TMLLT 77

Chapter 77

“The Start of the Original”

“Why are you suddenly running?”

“I’m going to get there fast.”

“Then go with me.”

“Try keeping up, then.”

I ran with all my strength.

Meanwhile, Roitz didn’t even seem to be trying, yet he ran beside me at the same pace. That alone annoyed me this afternoon.

With the appearance of the original heroine, Lucike, events after that went surprisingly just like the original story.

“…The fifth saint!”

That was the priests’ shout when the holy stone in the temple reacted to Lucike.

From her bishop appointment ceremony and public recognition—

“Sir Velkyrente, you dropped this.”

“Thank you.”

—To her conversations with Roitz afterward, it was all unfolding like the book.

But there was still one thing unresolved.

‘Why is he…’

In the central prayer room of the temple, I leaned against the marble wall, watching the two people about ten steps away.

The captain of Elche’s knights and the temple’s fifth saint.
In other words—Roitz and Lucike.

In the middle of their talk, Roitz looked my way, excused himself to Lucike, and walked over.

“We’ll visit Delzers Village tonight as planned. I want to check directly if anything’s changed from last year.”

“You said you’re having dinner with Bishop Lucike. And you still want to go?”

That was the unresolved thing.

‘Why does he still act like he can’t stand not working, even after Lucike appeared?’

Even after days had passed, Roitz’s obsession with work was still the same.

“Let’s meet again after dinner. I’ll see you in the office.”

I nodded reluctantly. As I left the prayer room, I glanced back—

The two were talking again.

Lucike smiled and spoke playfully, and I saw Roitz’s face turn red.

‘What are they talking about…’

I tried to listen in but couldn’t hear anything. Pressing myself to the wall, I focused—then suddenly realized how ridiculous I was being.

‘What am I even doing.’

I gave up and muttered to myself as I walked away.

Going to Delzers Village after they’ve had their first dinner together? They wouldn’t even notice the time passing!

Of course, Roitz isn’t exactly the type to talk warmly from the start.

But I remembered the look in his eyes when he first met Lucike—

Those were eyes filled to the brim with obsession.

How could he look like that and then just go back to work?

I thought for a moment, then shook my head.

‘No, he should go alone.’

Looks like his work obsession had rubbed off on me.

As I walked through the garden, I glanced up and saw the two of them still talking comfortably.

Roitz must’ve felt my gaze, because he looked down.

I quickly turned away and ran.

Only after turning the corner of the building did I stop, suddenly recalling the image of them smiling at each other.

‘What…’

To my surprise, my mood wasn’t good at all.

‘Why…?’

I hit the wall, thinking.

Seeing Roitz talk and smile with Lucike—why did it make me so irritated?

Then the answer came to me.

It’s because even after Lucike appeared, my workload hasn’t decreased one bit!

Neither the work nor the number of times Roitz calls for me has gone down.

Which means my exhausting life still hasn’t ended.

I set my jaw with determination.

If that’s the case, I need to tie those two together fast.

Sure, if I left them alone, they’d naturally get closer—but this speed wasn’t enough.

At this rate, I’d survive monsters only to die from overwork.

I needed to make them get closer so quickly that Roitz would start skipping work.

Then my weird feelings would disappear too.

Bang! I slapped the wall again, full of resolve.

After building my resolve, I ate strongly in the knights’ dining hall—so strongly that I badly needed to digest.

‘I’ll walk a bit.’

After a few laps around Melrn Street Square in front of the knights’ building, I felt better.

“Phew.”

I leaned against the fountain, lost in thought. Cool water splashed lightly against my back.

‘What did those two eat? Roitz knows a lot of good places, so it must have been delicious.’

Just as I was thinking that, I looked up—

And locked eyes with someone walking toward me.

Jet-black hair, graceful posture and expression.

‘Wait… that’s—’

It was her.

The ash-haired lady I had first seen months ago at Roitz’s residence—and again just recently, when she came to see him.

A refined woman who always spoke closely with him.

She was coming my way.

I quickly stood up from the fountain. She gave off an air that made me feel I should be polite.

She smiled elegantly—different from the smile I’d seen at Roitz’s place.

“Hello, knight.”

She greeted me first, her voice carrying dignity.

“May I call you Sir Vivi?”

“You know me?”

“Yes. You’re Roitz’s junior knight.”

The way she said his name sounded familiar.

‘Are they friends?’

They looked around the same age.

“I know Roitz well. I know almost everyone around him.”

She smiled warmly. It was beautiful—but at the same time, I felt an odd sense of caution.

Still, I kept a polite expression and answered,

“The captain isn’t here right now. He’s busy with other work.”

“I know. But I want to talk with you, Sir Vivi.”

“With me?”

“Yes.”

She tucked her long ash hair behind her ear and led the way, not even asking if I had time—just assuming I’d follow.

“…Hmm.”

After hesitating, I followed her to a nearby tea shop’s outdoor table.

Before I could sit, she had already ordered two cups of tea.

Pushy, but not quite rude—it was strange.

What exactly was her relationship with Roitz?

I sat down out of curiosity.

“I’m Elessa Rendrilt.”

“Are you… the captain’s close friend?”

“Close friend? Maybe. Roitz might think of me that way… You remember that day, don’t you, Sir Vivi?”

Of course I did—the day months ago when I first saw her at his residence.

So she had seen me too, despite me thinking I was perfectly hidden behind the wall.

Still, I kept my composure.

“Yes. I visited without knowing you were there. I hid—waited—so as not to interrupt.”

Elessa smiled just as the tea arrived.

She took a sip gracefully, swirling the white cup in her hands.

“About Roitz…”

I focused on her words.

“He’s very handsome, isn’t he?”

“…What?”

Suddenly stating an undeniable fact left me unsure how to respond.

“He’s talented too…”

“Yes, well…”

True, but why bring it up now?

I was starting to feel this woman and Roitz were not just friends.

Visiting his residence, speaking warmly, now meeting me—it didn’t feel like a simple relationship.

‘This feels like something from a drama…’

In stories, this is when someone who had something with the male lead comes to see the heroine to talk about where his heart belongs.

But she had definitely come to the wrong person.

If Elessa and Roitz had something, I was no threat.

The real “threat” was eating with him right now.

She was wasting her time on me.

Then her gaze briefly turned sharp before she smiled again—like nothing had happened.

“Sir Vivi, do you have someone you’re seeing?”

This familiar question made my suspicions stronger.

‘She’s trying to cut things off before anything starts between me and Roitz.’

I answered without changing my guarded expression,

“No.”

“Then what do you think of Roitz?”

Elessa’s question came straight at me like the main point.