"Ghislaine."
"What is it?"
Ghislaine twitched her silver-white ears and looked at Roxy as she pushed herself upright.
"Could you let me complain for a bit...?"
"Of course, Lady Roxy."
"Really? Thank you, Ghislaine."
A smile filled Roxy's eyes as she recalled meeting Cain at the Adventurers' Guild tavern in Ranoa.
"Ghislaine, do you know what I thought when I first saw Cain...?"
Ghislaine sat beside Roxy, swishing her silver-white tail as she listened intently.
"That handsome, aloof young Sword God looked like the last person anyone should mess with. Honestly, the moment I saw him, I thought I had no chance. Back then, I was just a Saint Rank mage who didn't know her limits, and I'd snuck out, too... Hic!"
Roxy gazed up at the brown ceiling with her blue eyes. Every sound seemed to fade away for her, including the tavern door opening and footsteps entering.
She didn't even notice Ghislaine's shocked expression. Still staring at the wooden ceiling, she went on talking to herself.
"Why did that idiot accept my invitation to team up? Even now, I can't figure it out..."
"Then I fell in love with him. He was strong and confident, fiercely loyal to his companions, and he took such good care of his foolish teacher. Any girl would have fallen for him."
"But that idiot actually liked me back. Honestly, I thought he only saw me as his teacher. What a shameless student, wanting his own teacher!"
"Mmm, I'm so happy. Hehe."
"But I'd never say it out loud."
Roxy shook her wooden beer mug, found it empty, and let her hand flop sideways. The mug clattered to the floor, then slowly rolled to the feet of a black-haired boy.
"We fell in love soon after, until the Human God appeared... Cain dealt