Chapter 76

I hurriedly teleported with Selena to the courtyard of the Enetoa Guild in the Imperial Capital.

"Where are they?"

"Behind. It was the break room for the blue-haired people, I think. I'll show you!"

Selena said this and entered the building at the back of the guild from the street. I followed her.

Unlike the entrance side, this area had a few small warehouses and rooms where my followers could take a break. It was a private space, but it was arranged so that it wouldn't be a problem if ordinary people saw it.

The upper floors had many things I didn't want others to see...

Selena stopped and pointed to a door.

"Here! They should still be sleeping. Can we go in?"

"No, they might wake up by chance. Actually, I received power from the dragon I defeated... I can now use clairvoyance."

The room didn't have a small window, so I couldn't see inside. I couldn't just look at their condition with magical reactions.

Selena exclaimed.

"Such power! It seems it will be useful right away!"

"Yeah. Let me try it – hmm?"

Through the wall, I saw taut skin, a toned body, and ample breasts – the blue-haired girls were changing clothes.

I immediately stopped the clairvoyance and stared at Selena.

"…You didn't set this up, did you?"

"Huh?"

"You're wrong... Jules isn't in there."

Selena opened the door and looked inside, then quickly turned to me with a "Ah!"

"Sorry... It's the room on the other side!"

Selena hurriedly answered. She really is clumsy...

I turned to the other side and first checked the magic.

Inside, three people were lying down. Near them, a few shadows seemed to be tending to them for treatment.

This time, it's definitely them...

I used clairvoyance to peek into the room.

The inside gradually became clear.

There were three beds. In the middle was Jules, and on either side were two attendants.

Since they couldn't sleep in their armor or outer clothes, it seemed the surrounding followers had changed them into nightgowns. Their equipment and belongings were neatly arranged nearby.

"Jules..."

There, indeed, was the Jules I knew.

We didn't have a special connection in my previous life. Yet, I felt relieved as if it were my own matter.

I wished she would stop hunting dragons and monsters and live in a quiet place.

Why do I care so much about Jules...

She's just a little girl. I know it's dangerous to express it the wrong way.

Of course, I'm not looking at Jules with lewd eyes.

It's not that kind of feeling... It's a kind of guilt, as Virtus said, for making her my fiancée.

But before the reset, Jules didn't seem to care about me at all.

She's still focused on hunting evil dragons in various places.

Before the reset, there was a silver-haired adventurer who hunted evil dragons and was a topic of conversation. Now that I think about it, that adventurer might have been the missing Jules.

Does she have a grudge against evil dragons?

This time, she started hunting evil dragons at the age of seven, which means she must have harbored this desire before our engagement.

Jules' plans and actions are far beyond those of a seven-year-old. This time, she seemed to know that the evil dragon was hiding in Lux Bay.

I don't understand anything...

That's why I want to talk to her.

However, it would be unnatural for me to appear here.

Jules might hate not only evil dragons but also demons close to her. She might not think well of me with the dark crest. It's possible that I left because of her before the reset.

While thinking about this, I noticed that Elysia had been standing there the whole time.

"Elysia... Are you treating them?"

Elysia was staring at one of the attendants sleeping next to Jules.

There were two attendants. One was a tall woman in heavy armor, and the other was a short woman in a robe, looking like a mage.

Elysia was looking at the tall woman.

She had long blonde hair... huh?

Until now, they had been wearing masks, but now both attendants were showing their faces.

Both had beautiful features and were probably in their late teens.

That wasn't the issue. The tall woman had a face that looked like Elysia.

It was hard to tell without seeing her up close. Even though they both had blonde hair, the woman's was much lighter than Elysia's.

But Elysia's frozen expression told everything. She was surprised by the woman who looked like her.

Eventually, Selena seemed to notice something and entered the room.

Selena also seemed to notice the resemblance between Elysia and the woman.

"...I'll take it from here. Outside."

Selena pointed her thumb at me, indicating that she would tell me to stay outside.

"Selena... Okay."

Elysia immediately left the room and smiled as usual.

"Lord Alex, please rest assured. None of them have serious injuries. They should wake up soon."

"Yeah, thanks. But that tall woman... I only saw her with clairvoyance."

"...It's just a coincidence. It happens often."

Indeed, it's not rare to see people who look alike. Elysia was originally a half-orc and had a more orc-like appearance. Her current appearance was something she gained later.

It might be a reflection of someone she passed by... but that seems unlikely.

Still, Elysia's expression – she might have seen a resemblance to her human mother in that woman.

While thinking about this, a voice came from the room.

"Where are we..."

I used clairvoyance again to look inside.

Jules seemed to have woken up. She sat up and looked around.

Selena faced Jules and bowed politely.

"I am Selena di Enetoa, the head of the Enetoa Guild. We rescued you when your ship fell into Lux Bay. Ah, the sea beast has already been defeated by a noble and other royal fleets. Please rest assured."

Unlike her usual enthusiastic self, Selena spoke and acted like a gentle young lady.

"I'm Lily... but, the Enetoa Guild? Wasn't it supposed to be..."

Jules looked genuinely puzzled.

"Yes, the former president and his family committed suicide due to a conspiracy by their business rival, Torreus. The guild was abandoned, but I, a distant relative, took it over."

"But... they were in Roburion..."

Jules noticed the blue-haired people around her. She must have remembered seeing them at my Roburion store.

I hadn't prepared an answer for this... but Selena responded.

"Roburion? Did you visit Lord Alex's store? If so, our guild has received financial and personnel support from Lord Alex to rebuild. He sent people from Roburion. Apparently, he received a hundred gold coins from a customer recently and had some spare funds."

"Is that... so."

The blue-haired people bowed to Jules.

Maybe I underestimated Selena a bit... She was a young military commander who fought in various places. She could probably put on a good act.

Or maybe Yuri trained her well. This might have been a setup by Yuri.

In any case, it was good.

I sighed, but Selena continued to talk.

"Lord Alex is a very wise person. He felt sorry for the former owner who had the dark crest and helped him. Even though he's still young, he's very compassionate. His cheeks... are especially cute. And he's really kind."

Yuri is just that good... I felt like more would slip out if she kept talking.

I was about to stop her when I heard Jules' words.

"Kind... he is really kind."

Have I ever been kind to Jules?

My memories before receiving the crest are vague.

I'm twenty years old inside. I don't remember anything from when I was six, the age when the engagement started. The only thing I remember is that the words of marriage led to the engagement.

But Jules said I was kind with a nostalgic look. It didn't seem like flattery... or maybe I just wanted to believe it.

But... why do I feel happy and satisfied? Is it because I know she didn't hate me?

Selena nodded in agreement, and Jules spoke again.

"Um... do you know where Lord Alex is?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know either."

"Right... no, I'll..."

Jules shook her head.

"Sorry, don't worry about it. Lord Alex too."

"Of course, I won't say anything. I'll prepare some food for you."

"Thank you. But we're leaving soon. Sorry, but when the other two wake up... they seem fine."

The two attendants sat up and looked around.

Jules spoke to them.

"We were rescued by a passing ship... sorry, both of you. Evil dragons and evil serpents are different. I was overconfident."

"Don't worry. It's just that our skills weren't enough."

The tall woman, who looked like Elysia, replied. Her face was similar, but her voice was a bit lower than Elysia's.

The other short woman nodded with a regretful look.

Jules bowed to them.

"That's not true. I'm still inexperienced. Next time... I won't make the same mistake."

The two attendants nodded deeply.

Jules turned to Selena again.

"Thank you. I'll leave as soon as I change. Of course, I'll thank you properly."

Jules got out of bed and handed a bag of gold coins to Selena.

"Wait. Rescuing people from the sea is a normal thing to do. This is..."

"Don't worry. I'm happy if the Enetoa Guild rebuilds successfully. I'll visit as a customer next time."

Jules answered and quickly started changing into her armor. The other two followed.

Her words about me might be flattery.

But she gave a large amount of money to wish for the successful rebuilding of the Enetoa Guild, even knowing that the former president had the dark crest. Jules definitely doesn't hate people with the dark crest.

Selena hurriedly came out of the room and whispered to me.

"What should we do?"

"Tell her to keep the money as a loan. And..."

I took out three magic bracelets from my pocket.

"Magic devices with the 'Dark Wall' enchantment. Tell her they are ancient relics that create a wall of dark magic and can protect them from anything except holy magic."

It would increase their defenses. They should be able to withstand most attacks except holy magic.

I had decided not to give magic devices to outsiders. Selena looked unsure.

But Elysia nodded silently, and Selena followed suit.

"Understood."

Selena returned to the room and showed the bracelets to Jules and her attendants.

"I'll keep the money as a loan. It's a bit strange to call it a thank you, but please take these."

"These are?"

"Ancient magic devices. They create a wall of dark magic to protect you."

"Dark magic devices... such things exist?"

"They seem to be from the magic kingdom, but they should be effective against anything except holy magic."

"Yes, they are very powerful... but, are you sure you can give such valuable items?"

"Of course. I'll use the money to buy better items."

Selena handed the bracelets to Jules.

Jules nodded and accepted them.

"Thank you. I'll take good care of them."

Jules would probably leave the room soon. I went upstairs and watched her from the window.

The Pegasus they were riding had been protected by the dragon people and was tied to a post on the street.

Pegasus are rare, but they are seen often enough in the Imperial Capital. There was no crowd.

Jules and her attendants came out of the building, mounted the Pegasus, and flew into the sky.

It felt like Jules was looking at the guild, or at me. But she eventually turned her face forward.

...Please be safe, Jules.

Watching Jules fly into the western sky, I wished for her safety.