IF Side Story. Marc

It had been a while since he’d had a good job.

With the dramatic decrease in undead appearances, mercenaries had fewer jobs.

At first, the rough men who excitedly toasted along with everyone else at the news that the bone dragon had been defeated came to their senses too late. Their pockets were getting thinner.

Oh dear.

They needed to do something to put food on the table.

Marc, one of those rough men, was lamenting his increasingly impoverished state to a fellow mercenary when he heard about construction work.

There was no thrill of swinging weap*ns and cutting, and it would likely be a swamp of labor more exhausting than expected, but the pay was good.

In no position to be picky, Marc lurked around a construction site in Elmon’s 7th District. And fortunately, he managed to secure a job.

They were building a museum, he heard.

He didn’t understand why they were constructing such a useless thing, but it was useful to Marc in that it provided him with a means to earn money.

So he was spending his days working diligently when…….

<They’re recruiting mercenaries? The undead have appeared!>

A voice that someone had shot up spread like wildfire in an instant.

Most likely, the labor force at construction sites these days was filled almost entirely with mercenaries. At the news of undead subjugation, which would obviously pay much better than carrying bricks, those who had been posing as laborers instantly threw off their work clothes and transformed into mercenaries.

Marc, who had been carrying marble, was no exception.

The creatures that had appeared were low-level undead ghouls.

It was a simple job.

But the pay was enormous.

“Ah. How long has it been since I earned money this easily.”

It was the first naturally occurring undead in three years.

Marc took a deep breath, smelling the scent of money. It felt so good.

This is it.

This is the taste of earning money.

“Hey, Marc. Want to grab a drink?”

His longtime comrade Jack, who had dragged him into the swamp of labor, asked. They had become rather close after fighting numerous battles together.

“Sounds good.”

Marc nodded readily.

It had been a while since he’d been to a tavern. After swinging his sword with excitement, having a refreshing drink didn’t sound bad.

Entering the tavern, a boisterous atmosphere flowed. Perhaps many were like Marc and Jack, coming to unwind after a job, as the tavern was mostly occupied by mercenaries. Familiar faces were visible everywhere.

Finding a suitable spot, Marc downed beer with tender roasted pork as a side dish. Jack joined him on this refreshing journey.

“To think that weak healer became the Empress.”

Perhaps because it had been a while since they’d been on a subjugation,

Jack brought up Seraphina, cackling, reminiscing about old times.

Marc, who had just been thinking about her, jumped with surprise. Well, Jack seemed too absorbed in his own story to notice that reaction.

“It’s already been three years.”

“How long has it been since it was revealed she wasn’t a healer?”

“Yeah, yeah. Purifier. And an even more special Divine Purifier, right? Anyway, you live and learn. I can still see it clearly. How she trembled despite being in the safest position at the rear. Heheh.”

As Jack’s rambling continued, Marc sank into reminiscence.

Once, they had been so close.

The simple daily life of carrying her to the subjugation area because she couldn’t ride a horse alone for fear of falling, unwinding together after a job, and comforting the dejected person who couldn’t contribute before sending her off…..

He missed those days.

What if…….

“What would have happened if she hadn’t taken the Purifier test?”

Jack answered Marc’s mumbled question.

“What would happen? She’d just keep living as a weak healer.”

“I suppose so.”

Marc nodded bitterly as he tilted his beer glass.

Ugh.

It’s bitter.

He missed Seraphina when she was a weak healer. If she hadn’t become entangled with the fearsome three heroes and had stayed by his side…….

What kind of life would they be living now?

* * *

“Marc, you’re home?”

Hearing the welcoming voice as soon as he entered the house, the fatigue that had weighed on his shoulders from running around the construction site all day vanished as if it were a lie.

Marc tightly embraced Seraphina, who greeted him with a beautiful smile.

“I thought I’d die missing you all day.”

“……Me too.”

Her voice was as tiny as an ant’s urine, perhaps from embarrassment. But even such words coming from this timid person’s mouth was a big improvement.

He was happy.

Marc loved this ordinary, simple daily life. A wife who warmly welcomed him when he returned home after a hard day’s work. The appetizing smell of food vibrating through the air in time for dinner.

“What’s for dinner tonight?”

“I tried making roast pork, which you like.”

“What? You handled that big pig with these delicate hands?”

“Hehe……”

Seeing her blush shyly, Marc felt like he owned the whole world. Seraphina made roast pork for me!

Thinking about Seraphina who had worked hard all day to feed him something delicious, his heart felt both touched and tender.

“Thank you. You’re really the best.”

“I-I’m not sure how it will taste.”

Seraphina mumbled in an uncertain voice. Marc met her eyes and spoke with confidence.

“Of course it will be delicious. Who made it after all?”

“But……. W-what if it d-doesn’t taste good?”

“It will definitely be delicious. Don’t worry about such unnecessary things.”

Marc comforted her sincerely. His gentle touch stroking her brown hair was dripping with affection.

He would eat any dish with pleasure, but Seraphina still looked anxious.

Anyway.

This cute person.

I keep telling her to have some confidence.

“I’m starving to death. Keeping me at the door with this smell is t*rture.”

“Th-then shall we go eat quickly?”

Seraphina headed to the kitchen, radiating tension. Marc followed her and sat at the table.

“Wow. This is amazing!”

It was true.

To think he could eat such a delicious roast pork at home!

“I’m telling you, I’m a lucky man.”

Marc laughed happily as he took a bite of meat. She had put so much care into it that it melted on his tongue after just a few chews.

To think she would be so nervous despite having such incredible cooking skills!

“If you opened a restaurant with this, every other restaurant in Elmon would have to close!”

“R-really?”

“Try it yourself. Then you’ll feel foolish for worrying, won’t you?”

At Marc’s encouragement, Seraphina also carefully took a bite of meat. She cutely blushed her cheeks and chewed slowly. It seems she also found it delicious.

“How is it?”

“I-it’s delicious!”

Finally, the cloud of worry cleared from her face.

Conversation blossomed over the dining table.

They looked like a happy family.

* * *

The boisterous noise flowed into his ears.

Marc, who had been lost in thought for a moment, quickly came to his senses and looked around. He quickly composed his expression, worried that he might have been making a stupid face while trapped in vain fantasies.

Fortunately, Jack was busy rambling about whatever he wanted to talk about under the influence of alcohol. He didn’t seem to care whether his companion was listening or not.

Marc fiddled with the glass in his hand.

An ordinary civilian life.

That’s exactly how it could be defined.

He would do rough work outside to protect the family, while Seraphina would comfortably maintain the home without having to go to the battlefield she feared so much…….

A life that was nothing special but happy.

“I wonder if I miss how she used to be.”

To think he would recall Seraphina from when she was extremely timid.

Marc tilted his head, wondering why he had done that.

He had certainly cheered for and been proud of Seraphina when she found her confidence. The problem was that the catalyst for regaining that confidence was passing the Purifier test. The very event that made Seraphina start to feel distant.

“Her current self looks better. Of course.”

Jack raised one eyebrow as he watched Marc muttering to himself.

“What are you saying? Are you already drunk?”

“Confident and cool! I’ll support her wherever she is!”

“Support who? Hey, stop drinking.”

Jack, fearing he would have to clean up after Marc, tried to stop him from gulping down his drink. But even as alcohol dripped down his chin, Marc didn’t seem to care as he emptied the large glass in one go.

“One more drink here, please!”

“My, this friend is doing something unusual.”

“I’m in a good mood for the first time in a while.”

Marc grinned.

Seeing this, Jack gave up trying to stop him and ordered another drink for himself too. Yes. It had been a while since they’d had a good job. Days like this happen.

The two men rode the merry tavern atmosphere.

Marc recalled the last day he saw Seraphina.

It was about a year ago.

She had invited him to the imperial palace and treated him. She acted comfortably with him, but Marc could instinctively tell.

She had become too distant a being now.

They could never go back to how things were before.

Thinking of his friend who had become a being above the clouds, Marc tilted his glass. Unlike his outward appearance of laughing and chattering excitedly, his mouth tasted very bitter.

It meant that someone else was enjoying a sweet life.

Even if she’s distant, I’ll support her from anywhere.

Be happy, Seraphina!

In a small tavern in the peaceful Empire, someone’s ordinary day was passing by.

『Not the Female Lead, But An Extra』 Side Story End

T/N: ngl, these IF side stories made me sad (◞‸ ◟) But this is where it ends. Thanks to everyone who read this! Please consider supporting the author too~