Volume 5 Chapter 62, Part 2 Friends Are Something You Realize You Become
Catherine approached Liz with a troubled face.
Randy pulled the two apart, saying, "Wait a minute," as Catherine looked ready to bite.
"Miss Catherine, that was an important testimony."
"What's the point! In the end, I'll just get hit!"
Randy shook his head, saying, "No, no," to Catherine, who looked like she might breathe fire.
"'Want to hit' and 'let's hit' are completely different."
"It's the same difference!"
Catherine frowned more, but Randy shook his head again.
"If we consider this testimony a hypothesis, I want to check if it has the same effect on others."
"For what... are you stupid?"
Randy smirked at Catherine, who was now exasperated through her anger.
"When you create a hypothesis, you must verify it. That's *important* for creation."
"Creation has nothing to do with this!"
Catherine pouted, and Randy said something that sounded good, "If you think of it as making a fine Saint statue..."
"So, anyway..."
When Randy shifted his gaze, he saw Airen trying to pass through the hall.
"Lady Airen!"
Airen approached, tilting her head at Randy, who had raised his hand.
"What's wrong?"
With a refreshing smile, Airen only heard Randy say, "Just a moment," as he turned back to Catherine.
"Saint mode."
"I'm sorry, Lady Airen, for bothering you when you're busy!"
Catherine was surprisingly upbeat.
Airen nodded, saying, "Uh, um," but her face looked somewhat troubled.
"Miss Catherine, that way of speaking is..."
"Flattering mode."
"Lady Airen~, Cathy~──AAAhhhh!"
Catherine hurriedly hid behind Leon as Airen put her hand on the sword's hilt.
Realizing her situation thanks to Catherine's actions, Airen hurriedly bowed her head, saying, "I'm sorry."
"What can I say to our benefactor..."
Airen trembled, looking at her hands, and then glanced at Catherine and Randy.
"W-was that... perhaps a new mental attack developed by [Pilgrim of Truth]?"
Randy explained the situation, holding back laughter at Airen's confused expression.
"I see... how should I put this..."
Airen's gaze toward Catherine looked like that of someone seeing something regrettable.
But realizing her rude stare, she began to fluster, saying, "Ah, no..."
"Depending on how you use it, it could be very beneficial."
Catherine tilted her head and asked Airen, "For example?"
"For example, huh..."
Airen, deep in thought, seemed to ponder for a moment before turning her gaze to Randy, asking, "For example?"
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Randy let out a surprised "Eh," causing everyone's eyes to gather on him.
"W-well... you could gather hate and act as a tank──"
"I'm a healer, though."
Randy turned away from Catherine, who had a fierce expression, saying, "Right?"
"That's enough already."
Catherine turned away sulkily, and the 4 of them exchanged glances.
"Sorry if it seemed like we were mocking you."
The group bowed their heads, but Catherine continued to face forward with her cheeks puffed out.
"I shouldn't say this, but I think the usual you is the best."
"Yes. I agree."
"Me too."
At their words, Catherine turned away, saying, "What is this all of a sudden?"
Randy thought he might have teased her too much and apologized again, heading towards the hallway where Airen had come out.
Left behind, Airen smiled softly at Catherine's profile, saying, "Heh."
"You're a good friend."
"Friend, huh──"
not.
Catherine started to say this but couldn't find the words, and Airen smiled, asking, "We're friends, right?"
"You point out my flaws without hiding them. I think that's a rare friend."
"Well..."
Catherine, somewhat hesitant, looked down, trying to hide her shy smile.
The people she thought were friends in her past life only said nice things in public.
But she knew.
They said behind her back, "That person is so annoying."
Catherine knows that Randy, Liz, and Leon, who openly tell her when they are "annoyed," are irreplaceable to her.
"Well, I think we tease too much... but you can complain without holding back too."
"That's true..."
How comforting it is to have someone with whom she can be honest.
She never thought she would share this with a rival, the villainous noble lady.
"Hey, Miss Catherine!"
Catherine looked up at the sudden voice from down the hallway.
"You have nothing to do until His Excellency's interrogation or investigation is over, right?"
Randy, Liz, and Leon were smiling at the end of the hallway.
"Since you're free, why not come over to my place and dig a hot spring?"
"Huh?"
A huge question mark escaped her at the unexpected invitation.
However, she couldn't hide her excitement at such a fun suggestion.
"Why your house?"
"Well, it would be bad to dig here without permission."
Even though Rolf is easygoing, he would get angry if they suddenly dug a hot spring.
After all, Waldner has borders and many military facilities where entry is not allowed.
"You're Japanese too, so you like hot springs, right? I found a somewhat suspicious place during winter vacation."
As the 3 waved her over, Catherine walked quickly with a twitch at the corners of her mouth, saying, "I guess I have no choice."
"I, I get the first bath, okay!"
Airen smiled softly as Catherine joined Randy and the others.
"This is nice. Once I settle down, I'll go with Miranda and... wait, a hot spring?!"
Airen, intrigued by the interesting word, stopped Randy and the others and went to talk to Rolf... of course, that's a story for another time.
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