Chapter 19 : A secret is something you can’t tell anyone
“But will Xingyao believe me…”
Anyway up so early,
idle Qianyu pondered future plans.
—
Master, need me?
Just then mind rang Xingyao’s telepathy,
slight emotion, tone shifts.
She turned instinctively back.
Missed,
somewhat ghostly Xingyao stood there.
Obedient, dazed staring.
“Y-You heard?”
Qianyu meant earlier mutter.
Not ready confess sleepwalking.
To confirm worry not wasted, asked.
—
E-Eh?!
Odd, Qianyu’s words fell.
Xingyao like recalling huge memory,
cute face flushed red, fidgeting.
Former near-blank expression obvious.
Eyes dodged, dared not meet puzzled Qianyu.
Paused ten seconds,
voice hesitant high low came.
—
Mm, h-heard.
Affirmed Qianyu unaware,
Xingyao meant last night seen heard “battle”.
Just puzzled, mere sleepwalking mention,
no details.
Why such exaggerated reaction.
“Mm hm, w-well, no issue.
Planned confess anyway.”
Now just earlier,
Qianyu accepted minor change.
—
E-Eh, tell me?
Xingyao tone shaken, disbelief.
“? Course, we travel together while.
Explain early avoid trouble.”
Natural to Qianyu,
midnight exit teammate tent,
seen by unaware Xingyao.
Plus same tent, high chance.
—
Y-Yes, right. Can’t, wrong Master.
Though already misunderstood, severely.
Red, face slight bury, occasional glance nod.
“Ah, and. Don’t tell others.
Especially team, troublesome.”
Qianyu helpless bitter smile added:
“Our little secret.”
—
U-Understood.
Realized, knew Master huge secret.
Forced calm, Xingyao inner excited.
(Underground lovers?!)
“(Yawn)~~~
Chatting early, leisurely.”
Just finished.
Del same sleepy yawn from tent.
Reserved, hand back light cover, slow said:
“Woke me, mm mm.”
Rubbed eyes, steps float, hair messy.
Nightrobe hem slipped arm,
chest fruits faint visible unaware.
Indeed just woke, rare.
Usually she woke Qianyu.
“Eh, sorry. Volume control fail.”
Xingyao telepathy no speak.
Even no defend, no fault.
Convenient enviable magic.
“Fine, time prepare meet anyway.
So, what chat, fun?”
“N-No. Just planning.”
Qianyu lingering fear quick cover.
Good left bed early, later unthinkable.
“Planning?”
“Rumored beast, target no show.
Can’t report like this.”
Many incidents en route,
Qianyu near forgot main task.
No blame,
but failed assigned.
(Use as excuse now!)
“Ah, that—”
Del casual pocket rhombus, palm open.
Inside egg-size, transparent purple-black crystal.
“Here.”
“…Beast core?”
Only killing mana-polluted creatures,
left solid varied shapes.
If recall right,
from Leila past mission.
“Hour after dinner, appeared.
Full wounds, erosion traces.
Three meters?”
“E-Eh, dangerous.
Del miss okay?”
Qianyu sincere teammate concern.
“Hm, don’t underestimate, no reason,
instinct only beast. Ten no issue.”
But care wrong target.
Del top even among forest elves.
Adventurer rank, first or second tier.
But dislikes broad labels.
Claims ordinary adventurer.
“As expected Del miss, description alone.
Can’t imagine beast.”
“Didn’t see clear, black shadow rush.
Light rain, canyon dark.”
Del raised crystal, dawn observe.
Light through ominous glow, residual mana.
“Snapped back, done.
No tough.”
“…Good.
Xingyao I no help, hard on you.”
Facing Qianyu sincere apology.
Del shook head.
“Everyone vital.
Instead self-blame,
think next better.”
From sleepy, back serious.
Shared experience.
“Take Suwa,
joined like you.
Thought no battle help, drag.
Later no need say.”
“Mm, mm, dwarf talent,
did only she can.”
Qianyu missed.
Depend teammates—vicious cycle.
Never strongest adventurer,
wealth free, isekai different failed past—
second life.
Must change.
“Well, bit heavy.”
Preaching Del sudden turn,
graceful face doubt guilt.
“At least last night, you helped much…”
“E-Eh, last night, did?”
Qianyu unaware recall,
besides sleep, no memory.
“N-Nothing, really—
That state you cuter.”
Del sky mutter, somewhat lost.
Like keep something.
“Mm mm?”
Left stunned, confused Qianyu.
Unclear her words, never tell meaning.
And silent witness talk Xingyao.
(Hm, close couple.)
Misunderstanding continues.