Volume 1 - CH 30

Back in her luxurious room from the Tower of Chalk, Alina suddenly had a lot of free time on her hands and didn’t know what to do with it.

With Jade being summoned by the guildmaster as soon as he returned, Ririru busy healing Rufus, and Loewe analysing what they had learned in the tower, Alina was the only one with nothing to do.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. When she gave a cursory reply, entered the room.

‘Hey.’

With his usual smile and not a hint of hesitation, he sat down on the edge of the bed where Alina was lying.

‘Did you manage to get some rest?’

‘A bit.’

‘The guild has decided that the Tower of Chalk will be temporarily sealed off, and that its capture will be restricted to the Blades only.’

‘Huh.’

‘You don’t care, do you? Even though everything that happened.’

‘What I care about is that we capture the tower quickly and that I don’t have to use up any more of my paid leave.’

‘About that, miss Alina.’

Jade’s face turned serious and he said something that came as a surprise:

‘We’ve made Rufus the vanguard of the Blades.’

Alina blinked her eyes in confusion.

‘Eh? What about me?’

‘I’m removing you from the party. You can go back to being a receptionist.’

‘Huh.’

Because Jade, who had been so obsessed with Alina, said it so frankly, she was speechless for a moment. After a few second of contemplation, she got up and met Jade’s eyes as he tried to avert them.

‘You’re not going to say that because I couldn’t help capture the dungeon this time, I’ll have to help capture a different dungeon later, are you?’

‘I won’t.’

‘And the promise to increase the number of receptionists and eliminate overtime?’

‘The guildmaster said he’d do everything he can. After all, you kept your end of the bargain and cooperated with us. ’

Alina felt there was something off about his answer. She didn’t know what was discussed in Jade’s report, but the piece-of-shit stalker that she knew wasn’t the kind of man who’d accept a decision like that lying down. There’s definitely something else going on.

‘Well, it doesn’t concern me.’

She was about to inquire further, but she stopped herself. If Rufus is going to the Tower of Chalk in her stead, she should be happy to oblige. That way, she wouldn’t have to waste any more of her paid leave.

‘Now that’s decided, today will be the last time I’m allowed to stay in this room. I’m reluctant to give up the bed though. Anyway, I’m going to pack my bags, so get your arse out of here.’

‘Haha, that’s so like you.’

Even though he’d just been told to get lost, the wryly-smiling Jade seemed somehow relieved by Alina’s Alina-like reaction. Something really is off. Alina furrowed her brow at the feeling of unease tugging at her heart. Jade isn’t the kind of guy to have such a mature expression. The Jade she knew had the face of a child throwing a tantrum because they didn’t get their way.

But Alina didn’t inquire any further and buried her feelings of unease. Alina saw off the oddly-acting Jade who obediently left her room, but just as she was about to close the door behind him:

‘Are you sure everything’s alright?’

The words had slipped from her mouth before she realised, surprising even herself.

She didn’t give a damn about this guy, and yet…

Jade likely didn’t expect to be shown concern either, for when he turned around, his mouth hung open like a half-wit’s. But now that she had said it, she couldn’t back down, and Alina grudgingly continued:

‘That monster can use a Dia skill, right? How are you going to handle it with only transcendent skills at your disposal?’

Jade didn’t have an answer right away.

This was where he would normally display his unfounded confidence and positive attitude, but instead he averted his eyes. After a few seconds of silence, he said:

‘Even if we can’t handle it, when we’re told to go, we go. That’s the way of the Silver Blades.’

Alina was taken aback by his deep, determined tone. But this only lasted for a moment, and he soon returned to his usual face as he grinned at her.

‘I’ll be fine even against a Dia skill. You keep beating me up with yours, yet I’m still alive and kicking.’

‘Certainly.’

‘As long as the tank doesn’t fall, the party won’t either. I’m pretty tough, I’m won’t die so easily.’

He said, although there still was something forced about the way he smiled. Alina frowned at this feeling of unease, but Jade, oblivious, continued:

‘Unfortunately, things haven’t gone to plan this time, but that doesn’t mean I’ve given up on you. We should go to a dungeon together sometime.’

‘I’d rather die.’

‘By the way, about this room. The guildmaster said you can stay here until the repairs to your house are finished. Well then, see you later.’

Having said all he wanted to say, Jade left. As Alina saw him off with a sense of foreboding, a vague memory of a distant past flashed through her mind.