Chapter 140 – People can be like that.
Chapter 138
“…Overprotective.”
“Yes?”
What am I doing? I tore up the meat I was holding and handed it to Estelle. Then Estelle let out a small sigh, and he took it and ate it.
At that appearance, Celine, Saint Cynthia, and Elfriede were making subtle expressions. I don’t know why you look like that
I asked while looking at Estelle, who had a dissatisfied expression as she chewed the meat.
“What did I do wrong?”
“…It’s not like that, I was able to do this on my own. Abel doesn’t think of me as a baby, does he?”
“You’re a patient, patient.”
“No, I’m fine now?”
“No.”
I said firmly and tore the meat again and handed it to Estelle. Estelle must have been in a strange mood, but she accepted and ate the meat well, even though she was shy.
Looks like you’re eating deliciously, so it’s nice to see.
Celine said as she held up the meat she had hunted.
“…What happened while I was gone?”
“What is it?”
“No… The hero is taking care of Saint Estelle like a child.”
Estelle is a baby. Need to take care
… Just kidding, actually she just wanted to take care of it. For the past six months, I’ve only been receiving from Estelle, so I want to take care of things like this.
It is true that Estelle was sick, and she wanted to take care of her, thinking that there might be something more as a side effect.
“Because you don’t know. The side effects may not have ended. I want to give you a day off.”
“Umm, if that’s the case…”
Celine seemed to understand the reason I said. But she held on to her attitude that Estelle herself was still fine. I whispered to Estelle.
“You’re actually nice, Estelle.”
“…What are you talking about!?”
“Don’t like it?”
I asked, handing over the piece of meat again. Estelle looked at me quietly, then muttered as she took the piece of meat and ate it.
“I don’t hate it…”
“Okay then. Originally, treats are what you should receive when you treat them. Now, ah~.”
“…Ah.”
While I was doing this with Estelle, Elfriede didn’t care about us. She just casually finished her meal and talked to St. Cynthia. As if to keep me and Estelle from getting in the way.
“Cynthia, I will look around for a while and then come back. Mother’s remnant might remain.”
“I’ll go too.”
Elfriede was away with Saint Cynthia.
I’m kind of thankful, but…I didn’t have to look at it like that. Estelle followed my gaze and moved her gaze to Elfriede, then spoke to Celine and me.
“…It seems that Hero Elfriede has been thinking a lot too.”
“Yes?”
“What are you talking about?”
Estelle looked at me. And she said with a cheeky smile and an eye smile at the same time.
“The cause is all in Abel~♡”
“…Me?”
Because Elfriede thinks I’m special? Was it uncomfortable to chat with Estelle after all?
“Think about it. How long has it been since Abel became a warrior?”
“…Soon 7 months?”
Because I was possessed at the time I became a hero. The time I was possessed was the time I was active as a hero.
“Yes, seven months. So, it’s been a little over half a year. By the way, Abel has already subdued Agareth-class monsters, and has already defeated Amon-class knight-type monsters with one blow? Of course, there will be a lot of trouble. Because Hero Elfriede has been active for seven years.”
“I was able to do that because Estelle’s blessing had a stronger influence than the blessings of other saints.”
“That is true. But even taking that into consideration, this growth rate in 7 months is very fast.”
“Um…”
Are you saying that some kind of string hit came? If it’s because of me, I’m sorry. Of course, Elfriede didn’t show me any jealousy for that, but I’m afraid she might be blaming herself.
“To be honest, Hero Elfriede is quite strong compared to her predecessors. She’s at a level where she can subdue Barbatos-class monsters single-handedly with a blessing of grace. She is also a warrior who fully awakened the holy sword of trust.”
“She must have had many warriors who awakened the holy sword of trust, right?”
“Because the conditions for that holy sword are a bit tricky. It’s not that there wasn’t one like the Holy Sword of Order…But there were relatively few. If I were to rank it, it would be the third least among the seven holy swords?”
I see.
“…We’ll see how it turns out.”
“Yes?”
“For Hero Elfriede, this situation could be an opportunity to move forward, or it could be a huge wall that will stand still. Depending on the outcome…my mind may change a little.”
…Mind? I understood what you said, but why did Estelle’s heart suddenly come out? For a moment, I thought that it would be impossible.
“…Did you know Elfriede was trying to impress Estelle?”
“Yes? Of course I knew.”
… She is a real scary woman. Are you really doing mind reading?
“But did you let it go? Estelle… She honestly doesn’t like it when Elfride approaches me.”
“…But I can feel the sincerity. When she treats Abel, when she treats me. So I was thinking about giving it a chance.”
“I am surprised.”
“You haven’t given permission yet, have you? She was already thinking about doing naughty things with Elfriede Hero ~ ♡”
“…It’s not like that. I can’t say that I still like Elfriede.”
Estel and Celine looked at each other for a moment in response to my answer, then looked at me. With a surprised face.
“Really?”
“I can’t believe that Abel likes a woman even when he sees her. The sun will rise in the west for her.”
…What are you talking about? What kind of girl am i?
“…I still have a strong feeling that Elfriede is a friend. Of course, she doesn’t mean that Elfriede lacks anything or anything like that…”
“I think I know how it feels.”
As Celine sympathized, Estelle smiled and said.
“Even Hero Elfriede has a long way to go~♡”
“…Heh heh.”
#
“Elfriede.”
Cynthia spoke to Elfride, who was looking around her. Then, Elfriede glanced back at Cynthia and replied.
“Do you have anything to say?”
“Are you okay?”
At Cynthia’s brief question, Elfriede looked at her for a moment, then smiled at her.
“Certainly, do you think I will be jealous of Saint Estelle? It’s not going to happen, so don’t worry.”
Elfriede was confident. She looks like she has no corner to be stabbed. It was proof that it wasn’t a lie. To Elfride, Cynthia closed her eyes for a moment, then narrowed her eyes and said,
“…You seem to be jealous, but the target is not Saint Estelle.”
“…What does that mean?”
“You’re Abel’s hero. What Elfriede is jealous of.”
Elfriede’s footsteps suddenly stopped. As she stopped, Cynthia slowed down and looked at her back. Her golden hair, faintly visible in the bleak moonlight, looked faded today.
“…Am I Abel?”
“Isn’t it?”
At Cynthia’s question, Elfriede shook her head. And with her back still turned, she countered Cynthia’s words.
“…I just think Abel is special.”
“That’s why Elfriede is confused right now. She obviously likes Hero Abel, but I also feel jealousy.”
Cynthia’s words were no different. So, Elfriede’s shoulders startled and trembled. Because Cynthia’s mouth had cleared her own confused emotions.
Elfriede, who had been quiet for a long time, barely parted her lips and said.
From noble mtl dot com.
“…I don’t want to think so.”
“Why?”
“Because Abel didn’t use any shortcuts. He put in so much effort and was just rewarded with ‘strength’. What kind of jealousy could she be of such a person? I don’t want to admit it. I don’t want to be that… Filthy person.”
Elfriede bit her lip. However, upon hearing Elfride’s story, Cynthia tilted her head.
“What is dirty?”
“Isn’t it? To be jealous of someone who has become stronger through legitimate efforts because they have become stronger than me…”
“Maybe.”
At Cynthia’s answer, Elfriede was slightly surprised. Because it was a nuance that seemed to be the problem.
“It could be, that is definitely wrong.”
“That is wrong. But Elfriede, if you are a human, you have emotions. Aren’t you a saint who is equal to all or a god who presides over all things? If you are a person, you may feel jealous or inferior to someone who is soon superior to you.”
“…A natural feeling?”
El Friede said, placing his hand on his chest.
“But I… Like Abel…”
When she said that she liked Abel, I felt something very strange about her, so I hesitated. Looking at Elfriede like that, Cynthia said.
“That is a separate emotion. Just because someone you like doesn’t mean you won’t get jealous.”
“…Is that so?”
Cynthia smiled softly. She wants Elfriede not to be confused, and she has to go on her own way, which she does out of her mind.
“Yes. She just needs to nurture that feeling and not make her fault. Instead of expressing your feelings of jealousy and inferiority through wrongdoing, sublimate them for yourself.”
“For me…”
Elfriede pondered Cynthia’s words.
‘If Abel becomes stronger than me, then what if I just want to catch up with him?’
Career and experience. It’s definitely an important factor, but despite his lack of experience, he was a man who became stronger than he was.
Of course, it’s hard to say that Abel was a shortcut… But he did have the ability to absorb divinity. But that wasn’t all that made Abel stronger, so he must have something to learn from him too.
If you follow Abel’s footsteps, the day may come when you catch up with him. All I have to do is use the jealousy and inferiority I harbored towards Abel as motivation to become stronger.
Elfriede said to Cynthia.
“…Thanks, Cynthia.”
“I just did what I could. I can’t bestow strong blessings like Saint Estelle’s, nor can I support you with powerful s*xual skills. I have to do something like this.”
Cynthia laughed as she said that. Seeing her smile, Elfriede smiled as well.
“As expected, you are my one and only saintess.”
#
“Abel.”
Elfriede returned after a while. She is with Saint Cynthia.
“Are you here? You are a little late.”
“Just because I have a little something to think about.”
Elfriede looked around and said.
“Everyone is sleeping.”
“They are both tired.”
She’s Estelle. You know why, Celine’s seen some terrible things. She will be very tired mentally.
…Honestly, me too. Alicia was sleeping next to Celine.
“Abel.”
“Yes?”
“I will work hard on training from tomorrow.”
Huh? Suddenly?
“I’m fine, but why all of a sudden? Let’s do it slowly…”
“Because I think I should.”
Elfriede seemed to be in a good mood for some reason. Are you happy to teach me?
“You seem to be in a good mood. You looked a little unwell.”
“Was it a little obvious? But it’s okay now Like you said, it feels good.”
“…That’s good.”
Hearing my words, Elfriede smiled brightly. A pure smile that makes me feel good and look like I have no worries.
“Yes, prepare yourself starting tomorrow.”