I Became The Male Lead’s Female Friend

 

Hestia had a pretty good idea why I’d come. Taken aback, I stared at her.

 “You’re here for the ingredients for the potion, aren’t you?” “Uh, you knew?” “No, but it’s the only thing that would cause you to come running to me with such a bright face. By the way, are you feeling well?” 

Having had the satisfaction of telling her of the Princess of Hessen’s illness beforehand, she received the remark without a care.

 

Then, with a rather worried look on her face, she asked how I was doing.

 

Cecil asked the same thing this morning, and it seemed that the news of our brief disappearance had already spread throughout the manor.

 

I smiled sheepishly and said,

“I’m fine, just a few scrapes, and Rudrick saved me…” “You freaked me out when I heard the news, I thought you’d fallen off a cliff and something bad had happened to you…” “What, that you’d lose your trusty benefactor?” “Don’t say that!” 

Hestia, who had suddenly shouted out, was somehow looking a little sad.

 

I was just jokingly trying to ease her worries, but looking at her face, I felt like I was being insensitive. I immediately apologized.

 “I’m sorry.” “Just be careful next time. I’ve watched the whole thing, and you don’t seem to be one to hold back when it serves your purpose, and it’s very unsettling for someone to witness…” 

I hastily turned away from Hestia, who was becoming a nagging nuisance after Jeron.

 “Alright, I was wrong, I won’t do that again. So what about the medicine…?” “Ugh, you didn’t hear me, did you, really…” 

Hestia sighed heavily as she glared at me in disgust. Then, as if she couldn’t resist, she obediently accepted the pouch.

 

Her eyes widened in amazement as she opened it and peered inside.

 “You managed to catch something so… rare?” “Well, I just happened to be near a lode…” “Really? Wasn’t it dangerous? I heard that the higher the magic field, the more unusual herbs grow, but didn’t you find anything unusual?” 

Hestia, who had shown curiosity about the ecology of the north from the start, was asking excitedly.

 

I calmed her down and said,

“Yes, there were, but let’s take care of the urgent things first, and I’ll tell you later. How about this, do you think you can make enough?” “What are you talking about, of course, there’s plenty! Honestly, one is enough for just…” “So, how long do you think it will take to make them?” “If all goes well, it shouldn’t take more than a week, and I’ve been working on the concoction while you’ve been searching for the fiend.” 

After all, she was Hestia. Such thoroughness, finding things to do and preparing them without me having to tell her.

 

I looked up at her with pride and said sweetly.

 “You do realize that you’re the only one I have, right?” “Because I know you already have plenty of other people.” 

She sounded grumpy, but I didn’t hate the sound of it, and Hestia gushed excitedly about her findings so far.

 

Watching her, I reminded myself.

 

With so many people doing so much for me, I need to focus on my work.

 

‘Cheer up.’

 

She rambled on for a while longer, and then, as if on cue, she asked,

‘If you have any left, can I study them for something else?’ 

 

I graciously agreed and said,

“But leave one or two behind.” 

Given the rarity of the creature, I figured it would be a good idea to keep one or two.

 

Hestia nodded,

‘I’ll make sure they don’t rot.’ 

 

Humming a tune, I watched her disappear behind the door.

 

With the medicine solved, there was only one thing left to do.

 

‘Now I need to contact Jeron.’

 

I had been corresponding with Jeron for some time. We hadn’t heard from each other as often as we should, being so far north, but we’d been sending each other greetings and updates.

 

Returning to my room, I reviewed the letters I had received from Jeron.

 [

How have you arrived in the north? By the time this letter arrives, I will probably be in the Kingdom of Hessen.

 

Fortunately, thanks to your letter of introduction, I’ll be making myself at home in the Averine upstate, but I’m not sure whether you’ll fare well in that barren place.

 

Why don’t you save yourself the trouble and come to Hessen as soon as you can..

.] [

Long time no see, from the youngest son of Reveaubel. I suppose the brat hasn’t changed a bit.

 

Anyway, as soon as he finds out I’m working for Averine, he’ll pay me several times what I’m making now and tell me to come back to Reveaubel.

 

Of course, I refused, because I’m a man of integrity, but you ought to know what a great man I am…

] [

We’re in a bit of trouble. The King of Hessen is more wary than I thought. There have been a lot of crooks in town, and he won’t listen to our bait.

 

The Reveaubel has already laid the groundwork to get close to the King, but he can’t win…

] [

I have some good news, I think we can easily appease the king, I just used some anti-fatigue pills you made before.

 

Apparently, Averine’s special formula has spread to the rest of the world, and someone close to the company has told me that you’re the one who developed it.

 

Maybe the king will take an interest in you and want to meet you…

] [

How’s your work going? I’m sorry to say this, but I’d like you to hasten up a bit, there have been some bad rumors going around lately. If it seems like you’re running late, even if it’s just you, please come here…

] 

…This was the letter I received a few days ago.

 

After the funeral, I was still searching for the fiends when I received this letter.

 

I was wondering if I should go to Hessen as Jeron had said if I couldn’t find the real fiend, but now that I’ve sacrificed myself to find it, I don’t have to worry about that anymore.

 

I unraveled the letter to tell Jeron the news, at least once and for all.

 

Then I thought about it for a moment. To be honest, I’ve had just as much trouble here as he has.

 

But it would be a long story to write it all down, and there were many things that I couldn’t go into detail about.

 

After staring at the letter for some time, I finally wrote just one line.

 [

I’m coming over there immediately

.

] 

Jeron would recognize it if I wrote this much.

 

After sending the letter to him, I was able to breathe a brief sigh of relief.

 

As I stared out the window, the sun slowly setting, I thought, What’s left for me to do…?

 

‘Rudrick.’

 

Once the medicine has been completed, I must leave for the Kingdom of Hessen without delay.

 

I have come here as a guest, and it was only natural that I should inform the master of the house I was visiting before I left.

 

And even if I didn’t, I would have to tell Rudrick anyway.

 

‘…I hope you don’t mind.’

 

Still, the matter of Madame Fedwick haunted me.

 

Rudrick said it was Bouser’s problem, and he could take care of it, but I wondered if he had left everything to him when I knew it wasn’t my responsibility.

 

Somehow, I felt like if something happened, he wouldn’t tell me.

 

I didn’t go to see Rudrick right away, and it wasn’t until I heard from Hestia that the project would be finished sooner than expected that I went to see him.

 

And as soon as I got there, Rudrick immediately asked.

 “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”  

Imagine this, I was traveling on a boat. Upon seeing the clear sky. It was a completely different sky from the northern part of the country, where it was cloudy and not bright every day.

 

The warm sunlight settled on the bow of the boat, and the warm air enveloped my entire body.

 

I wasn’t the only one enjoying the first rays of sunshine in a long time. I looked at the people who had come out with me.

 

Hestia, who had accompanied me originally, several of the escort knights, Cecil, who had followed me, and finally…

 — ‘Take Kassar.’

 

Rudrick blurted out of nowhere. Before I could say anything, I was startled by the suddenness of his statement.

 — ‘Eh?’

 — ‘He’s a bit of a slacker, but he’s got a lot of skill, and he’ll be more reliable than the other knights. Just make sure you don’t fall off…’

 — ‘Now, wait!’

 

Hearing him rattle off these words as if he’d prepared them in advance, I interrupted.

 — ‘How did you know I was leaving? I mean, I suppose you could have guessed that since we found the fiend, but… Isn’t Lord Kassar the head of the First Division? He’s a key figure in the Knights, and you’re suddenly asking me to bring him? Aren’t the knights in the middle of a subjugation right now?’

 — ‘That’s what I’m saying because I can’t go with you.’

 — ‘No, does that mean you were planning to come with me if you weren’t in subjugation?’

 

I panicked and stammered out a gibberish answer.

 — ‘But it’s not like there are monsters, and there’s no danger…’

 — ‘Dahlia.’

 

Rudrick said sternly.

 — ‘Please do me a favor. Take him with you.’

 

His words stunned me. His imperative tone didn’t sound like a request at all, but I hadn’t expected him to use the word

‘please’

himself.

 

Even as a child, he never asked for a favor first…

 

So, after what happened last time? I hesitated, unable to answer, and then blurted out something else.

 — ‘I’m not going to the capital.’

 — ‘…’

 — ‘I believe you might have gotten the idea that it was family business. I need to gain control of the port city of Beloa for the heir selection process, but the deciding official is the King of Hessen, and I need medicine to convince him…’

 — ‘You don’t have to tell me everything.’

 

I wondered if Rudrick didn’t know the details of the plan. As usual, he didn’t seem to care what I was trying to accomplish.

 

In the end, I could only say this.

 — ‘I’ll be back.’

 

Rudrick stared at me, then let out a laugh that sounded like a sigh.

 — ‘Take care.’

 

With that, we parted ways, and I didn’t see Rudrick until I left. He was still busy exterminating the monsters, and I was busy preparing for my hasty departure.

 

On the day of my departure, I was seen off by a few division commanders. I felt a twinge of regret and thought to myself.

 

‘I hope everything goes well?’

 

And even if something did happen, I knew that Rudrick would be able to handle it. With that mixed feeling, I tried to focus instead.

 

The truth was that I had too much on the line to worry about Rudrick. Now I had important matters to face.

 

Sure, Jeron had done all the groundwork, but from now on, my actions would determine everything.

 

Looking up at the suddenly raucous surroundings, I realized I was getting closer. The distant mound was getting closer.

 

It was Beloa, a port city in the Kingdom of Hessen.

 

‘Finally.’

 

Soon enough, the ship docked in the harbor. I followed the people off the ship and looked around. Soon, a familiar green head appeared among the crowd.

 

I waved in greeting and exclaimed

, “Jeron!” 

But the man I hadn’t seen in a long time appeared pensive. 

 

He spotted me, quickly approached, and whispered,

“Hurry, things are bad.” “What?” “The princess is in terrible condition.”