Chapter 73: The End of a Certain Love

"……"

"Hey. You alright? Your eyes look messed up."

"My brain’s… shaking."

Thanks to me and Mama talking him down, Karl finally stopped slamming his head against the wall.

Still, since his brain seemed to be vibrating internally, I escorted him over to a quiet bench with no one around.

By the way, I apologized to the bar’s Mama and fixed the wall with magic.

"So… you're Irine, huh?"

"Yeah."

Karl stared directly at my mask again.

Apparently, he still couldn’t accept it.

"But Karl, I’d rather you not go around telling people I hang out at night bars too often."

"Huh?"

"So while I’m like this, just call me Monkey Mask, like always."

I made sure to warn him firmly, since his face still looked pretty dazed.

I really didn’t want anyone finding out that noble lady Irine hangs out in bars after dark.

"…… Umm, Lady Irine."

"No, I told you—call me Monkey Mask."

"Since when has the person behind the mask been Lady Irine?"

"I’ve always been Monkey Mask from the start."

Well, Maika did briefly take the role during the Ressal thing.

"Then… um… the one who joined in on all our dirty guy talks and stuff, the Monkey Mask back then, that was…"

"'Irine’s like, ridiculously pervy!' — was that it? I really didn’t know how to respond to that one."

"Uaaaaargh!!!"

"You threw up!?"

Karl suddenly vomited mid-conversation.

He looked like a tormented ghost writhing in agony.

"Well, don’t sweat it. That’s just how guys are."

"…I wanna die."

Looks like he was pretty shocked realizing I’d heard all of that.

It’s not even that big a deal.

"Hey Iri—uh, I mean, Monkey Mask."

"What is it?"

"About earlier… I’m sorry. For the mistaken confession."

"I heard the story, so it’s fine. It’s not like you meant any harm, right?"

"…Yeah."

Karl was on the verge of being completely knocked out, but he still insisted on continuing the conversation.

Must’ve been a matter of pride—he needed to apologize properly as a man.

"Even after Maika turned me down, I kept liking her… I knew I was being clingy."

"Did she really turn you down, though? From what I heard, she probably just hated the whole adventurer thing."

"…Think so? I got roasted pretty bad over drinks afterward."

With that, Karl let out a long sigh.

"So, yeah. Like I said earlier—"

"Yeah?"

"I’ve recently… started getting interested in you too, Irine."

"I must humbly decline."

"Uuargh!!"

Apparently, Karl was going ahead with his original plan after all.

Tell me everything, then confess and get my answer.

"…Of course."

"I’d also prefer this kept secret, but… I’m more inclined toward loving women than men. I imagine I’ll eventually marry whoever my parents decide on, though."

Karl looked serious, so I answered him properly in noble-lady tone as well.

No more secrets from this guy—that was the least I could do, out of respect for his sincerity.

"Oh, so the reason you didn’t get mad about all the touching and stuff is maybe because…"

"Yes, I genuinely didn’t mind. Or rather…"

"Hm?"

"I’m actually more myself when I’m in Monkey Mask mode than when I speak all formally."

When I said that, Karl looked wide-eyed in shock.

"Wait, that’s the real you? I thought you were totally changing your personality for the disguise."

"That too, sure. But Irine is basically the ideal version I put on, with proper noble manners and all that, so I don’t embarrass Father. Like, when I’m talking with my little sister, I use this tone."

Honestly, that whole formal-lady mode is such an act, it’s no wonder people think I’m fake.

But that’s how all noble girls are anyway.

“…My brain’s starting to shake again. Where the hell did that slightly mysterious, airheaded noble lady Irine go…”

“Fufufu. She was the perfect noble lady, right? Like someone that couldn’t possibly exist in real life—wait, did you just call me airheaded?”

“The earnest, gentle, airheaded noble lady…”

“Did you just call me airheaded?”

Who the hell are you calling airheaded.

“…Wait. Didn’t you punch out a demon in a head-on fight or something?”

“Yup. Thought I was gonna die, though.”

“For real…? Just, wow. You’re seriously something else, Lady Noble.”

“Don’t flatter me like that.”

A noble lady winning a melee fight against a giant mandrill. Even now, thinking back on it, it was nothing short of a miracle.

Though now, with a staff and spirit cannon, I could probably wipe out a few of them.

“Hahaha, disappointed? Well, consider this a good life lesson—don’t expect too much from women.”

“…Nah. If anything, I’ve come to respect you more.”

“Is that so.”

Honestly, I was scared he’d hate me, but Karl looked genuinely impressed and even praised me.

…That’s great and all, but I’m not really sure what part he came to respect.

“Irine used to be so poker-faced I couldn’t read her at all… but now, I feel like I finally get who you really are.”

“Yeah. I know it’s right after I turned you down, but let’s still be friends.”

“…Yeah. Actually, for some reason, it doesn’t even feel like I got rejected.”

The look on Karl’s face was hard to describe. No, dude, you definitely got rejected.

“Can I keep using this tone when it’s just the two of us? It’s way more relaxed.”

“Sure, but… that tone of voice while looking like Irine? Doesn’t suit you at all…”

Well yeah, when I’m in that appearance, I keep up the prim-and-proper act completely.

“If it’s too weird, I can go back to my usual formal speech.”

“…That would help. Right now, it’s like Irine’s image has split in two and is floating in the air or something. I don’t really know what I’m trying to say, it’s just a weird feeling.”

“Got it. Then I’ll stick to how it’s been.”

If that’s what Karl wants, then so be it. He probably still hasn’t fully merged me and Irine as the same person in his head.

“Well then. Let’s get back on track—what are we gonna do about Maika and Lev?”

“Yeah… well, I think I just have to be straightforward about it.”

“Straight charging, huh. That’s really your thing.”

Looks like Karl plans to charge straight at Maika and Lev with brute honesty.

If left to his own devices, this guy would run full speed into anything. That might’ve worked with me, but I’m not sure about those two.

“…Anyway, listen. What I mean is—”

“Hm. You sure about that?”

“It’ll wrap things up cleaner that way. And I won’t have to lie to anyone.”

I leaned in and whispered a certain plan into Karl’s ear.

I figured it’d be better than dumping the whole truth on them.

“Then the rest is up to you, Karl. Maika and Lev are both good girls. Don’t do anything that’d make you seem insincere.”

“…Yeah. Got it, Monkey Mask.”

Well, guess it’s in his hands now. I don’t think there’s anything else I can do for him.

Time to head back—to the cathedral where our companions are waiting.

---

“…So I got rejected into tiny little pieces?”

At the cathedral’s sleeping quarters, Maika was drinking heavily.

She was drowning her complaints to a deadpan Sakura while downing alcohol on the bed next to the already-sleeping Lev.

When she saw Karl and me returning side by side, she silently covered her ears. That stuck with me.

“So basically, Irine turned him down?”

“Yes. Karl-san isn’t a bad person at all, but due to my circumstances, it was just too difficult.”

“…Pfft. Ahahaha!! Karl got rejected!!”

Better clear up any misunderstandings right away. As my first move, I told them I had turned down Karl’s confession.

Then, maybe because the alcohol had put her in a weird mood, Maika let out a loud laugh you wouldn’t normally hear from her and slapped Karl on the shoulder.

“Serves you right, rejection boy! Ahahahaha!!”

“…That’s how it is. Anyway, sorry for a lot of things today, Maika.”

“It’s fine already, seriously. Just didn’t think someone like Karl could make me cry!!”

“…Ugh.”

Maybe getting drunk helped her shake things off—Maika seemed a little livelier again. Maybe hearing that Karl had been rejected gave her a boost of energy.

“Since we’ve both been dumped, I’ll let you drink with me… hic.”

“…Yeah, I’ll join you, Maika.”

“No, I think that’s enough for tonight. You’re going to regret it so hard tomorrow.”

Sakura, half-lidded eyes and all, tried to calm the drunk girl down. At some point, she’d completely settled into the role of responsible adult.

“…Karl.”

“I know, Irine.”

When I signaled with my eyes, Karl nodded silently.

What I whispered to Karl earlier was this:

——

“Don’t tell them the whole truth about what happened today. And don’t apologize for everything either.”

“…Why not?”

“Because it’ll come off like two-timing. You confessed to me from the heart, right? If you turn around and confess to Maika right after getting rejected, she’s not going to feel good about it.”

That was my honest thought—an outsider’s perspective.

“I like that girl too, but I like you too.” If he said that, no way Maika would feel happy about it.

“Sort out your feelings properly. Don’t say anything until you can clearly say, ‘I only like Maika.’ It has to come from you.”

“…Hmm.”

So Karl needed to find clarity within himself.

Once he could truly settle things inside, he could go forward with Maika without leaving any baggage behind.

“Right now, both you and Maika are unsteady. If you’re totally honest now, even if she says yes, Maika’s always going to have that thought in the back of her mind: ‘He weighed me against Irine.’”

“…That’s true.”

“I want things to stay good between me and Maika too. I don’t want any messy feelings hanging around.”

That’s what I said as I gave Karl a firm pat on the shoulder.

“If you’re gonna make a girl happy, do it with everything you’ve got. Don’t go running while looking sideways.”

“Yeah. You’re right.”

“I’ll be rooting for you, best friend.”

“…Yeah. Thanks.”

---

Just as I advised, Karl didn’t confess to Maika that night.

“…Looks like Maika’s totally passed out.”

“Then I suppose that’s a wrap. I’ll handle the cleanup.”

“I’ll cast a strong detox spell just in case. Still, she’s definitely going to have a hangover tomorrow.”

But someday, I’m sure he’ll tell her how he feels—out loud, in his own words.

Until then, please wait for him, Maika.

“Alright, goodnight.”

“Goodnight, desu wa.”

Now then, I still had one last thing to take care of—Sakura.

My identity as Monkey Mask had already been exposed to both Karl and Maika. The Master had likely figured it out from the beginning.

It felt wrong to keep it a secret from only one person—especially Sakura, the one I was closest to.

“Sakura-san, before you go to bed, there’s something important I must tell you.”

“What is it, Irine? You're being unusually serious.”

I took a deep breath, steeled myself, and clamped down on my trembling hands as I confessed everything to Sakura!

“Um… Sakura-san. I’ve been hiding this, but the truth is—Monkey Mask was me, all along.”

“I figured. Well, goodnight then.”

“…Huh?”

…

…?

---

The next morning.

“My head hurts…”

“…Ugh.”

Bathed in the gentle morning sunlight, the Karl-loving girls looked like they were suffering in actual hell as they threw up.

“Told you so.”

“This is not a sight we could possibly show to dear Karl…”

Despite Sakura’s detox magic, the two were clearly still on the brink thanks to their hangovers.

Just how much did they even drink?

“Maybe you should see a healer other than me. Internal medicine really isn’t my specialty.”

“I’m dying… Just give me some anti-nausea potion and a painkiller…”

“I can only make the beginner stuff. It tastes awful and barely works, but if that’s okay…”

It was… honestly a terrible sight.

I’ll take this image with me to the grave as a maiden’s secret.

“…Heeey, Irine and the others. I’d like to start morning drills soon—can I come in?”

“Please give us a moment. Right now, a maiden is in full bloom… of vomiting.”

“…Blooming? In the morning?”

Rey had come knocking to call us for morning training, but I brushed him off with a metaphor.

I mean, I was already dressed, so it wouldn’t bother me if he came in—but I doubt Rey wants to see his little sister in full-on vomit mode.

“Let’s gather in the cathedral courtyard. I’ll be along shortly.”

“…Not sure what’s going on, but alright. I’ll wait outside.”

Looks like Lev-chan won’t be making it to training today.

I’ll go ahead and apologize for her. I mean, this whole disaster isn’t entirely unrelated to me…

---

“So, Maika's hungover after all.”

“Yes, it seems she’ll be taking the day off.”

The morning training wrapped up without a hitch.

Since little Lev wasn’t around this morning, I got worked extra hard—more than usual.

“…Seems my sister caused some trouble. Taking a day off because of a hangover—honestly, it’s pathetic.”

“She was heartbroken. It can’t be helped. Rey, haven’t you ever had a similar experience?”

“…Hmph. Sorry, I’m not well-versed in romance. Never had one of those.”

“You’re pretty good-looking though. I’d think you’d be popular.”

Rey looked exasperated as he listened to last night’s events.

He clearly dotes on his sister, but he’s strict with her nonetheless.

“…To begin with, she’s still too young for romance.”

“There’s no such thing as too early or too late for love.”

“Yes, there is. It’s still too early…”

Yep, total siscon. Lev is already very much a young lady, you know.

“Hey, Irine.”

“What is it, Karl?”

“Wanna go on a date today?”

…Right as I was letting my guard down after morning training, Karl hit me with an invitation.

Hmm, what exactly is your angle here?

“Help me sort out my feelings. You said you were rooting for me, right?”

“…Sigh. Well, I suppose I did, but—”

“Come on, just go with it. It’s just hanging out in the capital. Honestly, I was gonna ask Maika, but she’s basically dead today.”

“Hmph. Well, I don’t really have any plans, but…”

That was a surprisingly forward invite from Karl, especially for him.

…Up to now, he’d always been more hesitant, more reserved.

“Well, well, Karl. You’re awfully assertive today.”

“Yesterday I realized there’s no reason to be all nervous around you. You’re easy to talk to, Irine—real chill.”

“…‘Chill,’ huh. I suppose, for a noble, Irine is unusually approachable.”

Looks like Karl figured out I’m the Monkey Mask and decided he didn’t need to hold back anymore.

It felt less like he was asking a girl out and more like inviting a guy friend to hang out. If that’s the vibe, then I guess I don’t mind.

“Well then, shall we go have some fun?”

“Hell yeah. Rey, hold down the fort, will ya?”

“…Sure.”

And thus, Karl continued his string of daily dates, swapping girls around the capital with reckless enthusiasm.