"Hmm..."
Verlith froze in surprise. She hadn’t expected Ansal to suddenly spill such a long speech.
After all, he’d always been the poster boy for carefree laziness.
To her, he was basically someone who needed looking after. She’d never imagined he’d say such thoughtful words anywhere, anytime.
Verlith fell silent for a moment, then tilted up her dazzlingly beautiful face with a smile.
"Huh? Are you really the Ansal I know? Since when do you say such sappy stuff? So cringey."
But Ansal, unlike his usual joking self, kept his voice low and serious.
"Verlith, my friend—cherish this hard-won life."
"...By the way, if I told you even I don’t know why I turned like this, would you believe me?"
Verlith shrugged, noncommittal.
After a quick mental scan of the missing memories—still blank—she shot back at Ansal.
"The how doesn’t matter, dear friend. Just remember this one thing I’m about to say."
Ansal sighed softly, uncharacteristically earnest.
"Even if the whole world turns against you, trust me—I’ll always stand by your side."
"Hah? Seriously? I’d trust anyone on earth before your words. Your track record’s too shady. That time you used my name to party, gamble, get shaken down by thugs, then charged it all to my tab? Still fresh in my mind!"
Verlith blinked her long lashes, scolding him.
"Ugh, I worked so hard to build this mood—don’t ruin it! Stop digging up ancient history. It’s boring. I already apologized!"
"Hmph. I drained my savings clearing your debts. Cleia and I ate scraps for half a year!"
"Don’t measure feelings in coins. My care for you is priceless."
"Care goes both ways. One-sided friendships don’t last."
"Sorry! Just this once—cut me slack. I’ve reformed. No more gambling!"
Thud.
Ansal clasped his hands, dropped to his knees without hesitation, and begged with an exaggerated pout.
"You shameless scoundrel—your thick skin’s leveled up!"
"If you’re still mad, I’ll repay you with my body. Any position you want!!"
In a flash, he snapped back to his cheeky grin.
"Want me to call those Mercenaries to re-teach you manners?"
"No, no! I was wrong! A little give-and-take keeps friendship alive."
Verlith watched his overacting with a wry smile.
"Enough. You’ve lost all decency. I must’ve owed you in a past life. Fine—I’ll return the favor. What you said to me? Same goes for you."
"Bro!"
"Heh heh heh..."
They bumped fists hard, sealing an unspoken bond.
"Huff. Well, dear friend, since you’re staying, I’ll head out. Got a Grand Council mission—need to reach the Eastern Pearl Empire’s capital ASAP."
Ansal dusted his knees and stood.
"How you even got into the Grand Council baffles me. Your elven alchemy’s trash, and you skip sword lessons with me."
"Gold shines eventually. I earned it. Drop it."
Verlith sensed Ansal was hiding things.
But then—she had secrets too.
Knowing someone isn’t enough; understanding their character matters more.
That was her rule. No matter how broken or brilliant a person seemed, core habits never changed.
Character shaped actions.
Selfish people got scorned everywhere.
Kind souls were welcomed everywhere.
She knew Ansal’s flaw: his wild streak. But his heart wasn’t rotten.
His soldier parents died fighting Netherborn Elves in the Northern Frontier years ago. The double blow shattered him, turning him reckless.
Still—he’d landed a government job. She’d vouched for him early on, but his Grand Council entry shocked even her.
The Grand Council ran everything in the Northern Coalition.
Proof he had hidden talents politicians valued.
"Oh, right—those old Grand Council vultures are hunting you. Lay low. Disguise yourself as a normal girl. Swordmasters like you are rare; intel agencies track them all. After your disappearance, a sudden expert would draw eyes."
Ansal added this uneasily before leaving.
"Oh? Who runs the Intelligence Bureau now?"
The Northern Coalition’s only path to her was intel. The boss mattered.
"After you left, it fell back to the Grand Council—handed to your rival. That stone-faced bastard. You know his ruthlessness. He’s wanted you dead for years. Your ‘transformation’? He’d find it plausible. Once he suspects someone, he’ll dig up corpses to verify identities."
Her old rival in charge? Trouble.
"Got it. I’ve quit the Northern Coalition. No more dealings with him."
"Good. Wrap things up here, then come to the Eastern Pearl capital. We’ll drink for three days straight!"
"Where’ll you stay?"
"Don’t find me. Arrive in the capital—I’ll get word and meet you."
"Deal. I’ll be there."
"Promise!"
"Wait—you’re treating?"
"No! Spare me, you bottomless pit!"
Ansal’s grin turned sly.
"Normally, I’d say no! But this time—I’m treating. Legit government expense. Hahaha!"
Laughing freely, he waved and vanished into the forest.
Verlith waved back at his fading silhouette. Then she stood frozen, staring into the dark trees, lost in thought.
