CH 257

“Sorry for keeping you… Um, did something happen?”

“Ah, welcome back. Nah, nothing much. Burn was just spouting some nonsense again.”

The subject of the discussion returned to our chaotic conversation. Naturally, Euralia, who knew nothing about what we were talking about, looked puzzled. I quickly said something to ease her confusion.

Seriously though, whether Euralia has feelings for me is quite an important matter. Love is one of the strongest emotions a person can have, and there’s no shortage of parties that have been destroyed because of it.

That’s why I’ve been trying not to attract the affection of the opposite sex… since around the middle of my first run-through, when I started to have some leeway. Leaving your heart in a world where you can’t return to is good for no one, and if someone really likes you, they may protect you when you’re “exiled”, which could hinder your return.

Even though I was created by God, I am aware that I am a total jerk for trampling on the affection of others for my own purposes. Especially towards the end, my heart became numb, and the exhilaration of getting closer to achieving my goal of “going home” even overwhelmed my guilt… but it wasn’t as if it wasn’t tough.

That being said, there’s no way I could directly ask, “Do you like me?” So, I need to be careful…

“Hey, Euralia. Do you super! Like Ed?”

“Wha!?”

I let out a strange noise at Burn’s sudden and direct question. Eh, what the heck!? Do you ask such a thing so casually!? Are you stupid!? Or a hero!?

…Ah, no. Burn is a hero. And stupid. No doubt about it.

“Um… I don’t quite understand your question?”

“So, I’m asking if you like Ed as a man! Would you fight Tia over him? Or even… a harem situation!? Damn it, Ed, you super! Get on my nerves!”

“You need to calm down, seriously. Sorry, Euralia. I’ll shut this idiot up right now, so don’t worry about it.”

If Euralia had joined the party with the goal of winning over hero Burn, this situation would be too harsh. For now, I clench my fist to drill some common sense and consideration into this stupid hero, and strike him mercilessly on the top of his head.

Thump!

“Guha!? Super painful!? What are you doing, Ed!?”

“That’s my line. Hey Burn, if you keep this up, you’ll never be popular, you know? You’re going to live a life where every woman you meet looks at you like you’re a bug. You’ll end up being looked at from a distance with a forced smile, like, “Burn-sama is quite frank, isn’t he?”

“Whoa, what’s that specific future!? Super! Don’t want it!?”

“I don’t care. You reap what you sow.”

“…Um, excuse me. How did this conversation start in the first place?”

While Burn was wailing and clutching his head, Euralia timidly asked. Euralia, who usually doesn’t show much emotion, is clearly bewildered.

“Huh? Because you asked me about Ed, right? About his hometown, his favorite food, and stuff!”

“…I did ask you various things, but that was to ensure that I didn’t offend him during our travels. In fact, I asked you the same things, didn’t I, Burn-sama?”

“……Huh? Did you?”

“Yes. I asked you the same things, and you

told me.”

“…Oh yeah, I think we had a conversation like that. But, why did you ask me directly, but not Ed? Does that mean you super! like Ed and were too embarrassed to talk to him directly…?”

“Ed-san is usually with Tia-san, so I didn’t have much opportunity to talk to him… That’s why I asked you, Burn-sama.”

“Oh, I see. Sorry about that. But you don’t have to hesitate to talk to me, you know?”

“Thank you. I appreciate your consideration.”

Now that she mentioned it, I realized it must be hard to approach a man who is always with another woman. Euralia thanked me as I apologized, and Burn looked like a mischievous child who had just been caught.

“So, was it all my super! misunderstanding?”

“As for whether I have feelings for Ed-san, I would like to refrain from answering in this setting.”

“Eh!? Does that mean—”

“Wake up, you idiot! She means that no matter what she says, it’ll cause trouble, so she’s not saying!”

In this situation, any answer would cause friction. That’s why she gave an ambiguous answer, but Burn, unable to understand this, gets another punch from me.

“Guho!? Super!!! Painful… Hey Euralia, can you check my head? Can you heal it?”

“Ha… Alright, please come here.”

Perhaps because I hit the same spot, Burn seems genuinely in pain. He bows his head to Euralia, asking for her healing magic, and she gently lays her hand on his head, healing his pain. It’s a peaceful and utterly idiotic scene.

“By the way, Tia? You’ve been silent for a while now, what’s up?”

I leave those two as they are and approach Tia, who for some reason didn’t join the conversation. I had the impression that Tia would enjoy this kind of talk, but her expression is uncharacteristically dull.

“Hmm, after all…”

“What’s the matter, Tia? Don’t tell me you’re taking what Burn said seriously?”

“That’s not it. It’s not that, but… Sorry, there’s something on my mind, but I don’t think I should speak it out loud.”

“…? I don’t quite get it, but if there’s something you don’t want to say, you don’t have to, right? We’re not in a relationship where we need to worry about that at this point, are we?”

The second journey with Tia, from my perspective, has already spanned several decades. We’ve reached a point where we can understand each other without saying or asking, and there’s enough trust to let what we don’t know be. So, I have no intention of forcing her to say something she doesn’t want to, and I’m not restless unless I hear it. It’s only natural that there are things the other party doesn’t know or understand. It’s not a flimsy relationship that makes one anxious without peeking at what lies beyond the darkness.

However, even in response to my answer, Tia continues to speak without changing her expression.

“I see… But, there’s something that I think you should know, Ed. But it feels really bad to say it out of my mouth… Ah, what should I do in situations like this?”

“You’ve piqued my interest now, but what do you want me to do?”

“Let’s see… Can you stay with me as much as possible? I think that will solve about half of the problem.”

“Ha… I still don’t understand anything, but if our lady wishes it, I’d be delighted to accompany you.”

I don’t understand the specific reason at all, but “because Tia wished for it” is enough reason for me to act. I quietly stand next to Tia, and she softly takes hold of my hand. I thought she might use the “secret mission talk” between just the two of us, but I hear no voice of Tia echoing in my mind.

“Tia?”

“Yes, Ed?”

“Hmm?”

“You won’t… leave me behind, will you?”

Her emerald eyes look up at me anxiously… That’s why I flick her forehead with my index finger.

“Ouch!? What are you doing!”

“Hahaha, you’re saying things unlike yourself. Leave you behind? Who chased after me even beyond the wall of the world?”

“…Fufu, that’s right, wasn’t it?”

“That’s right. Besides, I’m the undying Demon Lord, right? Something even God couldn’t deal with. I might die, but I won’t disappear, so no matter where I am or what form I’m in… This time, I’ll catch up to you, Tia.”

“Oh, so it’s a competition? I won’t lose, you know?”

“I won’t lose either! No, I didn’t even plan to leave you in the first place. Hey, stop thinking about such impossible things and show me your usual cheerful face. Or else I’ll flick your forehead again.”

“What!? What do you think a maiden’s forehead is for! You pervert, Ed!”

“A pervert, huh…”

“Did you see that, Euralia? That’s a man who’s super! popular with women using his flirtatious techniques!”

“I see. It’s informative…”

Before I knew it, Burn and Euralia, who had deliberately kept their distance, were secretly talking about something while looking this way. Looking at it this way, I don’t think Euralia is in love with me… Well, that’s another matter.

“Hey, Burn. You’ve got a lot of nerve to have a stupid secret talk right in front of me. Alright, I’ll make your training three times tougher from tomorrow!”

“That’s right. I’ll teach you a lot too! Shall we read a book together?”

“Ugh!? That’s super! dangerous! Let’s run, Euralia!”

“…In case of injuries during training, I’ll use healing magic. For fatigue of the head… I’m sorry, that’s a bit difficult.”

“There’s no one on my side!? Damn it, even so, I’ll… super! escape!”

With a heroic shout, Burn starts running alone. This place is in the middle of a forest teeming with magical beasts, even if there are no signs of them around… He’s definitely forgotten that, judging from his behavior.

“Haah, really, what an irredeemable hero. Everyone, let’s chase after him!”

“Yes.”

“Roger!”

At my words of exasperation, Euralia and Tia comply. Incidentally, finding Burn caught up in some web was a matter of five minutes later.