If I had to give a binary answer about whether I missed him or not, of course I missed him.

Yet the reason I couldn’t give an honest answer was because that question contained romantic implications.

“…How can I miss someone whose face I don’t even know?”

In the end, I chose to dodge the answer.

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Don’t you feel any desire to show me your face?”

“It’s not that I don’t feel it at all.”

After giving this ambiguous answer, the Guildmaster gently pushed my shoulders away. Our bodies are completely separated.

…I feel disappointed.

Though my heart was still beating fast, emotionally I was no longer anxious.

I no longer desperately craved another’s warmth.

The hug with the Guildmaster and our brief conversation seemed to have calmed me down.

And yet, wanting to stay close to him was…

“Please sit.”

The Guildmaster, now seated at his desk, nodded slightly.

I hesitantly sat in the chair and looked at him properly.

“Before asking why you came here, I’d like to know why you were trembling.”

I held out the watch I couldn’t throw away to him.

“I received an alarm about dangerous monsters appearing.”

“…What?”

He seemed to wonder why I was making such a fuss when I must have seen vicious monsters almost daily before quitting the Center.

I willingly explained the reason.

“I had a dream last night. In the dream, I was still working as a guide, but I died during a mission.”

“….”

“I saw the brutal scene of my limbs being torn apart. Even as I was dying, I desperately hoped someone would help me, but no one did.”

“Oh my.”

“So I was especially startled today. I wondered if it might have been a prophetic dream.”

“There’s absolutely no chance reality will turn out like that dream.”

The Guildmaster’s voice was cold, filled with certainty.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because in that dream, no one helped you, but in reality, there’s someone who will help you.”

“Could it be Honey?”

“Yes. I can’t ignore my clients when they’re in trouble.”

Those words felt somehow familiar.

I easily recalled similar words I’d heard from another man.

“I wanted to be on Guide Yerena’s side when she was in trouble.”

“….”

“Not for life, of course, just for that moment.”

Those were Duncan’s words that had deeply moved me.

As if enchanted, I asked the Guildmaster.

“For life?”

“At least as long as we remain business partners.”

It was a disappointing response. Apparently, I had hoped he would say he’d help me for life.

Though there couldn’t be ‘forever’ for us who are merely business partners…

“Now for the next question. Why did you rush here?”

I readily told him about the shocking conversation about Duncan that I’d heard at the café, without pressing further.

“…So you want to contact or meet Duncan through me?”

“Yes. Since I can’t go to the Center myself.”

“Do you like Duncan? Enough to want to protect that reliable-looking man?”

“Duncan is definitely a good person. It’s natural to like good people. And since he helped me a lot, I can’t ignore his crisis.”

“Then who do you like more, me or him?”

It was such a childish question.

It’s not even like choosing between mom and dad. Do we really need to rank this?

Well, childishness deserves childishness.

I gave an equally childish answer.

“Hmm. If Honey promises to help me for life, I think I might like you more than Duncan.”

“For life…”

The Guildmaster’s contemplation didn’t last long.

“I think a human life isn’t that long. It seems okay to live that short journey carrying you as my burden.”

“A burden?”

The burden in question was starting to feel offended.

“A light and pretty burden.”

I couldn’t tell if that was a compliment or an insult.

But since he called me pretty, maybe I’ll let it slide this once?

“A burden so precious it wouldn’t hurt even if I put it in my eye.”

He cherishes me that much?

“I’ll hold you preciously.”

I had to surrender to those words whispered like a final statement.

I hereby become your light, pretty, and precious burden that wouldn’t hurt even if put in your eye, amen.

“Now, there must be something you need to say.”

The Guildmaster’s hand on the desk slowly reached out and lightly touched my fingertips.

I spoke the expected answer.

“I like Honey more than Duncan.”

“….”

A satisfied smile bloomed on the Guildmaster’s lips.

Soon after, as if belatedly noticing his smile had reached his ears, he covered his mouth with his hand.

His smiling face. I want to see it straight on.

I was very curious about his face, which he seemed to have no intention of revealing.

“Haha. My client really likes me a lot.”

The Guildmaster’s shoulders rose slightly as he laughed.

Sadly for him in his self-satisfaction, I poured cold water on his thoughts.

“I’m saying I like you more under the assumption that there are only two men in this world.”

“After telling me you like me, let’s not be so cold.”

In that case, I could speak more warmly.

“I’m not interested in any men other than you two. The people I knew at the Center were closer to demons than men…”

“So I’m number one among all men? That’s warm.”

The Guildmaster perked up, having finally received a satisfactory answer. He seemed quite stubborn in his own way.

At that moment, Bless fluttered over and lightly pecked at the back of my hand.

─Kyuu kyuu.

‘I’m a male too.’

He said this while pushing out his belly, trying to show off his masculinity.

“Which ladybird are you going to marry, Bless?”

─Kyuu!

‘Hmph!’

“Hmmmm?”

I mimicked Bless’s tone, and the Guildmaster copied mine.

“Hmm?”

Bless even ducked into my robe. As if refusing any further conversation.

Though I’m glad he didn’t storm out of the room completely, was the mention of marriage that offensive?

“He said ‘hmph’? Must be going through a rebellious phase.”

“…Let’s get back to what we were discussing.”

“Yes! Will you contact Duncan for me?”

“Though I’m not happy about arranging meetings with other men. But since it’s my precious burden’s earnest wish, I have no choice but to comply. After all, I am the number one man.”

“I think ‘client’ sounds better than ‘burden.'”

“Weren’t you horrified by that title before?”

“If you call me something stranger, I’ll start calling you ‘wild honey’ instead of Honey. Or maybe ‘wasp’? Or ‘invasive species’?”

“Invasive… what?”

“Hahaha.”

Maybe ‘invasive species’ was too much.

I let out a good-natured laugh.

“So ‘burden’ is a bit…”

“Understood, client. Then how about this evening?”

I guess being called number one paid off. I didn’t expect a date invitation to come so quickly.

There was a restaurant I wanted to try on the outskirts of the capital – I should suggest going there.

It was a place I hadn’t dared visit alone.

I smiled brightly as if I’d forgotten that today was Yerena’s death day in the original story.

“Evening sounds perfect! I know this restaurant. But, I can’t dress up nicely. Since I need to hide my identity, the robe is essential.”

“….”

“But Honey, isn’t this date invitation a bit too sudden? Hehe.”

“Pardon? I was talking about meeting with Duncan.”

“It wasn’t a date invitation?”

“You’re already living your life quite happily, I see.”

I knew what meaning was hidden in his roundabout expression. He meant I was living in delusion.

“Living in delusion might be the shortcut to living happily in this world.”

I remembered the words the Guildmaster had said before.

What date invitation was I thinking of?

“…Pfft. Fine then. I’ll have a happy time with second-place Duncan!”

“You’d be happier with the number one man.”

“The number one man must be so busy. What have you been doing to be so busy all this time?”

The Guildmaster’s languid smile began to harden.

His lips, which had nearly reached his ears, drooped downward.

He seemed to be recalling things that had troubled him all this time.