LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 104.2
That Guy? He’s Usually Just A Fool
It was easy to imagine, thought Kurresh and Lelei. Barloy, with his exceptional physical abilities and inherently good nature, was the type to act before thinking. If he saw someone under attack by monsters, he would no doubt charge in and obliterate the threat. Given his overwhelming strength, most monsters wouldn’t stand a chance. The young lady, saved in such a prince-on-a-white-horse fashion, likely fell head over heels for Barloy in his rare “battle mode” coolness.
…Meanwhile, Yuuri alone couldn’t quite picture this “battle mode cool Barloy”. To Yuuri, Barloy resembled a giant, friendly dog turned human. And sadly, this wasn’t far from the truth.
“And since we were in a hurry, we parted ways after a quick greeting.”
““Ah.””
“It would’ve been fine if it ended there, but by some twist of fate, we met her again… here.”
““Oh no…””
Without time to clear up any misconceptions, Barloy and his group had left the merchant caravan after rescuing them. By then, the young lady’s admiration for Barloy had likely skyrocketed, painted in her mind as a chivalrous hero saving the day without seeking any reward. Even if the misunderstanding persisted, it wouldn’t have mattered if they never crossed paths again. But alas, fate had other plans, reuniting them in the royal capital of Draheln.
Barloy, unsurprisingly, didn’t even remember the young lady, forcing Archette and the others to divert the conversation and say a quick goodbye. Yet, the girl seemed determined. Now, it was only a matter of time before she tracked down Barloy’s location and came to see him again. Ironically, Barloy himself was the least concerned, leaving Archette to shoulder the entire headache alone.
“A young girl in love with love itself, saved in her time of need by a gallant warrior who asked for nothing in return?”
““…””
“…But Barloy is that Barloy. His usual self and his battle persona are like night and day. What’ll happen if she sees the fool’s true nature?”
After groaning through clenched teeth, Archette downed her cold tea in one gulp. The freezing sensation hit her hard, but she ignored it, holding out her glass for a refill. While Yuuri obliged, pouring more tea, his gaze shifted slightly behind Archette.
There stood the man of the hour, Barloy, with Yakk and Camille dangling from his right arm, looking as clueless as ever. For some reason, Aroru was perched on his shoulders, visibly irate. Judging by the noises from outside, Mag and Urgs were likely still in the garden.
“Archette, what’s up? Got a headache?”
“…Yeah, and it’s a constant one, thanks to someone.”
“That’s serious. I’ll go grab some medicine right away—”
“No need.”
“Got it. But don’t push yourself, alright?”
Barloy patted Archette’s head gently with his large hand. He wasn’t a bad person. Far from it, his core was that of a genuinely good man. But, as his nickname “muscle-brained wolf” implied, he was also an idiot. Thoughtless, impulsive, and living entirely by instinct. It was no wonder Archette lamented, “Why’d she fall for this?”
Oblivious to her frustrations, Barloy entertained Yakk and Camille by swinging his arm up and down, while Aroru yanked at his ears in protest. Barloy ignored him completely. It seemed Aroru had been demoted to “kid status.” Poor guy.
“Archette.”
“What is it, Yuuri?”
“Wouldn’t it be easier to just let that girl see Barloy’s everyday life?”
“…What?”
“You know, so her ‘hundred-year love’ can fizzle out on its own.”
““Ah…””
Looking at Barloy, who was now competing with the kids over snacks, the three of them sighed. Yuuri’s suggestion made perfect sense. If the young lady’s image of Barloy was based solely on his cool battle persona, then seeing him in his usual idiotic state was bound to shatter that illusion.
“Let’s go with that.”
“Besides, Barloy’s not even interested in her, right?”
“That guy? No way he’s capable of understanding complex emotions like that.”
Archette’s blunt statement left no room for argument, and no one contradicted her. After all, this was Barloy they were talking about. The muscle-brained wolf would remain his carefree, foolish self.
Thus, following Archette’s guidance, the young lady came to see Barloy in his natural habitat. Just as Yuuri had predicted, her infatuation dissolved almost instantly. The stark contrast between fantasy and reality was indeed a cruel thing.