Heidemarie looked proud. Grete looked amused.
"…I can't believe it myself. I mean, I do feel a sense of accomplishment, but more than that, I just can't believe it. Someone else must have done enough damage already. Yeah, I'm sure that's it." Grete said matter-of-factly.
"There have been no such reports." Heidemarie shot back.
"…I can't believe a story like that, Heidemarie."
"I believe it. So why hide it?"
"Well, if the person who defeated it left Dragon's Wings, it would cause all kinds of strange rumors."
"So you're protecting Chronos?"
I finally interjected. "Don't be so sure. I just don't think it's good for someone like me to get in the way of Chronos's future."
When I said that, the two of them exchanged glances and started whispering.
"Sue-chan, is it true? A floor boss. By himself?"
"…Well, it's true anyway. Though the only evidence is the conversations within the party. Also, Wim defeated him all by himself. Potential hidden strength, floor boss."
"It just seems like the stalker has gotten stubborn and started saying weird things."
"I know what you mean, but does it really look like that?"
"…I just find that hard to believe."
There seemed to be a rare consensus.
"Hey cowgirl, tell him something. This idiot won't listen to me."
"…Yes."
Grete spoke with an unwilling look.
"Wim-san, it's not something you can do with a little brute force in an emergency. In fact, I've lived in Fielbron all my life, and I've never heard of anyone defeating a floor boss alone."
"Um." Hey, I totally agree. I been trying to say I didn't do it alone.
"If it's true, I'm sorry if it sounds like I doubt it, but it would be an instant reward. If the subjugation has been approved, there must be some proof part."
"Yes, it was really just a coincidence. You could say I kept picking up miracles." I say, softly.
"A miracle, huh?"
"Well, it's a special feature of his enchantment technique, but, you see, for example, Grete-san isn't an adventurer and hasn't had any combat training, but if you grappled with her ten thousand times, wouldn't you think you'd land a hit against even a strong opponent at least once?" Heidemarie claimed.
"It's not something that can be dismissed as a coincidence or a miracle…"
"Well, that's not the only reason I got fired." I finally spoke up. "Actually, things weren't going so well with Chronos… hehe. Not just Chronos, but Nikla and Melis too. So, it's like all the hard work finally came to an end. I think if it was a normal party, even I could have achieved something praiseworthy. But I guess it was my own incompetence."
I can't fully understand Chronos and the others' reaction, but I'm also largely at fault.
I didn't actively try to get closer to everyone, and that's how those relationships ended up.
If that was the case, I should have stuck to it. I had anticipated that people would find it unpleasant if I stood out.
"So, in the end, I am…"
"Your perception is distorted!"
Heidemarie interrupted me by banging on the table.
"Oh come on, cowgirl, me too!" Beer.
"Eh… are you okay? Sue-chan isn't very strong."
"Who cares?! Customers are going to spend money on us!"
"Yes, yes, it's full!"
She tilted the mug that had been brought to her with force and opened her mouth wide.
"Listen, Wim. I'll explain the reason you were fired, or rather, your distortion. It's called cognitive dissonance."
What is she talking about?
"When people face conflicting perceptions, they try to resolve them with strange rationalizations. It's like the fox in the fairy tale about the fox and the grapes. He jumps but can't reach them, so he decides the grapes must be sour to cover up his own failure."
"Was there a story like that?"
"…Is this a new kind of fool? Come on, don't interrupt me! Basically, Chronos is doing the same thing as the fox. Wim, whom he looked down on, accomplished a feat far greater than his own. To resolve that contradiction, he arbitrarily called him trash and useless and kicked him out. Those whores, what were their names, Nikla and Melis? They shared the same feelings."
Nikla and Melis. Whores. Wow Heidemarie, no filter.
This girl can get really nasty when drunk. But she calls Grete a cowgirl, so I guess that's normal.
"Are you listening, Wim?"
"Yes, I'm listening!"
"What I'm trying to say is that you have cognitive dissonance too. You're experiencing strange cognitions and saying things that don't make sense. That's actually the bigger problem."
…Mine?
"You can't balance your self-image as a weakling with the achievement of defeating Boss alone, so you're forcing yourself to call it a coincidence or a burst of brute strength. What's worse, you're trying to put Chronos in a relatively higher position."
She tilted the mug again and gulped down the rest in one go.
"I think the environment is rubbish, but Wim, you need to take a closer look at yourself."
…Ah, so that's how it is.
As I looked down, not sure whether to nod or not, she reached into her hip pocket and slowly pulled out a square piece of paper.
"Here's my business card. It's special. Come to my party house in Nachtlibelle tomorrow with it."
"Eh, are you doing something?"
"Come work for us for a while. It's an experience. A good word-of-mouth."
As expected of the hope of Nachtlibelle. Has she been trusted enough to use her influence like this?
"Listen, Wim."
Heidemarie put her hands on both of my shoulders and told me not to look away and to stop me from running.
"You have to live the way you want to."
Later that day, Heidemarie passed out. She definitely had too much to drink.
Heidemarie's pov
I was carried on his back, I felt as if I was swaying through the city late at night.
"…Hmm."
"Oh, you're awake. Can you walk?" Wim asked in a gentle tone.
"It might be hard."
It's Wim's back. It's been a while since I've been carried like this.
He keeps walking. Damn, I was trying to cheer him up, but now I'm the one being a bother.
"You're such a caring person, aren't you?" he asked again.
"Really?"
"Thank you. You came to me when I was in a difficult situation, just like a friend from the same hometown. You saved me."
He looks off into the distance, I can't see it, but I'm sure he is, and he says that. It makes me so happy.
"But there's no need to worry so much. You don't have to worry about me like this."
"…That story again." I grumbled in a huff.
"It was my choice."
"So it doesn't matter anymore."
"Yes, it does."
"Isn't it Wim who's more worried?"
"No, Heidemarie too."
Another cognitive dissonance for Wim that I can't quite point out.
"So, don't worry about me, Heidemarie. You should live freely, fulfill your life as an adventurer, and find someone good when you retire."
"…I don't understand anything at all anymore."
He says that without even considering my feelings.
"Yeah, you know, on the contrary."
No, it's him who doesn't get it. He's always thought my kindness was a cover for guilt. And he feels guilty about it. And it keeps repeating. What a farce.
"You don't understand. I know much more than you do."
"Eh… why?"
"Well, that's because…"
Because I know everything about Wim.