I Became The Male Lead’s Female Friend

 

The woman’s outburst made Rudrick stare at her for a moment.

 

‘What are you helping me with?’

 

But no matter how hard he searched her face, he couldn’t tell, so he had to guess.

 

Not that there weren’t some things.

 

Slaying demons, for example. The woman seemed to be good at magic anyway.

 

How she could use magic freely in the north, where the magic wavelengths were unstable, was beyond ordinary, but it would be a great help in slaying demons.

 

‘But who does she think she is to help us defeat them?’

 

A woman who shows up at the Duke’s door one day out of the blue and introduces herself as a mage from the Magic Tower.

 “And isn’t the Magic Tower supposed to be neutral everywhere?” 

And now she’s offering to help Bouser. 

 

What are you going to do, doing me a favor first and then making ridiculous demands after?

 “I don’t need it.” 

In the end, Rudrick only said a thing.

 

This time she glared at him as if she understood his intentions, and then suddenly she broke into a smile and said,

 “Didn’t you even want to listen to what I was trying to help you with?” “Because I won’t need whatever it is.” “You must be confident, because I didn’t say I’d help you with demon expedition or family matters.” “…” 

‘Then what?

’ He questioned for a moment, but Rudrick quickly cut her off.

 “I know. You’re confident, so you don’t mind, right?” “Yes.” 

At Rudrick’s warning tone, she turned her head with a snap. 

 

A moment later, he heard a small voice, almost a whisper to herself.

 “Still the same. Stubborn.” “What?”

asked Rudrick.

 “Nothing.” 

The woman ignored it and went back to concentrating on creating a magic circle.

 

Only Rudrick, left alone, crossed his arms and eyed the back of her head suspiciously.

 

‘

Is she doing this on purpose?’

 

As it turned out, her suspicious demeanor had been there from the beginning.

 

Right from that moment, she appeared out of nowhere in the front yard of the Duke’s residence. 

 

She hadn’t batted an eye as knights surrounded her, even as Rudrick himself held a sword to her throat.

 

Rather, she calmly procured a document from within her pocket and spoke as if she knew exactly how he would respond.

 “The Princess sent me this. May I come in now?” 

Then, leaving behind the numerous knights, she entered the Duke’s residence alone and leisurely.

 

Her casual demeanor, as if she were the owner of the house, was enough to bewilder the knights, of course.

 

Perhaps he would have bet on her without hesitation had the papers she presented not been stamped with Averine’s seal.

 

‘

She’s been like that ever since.’

 

She knew her way around Duke Bouser’s estate without anyone showing her.

 

It was as if she was already familiar with the mansion. She had an

‘I know it all’

attitude.

 

And that attitude only intensified when she heard about Dahlia’s arrival.

 “Finally, Dahlia…” 

Those were the first words out of the woman’s mouth, who hadn’t spoken to another human being in days.

 

Rudrick was dumbfounded.

 

Even a wizard of the Mighty Tower should know basic manners. When had she met Dahlia and called her by her first name so casually?

 

But Rudrick didn’t dare question her. The woman’s reaction was even stranger than he expected.

 

The way her eyes sparkled with excitement was beyond his expectations, and it showed a strange obsession.

 “Strange.” 

For a moment, he was seized with an uneasy premonition. She must not be a normal human being, and she might cause an accident at any moment.

 

That’s why, when she suddenly said,

“I’d like to stay at the Bouser mansion,”

he agreed. It was only fair to keep an eye on anyone suspicious.

 

Rudrick leaned back against the wall and looked at her more wary than before, and as if sensing his gaze, she spoke in a nonchalant voice.

 “I don’t think you’ll get anything out of all that surveillance, I’m not a very suspicious person.” 

“

You mean in your own words?” “That’s one thing.” “…” 

There was a moment of silence, the only sound being the steady beat of her work. Soon, the woman spoke again.

 “I have a question.” 

Rudrick looked up suddenly.

 

Then, as if on cue, he was met with a pair of eyes looking at him.

 

At first glance, the eyes are so green you’d think it was clear, but on closer look, it’s out of focus and cloudy…

 “If it’s Dahlia’s fault, you’re like that.” “What?” “If the more you tried to change Dahlia’s predetermined fate, the more unhappy you became… What do you think it would be?” “…” 

Rudrick listened to the woman in silence, then thought.

 “What kind of nonsense is this?” 

Was she asking him to take this seriously? Or was she just trying to make a point?

 

But the person who had asked was looking at him with a straight face. 

 

The oddly static atmosphere was almost tense.

 

After looking at her strangely, Rudrick let out a small sigh.

 “It doesn’t matter.” “What?” 

Rudrik crossed his arms and replied coldly.

 “I don’t even believe it was meant to be, but even if it was, does that make it a bad thing?” “…” “Everyone moves for their own happiness, and as a result, they may affect those around them, but was it only Dahlia’s fault? Is the world really that simple?” “…” “Did I ask you what you thought? I don’t care, because even if I was unhappy, Dahlia wouldn’t have wanted me to be, and I don’t blame her.” 

She gave him a strange look at his hesitant words, then muttered to herself.

 “It’s not her fault…” “Is that still insufficient?” “No. It’s enough.” 

Watching her shake her head, Rudrick blurted out.

 “Then I guess it’s my turn.” “What?” “For what?” 

The woman blinked in confusion at Rudrick’s short words. Then she caught the meaning of his words and smiled thinly. 

 

When Rudrick’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, her unhesitating voice spoke again.

 “Dahlia’s happiness.” 

Happiness? Before Rudrick could ask, the woman continued.

 “That’s why I offered to help you earlier.” “What…?” “You like Dahlia, don’t you?” 

Rudrick’s jaw dropped at the sudden question. Watching him stumble over his words and avert his gaze in embarrassment, he smiled darkly.

 “…” “You can’t take your eyes off me.” “You seem to like her a lot, to the point where you are afraid of my  suspicious self might do something.” “Don’t you dare!” “I can help you.” 

Rudrick frowned.

 “I thought you said you wanted to be around her so much that you wouldn’t mind doing anything?” “…” 

Suddenly, she was standing in front of him.

 

“

I’ll ask you again.” 

She looked up at him, standing before his eyes, her eyes twinkling. Then she whispered softly, like a demon offering a deal.

 “Shall I help you?”  

To make a long story short, I refused her help.

 

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t honestly shaken, because aside from my doubts about how helpful she could be, I didn’t have a solution for her right now.

 

No, it wasn’t just that there wasn’t a solution. She might have to find a fiancée soon, now that Dahlia had made her move to become the heir in earnest.

 

But he couldn’t see her getting engaged to someone else, and unless he was sure of his feelings, it was unclear what would happen after that.

 

In short, he was grasping at straws.

 “But it’s not like that.” 

In the end, he turned her down.

 

The main reason was that she was suspicious.

 

He would have been more optimistic if he could at least trust her, but the more he talked to her, the more suspicious she became.

 “For Dahlia’s happiness?” 

What kind of nonsense was that? Since when did she and Dahlia get along?

 

No matter how you look at it, she was a stranger to Dahlia, so why was she deciding on her own?

 

Personal feelings aside, her behavior so far strikes him as suspicious to say the least.

 

To put someone like that between himself and Dahlia?

 “Nonsense.” 

Rudrick face devoid of regret.

 

At his cold rebuff, she stepped back as if she’d expected it, then turned back to her place and added in passing, ‘

If ever you change your mind, just let me know.’

 

Rudrick snorted and turned his head away, as if to say,

‘She’ll find me eventually.’

 

 

Even if she begged him to let her help him, he would refuse first.

 

After that, the woman concentrated on making the portal again, and Rudrick watched wordlessly.

 

It didn’t take long for her to finish.

 

As he stood on it, the woman muttered something as she cast it…

 

The ground beneath his feet began to glow brightly, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself in front of the Northern Duke’s residence.

 

‘You’re certainly useful at times like this.’

 

He might have been swayed if she hadn’t come here to help with the conquest, not the romance. Rudrick strode to the Duke’s Castle.

 

If it weren’t for the unpleasantness of his sudden encounter.

 “Goldman?” 

Out of nowhere, River Goldman was staring at him.

 

It seemed like he’d been avoiding him, since they’d always been uncomfortable with each other. Somehow, he felt weird now.

 

He wasn’t avoiding Rudrick, he was staring right through him.

 

No, not him, to be precise, but something beside him. Turning his head to follow his gaze, Rudrick’s eyes widened.

 “What is it?” 

At the same time, Goldman spoke up.

 “O’Neill.” “I’ll go in first, then.” “O’Neill!” 

He turned to the woman, but she simply ignored him.

 

She looked more than disinterested, and annoyed, and there was a hint of irritation on her face.

 

Goldman must have sensed the same thing. After all, he looked impatient, as he stepped in front of her and spoke quickly.

 “I know you don’t want to face me. But why don’t you give me one more chance?” “…” “No, I’m not asking for a second chance. Just give me time to talk to you, even just for a moment. Please…” “…” “O’Neill!” 

Goldman’s face contorted as he watched the woman go on her way, still ignoring him.

 

Soon a desperate cry was heard.

 “You know I still love you!” 

‘What?’