CH 187

Episode 187 – Ahmed’s Thoughts

Author’s Note: This chapter is from Ahmed’s POV. (TL: Last one from Ahmed’s POV for now, next chapter goes back to Lewin’s POV)

“That’s great to hear. It was worth coming to Landaust just to see you in good health, Ahmed-san!” (Lewin)

“….Mm-hmm. You seem to be doing well too, Lewin.” (Ahmed)

“That’s right! A lot has happened since we parted ways, but I’ve been doing great!” (Lewin)

“…You look really happy.” (Ahmed)

“Well I mean… you’re my savior and also an important person to me, Ahmed-san! I’m just happy to see you after such a long time! And after you immediately ran off somewhere yesterday, I was wondering if maybe you hated me or―” (Lewin)

“Hate you?! ……Never. You don’t need to worry about something like that…” (Ahmed)

I didn’t hate him. I at least made sure to firmly deny this notion of Lewin’s, who was showing a worried expression. I couldn’t explain it in detail because I didn’t understand it myself, but I could sincerely say that I didn’t hate him.

“Then that’s great! If you don’t hate me, there are so many things I want to talk with you about, Ahmed-san!” (Lewin)

“…I see.” (Ahmed)

I had a bad feeling that I would fall into that incomprehensible emotional state yet again, so I couldn’t help but avert my gaze.

“So… I didn’t come to Landaust just to talk with you.” (Lewin)

“Not just to talk? What do you mean, Lewin?” (Ahmed)

I inadvertently turned my gaze back to him when he uttered this curious statement, and quickly fired a question back.

Did he come here to tell me something, or did he have something to give to me?

In a short moment, all kinds of thoughts rushed through my head, but I couldn’t arrive at an answer.

“Actually, I… came to Landaust to join the [Azure Alliance]! I came to fulfill the promise we made when we parted!” (Lewin)

Lewin’s words came out sounding cheerful, even though he was squeezing out each word. At those words, a joy welled up from the bottom of my heart, but that joy dissipated in the next instant.

It was true that partying up with Lewin… was something that had always been in the back of my mind for the past year. I knew that doing quest commissions and diving into the Dungeon together would no doubt be a life filled with fun and happiness. However, Lewin had declared when we parted― ‘I will become stronger to repay your favor.’

I didn’t know what Lewin was like now, but I couldn’t help but feel that these words were too cheap. It had only been about 1 year since we left Grezesta. I could see at a glance that Lewin had gotten stronger, just from the way he carried himself. But if I were asked if he had really become strong enough to repay me, I would have to say that I still had my doubts. And because of that, my joy vanished quickly.

“Sorry, Lewin. That’s something I still can’t allow yet.” (Ahmed)

“……Eh?” (Lewin)

When Lewin heard my words, his face froze with a look of surprise stuck on his face. He probably thought I would immediately allow it. And I was about to, until just a few seconds ago.

“EH?! Why’s that? Eliza, you wanted to adventure with Lewin so much, so wh—” (Smash)

“Shut up, Smash. I promised to let him join the [Azure Alliance] when he became strong enough to repay the favor. But right now, I don’t think Lewin is strong enough.” (Ahmed)

“No, you won’t really know until you actually see for yourself. Personally, I want to be in a party with Lewin too, and the quickest way to see his true abilities would be to just go with him down to the Dungeon.” (Dion)

Instead of Lewin, who was stunned in place, Smash and Dion butted into the conversation. By the looks of it, Smash and Dion probably already gave him their permission at last night’s dinner party… A dinner party without me, by the way. No matter how many times I thought about it, it kept pissing me off.

“Why would I have to go so far as to do that? I’m not going to let Lewin join until he can show that he’s capable. That’s final,” I said flatly to the two who were trying to talk me out of it. These two were partial towards Lewin too. If I wasn’t firm about it here, he might try to pull something else.

“Smash-san, Dion-san, thanks for speaking up for me. However… I was the one who put forth the promise with Ahmed-san to get stronger and repay the favor to her, and I myself can understand that what she said just now is correct.” (Lewin)

Smash and Dion both looked unconvinced, but Lewin, who should have had a frozen look of shock on his face instead had a refreshing expression of relief. As expected… Unlike these two, Lewin immediately understood what I was trying to say.

That was why I even more wanted to see Lewin, as talented as he was, join the party right away. It was just that― my feelings wouldn’t permit that anymore.

“But I’m not giving up on joining the [Azure Alliance]. I think that right now, the best way for me to get even stronger than I am now is to join the [Azure Alliance]. So… Ahmed-san, how can I convince you that my skills are good enough to let me join the party?” (Lewin)

“…..Hmm, let’s see. If you can catch up to the layer we’re at in the Dungeon, I can allow you to join.” (Ahmed)

I presented Lewin with the conditions that I had settled on myself. I had been diving into the Dungeon for the past year, and I knew that this was a difficult condition to meet, but… ‘you have a favor to repay me’.

Now that you’ve already verbally made the promise, you’ll have to show me about that much power if you want to fully convince me.

Even still, the condition was undoubtedly tough, so maybe even Lewin would hesitate, but…

“Ahmed-san. Are you sure about that condition? If I can catch up to the same layer as the [Azure Alliance], then I’ll accepted as a member?” (Lewin)

I couldn’t hold back a smile when I heard Lewin utter these words without hesitation. As expected, Lewin was Lewin…

I understood from his immediate reply that nothing had changed from a year ago, and that he sincerely valued his promise to me.

“Yeah. If you can catch up, we’ll let you join. But the party limit must be the same as ours, only 3 people. That’s to make sure that you can’t get carried up to that point.” (Ahmed)

“Okay, I understand. I’ll do my best to catch up with you… just wait and see!” (Lewin)

Seeing Lewin’s excited expression, I smiled once, then turned on my heel and headed for the Dungeon.

The hazy fog that had been hanging over my heart lifted, revealing an azure sky that looked incredibly beautiful.

When Lewin catches up to our layer, I’ll welcome him with open arms at that time.

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Judging from his attitude, he had already ‘become stronger to return my favor’. Lewin may have already acquired the strength necessary to make the promise a reality, but… If you’ll do everything you can to join the party as you said you would, I simply have to see it from you.

Thinking this made me suddenly feel like a princess, and I began to feel grossed out with myself. I shook my head to clear my thoughts before heading off to the Dungeon in a good mood.