I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [265]

"Nero, Iris… you two aren't ordinary townsfolk, are you?"

After finishing their meal, Megumin suddenly asked a question so serious that it was impossible for Nero and Alice to ignore.

Yunyun, however, wore an expression of utter confusion.

"Megumin, what nonsense are you spouting this time? Sure, your chest is… well, lacking, but you've got room to grow—ow!"

Megumin, blushing furiously, slapped Yunyun squarely across the chest.

Yunyun clutched herself, looking like she was about to cry. If they weren't out in public, she might have checked to see if there was a red mark where Megumin had hit her.

"Of course, I'm no ordinary citizen," Nero declared, crossing her arms to emphasize her regal bearing. She lifted her swanlike neck with pride. "I am the Emperor of Rome!"

"I've never even heard of a place called Rome," Megumin replied, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "And seriously, what kind of emperor becomes an adventurer in Axel?"

"Even though you've tried hard to conceal it, the Crimson Magic Clan's intelligence stat is off the charts. And as the genius of our clan, you can't hide the truth from my piercing insight!"

Raising her right hand to cover one eye, Megumin struck a dramatic pose, her face glowing with self-satisfaction as if she'd uncovered a profound truth.

Nero remained composed, but Alice's nerves betrayed her—under the table, her hands clutched her skirt tightly.

To satisfy her own theatrics, Megumin began explaining her deductions.

"Back at the fruit stall, I already felt something was off. The two of you seem entirely clueless about basic knowledge, like how bananas grow in water!"

Oh… so it's about that.

"And Iris pays far too much attention to mundane things. Even toys for children catch her interest, like some country bumpkin visiting the city—or perhaps a city girl visiting the countryside. Only someone unfamiliar with the world would react like that."

Hearing this, Alice lowered her head, her golden hair cascading over her face and obscuring her expression.

"Then there's your behavior—it's far too polite and refined! It makes people tense just being around you."

Nero frowned slightly, while Alice ducked her head even further. Neither of them had realized how many clues they had inadvertently left behind.

"And finally… the biggest clue of all."

Megumin raised a finger, like a boxer poised to deliver a knockout blow.

"Someone already approached me, asking me to look for a golden-haired noblewoman with impeccable manners. If I find her, I'll be handsomely rewarded!"

Her eyes gleamed like gold coins as she continued.

"In this country, golden hair and blue eyes symbolize pure noble lineage. Your hair is the biggest giveaway!"

Nero let out a quiet sigh after some thought, while Alice bit her lip, frustration flickering in her eyes.

Nero had known all along that sneaking Alice out of the palace to live as adventurers couldn't last forever.

The royal court would never stop searching for Alice; it was only a matter of time before they found her.

Until then, Nero just wanted Alice to enjoy herself to the fullest.

She had anticipated that their identities would be exposed eventually—but not this soon. And certainly not by Megumin, of all people.

If what Megumin said was true, those searching for Alice were already certain she was in Axel. They had even commissioned Megumin to help find her.

"I underestimated this kingdom's efficiency. That's my failure," Nero admitted.

She wasn't concerned for herself—she didn't regret her decision to bring Alice along, nor was she afraid of what the palace might do to her. But she did worry for Alice.

Glancing at Alice, who sat with her head bowed, Nero's heart ached. This dreamlike life had only just begun, and there were still so many things Alice longed to experience.

Should we run?

It didn't seem necessary. If Alice could be tracked down in Axel this easily, fleeing elsewhere wouldn't change much.

And there was Yunyun to consider…

If Nero took Alice and ran, wouldn't that feel like betraying Yunyun?

Her thoughts tangled into a web of conflict.

The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.

"M-Megumin, what are you talking about?"

It was Yunyun who finally broke the tension, her face filled with bewilderment.

"You were there too!" Megumin snapped, throwing her a sidelong glance. "Remember? That day, an old man in a tailcoat approached us. He said their family's young lady ran away to avoid an arranged marriage, and he asked for our help finding her."

"Oh! I remember now. I think he mentioned being from the Dustiness family…"

Yunyun's face lit up with realization, and then she turned to Alice, shock written all over her features.

"Alice! Are you really a daughter of the Dustiness family?!"

"No… actually, I…"

"Even Yunyun didn't know your true identity?" Megumin interrupted, her voice dripping with smug triumph. "You're quite thorough, but to me, you're full of holes!"

She jabbed a finger at them for emphasis.

"Still, don't hold it against me. I mean, you did help me, but I already accepted the request! And once I accept something, I'll see it through spectacularly! I swear, I'm not doing this just for the reward money!"

…So it was for the money after all.

How rude, treating me like that depraved knight.

"You've guessed wrong. We're not from the Dustiness family," Nero said coolly.

"Still trying to deny it? You've been thoroughly exposed! Stop making pathetic excuses—it's unbecoming!"

Megumin was worked up, but Yunyun grabbed her arm to calm her down.

"Megumin! If Nero and Iris really were noblewomen from the Dustiness family, your attitude could get you into serious trouble. Offending a noble is a grave crime! If handled poorly, you could end up on the gallows!"

As the two bickered, Nero contemplated how to clear up this misunderstanding. Then she felt a gentle tug on her sleeve.

Looking down, she met Alice's eyes.

"Megumin mentioned the Dustiness family's daughter running away to avoid an arranged marriage," Alice whispered so only Nero could hear. "That sounds like Lalatina… So, we haven't actually been exposed? This is just a misunderstanding?"

"Umu! That's right," Nero replied, nodding. "It seems Claire and the others haven't found us yet. If we can resolve this misunderstanding, our adventuring life can continue… Let me think of a solution."

"Okay."

Relief washed over Alice's face like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. Her radiant smile returned, lifting Nero's spirits.

---

"..."

- Gardevoir

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