Reunion With Nick (2)

So the Twilight Ravens used an annual-salary system. For Yuri, who had practically worked for free while she was in the Hero’s party, a stable income would probably be appealing.

And being invited by a handsome young man like Nick, who was younger than me—

“I’m sorry.”

Yuri bowed her head to Nick.

That was fast!!

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. With working conditions this good, you could at least think about it for a little longer, you know?

She’d probably have a much more glamorous career with them than by sticking around with an old guy like me.

Still, I could painfully understand why Yuri would want to refuse.

The Hero and his companions had taken advantage of Yuri.

No matter how much she did for them, they never praised her. If anything, they insulted her more often than not.

She was probably afraid of being treated like that again.

And while having lots of companions could be fun, it also meant having to constantly be considerate of everyone around you.

After exhausting herself by worrying about the Hero and the others all the time, I didn’t think she was ready to start traveling with a new group.

Nick apparently hadn’t expected her to refuse immediately, because he spoke in a slightly flustered tone.

“We won’t treat you carelessly like that idiot Hero did. We have regularly scheduled days off, and we won’t restrict what you can and can’t do either.”

Looks like Nick knew that the Hero’s party had taken advantage of Yuri too.

Wolk had said it would be undesirable for Yuri to join the Twilight Ravens because it could lead to a confrontation with the Hero’s party.

Even so, what mattered most was how Yuri herself felt.

“What do you want to do, Yuri?”

“Roy… I…”

Yuri lowered her head and fell silent for a moment.

Did she want to go with Nick? Or was she still not ready for something like that?

I needed to properly hear what Yuri wanted.

“I think the Twilight Ravens are a good party. If you want to go with them, then you should. I’ll handle the next job by myself, so you don’t need to worry about me—”

“No!”

Yuri cried out reflexively at my words.

Her blue-purple eyes shimmered with tears.

As I stared at her in surprise, Yuri asked me in a trembling voice,

“…You’re not going to ask me to stay?”

“!!!???”

My face instantly grew so hot that I thought steam might burst out of it.

S-She wanted me to stop her!?

She was looking at me like an abandoned puppy… D-Did she seriously think I was going to throw her away!?

I hurriedly shook my head.

“N-No!! I want you to stay with me forever!”

“Forever? Really? You don’t think I’m a burden?”

“No!! Of course I don’t!!”

“Then why are you telling me to go with them?”

“I never told you to go! I’m just saying that the Twilight Ravens aren’t like the Hero’s party. They’re good people who properly recognize your abilities, and Nick’s a much better man than I am—”

“Roy is the better man!”

Before I could even finish, Yuri answered decisively, and Nick instantly turned to stone.

The celebrated handsome hero probably never imagined he’d lose to an old guy like me.

Hell, even I was shocked. I’d really like to know what was going on with Yuri’s sense of beauty if she actually thought I was more handsome.

Yuri continued.

“It was painful when I was expelled, and remembering my adventures with the Hero and the others still makes me want to cry. But that’s not the biggest reason.”

“Yuri…”

“More than anyone else, I want to work together with you, Roy.”

“…………!!”

Yuri wanted to be with me?

More than anyone else, at that.

I couldn’t quite believe it, and before I knew it, I was shaking my head.

“Yuri, I’m just an unremarkable B-rank adventurer. I like a quiet, modest life, so I’ll never live the kind of glamorous life these guys do.”

“I prefer that kind of life too. I want to keep living with you just like we have been. And Roy, you’re not nearly as plain as you think you are.”

“Your eyes are just defective.”

“You’re the one who doesn’t realize it.”

Hahaha… She really got me there.

But I was so happy that I felt like crying too.

Until I met her, I’d thoroughly enjoyed living alone.

But after I started living with her, I learned how enjoyable it was to share my life with someone, and every single day had begun to feel happy.

Did she feel the same way I did?

A surge of affection welled up inside me, and I almost wanted to pull her into my arms.

“Is that… not okay?”

Yuri looked up at me anxiously once more, and I shook my head.

What kind of idiot could possibly say no after hearing that?

My voice embarrassingly trembled with tears as I answered.

“If that’s what you want… then I’m happy. Let’s keep working together.”

“Roy!!”

I’d been desperately holding back the urge to hug her, but when Yuri threw herself into my arms first, I instinctively wrapped my arms around her.

Nick watched us with a wry smile.

“Looks like I was the third wheel.”

“Yeah. They don’t seem to be married, but it’s not right to break up a couple just to recruit one of them.”

Conche the elf nodded repeatedly in agreement.

W-We weren’t lovers, though.

Still, if we were embracing like this, I couldn’t exactly blame anyone for thinking that.

“Man. And I thought she was really cute, too.”

Apparently he’d had his eye on Yuri, because the young beastman pouted in disappointment, only for the dwarf girl beside him to lightly jab him in the ribs.

Still, Wolk had been right. The Twilight Ravens really were good people.

They didn’t try to pressure Yuri any further.

They probably put Yuri’s feelings first as well.

Erin-chan had been dealing with other visitors until then, but she’d apparently heard the whole conversation.

She clasped both hands together, her eyes sparkling as she looked at us and exclaimed,

“Roy-san, Yuri-san, I wish you both happiness! Love between two boys might be difficult, but I’ll be cheering you on!!”

…Looks like Erin-chan still mistakenly thought Yuri was a boy.