“Hmm. You two look really close. Oh~ so close.”
Amy chuckled while looking down at me and Friede, who were standing arm in arm, nodding her head repeatedly, her expression strangely pressing despite the smile on her face.
“Uh, um, Amy? I think there’s a misunderstanding here…”
Upon facing Amy’s gaze, sharp enough to cut through steel, I flinched and frantically tried to explain the situation. I had no idea why I ended up in this position needing to clarify things, but I had a gut feeling that not explaining would lead to something serious.
“Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?”
“Well, it’s not what you think happened….”
Wait a minute, doesn’t this sound like a classic excuse from a cheating husband? In my desperation to clarify, when I actually let the words out, it hit me that rather than clearing up any misunderstandings, I was only digging a deeper hole!
“What do you mean what I think? What am I thinking?”
See? Just look at that! Amy’s questioning look had turned twice as cold. It was the kind of face you’d expect from a possessive high school girl who just caught her friend and boyfriend in a compromising position.
“Uh, um, so….”
I quickly turned my head to glance at Friede, silently pleading for her to help me explain. After all, she was responsible for putting me back in bed and making me sleep again!
Friede met my gaze and nodded knowingly. She understood my unspoken plea in an instant. This is what they mean by being on the same wavelength… right?
Just as I felt a sigh of relief, whoosh,
“Hmph.”
Friede placed her hands on my right shoulder and rested her chin on top, grinning slyly like a victor.
That smile was purely provocative. Amy could swing her staff and smack Friede on the head, and I’m sure it’d be labeled ‘self-defense.’
“F-Friede?!”
I let out a bewildered whine. What on earth is this? I said to sort things out, not challenge her!
“Yes, it’s Friede! Hildehillde-ssi.”
Friede grinned at me, her expression bursting with mischief.
Yeah, right. She had no intention of sorting things out.
Forget being on the same wavelength. My silent plea clearly fell on deaf ears!
To think that only recently, Amy and I had gotten along somewhat, but in the past, we were practically enemies. She wouldn’t want to miss this golden opportunity to poke fun at me.
Though I couldn’t help but wonder why ‘Hildehillde’ was such an absurd nickname!
◆◆
I asked her to help me sort this out, but instead, Friede provoked Amy. Talk about making things way more awkward!
However, surprisingly, it worked—a bit too well, in fact. At least it seemed to have calmed Amy down, which was my main goal here.
“Haah… I really shouldn’t have said anything.”
I couldn’t tell if she did this intentionally or not, but Amy, who I thought would explode in anger at Friede’s provocation, disappointed me by merely sighing deeply and shaking her head instead.
What should I say? It felt like her pride was so wounded that she lost the will to keep arguing.
“Forget it, I have a new request I took on, so let’s head downstairs to talk.”
Anyway, thanks to Friede, we finally managed to start discussing work like usual. It was a little later than usual, but hey, better late than never.
“I mean, we can just talk here.”
“No… Just wait a bit down there. I’ll wash up quickly and come down.”
I swept my disheveled hair back, signaling that I wanted to talk about work on the first floor. I looked a mess after just waking up, not exactly in shape to discuss serious matters.
First, I’d need to wash my face and change into proper clothing instead of this soaked pajama set that left little to the imagination.
If we’re discussing work, I should dress appropriately for it! It’s just basic manners.
“Got it. Did you skip breakfast? I’ll order something, so don’t take too long.”
Amy nodded and turned to walk out.
“Then, I’ll head down first! Take your time!”
Friede rushed to grab her armor and backpack, following Amy out the door in a hurry.
Once the two left, it seemed like the consequences of their little antics finally hit me. I remembered how I was forced back into bed and made to fall asleep, and the fact that when I asked for Amy to calm down, Friede only provoked things further.
Both situations could’ve ended up with a punch if the two were siblings instead of teammates.
Anyway, after sending them both away, I kicked the covers off and headed to the bathroom.
Even though Amy and Friede were likely waiting, I probably wouldn’t have time for a full bath… At the very least, a quick wash for my hair should be fine.
Wait a second.
I hope Amy and Friede aren’t fighting downstairs!
A sudden wave of dread hit me at the thought. If those two got into a brawl on the first floor, wouldn’t I, the party leader, catch all the blame?
The innkeeper already knew I was the leader of their party.
In the worst-case scenario, I could get kicked out of the inn. All I could do was pray they both stayed peaceful.
‘…No way. They aren’t kids, they couldn’t possibly be that immature.’
I tried to quell my anxiety, repeated reminders to myself that my teammates weren’t that childish.
======[ Inn’s First Floor ]======
Hilde’s faith was betrayed—at least half of it.
Friede and Amy hadn’t gone rampaging through the inn’s first floor, smashing the furniture as Hilde feared, but they certainly weren’t waiting patiently like she hoped either.
Upon coming downstairs, the two ordered breakfast for three from the innkeeper and then stepped outside to argue.
They were discussing things they wouldn’t dare say in front of Hilde.
“What was that earlier? Were you trying to test my patience or something?”
Amy shot a glare at Friede, one that promised a big explanation.
She had let out a sigh when she saw Hilde, but now that she was alone here, she felt compelled to confront that smug face from earlier.
“I don’t know what happened last night, but if you come at me like that, I’ll have my thoughts too…”
“…Think whatever you want. I won’t care what you say anymore.”
Friede interrupted Amy with a smirk. Who cares what a loser thinks, right?
“Oh, really? You’ve gotten quite the mouth! Usually, you can’t even say your piece without stumbling over your words. Confidence must be overflowing now, huh?”
Amy smirked, anger shining in her eyes. She couldn’t overlook the fact that Friede, who normally stammered along at the corner, now seemed quite bold.
But instead of getting angry at Amy’s jab, Friede smiled even wider and shook her head.
“I’ve already gotten my assurance. That you can’t beat me, Amy.”
The confidence that comes with having heard from Brunhilde directly about Friet liking her—knowing they liked each other, so no third parties could intervene.
Even if that was just a complete delusion.
“…Really, is that so? Shall we put it to the test?”
Regardless, that statement dug straight into Amy’s pride.
She glowered at Friede, her hand resting on the school bag at her side.
“You think an ice pick to the head might change your mind?”
Her voice dropped, signaling she was ready to whip out her magical tomes at any moment.
But Friede merely shrugged as if she couldn’t care less.
“…That’s not the kind of win or loss I meant. It’s a given that you can’t win over me.”
She was basically saying I don’t even need to mention how obvious it is that you can’t defeat me, eyewear, anyone could see that.
The undeniable truth only added fuel to Amy’s fire. The truth was, she couldn’t deny that she was weaker than Friede.
“Friede…!”
“…Call me Siegfriede. Only Hilde gets to call me Friede.”
Friede stared fiercely at Amy, warning her not to use that name but then broke into a sly laugh and pushed Amy’s shoulder against the wall.
She glared down at Amy, her tone sharp and cutting.
“Honestly, I don’t care if you’re not Hilde, right?”
She discussed why she didn’t like Amy.
“If it’s a girl that’s my type, I wouldn’t mind who.”
She only liked ‘Hilde’ because of how she was—being picky wasn’t her style. It wasn’t Hilde she was crazy about; it was girls that were ‘like Hilde’.
With past actions like getting her drunk just to see her tipsy, or even encouraging Friede to join in the teasing, she had a pattern of being aggressive first.
“I saw last time you seemed quite experienced, why not go find another girl instead? Stop eyeing the taken ones.”
To put it bluntly, Amy, in Friede’s eyes, wasn’t much different than Gunther when it came to true romantic interests.
So once she figured out Hilde’s feelings, she firmly resolved to keep the chick from getting “that way” with Hilde.
“…Ha.”
Forced against the wall, Amy tried to break free of Friede’s grip, twisting her body in frustration. Unable to escape, she bit her lip in anger.
“…Shut up about ‘taken.’”
Then she let loose with a stream of insults, stoking the flames of her anger. If she couldn’t win physically, she’d at least win verbally!
“If anything had actually happened between you two, you’d both be completely naked! How pathetic! You just slept? Even with Hilde sleeping next to you, you didn’t have the guts to do anything.”
“What guts? You think I’d touch a girl that drunk without consent?”
Friede snapped back, her words sharp enough to slice.
“Daring to call that courage, huh? If that’s what courage is, then death row inmates are the bravest people in the world.”
“Don’t make me laugh. Unlike someone who just indulges their desires, I respect Hilde’s wishes and protect her.”
Those words were completely absurd, dripping with derision.
“Usually, people who say that kind of thing tend to be the ones crying over someone getting stolen from them. I can see you being one of those.”
Amy mocked, smirking while raising her lip.
Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t go as far as to insult like that.
But, after witnessing what she had seen just moments ago, she couldn’t help but feel the seething irritation boil over as Friede openly provoked her.
In this situation, Amy could only feel her patience reach its limit, expressing her frustration outright.
“…What did you say?”
Unbeknownst to her, those words would strike at Friede’s very core, her temper flaring.
“Uh…?”
The change in atmosphere could be sliced with a knife. Amy, startled by the menacing glint in Friede’s eyes, involuntarily let out a nervous squeak.
The mention of losing to someone else struck the rawest nerve possible for Friede. After all, she had experienced that once before.
If she hadn’t been a hero, if the other party member hadn’t been the one Hilde chose, she would’ve broken that guy’s neck right then and there.
“Are you two done? Breakfast is ready if you’re not gonna eat it?”
If Hilde hadn’t called out just then and stuck her head through the inn’s door, they might’ve even thrown punches.
“Oh, uh, we were just getting some fresh air! We’ll be right there…!”
As soon as Hilde’s voice rang out, Friede quickly corrected her expression and released Amy, acting like nothing happened as she walked back to the inn.
Less than a heartbeat later, Amy, slightly pale and shaken, took a few deep breaths before timidly following.
“Um… I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to say that for real.”
In a low voice, she finally apologized for her harsh words.
She had at least a bit of conscience left. Even when arguing, she knew not to draw blood by hitting below the belt.
“…It’s fine. I was a bit too much too.”
After some thought, Friede finally accepted the apology.
Both weren’t such strong opponents that they would let their pride push them into an unending cycle of hostility, especially when they could freely speak out of mutual respect.
No one could say for sure if that was right or wrong, but at least Friede thought of it that way.
She had effectively deemed it a rare instance of her showing mercy.
Like a true hero.
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