Author Notes at the end
=============
Nihilux POV
An hour in.
I stood near the edge of the great hall, back almost to the wall, wine glass in hand.
The party was still going strong. Probably would be for another few hours at least.
I took a slow sip and looked out across it all.
I thought about how I'd gotten here.
.
.
.
The hall had been beautiful.
That was the first thing I registered when walking through those doors. And just stopping there for half a second.
The ceiling vaulted so high the top dissolved into shadow. Chandeliers hung at intervals, each one a cascade of candles and crystal throwing warm light across everything.
The floor was pale polished stone that reflected it back. Long tables ran down both sides, white-draped, loaded with food and drink in quantities I hadn't seen outside of an entire market district.
Gold-plated cups.
I'd picked one up to check. I had to check by turning it over with my powers.
I would say I lived a good enough life back home. Sure, it was nothing extravagant. But now and then I did go out to eat in a 'somewhat' fancy place. Or just order something good for myself at home.
Still comparing my lifestyle to what I had back home to this?? Just the thought was absurd enough.
Like you hear stories of politicians and royalty having these fancy meetings and whatnot, but don't really think much of it.
But it's when you are in a place like that that it really hits you just how extravagant it really is.
A passing servant had given me a look as I was holding the cup.
I put it back.
On the sides of the hall, behind ornate carved screens, the musicians played. String instruments, long-bodied, elegant, something like violins, though I didn't know if they had a different name here. The sound they made was layered and low.
It filled the whole room, sweet to the ear.
And that was when it hit me.
I'd seen this before.
Well, something like this.
Not literally. But there was a video, a meme, technically, that had gone around back in my world.
Someone had taken footage of exactly this kind of scene. Some high-end party. Politicians in expensive clothes, their wives dripping in jewellery, everyone drifting through gilded rooms like they owned the air inside them.
And whoever edited it had set the whole thing to a violin cover of In Da Club.
That famous 50 Cent song. Played completely straight on the violin. Over footage of people who had genuinely never worried about money a single day in their lives.
The captions had said something like. Poor people? What poor people?
It had been funny in the bleak sort of ways.
And now here I stand surrounded by nobles, wealthy merchants, royalty and anything else in between.
I laughed.
The noblewomen nearest to me glanced over with a mildly puzzled expression.
She had a beautiful dress, green eyes, and long black hair. She wore a beautiful necklace, her dress had a few gems in them around the neck and sleves.
I looked back at her with a completely straight face until she turned away.
Yeah. That tracks.
Compared to them, I probably look like some random person from the city below.
Hell, Raphtalia has better-looking clothes than him.
He was never the type to get jealous or feel envy from others. But being here really did make him wish that he had something better to dress in than just his hoodie.
I am definitely getting something better to wear tomorrow.
.
.
.
The hush had fallen over the hall when most of the guests were in.
The king appeared on the upper balcony. His 2 advisors were flanking him, all arranged just so.
He then gave a speech to the people present.
Honestly I missed more of the speech he spoke, I too busy eyeing the table in the center of the room.
It had all kinds of sweets on it. And they looked just oh so beautiful.
It would be a crime to just ignore them.
So it was my responsibility to make I tried EVERY SINGLE ONE. After all it would be a shame if all the effort to make them just got wasted.
That's why I only caught the end of his speech really.
It was something along the lines of a remarkable individuals, summoned Heroes protecting the country and the world.
He even spoke about me, which was a little surprising, honestly.
I was sure he would just ignore me if possible, after our last meeting. Still he praised how I managed to kills hundreds of monsters alone.
Which was a little shocking. Most of the monsters were killed by my parallel minds, but even then, I am sure it was not as high as the king was making it out to be.
Is he doing this for me?
All the previous times we interacted, he has made it clear that he wants me to stay in his country and help fight the waves.
He got my name right, at least.
Still cause of him, every noble in the hall turned to look at me.
Me? I found a fixed point on the far wall and stared at it.
The king raised his cup and the room followed. A cheer went up, hundreds of voices at once, a sound that pressed against your chest and the attention shifted back to the Heroes properly.
.
.
.
After that, things settled a bit.
No nobles approached Naofumi or me directly.
You could feel the genuine relief in the hall, though. The wave had been repelled. Damage had been minimal, all things considered.
From what I could pick up from the conversations around me, compared to the first wave, this one was much less destructive. The first wave had killed at the very least a few hundred people in the kingdom.
Thankfully, it had happened near the south coast of the kingdom, some 'Lurolola village'. It was a relatively minor population centre. If the wave had happened a bit more towards the east.
It would have caused a lot of more deaths. There was a major port city there which was a major trade hub between countries, and it was also the closest place to the Archipelago to the south.
Raphtalia had grabbed Naofumi by the sleeve and steered him toward one of the side tables.
"Master Naofumi, look at all this food!"
"Raphtalia, I'm not really-"
"You have to try some of this. Come on."
He'd gone without much argument. That in itself was something.
I headed straight for the dessert table.
Enough waiting.
It was even better up close. Chocolate truffles dusted in 'gold' powder.
I must try that. No matter what.
Fruit tarts with perfect glazing. Small layered cakes decorated with edible flowers. Candied orange slices. And so many things I didn't even have names for.
I reached for the first thing closest to me.
"Sir Nihilux!" someone called me from behind me.
I stopped.
A noble stood nearby. Middle-aged, with fancy clothes, he had a kind smile on his face. Beside him was the noblewoman I'd noticed when I first entered the one with the green eyes.
She looked at me with that same mildly curious expression as before. Up close, her dress was deep blue with silver thread along the hem, cut low enough that I clocked it immediately and made a conscious decision to maintain strict eye contact for the rest of the conversation.
The necklace was sapphire. Matching earrings. The get the feeling she knew exactly what she looked like and had dressed accordingly.
I picked a point on her face and committed to it.
She was the one who spoke first.
"I thought that was you earlier. When you laughed." A small smile. "I wasn't sure what to make of it."
The noble beside her gave a short bow. "Lord Edran Vasile. And my wife, Lady Sera Vasile. It's an honour, Sir Nihilux. The king spoke very highly of you this evening."
I looked at them both. Then I floated a small piece of blue text between us.
Pleasure to meet you both.
Lord Vasile blinked at the floating words. Lady Sera didn't blink at all. She leaned forward slightly to look at it, like she wanted a better angle on it.
"Is that magic?" she asked.
Not exactly.
"Then what is it?"
I considered how to explain telekinesis and Esper powers to someone who had no real frame of reference for it. Decided it would take longer than I wanted to spend on it.
Not sure how to explain it simply.
She looked like she wanted to push on that. She didn't and quickly composed herself.
"Forgive me," she said. "I'm curious by nature. My husband keeps telling me it's unbecoming."
"I say no such thing," Lord Vasile said in jolly tone, his tone suggested he said exactly that thing, multiple times.
I reached over and picked up one of the chocolate truffles and began to eat it.
It was delicious.
I reached for another one.
Lord Vasile cleared his throat. "We wanted to personally thank you, Sir Nihilux. Our lands are near the south of Riyute village, which falls under our domain. The village which was hit by the wave is a major trade hub between the border Fort and the capital." He made a solemn expression "If you hadn't held those monsters back then..." He stopped. Recovered. "Well. You have our genuine gratitude."
I nodded. I was listening to him while trying different things from the table.
It felt good to help people and be thanked.
Lady Sera watched me work through the dessert plate with an expression caught somewhere between amusement and something more attentive.
"Are they good?" she asked.
Exceptional.
She gave a short. "The head cook has been preparing for two days. I'll make sure he hears that."
Lord Vasile settled comfortably into talking after that, which seemed to be his natural state. He told a lot about his family covered his lands, his trade routes, his family's history of service to the crown.
His family was nobles from the kingdom's founding. That is an incredibly long time.
Mostly, I focused on the dessert plate.
It was interesting to learn all this history, but…. Yeah, I was probably going to forget it after a week or two.
At some point, he extended an invitation to visit his estate, and I said yes without fully registering what I was agreeing to.
Lady Sera's eyes caught mine, and her expression said she'd noticed.
"My husband collects commitments from people at parties," she said pleasantly. "Don't worry about it."
"I do no such thing," Lord Vasile said, laughing.
I should probably pay more attention to what I agree to.
Then Lord Vasile glanced across the room, straightened slightly, and said, "Ah Henrath, one moment-" and excused himself, already moving toward another noble on the other side of the hall. Clearly intending to come back.
I reached for the last truffle on the plate.
Lady Sera's got a bit closer to me, and her voice got a bit softer.
She didn't make a thing of it either. She had a, wine glass in hand. I want to say she was looking around the hall, for her husband but her attention was directly on me.
A moment passed.
"You laughed earlier," she said, "When you entered the hall. Just for a second, and then nothing. Like it surprised you."
She'd been watching me that long.
I looked at her.
It reminded me of something from home.
"Hm." She tilted her head slightly. "You say very little, don't you. Even with your magic."
I noticed a servant passing nearby with a tray. I floated a wine glass toward myself without looking away from her.
Just not used to crowds.
She watched the glass settle into my hand. Her eyes came back up to mine.
"Perhaps not," she said playfully. "But that's not all about you, is it, Ser?"
I held her gaze for a moment.
Then looked at the wine.
Mentally, I was so nervous right now, I couldn't tell if she was just being playful or trying to flirt with me.
I dismissed that, though. She is a prominent noblelady she has probably been so to many of these types of events.
She turned slightly toward the dessert table, picked up one of the small sweets, and looked at it. She was standing a little closer than she had been before.
"When the king mentioned you in his speech," she said, turning the sweet over in her fingers, "every person in the hall turned at once." A small pause. "You didn't look particularly pleased about it."
I don't enjoy that kind of attention.
"No." She set the thing down. "I didn't think you would."
She looked up at me directly. The light was warm on her face.
"You've been very careful this evening," she said. Her voice was light. "Your eyes and the distance you keep from others." A small pause, and she pushed her body a little closer to mine. "I am not offended honestly. It's quite gentlemanly."
As if that were the only thing she meant by it.
I held her gaze and said nothing.
She is very good at this. I feel I am playing right into her hand.
I reached past her for another item on the dessert plate.
She didn't move.
Her perfume had a nice fragrance to it. There and then gone as I straightened back up.
I looked at her.
Then she picked up her wine glass and turned her attention back to the hall, smooth as anything, like the moment hadn't happened at all.
Lord Vasile returned before long, not alone, two other noblemen behind him, both with their wives, all being funnelled toward me, he looked very pleased with himself.
I looked at the incoming group.
I sighed internally.
One of the new arrivals opened their mouth and began speaking.
I sighed again.
As the group settled into conversation around me, Lady Sera drifted naturally to her husband's side. She said something to him, something unrelated. But as she did, she glanced at me once more.
.
.
.
.
An hour after the party began, most of the nobles around me excused themselves for some reason and left the hall.
And thank God for that, somehow, though those nobles leading the conversation, I somehow agreed to visit their domains in the future.
Luckly none of them said anything about a 'When'. So, I maybe I could visit if I'm nearby, but it gives me an excuse to avoid the issue.
And I was expecting to meet Lord Rabier; I was sure he would come find me. But somehow I never saw him so far.
Also, at some point during the evening, Motoyasu had talked with Raphtalia.
I have no idea what they talked about, but if I had to guess, he tried to hit on her. And from what I could see of Naofumi express he didn't like that.
He turned and walked toward the balcony instead.
Raphtalia watched him go, looked at Motoyasu once, and then followed after Naofumi.
I looked towards Motoyasu for a moment before he vanished into the crowd. He looked more confused than anything. Just genuinely baffled that someone had walked away from him.
In my opinion, Motoyasu is like those happy-go-lucky idiots, really. He is not a bad person, but he should really choose his friends more carefully.
So here I was just near the side of the hall, I was close to the balcony, drinking some wine. It was alright, it was sweeter, I couldn't really feel it but still the taste made it worth it. Plus i could see Naofumi and Raphtali from here.
I turned my gaze towards the hall, trying to find the noble I saw outside. I was hoping to read his mind. I normally would never do this. But he just caught my interest after he somehow was able to know when I tried to perceive him with my powers.
But honestly, I was having no luck. He could not find him; I guess that he probably already left.
That was when I noticed her.
She was moving through the crowd toward me. Red hair catching the light, sharp green eyes different shade entirely from Lady Sera's, white armour-piece over a purple dress, three red gems. She moved through the crowd as it parted for her without trying.
Myne.
I watched her approach.
It was a shame, honestly. If her personality were different, she'd have been someone worth talking to.
But it wasn't.
I picked up a fresh glass of wine and waited.
.
.
.
She was holding a small plate.
She was carrying sweets and whatnot on her small plate.
"Nihilux." Myne smiled. That smile of hers. She says, "I've been looking for you."
"I wanted to make sure you got to try these." She held the plate out toward me. "The royal chocolatiers only make them for special occasions. I saved these specifically for you. I know you have a taste for sweets."
She'd noticed that, had she.
The royal chocolatiers? Is that a real thing?
I looked at the plate.
Then I took one.
It was dark chocolate it's thin shell cracked cleanly in my mouth. Something underneath a ganache, dense and slightly bitter, with the faintest trace of something floral.
Really good.
I took another one.
"I'm so glad we have a chance to talk properly," Myne continued. She leaned in slightly, and her voice became softer. The one that probably worked very well in other situations. "You know, I've been thinking about you. You're so talented and so powerful. It's quite remarkable what you can do."
I ate the second chocolate.
This one had a caramel centre. It tasted like salt and cream. It dissolved slowly on my tongue.
I took a third.
"Motoyasu speaks very highly of you," she said. "We all do. The Spear Hero's party has access to the royal kitchens whenever we like. Desserts like this every single day. As many as you'd want."
She paused before speaking again.
"And the accommodations are so much better. You'd have your own room, it's much better than the ones at the Inn.
Fourth chocolate. Not sure what this was made with, but it was pretty good, tho it's nothing that good compared to what I had earlier from the dessert table.
I was listening to her as well. something about…. Motoyasu.
"The Spear Hero's party gets priority for everything. Best equipment, best training grounds. Events like this, but more intimate." She glanced around the hall. "You'd be treated the way someone of your strength actually deserves. We even plan to head into the countryside starting tomorrow. Ser Motoyasu was saying that he would like to visit the Port city, but it's not final so far, so if you have any suggestions, I am sure he would be happy to listen to them."
I reached for the fifth.
"And of course," she said, her voice going quieter "you wouldn't have to associate with certain individuals. People with... damaged reputations. Criminals." She paused. "It reflects poorly on you, Nihilux. Being seen with the Shield Hero after what he did. People notice that kind of thing. I'm sure it affects how they see you."
I finished the fifth chocolate. It was also nothing special.
The plate was empty.
A shame, still it was anything 'that' good.
I looked at it and then turned to look at her.
She was good.
I had basically ignored her during the entire talk. But I have my parallel minds, so I didn't need to pay any attention to her talking. My 'minds' told me everything she said.
Basically, she wants me to leave Naofumi and join with her, aka with Motoyasu. I had expected her to get me to leave and join any other hero, or just go alone.
Joining with Motoyasu?
It's not a bad option, but even I am thinking of leaving. I won't be doing it just cause she said so.
Blue text appeared in the air between us.
No.
Her smile faltered and she had a surprised expression. "No? But I just-"
I turned and walked back towards someplace else.
"Wait, Nihilux-I wasn't finished-"
I kept walking.
.
.
.
I heard some people come towards me.
I looked up.
Ren, Itsuki and Motoyasu were walking toward me. All three together.
That was unusual.
Motoyasu looked a bit tense and angry.
Ren looked like… well, how he always looked. He doesn't really show expressions on his face.
Itsuki, as well, was similar to Ren, except he always had the look of smugness?. It's like he thinks that he is always in the right, no matter what the situation is.
A few paces behind them, I could also see Myne. She had a smug smile on her face and seemed to be thinking about something.
I looked back at the three Heroes and waited.
Motoyasu spoke first. "Hey, Nihilux. We need to ask you something."
"Are you aware," Ren said, "that Naofumi has a demi-human in his party?"
I looked at him.
Then at Myne behind them.
So that's what she'd been setting up.
"We thought we should come to you first, before confronting Naofumi," Itsuki said. "You have been travelling with him for a while now. So we figured you would know the truth of it."
"It's common knowledge, really" Myne called out from behind them. "He purchased that girl from a slave trader. I just think it's unbecoming of a 'Hero' to be acting like that."
I looked at all three of them.
No. Naofumi does not have a slave.
Motoyasu blinked. "But Myne said-"
He saved her from a slave trader. Then paid to have the crest removed. Raphtalia is free to leave him if she so wishes.
Myne's composure cracked slightly. "That's- Still, he bought her from a slave trader. How know maybe he didn't remove the slave crest and is lying?"
Yes. He bought her to free her, but he did remove the slace crest I made sure of it.
"You're certain," Ren asked me.
I nodded.
He glanced at Myne just briefly and then back at me. His expression changed a little, and he looked more relaxed now.
"If that's true," Itsuki said, frowning, "he saved her from slavery, and she's with him willingly, then there's no issue here. I am surprised Naofumi would do something good like that."
"Right," Ren said, turning slightly toward the others. "Now we know what really happened, see Motoyasu, I was correct in suggesting we ask Nihilux first."
Motoyasu still looked uncertain. "You're sure, Nihilux? She's not being pressured or anything. She wants to be there?"
I'm sure. You can ask her yourself if you want.
He looked at me for a moment longer. Then some of the tightness went out of him. "Okay. I trust you. You've been straight with us."
More text appeared.
He also didn't commit the crime he was accused of either.
The atmosphere changed.
Ren's expression went carefully neutral again.
"That's a separate matter," he said.
He was framed.
"You weren't there for the trial," Ren said.
"Nihilux," Itsuki spoke to me. "I understand you want to believe your friend is innocent. But the king himself judged the crime to be real."
"Enough of that. If the girl is with him willingly," Ren said, turning to leave, "then there's nothing further to discuss. Thank you for clarifying, Nihilux."
He walked away. Itsuki gave me a short nod and followed.
Motoyasu lingered a moment."I'm... yeah. I'm glad she's okay. Thanks for telling us." He paused. "You're a good person, Nihilux. I mean that."
He turned and went after the other two.
Behind him, Myne was staring at me.
Damn, she looks mad.
She turned away and went after Motoyasu, trying to talk to him.
I watched them go.
I thought about Motoyasu for a moment.
He was a good person, all things considered. Sure, he is a bit of an idiot. But still, he does seem to be a overall good person.
I should try talking with him more.
He was being used by Myne, and he had no idea about it. He honestly seems a bit infatuated with her as well.
I wonder if they are fucking or not.
The way Motoyasu is around her reminds me of my one friend. We were good buddies, a bit surprisingly, I was an introvert, and he was an outgoing person.
After we both started university, he got a girlfriend. But that woman was nothing but trouble.
She was crazy.
She had some mental issue with her; she loved controlling people. I saw her purposefully start fight between friends.
Of course, she also convinced my friend to talk less and less with me.
.
.
.
The party was still going. The music hadn't stopped. The conversations between people were still rolling.
Strangely, I couldn't find Myne. I was keeping an eye on her to make sure she didn't try anything else. But after some time she was taken away by some maids.
Raphtalia and Naofumi were still on the balcony, from what I could see through the doors. Naofumi had his arms on the railing now. He was more relaxed than before. They were laughing and talking with each other now.
Occasionally, Raphtalia would come inside to get more things to eat from the both of them and then head back outside.
I reached for another glass of the drink.
The wine was genuinely outstanding. It's not that strong, so I can't really get drunk if that is even possible, still I wouldn't mind drinking this for a few days straight.
I turned to look across the room where their was a whole stack of them just sitting there.
My inventory could hold them easily.
Nobody would see it happen.
I could probably take two, maybe three, and the serving staff wouldn't even notice until they the party ended.
And even if they did, it's a royal party, I am sure they would just think that maybe some noble liked it and asked their servants to take some for them.
Who would accuse one of the stars of the party?
Was anyone watching me specifically?
I glanced around with my psychic perception. Servants, Nobles in conversation, their were a few guards. Nobody was paying attention to the corner where I was standing.
I looked back at the bottles.
...I'd think about it.
I finished my drink and went around the room. I have had enough of this for now. I want some food now. I spend the whole party just with sweets.
Which is not a bad thing.
But I want some more real food now. I think I a big roasted chicken on that side.
I was heading that way, when I heard a voice I recognised.
"Sir Nihilux."
I stopped.
Turned to look at the source of the voice.
An older man stood a few paces away, making his way through the thinning gap between guests.
Aldric Thorne.
The king's attendant, as he said.
The same man who had knocked on my door and disturbed my sleep.
He gave a polite bow. "My apologies for interrupting your evening. I hope you are finding the celebration to your satisfaction."
I looked at him.
He continued without waiting for a response, "His Majesty has expressed that he would very much like a word with you this evening, at your convenience. I am to escort you to the upper floor whenever you are ready."
Apparently, dinner was going to have to wait.
I gestured for him to lead the way.
Aldric gave another short bow and turned toward the far end of the hall, where a set of stairs led up toward the upper floor and the balconies above.
I followed him through the crowd.
.
.
.
Narrator POV
The party had ended without incident.
No public accusations or any confrontations with heroes. Naofumi enjoyed a good time with his Campanian Raphtalia. Some time later, they tried to find where Nihilux was. When they couldn't find him, they decided to eat without him.
As they finished their Nihilux found them, and after talking, they decided to leave.
Nihilux took note of how happy Naofumi looked with Raphtalia.
All things considered, it had gone well for this group.
Nihilux walked a few paces behind Naofumi and Raphtalia as they passed through the castle gates. The night air was cool after the heat of the great hall. Behind them the drawbridge groaned as it began to rise, chains pulling taut in the dark.
They were one of the last people to leave the castle.
Nihilux, who was a few steps behind them, was thinking about how to tell Naofumi about his departure. He had been torn about what he should do.
And Naofumi needed to grow stronger on his own anyway.
He'd been thinking about it for a little while.
Now was the time.
Ahead of him, Raphtalia was talking brightly about something she'd eaten.
"-and the pastries were so delicate! I've never tasted anything like that before!" She looked up at Naofumi. "Did you try the ones with the cream filling? Master Naofumi"
Naofumi smiled slightly. "Yeah. They were pretty good."
"Good? They were amazing!" She laughed. "I wish we could eat like that every day."
"We'd go broke in a week."
Raphtalia hummed happily and kept walking.
Naofumi's smile lingered. Despite the nobles who'd kept their distance all night, despite the king's barely-there acknowledgement, he looked almost content with his situation.
Nihilux watched them for a moment.
Then he reached out with his telepathy.
{We need to talk.}
Both of them stopped walking.
Raphtalia turned around first, still cheerful. "Oh! Master Nihilux, what do we need to talk about?"
Naofumi turned more slowly. His smile had faded. "Something wrong?"
Nihilux walked up to them.
{Nothing's wrong. Just something we need to tell you.}
Raphtalia tilted her head. "Is it about the party? Did something happen?"
{No. The party was fine.}
"Then what?" There was a slight edge to Naofumi's voice now.
Nihilux looked at the ground between them.
{I'm leaving tomorrow.}
The words hung in the air.
Raphtalia's smile disappeared. "Leaving? What do you mean by leaving?"
"For how long," Naofumi asked.
{A few weeks. Maybe longer.}
Nihilux still wasn't looking directly at either of them. His gaze stayed somewhere around their shoulders.
"But why?" Raphtalia looked genuinely distressed. "Did we do something wrong?"
{No.}
"Then why?" Her voice cracked slightly. "We need you. The Waves-"
{You both did pretty well today. You managed to save a lot of people.}
"That was different-"
{You two actually rushed to save them. I didn't even think to.}
Raphtalia blinked. "But you killed hundreds-"
Naofumi's jaw tightened. "We had a much smaller area. You held off the entire-"
{You're not even level 27. After a Wave.}
Nihilux looked up at Naofumi's face briefly. Then he looked away.
The silence that followed was heavy between them.
}That level is too low. The other Heroes are probably thirty or more by now. Maybe I've been handling too much. Making things too easy for you. You need to face things without me there.}
Naofumi looked away. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I know."
His hands had closed at his sides.
"I should have figured."
Raphtalia tried. "But Master Nihilux, that's not-"
{Don't call me that.}
She stopped.
"What do you mean, Master Nihilux?"
{I told you to stop calling me that. I am not your master. You were freed from the slave crest. Remember?}
Naofumi stepped forward. "Hey. Lay off her. It's just how she talks-"
Nihilux looked at him.
{Maybe you don't care about being called master. But I do.}
He held Naofumi's gaze.
{She was a slave. She had that word beaten into her until it was just how she thought about herself, that there are people above her and she is below them.}
{And now she's free, and she's still using it. Still placing herself underneath us like that's just where she belongs.}
He paused.
{Not correcting her isn't kindness. She might not know better; she hasn't had enough time to unlearn it yet. But you've been with her every day since you freed her. You should know exactly what that word means for someone like her.}
He looked away.
{You should know better, Naofumi.}
Naofumi's jaw tightened. He closed his eyes for a moment.
When he opened them, the mask was back.
"How long," he said again. "How long would we be separated?"
{There's still at least a month before the next Wave. We'll meet before then. And if we don't, we'll still meet during the Wave.}
Raphtalia made a small sound. Her eyes threatened to burst into tears.
"But we're a party..."
{You'll be fine. You're stronger than you think.}
He looked at Naofumi.
{Both of you.}
Naofumi's expression went blank.
"Right," he said. "It was always temporary." A short pause. His hands were still closed at his sides. "And here I thought that..."
He didn't finish it.
{I'll check in. Make sure you're okay.}
"Don't bother." Sharper than he meant. "We'll manage."
"Master Naofumi-" Raphtalia looked between them.
"Come on." Naofumi turned and started walking. "It's late."
"But-"
"Raphtalia!"
She looked back at Nihilux, eyes watery. Then followed after Naofumi.
Nihilux stood there and watched them go.
.
.
.
Nihilux POV
That could have gone better.
He'd tried to explain. But the words had come out too blunt, too cold. He really wasn't good at this, talking to people, making them understand things without it landing like a blow.
He watched them walk away from him. Sometimes, Raphtalia would turn to look back at him.
Soon they both vanished from his sight.
Maybe I should give them some time to talk among themselves?
So he walked towards the market.
.
.
.
He returned to the inn well past midnight.
He passed Naofumi's room. Then Raphtalia's. Both were asleep.
He went to his own room and sat for a while in the quiet, not doing much. Just thinking about the conversation and where it had gone wrong.
Sleep came eventually.
He'd talk to them again in the morning.
======================
Author Notes~~~
Well, well, well.
originally this came out to be around 6.5k words, but I decided to remove a lot of the unnecessary stuff.
currently its around 6k~
I really hope I did the farewell scene well. I don't know why i choose that to be narrator's POV.
it felt so awkward writing that in narrator pov, anyway.
If you want nihihlux to fight some cool monsters in the future or want him to learn some new powers. tell me in the comments. and if they fit the story i will add them.
just not any too OP powers. i want him to get strong gradually. otherwise what's the point right?
And Nihilux will slowly learn magic. What magic would you guys like to see him do.
And up coming is~~
one of the bigger changes from the anime. remember how i said i may not add Filo in the story, at least not yet.
well. You will know after you guys read the next chapter. next week. q(≧▽≦q)
One more important thing. Usually I upload the chapter on Sunday, but next week it will probably be on Monday ~~
Plus i need to figure out how to upload stories on Spacebattles as well. The reader interaction is strong, their.
it's so confusing their to upload.