Chapter 246 - Interlude
"Yes, well then, tomorrow… no, not at all. Thank you for taking my call on such short notice."
In a small office, a man ended the call with a final greeting, leaned back in his chair, and let out a deep sigh. He was about to fully relax when he remembered the other presence in the room and straightened his back.
From now on, they would have some dealings with each other. As they would be sharing various things, he knew he needed to set aside his reservations and build trust… but as he received the gaze of the girl, a good decade his junior, he found himself consumed by a level of nervousness he had never experienced in his life.
"So… how did it go?"
It was their first time meeting today, so she was just as unaccustomed to this as he was. But the tension that graced the beautiful features of the 'girl' sitting on the visitor's sofa was minuscule compared to his.
Players who constantly battled literal monsters in that other world—and warriors who were their equals, if not their superiors—tended to possess an extraordinary mental fortitude.
Those who threw themselves into adventure on a daily basis over there often had a level of courage and adaptability that far exceeded the average person's.
This was even more true for the highest-ranking players, starting with the Title Holders. When it came to 'her,' who was arguably the very embodiment of that group, he couldn't help but think she probably wouldn't feel nervous around most people.
"I didn't want to be too forceful, so… I went through the proper channels. It looks like it will be 'tomorrow' at the earliest."
In that case, the slight tension swimming in her red eyes wasn't directed at him. That emotion was surely aimed at 'that young man' who undoubtedly occupied her thoughts.
Just one day… but she had been told of the need for an unshakeable 'patience.'
Her eyes, narrowed as if in haste; her lips, pursed slightly, unable to conceal her dissatisfaction—all of it was a manifestation of her feelings for that one 'young man.'
"I see."
Seeing through her inner thoughts, even her prim expression, as if to say 'I don't mind,' looked rather cute… No, it was still too soon to be making such flippant remarks.
"As planned, once we finish all the paperwork… well, I'll contact you as soon as all the preparations are complete. Until then, please wait patiently."
"…I understand. Thank you."
The empty coffee cup clinked against the desk as the 'girl' nodded and stood up.
"Thank you for the coffee. And again—I look forward to working with you."
"…The pleasure is all mine. I can't thank you enough for your offer of cooperation."
He had to admit, it took a considerable amount of courage to take the small hand offered to him… but a grown man couldn't show such a pathetic side to a younger woman.
As he returned the handshake with his signature poker face, 'she' responded with a smile that was still just a little awkward.
"I'm much younger than you. You don't need to use formal language either, Chitose."
She was following the agreement they'd made beforehand about dropping the pleasantries. In response, the man called Chitose,
"…Understood. Likewise, I'm counting on you, Princess."
—squeezed the words out, his facial muscles threatening to stiffen with tension if he let his guard down. He and the black-haired girl he called 'Princess' exchanged a mutually clumsy smile.
Merry Christmas!