There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 146

Inside the house.

The magician who introduced herself as Ludia grinned slyly.

“Wow, Master’s disciple has a girlfriend. I almost fainted.”

“Be quiet.”

“I thought you would never date, always smiling but subtly putting up a wall.”

“You’re mistaken.”

“You have no idea how many women came looking for you when we were training at Master’s house.”

Ludia placed teacups on the table where Philomel and Nasar were sitting.

“They’d say they were just passing by and thirsty for water. It’s not like it’s deep in the mountains; it’s the middle of the capital. Why look for water at someone else’s house?”

Philomel drank the tea with a strong herbal scent and replied.

“That happened too? I didn’t hear much about Nasar’s swordsmanship training… I want to hear more.”

“It’s not a very interesting story.”

At Nasar’s words, Ludia laughed heartily.

“Not interesting? Women were always on the walls to see Master’s disciple training shirtless…”

“Oh my, did you train without a shirt?”

“…Only a few times during very hot summers. I’m not always so undignified…”

Nasar stammered an excuse before touching his forehead.

“I’m starting to regret coming here a little…”

“Why? I think it’s great. I get to know a side of Nasar I didn’t know.”

Anyway, the story ended well.

Ludia readily agreed to their request to be transported to the Great Temple. She didn’t pry into the details.

Her attitude and tone were playful, but her trust in Nasar was unwavering.

They decided to finish the necessary preparations today and leave for the holy ground where the Great Temple was located tomorrow.

Everything is going smoothly. Accordingly, Philomel’s mood should have been good.

But… for some reason, dark clouds loomed in her heart.

Philomel chimed in appropriately during the conversation, alternately gazing at the two. Then, she suddenly realized.

‘Oh, am I jealous?’

* * *

Ludia’s house, backyard.

“…I’m trash.”

Philomel sat on the stone steps, clutching her head.

There’s not even a sliver of romantic atmosphere between Nasar and Ludia. They’re just good colleagues.

“Even I can tell that after seeing them for a short while.”

But why am I jealous? The jealousy that sprouted once led to self-blame.

‘Do I want to interfere with Nasar’s friendships?’

Philomel shook her head vigorously.

“Get a grip, Philomel!”

Just because you’re dating doesn’t give you that right. And how disappointed would Nasar be if he knew this? Looking at his friendship with strange eyes.

‘Okay. Let’s bury this gloomy feeling deep down.’

Don’t ever let Nasar find out. Only show him the good side.

Just as Philomel was trying to put her gloomy feelings away.

“Um, Lady Philomel…”

The person in question popped out.

“Yes, yes! What is it?”

Nasar asked with a face full of concern.

“Is something bothering you…?”

“Ah, no! I’m totally fine.”

She felt unnecessarily guilty.

“You haven’t looked well since earlier…”

“Haha, is that so?”

Is he a ghost? I tried my best not to show it on my face, but how did he notice?

But a corner of her heart warmed. It means he always pays close attention to Philomel.

“I guess I’m nervous thinking about the selection ceremony the day after tomorrow.”

Philomel made up a plausible excuse on the spot. Nasar nodded, believing her excuse.

“Don’t worry. There is no one more suitable for the Hero than Lady Philomel.”

“How can you be so sure…?”

Even she, who decided to become a Hero, isn’t sure yet.

“You saved me.”

“If we’re talking about the rock giant, strictly speaking, Nasar defeated it, though.”

“It’s not just that time.”

Nasar’s red eyes were filled with unwavering light.

“When I was young, you told me to live doing what I wanted.”

Philomel searched her memory.

She said those words to free him from his father’s constraints, even if only a little.

“At that time, it was just…”

It was just an action taken because she was worried that he would resent her due to the Duke’s coercion. It’s nothing great.

“You were the first person to say that to me. Until then, others only told me to follow my parents’ words well and become a great Duke in the future.”

Nasar put his hand on his chest.

“In my young eyes, you were truly a Hero.”

“Nasar, really… you praise me too much.”

“I mean it.”

Philomel said cheerfully.

“Yes, I know. Then, shall we prepare together for how to get through the selection ceremony from now on?”

As she headed to the study with him for discussion, Philomel firmly resolved.

‘Nasar thinks of me and helps me like this, so why am I harboring useless jealousy?’

Let’s focus on the selection ceremony now. I must become a Hero to live up to Nasar’s expectations.

However, her resolution did not last long.

Before she knew it, time flew by, and it was dinner time. Ludia, sitting across from Philomel and Nasar, opened her mouth.

“Master’s disciple, how is Master’s health these days?”

“He was as healthy as ever when I left. Ah, except for when he severely twisted his back a few months ago.”

“Old man! I told him to retire a long time ago. He’s being a nuisance now that he’s old.”

“Those aren’t the words to use to Master…”

“Oh? When did you start pretending to be polite after agreeing with me?”

Ludia glanced at Philomel’s side and gave Nasar a subtle look.

“So that’s what it was. A hypocrite.”

Crack, Nasar’s fork bent.

“Never mind…”

The magician who witnessed the scene quietly focused on eating.

Philomel mechanically scooped soup with a spoon and put it in her mouth.

Since the topic of Nasar’s master came up, she had been unable to concentrate on the conversation because she was thinking about other things.

‘A story I don’t know…’

A Nasar who learned swordsmanship under a Sword Master. A Nasar who gets along with female colleagues without any barriers. All of them were aspects of him that she didn’t know well.

Logically speaking, it’s a natural thing. No matter how long Philomel and Nasar have known each other since they were little kids, they haven’t always been together.

‘It’s natural, too natural…’

That obvious fact came as a small shock to Philomel.

Honestly, she doesn’t like it. Someone else talking about a side of Nasar that she doesn’t know. Especially a woman.

‘Oh, what am I thinking now.’

Her spoon, which had been going back and forth between the soup bowl and her mouth, stopped.

Ludia is a good person. She not only grants Philomel and Nasar’s requests but also provides them with a place to sleep and meals.

The content of her conversation with Nasar is all about the master’s well-being and past memories.

There’s no reason to dislike her anywhere. But it doesn’t work out well.

Again, a weak self-loathing slowly flowed out.

“I ate well.”

When Philomel put down her spoon, Nasar asked.

“Have you already finished?”

“Yes. I don’t have much of an appetite.”

“Was the food I prepared not good…?”

“Not at all. Thank you so much for serving me a delicious meal.”

After politely answering Ludia, who was watching her, Philomel got up from her seat.

“Haa.”

She sighed as she sat on the stone steps in the backyard, just like in the morning.

She realized today for the first time that she was such a jealous person.

“The day of the decisive battle is the day after tomorrow, what am I doing…”

She’s distracted by other things when she should be doing her best to prepare.

Before she knew it, the surroundings quickly darkened. This is because the discussion was long, and dinner started late.

“May I sit next to you?”

At that time, Nasar came out to the backyard with a tray. He handed Philomel a teacup with steam rising from it.

“There are also snacks.”

On the tray, besides the teacup, there was also a plate of refreshments. Herb-scented cookies.

“I’m hungry no matter how much I eat these days.”

Lie. ‘You brought it to feed me.’

Philomel didn’t point that out and took a bite of the cookie.

“What should I say, it tastes very healthy.”

“Right? This friend has recently become interested in herbal medicine. That’s why he keeps holing up in this mountain corner.”

A happy-looking face.

Her true feelings came out of Philomel’s mouth without warning.

“Um, I’m jealous of the relationship between Nasar and Ludia.”

The resolution she made in the morning to hide this feeling from him was mercilessly broken.

“Pfft.”

At those words, Nasar spat out the tea he had in his mouth.

“Are you okay?”

Philomel patted his back as he coughed and handed him her handkerchief.

“Ah, thank you.”

He hurriedly wiped his mouth with the handkerchief.

“But just now… what, what did you say?”

“I said I’m jealous because Nasar and Ludia seem too close.”

“It’s a misunderstanding! Goodness, that person and I are nothing of the sort!”

He waved his arms wildly.

“We just happened to have the same master, and she’s a female friend… no, no, actually, we’re not that close. We’re a little close. A little.”

There’s no way he’d show this much trust to someone he’s only a little close to.

Anyway, he seemed greatly embarrassed to the point of rambling.

Philomel calmed him down.

“I know. I’m not doubting the relationship between the two of you.”

She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly.

“It’s just how I feel. I wanted to be honest with you.”

She didn’t want to hide it. Even if she hid it, this matter would continue to linger in her mind. Then Philomel would be depressed alone, and he would be frustrated because of her.

“…I see.”

Nasar only left those words and sipped his tea silently for a while.

‘He must be disappointed in me, right?’

But an unexpected scene came into Philomel’s eyes as she glanced at him sitting next to her.

“…”

Nasar’s entire body, including his neck, ears, and face, was dyed red.

Feeling Philomel’s gaze, he spoke in a trembling voice.

“I’m so, so happy.”

“…Pardon?”

“To think that Lady Philomel is jealous of the relationship between me and someone else, I’m so happy…”

Happy? Not angry?

Puzzled, Philomel decided to switch positions and think about it.

‘What if Nasar was jealous of the relationship between me and my male friend?’

Nasar, fidgeting because of an imaginary male friend, was imagined.

Ah, that’s so cute. And I might be a little happy…

At that moment, the worries she had been harboring all day felt like nothing.

‘I see. This is how it feels.’

Nasar, who is jealous of her, and Nasar, who blushes at the word jealousy, are both lovely.

Philomel looked up at the sky. Countless stars were densely packed in the night sky as if they would pour down at any moment.

‘It’s similar to that day.’

The day Nasar confessed to her.

“I adore you.”

It was a beautiful night like then.

“Nasar.”

Philomel called Nasar, and when he looked at her, she impulsively brought her face close.

Soft skin touched, and moist breaths intertwined.

That day, the two had their first kiss.

* * *

Two days later.

At the holy ground of the Velerop Empire, the Hero selection ceremony was in full swing.

Kilian, wearing a white ceremonial robe, was kneeling on one knee in front of the High Priest.

The High Priest, who was so old that it was difficult for him to even move, asked.

“Kilian Escal, do you swear to dedicate yourself to our great gods?”

“I swear.”

When the Hero’s oath was over, the High Priest looked around at the audience filling the hall.

“Shortly, this young man will be reborn as a Hero. Before that, there is something I need to confirm with you.”

The routine final confirmation process.

“Does anyone object to Kilian Escal becoming a Hero?”

As a matter of custom, the same question must be repeated three times.

After a long time.

“I ask again. Does anyone object to Kilian Escal becoming a Hero?”

Most people found this time during the selection ceremony the most boring. Some even yawned openly.

Unexpected situations that arise during the ‘last three questions’ are now stories that can only be seen in books.

Since the Hero selection process was systematized, the temple has not tolerated such mishaps.

If the Hero candidate they had painstakingly raised was defeated in a confrontation with a suddenly intruding rogue, what would become of the temple’s reputation?

But today, there was an unusual aura in the hall. Someone whispered to the person next to them.

“Hey, nothing special this year either.”

“I wondered if there was something to it because of the strange rumors.”

“Is it just a false rumor after all?”

“Well. I thought there might be some basis since everyone was talking about it.”

When the middle-aged priest below the platform sent a stinging gaze, they soon became quiet.

The High Priest once again opened his mouth with difficulty.

“I ask for the last time. Does anyone object to Kilian Escal becoming a Hero?”

It was then.

“I do.”

Suddenly, someone appeared.

It was an embarrassing presence. As if suddenly springing up in that spot.

Philomel, holding the Veil of Ignorance [an artifact that conceals one’s presence] in her arms, declared.

“I object to Kilian Escal becoming a Hero.”