27 — Chapter 27

“Zenkei, I was the same way. So many people told me—until I was sick of hearing it—that being a Hero at such a young age, and a girl at that, was just impossible. I heard it so often I practically lost count.”

Angelica began to speak, holding Zenkei close as if to draw out the other’s anxieties.

In the world of the night, where only the crackling of the bonfire echoed, Angelica seemed to have become a bit more talkative.

“Of course, I was conscious of the fact that I had to work harder than an ordinary adventurer to succeed as a Hero. It’s not like I come from a long line of adventurers or anything; I was just someone in my hometown who was told they had a bit of talent. I knew that far from having an advantage over past Heroes, I had a mountain of challenges to overcome.”

Angelica spoke as if she were talking to herself.

I was eavesdropping, yes, but I’m glad I kept watch. I never would have been able to hear these words otherwise.

Angelica even possesses the ability to look at herself objectively.

She isn’t some reckless fool who reached my throne on sheer momentum alone.

Is it not a wonderful thing to be able to respect my stepdaughter as a fellow human being?

“That’s why I had no choice but to work hard. I had no other way to compensate for my disadvantages. Because of that effort—even though I lost in the end—I was able to reach the Demon King as quickly as I did. I’m sure a lot of coincidences played a part, too. But even so, it’s something to be proud of.”

Indeed, while she was blessed with luck, she never would have reached me in the first place if she hadn’t attempted the challenge.

“Zenkei, you are a member of that Hero’s party. You were mocked for looking weak, yet you never gave up, kept fighting, and became a first-class martial artist.”

“Thank you, Angelica… I feel braver now.”

I couldn’t see their faces clearly, but this feminine martial artist seemed to have calmed down considerably.

However, I felt the atmosphere shift abruptly.

“That’s why… I’m going to be even braver.”

Zenkei wrapped his arms around Angelica’s waist, returning the embrace.

“Wait—?! Zenkei, what’s wrong?”

“Angelica, I like you. This is the first time in my life I’ve truly fallen for a girl.”

What! A confession at a time like this?!

“Wait, wait, calm down… I’m a little confused by how sudden this is…”

My thoughts were exactly the same as Angelica’s.

“See, I’m usually treated like a girl, but I am a boy, you know. That’s why, being held by a girl like this, I felt like I had to respond to it.”

I had a bad feeling about this.

I had spent all this time thinking that Jaunis, the flashy Thief, was the dangerous “High Alert” person likely to prey on Angelica—

But was Zenkei, the martial artist who looked like a girl, actually the dangerous one?!

I don’t know the details, but apparently, there are men in this world who deliberately cross-dress to lower a woman’s guard.

It is a form of mimicry, so to speak—using a feminine appearance to hide the aggressive, predatory side of a man.

If this martial artist Zenkei was that kind of person… Angelica is in an extremely bad spot!

After all, she’s already being held.

The martial artist has closed the distance to zero. Meanwhile, Angelica hasn’t even drawn her sword. You could say she is at an overwhelming disadvantage!

“Zenkei, be rational… what’s gotten into you…?”

“If I weren’t being rational, I wouldn’t be able to do this, Angelica.”

Bad, bad, bad!

It would be easy for me to use my power to blow this martial artist away. There are almost no humans who can defeat a Demon King one-on-one. Even adventurers claiming the title of Hero usually come in groups. The idea that winning four-against-one was “cowardly” never existed in the human world.

However, if I do that, it will be immediately obvious that I did it. It will also be obvious that I’ve been tailing them the whole time.

Something like that is bound to lead to contempt! Even I’d be repulsed if the roles were reversed! If I found out my stepfather had been watching me the whole time, my skin would crawl! It has enough impact to make someone lose trust for the rest of their life!

Even so… I have no choice but to prioritize protecting my daughter’s virtue!

I am a parent. As a parent, I must protect my daughter! A parent who abandons their child to their fate because they fear being despised is out of the question! I wouldn’t be able to face Lateia, either!

Dammit! Do I have no choice but to strike this martial artist with my own fist…?

“Zenkei, I’m sorry, but I don’t intend to get into a romance within the party.”

Unlike before, Angelica’s voice was calm, steady, and possessed a firm core.

Though it wasn’t particularly loud, her voice carried clearly.

“W-Why…?”

If anything, it was Zenkei who was beginning to lose his composure.

“If I fall in love, it creates a hierarchy of priorities within the party. As a Hero, that’s something I can’t allow to happen. That’s why—I’ve decided not to fall for anyone in my party. I’ve felt that way ever since I started out as a Hero.”

There was no lie in Angelica’s eyes. To begin with, she isn’t the type of person clever enough to deceive others.

“…I understand.”

Zenkei unclasped his arms.

I suppose he judged that he didn’t have a chance.

“It would be embarrassing to keep pushing after being rejected. I’m sorry, Angelica.”

“It’s okay. To tell you the truth, since it was the first confession of my life, I was actually a little happy.”

There was likely no lie in those words, either.

“And I got dumped for the first time in my life… Well, I guess these things happen.”

Sigh… Zenkei let out a long breath. I looked at his face again, but he still didn’t look like a man to me.

Eventually, Selene the Mage and Naharin the Priestess woke up, and the night watch was successfully handed over.

It seems Angelica’s “man problems” will be fine for the time being.

“My Lord, you are yawning quite a lot.”

My secretary, Torualina, reprimanded me again. This was the fifth time today.

“It can’t be helped… I didn’t sleep at all yesterday…”

“I don’t want to hear it! What do you mean you took a paid day off and ended up with less sleep?!”

“I have my own circumstances, you know. Ah, I’m so sleepy…”

For the rest of the day, I was forced to continue my battle against the sandman.

He was a far more formidable opponent than your average adventurer.