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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
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A few days ago, Ophelia had overheard a conversation between Elliot and Ured. It wasn’t intentional. She had stormed off in a huff, only to realize she had dropped her hairpin. The cheap hairpin Elliot had given her in the Auriga Desert.
It had been useful for picking the lock at the conference hall, which made it even more precious to her. When she went back to retrieve it, she heard Ured talking to Elliot. She instinctively hid behind a tree.
Ophelia’s stealth skills were considerable. Ured, oblivious, had asked…
‘You care about the Saintess, don’t you?’
‘I suppose so.’
‘May I ask… what is the Saintess to you?’
‘She’s… more precious than anything.’
‘Haha. Is that so?’
Ophelia had run away the moment she heard those words.
How could he say something so embarrassing, in broad daylight, no less? Ophelia, her cheeks burning, had tossed and turned all night.
Even now, looking at the ring on her left ring finger, she was certain that Elliot’s feelings for her were more than just camaraderie. What surprised her the most was that this realization… filled her with a sense of satisfaction.
“So… thank you.”
Now, Ophelia leaned against the railing, looking at Elliot. He was handsome. He had a rugged look, but it was appealing. His gray eyes were particularly striking.
He had a terrible personality, but he wasn’t unreasonable. He was almost machine-like in his ability to separate his personal feelings from his duties.
He was surprisingly considerate in the strangest of ways without being a pushover, which she liked.
“Hey, are you going to give me such a lukewarm response when a woman is thanking you?”
“…You seem to be drunk.”
“I’m not drunk.”
Well, she was a little drunk. But not so drunk that she couldn’t express herself. Ophelia voiced the question that had been on her mind for the past few months.
“Why are you so nice to me?”
“What do you mean?”
Elliot tilted his head. Ophelia chuckled and took another sip of her drink. It was bitter. She wasn’t a fan of alcohol.
“I know. I’m not… a nice, gentle woman like the others. I’m more like… trash.”
“I’m surprised you’re so self-aware.”
“Damn it.”
A curse slipped out, but Ophelia cleared her throat and corrected herself.
“Thanks to someone, I know myself very well. Because I was beaten to a pulp.”
Pfft.
Ophelia kicked Elliot in the shin. He didn’t react, as if he was used to her antics.
“Boring.”
“We’ve been together for a long time.”
“Over three years now.”
“A long time, indeed.”
Elliot smiled faintly. A smile she would have never imagined seeing on his face three years ago.
She was captivated.
“….”
Ophelia was certain. This man… was in love with her. The evidence was overwhelming. And not only that, her heart was pounding. Like Elliot, Ophelia’s feelings for him had solidified.
Admitting her feelings required a bit of courage and a lot of pride. It wasn’t something the usual Ophelia could do. But with the help of alcohol… and the special atmosphere of this place… it might be possible.
“Hey.”
She had to say it. If she didn’t say it now, she might never say it.
“You know… I…”
“….”
“I… you…”
I don’t hate you, which means I like you, just like you like me. That’s what she was going to say. But…
“I probably like…–”
Boom!
A massive firework exploded, illuminating the night sky. When the light faded, Elliot’s expression was unchanged.
“What did you say?”
“…Nothing.”
Ophelia sighed and shook her head. She had mustered all her courage, but she didn’t have the energy to say it again. And he hadn’t even heard her.
“This is boring. The fireworks, I mean.”
“You were staring at them with wide eyes just a moment ago.”
“That was then, this is now.”
Ophelia yawned and looked at Elliot. Come to think of it, she didn’t have to confess first.
She could make him confess. They were both incredibly proud. It was a matter of curiosity who would break the stalemate first. But there was something she had to confirm.
“Hey. Do you remember?”
“Remember what?”
“What you said at the Golden Lion’s castle.”
“What did I say?”
“That we would live together after defeating the Demon King.”
In the guest room of Lavre Castle, Elliot had said it. That they would build a house somewhere sunny and live comfortably after defeating the Demon King.
It wasn’t a bad proposal. And it was realistic.
“Were you serious?”
“I was.”
“Still?”
“Yes.”
“…Okay.”
That was all she needed to hear. Ophelia smiled and nodded.
“Do you have a place in mind?”
Ophelia thought for a moment, then said, “As long as there are no churches nearby.”
“I agree.”
Hardly the words of a hero and a Saintess.
Ophelia had a few more drinks and passed out. They had chatted a bit more, but it was mostly meaningless.
‘Hey. What did the you in the other world look like?’
‘Not as handsome as I am now.’
‘You bastard.’
That was the extent of their conversation.
‘Where should we build our house?’
…Ophelia had asked a rather productive question, but I had brushed it off.
‘Let’s talk about that later.’
‘Why?’
‘Talking about the future after a battle is a death flag.’
‘A death… flag? What’s that?’
‘It’s a… superstitious act from my world.’
‘So, dark magic.’
‘Something like that.’
That was their last conversation. Ophelia’s words became slurred and incomprehensible. She was a lightweight, and she had been drinking on an empty stomach. It was natural for her to pass out.
I carried the drunk Ophelia back to our room. I unbuttoned the front of her shirt to help her breathe. But her holy robes were soaked with spilled wine.
It wouldn’t be right to let her sleep like that. So, I changed her clothes. Suppressing my desires as much as possible.
“….”
A few minutes later, I sat on the edge of Ophelia’s bed in the dark room, lost in thought.
The body of a transmigrator was truly remarkable. Elliot’s body had superhuman senses. I could hear whispers from dozens of meters away. So…
“‘I like you,’ huh…”
I had heard what Ophelia had said during the fireworks. I had just pretended not to. I had known for a while that her feelings for me were more than just friendship. I might be dense, but I wasn’t that dense.
“She’s quite pretty when she’s quiet.”
I smiled and stroked Ophelia’s cheek. She still felt like a child to me. But I had to revise my assessment of her. Not a child, but a cute… junior, or a younger sister.
“This is insane.”
I stopped stroking her cheek and poked her nose. She muttered a curse in her sleep and turned over. Time was a cruel mistress. The child-like Ophelia… now looked like a woman.
“….”
Three years. Even hatred could turn into affection. It seemed we had both developed feelings for each other. But I couldn’t respond to her feelings now.
I had more important things to worry about. The Hero’s Mark on the back of my hand. The damn Heavenly God had chosen me as a replacement for the dead hero. The Demon King, transmigrators, commanders, stigmas… there was no room for Ophelia in my mind.
Later. Yes, I would think about it later. This relationship was good for now.
“Heh.”
And yet, I couldn’t help but smile, looking at Ophelia’s sleeping face. How had I come to think of this villainess as cute? The me from three years ago would have fainted.
“Hey, you…”
Ophelia woke up around noon the next day.
“You… you…”
She realized that the clothes she was wearing were different from the ones she had worn to the fireworks festival and screamed, summoning me.
Her face was flushed, and her green eyes were trembling.
“Did you… change my clothes? While I was sleeping?”
“Yes.”
“A-a maid did it, right?”
“Why would I bother a maid? You don’t like being touched by others.”
“Th-then who did it?”
“Who else?”
I replied casually, and Ophelia dropped to her knees. She wrapped her arms around herself and glared at me. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Y-you… you bastard! Trash! Idiot! Moron!”
“….”
“Take responsibility! Take responsibility, you fiend!”
As Ophelia screamed, I raised my middle finger to her face. And I didn’t forget to add, “Right back at you.”
Yes. This relationship was good for now. Of course, Ophelia didn’t speak to me for a week after that, but that’s another story.
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The more I read the more I like Ophelia’s interactions with Eliot.
Same Lord Fourth same!!