I Picked up a Corrupted Heroine (The Secret Boss), and When I Spoiled Her, She Became Uncontrollably Affectionate With Me - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: The Saint of the Moon Wants a Hug

[Asta side]

Alicia turned her back and walked away in silence. Then she glanced back for just a second, with a bright smile that somehow looked like it might disappear—

“I love you from the bottom of my heart.”

She said it.

For a moment, I couldn’t understand what the words meant. Love? Me? From the bottom of her heart…? So that means…

Alicia likes me!?

By the time I realized it, Alicia had already turned the corner.

“Alicia! Wait, I feel the same way about you—”

I ran after her right away and turned the corner. But Alicia was nowhere to be seen.

“She disappeared…?”

It couldn’t have been more than ten seconds since she turned the corner. Did she hide somewhere in that time? But why?

“Anyway, I have to find her…”

And I need to figure out what she really meant by those words. If that was actually a love confession, how happy would that make me? Please… let it be real…!

I ran all over the port city at night looking for Alicia.

――◇――◇――◇――

“Finally found her…!”

Alicia was sitting at the pier, staring blankly at the waves.

When I got closer, she turned around, eyes wide with surprise.

“You actually found me…”

“I looked… pretty hard.”

“…I can tell.”

Alicia noticed the sweat on my forehead—

“…Did you look for me because you were worried I might turn into a witch?”

“That’s… not it. I wanted to ask what you meant by those words earlier.”

“……That’s…”

Alicia hesitated for a second with a troubled look. Then she pouted a little and spoke.

“T-That was… just a kind of sarcasm.”

“Sarcasm?”

“Yeah, I was a bit annoyed.”

Sarcasm, huh. But that expression seemed way too full of real emotion for sarcasm.

“Are you sure… it was sarcasm?”

“Yes, obviously. If it wasn’t, what else would it be?”

Alicia didn’t even glance at me and kept her back turned as she said it.

Ah… I messed up. I’m the worst. I got all defensive and said things I didn’t need to say, and I hurt Alicia… If I was going to do that, I should have at least confessed and gotten rejected.

“…Are you done asking questions? If so, please… just leave me alone.”

“Alicia…”

I could only say her name.

While I was holding my head trying to figure out what to do—

“—Alicia!”

A man’s voice came from behind us.

When I turned around, a good-looking young man was running over.

“…Hero… Why are you here…”

Alicia frowned when she saw the young man—the hero. The hero came up to her and grabbed her shoulders.

“Alicia! I was looking for you. I never thought you’d be in a city like this…”

“…Why do people I don’t want to talk to keep showing up one after another?”

“A-Alicia?”

Alicia ignored the hero’s words. She stayed quiet and looked down for a moment, then—

“…I’m sorry. I have no plans to go back with you.”

“W-Why…!”

“I… found something I really want to do from the bottom of my heart. Plus… staying with you any longer would be painful.”

“A-Alicia…!”

Alicia stood up and walked away with her back to the hero and the sea. Of course the hero tried to follow her, but—

Right then, I got a feeling that made my whole body break out in goosebumps.

“…No way.”

I quickly turned toward the sea and—

“!? ”

What I saw was a giant dragon.

It had a long, thin body like a snake and was so huge it looked like it could fill the entire sea.

The next second, the dragon opened its massive mouth toward us and started gathering power.

“No—! Both of you, watch out!”

I grabbed both their hands and pulled them down to the ground.

“W-What are you—!?”

I ignored the confused hero and dropped to the ground myself.

In that instant, a pale blue beam shot right over our heads.

“What was that just now…? N-No, more importantly, that monster…!?”

The hero stepped back when he saw the dragon and muttered.

“Sea Dragon… Leviathan…”

It was the boss monster from an event that happens in the port city.

I had completely forgotten about it because of the Alicia stuff, but it showed up at this exact timing…!

“—GYAOOOO!!!”

When I heard Leviathan’s huge roar, fear took over my heart and my legs shook a little.

But I fought off the fear and stood up.

Leviathan’s “roar” gives the “fear” status effect to anyone who hears it, right…? I luckily resisted it, but the other two…

“Are you two okay?”

When I looked at them, both seemed totally fine.

“I’m okay. As the hero, mental interference attacks don’t work on me at all.”

“I’m pretty much the same and I’m fine too…”

“I see. That’s good then.”

While I was feeling relieved, Alicia muttered something with a serious face.

“…Mental interference attacks don’t work… Then I can’t erase his memories…!”

“Alicia? Is something wrong?”

“No… it’s nothing. More importantly, this is bad.”

I nodded at Alicia’s words.

The situation really was bad.

Normally, Leviathan is a monster the hero can only beat after careful preparation and help from his party. But the hero had been busy searching for Alicia the whole time… so he didn’t have the prep or the fighting strength.

“—For now, I’ll try to do something.”

“H-Hero!?”

The hero suddenly jumped high and landed on Leviathan’s body. Whoa… that’s the hero for you…

Looks like he’s handling his side, so I need to think of something too…

“…I have to protect Asta.”

“Alicia…? What’s going on?”

“…Because that’s not an opponent you can beat, right?”

“…Haha, you really say it straight.”

She was right…

My physical ability was only around C-rank adventurer level at best. No way I could fight Leviathan.

But—

“In a situation where someone important to me might be in danger, I can’t just sit out, can I?”

“Someone… important? Who exactly are you talking about…?”

“That’s you, Alicia.”

When I answered right away, Alicia’s eyes widened a little in surprise.

“…I’m important to you even though we just met? You say weird things. Are you the same as the hero? Saying stuff that makes people get the wrong idea—”

“That’s not it. I don’t say this to just anyone. It’s because it’s you, Alicia… that you’re important.”

“…You can say anything with just words.”

“Then what do I have to do…”

Alicia put a hand on her chin and thought for a bit, then—

“H-Hug me.”

She said it with her cheeks a little red.

“If I’m really important to you, you can do that much, right? Come on…!”

Alicia turned her face away with a huff.

I—didn’t hesitate and pulled her body into my arms.