Chapter 37: Yufinika’s Shattered Reality

When exactly had Noah begun to change, to become so utterly unlike himself?

Now, recalling those days, the subtle signs had, in fact, been scattered everywhere, plain to see.

Yet, at that time, Yufinika, her heart brimming with aspirations for a beautiful future, remained utterly oblivious to the small details unfolding around her.

Her swordsmanship advanced by leaps and bounds, and her reputation soared in tandem.

Numerous powerful adventurer guilds extended invitations to her, yet, without exception, she declined every single one.

For she had long since resolved that, no matter what transpired, she would always remain by Noah’s side.

They remained the inseparable duo they had always been, sustaining their lives by completing quests and selling collected materials.

Though their earnings were not vast, their lives had improved immeasurably compared to their past hardships.

At the very least, they no longer had to fear ending up on the streets, enduring hunger and destitution.

However, as time wore on, and without her realizing when, whispers and rumors about the two of them began to proliferate.

“Do you know Yufinika? That woman, she single-handedly cleared out the entire monster-infested mining area! I heard even veteran adventurer guilds almost got wiped out there, didn’t they?”

“Are you kidding? Who doesn’t know Yufinika? I once saw her fight, and good heavens, her speed was so incredible my eyes couldn’t even follow her! Is she truly human?”

“She’s not human to begin with; she’s a Dark Elf.”

“It’s all the same, isn’t it? Sigh, not only is she incredibly strong, but she’s also so beautiful. If she could be my wife, I’d gladly be a kept man.”

“What nonsense are you dreaming of? But then again, if *you* were handsome, being a kept man might not be out of the question. You know Noah, right? That clingy follower who’s always trailing behind her—useless for anything but his pretty face, yet Yufinika is utterly smitten with him.”

“Oh, that pretty boy. I vaguely recall him. He really is quite useless, just a third-rate mage who’s completely ineffectual. How can he have the nerve to cling to Yufinika every single day?”

“Heh heh, calling him useless is probably a compliment, wouldn’t you say? He’s nothing but a dead weight. Honestly, if she weren’t burdened with that hanger-on, Yufinika would have been a Platinum-ranked adventurer ages ago…”

These assertions filled Yufinika with utter disgust.

In her heart, Noah had never been a burden; every battle they fought side-by-side remained Yufinika’s most cherished memory.

She had, on more than one occasion, quarreled with others over this very matter, even once sending a man who had spoken carelessly straight to the hospital, where he couldn’t get out of bed for three days.

Yet, even so, she found herself powerless to stem the tide of these rumors, which proliferated like wild weeds.

Such an outcome was, in truth, hardly surprising.

For, compared to the overwhelmingly brilliant Yufinika, Noah was simply too unremarkable.

As a mage, Noah had indeed been growing steadily, but he was, after all, no prodigy.

No matter how diligently he strove to improve himself, he could never hope to keep pace with Yufinika.

In merely a few years, the disparity in their power had become utterly incomparable.

As everyone claimed, Noah was, in reality, nothing but a hindrance on the battlefield.

His full-powered attack paled in comparison to the might of Yufinika’s casual swing of her sword.

Not only that, but during combat, Yufinika constantly had to monitor Noah’s position, guarding against any sudden enemy attacks aimed at him.

That period was, without a doubt, Noah’s nadir.

He grew withdrawn and taciturn, his once fervent gaze gradually dimming, and he even began to distance himself from Yufinika, whether intentionally or not.

Though Yufinika understood Noah’s feelings and had often tried to console him, she hadn’t taken the matter particularly to heart.

After all, they had overcome so many difficulties together in the past.

How could years of shared affection possibly be shattered by a fleeting wave of rumors?

Indeed, not long after, Noah seemed to have adjusted his mindset, reverting to his former gentle demeanor.

Yet, looking back now, perhaps even then, he had already transformed into a stranger, utterly different from the boy he once was.

“Yufi, I’m truly happy that you’ve become such an outstanding adventurer, but… my strength is no longer worthy of fighting by your side.”

“So, why don’t you put me aside for a while and focus on earning your own fortune?”

“Once we’ve saved enough money, we can leave this place and travel to a wider world… Then, there will be no quests, no dangers, just you and me. How does that sound?”

These words sounded incredibly strange, yet Yufinika, at the time, harbored not an ounce of suspicion, readily agreeing.

To her, fame and fortune held no importance; simply being with Noah was enough.

Thus, from that day forward, she began to accept increasingly arduous quests.

Freed from the worries of watching her back, she grew even more formidable in combat, her sword’s edge repeatedly stained with monster blood, and scars steadily accumulating upon her body.

Yet, merely thinking of Noah awaiting her return at home filled her with unwavering resolve, ensuring she never faltered.

Soon, Yufinika was awarded the guild’s highest honor: Platinum-ranked adventurer.

She became a legend whispered among the people, amassing a fortune far beyond anything she could have previously imagined.

“Just a little more, a little more money, and then Noah and I can leave together.”

Yufinika’s heart swelled with joy, her eyes sparkling with unconcealable excitement.

Could there be anything more blissful than traveling across this vast land with the person she loved?

She could almost envision that future: them riding a carriage through golden wheat fields, watching sunsets by the sea, and embracing for warmth beneath snow-capped mountains.

However, that beautiful fantasy shattered into countless pieces one fateful day.

It had been an ordinary night.

Yufinika had accepted a high-difficulty quest that required her to travel to the neighboring town, a journey that would take at least three days to complete.

However, before she could depart, the quest was unexpectedly canceled due to unforeseen circumstances.

‘Since that’s the case, why not secretly go home and give Noah a surprise?’

Yufinika mused.

What kind of expression would he make? Imagining Noah’s face when he suddenly saw her return, she couldn’t help but smile.

Yet, as she ascended the familiar steps, she abruptly halted.

For, from the room that was meant solely for the two of them, the voice of an unfamiliar woman seemed to emanate.

The voice carried an intimate inflection, accompanied by intermittent laughter, spilling out from the slightly ajar door.

Yufinika held her breath, her heart constricting as if caught in a vice.

Every word of the voice reached her pointed ears without missing a beat.

“Brother Noah~ Is that Yufinika really as boring as you say?”

What followed was Noah’s laughter, familiar yet strangely alien.

“Of course. That woman, with nothing but muscles in her head, what else can she do besides fight? She’s as naive as a fool, so easily tricked.”

In that moment, Yufinika’s world crumbled.