TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 103
A quiet cafe in the capital city.
Yuria and I, seeking refuge from the cold wave, ordered simple drinks and sighed while gazing beyond the glass window where the cold breeze blew.
“As expected, warm places are nice. Being outside for over two hours makes you appreciate even the smallest things.”
“Hiccup…”
“It seems that people need to suffer once to realize the preciousness of life.”
Even though I felt sorry for Yuria, I was still upset about standing outside for an hour. Watching Yuria hiccuping, I voiced the traces of my lonely hour in a sorrowful tone.
“It’s cold….”
After some time passed, the ordered drinks began to be placed on the small round table.
When the carrot cake Yuria liked in the novel and two cups of warm citron tea were placed, I gave the clerk a kind smile and thanked them.
“Thank you for serving it quickly.”
“Yes…”
The blushing clerk accepted the 3 Gold Coins tip I handed over and bowed politely.
I smiled again.
Averting my gaze from Yuria, who couldn’t lift her head, I held the steaming teacup with both hands and spoke in a sorrowful voice with a warm smile.
“It feels like my frozen hands are thawing.”
“Hiccup… I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
Yuria, unable to lift her head, muttered in a small voice. Her murmuring voice expressed an intense desire to hide in a mouse hole, but my wounded heart was not easily healed.
I had a bad thought of teasing her a bit more, but I decided to stop the joke here, thinking Yuria might cry if I continued. I carefully placed the teacup on the table.
“It was very cold, wasn’t it?”
“Ah, yes…”
Yuria nodded timidly at the mention of the cold.
I offered a simple apology and spoke to Yuria.
“I’m sorry for teasing you. My personality is so peculiar that I can’t resist teasing when I feel like it.”
“No… It’s my fault….”
Yuria bowed her head once again and apologized.
“…I’m really sorry. It’s just… it might sound like an excuse, but I think I went crazy because I drank too much yesterday.”
“It’s fine. Being late can happen. I’ve done it a few times myself. Like when I asked Miss Yuria to bring chocolate on her way here. If you really feel sorry, let’s call it even for the mistake I once made toward you.”
Though it was a light remark, it carried a heavy meaning. After all, today’s meeting was connected through drunkenness.
Feeling the need to lighten the burden of emotions a bit, I was relieved to erase one of the debts I owed Yuria.
Yuria hesitated at my words but eventually nodded with difficulty.
“Then I’ll treat you today.”
Yuria declared that she would open her wallet today. A very audacious statement from Yuria. It pricked The Man’s pride.
From what I remember, Yuria’s financial situation wasn’t great. Her father, an adventurer. Yuria, living on a scholarship. It must already be tight just managing school life, yet she said she’d pay.
Knowing Yuria’s financial circumstances well, I put on a serious expression and requested she withdraw her suggestion.
“What are you talking about?”
“Yes…?”
“The thickness of a wallet is The Man’s pride.”
Even if it’s on an installment plan, opening the wallet is The Man’s pride. Therefore, I firmly conveyed to Yuria that I had no intention of being treated.
If I hadn’t yet received my payment from Malik, I might have accepted, but now, with a wallet that had become Young and Rich, I thought it was fine to indulge in a little luxury.
Yuria hung her head low and couldn’t continue speaking.
“I could pay, though….”
“I’ll just accept the sentiment.”
“Thank you…”
“You’re welcome. But if you open your wallet today, I’ll keep expecting you to pay from now on, so keep that in mind.”
“Pardon?”
“Once pride is broken, it can’t be restored.”
With a small joke, I eased the slightly subdued atmosphere.
I smiled at Yuria, forgiving her tardiness. After all, anyone can be late or oversleep, and I offered her a simple consolation, using the excuse that I had been late before as well.
“Anyway, thank you for coming out today. I didn’t have much to do, but thanks to Miss Yuria, I think I can spend meaningful time.”
“No… I’m the one who asked you.”
Yuria also expressed her gratitude, just like me. Her voice, small and timid, carried a slight tremble.
“Thank you for coming out.”
And so, the beginning of our “Let’s Get Closer” unfolded.
I lifted my head to look at the faintly visible Affinity Window above Yuria’s head.
[Yuria Lv. 32]
[Job: Academy Student/Saintess Candidate]
[Favorability: -7]
[Favorite Conversation Topics: Friends/Volunteer Work/Justice/Handsome The Man/First Love/Savior of Life/Father/(New)Ricardo/(New)Budding First Love/(New)I’m going crazy… Do these clothes look okay?]
[Disliked Conversation Topics: Olivia/Two-faced People/Liars/Financial Struggles/(New)Heretics/(New)Incompetent Self]
Last time I checked, the favorability score was remembered as ‘-81,’ but after a long while, it had made significant progress.
At this rate, it might even be possible to live off Yuria, who would become the strongest in the worldview during her later years.
As the conversation gradually blossomed, I began talking with Yuria.
What kind of story would be good?
Remembering both the novel and my current life, I fell into deep thought. Yuria would likely prefer wholesome topics.
The Young Lady and I often had unwholesome conversations about stepping over others, but Yuria seemed to prefer moral stories.
Flowers.
Dolls.
And perhaps daily life at the Academy.
After careful deliberation.
I opened my mouth.
“You look beautiful today.”
As expected, starting with this seemed like the best choice.
*
A hospital in the capital city.
The Desmond Household, waiting their turn with serious expressions, watched the patients entering the clinic room with grave faces.
In the past, Desmond would have summoned a doctor to the estate for an examination, but after experiencing a year of economic hardship, the Desmond family, despite their immense wealth, had learned frugality and were now humbly waiting their turn.
And, as a bonus, going on a date with Olivia.
“Next, patient number 3, please come in.”
Olivia looked at the nurse calling the next patient and asked Darbav.
“Father. Isn’t that us?”
“No. We are number 4. It’s the next turn.”
“No, it’s not.”
Olivia showed Darbav the paper with the number ‘3’ written on it.
With a puzzled expression, Darbav stared.
“What is this?”
Darbav looked at the queue ticket in his hand that read ‘4.’ Feeling an ominous premonition about why Olivia had the ‘3’ ticket, he asked his adorable daughter.
“Your sleight of hand is impressive.”
“I didn’t steal it.”
“What…!?”
Olivia pointed to the queue ticket in Darbav’s hand and said, “That one was drawn by Father,” then proudly held the ‘3’ ticket to her chest, declaring.
“This one, I drew myself.”
“No way…”
Darbav’s eyes welled up with emotion.
“To draw one without stealing…! You’ve grown, Olivia.”
“Yeah. I was going to take the ‘2’ ticket, but Ricardo would scold me.”
Moved by Olivia’s growth, Darbav wiped his eyes with his hand and looked up.
“Father, are you crying?”
“No. It’s just dust in my eyes.”
And. Kyle, who had been silently holding the handle of Fairy Unit 1, spoke to Olivia in a trembling voice.
“Olivia.”
“Yes.”
“Did you, by any chance, take the Queue Ticket? With your own hands?”
Olivia nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Ricardo taught me. He said when you go to a Store or a Bank, you should take a Queue Ticket before entering.”
In the past, Olivia would have ignored the queue entirely, barged in, and declared, “It’s my turn. I don’t have Time.” Watching Olivia, who had now learned the patience of waiting, Kyle was so moved that he trembled while staring blankly at the number 5 Queue Ticket in his hand.
“You’ve grown up…”
“Yes.”
Kyle swallowed his overwhelming emotions and nodded.
“Let’s go…”
Kyle pushed the Wheelchair to enter the Clinic Room.
And at that moment.
A brazen Green-haired Head cut in line, passing by Kyle and Darbav, and entered the Clinic Room.
Olivia, watching the Green-haired Head confidently walking in, looked flustered.
“It’s my turn.”
“That’s right.”
“It is.”
Olivia asked again.
“Then who is that person, cutting in line?”
“…That’s right.”
“That bastard…”
The Desmond Family, united in purpose, approached the Green-haired Young Man.
Darbav and Kyle, because their honorable moment was interrupted. Olivia, simply because she was in a bad mood.
With a menacing aura, they stood behind the Green-haired Young Man.
Taking the lead, Kyle handed Olivia’s Wheelchair handle to Darbav and spoke in a very calm Voice.
“Hey, Green.”
“What?”
“Do you want to be hospitalized?”
Before Ruin, who turned his head, Kyle’s gaze exuded a menacing aura.
“What?”
Kyle looked at Ruin and spoke briefly.
“Get hospitalized.”