Chapter 1 Part 25: People Are The Enemy

“Hah?

Aren’t those who can’t keep a set time just idiots?

I can’t stand bastards who are even a minute late.”

“…”

It was a valid point, so why did it sound like an insult?

It must be because of that face.

I didn’t understand why he had to look as menacing as a back-alley thug even when stating plain facts.

Couldn’t he try smiling gently just once?

Aslan asked Alice again.

“So, are we going to talk or not?”

“I don’t see why not.

Just let me give Asher his food first.”

Aslan set Alice back down on the floor.

“Just try running away.

I won’t let you off easy.”

“…Anyone would think I scammed you or something.”

“Hmph.”

Alice and Aslan entered the restaurant side by side.

As soon as the waitress saw Alice, she rose from her seat.

Alice received the basket she held out with both hands.

“I’ve put the sandwiches for you to eat inside as well.”

“Thank you.”

Alice glanced at Aslan.

He must have come to the restaurant to eat too, but he wasn’t ordering anything.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“None of your business.”

“Still, you should eat something…”

“I said, none of your business.

Hey, just wrap up anything for me to go.”

“Okay~.”

The waitress said cheerfully, holding out a pre-wrapped sandwich to Aslan.

Sandwiches were a favorite among mages, so they were always prepared along with coffee to prevent shortages.

As she saw them off, the waitress said worriedly.

“These days, there are m— well, strange people who mix energy potions into their coffee.

Please don’t do that, you two.

That’s really m— well, it’s a strange thing to do.”

She could just say it’s crazy.

It didn’t matter anyway.

Mages do crazy things 24/7, 365 days a year anyway.

Alice stood before the elevator again.

The elevator had just stopped at the bottom floor.

Waiting would take a while, Alice thought, just as Aslan clicked his tongue.

“Why use that thing?

You want to trade those perfectly good legs for candy?”

“Actually, my legs are the type that are strong on the outside but weak on the inside.

I can’t last long on stairs.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Alice wiggled his finger.

“It’s not nonsense, it’s the truth that I’d faint going up the stairs.”

“Crazy.”

Crazy was fine.

This was something he absolutely wouldn’t give up.

Alice clung to the elevator like a cicada.

But Aslan still looked unconvinced.

Aslan grabbed Alice by the shoulder.

“Didn’t you say you were going to exercise after you quit?”

“…Did I say that?”

“Yeah, you did.

Every time we had to run during missions, you’d melt like a slime and shout.”

Alice’s face flushed as the memory belatedly came back.

Aslan mimicked Alice’s tone.

“Just wait!

After I quit, I’ll become a model human.

I’ll sleep early, wake up early, and eat three meals on time! 30 minutes of exercise?

Don’t make me laugh, once I quit I’ll have plenty of time, I’ll exercise for over 3 hours!”

This bastard with his uselessly good memory.

Alice covered his face with his palm and groaned.

Once that memory surfaced, countless others came flooding back.

The phrases he’d used most often during his employment were “Ugh, once I quit…” and “If only I could quit, I’d get healthier.”

But when he actually quit, far from getting healthier, he just considered it fortunate that he didn’t get worse here.

Probably even if Aslan retired from the Magic Tower, he wouldn’t be able to rest.

Knight orders would immediately come with recruitment offers.

Aslan could work as an instructor for a knight order without any problem.

Was that even a human body?

Trying not to feel envious, Alice glanced at Aslan’s body.

“What’s it like to be able to climb stairs without getting tired?”

Whoops.

He’d spoken his thoughts out loud.

As Alice belatedly covered his mouth, Aslan chuckled.

“Instead of wasting time being curious about useless things like that, just exercise yourself, idiot.”

Ugh, another dose of truth-bomb.

Still, it didn’t feel bad.

Leaning against the wall, stunned by the impact of the truth-bomb, Alice smiled faintly.

“You’re worried about me, aren’t you?”

“…”

“I thought you’d hate me forever.

When we first met, you looked ready to kill me.”

It was still vivid in his memory.

Aslan jumping down from above the moment he appeared.

He really roared like a lion.

Alice had only seen Aslan that angry a few times during missions.

A prime example was when Alice was caught by a despicable client and couldn’t move.

‘So what if one lousy mage gets hurt!

You guys can just use a healing spell and…

Aaaargh!’

That was really scary back then.

It was the first and last time he felt that a person could look like they were on fire without using magic.

Alice cautiously glanced at Aslan from the corner of his eye.

“Hey.

Aslan.”

Without even looking at Alice, Aslan replied.

“If you’re going to spout nonsense again, shut up.”

“No, it’s not that.”

Alice subtly moved closer to Aslan.

His rabbit-like white hair and Aslan’s mane-like red hair created a stark contrast.

“You kind of like me too, right?”

Aslan’s eyes widened momentarily.

Alice’s cheeks flushed in response.

Now that he’d actually said it out loud, it was embarrassing.

He never thought he’d say something like this in front of Aslan, of all people.

Alice averted his gaze from Aslan for no reason.

Aslan stared blankly at Alice.

An inexplicable atmosphere flowed between them.

Not a bad kind of inexplicable, though.

Rather, it was a good kind.

“Actually, I’ve known for a long time.”

Known for a long time?

Known what?

Aslan clenched and unclenched his fist for no reason.

Alice, with his hands behind his back, looked up at Aslan.

“No matter what anyone says, we joined on the same day and were always together.”

Aslan said nothing.

Alice, not necessarily expecting an answer, continued.

“Whenever something bad happened to me during missions, you’d get angry for me.

Honestly, I was surprised.

Until now, no one ever got that angry for me when something bad happened.”

Aslan jerked his head away and grumbled.

“…That was just because the client was so annoying, that’s why I got angry.

I just saw an opportunity and lashed out.”

But Alice didn’t bat an eye.

“Liar.

When you’re angry, you just ignore people and leave.

You hate even talking to people you really dislike.”

Faced with such an immediate rebuttal, Aslan couldn’t say anything more.

Alice, observing Aslan’s state, took a short breath.

“Especially when that worst client cut my hair, you looked ready to kill him.

Even after I quit, I sometimes thought about that.

You never showed it outwardly, but I was secretly curious.

Why did you get so angry on my behalf?”

“…”

“I was baffled because I couldn’t find any reason, but not anymore.

I finally understand now.”

Someone’s heartbeat echoed through the hall.

Alice lifted the corners of his mouth.

Alice smiled so brightly his eyes nearly disappeared, as if he was truly happy.

As Aslan grew even more dazed at that smile, Alice finally continued.

“You kind of like me a little too, as a colleague…”

“f*ck.”

Crash.

The rare warm atmosphere shattered into pieces.

Alice’s face immediately paled.

“Why the sudden curse?!”

I’m the idiot for expecting anything.

Aslan’s face instantly turned serious.

“Shut up.

You crazy bastard.

Don’t talk to me.

Stop pissing people off.”

“I thought you weren’t angry at me anymore…?!”

Alice grabbed Aslan’s robe, but it was useless.

With every step Aslan took, Alice was dragged along like a piece of luggage.

“Hey, Aslan.

What’s wrong now?

You’re the one who said let’s talk.

I thought we could finally resolve things step by step…”

“Would you feel like talking if you were me?”

Before Alice could finish, Aslan glared at him.

His eyes flashed hungrily, like a beast eyeing its prey.

As Alice instinctively flinched, one corner of Aslan’s mouth curled up.

“You’re a real joke.”

“…Aslan.”

How did a bastard like this ever get into the Magic Tower?

He didn’t suit it at all.

Aslan ruthlessly shook off Alice’s hand.

Pitiful compared to Aslan, Alice fell away from him powerlessly, like a straw doll.

Words poured from his mouth uncontrollably.

“Me, like you even a little?

Think of you as a precious colleague?

Don’t make me laugh.

I’ve never once thought of you like that.”

Aslan was never the talkative type.

He was rather on the taciturn side.

He only exchanged glances even with his own family living under the same roof.

“Getting angry just made me realize I’m the only fool.

So don’t get delusions.”

But why?

Why, of all things?

Why did he become so talkative in front of this damn bastard?

He couldn’t sort out his jumbled thoughts at all.

Aslan looked down at Alice, standing there holding his discarded hand.

“You really…”

Aslan let out an involuntary hollow laugh.

Past events unfolded like a panorama before him.

But those blue eyes remained calm, without a single flicker.

Damn it, Aslan muttered a curse right in Alice’s face without meaning to.

“I’ll say it clearly one more time.”

Aslan spat out roughly.

“I don’t like you.

Not one bit.”

With that, Aslan turned his back.

Left alone, Alice stood there dumbfounded, unable to even think of following.