Vol 2 Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 02: I tried to help the girl mage with her love problem

Let’s organize our current situation.

Raven, who was sitting next to me, was still stunned, while Mikana appeared embarra.s.sed now after voicing her thoughts. Wasn’t she just getting hyped up in trying to pry the story out of Raven just now? Where did all her enthusiasm go to?

There could be a chance that Mikana wasn’t the kind of character I had in mind.

She had given me the impression of a s.l.u.t when I first met her in the Demon Lord’s castle, but I could be wrong.

In actual fact, though it might sound absurd, it was possible that she was sincerely in love with Yuuga.

A b.i.t.c.h who held the highest position in Yuuga’s harem. I had previously thought that she was such a person.

“……What the heck’s troubling you?” [Youki]

This situation would be convenient to us. If we were to change our subject, we would be able to avoid the discussion about Raven. Thus I decided to help Mikana with her love problem.

“Recently, no, after a certain event, Yuuga has not spoken much to me anymore.” [Mikana]

“But weren’t the two of you on a date the other day?” [Youki]

“The date that caused the riot the other time was actually done against Yuuga’s will. Since the weather is nice, I would like us to go out shopping just like old times. That was what I said to him.” [Mikana]

Come to think of it, they did mention something like this the previous time.

Moreover, the moment he saw Cecilia, he had completely ignored Mikana and went into the shop with Cecilia. Even though I knew that he was in love with Cecilia, I felt that he was being too cold towards Mikana.

“……I was aware that I was hated by him, and I knew the reason behind it too.” [Mikana]

“W-Wait a minute. If you knew the reason, then why not just do something about it?” [Youki]

“If I could do something about it myself, I wouldn’t have consulted you guys about it!” [Mikana]

Possibly because it was a touchy subject to her, she got irritated and misdirected her anger instead. It must have reminded her that she was disliked by the person she loves.

“For it to be something that you couldn’t solve on your own, what actually have you done?” [Youki]

“…..Swordsman should be able to figure it out, right?” [Mikana]

Mikana directed the question at Raven all of the sudden.

Raven who was supposed to be in dazed a moment ago, had unknowingly recovered. He nodded his head to affirm Mikana’s query.

“So I’m the only one who doesn’t know anything about it?” [Youki]

“There’s no way you knew about it. That incident happened before I got acquainted with you.” [Mikana]

“I don’t remember myself getting acquainted with you, though.” [Youki]

Raven and I are friends, but Mikana is definitely not my friend. I guess I could say that our relations.h.i.+p is more or less on the borderline between strangers and acquaintances.

“….Oh right. That’s true. Then we can start getting to know each other from now on.” [Mikana]

“Aa, we’ll get acquainted with each other from now then.” [Youki]

The ‘acquainted’ part was emphasized for some reason.

Normally, a discussion about love is something that you would have only with your friends. However, I had a feeling that it would be a better idea to maintain the relations.h.i.+p with Mikana as it is.

I’d rather not be friends with her, and it was probably the same with Mikana as well.

If so, then she shouldn’t have sought my advice on her love problem at all. That was what I thought.

Nevertheless, even though it might be impossible for us to be friends, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to listen to her problems as fellow comrades with love issues.

I might be able to use it as a reference for myself.

“Then I’ll explain it to you…..but before that, I’d like to ask you something. Can you swear to never tell anyone else what we are about to discuss now?” [Mikana]’

“Seeing that it’s an important discussion, I will not disclose it to anyone else. I promise that I’ll keep it a secret.” [Youki]

“Hmm, well, I will confirm it with Swordsman, just in case…..He’s someone whom I can trust, right?” [Mikana]

Raven strongly nodded. I guess he must have trusted me quite a bit. If so then it is something that made me happy.

He was my very first friend in this world, so I had decided that I would believe in Raven too.

While I was making that determination in mind, Mikana started explaining the reason to Yuuga’s cold att.i.tude.

“This information is not open to the public so you might not know about this, but……we, suffered crus.h.i.+ng defeats numerous times at the Demon Lord’s castle.” [Mikana]

“I-Is that so?” [Youki]

It was an information that I had full knowledge of……Since I was the princ.i.p.al offender, it wasn’t a shocking declaration to me. However it might look suspicious if I do not go with the flow by pretending to be surprised.

Although, no way. Could that actually be the reason?

“It wasn’t even a Demon Lord. We were crushed by just one demon.” [Mikana]

Mikana and Raven appeared to be dejected. They must had recalled the time when they were defeated over and over again.

It made me feel guilty since I was the one who had pulverized them.

“I-Is that demon really that strong?” [Youki]

It would be suspicious if I do not show some kind of reaction. Distraught, I pretended to be astonished. What a clown I am. It was low of me to be doing this even though I was the culprit.

“He is strong. It even made us wonder why a demon like him was merely guarding the room in the middle of the Demon Lord’s castle. Rather, he looked more like a Demon Lord to us.” [Mikana]

It seemed that I might have appeared like a Demon Lord in the Hero party’s eyes at that time.

I guess it couldn’t be helped since the real Demon Lord was defeated in just one battle, and that was even after Cecilia was removed from the party.

……I wonder if Cecilia had thought that I was the Demon Lord as well. It might not be relevant now but I should try asking her the next time.

“He has higher magic attack than me, stronger recovery magic than cleric, and was even more agile than swordsman. His battle sense was also higher than Yuuga. All of us were overwhelmed by just a single demon.” [Mikana]

“A-Are you serious? Was there really a demon like that?” [Youki]

It was unpleasant even though I understood it myself.

How pathetic. Why must I listened to the legend of myself?

My replies became completely monotonous, but Mikana went on with her story without paying any mind to my impression.

“Moreover he was totally looking down on us. Even though I was prepared for death when we were defeated the first time….when I came to, I realized that we were thrown to a nearby village. Not to mention, he had courteously healed all the injuries we had suffered in the fight, too.” [Mikana]

“H-Heh….is that so? How should I put it, that’s quite a kind enemy, isn’t it?” [Youki]

W-What should I do? My eyes were swimming as I spoke. It felt awkward so I ended up averting Raven’s gaze.

“Hmph. It was the greatest humiliation to me. He was sympathizing his enemies!” [Mikana]

“I-Is that right? Y-Yeah I mean, I guess so. You guys were fighting seriously but he simply healed your wounds and threw you all to a nearby village.” [Youki]

I gradually averted my gaze and glugged down the water.

“What I felt wasn’t just humiliation. He had shown us an overwhelming difference in power after fighting us just once! We were utterly annihilated without much resistance. I’ve never been defeated in such a way before until then!” [Mikana]

Mikana gnashed her teeth.

It seemed to be considerably mortifying for her to be defeated by me.

Certainly, I think I did recall saying something like, “Fuhahaha. What a weak magic!” before nullifying her magic easily several times.

My tension went up whenever I saw Cecilia, so when they came my chuuni switch was flipped.

“That must be a terribly powerful enemy. But since you had defeated the Demon Lord, that would mean that you had defeated him too, isn’t it? You’re quite capable, to be able to beat a demon like him.” [Youki]

That might be a shameless remark, but if I had not made such a comment, it would appear peculiar instead.

“….I guess so.” [Mikana]

For some reason, Mikana became distressed. Raven appeared downcast as well, making the atmosphere around us gloomy.

I had a feeling that I touched a sensitive subject.

“Erm, it seemed that I had said something that I shouldn’t…..I’m sorry.” [Youki]

Did my previous reckless and selfish actions traumatize them? I had not expected it to lead to such an ambience. It seriously made me feel like prostrating to them.

“You don’t need to apologize. It was just that, I recalled the time when we defeated him….or rather, when we drove him away.” [Mikana]

“Ah, is that so?” [Youki]

Well, that was because they didn’t actually defeat me.

Since Mikana and Raven were not present there, Cecilia was supposedly to have beat me by herself.

“Yes. What happened that time might be the cause. I did something really terrible. I wonder if that’s the reason why Yuuga was so cold towards me.” [Mikana]

Mikana’s face seemed forlorn as she looked at the ceiling. Tears could be seen welling up at the corners of her eyes…wait, what kind of atmosphere was this? It wasn’t the time to laugh or joke around. The mood had become so serious that I couldn’t find anything to say.

She wiped off her tears after being immersed in her memories for a couple of seconds, and gazed at me intently.

“You might get angry after listening to what I am about to say. Especially if you like cleric too, similar to Yuuga….” [Mikana]

“Erm….” [Youki]