The next morning.
I woke up to the glare of the morning sun falling through the trees.
I crawled out of the blanket I was wrapped in and looked around.

Nearby, My was wrapped up in a blanket, breathing soundly in her sleep.

There was another.
A blonde girl in priest's robes was kneeling on the ground, her hands folded in front of her chest in prayer.
It was Cyril.

There is no sign of Satsuki or Irene.
They are probably out training in the early morning.
Irene's clothes, which had been drying in the tree, were nowhere to be found, and the robe I had lent her last night was folded neatly on my pack bag.

'Well, ......'.

I folded up the blanket I was wrapped in and put it away in my bag.
It's quiet around here.
The rain that seemed to have been raging during the night has now completely stopped, and the fresh morning sun is shining through the trees, creating a pleasant band of light.

'...... Good morning, William. Did you sleep well?'

Cyril, who had been praying, stood up and called out to me, as if he had noticed my activity.
I responded and pointed to the still sleeping beastman girl.

'Good morning, Cyril. Thanks to her ( ), I got a good night's sleep. Are Satsuki and Irene training early in the morning?

'Looks like it. When I woke up, they were both gone. Like Satsuki, Irene seems to be a very hard worker.

Cyril said and gave me a wry smile.
I'm not sure why she's smiling, but maybe she has a lot on her mind.

'Well, I don't know if I should call it an effort or if I'm just doing it because I like ...... it. In any case, it is unlikely that even Aileen would have been able to achieve that level of ability with only her inborn qualities. There's no doubt that her steady daily training is bearing fruit.

'If that's the case, Satsuki has a troublesome person as a rival. There's nothing more unruly than a genius who works hard. If the other party is also growing day by day, there's no way they can catch up.

'Maybe. But it's Satsuki's greatness that she doesn't lose heart. Whether she can overtake Irene or not, if she pulls you along, you'll be able to get to a very high level. And people don't always turn into something they're not. We can't be sure that the power relationship between the two of them will remain as it is forever.

When I replied that, Cyril now laughed at himself and shrugged his shoulders at the same time.

'...... Haha. It's a bit disgusting when you're surrounded by monsters like this. I used to be so talented in the temple, but now I'm reminded that I'm just an ordinary person. Talent, the talent to work hard.

'Is that so? I think Cyril and Mee are good enough and admirable. And above all, a person's value is not only determined by his or her ability. We should not be too concerned about whether we are inferior or inferior to others. In the first place, a person is irreplaceable simply by being there.

When I stated my theory, Cyril made a gesture as if he was thinking for a moment.
And then...

'Hey William, can I ask you something in-depth?

He prefaced his question in that way.

'Yeah, I don't mind. What is it?

'Is that ...... your way of thinking the reason why you and your father have a falling out?

I was taken by surprise and a little surprised.
He had said he would ask me something in-depth, but I hadn't expected it to come up here.

But I had given her permission to ask, and there was no particular reason to refuse.
So I responded in the affirmative to her question.

'...... Well, yes.

The value of a person is not only determined by his or her ability.
A person is irreplaceable simply by being there.

This is one of my beliefs, and probably the one where my father and I have a major disagreement.
Therefore, the answer to Cyril's question is 'affirmative'.

'Yes ....... But I also understand your father's point of view. I'm sorry, but what William is saying sounds like empty nonsense to me.

Cyril's beautiful, yet thoughtful voice echoed through the quiet forest.

'............'

It was just the two of us, me and Cyril facing each other, with Mee sleeping peacefully under a blanket beside us.

This reminds me of something.
Didn't Cyril say anything personal when he met my father at the castle in King's Landing and when we clashed with that man?

Cyril continued with his own thoughts.

'After all, the world is run by a few elites, isn't it? People who don't see the logic of things just eat up resources or, worse, drag down those who are doing good in the world. I wonder if there's any justice in affirming incompetence.

'............'

Cyril's thoughts were very close to my father's.
The kind of thinking I detest or even despise.

But what Cyril said after that was something I hadn't expected at all.

'...... That's why I'm always worried that I'm, we're dragging William down. I'm always worried that we're dragging William down. ...... We're not supposed to be around him. I think you deserve a better partner than us.

What Cyril said was a self-deprecating remark.
They were the words of a struggling girl, different from my father who was capable to any extent.

No, it wasn't just self-deprecation, I guess.
A mixture of responsibility, pride, desire, and many other things seemed to be causing a conflict within Cyril.
His voice sounded gloomy, sad, and so on.

I didn't know what to say to that.

I could laugh at the idea that the world and a suitable partner were ridiculous.
But I don't think Cyril's heart would be touched if I said so.

But if I don't say anything here, I'll be half affirming her idea.
I don't want to do that.
Absolutely not.

Because...

(okay, ......)

Why not?
When I thought about it seriously, the answer came out of me surprisingly easily.

(I don't want to break up with Cyril, Satsuki or Mee anymore. ......)

(I don't want to leave Cyril, Satsuki, or Mee anymore.) That was my true and honest feeling right now.

I want to go on more adventures with them.
I can't deny that I don't want to let go of my current environment, even though I say that I'm not the adventurer I thought I was.



I don't want to lose them because of what they deserve or don't deserve.
Cyril, Satsuki, and Mee are my original friends that I can't replace.

And that's already the answer.
It may not be a general answer, but as an individual answer for the relationship between me and Cyril and the others, it was definitely the right answer.

But could I convey it with words alone?
Even if I just said it out loud, wouldn't it sound hollow to Cyril?
If you don't show it with your attitude, it won't be conveyed.

By attitude, I mean, for example...

No, but that's not fair.
It contradicts what I myself told Satsuki the other day.

But still...

But still... it's better than letting Cyril worry about it.)

Maybe it was just my excuse, made by me, for me.
But at this time, I was taking that action.

' Cyril.

'Eh, ......?

As I approached Cyril, I hugged her.
I put my arms around the back of the priestly robed girl and held her tightly, trying to embrace all of her.

'What are you ......!

'This is my answer. I don't want to let you guys go.'

'Yeah, .......'

'I know it's not fair. I know it's contradictory. I know it sucks. But apparently, this is what I'm really feeling right now. ...... still think they're not worthy of me?

Cowardly. Low. Lowlife. Conceited. Arrogant. Human waste.
Words of contempt for yourself well up in your mind, but the mind and logic of trying to justify yourself cancel them out.

At the same time, fear arises.
Fear of being rejected by Cyril.
But there's no turning back now.

And then, close to my ear, I hear Cyril's voice.

'...... Are you going to do all this just to reassure me? Or do you really mean it?'

The fear is gone.
I answer immediately.

'I mean it. I'm a little confused myself.'

'...... I'm so relieved to hear that. ...... Can I spoil you a bit more?'

'I'm not sure which one of us is spoiling you.'

Cyril also put his arm around my back.
I hugged Cyril for a while in the morning sunshine.