IPSC 21

Chapter 21

After Jerome left,

I returned to the camp and tried to整理 my thoughts.

How was I supposed to change Jerome’s feelings?

And how on earth were you supposed to fulfill those so-called special conditions?

…Also, why had Jerome blushed back there?

He’d even acted flustered, which was unlike him. It was a sudden situation, sure, but considering how Jerome usually was, I’d expected him to react calmly and with composure.

Could it be that Jerome saw me as a member of the opposite sex?

If that were the case… then maybe there was still hope.

By the time I reached the camp, I spotted Jerome stepping out of a tent. Aside from his damp hair, he was dressed as neatly and impeccably as ever.

I cautiously approached him.

“Um, Duke.”

“…?”

The Jerome who’d been flustered at the hot spring was nowhere to be seen. He looked at me calmly, as if he’d already forgotten what had happened earlier.

“What is it?”

[Activating the ‘Charm’ skill.]
[Skill activation failed.]

Ugh.

I’d tried using it just in case the incident at the hot spring had fulfilled a special condition, but apparently not.

Still, running into Jerome again was a rare opportunity, so I decided to make the most of this encounter.

“You said you came all the way to the south for personal reasons. May I ask what those reasons are?”

Small talk was the best way to close the distance, after all.

Jerome stared at me for a moment before answering.

“I am searching for someone.”

“Who are you looking for? If you tell me, I might be able to help.”

His brows drew together.

“I believe I told you there would be no reason for you, Miss Ambervier, to be involved.”

“I’m not trying to burden you. I just want to help.”

“I do not require help. I would appreciate it if you refrained from any further interest and kept your distance.”

Why was he being so cold? Was it really serious enough to talk about “keeping distance”? What had I said that was so rude?

Just as a surge of frustration was about to burst out—

“Duke, I—”

“Ah, I finally feel alive again!”

Theodore emerged from the healer’s tent, stretching his arms. His color had returned, and when he spotted Jerome and me, he broke into a wide grin and walked over.

“You’re Duke Jerome Winston, right? Thanks for treating me. You saved my life. For a moment there, I thought I was greeting a god.”

Jerome looked at Theodore with an indifferent expression, then gave a slight nod.

“I’m glad to see you’re safe. I will assist you until you rejoin your party.”

“Oh, no need for that. Once I recover, I’ll head out on my ow—”

“Please rest well.”

Before Theodore could finish his sentence, Jerome turned his back and walked away.

Theodore watched him go, then shrugged.

“I knew he was a boring guy, but he’s worse than I thought.”

“Are you okay?”

I looked at Theodore with concern.

“I was really worried. I thought you were going to die.”

Annoying as Theodore could be, seeing him collapse had made my heart drop.

He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“As you can see, I’m fine. But what exactly happened?”

“The Duke took care of Brokshgal.”

“Really? The Duke was in that cave too?”

“Ah… yes.”

I nodded awkwardly.

I couldn’t exactly tell him that I’d ridden Brokshgal to the surface using mind control.

A person who couldn’t even use magic suddenly wielding a dangerous skill like mind control—anyone would find that suspicious.

Besides, Theodore was a holy knight affiliated with the church. If he found out about such an ability, who knew what kind of consequences I’d face?

It was better to keep any mention of skills to an absolute minimum.

Theodore spoke in an awkward tone.

“I owe the Duke one, then.”

Suddenly, he fell silent. His lighthearted manner and playful expression vanished, replaced by an unfamiliar seriousness.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve protected you. You almost died because of me.”

So that’s what he’d been worrying about?

That was… kind of cute.

I spoke lightly.

“You’ve already saved me plenty of times. You healed me on the mountain, too. If it weren’t for you, I’d have become wyvern food a long time ago.”

“Still. If it weren’t for Duke Winston, you’d have been eaten by Brokshgal.”

Theodore’s eyebrows drooped. He looked like a large dog soaked in the rain.

“We’re alive, and that’s what matters. Why are you acting like this? It doesn’t suit you.”

I lightly punched his shoulder with my fist.

“You said it yourself—life and death are up to the will of the gods.”

I was an atheist, but he looked so down that I ended up quoting his own words.

“The fact that we survived means it must’ve been the gods’ will. People who are meant to live will survive somehow. Right?”

Theodore’s eyes widened slightly. He stared at me in silence, then let out a bitter smile.

“Yeah. If it’s the gods’ will, then those meant to live will live.”

Still, seeing how dejected he looked, I grabbed his shoulders with both hands and turned him toward the hot springs.

“Go wash up. You smell awful.”

Theodore sniffed himself and grimaced.

“What the hell? What is this stench?”

The smell was from Brokshgal, but I pretended not to know and looked away.

“How should I know? Maybe you don’t bathe regularly. There’s a hot spring nearby, so go take a bath.”

“What do you take me for? I’m a very clean person.”

“The hot spring’s that way.”

“I bathe every morning and night, you know. You don’t see cleanliness like mine every day.”

“Yes, yes. I’m sure.”

I answered halfheartedly as I pushed Theodore toward the hot springs.

He grumbled on about his completely uninteresting bathing routine, but surprisingly, he headed off without much resistance.

Left alone, I sat down and let out a sigh.

What was I supposed to do about Jerome? His defenses were impenetrable.

This wouldn’t do. I needed to at least ask him why.

If I didn’t, I’d be too frustrated and upset to sleep.

I headed straight for where Jerome was. He was looking over a map and talking with his companions.

“Duke, may I speak with you for a moment?”

At Jerome’s signal, his companions withdrew.

Once we were alone, I got straight to the point.

“Have I upset you somehow? Or did I do something wrong?”

“No.”

“Then why are you suddenly distancing yourself from me?”

Jerome stared at me silently before slowly parting his lips.

“Are we close enough to question such matters?”

“But we’re not complete strangers either. We even ate together—”

He cut me off in a cold tone.

“That meal was compensation for assisting with a request. If you interpreted our relationship differently, I apologize.”

Beyond his expressionless face, I could feel a solid defensive wall standing firm.

Seriously… this was ridiculous.

The emotions I’d been holding back burst under the weight of his ironclad rejection.

“Did I ever confess my feelings to you? I was just expressing how I felt, person to person. Don’t you think you’re being too harsh?”

“Regardless of romantic matters, I have no intention of growing close to anyone.”

Jerome ended the conversation in a firm voice.

“I do not wish to impose any further burden on you, so please remain quietly here and focus on resting.”

He turned his back and walked away.

How many times do I have to stare at that guy’s back?

You think you’re so great, huh?

If I didn’t need to reach the ending, I wouldn’t be chasing after someone who clearly doesn’t want me!

Clenching my fist, I pretended to throw a punch at Jerome’s retreating back.

Then I ran into Theodore, who was on his way to the hot springs.

What—? How long had he been there?

I laughed awkwardly and waved my fist in the air.

“Haha… there sure are a lot of bugs around here.”

“I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but it looks like your love life isn’t going too well?”

Cough.

I cleared my throat, struck right in a sensitive spot.

“It’s not a love life. It’s nothing like that.”

“Oh, come on. You can’t fool me—I’m very perceptive.”

Theodore crossed his arms and leaned back casually against a tree.

“Want some help?”