A week had passed since he had been spying on the elves. And as the rumors began to fade, he started to venture out. Kopii wasn't afraid that the vindictive elves would find and punish him, as he had changed a lot since then. He regained his weight and got a haircut. But the bags under his eyes spoke of restless nights. He had spent the whole week studying the language.
And he realized one thing: why should he keep his promise if the one to whom he had given it was killed by his own hands? So he, strong once again, did nothing and simply descended into the dungeons and waited for the Sword Princess.
He remembered when she mentioned that her teacher was an elf. He immediately guessed who she was talking about, but then this information was useless to him. And after some thought, he realized that there was a high probability that she also knew the language. So he waited for her for the first time with anticipation. But she didn't come, so he even started to think that she realized that coming here was a waste of time. Even if she just came to him to eat. And then she would immediately hide, as if she had never been there.
Was she really coming to find out the truth? Kopii thought, beginning to realize that the Sword Princess was coming to him just to eat for free and have a delicious meal. Was she using him?
Looking at the recently prepared food that hadn't even cooled down, he realized only now that he had done it automatically. And from that realization, he felt a little awkward.
Covering himself with a blanket more comfortably, he needed some time to fully immerse himself in the world of dreams.
Waking up to a peaceful sound, he decided not to pay attention to it, and then he realized that the sound reminded him of someone chewing something.
What!? He thought, suddenly getting out of bed and glancing at the source of the sound. But he only managed to make out light hair, before his head spun from getting up so suddenly.
Bang.
With a loud thud, he fell to the floor. But quickly regaining himself, he cast a piercing glance at the Sword Princess.
"You come into someone else's house without knocking! And you're gobbling up my food. You didn't even wake me up first!"
"…I knocked… didn't want to bother you."
But the expression on her face changed slightly, but then she resumed her stoic face and, ignoring him, greedily devoured everything that was on his table in a matter of seconds. He just sighed at the sight and, sitting down opposite her, paused for a moment, and then spoke:
"Princess… I mean, Aiz, I wanted to ask you for help."
Seeing that she finally turned her gaze to him, he continued:
"Can you read what's written there? If so, please read it aloud… Please."
Extending the paper to her, he waited a moment before she took it. She examined it carefully, turning it in different directions. From these strange actions, one of his eyebrows rose, and incomprehension was written in his eyes.
"Empty."
"What?"
"The paper is empty."
Kopii couldn't believe her; he could clearly see that the paper was definitely not empty. So his incomprehension only increased.
"Is she kidding me?" flashed through his mind. Staring at her face for any sign of deception, but her face remained the same as always. So his incomprehension only increased.
"It's not empty."
She examined the paper again for text, looking at him strangely.
"…Empty."
"Well, how about it? Let me see."
Reaching for the paper and glancing from her to the paper, he wondered if she had decided to joke for the first time.
"Is this some kind of joke?"
At that remark, her eyes narrowed.
"…"
"Are you seriously not seeing anything?"
"Yes…"
"Well, okay."
"…"
"…"
Because of this, an awkward silence filled the room. Everyone was thinking about something in that moment.
"Maybe she really can't see anything. If after death he made everyone forget him… Then why isn't it possible that only I can see the text?"
He was interrupted from his thoughts by the voice of Kane, and he had already begun to think that he had disappeared, as he was speaking for the first time in a day. Throwing the paper aside, it flashed through his mind: "Looks like I'll have to learn the language myself after all."
"Well, never mind that."
"…"
"You ate everything!? How can that be!? Weren't you fed on the expedition?"
Looking at the table for food, but there were only empty plates. He was a little upset that she had taken advantage of his confusion and finished the job.
"At least it was delicious."
"Yes… thank you."
"Yeah."
Seeing her about to leave, he suddenly stood up and grabbed her hand, causing her to give him a questioning look, then lowering it to his hand. Which made him feel awkward, and he released her.
"Oh, sorry… You know, you're eating my food for free. So pay up."
"Okay."
She reached for her purse, but before she could get it out, he stopped her.
"Not with money."
After these words, she frowned for some reason, and the room filled with tension. But, ignoring it, he continued:
"Let's spar."
(In bed!!!)
"That will be the payment for the food… agreed?"
"Okay."
He smiled at her words, feeling the tension dissipate as if it had never been there.
"Then let's not delay! Let's go!"
Bursting outside, he shone with joy, because her agreement meant that now he would also use her, just as she had used him. Of course, he understood: if she hadn't agreed, he would still cook for her, simply because he was a weakling compared to her.
Some time later
"Oh, too strong again?"
"Aaaaaah!"
Suddenly rising from the bed, Kopii screamed.
"Ouch, it hurts."
Holding his head with his hands because of the throbbing pain and slowly remembering to tell her, if she knocks him out, not to wait for him to wake up. But no sooner he thought that she defeated him on the first hit.
"You could have held back a little! You could have at least given me hope of winning, you cunning woman!"
He shouted into the void.
"Okay."
Or so he thought.
"What? Princess, I mean, Aiz…"
(Hahahahh)
He couldn't say anything when he saw the Sword Princess sitting at the table. She was looking at him with an imperturbable gaze.
"…I told you not to wait for me to wake up."
"I didn't wait."
"Huh?"
"…It's already evening, so I came… for you to tell the truth."
?
…
Then he remembered the purpose of her visiting him. But for a moment it seemed to him that she wanted to say something else. But he didn't dwell on it.
Kopii's life was rather monotonous; the only things that could break his boredom were talking with his family and Aiz, or going down to the dungeons. But even so, he understood that his life was becoming monotonous. So he decided to go down one floor lower. Which, of course, was a bad idea; he hadn't even spent ten minutes there when he almost died ten times. So he just ran away like a coward.
Then he wondered for the first time: what would happen if he became the strongest? Of course, he didn't believe it much, but why not? He realized one thing: why become the strongest? Wouldn't that life be full of boredom? Whatever you wanted, you could get it easily. Or, whoever you fought with, you would never feel the thrill of a fight.
Or maybe, on the contrary, he would like this power over everyone? But no matter how long he pondered this question, it only remained in his dreams.
In such thoughts, he didn't notice when he bumped into someone.
"Oh, sorry."
Without even looking at who he bumped into, he automatically bowed and apologized, but before he could get far, someone grabbed his hand.
"Huh?"