Naria didn't know why the word was blurted out without thinking.

They were friends - she would never have had such good friends in her life. They have experienced life and death together, and have done things together that seem unreasonable and whimsical to others, and they should continue to walk together, never separated or fearless, leaving countless legends to sing for posterity...... She used to really think she could.

Alan always felt that her depression was due to the fact that she had accidentally injured Scott under the control of the crow, and she had always used this to justify herself, but when the seemingly alienating title of "you" rushed out of her mouth, she suddenly realized that maybe it wasn't the case.

Under the ice, the rift had existed for a long time, but it had been ignored by her - it was an inferiority complex and hesitation that she did not want to admit.

Eren didn't often mention her former companions, either before or after a broken leg. But she knew everyone, even when she hadn't met them. She knows the personalities of each of them, what they are good at, and what their shortcomings are...... More importantly, each and every one of them is indispensable.

Without any of those companions, Alan Carvo's astonishing and short-lived squad of adventurers would not have been as famous as they are today.

Naria Kavo is not indispensable.

Her swordsmanship was mediocre, she had no profound knowledge, no superior intelligence, and the only cooking skill she could master...... She was sure that if the elf had been a little more serious, he would have done no worse than her.

She can certainly continue to go on various adventures with her friends. But she can't bear to have no help on her own, and she may even become a liability...... In the short term, she doesn't see any possibility of change.

Maybe she should have chosen a more normal life – like she had dreamed of. Open a small shop and keep a warm home for her friends to come back to whenever they want.

It seemed to be a better and more suitable choice for her, but she was always a little unwilling. She had seen the vastness and wonder of the world, and it was impossible for her to continue to be a quiet bystander.

I don't know when it started, the inexplicable anxiety gradually gnawed away at her soul, and many subtle frustrations accumulated little by little. It was a knot in her heart, and she had better stay by herself until she untied it.

"Yes. She replied. The confusion in Ed's eyes almost irritated her—he loved her. She knew, but he didn't understand it, and probably never will.

He was chosen...... And she's not.

"You guys. She repeated, making her answer firmer.

Even if the mind is absent-minded and the eyes are blank. Naria still pulled out the baking tray neatly at the right time.

A rich aroma hits the nose. Freshly baked cranberry cookies look perfect. Nalya stared down at her masterpiece for a moment, then at the pile on the long table, and wondered why she had done so much—ah, yes, she could at least have some dry food for her friends who were about to leave. If Ed was going to teleport them...... I wonder if the great elven king is interested in tasting the rough food of humans?

She knew she shouldn't have thought so, it would only make her more frustrated and angry. But if she could control her emotions as perfectly as she did to control the heat, she wouldn't be as useless as she is now.

She stood there in a daze, holding a baking tray. A hand reached out and stole several cookies from under her nose. She looked up helplessly, looking at Tess's shining amber eyes.

"Isn't it hot?" she asked.

Tess's eyes narrowed. Shaking his head contentedly, he jumped up and sat down on the table.

"If you're here to persuade me to come with you......" Nalya put down the baking tray listlessly, "don't bother with that." ”

"Oh, when did I ever persuade you to do what you don't want to do?" Tess pouted aggrievedly, "and I've never stopped you from doing what you want...... Either way, I'm always on your side, sweetheart. ”

She leaned over and rubbed her shoulder.

"Of course, if you actually want to be persuaded, or want to be stopped, I'm happy to play that serious role for you. She puffed out her chest and sat solemnly straight—her mouth still sticking to the crumbs of the biscuits.

Even though she was full of worries and was not in a good mood, Naria couldn't help but laugh.

"I don't know. She replied with a sigh, looking down at the remaining cookies in the baking tray amid Thay's unreserved chewing, "I'm not you, Tes, always know what you want, don't hesitate, and never back down......"

“...... I'm tempted to say, 'Oh yes, that's how I am!'" Tess clapped her hands and sighed, "But alas, sweetheart, I'm not as great as you say...... If that were the case, I would have been a great warrior by now, innocent and upright, with a great light above my head, and everyone cheering for me—or a great singer, and the elves would have admired me, and kings and nobles would have vied to invite me to their castles to perform at the most solemn banquets......"

“...... Really?" Naria involuntarily stopped what she was doing and asked suspiciously, "Singer?"

She'd heard Tess sing...... That's not something that can be described as "incomplete pentatonic sound".

"Of course!" Tess glared at her unconvinced, clearing her throat as if she was ready to sing aloud. But in an instant, her expression became slightly trance-like.

"When I was a kid, I sang well. She lowered her eyes and gently kicked the table leg with her heels, "At least that's what my father said." ”

In Naria's memory, it seemed like the first time she had mentioned her father.

"He's a singer. Tess smiled at her, "The kind of kid who sings funny tunes to the guests in Dumbbutch's tavern." Although many people thought he was actually a thief...... And he ends up dying in the sewers on suspicion of stealing something he shouldn't have stolen, but he's really just a singer. ”

Naria's mind was a little confused. She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Tess tilted her head, her eyes a little confused.

"It's weird. "I almost don't remember his face, but I still remember the songs he sang...... He sings so badly, why can a man who claims to love his best thing be singing so badly?"

Naria blinked, not knowing what to say.

"But I didn't become a thief because of him. Tess held up a finger at her and shook it, the fleeting sadness in her eyes as if it had never been there, "I became a thief because of that elf...... When I realized that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't be a warrior as good as him, and when I found out that he was an elf, what did it mean that I was human...... I was not destined to be the only one in his long life, but only a passer-by. When I figured this out, I was like those worried parents said -- 'bad school'! I ran away from home, messed around, and made a bunch of messy friends...... By the time I found out, well, I had become a well-known thief, though I hadn't been thrown into the Viinz River and turned into a floating corpse by that time, mostly because they all knew that there was an untouchable elf covering me. ”

She smiled and spoke quickly, but her expression unconsciously became depressed.

"I'm a complete little asshole. "But Norway never left me behind...... I was never told what to do or what not to do, unless I was really dizzy and went to do something irreparably wrong. Although he later told me that it was because he didn't know how to teach children...... But that's good, at least I've learned to take responsibility for the decisions I make. You know? He didn't even stop me from plotting to kill my father...... He just asked me, 'Have you found peace now?'...... And I replied, 'Yes.' ’”

She looked down at her hands, "I did find peace. Not just because I avenged my father, but because I suddenly realized that I could control my own destiny - try to do whatever I wanted, and if there was something I didn't want to lose, hold on to it, hold on to it, and never let go. ”

She clenched her fists hard, and the frustration on her face was gone: "Then I pestered Norway and started running around with me, and I realized that the sneaky gadgets I learned were actually useful...... Well, since I've become a thief, I'm going to be the best thief ever! so good that everyone who knows me will remember it for the rest of my life!"

Naria laughed heartily and reached out and hugged her gently.

"You're as good as I say. She said, "You are the best thief I have ever met, mighty and brave...... And cute. Norway will never find a girl as wonderful as you in his life, and it is impossible to find it among humans and elves. ”

"Oh," Tess nodded in satisfaction, "you must tell that elf!"

"I bet he knows better than I do. Naria smiled and sighed, "I wish I could find my own 'peace' like you." ”

"Of course you can!" Tess hugged her hard, "It doesn't matter if it's a little shop selling cookies or an adventure on a dragon." ”

"I'm pretty sure if I'm riding a dragon, it's definitely not me who is adventuring. Naria smiled wryly.

"What do you say?" Tess let go of her hand and glared at her, "of course it's your adventure! Even if you have a dragon and a smirking Sage, the best thief in the world and an elf who is good at swords, it's your adventure - if you don't think of yourself as the protagonist, you can't be the protagonist, sweetheart!".

(To be continued.) )

PS: I'm back! I'm still alive! Although I was treated by the Emperor with a cold...... The 10th came back and fell asleep for 16 hours before barely recovering some health OTZ. This week's Tuesday and Thursday updates will be restored, and next week's one-three-five-six-seven updates will resume!