Alfine's point of view

'No, I'm sorry. Al and his friends gave me a ride in their carriage ....... I didn't expect my partner, Mirren, to sleep in.

Wow, it's my fault!　That's because Dick won't come to wake you up!

'Huh!　I've always said I'm not your caretaker, so why don't you get up in the morning yourself?


　As they left the Adventurer's Guild to head to the Devil's Forest, they saw two young adventurers who had become friends over the past week rush in.

　The reason they were in a hurry was apparently because they were about to miss the carriage to the place they had ordered the day before.

　But they had missed it brilliantly, and since they were just in the same direction, they had decided to give them a ride to the middle of the road.


　The two seemed to be childhood friends who grew up in this village near Yuguhanotes, and I had heard that Mirren was a sorcerer and Dick was a swordsman who had recently become an adventurer.

　Watching them interact with each other reminded him of the early days when he and Fynn had become adventurers.


　I guess I was spoiled by Fynn, just like Mirren was unconsciously spoiled by Dick. ......

　I didn't think of myself that way at all at the time, but now that I'm objectively looking at these two people from the outside with the same kind of relationship I have, I feel like my selfishness is being thrust in front of me.


　Mirren is the me I was until just recently: .......

　I don't doubt that their world will last forever, just like my child self, who never doubts that their world will last forever.

　But that world will not last forever, and if you don't change, it will disappear.


　Thinking about this, I couldn't help but call out to Mirren.


'Mirren, I think Dick will forgive you if you say 'I'm sorry' honestly in those situations.

Mr. Al?

Yeah, that's my advice. Men like more straightforward girls than you think.


　Mirren tilted her head at my advice and looked at me.

　Dick is nodding his head with his arms crossed as if to say 'exactly'.


'Is that so?　Do you like girls like that too, Al?


　Mirren took my hand and looked at me.


Maybe it's ....... No, I don't know, but at least that's what Dick thinks. But at least that's what Dick thinks," he said. You know?　Isn't that right, Dick?


　I didn't want Mirren to walk through the same mistakes I had made, so I thought it was meddling, but I was interjecting.


'What?　Oh, yeah. You're right. If Mirren were a little more honest, I wouldn't be so mad at her either.

Oh, really?

Why are you staring at me like that?


　Mirren's gaze was fixed on Dick with a jittery look.


　I guess she really likes him.

　But maybe he still doesn't understand the difference between being spoiled and liking him.


　This was something I could say to myself.

　I'm no longer qualified to like the people I like, but .......


'Mirren, you'd better be honest with me if you like Dick, because if you do, you'd better be honest. Otherwise--

What?　Mr. Al!　What are you--


　Mirren's face turned red and she tried to cover my mouth with her hand.


''Yes yes!　Okay, you three, let's cut the crap. Mirren and Dick will have to say goodbye now. We're going to hide out in the magical forest for a while, so we'll see you when we get back.


　When I thought the wagon had stopped, Meira was peeking at us from the guru's seat.

　It seems that we have arrived at the turnoff to the forest on the outskirts where Mirren and the others are heading.


Mirren, let's go. Let's go. Thank you for dropping me off, Al-san and Meira-san. I'll make sure I can buy you a meal when you come back.

Hey, hey, Dick!　Then I'm off!


　Dick, blushing, took Mirren's hand and said hello to us as he climbed out of the truck.

　As I watched him go, a dull ache spread through my heart with relief.


　It's very cruel to be shown a time when you felt happy. ......


　You can't help but feel like you're sinking into a swamp of self-loathing when you see Dick and Mirren.

　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.


''You remembered what happened with Mr. Fynn, and that's why you warned those two, right?

Well, you know.

So you wish you'd been more honest with me.


　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get away with it.


　Why have I become such a tearjerker .......

　This is like .......


　I was desperately trying to wipe away the tears that were about to flow out of me.

　Just by not having Fynn, my previous self was broken as if it were a lie, and the only thing that came out of it was a very fragile, feminine and disgusting female part of me.


'Al is an idiot. But you're determined to make a proper apology when you see Mr. Fynn, right?


　I wiped away my tears and nodded at Meira's question.


The rest is up to you, Fynn. You may be a bit harsh, but after that it's not up to Al to decide. You've learned that love is only possible when there's a partner, right?

Yes. ......


　I thought I understood how annoying it is to impose your feelings on someone without permission.

　I know that it's convenient for me to try to undo a relationship that I've destroyed for my own reasons.


　Now that I know that, I may be so weak and fragile and feminine.

　If I met Fynn in this form, I might be even more disillusioned.

　My way of taking responsibility is to show him that I've grown up, apologize to him for what I've done, and say goodbye.


　I reminded myself and wiped away the tears on my cheeks.


Meira, you don't have time to cry here. I don't know why you're hugging me so tightly.

Huh? I don't like you crying, Al!


　Before I knew it, Meira was hugging me, so I regained my composure and slammed my hand blade into her forehead.


''Aghhhh!　It's bad enough that Al looks so serious! I've heard from Al that Mr. Fynn is apparently a bit of a shyster, so I'm going to have to push him down to the worst and make it an established fact--oh!


　I slammed my hand blade into Meira's forehead just one more time.

　I consider that to be the worst move I've ever made, and it was a move I would never use, even if I were dead.


''Meira, I would never use a hand like that. ......

'I know, I know. I know Al is a serious, unslippery, pure-hearted girl.


　As he said this, Meira stood up, rubbing her forehead.


'Quickly, then, shall I help Al to proceed on his adult path? Ah, there you are.

Thanks for that ....... Sister Mayra.


　Hearing my murmurings, Meira silently waved her hand and returned to the governor's seat and began to drive the wagon again.