S-Rank Adventurer Betrayed by His Fiancée in the Hero’s Party Sets Off on a Journey to Heal His Broken Heart ~The Strongest Betrayed Adventurer Ends Up Forming a Harem Party~ - Chapter 54: Some Sisterly Advice

Chapter 54: Some Sisterly Advice

The day after we visited Granny Crim’s place.

That request she gave me?

It went through the guild and got officially registered.

Even the Guildmaster and some big-shot noble caught wind of it.

Not that it changed much.

After all, I’m still the only guy around who can realistically go toe-to-toe with a dragon.

So yeah—approval passed smoother than warm butter.

Apparently, a few higher-ups muttered something like, “Wouldn’t it be better if she died somewhere else?”

But that idea got tossed out faster than a moldy sandwich.

See, land saturated with mana brings fertility and abundance.

If Granny Crim released her magic around here when she passed, the sea nearby would turn into a treasure trove of magical resources.

Sure, it’d also attract stronger, nastier monsters…

But with the Demon Lord already defeated, the region could become a hotspot for high-level adventurers.

Maybe even a goldmine for the right folks.

So yeah—it was settled.

Carina, and any other major threats? We’d handle them.

Minimal evacuation for tourists, large-scale commissions for adventurers.

The whole thing ballooned into a pretty major operation.

But in the end, it all came together nicely.

And sure, we may have dumped one massive headache into the lap of that poor public safety chief—

AKA everyone’s favorite overworked middle manager—

But for once?

This time it had nothing to do with him.

His ulcer’s safe. Probably. Maybe. Hopefully…

Anyway, by the time we wrapped everything up and got back to the hotel, it was already night.

“Whew… That public bath downstairs really hits the spot.”

I’d just gotten out of the hotel’s shared hot spring bath and muttered to myself.

Not the fancy rooftop one connected to my suite—nope.

I’ve been avoiding that place ever since I almost got devoured by a pack of literal man-eating beasts in the form of seductive women.

There’s only one entrance to that rooftop bath, after all.

And if the only outcomes are getting eaten alive or becoming that guy—the “naked flying pervert” from the headlines—

Yeah. I’d rather stay anonymous, thanks.

“—Yeah, I’m still kinda stuck. I mean… I just need a bit more time, y’know?”

I muttered to myself in the empty hotel lobby.

Nobody around to hear it—not that it mattered.

Just talking to the air, trying to make sense of the emotional mess still swirling inside my chest.

I hadn’t exactly come to terms with everything about Millia yet.

Even just Elmie and the others was enough to shock me—then Raynare swooped in outta nowhere with a full-on surprise proposal.

Her flirting was so ridiculously over-the-top, I couldn’t even tell if I was supposed to be flattered or just straight-up overwhelmed.

I mean seriously…!

I might be starving, sure, but you don’t just throw an entire buffet in front of me and expect me to know what to eat first!

When you’re hungry, you’re supposed to dig in, right?

But when there’s too much on the table, you freeze.

You wanna eat, but your hands just… don’t move.

And so, I hadn’t taken a step toward anyone.

Not as a man, anyway.

—Still, after soaking in the bath, I could finally breathe again.

A rare moment of peace. Alone.

“…Granny Crim… Was she doing worse than I thought?”

I looked up at the ceiling, letting my thoughts wander as the words drifted out.

It’d been, what… about two years now?

I used to stop by her place pretty often.

But lately, I hadn’t made the time.

Not that I’m blaming myself or anything… but still.

I never imagined Granny Crim would be the one growing weaker.

“Thinking back… we’ve known each other for a long time, huh?”

It all started back then.

Every time I passed through the area, I’d swing by her place.

Share a meal. Chat a little.

Sure, our first meeting involved me groveling in the dirt, but after that?

Things with Granny Crim weren’t half bad.

During those three years where I was basically grinding myself into dust,

The time I spent with her was one of the few chances I ever had to actually relax.

She always fed me something delicious.

We’d talk about anything and everything—my love life, my struggles…

Though, to be fair, I did most of the talking.

But still—

“…Granny Crim. Y’know, you really don’t get humans. Or me, for that matter.”

Just dropping the whole “I’m dying soon” bomb like it’s no big deal.

Maybe for a dragon, it isn’t a big deal.

But for us humans, when something sad hits us out of nowhere…

We can’t just brush it off.

At least, I can’t.

Just like how I tried to look away from Millia’s betrayal at first…

I didn’t want to face this either.

“…So now, after Millia… I’m losing Grandma too, huh…”

From what she said, Carina would be back in about a week.

Which also meant—

That’s how much time Granny Crim had left.

“…What the hell am I supposed to do with that…”

The words rasped out of me.

You can’t just dump something like that on a guy and expect him to process it like it’s nothing.

I mean… come on.

And then—

“Guess who~?”

Someone suddenly crept up behind me and covered my eyes with both hands.

I’d thought I was alone.

The gesture felt weirdly familiar…

Like it had happened before.

But this time—

Something was different.

“Maria.”

“Fufufu, bingo! As expected of you, Abel.”

Her voice wasn’t dripping with the usual sultry, clingy charm—it was soft, gentle.

Warm and steady, like a dependable big sister.

Yup. Had to be Maria.

She pulled her hands away from my eyes and leaned over the back of the sofa, peeking at me with that familiar teasing grin.

“Is it really okay to let someone sneak up on you like that?”

“I mean… I noticed. But since it was you guys, I figured—whatever.”

“Oooh, I’m flattered~ That means you trust your big sisters that much, huh?”

Still grinning, Maria looped around and dropped into the seat across from me.

“So? You forgiving Raynare too? She’s always climbing all over you.”

“That’s… more like I can’t dodge her. It’s not like I’m letting it happen.”

“Well, I say it’s fine. She’s seriously into you, y’know? Like, head-over-heels level.”

“Y-Yeah, but… I still can’t get over the whole ‘used to be a guy’ thing…”

I mean, yeah, we only fought that one night, and she’s been in her girl form for way longer since then.

I know Maria and her sister are super chill about same-gender stuff, but me? I’m not quite there yet.

Also, my brain still hasn’t completely processed that the so-called “Progenitor” is officially a woman now.

I’m working on it, okay!?

“Geez, you’re such a handful.”

Maria gave me a smile like she was looking at a helpless little brother.

Her silky purple hair was still damp from the bath, clinging softly to her neck, which was slightly flushed.

She wasn’t in that scandalous negligee from before—thankfully—but even her casual loungewear was pretty revealing.

Nothing vulgar, just… that dangerously healthy kind of unhealthy temptation.

“…You know this isn’t exactly hotel lobby attire, right? What are you even doing down here?”

“Hm~ Abel looked super down, so I came to check on you.”

“…Huh.”

“If I’m being honest, it was kind of a sneak attack, maybe?”

W-Was it really that obvious…?

“Was I acting weird or something?”

“Totally. For you, that was some top-tier sulking. I mean, anyone would be rattled if someone close suddenly told them they were dying. I figured your brain must be doing somersaults right about now.”

Maria tilted her head at me, her expression soft with real concern.

Being called sulky stung a little, but…

Thinking back on it—yeah, she had a point.

“It might be hard to talk about this stuff, but y’know? Just saying it out loud to someone helps. Like your big sister here.”

“…Thanks, Maria.”

“If you ever wanna take my hand too, I won’t stop you~”

“…M-Maybe someday, okay?”

I gave a wry smile as a trickle of sweat slid down my temple.

Still—just knowing she’d waited this long, watching over me the whole time…

It meant more than I could put into words.

I really need to try not to blow this.

“…It’s been almost two years since I first met Granny Crim. Remember when I left, about three months after the Hero’s party set out? I spent that time training with everyone—and yeah, that’s when it all started. Been about half a year since then.”

“You went to see her ‘cause you wanted a magic sword, right?”

“Yeah. To make one, I needed materials from a really powerful monster, so I figured… Maybe she’d be willing to part with some. But instead of just handing me the materials—she actually forged the whole sword for me.”

The Azure Ice Sword—Granny Crim crafted it herself using her own claws and fangs.

She even embedded a shard of her strength into it, using [Dragon Magic].

Basically, it’s a magic sword infused with the power of a dragon.

“In return, she just asked me to stop by and talk with her every now and then. That was the deal…”

So I started telling Maria—little by little.

About the kinds of conversations I’d had with Granny Crim, the ancient elder dragon.

The silly ones. The deep ones. The ones that were… kind of embarrassing.

All the little memories I’d built up over time.

Maria listened the whole time with a soft, warm smile.

“…Y’know, it’s not just that I owe her. Granny Crim feels… closer than that.”

As I kept talking, I found myself thinking about it—

What was Granny Crim to me, really?

What came to mind were memories of my real parents, long gone…

And the people who raised me afterward.

“…She’s kinda like… family.”

“Like a grandma?”

“Yeah… Honestly, that’s exactly what it felt like.”

We’re not even the same species.

And Granny Crim already has a real granddaughter.

But still—if I ever had a grandmother…

I think it would’ve felt something like this.

And maybe that’s why…

Maybe that’s why I didn’t want to accept that she was going to die.

“Even when Granny Crim told me she was dying, I didn’t want to believe it. Even when she offered to give me a new magic sword… I didn’t want to accept it. I think I just didn’t want it to feel real. But I knew I couldn’t avoid it either, so then I…”

“You just didn’t know what to do anymore, huh?”

I nodded at Maria’s words.

Lately, I’ve always been like this.

Unable to decide anything on my own.

Always waiting for someone else to pull me forward.

“Pretty pathetic, right? I mean, I’m supposed to be an adult and I’m still getting lost—”

“Nope! Chin up!”

She suddenly cupped my cheeks and tilted my head up, locking eyes with me.

She leaned forward—aaaaaand okay, her collar was showing way too much. Nope. Eyes up. Not the time!

“I actually think it’s a good thing, y’know? You used to only have eyes for Millia—but now you’re starting to notice other people too.”

“…Millia?”

“Yeah. Back then, it was all Millia-Millia, all the time. Everything you did revolved around her. You were totally lovesick.”

…Can’t really argue with that.

Even little things, like what we ate—

I always tried to cook stuff she’d like.

Maybe this is the side effect of breaking up with Millia…

No—

Maybe it’s proof that I’ve started to move on.

“That’s why I think the way you’re acting right now… it’s actually a good thing. And this time? I don’t think anyone could blame you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Abel, you get it. You understand what it really means when someone important disappears from your life. And I think… deep down, that scares you.”

Still holding my cheeks in her hands, Maria stood up and leaned over me, looking down with a soft, steady gaze.

“When you were a kid… You lost everything in that stampede, didn’t you? Your family, your home, your whole village. It was all taken away—just like that.”

Yeah…

Back then, when I lost everything in the blink of an eye…

It felt like I’d fallen into a bottomless pit.

Like no matter how hard I tried, I’d never climb out again.

“You’re just scared of being lonely again, right? That’s why this is hitting you so hard. But you can’t run from it, Abel. You have to face Granny Crim.”

“…So that’s what it is. I’ve been feeling lonely. But it’s too late to face her now, isn’t it? I already threw a tantrum and everything…”

“Well,” Maria said with a playful smile, “maybe after the tantrum is actually the best time.”

“Huh?”

“It’s easy.”

“How?”

“You just… talk to her.”

Maria finally let go of my face and sat down beside me, her voice gentle.

Comforting.

Like she was slowly unraveling the tight knot in my chest—word by word.

“Talk to Ms. Crim, okay? Tell her everything you’ve been meaning to say. All the stuff you’ve kept bottled up—every feeling you haven’t voiced yet. Say it all. And listen to her, too. Make sure that when the time comes… neither of you have any regrets left.”

“No regrets, huh…”

Because that’s something…

You can only do while they’re still alive.

As she spoke, Maria gently leaned in and wrapped her arms around me.

I let myself lean into her—into that soft, warm embrace.

“It’s okay. If you ever feel scared, or if you feel like crying… I’ll be right here to comfort you.”

“Maria… thanks.”

I was still a little unsure. Still a little scared.

But…

I slowly wrapped my arms around her waist—
And held her close, like I was finally letting myself be vulnerable.