Chapter 171

Talking to Stella makes me feel a bit enlightened.

I had said that my feelings for Evan were not a big problem.

After all, there’s no reason to worry about the opinions of others, so I heard that I don’t need to hide such feelings.

Of course, from Stella’s perspective, she could say such things because she doesn’t know that I was originally a man, but hearing those words really opened my mind.

The fact that I’m a man is something only I know, so isn’t it unnecessary to worry about that now? Well, that kind of thought, I guess.

Originally, I had been constantly concerned about my surroundings to maintain the concept of being a Saint, so it’s not strange to have such thoughts despite that.

Isn’t it permissible for a Saint to love?

After all, it’s said that Saints and Heroes have married each other since ancient times, so it’s entirely understandable for me to have such feelings.

However… I still feel a bit cowardly.

Above all, it’s unclear whether I truly have romantic feelings for Evan or if those feelings are something else.

But what can I do?

I cannot just tell Evan that I was originally a man, and it wouldn’t be a story he would believe anyway.

Moreover, being swept away by this uncertain feeling, there’s a baseless anxiety that if I remain idle, I might forever regret it.

However, if there’s still a problem left, it’s about what I should do moving forward.

My original goal was to return to the world I lived in through wishes, but if I admit that I have feelings for Evan, it’s effectively the same as giving up on returning.

‘Well… I guess it doesn’t matter much now…’

Of course, it was difficult for me to choose at first.

I had been trying hard to go back, so I was simply uncertain about what to do.

Now that I decided how I would proceed, there was nothing to hesitate about.

“[Thank you, Stella.]”

I genuinely thank Stella.

I still haven’t completely solidified my feelings, but I feel like I’ve determined how I should act going forward.

Even though Evan did confess to me, he specifically mentioned that he wanted to hear my answer after we defeat the Demon King, so it’s challenging for me to directly propose to Evan.

That would be like disregarding his determination and resolve.

So, while it’s hard to talk about dating right now, I can certainly understand that I need to make sure Evan isn’t taken by someone else.

To avoid being taken by someone else, I obviously need to keep an eye on certain people…

In the current situation, there was only one person I needed to watch out for.

‘Mirnel…’

If it were the past, I would have hoped for Mirnel and Evan to do well together, but now the situation has slightly changed.

I couldn’t bear to watch Mirnel succeed.

Evan likes me, doesn’t he?

Evan is not someone who would go back on his word, but even so, isn’t it possible to overlook that if I don’t pay any attention?

I need to show that I have feelings for Evan… right?

‘But what should I do?’

Thinking about it, there was still a significant problem left.

Honestly, I had never experienced love even when I was a man, so would becoming a woman change that?

The only romantic experience I’ve had was in games.

In modern times, I’m a dating sim killer, but in this world, I’m a virgin in every sense?

‘What did Evan like…?’

I pondered for a moment, but suddenly realized that worrying about this now might be meaningless.

Even if I give him a present saying I like him right now, it wouldn’t change anything.

The best approach in this case would be to make sure Evan knows that I also have feelings for him.

‘How to convey that…’

What options do I have?

After thinking for a bit, I concluded that there was really only one way.

What did Mirnel do when she first met Evan?

Didn’t she just hug him right away?

I was amazed at how she could do that at the time, but now that I think about it, expressing affection like a hug is one of the best ways to do so.

The best way to make Evan realize that I have feelings for him is essentially to come closer and hug him.

Of course, I still hesitated about whether that was necessary…

‘I don’t want to end up doing nothing and let Mirnel take Evan away.’

The decision is up to Evan.

If Evan chooses Mirnel over me, well…

That would be unfortunate, but I wouldn’t insist on why he didn’t choose me.

But I will do my best to ensure it doesn’t come to that…

I will try my hardest to make him look my way.

Absolutely.

Then, the first thing I need to do is simple.

Meeting everyone, including Mirnel, on our way to the Academy.

That’s when the opportunity will arise.

I lay down on my bed, closing my eyes with a determined expression once again.

*

The next day.

As usual, Evan arrived at school, but he suddenly felt that something was off with Aria.

He should have greeted her with a usual expression, yet for some reason, she seemed hesitant and fumbled instead of greeting him after they met.

Feeling uneasy about that, Evan decided to ask her what was wrong.

“Aria…?”

Right when he was about to call her name.

Aria suddenly reached out her hand, trying to grasp his.

But perhaps feeling shy, she only reached out without really trying to hold it.

Her slightly outstretched hand wavered in the air while she turned her head away.

‘…?’

How am I supposed to react to this?

Of course, Evan was not oblivious.

Walking alongside someone while subtly reaching out your hand like this is more or less a gesture asking to be held.

He wasn’t so clueless that he couldn’t see it, but he felt uneasy about whether it was okay to grab it.

Evan pondered for a moment if he should hold the offered hand, but soon he froze at hearing Aria’s thought.

“[C-Can you hold my hand?]”

Aria’s thought came out slightly trembling, as if she was nervous.

Upon hearing that, Evan finally realized that Aria had mustered a lot of courage to extend her hand to him.

If he didn’t take it, he’d have no excuse to reply to the remark about not being a man.

In fact, the choice of not taking her hand had vanished.

“Uh, y-yeah…”

Evan replied with a slightly trembling voice and carefully held Aria’s hand.

‘It’s so small…’

Aria’s hand was indeed very small.

Now that I think about it, this was probably the first time they had held hands like this.

He had lifted her before and hugged her, but those had mostly been in urgent situations, so this was a completely different experience.

Walking side by side, holding hands like this, heading to the Academy was an enormous stimulation for Evan.

And…

‘Wow…’

This situation was also somewhat awkward for Aria.

Thanks to her constant training with the sword, Evan’s hand was very firm, calloused, and strong.

It reminded him anew that he was a Hero who wielded swords.

“Thank goodness.”

“I don’t know what happened, but it seems like Aria and Evan are getting along well~”

Stella and Uriel watched the scene with satisfaction.

“…”

Except for one person: Mirnel.

She didn’t show much expression, but it was clear that she wasn’t pleased with that scene.

But…

‘It’s probably wrong to project the past onto this…’

She knew.

The Hero from that time, her dear friend, had long since left this world.

She was well aware of how much time had passed since then for humans.

What clung to the Hero of this era… perhaps it was a sense of anticipation that she might meet that Hero again.

Now, that was a meaningless thought.

‘I’m glad.’

It was already known that the Hero liked the current Saint.

Although it wasn’t intentional, due to her actions, it seemed that the Saint had become more honest about her feelings, so there was no need to apologize.

‘But I won’t stop.’

Of course, besides that, she still felt a familiar aura from him, so she planned to continue interacting with him like a friend.

“To defeat the Demon King.”

For the purpose of defeating the Demon King.