I Became a Raid Boss

“Ashié.”

“…”

“Ashié!”

“Ah, m-master! When did you get here?”

“What do you mean ‘when’? I’ve been here for a while, you fool!”

Ashié, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to reality at Brondin’s loud voice. While clicking his tongue in disapproval, Brondin looked at him with an expression that showed he understood.

“Did you like that little lady that much?”

“If you put it like that, it makes me sound like some kind of creep. We’re not that far apart in age anyway… No, wait, more importantly, how did you know?”

“How could I not notice when you’ve been nervously following her around like a dog needing to pee? Even now, you’re still moping around like a dog that needs to go.”

Despite thinking it was a very Dwarf-like comparison, Ashié couldn’t deny Brondin’s words since they struck a chord.

“If you feel that way, why didn’t you just go ahead and confess already? Like a man, huh? Don’t act so cowardly—”

“I did.”

“…What?”

“I already confessed. Three times.”

“…”

Once during the Grasis Kingdom era, once when they reunited a few days ago, and once more on the day she left.

From the look of Ashié’s dejected posture, Brondin could guess what the result of those three confessions was.

What was he missing?

Ashié sighed as he looked at his well-built muscles, which he was proud of.

“…Well, hang in there. She’s not the only woman in the world, you know.”

He hadn’t thought he would be rejected this soon.

Feeling like he had unintentionally hurt his disciple, Brondin awkwardly patted Ashié’s back in consolation.

While feeling the rough pats on his back, Ashié sank into thought.

“She’s going to the Great Continent Laxia.”

Ashié had never been to Laxia himself.

If someone like him, who hadn’t reached that level of mastery, were to go there, he would be poisoned by Magi and die within minutes.

But through ancient records and various documents, he knew well how dangerous Laxia was, so when Kana said she was heading there, he couldn’t help but try to dissuade her.

“Isn’t there any way you don’t have to go?”

It wasn’t because he loved Kana.

Even if it were an acquaintance instead of someone he had unrequited feelings for, Ashié would have said the same thing.

He knew very well how strong Kana was.

But even her strength was no guarantee that she would survive in the heart of Laxia, where Magi overflowed.

There simply wasn’t enough data for him to make that judgment.

“Why?”

“What do you mean, why? You’re about to walk into certain death, so of course I’m worried!”

“…Is that so?”

Kana’s reaction showed that she didn’t quite understand what he meant.

Was it because she didn’t understand the meaning of “certain death,” or did she not understand why worrying was natural?

Either way, it was frustrating all the same, and just as Ashié was about to speak, Kana’s small lips opened first.

“But I have to go.”

As always, her voice was calm but carried a strong will.

Had she ever shown such strong determination for anything besides matters related to Garid?

After thinking for a moment, Ashié concluded that the answer was no.

The reason she bore hatred against the Empire and revealed her animosity toward the Imperial Court’s magicians was, in the end, due to Garid’s death.

And so, hearing that voice, Ashié couldn’t bring himself to try and stop her anymore.

“…I see.”

How could he stop a child filled with hope instead of despair, looking forward to the future rather than harboring hatred for someone?

“Then, be careful, and I’ll be here waiting for your return.”

In the end, Ashié couldn’t hold her back and gave her a nonchalant farewell.

If only he had been stronger, he could have at least said he would go with her.

He had never hated his own weakness as much as he did now.

“By the way, master.”

Ashié suddenly spoke up to Brondin, who was awkwardly trying to comfort him.

“Hmm?”

“Have you ever been in love?”

“….”

“….”

“….”

Silence quickly fell over the workshop.

The unanswered question created an atmosphere of solemnity between them.

“…Let’s get to work.”

“Yes, Master.”

Their conversation ended there. With a drooped atmosphere, Ashié followed his master, holding a hammer, as Kana’s last words echoed in his mind.

“‘Don’t wait’… What did that even mean?”

“You fool! What are you doing just standing there? Get in here!”

“I’m coming! I’m coming!”

Muttering something that seemed meaningful, Ashié rushed into the blacksmith at the sound of his master’s call.

***

“…It’s bright.”

I squinted my eyes, looking up at the sunlight shining down on me.

Though not as strong as the midday summer sun, it was still bright enough to make me frown.

I prefer sunny days over cloudy ones.

I’d rather bask in the sunlight than be soaked by the rain, but only relatively speaking. It’s not like I’m particularly fond of such weather.

If you asked, ‘Which do you prefer, sunny or cloudy days?’ I would pick sunny days—just that level of preference.

So, the sunlight shining down on me right now didn’t make me feel especially happy or annoyed.

If this were a normal situation, that is.

“What time is it right now?”

“Huh? Let me see…”

Da-eun hurriedly checked the time.

After hearing her answer, I looked up at the sky again.

In summer, the sun rises early and sets late.

The same rule applied to Silia, despite it being a different world.

But right now, it wasn’t summer, and even if it were, the sun should have set by now.

So, why is the sun still right above me?

“….”

“…Kana, I get it, you don’t like the sun, but you can’t just go charging at it. No matter how close it seems, it’s really, reeeaaally far away.”

“…I know.”

What in the world does Da-eun think of me to be saying something like that?

It seems like I’ll need to set a time soon to have a talk with her.

“…Ugh, why do I suddenly have chills…!”

Da-eun shivered all over.

“It’s definitely not cold right now, so why?”

Just as she said, the weather was rather warm.

Warm enough that it wouldn’t feel strange to take a nap right here and now.

But as I’ve mentioned several times, it’s not daytime; it’s nighttime, so I couldn’t call it a nap.

“Ah, Kana, this is your first time seeing the ‘Midnight Sun,’ isn’t it?”

“Midnight Sun?”

Something faint in my memories from my past life seemed to recall that term.

I couldn’t remember the cause, but it was a phenomenon where the sun doesn’t set even at night.

Does such a phenomenon exist in this world too?

As I tilted my head in curiosity, Celine gave a gentle smile and said,

“Lady Edel… will, it’s because of.”

It was clumsy speech reminiscent of Da-eun when I first met her, but I understood what she wanted to convey.

“This phenomenon is because of Edel?”

“Uh… yeah, that’s what they say.”

I asked Da-eun for confirmation, but she replied with a somewhat uncertain tone, as if she didn’t know the details either.

Could it be due to fighting the Dimensional Creatures?

Or was it a phenomenon created by Edel intentionally?

Whatever the reason, it seems certain that it’s happening because of Edel.

No wonder I felt something strange as we entered this region—it must’ve been due to this phenomenon.

I stopped glaring at the sky and started unpacking my things.

It felt odd to be preparing for camping with such bright surroundings, as if it were still day…

Even though it’s bright out, the time itself was later than when I usually set up camp.

I’m not sure if I’ll be able to sleep properly with this much light.

With a shrug, I gathered some firewood to light a bonfire.

***

The result? I couldn’t sleep properly.

“….”

“Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not okay.”

My body is fine.

The body of a master isn’t so fragile that it would be affected by not sleeping for a day or two.

But my mind is a different story.

It’s not that I’m feeling sleepy enough to die from a few sleepless nights or anything like that.

How should I put it? It’s just that not being able to sleep properly when I’m supposed to makes me feel unpleasant.

How can I sleep when the sunlight is piercing through my eyelids?

I honestly want to run straight to Edel and ask why she made such a phenomenon.

“Celine, did you sleep well… no, I guess you didn’t.”

Celine, who was tidying up her sleeping bag, also had a hint of darkness around her eyes, different from usual.

Although she clearly didn’t get proper rest like I did, her attitude toward Da-eun remained as gentle as ever.

“…Embarrassingly, that’s true. Did you sleep well, Miss Joanie?”

“Haha… I’m a bit dull when it comes to these things.”

“I envy you.”

Unlike the two of us, Da-eun was perfectly fine.

The reason for this is probably because she’s an Earthling.

While we genuinely try to sleep, she merely pretends to sleep.

With that thought, Da-eun’s giggling face looked irritating, so I poked her in the side with my finger.

Poke.

“Kyah?! W-why did you do that all of a sudden?”

“Hmph.”

That’s the price for having a good sleep alone.

Da-eun looked bewildered after the sudden ambush.

Seeing her confused face lightened my mood a bit, and I folded the finger I had pointed sharply at her.

I knew that my lack of sleep and Da-eun’s good sleep weren’t her fault.

So, what I just did was purely out of childish spite.

“Why is Kana acting like this?”

Da-eun still had a puzzled look on her face.

It’s only a minor tantrum, so understanding it would be weirder.

“Is it because you couldn’t sleep well? Hmm, I guess so? You do look a bit upset.”

Da-eun spoke as if she were talking with her viewers.

Even though I could hear everything, I pretended not to notice and diverted my attention.

“…?!”

“Yap! Got you!”

A long arm wrapped around my waist and lifted me up in a flash.

The place where Da-eun, who effortlessly picked me up, put me down was on her horse.

“You’re tired, right? Why don’t you ride with me today? If you doze off and fall off your horse, it could be dangerous.”

“Not really—”

I wasn’t tired enough to fall asleep, and even if I did fall, I wouldn’t get hurt.

But before I could finish my sentence, Da-eun hopped onto the horse.

She mounted the horse much more skillfully than she did in the past and pressed her body close against my back.

“Doesn’t this remind you of when we first met Celine?”

“…It does.”

I nodded slightly at the soft, laughter-filled voice.

It hasn’t even been that long, yet it feels like a memory from long ago.

Back then, I was holding the reins, but now, Da-eun is the one holding them.

The warmth that felt unfamiliar on my back now felt comforting.

So many things have changed in such a short time.

I found myself thinking about that, and I slowly leaned into the warmth behind me.

…I guess it’s okay to close my eyes for a bit.

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