I Like You

"So…what exactly happened between the two of you?" Ūriel couldn't help but ask as she noticed the different atmosphere between the two of us when we came back.

"Well…I can explain that." I answered with an awkward smile.

However before I could begin, Ūbel gave me and intense glare before leaving the place.

Ūriel looked concerned. "What did you do for her to look at you like that?"

Then I started to explain what happened that lead to this particular situation and Ūriel listened from the beginning to end and eventually said.

"I see, no wonder she reacted like that."

I let out a sigh and replied. "I know, but hopefully she'll understand."

"Hopefully..but are you really sure about going on a journey? I mean couldn't you stay for a few more years? You're still very young, while I know that you're a capable combatant I still can't help but feel worried." Ūriel said as she crossed both of her arms on her chest.

"No, I already decided to do this." I wasn't going to change my mind about it, although I can understand where she's coming from, however it was unnecessary.

Ūriel closed her eyes and said. "You already set your mind for that journey, haven't you?"

"Yes."

After a few seconds of silence, she let out a sigh. "I can't really force you, that's why I'm very reluctant to do this, regardless you'll still leave with or without my permission anyway."

"That's true." 

Then she asked. "If you don't mind, where do you want to go anyway? You said that you'll go on a journey but you never really told me where."

That's a reasonable question. Before I answer her question I stared at the community quest in front of me, the most difficult one to complete in this world or at least one of the most difficult ones.

[ Quest - Gain the respect and acknowledgment of the mage who is the closest to the Goddess Serie ] ( Incomplete )

[ Difficulty - A ]

[ Reward - 50,000 KP ]

While it's not the only A rank difficulty quest in this world, it is certainly the trickiest one because unlike the other ones only involved killing or eliminating an enemy, they're pretty straight forward unlike this one.

Currently there's no EX rank quest difficulty, if I guess correctly the only EX class quest is probably killing the Demon Lord, but since the Demon Lord has already been killed in this timeline by Himmel and his party.

Which means there's no available quest that ranks above A.

Even the quest of eliminating the last 2 remaining 7 Sage Of Destruction is only A rank in terms of difficulty.

Honestly it's quite a relief, that there's no higher than A rank quest available which means the world is relatively peaceful, although there's still conflicts ongoing between demons and humans.

But it's only mild compared to when the Demon Lord was still active, right now the conflicts are mostly to eliminate the leftover demons that survived in the previous war.

And after the common enemy of this world humanity is completely eliminated, the world would have its long lasting peace free from the fear of demons.

Or at least that's just me being optimistic, however in reality it won't be that simple. After all, even without demons, humans are a creature of greed and destruction.

Which is worse because at least the demons it was their natural state, an instinct and their very nature in general to feed on humans.

Either way, hopefully the extinction of humanity's greatest enemy won't make those who are in above make some stupid decision to start a war for resources or something stupid like ideology.

Back to Ūriel question, I answered. "I'm going to the Northern Lands, specifically Äußerst, the city of magic."

There I would be able to find Serie and try to complete the quest and also do some side-quests along the way to the Northern Lands.

Ūriel was completely taken aback by this revelation, even though she isn't really that well-informed about the mage world, at very least she knew about Äußerst.

After all that city was so famous that even a backwater town like this knew about the city of magic.

Knowing that I want to go there, Ūriel made a conclusion. "You want to participate in the upcoming First-Class Mage exam?!"

She slammed both of her hands into the table, making me jolt in surprise, but I quickly retained my cool.

But thinking about what she mentioned, originally I was about to deny it. However, it wasn't without merit and was probably the only way for me to meet Serie the fastest.

"Do you realize how dangerous that exam is? From what I heard at least 30% of the participants die in each exam!" Ūriel was deeply worried about me.

To which I'm grateful for it, but frankly it's unnecessary because…

"Even if I wanted to, there's no way I would be able to participate anyway, because I lack the qualifications which is being a Third-Class Mage." I haven't been recognized as a proper mage by the association.

I could try by taking the exam for it, however I don't think I'll be able to pass anyway because I haven't mastered the basic offensive spell [ Zoltraak ].

While I could cast it, there's no way for me to cast it consecutively which is the basic requirement of mastering it.

"O-oh, that's a relief, I suppose..?" Ūriel let out sigh of relief, knowing that I won't be able to participate in such a dangerous exam.

At this point, she probably thinks of me as her little brother, which is a sentiment shared by me. Because I thought of her as a sister, regardless of blood, she is family to me.

But despite what I said to her, and which is technically the truth, however my qualifications won't remain that way forever as I plan to take the Third-Class Mage exam in the near future anyway.

It's an extra, just in case I needed it to fulfill the quest, if I don't find a way to meet Serie without participating in the First-Class Mage exam.

Ūriel sitting down as she calmed down after the knowledge of my lack of qualification to exam.

"If you won't participate in the First-Class Mage exam anyway, why do you want to go to Äußerst?" Ūriel acted confused at this.

"The exam isn't the reason why I'm going there, I want to meet someone." 

Ūriel tilted her head and asked. "Who?"

I smiled at her and answered. "That's for me to know and for you to find out."

Ūriel immediately pouted at my lack of answer. "Fine! Keep your secrets, but I will definitely find out who it is in the future!"

I shrugged at her declaration and replied. "Sure, good luck with that."

Suddenly she started pinching my cheeks in annoyance. "You became real cheeky after years of spending time with us! Where's the cute little Stark I met years ago! You were too cute back then!"

"Staup- puulen mahh cheeeks-!" Cursed my baby skin, it still retains some of it, mostly because this body is too young, it isn't even a teenager yet.

Not to mention, I don't train my face at all, what kind of training would I do? Repeatedly punching my face?

Nope, sounds really dumb.

Anyway, Ūriel gave me the permission to go in a journey with the condition of writing them a letter at least once or few times a month.

Which I agreed, it wasn't that demanding or hard, she just wanted to know if I'm doing good or not.

Now, I should do something about Ūbel. Because I really don't want to sour our relationship over this, I'd hate to see it broken.

—

I went to Ūbel's room and started knocking at the door.

Knock* knock*

"Ūbel, mind if we talk?"

It took a few moments of silence before she answered. "No."

"Ūbel, please let me explain."

"No! You made it very clear that you don't want me anymore, leave b-because- sniff*."

I could clearly hear her start crying, and thought. 'Not again…'

"Ūbel, I never said I didn't want you." If it was any other moment, my words would certainly be misunderstood.

"Lies! You want to get away from here! F-from me!" 

Goodness gracious, this is why I don't like having an argument with a teenager, they're so emotional.

"Again I didn't say that, I'm just going on a journey and coming back after I'm done." 

"In what?! A few years?! At that time you'll forget about me!" I could feel her raw emotions from here.

"No, that's not true I won't-" I can't even finish my entire sentence as she continued.

"No! You'll replace me with a-another girl!"

Silence.

Awkward, complicated silence.

I blinked a couple of times hearing that, as if I misheard her words, but nope. It is what I heard from Ūbel.

"Excuse me, what? Replace you with another girl? Ūbel, be realistic there's no way I'd replace you with another, or any girl for that matter." 

Who the heck would I even replace her with? I mean there's Fern but I doubt I'd get along with her more than the original Stark, I'm completely different after all.

"I don't believe you…there could be s-someone out there prettier than me, better than me…I-i…don't want you to abandon me f-for a better one.."

Suddenly it clicked, like something inside my brain was getting cleared. A revelation that I've been denying, a possibility that I never thought was possible for me.

I was speechless, then with a hesitant voice along with disbelief I said. "Ūbel…be honest with me..do you perhaps like me..? In a romantic sense?"

There was silence for a full minute making me anxious while waiting, as I was about to say something suddenly, I could hear the door opening revealing Ūbel who have a puffed eyes, red due to constant crying and said. "Yes, I do. I like you so much that I hate that you're leaving me…"

Ah…I see, it was no wonder why she acted out of character and irrationally compared to her normal-self.

But still I can't believe it, to think that she likes me?

How is that even possible?

I'm very different from the original Stark, I wasn't as kind nor compassionate as him and frankly I'm a very selfish individual.

But…perhaps it's because of that, I was true to myself, I never really hid much of my personality. If I found something I dislike, I would voice it bluntly.

Anyway, this is something completely unexpected. A variable that I haven't even considered.

Ūbel liking me? Get real, I'm not that delusional, however I think it happens.

I'm shocked, as I have no idea how to handle this, after all despite my seniority.

I literally have no experience in the matter of love, I was completely inexperienced in that matter.

Either way, we should talk about this. As I'm not going to immediately jump the gun, just because I know that she likes me, I won't start having a relationship with her.

First of all, she's way too young, while I might be younger than her physically, mentally I'm older and I refuse to take advantage of that.

Second, 'if' I ever start a relationship with her, it wouldn't be half-assed and I would like to bond with her through dates and if we're truly compatible only then I would start dating her for real.

I don't want a fling, something like that is bound to fail, there's no point being in a relationship if it's just that.

If it's just a casual fling, I'd rather not be in a relationship at all and just stay as a friend with benefits and some one-night stands.

Anyway, for now we should talk about this because this could very well be the catalyst of what would define our relationship in the future.

So must take this seriously, a single mistake could break the bond that we cultivated for years.

"Ūbel, can we talk about this in your room if you don't mind?" I said carefully.

Ūbel stared at me for a while before accepting. "Alright, let's talk."

And so, I went inside her room and preparing for a meaningful conversation with Ūbel.

—

Author Notes: If you think I'm going to write a harem without a proper justification and making the girls act like robots without any thoughts then you're wrong.

It wouldn't be easy and a bit more complicated than that, as I refuse to make these characters similar to a sex doll.

Each and every single one of them has their own personalities and reasons as to why they're going to be part of it.

Anyway, next chapter the word count would finally be at 15k and this would be shown in the ranking, hopefully you guys vote! 

If you enjoyed this work please do.

—

Feel free to donate if you ever feel generous, every bit of donations help.

There's going to be an advanced chapter here.

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