I Was the Heroine, and in the Sequel, Even Though I’m a Mob, All of My Stats Are Maxed Out

Past and Future 2

“But after Nina returned to her original world, I was able to sort out my feelings easily, even if there was nothing I could do about it. Unlike Alvin.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, that’s why Alvin is really amazing. Beyond amazing, I even think he’s crazy.”

Shrugging his shoulders in amazement, Owen continued.

“Because normally you can never, ever, fall in love with a girl from another world whom you may never see again.”

“…. Yeah.”

Once again, I realize the weight of Alvin-sama’s affection for me, “He never forgot me, not even for a day.”

At first, I was bewildered by his favors, but now I felt happy and at the same time surprised at the change in myself.

“Besides, I knew somewhere deep down that Nina would never like me.”

“What makes you think that?”

“It’s just a feeling. But my hunch was right.”

Owen laughed and rested one elbow on the table, staring into my face.

“What do you think? How does it feel to know that I liked Nina?”

“I feel happy, apologetic, and surprised….”

“Hahaha, that’s good. I’m satisfied.”

I didn’t understand, but it seemed that he was satisfied with my response.

I used magic to reheat the tea, which had somehow become lukewarm, and took a sip, exhaling with relief.

“I think I’m a pretty good candidate too, but I don’t think I can beat Alvin, so I thought I’d give him my support from now on.”

“Support? For what?”

“Alvin and Nina’s relationship.”

“Cough, keugh…. W-What do you mean, suddenly?”

The unexpected words made me choke on my tea.

After we met again, he even said that it would be better if Alvin-sama didn’t know about my existence, so I was even more surprised by his reaction.

“I just wanted to give my support for the healthy Alvin now.”

“…..”

“You can tell him that you got a confession from me today. I can just see Alvin getting jealous.”

“Isn’t that usually funny for you?”

“Hahaha, half the time, yes… But even Nina isn’t completely satisfied with Alvin right now, is she?”

“…..”

I was stunned by the crimson eyes that seemed to see right through me. With a satisfied look on his face, Owen patted my head.

“Hey, Nina, keep a close eye on Alvin, would you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just, watch over him carefully. Please.”

“I understand, but…..”

Owen laughed troubledly as he said that and even looked a little sad. I felt a sense of discomfort building up in my chest.

◇◇◇

That night, when I was lounging around with Cheryl in my room after dinner, Lara came in.

In her hand was an expensive-looking bottle of wine, apparently an invitation for a drink.

“Nina-chan! Isn’t it about time we had a drink together?”

“Well… okay then. But I’ve never had a drink before, so please go easy on me.”

“That’s the way to do it! Fufu, with your older sister Lara by your side, you can drink in peace!”

‘It’s precisely because you’re with me that I can’t feel at ease.’

I swallowed the words in my throat and nodded my head.

Lara smiled happily, then left my room. I motioned for Cheryl to follow me, and we headed for Lara’s room.

Her room in the royal castle was so luxurious and dazzling that it made me want to ask her if she was royalty.

“Ah, isn’t this the first time Nina’s been here?”

“Yes, that’s rare.”

Theo and Dirk were already there. They had really wanted to get together with everyone, but Alvin-sama and Owen couldn’t make it due to work.

“I didn’t tell Alvin that I was going to ask Nina out, so of course he said no, even if he was free. He’ll come on his own when he found out Nina is here. Now, let’s drink!”

Even though Alvin-sama didn’t know about it, I was inside the royal castle with everyone else, so I’m sure it would be fine. And just like Lara said, my escorts would report it to him.

“Whoa, that’s a lot! Can you drink all of this?”

“Of course. I’ll drink it just like Dirk or water.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“Fufu, that would be fun.”

The table was already lined with a variety of drinks and snacks, making it look like a small party.

I had, after all, still never had a drink. Even though it was all right in this world, I felt somewhat guilty because I still couldn’t drink alcohol legally in my world.

However, I was thinking that it was time for me to try it because I no longer wanted to go back to my original world anymore and wanted to stay in this world forever.

“Then let’s have a toast to Nina’s first drink!”

“Cheers!”

I clinked glasses with everyone and nervously put my mouth on a glass of bright red wine. I sipped it lightly, thinking that the scent of alcohol alone would make me drunk.

“Nina, how is it? Your first drink.”

“I-It tastes very…. adult-like.”

“Hahaha, it was bad, wasn’t it? It shows on your face too much.”

To be honest, I didn’t think it would taste good. I imagined it to taste like juice, and I picked up a nearby piece of fruit to mask the slight bitterness that lingered on my tongue.

“Nina is still like a kid.”

“…. It’s kind of very frustrating when Theo tells me that.”

“Try this one next time, it should be easier to drink.”

“Thank you, Dirk.”

The contents of the glass Dirk offered me seemed to be a sweet fruit wine mixed with water, making it very easy to drink. It was rather delicious, and I downed it all in no time.

“It’s quite good, isn’t it?”

“Yes. It tastes good, and I can drink it easily.”

After that, we all relaxed and talked about other things over a few drinks.

Theo’s saga of how he defeated a high-ranked demon in a cool way, Dirk’s stories about his knighthood, and Lara’s stories about her relationships with men, the topics were endless, and the atmosphere of the place was getting more and more exciting.

“Come to think of it, you told Erica about our old days, didn’t you?”

“Ah, Theo heard about that too.”

“Yeah. She was crying and talking about how great Nina was.”

And again the topic of conversation turned to our past.

“Nina back then was pretty awesome. I was even a little frightened, thinking like, ‘Is this kid going to be okay’?”

“You didn’t have any other ways to compliment me?”

“It’s just… How can you work so hard for a world and people you have nothing to do with?”

“Yeah.”

Dirk nodded deeply at Theo’s words.