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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
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“…….”
Silence filled the room, amplifying Elisha’s bright smile, as if mocking the strange tension in the air.
Eilly and Melina, their expressions a study in contrasts, had their gazes fixed on him.
They were waiting for a simple explanation to clear up the misunderstanding.
But his mouth wouldn’t open, his throat refusing to form the words.
“Arnold, why…”
Melina spoke first, her voice trembling, her words laced with a mix of sadness, anger, and suppressed emotions.
“Why… would you give such a gift only to Elisha…?”
Her eyes were sharp as blades, her gaze piercing, filled with a mix of sadness and anger.
“No, it’s not like that—”
He tried to explain, but the words caught in his throat. He didn’t know what to say.
He had given her the ring for purely practical reasons. But they were looking at him with disappointment and a sense of betrayal.
“Arnold, don’t you think… you should be fair to all of us?”
Melina’s voice was cold, her gaze averted as if trying to appear indifferent, but her emotions were barely contained, a storm brewing beneath the surface.
Eilly chimed in, her tone even sharper.
“That’s right! We’re a team, and we need to trust and rely on each other. It’s not fair to give special treatment to just one person.”
Eilly’s voice was firm, her gaze critical. She had a point. Favoritism could easily sow discord within a team where fairness was paramount. The problem was, that wasn’t his intention at all.
“Arnold, thank you. I’m so touched.”
But Elisha was still beaming, clutching the ring, her eyes sparkling, her voice filled with genuine joy and gratitude, which only seemed to make the other two more uncomfortable.
“Ugh……”
The atmosphere grew heavier, Melina and Eilly’s gazes turning colder, a strange sense of solidarity forming between them.
He took a deep breath, realizing he had to defuse the situation.
“This ring is simply for the dungeon exploration. I gave it to Elisha because it’s most suited to her abilities. It doesn’t have any other meaning.”
He spoke calmly, but his explanation only made things worse.
“So… you’re saying there’s nothing suitable for us?”
Eilly asked quietly, her voice icy. He shook his head.
“That’s not what I-”
“Arnold, we’re a team. But if you play favorites like this, it will cause problems for all of us.”
Melina’s voice was firm, her usual gentle demeanor gone, replaced by a sharp gaze, a sense of betrayal in her eyes.
The situation was spiraling out of control.
Elisha still looked confused, while Eilly and Melina continued to press him.
He sighed inwardly, rubbing his forehead.
“What’s the problem?”
Melina puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms, her expression clearly showing her displeasure.
“The problem is you giving her a ring. You know what it means when a man gives a woman a ring, right?”
“What does it mean?”
His innocent question was met with a stunned silence. Melina, Eilly, and even Elisha stared at him in disbelief.
“You seriously don’t know…?”
“It could be a friendship ring.”
“Sigh…”
Melina sighed deeply and rubbed her forehead, her expression a mix of exasperation and disappointment.
“Look, when a man gives a woman a ring, it’s a declaration of love, or a proposal.”
“Exactly. What even is a friendship ring? Is that something that exists outside of fairy tales?”
Eilly’s sharp words made him realize what he had overlooked. He had forgotten the symbolic meaning of a ring between a man and a woman. He now understood the gravity of his mistake.
It seemed that in this world, the act of a man giving a woman a ring had a very specific meaning, especially considering his engagement to Elisha.
“I see… But I didn’t just get one for Elisha.”
As soon as he said those words, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.
“Eh…?”
Melina and Eilly’s eyes lit up, while Elisha’s dimmed.
“R-Really?”
Melina asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“Seriously…?”
Elisha also asked, as if she couldn’t believe it.
“Yes. As I said, I got them for the dungeon exploration.”
“I have something for everyone, not just Elisha.”
He pulled out the other accessories from the bag and handed them out. He gave Melina an elegant necklace adorned with a holy stone, Eilly a silver locket containing a magic stone, and Varis a shimmering gold bracelet that seemed to capture the sunlight.
“They’re all made with holy stones, so they’ll help you maintain your focus inside the dungeon.”
“W-What? Is that… what this is about? Th-Thank you!”
Melina smiled and took the necklace.
“For me too? Thank you, Master. I’ll treasure it…♡”
Eilly clutched the locket, her eyes sparkling.
“I… I have one too? Uh… Thanks. I appreciate it.”
Varis scratched his head, slightly flustered, and accepted the bracelet.
They all cheered, their faces bright with excitement, except for one.
“What… so it wasn’t like that?”
Elisha muttered, looking down at the ring in her hand, her face falling, her disappointment evident.
“I was… so happy for nothing.”
The faint blush on her cheeks faded, and her gaze hardened.
“Anyway, I got them for the dungeon exploration next week, so it doesn’t have any special meaning.”
He explained calmly.
“Still… I’m happy to receive a gift from you.”
Melina said, a hint of disappointment in her voice, but she smiled.
“It’s more precious to me than anything!”
Eilly hugged the locket, unable to hide her joy.
The tense atmosphere gradually dissipated, the air lightening. He suddenly asked,
“So… there’s no such thing as a friendship ring?”
They all tilted their heads and looked at him.
“No! That’s why I was so happy, thinking I was the chosen one…”
Elisha said, her voice slightly sulky. Melina shook her head.
“At least, elves don’t do that.”
“I’m not familiar with… human customs, so I don’t know about friendship rings…”
“I’ve never heard of it either.”
Eilly added hesitantly, and Varis shrugged.
It seemed the concept of friendship rings didn’t exist in this world. In his previous world, although not common, people exchanged rings as a symbol of friendship.
He had once exchanged friendship rings with his childhood friend. It had been a purely platonic gesture.
“Haa, I see.”
He had made a mistake, applying the common sense of his world to this one.
Ding… Ding… Ding….
A faint bell chimed in the distance. The three rings of the large bell signaled the start of class.
They all hurriedly stood up and headed for the classroom.
“Arnold, hurry up.”
Elisha called out, beckoning him.
“Master? It’s time to go back.”
Eilly said with a gentle smile.
He stood there for a moment, watching them leave, a complex mix of thoughts swirling in his mind.
‘It’s been quite a while since I came to this world.’
Was time flowing at the same rate in his original world? Were his family and friends doing alright without him? And her… was she also doing okay?
“Master?”
Eilly’s concerned voice snapped him out of his reverie, her hand gently touching his shoulder.
“Yes, let’s go.”
He had been lost in thought, a mix of nostalgia and worry.
He had almost forgotten, but his goal also included returning to his original world. But now that the Harem Route was effectively blocked, he had to find another way.
“…….”
He would think about that later.
For now, all he could do was think of the faces he missed.
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Hi Lord Fourth here!
I’m new to translating so if you find some mistakes or inconsistencies let me know about it on the dedicated channel on discord.
