(Heartfelt thanks to 'Iker Casillas,' 'Han, Leng Xin,' 'Pokémon,' 'Liufeng Zheshui,' 'Chenfeng☆,' and 'Mo Yu Linshang' for their rewards!)
"I didn't particularly mind."
Noah's sudden remark made everyone present stiffen, their expressions freezing completely.
Gagaran included.
Obviously, Gagaran had only been teasing Ibiruai with what she had just said.
After all, judging by Ibiruai's build, she looked exactly like an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl.
Under those circumstances, no matter what, Gagaran would not seriously think that way.
And if even Gagaran was like this, there was no need to mention Ibiruai, the person involved.
Because she wore a mask, no one could see Ibiruai's expression at that moment.
Yet the astonished gaze hidden beneath that mask was still subtly sensed by everyone present.
It was easy to imagine just how much Noah's sudden words had shaken Ibiruai.
As for Narberal, the battle maid's icy expression had long since collapsed. She stared at Noah with unprecedented shock and stammered.
"H-How could you allow such a lowly creature..."
Before Narberal could finish, Noah raised a hand, stopping her.
Ignoring Gagaran and Tina's astonishment, Noah looked straight at Ibiruai, smiled indifferently, and said,
"Can't be helped. I'm quite interested in you too."
Ordinarily, with the earlier words laying the groundwork, this statement should have carried a romantic atmosphere.
However, Noah's composed demeanor and faintly smiling eyes told everyone present that he had not truly meant it that way.
That made the meaning behind Noah's words worth examining closely.
The way Gagaran and Tina looked at Noah had completely changed.
Ibiruai felt as though she had been utterly seen through beneath the gaze of those deep, black eyes, and a chill rose in her heart.
Only now did the three Adamantite-Ranked Adventurers realize something.
Perhaps Noah was even less simple than Narberal.
Gagaran stared