I Am Not the Heroine

[At this point, let’s head into the forest and make our way to the flower field. Then I’ll send the Hero over there.]

These were the words of the young Mage who had recently joined the party.

Initially, Rapirie was taken aback by Aswel’s sudden entry into the party, causing her to voice her opposition.

It wasn’t the first time she had opposed someone to replace Serelin, who had arrived earlier, and Ariya, who had been part of the party from the beginning.

Aswel was a Hero, receiving attention from many women.

Among them were those who almost joined the party, hiding their status and abilities to gain Aswel’s favor.

However, each time, Rapirie thwarted them to protect Aswel and the party.

Though part of her liked Aswel, her concern for the precious party was even greater.

While others envied Rapirie for being the princess of the Elf Kingdom, she herself was not pleased with that identity.

The very reason she joined the Hero’s party was to escape her stuffy life in the kingdom.

Thus, when Aswel approached the borders of the Elf Kingdom, she feigned coincidence to meet him, and thanks to her excellent archery and keen eyesight, she managed to join the party.

“I never want to go back to that time.”

The Elf Princess, or rather the Elf Archer Rapirie, wanted to continue her current life.

However, a few days ago, a young Mage had joined.

Or perhaps, she might just look young. People often said that human age can differ from physical appearance.

Anyway, the girl who introduced herself as ‘Rui’ stated she would handle the party’s equipment and support.

Rapirie found that strange. This was because the role of a Mage didn’t involve such a function.

Overwhelming firepower. Wide range. That mysterious gigantic magic.

That was how even Rapirie and the rest of the Hero’s party envisioned a Mage.

However, Rui directly denied that notion.

‘Another talentless girl has joined, huh?’

Some people made ridiculous excuses to hide their lack of skills.

Because of that, Rapirie cast her vote against Aswel, but eventually, Rui joined the party.

And the trail she took was something even Rapirie, who opposed her, could not deny.

[Here are the gloves.]

The gloves Rui handed over were ridiculous to the point of astonishment.

“This is a relic-level item from the Elf Kingdom…?”

Just a pair of gloves. Pure fabric gloves without any metal plates laid on top.

Yet, there were over ten magical inscriptions engraved on them.

Moreover, each of those spell inscriptions was applied differently for each member of the Hero’s party, and they surpassed Rapirie’s imagination.

Converting mana to wind to enhance her accuracy?

The functionality was absurd, but what left Rapirie more dumbfounded was the additional capabilities Rui hadn’t mentioned.

The transformed wind assisted not only her aim but even her movements.

In general, people who create something to boast about tend to exaggerate a bit.

But in contrast, the young Mage downplayed her own achievements.

Maybe she was annoyed, or perhaps she just forgot.

Anyway, Rui only brought a single pair of gloves, but the doubts within the Hero’s party vanished in an instant.

After all, the dazzling magic that manifested in front of the drowsy Rui ended the meeting against her.

Watching Rui display skills that even Aswel found surprising, Rapirie went to her to sincerely apologize.

And as she decided to acknowledge her as a rival and a fellow member who liked Aswel, she received an unexpected response.

[For now, I just joined the party to gather materials. So, I have no interest in the Hero.]

With that cute face, she flashed a cool smile and boldly declared that she would help Rapirie charm the Hero, Aswel.

After several conversations, Rapirie found herself walking through the middle of the forest.

“Will this really work…?”

The thought of getting closer to Aswel made her blindly accept it.

Though she belatedly remembered Serelin and Ariya, she didn’t have the heart to take back her words, and that day finally arrived.

She recalled the Mage with blue eyes who had raised her thumb and grinned without emotion.

“Ugh…”

She should have dressed more appropriately for a romantic atmosphere.

In her flustered state, she ended up coming in her battle outfit. A slight regret washed over her.

“If I turn right here… huh?”

But that regret quickly faded away.

On the path leading to the flower field that Rui had instructed, she saw shapes wriggling and moving.

The world’s tumors, the Magical Creatures.

“………”

Her previously flushed face was suddenly filled with composure.

And in a split second, the bowstring pulled back sent an arrow flying.

Fwip-!

The soft wind nudged the arrow along, guiding it straight toward its target.

—-!!

She felt the Magical Creatures rustling in response to the arrow.

And then, seeing their kin pierced by Rapirie’s arrow, they began to flee in panic.

“Don’t go there!”

The path leading to the flower field; if she let even one get away, she didn’t know how the beautiful flower field would be transformed.

In an instant, three arrows were nocked and flew from the bow.

A brief chase ensued, and Rapirie desperately pursued the Magical Creatures.

Having lived in the forest, Rapirie was agile, but she couldn’t close the gap to the Magical Creatures quickly.

Soon an open vista began to unfold in the distance.

The dreamy hues of flower petals entered her sight, heightening Rapirie’s anxiety.

The chance to capture Aswel’s heart was slipping away.

That feeling was strong, but a more significant heart bloomed within her.

The forest and the flower field would be ruined.

Loving nature, the Elves lived in harmony with it.

Rapirie was an Elf, and undoubtedly, she was a woman who loved the forest and flowers.

“I can’t let it go any further…!”

Just then, a voice called out from behind.

“Rie!”

“……Aswel!”

He only called her name, but the dark-haired Hero recognized the Elf’s intention.

And he ran ahead, faster than any Elf, lifting his holy sword.

A moment later, a flash erupted from the holy sword, completely obliterating the last of the Magical Creatures that had just managed to escape from Rapirie.

“Haah…”

“Ah… I’m glad…”

Fortunately, that creature’s trace didn’t lead to the flower field.

With a big sigh of relief, Rapirie suddenly collapsed onto the ground.

And then, looking at her hands that were now caressing the flowers, she realized where she was.

The flower field.

When she lifted her head, radiant-colored flowers were swaying in the gentle breeze.

Thanks to the setting sun starting to dip beyond the forest, the natural colors of the flowers sparkled, doubling their beauty.

A flower field set against the backdrop of the sunset.

Right there, only Aswel and Rapirie were present.

“The flower field…”

Rapirie heard Aswel muttering from behind.

Surely there was something they needed to do here, as Rui had told her. But when the situation unfolded, Rapirie couldn’t think straight.

“Rie, is it possible that the reason you were chasing those Magical Creatures was…?”

At that moment, a single phrase Rui had told her came to mind.

[If you find yourself unable to think in such moments, please share your heart.]

Thus, Rapirie spoke.

“Yeah, I wanted to protect this flower field.”

Her hand gently brushed against the flowers, stirring her heart.

This situation seemed like a dream, and she wished it would never end.

Still, she needed to communicate her feelings to Aswel.

“Aswel.”

“……Yeah?”

She turned her body, which had been facing away, to meet his gaze directly.

His black hair, gentle eyes, sturdy physique, and radiant holy sword. She focused solely on the beautiful eyes forming all of those qualities.

“Thank you. For showing up when I needed you.”

With a serious tone unlike usual, she quietly expressed her gratitude.

What mattered most was showing a different side of herself.

Slowly kneeling and sitting in the center of the flower field, Rapirie gazed at the flowers.

If Aswel hadn’t shown up, these flowers could have lost their colors and perished.

Thinking about that, her emotions surged even more.

“Thank you for allowing me to protect these kids.”

“………”

And the Hero, Aswel, visibly stirred, avoiding her gaze, his hands fidgeting, and absently caressing the holy sword.

Somehow, as the sunset light reflected on his face, it seemed to blush just as red as her own.

‘It’s fine not to confess right now.’

Rapirie thought to herself.

This was a conclusion born from the complexity of many feelings and thoughts swirling within her.

“I’d like to be there for you when you need me going forward as well. Thank you once again.”

“……Yeah. Uh, then I’ll go first since I have something that Rui asked me to do.”

With those words, the Hero hurriedly disappeared deeper into the flower field.

After a short while, lost in the fragrance of the flowers and her boiling emotions, Rapirie snapped back to reality.

And then.

“……Eh?!”

With her face now flush, she fanned herself with her hands and quickly retreated to their base.

The operation was a success, no, a resounding success! She wanted to relay this fact to her teammate immediately.

*

“Haah…”

Aswel, who had stepped into the center of the flower field, reflected on what had just occurred.

His comrade Rapirie, for a moment, had appeared like someone completely different.

The one who actively helped as a member of the party every day, lifting the atmosphere with her vivacious personality.

Yet moments ago, she had been remarkably… serious yet beautiful.

The Elf Princess sitting amid the flowers was a sight so mesmerizing that most people wouldn’t even witness in a lifetime.

Her gentle smile towards the flowers and sense of relief sent his heart into a flurry.

Had he remained there, what might have unfolded?

Aswel couldn’t dare to imagine.

But the reason he could extricate himself was suddenly a single person that emerged in his mind.

Rui.

In a fleeting moment, Aswel recalled her.

The tangled yet incredibly soft white hair, her blue eyes half-closed daily, her robe that wrapped around her small frame.

He had no idea why.

Yet he thought of her and instantly realized what he needed to do.

“Uh, then I’ll go since Rui, um, asked me to do something.”

The unique flower Rui had requested.

Using that as an excuse, he managed to escape from Rapirie.

‘Next time… I need to be careful.’

This time, he had barely deflected the situation thanks to thinking of Rui, but there was no guarantee it would work again.

Having unrequited feelings for a teammate was unbecoming of a Hero.

“……Is that it?”

At last, Aswel spotted what Rui had asked for.

A flower dazzling in colors that could be recognized at a glance, just as Rui had said.

A flower that shimmered like a gemstone stood atop a small hill in the flower field.

“It’s a pure white… flower.”

White. Again, the image of the Mage came to mind.

This time, he couldn’t fathom the reason. It was just that the flower exuded a brilliant light, and its petite, fragile form reminded him only of her.

“Let’s head back.”

Aswel picked the flower before the sun completely set, carefully making his way out of the flower field.

By now, Rapirie should have returned as well.

He needed to get back before Rui finished prepping the camp.

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