Me, the Weakest Member of the Hero’s Party? I’m the Villain Though? - Chapter 138
“Weren’t you supposed to guide us until we left the forest?”
In truth, we already had a guide, so it didn’t matter much even if he went back, but I was curious about the reason.
“We’re already near the forest’s edge. I was originally supposed to guide you this far.”
I thought we still had a long way to go, but apparently we had already passed through most of the forest.
“If you keep going straight along the path we’ve taken so far, there will be an old monastery. After that, there are no traps. My work ends here.”
“Then aren’t you going to say goodbye to the others?”
I pointed in the direction we had come from, where the group was waiting. Caesar didn’t seem especially regretful about parting, and his face was indifferent.
“Partings are supposed to feel regretful when you leave without saying goodbye.”
In any case, he really was a strange guy. Caesar stared at me, then suddenly held out his hand. I flinched and was about to reflexively strike it away when he paused.
“Wait, I just want to touch your hair.”
“Why my hair?”
“Because none of the forest fairies have hair this black and glossy, so I find it fascinating. If you don’t want me to, then it can’t be helped.”
I wasn’t used to someone touching my hair. Actually, now that I thought about it, I wasn’t used to having long hair itself.
I had been thinking now and then that I should cut it short, but since this was a world without hair salons, it had been left alone.
“…For a moment is fine.”
It wasn’t anything particularly serious, so I answered while slightly turning my head. Then Caesar reached out very carefully and gently stroked my hair.
It felt stranger than I expected. Should I say it felt like I had become a puppy?
“What does the scar on your chest have to do with mana crystals?”
Caesar, who had been quietly stroking my hair, asked casually as if in passing. I had been planning to bring it up first, but he beat me to it.
“Actually, I’m still trying to find that out too. That’s why I’m traveling with the hero’s party.”
“I see. Then what you told Father must have been sincere too.”
Caesar placed the hand that had been stroking my hair on my shoulder. Considering that he was the same guy who had held a sword to my throat when we first met, his attitude had become quite gentle.
“To be honest, I called you separately because I wanted to give you this.”
With the hand that wasn’t holding my shoulder, Caesar took something out of his pocket. When I lowered my head, I saw a small glass bottle in his hand.
“What is that?”
“It’s a potion made from World Tree’s leaves. If you think you’ll be separated from the priest’s blessing when you enter the ruins of the fallen kingdom, drink it. The blessing of the World Tree will protect you. Now that the World Tree has burned, it’s become rare, so keep it safe.”
I was rather suspicious because I didn’t know why Caesar was giving me something like this. Even just last night, he hadn’t seemed especially friendly toward me.
“…Thank you for looking out for me.”
In any case, he had gone out of his way to look after me, so I thanked him. Caesar met my eyes, and the corners of his lips lifted faintly.
“I hope you stay safe, Lysian. I mean that.”
Apart from feeling grateful, I was still puzzled. I thought he didn’t like me. Why had his attitude suddenly changed like this?
“Why are you saying that to me?”
“Because I like you.”
What in the world was he talking about? At the sudden confession, I lost my senses and only my brows twitched. I wondered if it was a joke, but then again, there wasn’t even a hint of a smile on his face, so I was confused about whether he was serious.
“What does that…”
“So if you come back, I’m thinking of seriously trying to court you. If things go well and the fire on the World Tree is extinguished, I’d like to show you my homeland too.”
Seeing my confused expression, Caesar let out a small breathy laugh.
His smile, which I was seeing for the first time, resembled the Fairy King’s, and thanks to his dazzling appearance, it was striking enough to seize the eye at once.
“You’d better wake up from that dream.”
Convinced by his smile that he was joking, I answered in a joking tone too. Caesar lightly tapped my shoulder, not hard enough to hurt, and said,
“I don’t mind even if there’s someone in the way.”
By someone in the way, did he mean Kyle? As I was thinking about it, Caesar turned around without hesitation. Even though we had gone as far as being vulnerable to each other, his movement held not the slightest lingering attachment.
“Then I’ll be going now.”
