When we went up to the fourth floor, Alex was leaning against the stair railing.
His official ranking is 9th.
He didn’t look happy, maybe because his ranking was lower than expected.
I think he did really well.
Hunters have a misunderstanding that once their ranking is determined, it becomes their permanent position.
But as Duke Luteous said, rankings can change at any time.
Of course, it’s difficult to climb higher in the rankings, but it’s not impossible if you make good use of the shop.
So, it’s foolish to be disappointed just because the desired ranking didn’t come out.
Instead of wasting time on this, it would be wiser to see what items are available in the shop.
I pretended not to see Alex and walked past him.
However, before I could take a few steps, he blocked my way.
“What’s up?”
When I looked at him closely, Alex avoided my gaze.
His face was not in good condition. Dark circles had formed under his eyes overnight, and his skin looked pale.
He looked like someone who hadn’t slept a wink.
“Did you get angry and drink alcohol? Tsk, tsk, tsk, take care of yourself. You only have your face to show.”
I knew.
His crazy sister, whom he treated so disrespectfully, saved his life, so how much of his noble pride must have been damaged.
That’s why he didn’t show up even at breakfast time.
But that doesn’t mean we should argue from the morning, right?
What does he want to say? Is he angry because I saved his life?
If it weren’t for him, I would have taken possession of the core. Should I demand that he hand over the core since it would have been mine if not for him?
I wonder what kind of clever reasoning he’ll come up with to spout nonsense. My heart is pounding with anticipation.
I held back a sigh and asked again.
“What are you doing?”
“…This.”
Alex handed me something unexpected. It was a glass bottle filled with a shimmering iridescent liquid.
It wasn’t the first time I had seen it.
Just yesterday, I used a similar item to treat wounds.
“A potion? Why are you giving this to me?”
“Because you got hurt.”
“Me?”
“Uh, yesterday…when you saved me.”
“Oh…”
It seemed like he remembered that I got injured while saving him.
“It’s fine. I’ve already been treated.”
“…You also got a nosebleed.”
“You know that too?”
“Everyone was talking about it. You had a nosebleed since morning.”
Don’t people in this world get nosebleeds? If I get one more, it might even make the news.
I let out the sigh I had been holding for so long.
“Ugh, forget it.”
“Still, take it.”
“I stopped having a nosebleed before breakfast. There’s no reason for me to take it.”
“But just take it.”
“I don’t need it.”
“Ugh! Just take it if I tell you to!”
Alex’s angry voice echoed down the corridor.
The startled employees stared at us with wide eyes.
Even Genia, who had been standing behind me as if dead, held her breath.
“Do you think I’ll give you poison or something? This is a harmless potion! Even I wouldn’t joke around with something like this!”
“Why are you suddenly getting worked up like this? Did I ever show suspicion about the potion and refuse to take it? I’m not taking it because I don’t need it.”
“Is being ranked number one unbeatable? Saying you’ll never get hurt! Even if you don’t need it now, who knows what will happen later? You can keep it and use it when the time comes, right?”
“No…”
Alex, who was acting all tough, suddenly grabbed my hand and forcefully placed the potion in it.
“Fine, if it bothers you that much, throw it away then!”
I was too stunned to refuse.
Of course, I thought he would start an argument, but I didn’t expect him to forcefully give me the potion without even asking.
“The Holy Sees ordered it? They said if I don’t give you the potion, you won’t watch their broadcast?”
“You think I’m doing this because of the Holy Sees?”
“Then? Isn’t it?”
*Sigh…*
Alex closed his eyes tightly and took a long breath. His broad chest expanded and slowly deflated.
“To your eyes, I must look like a jerk. That’s true. I think of myself as a jerk too.”
“…”
“But, Astel, no matter how much of a jerk I am, I know how dangerous it was when you saved me. I have enough sense to understand that.”
“So what’s the point? Are you saying things will change from now on, so let’s forget about the past and move forward?”
Alex’s face instantly turned pale. It was such a sudden and drastic change that it caught me off guard.
“…When, when did I ever say I wanted to move forward? What did I do wrong to you? I’m the one sacrificing myself for your sake! I didn’t know the Queen’s eyes were her core! I just didn’t want to leave debts behind!”
“…”
“Forget about moving forward? What a joke!”
Alex kept rambling on with his infuriating words and then stormed off.
I tilted my head as I watched his retreating figure. Duke Luteous sure seems strange today.
“Did he go crazy because of the rankings?”
“Um… Lady Astel.”
Genia cautiously interjected from behind.
“Young master skipped breakfast this morning.”
“So?”
“He left before it got chaotic and just came back a little while ago. He probably went to the Central Temple to buy a potion.”
So, does that mean Alex had a change of heart?
I snorted.
I don’t know if there’s such a saying in this world. People don’t change that easily, they say.
It’s just a simple ‘show.’ A show to impress the Holy Sees.
“No need to report such things to me one by one.”
“But that’s an extremely expensive top-tier potion…”
“Genia.”
“They only sell ten of them once a week, and you can’t even buy them through intermediaries. I heard you have to wait all night just to get one. It seems like Lord Marquis stood in line and bought it himself.”
“You’ve become quite cheeky lately, haven’t you?”
Even as I glared at her as a warning, Genia just smirked back at me.
“What?”
It was unbelievable. I thought for sure she would flinch and shut her mouth.
“Did I do something wrong? I’m sorry, Lady Astel. Please forgive me for this once.”
“…”
I raised an eyebrow. Genia’s behavior was different from before.
It wasn’t an arrogant act at all, but something was incredibly irritating about it. Especially her gaze, it felt so burdensome.
“Why are you acting like this?”
“Me? What’s so strange about me?”
“I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but the way you look at me… it seems a little off.”
“Oh my! Can you tell?”
Genia’s face blushed bright red.
She looked up at me shyly, her hands cupping her cheeks.
“Oh!”
At that moment, I realized it. This is it.
The gaze of a devoted fan.
There was someone in my past who looked at me like this too.
Eyes filled with admiration and a face blushing with shyness.
An expression that said they would do anything for me.
“I only need my brother to be happy. That’s my happiness.” [Astel]
“Did you get hurt again? Why is it always you getting hurt? Are you the only hunter they have ? Everyone else is fine, why is it always you?” [Shinwoo]
A shiver ran down my spine, and my hair stood on end.
I forcefully pushed aside the jumbled thoughts in my mind and spoke coldly.
“Genia, you’re misunderstanding something. Everything I do is not for your sake.”
“But you saved me in the carriage, protected me from Ms. Herot’s attack, and even saved me in front of the baby spider. Who else would you do that for if not for me?”
“I did all that?!”
I barely hid my surprise.
“For myself. If you get hurt, it makes me uncomfortable, that’s all.”
“Oh, so you remember that I hurt my knee.”
“…Y-yes.”
“And the reason you always helped me up, was it because I looked clumsy in front of you?”
“Yes, you mean nothing to me. If your worth disappears, I can abandon you anytime. So you…”
“I won’t be needed if Lady Astel doesn’t need me anymore?”
“…Uh.”
“Got it, Lady Astel. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Genia smiled softly. Warmth radiated from her dark brown eyes.
I quickly turned away.
Don’t waver. Genia is not Shinwoo. She’s completely different.
I repeated to myself several times as if making a pledge. Finally, the restlessness in my heart gradually subsided.
