New chapter of Single Old Man is out! (1/2 chapters)

 

 

Verde’s Feelings

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

That night.

After dinner, Rosso and the others went to bed early. Verde seemed to want to talk with them, but she could not bring herself to do so and looked dejected. It was still early for me, so I sat drinking coffee and reading.

Then, Verde came out of the carriage. Incidentally, Miles and Shuvan were standing guard by Hikuroku. Verde, who was clad in nightwear, stepped down.

“Hmm… oh, what is the matter?” (Gentoku)

“Nothing, I was simply thirsty…” (Verde)

“Wait a moment. Shall we have lemon tea, perhaps?” (Gentoku)

“Lemon?” (Verde)

Ah, right. It is only a fruit that resembles a lemon. Fruits in this world look like those of Earth, but their names differ. It doesn’t matter.

I boiled water, brewed tea, and placed a thin slice of lemon-like fruit floating on the surface before handing it to Verde.

“What a lovely fragrance… the scent of limon is delightful as well.” (Verde)

Ah yes, limon. That confusing name always throws me off.

For a while, Verde and I drank tea by the campfire.

“Say, do you intend to apologize to Rosso and the others?” (Gentoku)

I asked her.

Verde’s shoulders trembled slightly, and she glanced toward where Miles and Shuvan were.

“…Miles and Schwan, I presume.” (Verde)

“My apologies for hearing it from them. So, what do you intend?” (Gentoku)

“…It is not as though I have quarreled.” (Verde)

“But you destroyed the Adventurer Guild building once, did you not? And it was your fault.” (Gentoku)

“T-that was…” (Verde)

“Now you keep a superficial relationship, but with Rosso’s temperament, she has not forgiven you. When I met them, they never once spoke of you. Honestly, they might not even care anymore.” (Gentoku)

“…” (Verde)

“What about you? What do you think of Rosso and her companions?” (Gentoku)

“…Do I have any reason to tell you that?” (Verde)

“None. But Rosso and the others are good people, good friends. I do not want to see them being indifferent like that.” (Gentoku)

“…Indifferent?” (Verde)

“Yes. Do you know what Rosso and the others think of you?” (Gentoku)

I closed my book and finally looked directly at Verde. She was staring at me the entire time, holding her cup.

“…They must hate me. I insulted Ao and Blanche, fought terribly with Rosso… they surely hate me.” (Verde)

“That is not it.” (Gentoku)

“Eh?” (Verde)

“Say, what do you think is the opposite of liking someone?” (Gentoku)

“That would be hating them, would it not?” (Verde)

“I think it is indifference. After all, there is no reason to even speak of someone you truly hate. Rosso and the others only talk about pleasant things. If they hated you, they would not even bring you up. Thinking about you would be pointless. They are utterly indifferent to you. I have known them for a while now, but not once have I heard your name from them.” (Gentoku)

“…Indifferent.” (Verde)

“Yes. You quarreled, never apologized, and still talk to them casually. It is not love nor hate, merely indifference. They think you no longer matter.” (Gentoku)

“…” (Verde)

Perhaps I spoke too harshly, yet it was the truth. The opposite of love is indifference. A fine saying indeed. Even though they are both part of the Arc-en-Ciel, that is all. Unless she takes responsibility, their relationship will forever remain frozen.

“Verde. What do you want to do?” (Gentoku)

“…” (Verde)

“Speak from your heart. Tell me honestly how you feel now.” (Gentoku)

“My feelings…” (Verde)

“You kept trying to talk to Rosso and the others, right? Even though they ignored you, you still have not given up on being friends, have you?” (Gentoku)

“…That is…” (Verde)

“If that feeling exists, I shall help you.” (Gentoku)

“…Why go so far?” (Verde)

“That’s because I do not wish to see Rosso and the others acting like that, ignoring people.” (Gentoku)

“…” (Verde)

Verde placed her cup down.

Then, after exhaling softly, she spoke to me.

“At first, it was simple curiosity. Even though my engagement was annulled and I was cast out of my family, I still had confidence in my magic and combat skills. Thus, I became an adventurer. Eventually, I rose to become one of the Arc-en-Ciel, and I heard that a girl my age was adventuring with her three companions.” (Verde)

“That was Rosso and her group?” (Gentoku)

“Yes. At the time, I still had my noble pride. I said things like making them my subordinates, words I did not truly mean.” (Verde)

“Ahh… well, I see.” (Gentoku)

“Looking back now, they were terrible words. I later learned that Rosso sent the money she earned to her hometown, funding road development toward her village. Ao donated to run an orphanage, and Blanche contributed to the capital’s church, donating study tools to orphans.” (Verde)

I knew of their charity work, but hearing it again made me feel ashamed.

“I mocked their activities. I told them to stop such meaningless things.” (Verde)

“…” (Gentoku)

“That was when Rosso and I had our great fight.” (Verde)

“If someone insulted your hometown, of course you would snap.” (Gentoku)

“Yes. I stubbornly refused to apologize and kept picking fights with them. But truthfully, I wanted to be friends. I was simply happy that they still interacted with me.” (Verde)

“…” (Gentoku)

“I am this kind of person, so I have no friends. Other adventurers avoid me. That is why I was happy when Rosso and the others responded at all.” (Verde)

“…And now?” (Gentoku)

“After hearing you speak about indifference, I see now that it was not even a matter of hate or not hate. I am no more than a passerby to them.” (Verde)

“…Yes, that is so.” (Gentoku)

“…Uu.” (Verde)

Verde wept silently.

I did not comfort her. She had finally become honest with herself. Therefore, I would not offer consolation, but instead words of resolve.

“Apologize properly. Begin again from zero.” (Gentoku)

“…Eh?” (Verde)

“If you feel that way, you can do it. Rosso and the others will surely forgive you.” (Gentoku)

“…Do you think so? I… I did not even apologize, yet kept talking to them… how shameless.” (Verde)

“It is fine. The Rosso I know will forgive you.” (Gentoku)

“…Yes.” (Verde)

“Good. I shall help you. Let us plan your apology and make sure to enjoy our time in the hot spring town of Leredore.” (Gentoku)

“…A-alright. But… it is still a little frightening.” (Verde)

“Leave it to me. We shall devise the apology together.” (Gentoku)

“U-understood.” (Verde)

Thus, together with Verde, I began formulating the “Apology Plan”.

 

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