CH 120

[Frick’s Thought]

“I might have met her…” (Frick)

“Yes?” (Noelia)

“I might have met Alfine, who had became Al, at Youg Hannotes. I hadn’t realized it at all until now, but hearing the information from Noelia, I think I’ve met her.” (Frick)

“Where was it? At Devon village, she only met me. Then after that, Al-sama and her companions immediately brought the beastmen from the mine to Youg Hannotes…” (Noelia)

When I say that I have met Al, Noelia makes a very curious face.

“When we were going to depart from Youg Hannotes to Inbahanes, we made appointment to meet at the Adventurer’s Guild, remember?” (Frick)

“Y-yes. I remember informing Frick-sama to wait because our preparations were delayed…” (Noelia)

“At that time, I bumped into a blonde, blue-eyed young male adventurer, and I mistook him for Alfine for a moment. I thought I was mistaken, however, according to what you told me, he must be Alfine, who had became Al.” (Frick)

“Is that…so. You two have already met once…” (Noelia)

I catch the sight of Noelia’s icy-blue eyes shaking as though showing her anxiety.

Perhaps to counteract her anxiety, she holds my hand firmly.

“We’ve searched all around in order to protect Alfine, but it turns out that she has safely escaped from the royal capital, huh… What the heck I was doing, I wonder, I even had Noelia involved in this.” (Frick)

There was a rumor going around that Alfine was executed, so I got worried and came to the royal capital, but it turned out that the one who was killed was a double, whereas the person herself was searching for me in the frontier, Youg Hannotes; what kind of joke is this?

Anyway, it means Alfine has escaped from the pursuit of the Royal Guard Knight Order and is still alive and well, huh.

“Frick-sama, there is still something I have to tell you. Would you listen to me?” (Noelia)

“A-ahh. My bad. Please continue.” (Frick)

“When Al-sama met my father, she was informed that Frick-sama was actually Finn-sama. She then chased after Frick-sama and went to the territory of Inbahanes.” (Noelia)

“…I see, she has found out my real identity, huh.” (Frick)

Originally, I was thinking of bringing Alfine to take shelter under the Henestrosa family while hiding my identity, however…

She has found out my real identity, huh.

That Alfine, she even went as far as changing her appearance to take me back to her side.

Learning that she has found out my real identity, the figure of Alfine verbally abusing me surfaces in my mind.

At the royal capital, I’ve heard about Alfine’s real feelings that I hadn’t known from various people, but I still couldn’t wipe out the trauma Alfine gave me from my memory.

“Frick-sama, your complexion is——are you still worried about Alfine-sama?” (Noelia)

“Ah, you’ve got it wrong. I was just thinking about the weakness of my heart. In the first place, I should have faced Alfine more properly, yet I ran away.” (Frick)

“How could that be… From everything I have heard, I think that neither of you two is responsible for what happened between you…” (Noelia)

The warmth of the hands of Noelia, staring at me in worry, alleviates the pain wrenching my heart.

Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to think of facing Alfine, who had escaped, head-on.

“I’m going to face Alfine properly, otherwise I’ll find it difficult to live as Frick.” (Frick)

“Then, would you be going to Inbahanes?” (Noelia)

“I’m planning to go meet Alfine after rescuing the Director and Sensei who were taken by Vigo and settling various matters.” (Frick)

Noelia stares at me silently.

The relationship between me and Alfine must be making her very anxious.

However, since I’ve decided to live as Frick together with her moving forward, I believe I should properly settle the matter between me and Alfine.

“Is that…so. I understand. I am also worried about Danton-sama and Philia-sama. Let’s hurry back to the royal capital when the road opens.” (Noelia)

“Yeah, we have to rescue the Director and Sensei as soon as possible, besides, what Vigo said bothers me.” (Frick)

“You guys have decided on what to do, I see. Well, I’m sure the matters between Frick, Noelia, and Alfine will go well. Probably. And, I’m sorry. Let me apologize to you two in advance.” (Cinzia)

Cinzia, listening to our talk, flies out of the room.

After that, I, having recovered my magic power, mobilized a lot of golems with Cinzia, removing the rubbles of the collapsed tunnel and opening the road with great haste, before returning to the royal capital to chase after Vigo who we thought had escaped to the mansion of the Radcliffe family.