After finishing our business at the training grounds, we moved to the room where Camilla was.
The reason Camilla called us here.
It was strange that Lucius, who was supposed to head out to catch the demon race immediately, was willingly following along for some reason.
It’s all good, so I nodded along.
After all, my objective was to stall for time somehow.
Originally, the purpose of the duel was just to buy time, and since I accidentally knocked Lucius out cold, I could say that goal was achieved.
…Lili should be satisfied with this.
However, the really important issue starts from now.
“Hmm….”
I rested my chin on my hand, settling into a comfortable position and thought.
Having declared I would help Lucius, I couldn’t go back on my word.
…Should I pretend to catch him, and narrowly let him slip away?
While I was lost in thought, Camilla tapped on the desk.
“Hey, old lady~ Can you focus on what I’m saying?”
Why does she bring age up like that when she’s not exactly young herself?
I pouted my lips.
But I definitely shouldn’t fight back and bring up ages in a place like this; it would clearly turn into a mudslinging contest.
…I suppose as the dignified adult here, I should let it slide.
“…I’ll listen, but please don’t call me that repeatedly.”
As I waved my hand dismissively while glancing at Camilla with a sulky expression, that damn boy let out a ‘phew-’ sound and made his trademark annoying face.
“I thought you were too old to hear me anyway.”
“…What?”
-Snap
A vein bulged on my forehead.
Regardless, that damn boy turned his gaze away from me and looked straight ahead again.
“Then I’ll keep talking~”
That attitude was even more infuriating.
I came here because I wanted to be heard, and he’s acting like this?
Even a three-year-old wouldn’t behave like this.
Just as I was about to stand up to give him a lesson, someone spoke.
“Master… You mustn’t fall for such childish provocations.”
The Nameless grabbed my shoulder and shook his head slightly.
“…Right.”
If I engaged with that damn boy, that would mean losing.
To stop my trembling body, I bit my lips and sat back down properly.
“Do you know the information about the demon you are chasing?”
At Camilla’s question, Lucius bit his lip in frustration and shook his head slightly.
“…I don’t know.”
“Phew, I knew you worthless ones wouldn’t have proper information~ Here, take this.”
Camilla threw a paper on the desk, wearing a triumphant expression.
The paper was filled with countless characters.
…As someone who can’t read, there’s no way for me to know what’s written there.
“Hmm.”
While I was muttering in embarrassment, The Nameless watched me and spoke slowly.
“I will read it to you once our conversation is done.”
“Oh, thank you.”
I nodded without hesitation.
I smiled a little, then shifted my gaze back to them.
“What is this?”
Lucius glanced at the paper, his eyes widening in disbelief.
“I knew you worthless ones wouldn’t have proper information.”
“…Is this about the demon race?”
Camilla did not bother to reply and simply nodded toward the paper.
Seeing Camilla’s reaction, Lucius quickly skimmed through the paper.
Whether he found the information he was looking for or not, the corners of Lucius’s mouth noticeably lifted.
However, in stark contrast to Lucius, I was sweating bullets.
Crap… I shouldn’t have found it so quickly.
Why the hell is that damn boy doing only unhelpful things for me?
Didn’t he say he had things to do himself?
What on earth made him suddenly help Lucius…?
With uneasiness, I bit my lips.
Lucius, after examining the paper for a moment, appeared refreshed, a smile appearing on his face as he bowed.
“Thank you.”
“Even if you’re useless, you can at least show some gratitude, huh?”
Camilla seemed cursed to criticize her opponents, as she put on her signature irritated smile again, but Lucius merely nodded with a pleasant smile.
“Hmm….”
Ms. Boring Lucius’s reaction seemed to take the fun out of it, as Camilla waved her hand dismissively.
“Well then, get going; our business is done here.”
As everyone started to rise from their seats, I jumped up like a spring, constantly shaking my legs.
“Ugh!”
Naturally, all eyes fell on me.
“…Master?”
“Hmm? What is it, old lady?”
Feeling the weight of all those gazes was stressful, but I held it in.
No matter how I thought about it, if we headed out like this, I could only see a future where we would quickly catch the demon race and I’d end up in big trouble.
More than that…
In my haste to get up, I was unsure what to say.
My head was spinning.
Just then, after a moment of awkward silence, The Nameless glanced at me and seemingly figured something out, nodding before turning his gaze toward Camilla.
“Camilla.”
I looked at The Nameless with a gaze full of gratitude.
That’s my disciple!
When the master finds himself in a pinch, the disciple jumps right in to help!
I couldn’t help but smile broadly.
The moment The Nameless spoke, Camilla frowned and opened her mouth.
“Pedo knight, do you have something to say?”
“…”
At Camilla’s words, The Nameless’s brows furrowed.
No, more than that.
The words coming from her mouth were just too alarming.
…Pedo knight? Our Nameless?
With a shocked expression, I looked at The Nameless.
Elia, who had been quietly listening until now, couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Pfft! Oh, I’m sorry….”
She chuckled softly, stepping behind Lucius with an embarrassed expression.
After a brief awkward silence, Camilla, tapping her foot on the ground, narrowed her eyes at The Nameless.
“Pedo knight, why did you call us here without answering?”
“…May I ask why you are helping us?”
This time The Nameless chose to ignore Camilla’s question, biting his lips tightly before continuing.
However, rather than denying it, the sight of The Nameless made my spine chill.
…Could it be true?
My disciple, a criminal?
Of course, the one who said that was Camilla, and I’ve been watching The Nameless for a while, so I didn’t believe it.
I half thought it was a joke.
But then, one question was spinning in my mind.
Has The Nameless ever done anything to be called a pedo by Camilla?
Thinking it through, Camilla doesn’t exactly throw out insults without a reason.
…But it’s not like I’m really a grandmother or anything, and it’s true I’m older.
I shook my head and subtly turned my gaze toward Camilla as I continued thinking.
How on earth did she end up calling The Nameless a pedo…?
I tilted my head.
Hmm… If she had feelings for him, then being called that would be expected, but…
Wait.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind.
Could it be that The Nameless actually has feelings for Camilla…?
Once I had that question, a series of forgotten incidents started flooding back to my mind.
Now that I think about it.
The Nameless had once sided with that damn little brat instead of his own master.
And if that was The Nameless’s way of expressing his crush on Camilla at first sight…
As my mind started racing, the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together.
The Nameless said he liked women shorter than him.
Sure he mentioned my hand, but if The Nameless mistook it for his own hand, it would’ve fit the height of that brat.
Plus, he even said that he liked her more mature.
…No way.
It’s hard to believe, but… it seems The Nameless has feelings for Camilla.
As that realization hit me, it felt as if someone had grasped my heart and was shaking it painfully.
…Why does my chest feel tight?
Could it be what they say, the feeling of a parent sending their child off to someone they don’t like?
“…”
No, that’s not it.
It hasn’t been confirmed yet.
… I’ll have to ask The Nameless directly later and get an answer.
Conflict arising from lack of communication is the most useless thing…
I nodded to myself.
Still feeling that tightness in my chest.
I pulled my mind away from those swirling thoughts and lifted my head to listen to their conversation again.
Camilla, waving her hand dismissively at The Nameless’s question, spoke as if it were nothing serious.
“I found it by coincidence, so is that question done?”
“…Yes.”
The Nameless frowned, lowered his head, and quickly exited the room.
Judging by the faint flush on The Nameless’s face as he left, it seemed he had been quite hurt.
Seems I’ll need to comfort him a bit.
…And also, I should ask if it’s true.
Holding my troubled head, I let out a light sigh and followed after The Nameless.
“…Then we’ll be going now.”
“Oh right, useless hero.”
“Yes?”
“If you happen to find a sheath or something while searching, let me know.”
“…Sheath? Understood.”
