Chapter 43 – I remember

“I, I’m sorry to have made you wait.” (Celes)
“No, You haven’t made me wait at all! It’s just that I came too early…” (Ark)

This’s not good.
I’m too nervous
This may be the first time my heart is racing crazily like this, including in my previous life.

“S, so it was so… I was also arriving here too early…” (Celes)

Eh?
Is Celestia-san feeling nervous too?

Then we sat side by side on the bench.
Although, there’s enough room for two people between us.

“”…..””

The silence continued for a while.
It might have been only a few tens of seconds, but for me, it felt like an eternity.

What the hell about the excuses…?
Don’t waste the time, just speak up… No, As I thought I’m still scared!

Inside my mind, there was a fight between wanting to speak to her and not wanting to.
Then, it was Celestia-san who finally opened her mouth, speak to me without hesitation.

“Today, umm…. I want to say thank you to you….” (Celes)
“S, say thank you …?” (Ark)

The moment I heard those words, I was released from my tension.

Greaaatt!
I didn’t get caught switching places with Layla!

“…Ummm, what is wrong…?” (Celes)
“N, no, it’s nothing. Please continue.” (Ark)

My relief seemed to show on my face, and Celestia-san wondered why.
But I somehow managed to cover it up.

“Perhaps, maybe you’re referring to what happened during the joint training? But that was nothing to be thanked for….. I was just doing my duty as a participant.” (Ark)
“B, but, thanks to Ark-san and Layla-san, we were able to return safely after facing so many monsters. So, I’m really grateful to you.” (Celes)
“Y, yes” (Ark)

She took all the trouble to go and thank me for that.
She really is a very kind person.

“But that’s not all I want to thank you for.” (Celes)
“Eh?” (Ark)
“Umm … D, do you remember it…? It was four years ago…” (Celes)
“Four years ago…” (Ark)

Celestia-san said with a tone as if she was revealing some important secret.

“Actually I was, I was once saved by Ark-san! B, but of course, you probably don’t remember such, yes…” (Celes)
“Ah, no, I remember it.” (Ark)
“A, as I thought, yes… It was only for a brief moment, so I’m sure you must have――eh? Y, you remember it!?” (Celes)

Of course, I remember it very well.
I was searching for a necromancer who controlled all the undead, and then I met Celestia-san at the royal palace.
I couldn’t help but fall in love with her at the first sight, even though it wasn’t the right time.

Naturally, I can’t say it because it’s too embarrassing.

“Umm, it was a pretty dangerous place, and you were being attacked by a chimera and the enemy leader, yes?” (Ark)
“Y, yes! Just when I thought I was going to die, a boy with red hair appeared and defeated them in a flash….! Ark-san, he was you, right!?” (Celes)

The space between us that should have been enough to be occupied by two people earlier had somehow become almost zero.
This is because Celestia-san, became so excited, and came closer to me all at once.

“But at that time, You were gone soon before I could thank you….. So I always have been wanting to express my gratitude to you!” (Celes)

So Celestia-san stood up from the bench and she bowed down to me.

“I’m really grateful to you for all your help!” (Celes)
“Wha…” (Ark)

I also stood up in a hurry.

“P, please raise your head. I mean, you shouldn’t bow to me! You’re a princess…!” (Ark)
“…” (Celes)

Celestia-san raised her head, but for some reason, she looked somewhat shocked.
I wonder, have I said something wrong …?

“… Celes” (Celes)
“Eh?” (Ark)
“P, please call me Celes from now on!” (Celes)
“A, as expected to address you in that way is.” (Ark)
“It’s okay! Layla-san calls me that way as well!” (Celes)

No, that’s not it, you know!?
It’s Celes-oneechan,…… though it is even way more embarrassing for a man to address her that way.

“You are a lifesaver to me. So, umm… That princess way of treating, I don’t want to be treated like a stranger.” (Celes)

The last word of her was spoken like a sulking child.

H, how cute…

“Okay I understand, Celes-san” (Ark)
“… Just Celes is fine.” (Celes)
“Ce, Celes-san.” (Ark)
“Uuu~, it can’t be helped …” (Celes)

In addition to being a princess, she is also an older person.
As a Japanese person with a strong sense of seniority in my previous life, this is something I cannot compromise.

……Well, if I added my previous life, I’m probably the older.

Then I and Celes-san sat side by side again on the bench.
I do not know why, but she’s getting closer to me than before.

“Even so, you two amazed me. ….You’re only twelve years old, aren’t you? Four years ago, you hadn’t even received your blessing yet, had you?” (Celes)
“That’s true ……. But my father trained me very hard from an early age.” (Ark)

Now we were both a little less tense and had time to have a normal conversation.

“I don’t think you can get around overcome the barriers of…… either [Class] or skill with just training…….” (Celes)
“Is that so? I’m a [Classless], but I do it.” (Ark)
“That’s, not a mistake, is it……?” (Celes)

It’s true though.
Since I had been in S class, everyone didn’t believe me at all when I claimed that I was a [Classless].

“N, no, I believe you. When I think about it, Ark-san, who was only eight years old at that time, was that strong … I’m sure there is a secret that no one knows……?”
“I’m not sure if it’s a secret, I just did what my father told me to do. Like me, he was a [Classless], but he mastered all the skills on his own over the years.” (Ark)

When I think about it, he really is a monster, that person?
If it were me, I would have given up when I knew I was a [Classless] in the first place.

“By the way, my father often said that you don’t need any skills to get stronger, and the important thing is not to set limits.” (Ark)
“…… What an amazing person he is, yes. I’d love to meet him if I get the chance.” (Celes)