Chapter 127: No More Empty

“How am I supposed to believe that?”

“Y-Yes…?”

Since he seemed to want attention, I gave it to him—and Liolikin looked utterly flustered.

Did he really think I’d be touched?

“Uh…, well, I mean, you’re… embarrassed….”

“Haven’t you always stuck by me, treating me as a convenient shield, and constantly made insincere, flattering remarks just to stay by my side?”

“W-Why are you suddenly saying such things, s-sir? I’ve completed the requirements… S-So now, it’s only fair for me to follow you around, Lord Karbaldr, isn’t it?”

Well.

Given the nature of today’s gathering, it seems this kind of question must be especially humiliating for him.

Liolikin’s voice quivered with the urge to cry, and his eyes glistened with tears.

His expression was so twisted that if I pushed a little harder, he looked ready to burst out crying with a loud “Waaah!”

Even so, I kept a blank face and spoke.

“That’s why I want to make it clear. We’ll be together from now on. I need to know if you see me as a tool or as a person. Don’t you think I have a right to know?”

“O-Of course I see you as a person, obviously!”

Of course, by now.

That’s what I thought too, yet the words that came out of my mouth held a completely different meaning.

“How could that be obvious? You followed me around since last semester with the intent to use me.”

“T-That was just… well, that’s all in the past… I mean, it’s something from before, right?”

“Ha… So? You’ve changed your mind now?”

“Y-Yes…! I-I’ve changed!”

“How am I supposed to know that?”

Sometimes, nonverbal communication can be clearer than words.

So, to show that crying wouldn’t solve anything, I deliberately crafted an untrusting look through my expression and gestures.

I leaned back against the chair, arms crossed and legs folded, taking a defensive posture.

With a blank face, I stared quietly at him.

Yor followed my lead, crossing his arms and staring at Liolikin too.

‘Are the readers wondering why I’m doing this all of a sudden?’

I’m not doing this to torment Liolikin.

It’s not because I can’t get rid of him in a fair way, nor am I dropping hints, hoping he’ll leave on his own.

‘Now it’s time to get an apology!

That’s why.

The person Liolikin wronged wasn’t me but Karvald Austri, so it wouldn’t matter even if I didn’t get an apology.

The problem is, he still hasn’t apologized, even though he doesn’t realize this fact.

Because of this, I bet there are quite a few readers who dislike Liolikin.

“W-What do you mean by that? How would you… how would you know…?”

“Exactly what I said. You’ve never directly proven to me that you’re remorseful, have you?”

Liolikin’s tearful eyes shook anxiously.

He still looked utterly lost, with no idea what to do.

Meanwhile, Reysir Daudabina let out a short “Oh!” and looked at me with satisfaction.

He’s definitely thinking I’m praiseworthy.

That made me so embarrassed, I almost lost control of my expression.

“I-I really did reflect on what I did…”

“Then isn’t there something you absolutely should say to me?”

“W-What am I supposed to say…?”

“This is basic common sense. Don’t just wait for me to give you the answer. Think and figure it out yourself. You’re not dumb, so why aren’t you even trying?”

Even if he’s still a growing teenager, I have no desire to spoon-feed answers to someone who towers over 190cm.

If you wrong someone, you apologize.

Even a child knows that—if you can’t figure it out on your own, that’s no good.

Liolikin groaned for a long time as he tried to find this easy answer.

Still unsure of himself, he hesitantly checked with a question.

“M-Maybe… are you expecting an a-apology from me?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t?”

“Uh, um… Well, you told me to apologize to Reysir, but you didn’t say anything to Lord Karbaldr…”

“So, you thought you didn’t need to apologize to me?”

“Y-Yes….”

Liolikin replied in a barely audible voice, stealing glances at me.

Is it that he lacks basic manners, or does he just interpret everything in a way that’s convenient for himself? I can’t tell.

Maybe both?

I went speechless for a moment, and while I sat there, a surprising person spoke up.

“Hang on, can I ask something? Listening to all this, I have a question.”

The one who spoke, with an exasperated look, was Hailga.

If anyone was going to butt into this conversation, I’d have expected it to be Reysir.

But a quick side glance showed the Original Protagonist’s expression—so dumbfounded he couldn’t even speak.

I guess that’s why he didn’t chime in.

“When you apologized to Rey, was it just because the tsundere noble ordered you to? Did you not feel even a shred of regret?”

“I-I did it because I was told to… but I still k-knew I did wrong…, and I did, um, f-feel sorry for it.”

“So did you feel sorry towards the tsundere noble too?”

“O-Of course…”

“And yet, you never apologized, and kept following him around trying to use him? Isn’t that a lie?”

Hailga’s mouth twisted up on one side, a mocking sneer on her face.

Seeing her, I suddenly remembered Hailga hadn’t joined the tournament training with us.

Which means she never witnessed the moment Liolikin had a change of heart, nor had enough time together to really bond.

‘Guess I was right. Just eating together isn’t enough to become friends!

This is proof of what I said back in Chapter 124: “Without a story, you’re not friends.”

“T-That… in the past, um… I was like that… but now I really, truly feel sorry…”

Liolikin hung his head, correcting himself.

He felt guilty about tormenting Reysir at Karvald Austri’s order, but apparently never felt any guilt about hanging around Karvald Austri for his own gain.

Did he rationalize that he was better than Tridric Scaphti, who blatantly acted high and mighty?

Maybe he justified it, thinking it was fine to use Karvald Austri since he was a bad person.

…Or not? Did he ever even imagine that Karvald Austri could be hurt by it?

On the surface, everyone trembled before Karvald Austri, and Liolikin himself must have gone through a lot to stay on his good side.

He probably just envied being so respected by everyone.

There was no sincerity in those actions—everyone just wanted to use Karvald Austri, turning away from that truth.

Then, after hearing me complain in Chapter 57 about being sick of being used, he finally had to face the truth he’d ignored.

Also, he must’ve been moved by the way Reysir treated me.

Reysir Daudabina expressed with actions: “I don’t want to use you! I just want to be friends!”—and worried constantly that I’d misunderstand and get hurt.

‘So if he says he’s truly sorry now, he must mean it!’

I concluded as much, and let out a deep breath to clear my head of all these thoughts.

When I sighed, everyone’s eyes turned to me.

It wasn’t my intention, but since I’d been planning to take charge of the conversation, I spoke up right away.

“Liolikin. Why do you think I never demanded an apology from you until now?”

“W-Well… was it because it seemed like I hadn’t r-reflected…?”

“That’s part of it. Some might say even a forced apology is better than none, but as for me… I’m so sick and tired of empty, insincere apologies that I can’t stand them anymore.”

I’m sure the real Karvald Austri would feel the same way.

And “I” don’t like hollow apologies, either.

Not because they’re tiresome, as I said, but because I know how meaningless they are.

“So if you’re not truly sorry, you don’t have to apologize. Like I said, I just wanted to make things clear.”

“A… as for me….”

“To be honest, I was a bit shocked by what you said earlier. The idea that, just because I never asked for an apology before, you thought there was no need to apologize to me, even after you regretted your actions.”

Liolikin tried to say something.

But I deliberately cut him off, taking control of the conversation.

I couldn’t always be the one ordering him to apologize whenever he wronged someone in the future.

He needed a little more scolding.

So that he’d recognize his mistakes, and not run away from them.

“Apologies aren’t something you give only when someone tells you to or demands it. If you only apologize under pressure, it’s bound to seem insincere, don’t you think?”

“Y-You’re right…”

“And yet, you forced me to bring it up first.”

“S-Sorry….”

“Is that all you have to say?”

Well.

I asked, cocking my head to the side.

Liolikin shook his head vigorously, then finally voiced what he hadn’t managed to say before, since I’d cut him off.

“I-I really have reflected…! So, Lord Karbaldr, I sincerely want to apologize. I’m sorry for sticking to you just to use you… And, uh, I’m really sorry that it took me this long to finally say it.”

“Is guilt the only thing you feel toward me?”

“N-No…! I-I’m also grateful…! Even though I made mistakes, you gave me a chance… You also gave me the opportunity to find courage… You believed in me, waited for me… I’m incredibly grateful…!”

Liolikin bent so far forward, nose almost touching his plate, that if he were 10cm shorter he’d have actually hit it.

‘So, have I finally completed the “assignment” Reysir gave me?’

No more being treated as the kind of person who can’t even get an apology or thanks.

Feeling a sense of relief—or maybe something else—right at that moment.

“And, I also really respect you..! The way you speak and act, there’s this… dignity? I feel it from you…”

“……?”

Why does he keep going?

“I’m thrilled when I’m recognized by Lord Karbaldr… And when you’re kind to me, I feel at ease. And, um…”

“Th-That’s enough…”

“Ah! And, when you blush like now, looking all embarrassed—”

“Who told you to recite every single feeling you have towards me?! An apology and words of thanks were more than enough! And after I told you to stop, why are you still rambling on?!”

I fired off a rapid string of words to stop Liolikin from going any further.

After glaring at him for a moment, he swallowed the rest of his words and finally answered what I’d just said.

“J-Just like you don’t have to be asked to apologize, I think you shouldn’t wait to be asked to compliment someone, either….”

“Even so, when I tell you to stop, you stop.”

“Y-Yes…! I-I’ll do that from now on…!”

Did Liolikin really misunderstand and keep talking even after I told him to stop?

Or was he secretly hoping I’d keep praising him even if I didn’t ask?

What are the odds that, just like Reysir, he tried this because teasing me looked fun?