Chapter 95

"Well, when it comes to something Liana doesn't want to hear and you want to tell me in secret... I have a few ideas. Did the whole business of selling the magic stone operation come up? Or maybe the alchemist from the capital of this country who invited you but hasn't given up even though you declined... Or perhaps Liana was hit on by a guy again, and she doesn't understand the danger, so Topaz came to share the information with me in secret, like before..."

"So, Topaz, what's the secret you want to tell me alone?"

"Wait, let me check if Liana is eavesdropping first."

Topaz led me to a dead-end in the hotel corridor, a position where we could notice if someone came out of a room or climbed the stairs before they could overhear our conversation.

If we really needed to keep it secret, we could use a private room in the restaurant downstairs, but that's probably not necessary. I said I'd be right back.

Topaz, whose fox ears on her head twitched, closed her eyes and, with a serious face, said, "It doesn't seem like any eavesdropping magic is being used here," as she opened her eyes.

"Liana isn't the type to try to eavesdrop on a secret conversation, right?"

"Just to be safe! Honestly, who do you think I'm being cautious for?"

When I heard what Topaz, who was pouting, started to say, I felt like I wanted to crawl on the ground and bow my head.

It was my fault. The trouble was caused by me. What do you mean, "Liana was hit on by a guy again..."? That's not it. How can I have the nerve to think so carelessly?

"R-r-really... I'm sorry... It's all my fault..."

"Don't suddenly look so pale. Well, you know, Fred is also bothered by women who stalk him."

Topaz, who was worried about me and said kind words, made me feel even more pitiful.

"Topaz, I'm sorry. I've involved Liana and you in my troubles."

"Usually, Liana and Fred help me with the problems I cause. It's only fair."

I was moved by Topaz, who had grown so much since we met in that hot spring town.

"Still... are you trying to dissolve the party and add Liana to it?"

The fact that you prepared a membership application that could be submitted just by writing a name suggests that the other members are aware of the plan to add Liana and Topaz to the party. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to prepare it.

In that party, Michelle is the "youngest and most beloved" member, and the other members, who are childhood friends, probably didn't object.

Of course, we would decline... but if it gets out that Liana and Topaz are gold-ranked adventurers, that would be a problem.

It's not just that Liana doesn't like to stand out. If it gets out that Liana and Topaz are "gold-ranked adventurers," it would only lead to a lot of trouble.

If we say we're gold-ranked adventurers, it would be easy to decline the invitation from "Mond's Water," a party that clearly doesn't match our level. They said they might reach silver next year, so they're probably black iron. The rank difference between gold and black iron is too great.

They probably thought it was fine to add Liana and Topaz, whom they considered to be lower-ranked adventurers, to their party. If that were the case, of course, we would decline.

With such a rank difference, if the other party found out Liana and Topaz's true adventurer ranks, they would be so ashamed of their mistake that they would withdraw the offer.

But, if that happens, Liana and Topaz's daily lives would be lost. It's my fault for not properly declining Michelle's offer...

I was overwhelmed by guilt again as I organized the content of Topaz's story in my head.

I see. That's why Topaz told me this in secret, without Liana knowing. Indeed, Liana would have downplayed the situation.

"I see, so you want me to properly decline the offer?"

"No, that's not it?"

Eh, it's not?

"I want Fred to stand there while I teach that woman a lesson. Just standing there is enough."

"What do you mean?"

"Topaz saw a weakness in that woman."

As I tilted my head in confusion and looked down at Topaz, she continued in a hushed tone with a particularly serious face.

"Actually... in the adventurer's guild, I got so angry at Michelle that I almost used a transformation spell to scare her..."

"Wait, in the middle of the guild?"

"O-of course, I didn't use it! I promised Liana and Anna to keep this power hidden."

I was startled for a moment, but then I calmed down, remembering that Liana hadn't said anything about Topaz doing something. It's understandable, but I was worried that Topaz had used her power in such a public place.

I see, Topaz wanted to keep it a secret because she almost used the transformation spell she promised not to use outside.

"What did you try to transform into?"

"I thought about transforming into the thing she fears the most to teach her a lesson... but I only thought about it, okay?"

"I understand. You didn't break the promise you made with Liana and Anna."

"Indeed."

Topaz nodded respectfully and continued her explanation.

"Being underestimated as just a child made me angry, but I can forgive her. However... when Liana was told to give that paper to Fred and was treated like a criminal for trying to throw it away, and that woman scratched Liana's arm and injured her..."

"Wh-what?!"

Hearing this, I felt my blood boil. I almost interrupted to ask for more details but held back. First, I need to hear the whole story.

"I was so angry that I wanted to teach her the most effective lesson. Slapping her wouldn't be very effective, so I thought of using the transformation spell to show her the thing she fears the most to teach her a lesson."

Hmm, in other words, "I wanted to get back at her in a way that would be more effective than physical punishment." Revenge isn't a good thing, but since it was just an attempt, it's okay...

According to Topaz, Michelle had three things she was truly afraid of.

The first was failing a quest and losing all her companions, including her brother. Indeed, that's something any adventurer would fear.

The second was being attacked by countless chafer beetles. I would beg for forgiveness and cry if that happened to me.

"And the third was you, Fred, telling her to stop following you because you find her annoying."

"Ah... I see..."

"So, I thought I would use a fake Fred created by my transformation spell to tell her the words she fears the most, to thoroughly reject her."

This is the full extent of Topaz's "secret." Since the color of the eyes can't be replicated, the spell would make me look like the "Fred Michelle fears" from the eyes down. If I didn't deny the words spoken by the fake Fred, it would seem like I said them... and the whole thing would be kept secret, even the existence of the transformation spell.

Topaz's pupils were narrowed to thin slits, clearly enjoying the idea of her plan.

"That might be effective, but I have to decline."

"Why?! This way, the existence of my wonderful transformation spell won't be revealed."

"No, it's not okay. We made a promise, didn't we? Not to use it in front of others."

Technically, we agreed not to use it unless there was a real danger that required it... but I don't think Topaz would ever be in a situation where she couldn't fight her way out.

"Ugh... Ah, I have a good idea! I can just tell Michelle that Fred said he's bothered by her following him. This way, we don't need to use the transformation spell!"

"That's also not okay."

"Why?! Aren't you angry at the woman who hurt Liana?"

Topaz, who loves Liana, seemed unsatisfied. She was so angry on Liana's behalf.

"Of course, I'm angry, but..."

"Then why not?!"

"Half of my anger is directed at myself. I've compromised too much to avoid trouble, which led to this problem and caused trouble for Liana and Topaz."

She did it, but the cause was me.

I was afraid of women like my mother and tried to avoid making a scene... but that's just an excuse.

"Having someone else say it for me would be too embarrassing. So, I'll say it myself."

Topaz seemed to understand and said she would leave the resolution to me.

"But Topaz, it's impressive that you chose what to show to scare her. You didn't show something like people dying or being attacked by insects, right?"

I recalled the story and praised Topaz's growth.

"No, that's not it. I hate chafer beetles too, so I don't want to see them even in a transformation spell. And if I showed her and her companions dying, she would realize it's not real right away. This was the only thing I could make happen among the things she fears."

"...I see."

But that's so typical of Topaz, I thought with a wry smile.