Mochi had currently evolved into a King Slime, while Lumiel was probably still an ordinary slime. Not everything Mochi could do would necessarily be possible for Lumiel as well.
Even so, Qiu Nuoya believed Lumiel would become a wonderful partner for Xiao Tao.
When Qiu Nuoya promised to teach Xiao Tao more about how to get along with slimes, Xiao Tao happily patted Lumiel on the head as the little slime eagerly munched on its snacks.
"When you two stand side by side like that, you look so much alike that you could almost be brothers..."
As Qiu Nuoya and Xiao Tao sat together, admiring their two slimes, Viktor suddenly made that remark.
Xiao Tao looked somewhat bewildered.
"N-No, we don’t look alike at all! I’m not nearly as handsome as Nuoya, and I’m completely unreliable... Someone like me..."
Perhaps his own words had gotten him down, because Xiao Tao’s voice gradually faded.
"I wasn’t talking about your faces. I simply meant that your gentle manner and physiques are quite similar. If you wore the same clothes, I think you could easily pass for brothers."
It was true that Qiu Nuoya and Xiao Tao had similar builds. Xiao Tao was a year older, so he was slightly taller, but the difference was negligible.
Qiu Nuoya’s hair was longer, so no one would mistake them for each other. However, his own black hair, which took on a bluish tint when sunlight shone through it, and Xiao Tao’s black hair probably looked much the same to an outside observer.
If Xiao Tao grew his hair out, the two of them might indeed look like brothers.
Just as Qiu Nuoya was thinking that, a quiet voice muttered, "You don’t look alike at all."
The speaker was Warren, who wore a slightly sulky expression.
At Warren’s firm declaration, Xiao Tao lowered his eyes a little and murmured, "I guess you’re right..."
What was going on here? Why did the atmosphere suddenly feel so ominous?
Just moments ago, everyone had been happily doting on the slimes, but now a strange tension had settled over the room. If only Igor, the group’s usual mood maker, were here, he could probably have broken the awkward silence with a well-timed joke. Unfortunately, there would be no such intervention today.
The princes had their own rooms in the royal castle, so they had already returned to their quarters. Qiu Nuoya could not help wishing Shangguan Wan’er had been there too. Surely, she would have done something to lighten the mood.
"Sorry, I’m going to step outside for a bit and get some fresh air."
With that, Warren stood up and left the room.
"What exactly is with his attitude?" Viktor asked, looking somewhat displeased.
At Viktor’s words, Xiao Tao shrank back and lowered his head.
"Is it my fault...?"
"Huh? Why would it be?"
"Because I keep dragging Warren into all sorts of things without asking him and causing him trouble..."
"That’s not true! If you put it that way, I’ve been causing everyone trouble for the past three years!"
"But..."
It was true that if Qiu Nuoya had never met Xiao Tao, they might have simply enjoyed sightseeing in the royal capital before setting off on another adventure.
However, that was merely speculation based on how things had turned out.
Qiu Nuoya could not deny the possibility that they would have been caught up in this kingdom’s crisis regardless.
"Xiao Tao, you don’t need to worry about it. I’m sure Warren was just a little on edge today, that’s all."
After all, there was no doubt that Warren was bewildered by having the title of "Hero" suddenly thrust upon him. He probably had all sorts of conflicting emotions that he had yet to come to terms with himself.
Qiu Nuoya understood Warren’s feelings all too well. When people had first started calling him a Saint, he had been so confused and overwhelmed that he had eventually run away.
That was why Qiu Nuoya wanted to be there for Warren. But perhaps it would be better to leave him alone for now.
Still, he could not help worrying.
Although Qiu Nuoya had told Xiao Tao not to dwell on it, he found himself glancing toward the door Warren had left through.
"...Are you worried about him?"
"Of course I am."
"You are kind to everyone. That is one of your virtues, but it is also a flaw, isn’t it?"
"What do you mean?"
"You give people hope, only to leave them hurting."
Was Viktor criticizing him?
As Qiu Nuoya tilted his head in confusion, Viktor let out a long sigh.
"Your kindness sometimes ends up hurting people."
"Is that really true...?"
"Right now, I want to tell you not to go after him. But no matter what I say, you’ll go anyway, won’t you?"
"Um..."
"Your decision to do so will hurt me."
"Eh...?"
"If I said something like this, you would probably feel uncomfortable, so perhaps the mature thing to do would be to keep it to myself. However, according to Igor, I’m still a child, so I’m going to be selfish for once."
Viktor looked straight at Qiu Nuoya.
"Please don’t go."
Qiu Nuoya was torn between wanting to follow Warren and comfort him, and respecting Viktor’s childlike selfish request. He wondered what the best course of action would be.
He was beginning to realize just how difficult it was to build relationships with other people. And when romantic feelings became involved, everything grew even more complicated.
"But Warren is our companion, isn’t he?"
"To me, he is a rival in love."
Viktor had stated that so firmly and clearly.
Then again, Viktor had always treated Warren as a personal enemy, so this was hardly anything new.
"Um... It seems like I’m just getting in the way here, so I’ll go check on him instead, okay?"
Xiao Tao hurriedly slipped out of the room, almost as though he were fleeing.
Left alone together, Qiu Nuoya and Viktor were enveloped by silence.