Chapter 37 - – [Hero’s Party] Emmy: Relieving the burden of my Heart, My Reliable Best Friend’s inquiry, and… A Good Intention…

It's the next morning after I talked to Jannet. The heavy feeling in my chest that keeps me from waking up is now gone and my head feels so clear. As I remove the blanket covering me, I saw the lights coming from the window is still bluish and dim. Is it still night time? I thought it was the case for a moment. I ended up thinking a lot of difficult stuff for the past couple of days to the point I had headaches. It seems the recovery magic doesn't work for this kind of thing. Maybe it's better to ask Jannet for a . It feels like my guilt's been eating me away even in my nightmares. But, isn't it normal for people to forget what they dream about? I don't understand anything about what I dreamed at all… I've been thinking hard yesterday too but I was able to slept early. It's probably because I was able to confess to Jannet. It feels like my worries that had piled up decrease as I share it together with her. I didn't know that being able to share your thoughts and worries with someone can be this relieving. And since I am talking with Jannet who has a pretty good head, I had her think as well for the parts that the little stupid me can't get. …I was jut looking for someone to listen to my burdens but Jannet started to get worried about me too. I can't help but feel a bit guilty about it… Anyway, it really is so early in the morning, huh. It's just so different compared to yesterday when I overslept. It's somehow refreshing. …But what was that again? I believe there's a proper name for this dark sky… Even though It's so cool when I heard it from Jannet… …Dark?1 was it dask? I believe it has something to do with night. Un. It's dask. Very well, duh-duh-dask. [It's dawn.] [Eh?] I look beside me and found the girl getting up from her bed as well. Her familiar half opened eyes looked at me for a few seconds before she sighed like she's already giving up. [Dusk, nightfall, and evenfall, are for the dark skies of the night and for the morning, it is dawn, twilight, and daybreak.2 …Let's sleep?] [Ah… Ahaha…] I just woke up and it feels that somehow the day has already ended. Well, that's bad~… I'm still so out of it. And that retort for sure is from my sweet and smart as ever best friend. [Morning, Jannet] [N. Morning.] She looks like she still wants to sleep as she rubs her eyes while her body still sways from side to side. [Well, aren't you early? –] There's another voice that suddenly came over and me and Jannet can't help but be startled before we look on the direction where it's from. [–ah, ara? Uhm, I'm sorry. I don't mean to surprise the both of you…] A blonde girl scratches her head as she shows her face from the blanket. [Ah, hahaha, sorry about that. Good morning, Katie-san.] [Ofcourse. Good morning, Emmy-san.] Katie-san's figure really looks so dreamy along with her dazzling smile full of innocence. Un… It starts to sink in that maybe I'm the bad one for doubting Katie-san. Katie-san moved her gaze naturally next to Jannet. But… Jannet isn't saying anything at all. Perhaps Katie-san finds it weird as she started to look back and forth between me and Jannet with her eyes repeatedly blinking. Uwa~ her eyes lashes are just so long~. Oh no! Rather, why is Jannet too quiet? …Do-don't tell me you're already cautious of Katie-san after what I've said!? Isn't that a bit too fast!? I can feel the tension rising as me and Katie-san look at Jannet when she suddenly stood up. Wa-wait!!! […There're no clothes to change in this room.] –eh? When Jannet pulled Katie-san's blanket… How should I say this…? Even I find her clothes too sexy underneath it. Aside from her chest and buttocks which are covered in thicker threads, the rest of her clothes looks just like a curtain where the other side can be seen through… Uhm, didn't it just cover her buttocks and alike? [Katie-san doesn't have clothes to change here in the room… Or perhaps you intend to go all the way to the bath with just your negligee?] [Uhm, wouldn't that be dangerous?] [Men won't help but stumble upon seeing you like that so let's avoid that… Don't tell me you walked all the way with just your negligee yesterday, no? Haaa…. I'll lend you my mantle so please be sure to wear it on your way there.] [Ah, ara~ ara~! Jannet-san will do that for me? Fufu, you really are such a sensible and sweet girl!] Katie-san giggles as she cuddles Jannet while stroking her blue hair. And Jannet is like 'Please stop…' and is wriggling while trying to look displeased but she looks so embarrassed and didn't really try to stop it. …I thought she'll burst it out. What a relief… Even I know that it'll be bad saying it directly to Katie-san so I can't imagine Jannet doing such careless thing… [Well then, I'll go and change now.] Katie-san wore the mantle and go to the bath. I wonder if there's hot water already prepared in there… But thinking about it, preparing the hot water for the bath is something easy to do on your own. Jannet turns to me after seeing Katie-san off. [I was surprised. Do you think she heard something?] [I don't think so… But I saw it.] [Eh? What? The figure behind the negligee?] […Yep.] And there came a chop from Jannet. It doesn't hurt at all. More like, it's so cute. [That person's eyes. I always thought it's beautiful but it isn't something you can see around here, right?] [Her eyes? Oh, it really is beautiful.] [Un. I haven't seen such beautiful eyes before. That's why… I don't understand how can such a beautiful girl is adventuring all alone and isn't being recruited. There's no rumor about it even. There's no one else who has such beautiful golden eyes around here.] …Jannet really thinks about a lot of things unlike a dummy like me. As expected of my amazing best friend! She really is reliable. [Let's leave Katie-san's mysteries from here. Let's go change as well.] [Alright.] Jannet and I talk as we change our clothes. It's been a while since we last talked this openly and we shared about the details and effects of the magics that we learned. Katie-san who's finished taking a bath arrived in the middle of our conversation and started to join. Her level went up all of a sudden as well so she learned magics that we can rely on. Jannet and Katie-san as mages are discussing about the details of their offensive magics and how each of them can use it effectively. …Right, she told me about this before. [I can finally now use Protection and Magic Coating.] [Maa! That's fantastic, isn't it~ There's also a secret that can be used together with it!] [Really? I'll look forward to it.] [Yes, yes! From now on, the real abilities of the [Holy Knight] Emmy will reveal itself!] …Un, it really isn't good to overthink things, right? Katie-san right now isn't the weirdo-chan that's muttering things… Un, it's okay, it's okay. This person has no bad intentions. It's still long before morning comes. The three of us enjoyed some girl talk before Vince wake up. Then, what was it again? Daybreak was it? The inn started to get lively past around that time and everyone went to the cafeteria to eat breakfast. It will be weird if I keep on avoiding Vince so I decided to sit next to him today and just munch my own food silently. Vince looked at me and gave me a light morning greeting and I ignore the rest. […Uhm, do the two of you don't talk that often?] [N? Yep… Well, we're used to it.] [You're already used to it? Fufu. That adult-like relationship looks so fine too~] Vince is talking with Katie-san. It feels like she has some weird misunderstanding. Or so I thought but Katie-san started to stare at me instead of Vince. […Uhm, what is it?] [Oh, nothing much. Did you think of wanting to join the conversation?] [Something like that… Well, we've been always together anyway.] [Always together!] I don't know what she's happy about from those words but Katie-san started to giggle as she looks at me and Vince. …Katie-san really is a weirdo-chan. I don't get her at all. We return to our room after eating breakfast and discussed whether we will explore the dungeon today or not. Katie-san has her eyes on the dragon's armor and so I thought it was impossible but she agreed to it easily. [We'll be accumulating lots of stress at this rate. Let's properly take a break when as needed.] [N. Katie looks like she knows what she's talking about so I don't mind. It's been ages since I last continuously fought.] Vince must have known as well from experience and readily agreed trusting Katie-san's judgement. Well, even if he doesn't know it by experience, I can't see him refusing Katie-san's opinions. Vince said that he will go out on a stroll and spend the day exploring the city… But, won't you just go around and play? At least take care not to waste your money. When Vince was all ready to go, I heard him call out and ask 'You want to come with me?' before going to the door. I… Obviously shut him down. There can only be one outcome after putting all of his words and actions together. I already realized what Vince is thinking. And girls are sensitive about men's gazes or something alike that it doesn't really matter if I'm smart or not. I don't know how to look at Vince. To look at the person who pushed Russell away. To be honest, I don't feel any good thing about him. After sending Vince off away, I return to the room for the bed and found Katie-san sitting all alone. [Katie-san, where's Jannet?] [I tried calling her out but she has a business or something outside so she went out… Ah! This is fine too! I have something to talk to you, Emmysan. Is it alright?] I agreed without thinking much of it. And then, it turned out to be something my heart has to be fully prepared and I can't help but regret that I just stupidly nodded my head to hear it. …It's because I'm always like this that's why I'm just no good. What Katie-san talked about is… Something that changed my destiny. [I will tell you the secret of the most effective defensive ability you can use to be able to protect the hero's party!] [Secret, is it?] [Yes! I'm sure Emmy-san can use it for sure! I failed when I tried to test it out yesterday but I think it will work out now from what I see in you this morning!] And from there, I started to hear the whole truth from the happily talking Katie-san. That is something that made me realize all the things that I've done all this time that even I can understand no matter how stupid I am. I now understand everything. And the things I have to do. The class of the [Holy Knight] who holds the strongest defenses. The one who holds the shield to protect the hero's party. And what broke through the Holy Knight's spirit is— [The [Holy Knight] has special skills. It's a powerful move that will make your shield shine when it activates and no matter how strong the enemy is, it will be blown away! The activating condition is realizing who is the person you like! Kyaaa! Isn't this like the power of love!] –Just one good intention.