continent as if enchanted.

When she found out that the game was a single-player virtual reality game, the little fear she had left quickly vanished.

Single-player meant that in the game, the player was only her.

After that, she immersed herself in the game for three whole years. She experienced countless characters’ lives, and as she got lost in their stories, her change began.

Her timid and cowardly nature gradually improved, and as she understood the backgrounds, settings, and stories in the game, her confidence started to grow.

However, the essence didn’t change.

Fighting against the abyss, she realized she couldn’t overcome the recurring nightmares of her past.

She found out that she was still a coward.

“This is my original self in the real world.”

After finishing the long story, a brief silence filled the room.

Ulan sealed his lips, and Noa let out a soft sigh and asked back.

“Pathetic, isn’t it?”

Unlike the other heroes who faced the abyss to save the world, she had just given up everything and locked herself away because of bullying.

How pathetic did she appear to Ulan?

Noa chuckled wryly.

“So, I sometimes think this: What if a more capable player than me came along?”

Wouldn’t that have helped Ulan and the other heroes more? Suddenly lost in thought, she wore a bitter expression.

Ulan abruptly spoke up.

“You’re wrong.”

“……What?”

“You’re not a coward.”

His declaration was firm.

Ulan soon elaborated.

“You faced evil and tried to overcome it. Trying to fight against the situation is not something a coward can do.”

Noa’s eyes widened slightly.

Honestly, she was a bit surprised.

She never expected to hear such a response from Ulan.

“And you’re not useless either. Just look at how you negotiated with Marquis Gorphant.”

When she negotiated for Ulan’s inclusion, she dazzled with words and gained an upper hand against Seoric, securing immense benefits. It was something Ulan couldn’t have done.

“That… that was possible because I lived as Marquis Gorphant. Anyone could have done it if they had the experiences…”

“No, it would be impossible for a coward.”

Ulan rejected firmly.

“Moreover, if you were truly a coward, you wouldn’t have regained your composure so quickly after facing Seoric’s aura.”

“That’s…”

“That’s not all. Thanks to you, I learned that Ivella was suffering.”

Until Noa mentioned it, Ulan knew nothing.

He didn’t know about the conflict surrounding Ivella, Himel, and Count Deorg, nor that Himel had been threatening Ivella.

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have known why Ivella was going to forfeit the mock battle.”

There was another incident where Noa had helped.

It was the Abyss Worshipper attack.

Because of her prediction, Ulan realized something unusual was going to happen, which allowed him to save Delia.

“In our past lives, we also defeated one of the Lords of the Abyss with the help of the Fang Brigade. It wouldn’t have been possible without you.”

After finishing his smooth answer, his crimson eyes focused on Noa.

“So let me make this clear.”

“Make it clear? About what…”

“I acknowledge you as a colleague, not because you are a player. I trust you. I can rely on you.”

Noa’s expression wavered.

Meanwhile, Ulan’s was steady.

“Even if a capable player came along, there’s no guarantee they would be better than you.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Noa.”

After cutting off her trembling voice, Ulan looked at her calmly. His gaze showed no hint of fear. He soon spoke with a voice full of determination.

“Nothing can replace you.”

“……!”

“You are my acknowledged colleague. So if you need help, don’t hesitate to ask for it.”

They are beings that complement each other’s shortcomings.

That’s what colleagues are. Ulan would also intend to ask Noa for help if needed.

Facing her trembling expression, Ulan replied firmly.

“I’ll help you without reservation.”

The one line she had most wanted to hear.

The moment she heard him offer help, Noa bit her lips without realizing it. Her fist clenched tightly.

“…….”

Her lips trembled more and more. At the same time, a certain emotion welling up in her chest.

A strange feeling she had never felt before.

So she desperately tried to suppress it.

For some reason, it felt like tears would fall. Yet, she couldn’t prevent her vision from becoming blurry.

“Huh? Why, why is this happening? Why….”

She didn’t know why she was crying.

No, that was a lie. She actually knew.

It was the first time someone had so readily offered to help her after knowing the whole truth.

“Ugh! Uuwu.”

The voice that sought reasons transformed into a weeping one mixed with her tears.

No matter how hard she tried to hold it back, she couldn’t.

The anxiety that had built up within her melted away, and Noa burst into tears as if releasing all the sorrows she had pent up in her heart.

After a long while,

As her tears began to dry and her sobs quieted down, Ulan, who had been silently by her side, spoke up.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“……Yes, thanks to you, Ulan.”

Noa nodded gently.

With her voice still choked up,

After a moment, she wiped her reddened eyes with the back of her hand and looked at Ulan.

“Thank you, Ulan.”

A soft smile blossomed on her lips.

She spoke with genuine feelings.

“For calling me a colleague, and for saying you’ll help if I ever ask.”

“I just stated an obvious fact.”

“It wasn’t obvious to me.”

After wiping the dew left around her eyes,

She opened her lips again.

“So I’ll promise you too.”

“A promise?”

“Yes, I have a new goal now.”

Noa nodded her head. Then, with a serious expression, she stared at him.

“Ulan.”

And with her hand on her chest,

She spoke the resolution that had just crossed her mind.

“I want to save you.”

A line she never expected to say.

Was that why? This time Ulan’s eyes widened a little. Facing such a change, Noa continued softly.

“Just like you did, I’ll help you break free from the predetermined fate.”

“You….”

“No matter what, without fail.”

Noa’s gaze shone with determination.

Her voice, filled with strong will,

was hard to believe it belonged to someone who had just been sobbing moments ago.

“You’re truly not a coward.”

Ulan chuckled.

As if he was seeing her properly for the first time. Then, he nodded promptly.

“I understand. I will trust you.”

“Yes, please trust me.”

Noa responded with a beaming smile.

After the long story had ended,

Seeing that Noa seemed to have calmed down, Ulan immediately got up from his seat. He intended to return to the sofa to get some more sleep.

But at that moment,

a small hand grabbed his arm.

“Noa?”

“Let’s sleep here, not on the sofa.”

“But that would be uncomfortable….”

“I’m still scared.”

No need to ask what was scaring her.

She probably feared she would have another nightmare.

“I told you to ask for help anytime, didn’t I? So please stay by my side.”

She was putting her words into action right away.

Ulan chuckled lightly. On the other hand, as he didn’t respond immediately, Noa anxiously asked again.

“……Is that a no?”

“Of course not.”

Staying by her side was a piece of cake.

And above all, lying next to her was way more comfortable than the sofa, so Ulan willingly lay down beside Noa.

A not-so-short time passed.

“You know, Ulan.”

Noa spoke up again.

Her voice was a little drowsy now.

“Do you remember the day we left the prairie?”

“Of course, I remember.”

“We slept in the same bed back then too, right? When we stayed in the vagabonds’ village.”

“That’s right.”

He recalled the time they took down robbers aiming for their coins and managed to afford their traveling expenses by handing them over to the guards.

“About that promise you made back then…”

Suddenly, Noa began fumbling her words.

Her fingers were fidgeting continuously, and she pulled the blanket up to cover her face. Then, in a voice as tiny as a mosquito, she muttered.

“You don’t have to keep it anymore.”

“A promise?”

“Ugh, do I have to say it out loud?”

“Honestly, I don’t get it.”

She didn’t seem to be lying.

At his simple reaction, Noa let out a big sigh. Still half-covered by the blanket, she whispered shyly.

“I’ll only say it once so listen closely.”

“I’m all ears.”

“No! You don’t have to listen too closely.”

“……What are you asking of me?”

His confusion only added to the absurdity for her, prompting Noa to clear her throat.

“Ahem! You said it yourself.”

“Said what?”

“Even if I shared the same bed, you wouldn’t do anything inappropriate with me.”

“Ah, that’s what it was.”

The memory came flooding back to him.

Nodding as if reminded, Noa’s face brightened a little. But that didn’t last; she pulled the blanket up again.

“W-well, anyway, that’s what I’m saying.”

Her white ears turned red.

Her eyes moistened strangely. After delivering her answer, Noa peeked at him while keeping her mouth tightly shut.

With an inexplicable sense of expectancy.

Meanwhile, Ulan tilted his head.

“But that’s not a promise.”

“What? Not a promise? What do you mean….”

“I just spoke honestly.”

“What do you mean?”

“Like I said back then, you’re not remotely ready for that.”

Noa fell silent.

Her face stiffened like a statue. Ulan either knew or didn’t care, as he continued explaining.

“So I didn’t touch you.”

That was the whole reason.

As Ulan sealed his lips, a heavy silence enveloped the room for a moment. After a while, Noa spoke up, sounding incredulous.

“……I have so much to say, but first, let me ask you this.”

With narrowed eyes,

she interrogated him.

“What exactly makes me so unready?”

“From head to toe.”

“…….”

She was left speechless again.

His answer came without a hint of hesitation.

But, after a brief moment of silence, Noa suddenly kicked the blanket off and shouted, as if countering Ulan’s words.

“That’s only because you didn’t look closely! If you examine me closely, you’ll find I’m surprisingly…!”

“There’s not a part worth examining closely.”

“Come on!”

Frantically ruffling her hair,

Noa sighed heavily.

“Ugh, okay. I admit it.”

She had known all along.

Just thinking of the girls around Ulan made her feel inferior.

Yet Noa wouldn’t back down.

“I might be a bit lacking now. But I’m still growing, and one day, given time, I’ll be like Ivella or Laurea….”

Just as she proudly declared this,

out of the blue, Ulan burst into laughter.

“That’s quite the funny joke.”

“N-No, it’s not a joke!”

“This one’s pretty entertaining.”

“It’s not, I tell you!”

With her face turning red, Noa was flustered.

Watching her huff and puff, Ulan continued to chuckle. The conversation kept going, and the night in the capital drifted on.

8.

The next Sunday.

Around mid-morning, the two woke up much later than usual.

As expected; they had stayed up talking until dawn.

Plus, there was one more thing that was different this time.

“Why are you sitting so far away?”

The distance between them.

Of course, they weren’t usually glued to each other, but they were normally quite close.

Not this time, though. They were at least five paces apart.

“……It just feels awkward.”

“What does?”

“Things happened yesterday.”

“I’m fine, so don’t worry about it.”

“No, I’m not fine.”

Who would have thought she would show tears?

Noa fanned her face with her hand. For some reason, her face was getting hot.

‘But….’

Deep down, she felt joy.

Being recognized as a colleague. And she was happy to hear he’d help her whenever she asked.

Noa beamed with a smile.

“What’s the plan for today?”

As soon as they stepped out of the room, Ulan asked without hesitation, pulling Noa out of her thoughts. She spoke up with the plans she had thought about yesterday.

“Well, the departure time might be a bit delayed, but we’ll proceed as scheduled. Oh, I’ll also buy materials needed to treat Delia’s younger brother.”

Noa shared the agenda.

Yet, Ulan appeared somewhat unsatisfied. It seemed like he disliked the schedule.

“Huh? Is there a problem?”

“There is.”

“What is it?”

“Breakfast is missing.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than a thunderous sound boomed, as if like the thunder itself. The sound came from Ulan’s stomach.

Noa burst into laughter.

“We obviously have to eat first!”

“Hmm, then that’s settled.”

Problem solved.

Ulan’s expression returned to normal. They headed to the restaurant on the first floor of the hotel, intending to eat and then execute their plans.

Shortly after arriving at their destination,

just as they were about to open the door and step inside,

“Ah! Fancy meeting you here again.”

Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded from behind.

The voice came echoing like footsteps on a snowy path. Ulan instinctively turned his head, and the person spoke again.

“Hehe, long time no see.”

A grin split her face.

Just then, someone stepped in front of her.

A knight radiating strong caution.

Yet, to Ulan, she was of no concern.

“You….”

“Have you been well?”

The person protected by the knight.

A girl with snowy white hair and crimson eyes smiled brightly. And only after noticing her did Noa’s eyes widen.

“……!”

It was understandable.

The girl was one of the Seven Heroes. A bard who had played an active role in the hero party.

It was none other than Fertisha.

Chapter 36. The Second Outing