It was some kind of watch.

“You can throw away the Center’s watch now.”

The Guildmaster didn’t just hand over the watch but fastened it on my wrist.

The watch, adorned with pink cubic zirconia around its edges, wasn’t flashy but was very pretty.

And it fit my wrist perfectly as if it had been custom-made.

“This isn’t just a watch, but one that can replace your communication device.”

“Can it be used for communication?”

“Yes. It enables communication and can also be set up with alerts related to our monsters’ deployments.”

This was exactly the watch I needed now. Much more than the Center’s watch that had been through so much with me.

It was perfect as a benefit of being number one.

The Guildmaster added meaningfully:

“And it’s even a couple watch.”

As he rolled up his sleeve, a smooth arm with a silver watch came into view.

Though different in color and size, it was a matching couple watch of the same design.

“This is my first time having a couple watch!”

“Same here.”

“I love it so much. Thank you.”

The Guildmaster nodded with satisfaction.

“And since the Pteros don’t have wrists for watches, I gave them modified necklace versions.”

The Guildmaster explained in detail how to use the watch.

The watch’s performance was comparable to the one made by the Center.

“…Wow. But this seems like something that could only be made by an Esper with blacksmith abilities. As far as I know, that Esper belongs to Chelsea Center…”

To prevent misuse, blacksmith ability users were restricted in using their powers.

I was curious how the Guildmaster had managed to recruit them.

“Well… as you know, I have extensive connections.”

“Right. You communicate easily with Duncan and even know about monster appearances faster than anyone else. It’s amazing. Someone might think you’re an insider at the Center.”

“An insider at the Center? Absolutely not. I detest such stuffy organizations.”

“Right. There’s no way Honey would belong to such a place. I don’t think Duncan would hire you either.”

“….”

“Honey keeps so many secrets, right? Duncan seems to like honest people.”

“Haha.”

Making a dry laugh, the Guildmaster tried to change the subject.

“How will you dispose of the Center’s watch?”

“I wonder. How should I throw it away? Should I break it?”

“Give it to me. I’ll take care of it.”

I handed over the Center’s watch to the Guildmaster without much thought.

That watch’s purpose was only until Yerena’s death date. There was no more use for it.

After Yerena’s death date, whatever monster appeared wasn’t my concern anymore.

I was now free from the Center and guide duties.

“The sun is setting now, can I go meet Duncan?”

“No.”

“What?”

He arranged the meeting himself but now says I can’t go.

How contradictory is that?

“So after getting everything you wanted, now you’re going off to have an affair?”

“A-a-affair! What kind of relationship do we have?”

“The relationship between Honey and dear client. We’re even wearing a couple watches.”

Is this jealousy or just teasing?

“I’m sorry. But I really need to meet Duncan.”

“If you insist this much, I guess I have no choice.”

It must have been teasing. I couldn’t expect sincerity from the Guildmaster who always treated our relationship as a joke.

I tried hard to smile to hide my complicated feelings.

I couldn’t be sincere with someone who wasn’t sincere with me.

“I guess your number one has to take you to number two.”

I wonder how long he’ll keep playing with these numbers.

I wanted to mock his childishness, but I didn’t. Because despite his insincerity, I was grateful for how much he had helped me.

The Guildmaster stayed by my side despite being busy, gave me a watch, and even arranged a meeting with number two.

I heard he sent a letter to Duncan through a guild employee – it’s impressive that he managed to arrange a meeting with Duncan just through a letter.

“Shall we go?”

The Guildmaster, who stood up first, naturally took my hand.

After all that talk about couple watches, he seemed more comfortable with skinship than before.

I quietly followed him.

***

At an inn on the outskirts of the capital. After waiting for a while in the empty room of the inn that the Guildmaster had guided me to, Duncan entered.

Duncan’s face, which I hadn’t seen in a long time, had become unbelievably gaunt.

I felt down thinking it might be my fault that his once-handsome face had become so thin.

“I’m sorry.”

Perhaps that’s why an apology came out as my first words.

Duncan, sitting across from me, tilted his head.

“Have you done something wrong to me? Like evaluating me lower than others…”

“Evaluation?”

Surely the Guildmaster hadn’t told Duncan about him being number two.

“No, I don’t do evaluations like that. And after how much you’ve helped me, Duncan, I couldn’t possibly think less of you than others.”

“Am I your number one?”

“…Are rankings really important?”

“….”

Duncan’s gaze suddenly turned serious.

That was definitely a face saying it was important. Damn.

No, why are there so many men obsessed with rankings today?

I decided to change the subject.

“By the way, Duncan. Are you alright? I heard news that palace investigators are going in and out of the Center. You must have had trouble because of me.”

“I can’t say I’m fine. I’m getting quite a beating from Lady Rosie and Lord Benjamin.”

“I’m sorry.”

Duncan slowly shook his head.

“It’s not because of Guide Yerena. It’s more because I provoked Lord Benjamin. He’s not one to accept defeat.”

“How thoughtful. Your kind words warm my heart.”

The Guildmaster’s voice asking me to speak warmly echoed in my ears. Now I understood how he felt.

“But there’s no chance they’ll find out I’m alive, right?”

“No. That won’t happen. I’m certain about that. I’m confident I won’t lose to them on this.”

“….”

“However, it might be better to refrain from meetings like today from now on. Although I was careful not to leave any trails, you never know.”

“Oh no, did I do something unnecessary? I was just worried…”

Duncan shook his head again.

“No. I was actually thinking I should meet you too. I needed to tell you it would be better to leave the log cabin because of the palace investigators…”

“….”

“May I ask if you have another place to stay? You haven’t been coming to the log cabin lately.”

“Ah! I found another safe place and have been staying there.”

“I told you to stay at the log cabin as much as you wanted, but now it feels like I’m driving you out. I’m sorry.”

“No, Duncan. I was thinking I should move somewhere else anyway. You don’t need to be sorry.”

Duncan said thank you. I could feel the sincerity in his words.

He really was such a kind person.

“And I was concerned about parting without saying goodbye. We should at least say proper farewells, shouldn’t we?”

“When you say it like that, it sounds like we’re saying goodbye forever.”

I truly felt sad about parting with Duncan.

The farewell was particularly sad because it was hard to gauge when we might meet again.

If we had met somewhere else, not as Center Director and employee, could our relationship have continued?

I dropped my head weakly.

“And today is particularly safe as the three Allen knights are focused on someone else. Thank you for requesting this meeting.”

The other person the three men were focusing on – it had to be Olivia.

It seems Olivia appeared today as planned and was receiving their attention.

According to the novel’s flow, in the predetermined order.

I felt relieved. It seemed I could finally escape from the three men’s inexplicable persistence toward me.

And as planned, the character ‘Yerena’ would be completely forgotten among them.

“What do you mean by someone else?”

I asked him to confirm that things were proceeding according to the original story.

“We’ve brought a guide to the Center who looks exactly like Lady Diana. It was truly fortunate.”

“Oh.my.goodness!”

I showed my well-prepared practiced reaction.

Duncan’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me.

“Now that she’s become Allen Knights’ exclusive guide, Guide Yerena will be completely free.”

“That’s.per.fect!”

At that moment, Bless, who was hidden in my robe, chirped.

─Kyu.kyu.kyu.kyu!

‘Acting sucks!’

“….”

Hey, is this really rebellion?

Where did you learn such bad words!