Lisa was in the alchemy workshop—Noelle didn't dare disturb her.
And honestly, she shouldn't disturb Acting Grand Master Jean either.
Jean was exhausted. Noelle's own problems weren't something she should bring to her.
But… she happened to be delivering a late-night meal, and she'd gotten to speak with Jean.
So then…
Saying just a little more should be fine, right?
"Of course," Jean said gently.
Caring about her junior Knights was also part of her duty. Even if, truthfully, she didn't know them as well as she wished—after all, they didn't submit daily reports.
All she could do was listen, encourage, and guide where she could.
"Thank you."
Noelle looked at Jean's soft smile and suddenly remembered years ago—
after her seventh failed selection, when she already knew she'd be rejected again…
Jean had still returned her salute with that same gentle expression.
That was the moment Jean became her ideal.
Her heart steadied a little.
Noelle took a breath.
"Acting Grand Master Jean… I think I've been acting strange lately."
Jean didn't interrupt.
She simply listened.
"Ever since I came back from training at Stormbearer Mountains… I get nervous whenever I'm near Boss Kaito."
Noelle's cheeks flushed.
Jean slowly set down her pen and the document she was reviewing.
"I really want to help Boss Kaito with things… and when I can actually be useful to him, I feel so happy."
"But most of the time, he refuses."
Noelle's voice grew softer, a little pained.
Jean nodded.
"With Captain Kaeya and Senior Lisa helping… Boss Kaito doesn't refuse me as much anymore."
"But I think… I might be greedy."
Noelle exhaled a hot breath, lips rose-red like a bloom.
Her face was bright red—cute, and somehow… a little too alluring for someone who didn't realize she was doing it.
She pressed a palm to her chest.
"I want to be useful, but when I'm refused, I overthink it."
"I ran all the way here as fast as I could… and it didn't help at all."
Noelle lifted her eyes—pure, earnest, asking for help.
"Acting Grand Master Jean… It's hard to calm down after missions. What should I do?"
Jean clasped her hands together on the desk.
For a brief moment, helpless confusion flickered in her eyes.
A sweet junior Knight likes the Acting Grand Master's lover… and is asking the Acting Grand Master for romance advice.
It was… complicated.
Jean almost wanted to run to Lisa for help.
But there was no time.
Noelle was obviously in love.
Maybe she already understood that herself.
But a pure-hearted girl didn't know how to handle the feeling—so she'd fallen into uncertainty.
Jean didn't know what had happened at Stormbearer Mountains…
but Kaito was genuinely attractive. That part wasn't surprising.
After hesitating—because Noelle trusted her so much—Jean still offered a suggestion.
"…Why don't you try this?"
"When you go back, be honest and ask for a clear task list."
"If you feel anxious, step away, drink water, breathe slowly, and reset. Then try again."
"E-Eh?!"
Noelle blurted it out, stunned.
"Acting Grand Master Jean… you're not teasing me, right?"
"Try it," Jean said, steady and convincing.
She placed a hand over her own chest as she spoke—making it feel like real experience, not theory.
"Then… it should feel better."
"…O-Okay."
Noelle bowed in gratitude, then hurried out.
"Ah…"
Jean lifted a hand as if to stop her—then let it fall.
Something about this felt… odd.
As Acting Grand Master, giving a junior a suggestion like that was fine.
But as Jean…
it felt like she'd just stepped on a rake and smacked herself in the face.
…
Good Hunter.
Sara carried the last basket of leftover ingredients inside and called out, "Boss! I'm clocking out!"
"Mhm," Kaito answered from upstairs. "Don't lock the door."
"Okay!"
In the loft, Kaito was strengthening artifacts in the System panel.
It was a four-star Instructor's Cap that had dropped from the Ley Line Blossom after the Anemo Hypostasis—main stat Crit.
And he'd looted plenty of low-tier artifacts from the Eclipse Tribe—perfect fodder for upgrades.
When the fourth substat rolled into flat ATK, his head started to hurt.
In the game, the best rolls were obvious—ATK%, flat ATK, Crit Rate, Crit DMG.
But if this was real life?
HP and DEF would be better.
If someone ambushed you, at least you'd live.
Attack could be covered by the main stat.
In the game, everything rolled HP.
In reality, everything rolled ATK.
Absolutely cursed.
…
Noelle returned from the Knights' headquarters.
She pressed her lips together nervously and stepped onto the stairs.
Kaito finished the enhancement and glanced up at her.
"The salad is on the table by the ice cellar. Go get it."
Noelle shook her head.
She walked straight up to him—
and, exactly as Jean had suggested…
stepped close and gave him a quick, impulsive hug—more like gratitude than anything else.
The burning in her chest finally felt like it had somewhere to go.
Heat rushed through her body.
She buried her face against his chest and slowly tightened her arms.
"…What's wrong?" Kaito asked, genuinely confused.
Noelle was naturally strong.
If she kept squeezing like this, his waist might actually snap.
And her armor wasn't exactly comfortable, either.
That first hug had felt like getting hit by a heavy weapon.
If his body weren't already tough, he might've coughed blood.
"Acting Grand Master Jean said… I should hug you," Noelle said awkwardly.
"…"
Kaito froze.
For a second, his brain stalled.
He couldn't make sense of it.
Was this some kind of "late-night meal reward"? Or something else?
Jean wasn't that kind of person.
"…Let go first."
"N-No… I can't."
"You're squeezing too hard," Kaito said through the discomfort.
Noelle jolted in panic and hurriedly released him.
But the moment she did—
the burning feeling came back.
Kaito steadied her by the waist and looked down at her face.
Kaito steadied her by the shoulders and immediately guided her back half a step.
"Noelle. Personal space. Talk to me—what happened?"
This time, nothing dug into him.
Only warmth.
Now Kaito asked, "Alright. Tell me. What's going on?"
"Acting Grand Master Jean said it would feel better…"
Noelle's voice was small, but certain.
"And it really does."
Kaito still didn't understand why Jean would give that advice—
but Noelle shifted restlessly in his arms, and his own pulse rose with it.
Since he'd already decided to keep Noelle by his side, there was no reason to keep retreating forever.
"Noelle," Kaito said, voice low, "go bring the salad up. Don't waste it."
"Y-Yes. Leave it to me."
Even now, her reflex was the same.
She dashed downstairs and carried the salad up from the table near the ice cellar.
Kaito pulled a chair out for her and pushed the plate forward.
"Eat first. Then we'll talk."
Noelle nodded quickly, still flustered, and focused on the salad to calm her breathing.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/StrawHatStudios