Alise leaned against Solon, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Just moments ago—no, even now—the phantoms of the bizarre monsters that had surged through the depths of this dark pit like a tide still swirled in her mind. If it weren't for Solon... if he hadn't been by her side, she would have long since collapsed from exhaustion halfway through her pursuit of "Justice."
But now, they faced the most practical problem: they were lost.
She stole a glance at Solon beside her. He was breathing heavily, his fringe matted to his forehead with sweat, grime, and blood. Alise had no doubt that after the monster tide and the death-struggle with multiple Tree Dragons, if they could just make it back alive, both she and Solon would have accumulated more than enough "Great Feats" to level up immediately.
But that was contingent on them actually getting back.
As her gaze lingered on his profile, the taut string in Alise's heart inexplicably loosened a fraction.
"Haha."
She suddenly let out a small laugh, the sound startlingly clear in the silence of the cavern.
"Come to think of it, Solon... we haven't spent time like this, just the two of us, in a very long time, have we?"
She teased him with a feigned air of casualness, but her body seemed to move with a mind of its own, leaning closer into his space. Then, she immediately turned her face away, leaving only her red ponytail facing him.
Should I say it?
Should she voice the words buried deep in her heart? In this pitch-black, sunless labyrinth where one never knew if they would see tomorrow, accident and death followed them like maggots on bone, ready to strike at any moment.
If she didn't speak now... would she let that secret thrumming in her heart, which had quietly grown over time, be buried here along with her if she met her end?
She turned back to look at him once more. He was focused on using a [Cure Wounds] spell to heal a hideous gash on his arm. The flickering magical campfire illuminated his blood-stained yet resolute face. It also illuminated the complex expression on Alise's.
"I say, Solon..." Her voice was soft, but it carried an unmistakable weight. "I have... something I want to ask you."
Solon paused his movements, his eyes meeting hers. Her beautiful face had long been covered in dust and blood from the continuous struggle. Even with magical cleaning, the scent of iron and sweat from the battle still lingered between them.
"If... if I had been the first to confess to you." Alise took a deep breath, as if drawing on every ounce of her strength. "If I wanted to be your lover... would you accept me?"
The moment the words left her mouth, her courage seemed to drain away. She squeezed her eyes shut. He'll reject me, won't he? Because of Ryu... he'll reject me gently, or perhaps directly.
At a time like this, to say such things to her best friend's lover—she felt she was being utterly despicable, cunning, and hateful.
However, the rejection she anticipated never came.
Instead, she heard a few words—clear, firm, and striking straight into her heart.
"I like you."
Alise's eyes snapped open. An unbelievable wave of euphoria, an excitement like exploding fireworks, surged through her before being partially eclipsed by a deeper sense of guilt toward Ryu and a flash of embarrassment.
"...You agree? No, you mean... you'd accept both of us? You want two...?"
She suddenly realized the implication hidden in Solon's words. Her cheeks turned crimson instantly, and her speech became fragmented. Solon didn't say anything; he simply reached out and took her hand—the hand calloused from years of gripping a sword. His own palm was equally rough from training, yet warm and powerful.
"You... you just accepted that easily? But if Ryu... I mean, if she..." Alise was incoherent.
Solon looked at her, his gaze calm and inclusive, as if he had long since seen through all her unspoken conflicts and secret longings.
"Yes," his deep voice echoed in the cave. "Alise, and Ryu... you are both important people whom I wish to protect and whom I desire to have. Until death, I do not wish to be separated from either of you."
He paused, then continued with his usual unwavering conviction. "I once said that strength is the cornerstone of practicing justice. It is precisely because one possesses power that they can realize the justice in their heart."
He tightened his grip on Alise's hand. "And right here, my only justice is... to bring you back alive, and then... to become your lover."
Joy, like honey, instantly saturated Alise's heart. Yet the guilt toward Ryu, the uncertainty regarding their future relationship, and the lingering fear from their brush with death didn't vanish; they churned together with that immense sweetness into a complex knot of emotion.
What kind of twisted logic is that? What kind of 'Justice' is that?!
But...
"That twisted logic of justice..." Alise lowered her head, her voice muffled but carrying a trace of a trembling smile. "I like it quite a lot."
"Also... you idiot!"
Whether that last "idiot" was an insult to Solon's womanizing nature or to her own uncontrollable heartbeat and compromise, even she couldn't tell.
In the next moment, as if she had made up her mind, she reached out and interlaced her fingers tightly with his. Forgive me, Ryu... she whispered silently in her heart.
Then, she looked up and leaned toward Solon with a gentleness that stood in stark contrast to her usual spirited demeanor. Ignoring the scent of blood and sweat on each other, she closed her eyes and softly pressed her lips against his.
Solon's response was nearly instantaneous. He let go of her hand only to wrap his arms tightly around her waist, pulling her deeper into his embrace. Under the dancing glow of the magical campfire, the two leaning figures grew closer, melting into one another, casting a single, inseparable shadow against the rock wall.
A long time passed before they slowly pulled apart.
Solon gazed at Alise. At this moment, the fiery vitality that usually made her seem like a "blazing boar" was gone, as was the fearless smile of the "Scarlet Flower of Justice." All that remained was a misty shimmer in her eyes. Alise didn't push him away; instead, she buried her burning cheeks deep into the crook of his neck.
She didn't dare meet his eyes, feeling as though her whole body were on fire. She felt as if she would burst into flames even without magic.
This idiot... This big philanderer...
She cursed him chaotically in her mind. Solon's arm remained steady around her waist. Then, he lowered his head slightly, his warm breath brushing against her flushed ear as he whispered, as if making a vow.
"I will never give up, and I will never let go." "That is my 'Justice' now."
"...Stupid Solon," Alise's voice came from his shoulder, muffled and incredibly soft. "What kind of justice is that...?"
Despite her words, she raised her arms to circle Solon's neck, pressing herself even tighter against him. Her thoughts were still a tangled mess, her mind flashing with anxiety about the future and guilt over her friendship. However, her eyes, her hands, and all her senses only wanted to stay in this warm embrace—to feel this real, undeniable love that she only dared to confirm after surviving a disaster.
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Danmachi: My Magic Style is Different from Yours (Simulpub – Ongoing)
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