Chapter 8

Several days had passed since I went on a subjugation request with Belze and Esteria.

Perhaps because Lilina had scolded them, they had finally stopped asking me to join them on subjugation requests…

But something had changed in the process. It was about Miss Lilina.

Her cold attitude hadn’t changed, but… even so, this was a dramatic improvement.

It happened when I went to report the completion of about ten requests, as usual.

“Miss Lilina. I’m finished for today. Could you check these for me?”

“…Yes. Please wait a moment.”

She expressionlessly flipped through the request forms and checked them one by one. After a little while, she handed me a pouch containing my payment.

“I’ve confirmed everything. Here is your reward for these requests.”

“Thank you as always.”

“Not at all… Um, Mr. Rex, you… did a good job today, too.”

That’s right. When I finished my requests, she had started offering me words of appreciation.

Her voice didn’t sound particularly emotional, but… it still made me happy.

“Thank you. You still seem pretty busy, Miss Lilina, but I hope you have a good day at work, too.”

“…Yes.”

…Well, she was still as curt as ever.

I gave a small wry smile at her attitude before leaving the guild.

“…Hehehe… Rex…”

Around lunchtime at the guild, Lilina wore a cheerful smile.

“Sigh… You’ve been in a really good mood lately, haven’t you?”

“Oh, Imilia! Yes, yes! I’ve been feeling really happy lately!”

She answered Imilia with a smile, then took a bite of what looked like a homemade lunch.

“Hey, hey, do you know why? Do you want to know? You do, right~? All right, I’ll tell you.”

“Sorry for bothering you.”

“Ah, wait! Don’t go! Listen to me, Imiliaaa!”

Lilina desperately stopped Imilia just as she was about to walk away. Imilia looked a little irritated, but reluctantly sat down beside her.

“So, Miss Lilina, why are you in such a good mood?”

“Well, lately, I’ve been able to talk to Rex a little more, bit by bit!”

“…I see.”

“W-Why are you reacting like you don’t care!?”

“Because I already know. I’m always right beside you, watching you, remember? Of course I’d know.”

“Ugh… Acting all smug like that… Fine! Go ahead and watch from the sidelines just because you’re close with Rex! But I’m NEVER giving him up!!”

“How did you even come to that conclusion…? Still, you’re making an effort for once. You do talk to Rex from time to time, and he was talking about you the whole time.”

“Huh!? About me!? Really!! Is that true!?”

“Y-Yeah… He said something about being happy that the two of you seemed to be getting a little closer… Wait, ugh…”

Imilia glanced at Lilina, who was sitting beside her, with an expression of utter disbelief.

Lilina’s face was hopelessly lovestruck… She hardly looked like someone who acted coldly toward the person she was in love with.

“Hehe… Hehehe… So that’s how it is… Rex was talking about me… Hehehe…”

“…There’s no saving this one. She’s already beyond help.”

Why did I ever get involved with someone like her…? Imilia wondered from the bottom of her heart.

(…Come to think of it, this idiot still hasn’t received a birthday present from Rex, has she…?)

As if she’d just remembered something, Imilia looked at her.

Putting aside that ridiculous lovestruck expression, if Rex had given her a present, she would definitely have told Imilia about it. Which meant she hadn’t received one yet.

(She seems satisfied just because he wished her a happy birthday… Sigh. I suppose I have no choice. Since I’m already at it, maybe I’ll give her a little help.)

Despite all her complaints, Imilia genuinely cared about her friend.

Was this what people called being a tsundere…? Or was it something else…?

“? Imilia? Why are you staring at my face?”

“…It’s nothing. I was just worried that your expression might rub off on me.”

“Ah! There you go making fun of me again!! Why can’t you ever be honest!?”

“I should be asking you that!!”

…Perhaps even Imilia herself didn’t know the answer.

And so, the two of them headed back to their respective workstations to continue their duties that day.

“…Is this the place?”

The following day, I’d been called by Miss Imilia, so I made my way to the fountain plaza in the center of town.

I had no idea why she’d called me… Maybe she needed me to do something for her?

“Oh, there you are! Rex!”

“Miss Imilia!”

She waved at me. She was wearing a slightly different outfit from the casual clothes I’d seen her in the other day.

“Sorry for calling you out so suddenly.”

“It’s fine. I was actually looking forward to having a day off for once, so this is no trouble. Anyway, what did you need me for?”

When I asked, Miss Imilia hesitated for a moment, looking a little awkward, before answering.

“…Could you help me choose a birthday present for Lilina?”