Chapter 430: What Should I Do?

While Shien was being held captive by Diere and becoming her “plaything,” Lumia and Melika were out shopping on their own.

“Sigh…”

Along the way, Melika hugged her staff, listening to the discussions around them, and couldn’t help but sigh softly.

Lumia, nervously following Melika, looked worried.

“Are you alright, Melika?” Lumia asked anxiously. “If you’re not feeling well, you should go back and rest. I can go and buy the recovery items myself.”

The two of them were out so late to purchase recovery items, namely various magic potions, for their adventures.

Since the Atlus Gorge incident, Vivian had realized how important sufficient recovery items were for a squad, not only for sustaining prolonged battles but also for ensuring safety and maintaining combat effectiveness. Therefore, Vivian’s squad had developed the habit of stocking up on recovery items, just in case.

This task was usually carried out by Lumia and Melika because Vivian, as the squad leader, needed to communicate and discuss various matters with the guild and didn’t always have the time. Diere was completely clueless about this, and only Lumia and Melika could barely manage this task, becoming the squad’s logistics personnel.

Now, Vivian was still at the guild, preparing for the mission they would be undertaking tomorrow, screening requests, and investigating the movements of various noble families. Diere had gone home first, leaving only the two of them to purchase the remaining recovery items.

Under such circumstances, Melika couldn’t go back alone.

“If I let Lumia go alone, she would definitely be too nervous to talk to unfamiliar shopkeepers.”

Melika smiled wryly.

“Mmm…” Lumia mumbled, embarrassed. “I-if the shopkeeper is a friendly older sister, I… I can still manage…”

In other words, if the shopkeeper wasn’t a friendly older sister, Lumia couldn’t handle it.

Melika, although also prone to nervousness, could at least have a normal conversation with people. If she went back now, Lumia would probably be too afraid to enter the shops and hide at the entrance, eventually crying from anxiety.

Thinking of this, Melika wanted to laugh, but her mood prevented her from doing so.

“Sigh…”

Unconsciously, Melika sighed again.

This had been going on for a while now.

And it wasn’t just today.

“Melika.” Lumia observed Melika’s expression, hesitated for a moment, then said with mustered courage, “What’s wrong with you lately? You’ve been listless, and even Vivian is worried.”

“I-is that so?” Melika seemed self-aware and said guiltily, “Vivian has already noticed?”

“Yes.” Lumia nodded, but then asked in confusion, “But Vivian seems to know why you’re like this. When I asked her if she wanted to talk to you, she said that you have to figure it out yourself, and even Diere said it’s up to you and she won’t interfere with your thoughts.”

“Ugh…” Melika’s face flushed red, and she murmured, “S-so Vivian and Diere both know how I feel?”

H-how embarrassing!

“What’s going on?” Lumia seemed a bit petulant. “Everyone knows what’s happening, but I’m the only one who doesn’t. I feel left out.”

“N-no!” Melika said quickly. “We didn’t mean to leave you out, Lumia!”

“Then what’s wrong with you, Melika?” Lumia pouted. “You can tell me if you have any worries, even if I can’t help…”

Lumia’s petulant expression turned slightly sad and dejected.

“Alright, alright.” Melika could only comfort Lumia, then after hesitating for a moment, she said with a blush, “Then I’ll tell you, but don’t tell anyone, okay?” ＲÄ𐌽O͍฿Èʂ

“Mmm-hmm.” Lumia nodded repeatedly, promising, “I won’t tell anyone.”

Melika hesitated, then shyly leaned close to Lumia’s ear and whispered something.

“Wh-what!?” Lumia’s eyes widened, and she exclaimed, “You like Shi-mmmmph…!”

Before she could finish, Melika, her face flushed red, quickly covered Lumia’s mouth.

“Don’t say it!” Melika looked at the passersby who were looking at them because of Lumia’s exclamation and said shyly, “They all heard it! Lumia, you idiot!”

“Mmmmph!” Lumia quickly shook her head tearfully, begging for mercy.

The sight of two beautiful girls playing around on the street was pleasing to the eye. Those passersby might not have been looking at them because of Lumia’s exclamation.

Fortunately, the two girls were already used to being stared at and were no longer as nervous and timid as when they first arrived in the capital. They had developed a certain level of immunity.

After a while, Melika released her hand, giving Lumia a chance to breathe.

And now, Lumia finally understood Melika’s worries.

“Are you worried because Mr. Shien has become Princess Lucy’s top candidate for a husband?”

Lumia finally understood.

“I-it’s not really worry…” Melika said hesitantly. “I know this is a great thing for Mr. Shien. I was surprised, but then again, it’s Mr. Shien, so it’s not surprising that he could become Her Highness’s husband.”

“Yeah.” Lumia agreed deeply. “That’s Princess Lucy. It’s already something to be proud of just to have a good relationship with her. It was already surprising that Mr. Shien was so close to Her Highness. I didn’t expect him to become the top candidate for her husband now. It’s truly astonishing.”

Because of this, Lumia actually admired Shien quite a bit.

After all, not long ago, Shien was just a novice adventurer, a junior who needed to be taken care of by the members of Vivian’s squad. Due to some unpleasant incidents that happened within the squad, Shien was even treated with suspicion by the girls for a while. Now, he had become a popular figure in the Kingdom, not only being ennobled and becoming a viscount, but also achieving a series of astonishing feats and accomplishments.

Moreover, he had also become the top candidate for the Kingdom’s treasure’s husband. The members of Vivian’s squad had witnessed his rise to fame. It was impossible for them not to admire him.

Of course, besides admiration, Lumia also had some questions for Shien.

Recalling the brilliant Holy Sword Shien had unleashed and used when facing the out-of-control Diere in the Atlus Gorge, Lumia murmured unconsciously,

“As expected, Mr. Shien is actually a He-mmmmph…!”

Without any surprise, Lumia’s mouth was covered by Melika again.

“You can’t say that.” Melika covered Lumia’s mouth and said seriously, “Vivian already said that this is a very important matter, related to the future of the three realms and the three races, so we can’t pry or talk about it carelessly. Did you forget?”

Lumia finally reacted and looked at Melika with an apologetic expression.

“You can’t talk about this casually anymore, okay?” Melika released Lumia, but still reminded her worriedly, “You can’t even talk about it at home, okay?”

“I understand.” Lumia said with a bitter face. “I won’t say it or ask about it anymore.”

“That’s good.” Melika was finally relieved.

Compared to the clueless Lumia, Melika had long since confirmed that Shien was actually the Hero.

Although she didn’t know why a Hero would suddenly appear, recalling Shien’s various mysterious aspects and his lack of common sense about this world, Melika was basically certain that Shien was the Hero from another world.

But there must be a deep and hidden reason behind this matter.

A thousand years later, with the Hero Summoning Ritual sealed, why would a Hero suddenly appear?

Just thinking about it, Melika knew how serious the hidden reason must be.

And Shien, caught in this maelstrom, might not be in a good situation.

Therefore, Melika had long since made up her mind to help Shien keep his secret no matter what.

However…

(Only someone as outstanding as Princess Lucy is worthy of being the Hero’s partner, right?)

Thinking of this, Melika couldn’t help but sigh again.

“Ah, you sighed again.” Lumia said in confusion. “What are you thinking, Melika?”

“I… I’m not really thinking about anything.” Melika stammered, then said with some confusion, “I just don’t know what to do next.”

Melika was indeed thinking about this.

Although Melika was envious and surprised by Shien and Lucy’s marriage, she didn’t think there was anything wrong with it.

As she thought, since Shien was the Hero, it seemed normal for him to marry Lucy, a Hero candidate.

The problem was, the person she admired was about to get married, so what should she do?

Should she continue interacting with him while hiding her feelings like before?

Or should she give up on this unrealistic fantasy and face reality?

She was just an ordinary elf. In the eyes of others, elves might be noble and pure, but if the other party was the Hero, how could an ordinary elf like her be worthy of being by his side?

What should she do?

Melika was lost in thought.

She didn’t notice that among the surrounding crowd, a pair of eyes were fixed on her.

Those eyes were filled with surprise, amazement, and… lustful desire.