Chapter 33

"Where does this sudden behavior come from?"

"...It's not sudden. I think I've often expressed that I was uncomfortable with you constantly coming to my workplace."

"This isn't how you conduct business. If you want something too, you should speak clearly."

His expressionless face without a hint of laughter was somehow a bit unfamiliar.

"Nain's solution is me. And avoiding won't make the problem resolve itself. I'm fully prepared to have a conversation. We just need to coordinate well and adjust to each other. I'm ready to listen to Nain's words, and there will definitely be a point of agreement."

Nain thought for a moment and frowned. He didn't want to admit it, but he thought such behavior of his might appear as avoidance to him. But...

'I can't help it.'

If he could send Ash away even by doing this, he would gladly do so.

"Nain. Remember the third condition? You promised not to run away."

"...What third condition when everything's already ruined? I'm saying let's just pretend none of this ever happened from the beginning."

Even as he said it himself, he thought this might sound a bit cowardly. Though he had reasons, it was also true that he was running away. It was irresponsible behavior unlike his usual self.

Facing problems head-on was always difficult. But Nain thought such an attitude might be necessary for matters he couldn't handle. Though all these thoughts might just be self-rationalization...

"If guiding is uncomfortable, you don't have to do it."

Ash hastily added a remark. But those words gave Nain even more conviction.

Lies. If he was looking for a dedicated Guide, how could it make sense to say guiding didn't have to be done? If he changed his words later, only he would suffer the loss. Nain shook his head.

"I think it would be better if you looked for another Guide."

Ash looked at Nain with sunken eyes.

"...I don't have any other Guide besides Nain."

"You will."

It seemed like he should gradually avoid this place and keep his distance. The same words kept repeating. He was a bit anxious that he might get entangled in this.

Nain quietly got up from his seat. Suddenly the air froze sharply. Nain looked down at the man who was looking up at him with a pitiful face, then bowed his head slightly.

"I'll go run an errand."

"Let's go together. Let's talk more."

He made a gesture as if to get up to follow Nain. Thinking this would be endless, Nain pushed Ash's shoulder to make him sit back down. Ash sat in the chair and looked up at Nain blankly.

"Please think rationally."

"I'm being more rational than ever right now."

"I'm done talking now. Since you're a reasonable person, I'll assume you understood what I said. So when I come back, really..."

"..."

"I hope we won't have to see each other's faces."

With those words, Nain averted his gaze. Ash seemed to have a lot to say, but Nain deliberately ignored him. A persistent gaze followed the back of Nain's head as he carried a bundle of documents to deliver them. Nain quickened his pace without looking back.

From the moment he turned away, all moisture drained from Ash's expression. He blinked and watched Nain quickly disappear from his sight.

Is he running away now? As soon as he realized this fact, Ash became aware of something snapping in his head. His lips twisted subtly.

"He must have something to rely on."

Those light ears of his, picking up some story from somewhere and acting like this... Ash's lips twisted subtly. He knew Nain was a bit burdened, but he never thought he would be thinking of abandoning him and switching to something else. Thinking that he might have been missing something all this time made everything in the world annoying.

The air around Ash remained cold throughout. Though there were quite a few people in the lobby, the space was strangely quiet without any murmuring sounds.

They were watching Ash's mood. Though they hadn't heard the exact content of the two people's conversation, after Nain got up from his seat, Ash hadn't hidden his discomfort at all.

The man's unsmiling face was an all too familiar sight to others besides Nain. Nevertheless, since the recent Ash rarely acted like his usual self, even the few people present glanced at Ash with unfamiliar eyes.

His sunken silver eyes glittered with indescribable emotion. The man's patience had long since run out.

If he was going to let him run away, he wouldn't have stayed still. I'll never let him go. How did I find him in the first place? Ash muttered in a voice tinged with laughter. He put on his gentle facade once again. At his instantly gentle expression, those who had been glancing at him averted their eyes and shook their heads as if they had seen a madman.

Though acting wasn't his nature, if only Nain would look favorably on him, he could do this as much as needed. He had no intention of ever losing what had come into his hands again. Having decided to keep him by his side, he planned to show only the aspects Nain liked and hide everything else until the end.

This time, things wouldn't go as Nain wanted. If he tried to run away, he would have no choice but to persistently follow and block his escape route. From long ago, Ash could do anything to get what he wanted.

* * *

After that day, Nain couldn't see Ash for several days straight. He could no longer see the sight of him running over as soon as work started and rattling off various stories.

Was it because he thought there was nothing left to gain from him? The suddenly changed attitude of completely disappearing without even showing his face, rather than being refreshing, felt a bit empty.

'Was I too heartless?'

Though it was the situation he had wanted, it was true that the sudden change felt awkward. And he was also a bit worried about Ash.

Images of Ash locked away alone in a small room feeling depressed kept appearing in Nain's mind. Even when he tried not to care, he was inwardly concerned.

One day passed. Two days passed. On the third day, staff members flocked to him asking what had happened. Was Ash not coming anymore?

"Probably not."

At his uncertain answer, they widened their eyes and asked for the reason. Some asked if they had fought. But Nain could only smile awkwardly saying he didn't know either. After sending them away, Nain felt strangely off and let out a deep sigh.

Strange. Why am I feeling like this?

'Am I feeling hurt that Ash isn't coming to see me?'

Nain thought this and shook his head. He was the one who had rejected the man. Therefore, he had no right to feel hurt.

'Is he angry that I cut off the conversation like that?'

Usually he acted quite shamelessly, so he never thought he would understand and not come so immediately. At that time, even if he went back, he had some inexplicable confidence that he would appear the next day as if nothing had happened. Looking back now, that was arrogance.

"..."

Nain thought for a moment and frowned. Somehow, he couldn't imagine Ash getting angry at all. He always just smiled or played around. Rather, he might be sad.

Nain, who had been repeating the same worries, realized that such thoughts were completely unproductive and shook his head.

Unlike Nain's situation as a dimension wanderer, Ash had a solid position anywhere. People would look at him with curious eyes, wondering how Nain had gotten entangled with 'that' Ash. If the other party had been someone other than Ash, it wouldn't have drawn such attention.

This relationship had a structure that couldn't be maintained once one side let go. His connection with him might end here. There was no point in thinking about it further as it would only give him a headache.

'Let's forget about it.'

Nain wanted to be more faithful to what he could do immediately. On exactly the seventh day since he hadn't seen the man, he was able to distance himself from him to the point where he wouldn't think of him unless he deliberately recalled him.

Nain felt a sense of peace spending time alone after a long while. Though the eye candy of daily life had disappeared, the empty space was quickly filled with other things. The saying that out of sight means out of mind was true.

* * *

"Nain, that... vigor boost, no... the magic potion."

"You bought it yesterday. Do you need more already?"

"No, no. I'm sorry, but..."

The man fidgeted around his mouth as if it was difficult to speak, then squeezed his eyes shut and spoke with difficulty.

"You asked me to keep it secret, but a friend I know noticed... He said he also wants to buy some magic... I mean, magic potion, and asked me to ask Nain about it."

"Ah... is that so?"

"He's really not the type to spread rumors. Could it work somehow?"

The man even put his hands together pleadingly. The effect must have been good enough for others to notice. It seemed this man in front of him lacked the eloquence to make plausible excuses.

Nain pretended to think for a moment, then nodded as if unable to refuse. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.