I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 744 - Side Story 17: What Makes a Relationship (2)

Betty felt no small amount of disappointment that Casey had hidden from her the fact that she'd been having a hard time lately.

As Casey's assistant, Betty had stayed by her side longer than anyone else. They bickered with each other, but if Casey had asked for counseling saying she was having a hard time, Betty would have grumbled but listened to everything.

'But Casey, in her own way, didn't say anything because she didn't want to worry Betty.'

Casey Selmore was a woman with very strong pride. She would never want to tell anyone else that she had become this weak.

Rather, precisely because she was close to Betty, she probably didn't want to be a burden to her even more.

'Something similar happened before. Casey was bedridden for days in agony from the Apostle's mental attack.'

Even then, Casey hadn't particularly asked Betty for help. It was just that Betty, unable to stand watching, had called Rudger herself.

Including that incident, Betty must have felt quite hurt.

This is what relationships are like. People care for each other, but if they don't communicate properly, things go awry even over trivial matters. Like gears rotating in the same direction but not meshing together.

'Hurt feelings or problems in relationships don't always occur because of negative emotions.'

Sometimes, because they're being considerate of each other, misunderstandings pile up and relationships fall apart. Rather than someone being at fault, it was because there were differences in their approaches.

'If you interfere in a relationship you don't know, it's unwanted meddling.'

But when people you know well experience something like this, it is hard to just pass it by.

If it had been the Rudger of the past, he definitely wouldn't have interfered. He had no time to advise anyone, and was too busy just trying to achieve his goals.

But Rudger had accomplished what he'd hoped for, so he didn't have to live as frantically as before.

Perhaps this too was one of the positive changes he could face because he was human.

"Betty. As you know, Casey is a woman with very strong pride." 

"That's, that's true."

Having watched from the side all along, Betty would know Casey better than anyone.

"Casey wouldn't tell others that she harbored such anxiety. Rather, precisely because you're close, she must have desperately hidden it." "That's..." 

"Then let me ask the opposite. Does Casey's family, Marias Selmore, know about this?"

Betty pondered before giving her answer.

"I don't think so." 

"Right. It's something she hid even from her family. So there's absolutely no reason for you to be disappointed that you didn't know." 

"But she told you, didn't she." 

"She originally wasn't going to tell me, but I deliberately pressed her and dug it out. This case is different." 

"...That Casey actually talked. Seeing how it all came out just because you pressed her." 

"Perhaps deep down, she hoped someone would listen to such a story of hers. But I don't think what I said completely consumed her anxiety."

Rudger looked straight at Betty and said.

"Casey must have gone back to her residence. If you go back and meet her again, could you ask her this time?" 

"Me? But..." 

"With her high pride, she'll hide it at first. But even so, she'll definitely open up. Even more so if it's you."

Rudger spoke with conviction. Betty had anxiety that Casey might feel uncomfortable with her. He had to speak with emphasis here.

"Above all, aren't you the best assistant who's been with her from the closest position? A detective needs an assistant." 

"I understand. Since you put it that way, I'll give it a try."

Betty nodded with a much more relaxed face. Rudger's advice had worked.

"Good. By the way, have all the people who were supposed to gather here arrived?" 

"Except for Pantos."

Alex added an explanation.

"That guy is probably out somewhere looking for excellent prey again." 

"That's like Pantos. Well, I didn't think he'd come just because I returned."

Even if they met, given Pantos' personality, they wouldn't have had a long conversation. If he'd returned, confirming that would be the end. Since both their personalities were straightforward, that was enough.

"I'll have to go look for Pantos separately later." 

"I'm not doubting the leader's ability, but do you know where he is?" 

"I have a rough idea. As for the exact location, it's not like I can't find it if I look."

Rudger didn't give any more detailed explanation. Alex didn't particularly ask either. Because Rudger would find Pantos using some extraordinary method.

"Come on. Since we've gathered again like this after so long, let's have a drink!"

Hans raised his glass and took a toast posture. Rudger smiled and clinked his glass against Hans'.

With a clear clinking sound, a reunion party began.

The small but harmonious banquet ended. They all wanted to stay up all night, but three years of time wasn't so lenient.

Since there were those who had places to return to, the party itself ended quickly. Alex and Bellaruna left, and Violetta took Arpa and Betty.

Sheridan grabbed Hans, who insisted on staying until the end, hit him on the head, and forcibly dragged him away.

Before leaving, the intoxicated Hans asked in a hazy voice.

"Boss. You're not leaving again now, right?"

To ask like that even though they'd already finished talking about everything—it must be because that much anxiety had built up.

Hans feared that one day suddenly, Rudger might vanish somewhere again. That this moment of laughing and chattering might become just a midnight dream.

What he would normally suppress and hide was revealed because of intoxication and heated emotions.

"No, no. I asked an unnecessary question." 

"Hans."

To Hans, who immediately tried to gloss over it, Rudger spoke in a much softer tone.

"This is where I belong." 

"..." 

"Does that answer it?"

Hans said nothing. But judging from how his face brightened for a moment when Rudger said those words, it seemed sufficient.

Sheridan dragged Hans away. Because of the height difference that far exceeded excitement, Hans' legs dragged on the ground, but he didn't seem to care. It wasn't the first or second time.

The tavern left alone was quiet. As if the warmth that had filled it until then was a lie, the air was cold.

But Rudger didn't feel regret about it. As much as this moment was regrettable, they could just meet more often later.

Their story didn't end here. It was a journey that would continue, following after the comma.

Rudger tidied up the slightly messy place with a hand gesture. With just light magic, bottles returned to their original shelves, and glasses stacked neatly.

Rudger left the tavern, properly locked the door, and walked the streets.

Since he was still staying in the imperial capital, he needed to return.

The touch of the cool night air on his skin felt good with each step. The night streets were quiet and empty. It was a silence he couldn't have savored before.

Rudger closed his eyes and savored the brief silence. Though the seal above his head was working properly, it was also true that the voices whispering to him had decreased more than before.

His revenge against Lumensis was over, and thanks to acting on their behalf, the confined gods no longer bothered Rudger.

They might still have feelings, but they had clearly reached some agreement among themselves. In addition, they were blocking the voices whispering from farther away.

Of course, that didn't mean the channel of communication between them was cut off. If he opened the door, they would take interest and contact him again.

But Rudger had no intention of doing so. He couldn't be certain there would never be such an occasion in the future, but for now he wanted to savor this peace.

"I felt sorry for making you wait too long, but it seems you left first."

Though he'd given notice that the meeting would be a bit long, it seemed Pasius had just left in the meantime.

He wondered if that was okay, but Rudger nodded that it was fine because the reason appeared right before his eyes. Someone suddenly appeared where there had been nothing. Ash gray hair that stood out clearly even in the dark night fluttered down to her waist.

The figure of a woman who had become much more beautiful and mature than before resembled the one Rudger had once felt guilty toward.

"What brings you here, Rene?" 

"You seem quite drunk."

 "Well, I can't say I didn't overdrink a bit." 

"That's unexpected. I thought you wouldn't even touch alcohol, brother." 

"How could that be? Becoming an adult means you have to drink alcohol whether you like it or not. Of course, this time I drank because I wanted to." 

"Really? Then maybe I should try drinking too."

Rene approached Rudger's side.

"I'll walk you back." 

"You'll play the role of imperial capital guide." 

"I told Pasius in advance too." 

"That guy."

Rudger let out a chuckle imagining Pasius nodding with a laugh saying "that's right."

"Alright. I'll ask for your guidance." 

"Then, shall we walk?" 

"With your ability, couldn't you move us there right away?"

Rene, who handled spatial magic, could move from here to far places across the continent if she put her mind to it. It would be entirely possible to get to the imperial palace without having to walk the capital's streets.

"When it's a rare moment alone together, it wouldn't be elegant to go quickly, would it?"

Rene spoke confidently, yet with a playful smile. Rudger stared blankly at her smile.

"Is something on my face?" 

"No. Just thinking you've really grown a lot, seeing you again."

Rene's appearance greatly resembled her mother. So Rudger's voice was a bit subdued. Because Rene's current appearance touched on memories from painful times.

"I am quite pretty, right? There are many men everywhere saying they like me." 

"Your personality has become quite bold too." 

"Hehe. Still, well, I had no time to care about other things. I was busy just interpreting and analyzing the technique you passed on."

Rene muttered with a voice full of regret that it took three whole years.

"You didn't stop there and developed it further. That it took three years—that's saying it only took that much. You can be proud." 

"I wished it could have been a bit faster." 

"It would have been the same anyway. Fast or slow, nothing changes." 

"That's true too. Nothing changes."

Rene looked straight at Rudger and said.

"So don't make that expression." 

"..." 

"I've forgiven everything about that day. You didn't do anything wrong, brother. It's not that anyone was bad. It's just, the situation was like that. Yes, that's all." 

"Rene, I..." 

"I want you to be happy now, brother. Because, well, suffering is unpleasant, right? When you suffer, I suffer too. But do you know what's even worse than that? You making that expression when you look at me."

Rudger felt like he'd been hit with a hammer. He didn't know what expression he'd made. Probably one stained with guilt.

Perhaps tormenting himself with guilt was his own absolution to relieve these feelings he had toward Rene.

"I see. It must not be easy." 

"If I don't do it, then I just don't."

She spoke as if it was no big deal, but there was much meaning implied there.

Someone might point out whether it was okay to simplify such a complex matter so simply, but Rudger thought differently.

Rather, precisely because it was complex, there was a need to approach it simply. Simplicity might sound like nothing much just from its name, but the power it held was very strong.

But it didn't gain meaning just by being uttered. Rene's simplicity had persuasiveness because her heart was clearer and had stronger power than anyone's.

"I see. I'm only receiving help from you." 

"Because I received a lot of help too. So I'm giving help. I received, so I give. It's natural, isn't it?" 

"It's not easy to do what's natural." 

"But I have to do it. Because I learned from watching someone who did it. From the adult I wanted to become."

Rudger couldn't hold back his laughter in the end.

"Hahaha. Right. You've become an adult too." 

"Yes. I'm an adult now. Which means I'm no longer a child."

Rene grabbed Rudger's arm and made him look straight at her.

"So there's something I want to say to you, brother."