Chapter 163

Chapter 163

“Because of me?” Noele blinked, staring at the three adventurers.

She recognized Nicholas the Noble Knight. And while Kale and Sienna weren’t familiar to her exactly— she had never even heard of them— she knew that adventurers were oftentimes a part of a team. It was rarer at the higher levels. Especially S-ranks. They tended to work alone.

But the blonde girl didn’t doubt that Nicholas was different. He was a charismatic and kind person, after all. So it would make sense that he, of all S-ranks, would be in a team. Although she found it a little bit odd she had never heard of it.

Noele shook her head. She was getting distracted with extraneous details.

“What do you mean you’ve come here because of me?” she asked, repeating her question.

Nicholas walked up to her side, shaking his head. “As I have said, Noele the Noble Spellsword— can I call you Noele?”

“Uh— of course!” Noele practically exclaimed as she nodded. But she bit her lower lip a moment later, flushing at that embarrassing display. She didn’t want the Noble Knight to think she was just some fangirl.

She was an A-ranked adventurer. And not just that, she was on the cusp of becoming an S-ranked adventurer in terms of levels. Although she was pretty sure she was able to beat one in a fight thanks to Amelia’s training.

So she had to act with the decorum expected of someone of her status. She had to keep her cool. Steel herself, and act like she didn’t care that she was talking to Nicholas the Noble Knight himself. Taking in a deep breath, she nodded slowly and squeaked.

“Y-you, um, said you heard about me?” She flushed as the words came out of her mouth an incoherent mess.

Nicholas nodded with his charming smile, taking her hand. Noele wanted to shrink back when he did. He was her idol— he was who she strove to be.

...other than her sister, of course.

But he was who Nora had striven to become. So Noele had always looked up to Nicholas. She had wanted to meet him again, when she had become an S-ranked adventurer. So this encounter felt a little premature, but the excitement she felt was still there.

“I did hear about you, and that is why I sought you out,” he said, clasping both his hands over her right hand. “I have an offer I’d like to make you, Noele.”

“You... you do?” Noele’s heart pounded in her chest like a [Blacksmith]’s hammer. She waited with bated breath as the Noble Knight nodded.

“Ignore him— he can be quite crude when he’s drunk,” the Noble Knight said as he shook his head.

The blonde girl frowned. “Wait, but I haven’t seen Kale drink any alcohol yet.”

“Indeed. But he shall get drunk soon, give it time,” Nicholas replied.

“So you’re saying it’ll get even worse. Got it.” Noele sighed, rubbing her temples.

It had been a few hours since she had met the Noble Knight, so she was getting used to being around him. Of course, she was still stunned to be able to meet the adventurer she respected the most. But she was slowly acclimating to it. At least, with how she acted on the outside.

Internally, she was still screaming, wondering if he even recognized her from all those years ago. It almost seemed like he did. But she didn’t know for sure.

“Anyway,” Noele started, trying not to stutter, “what was it you wanted to offer me again?”

It was a simple question. But Nicholas hadn’t made the offer after mentioning it a while ago. In fact, he had not even alluded to it once again for whatever reason.

His eyes flickered as he stared down at his malim juice. “Ah, that.”

Noele shrugged, trying to look casual as she glanced around the room. “I mean, if it’s not important, we can talk about something else.”

“It is certainly a matter of import— at least, for me,” Nicholas continued, taking another sip from his drink.

A long silence passed. Noele fidgeted in her seat, before looking back up at the Noble Knight once more. She chewed her lips as she forced herself to speak.

“And what is it, Sir— I mean, Nicholas?” She quickly corrected herself.

Nicholas sighed and leant back into his chair. He raised his head, looking up at the ceiling of the room. He looked like he was mulling over it for a moment, before he took in a deep breath and met the blonde girl’s gaze.

“Do you want to join my team?” he finally asked as his eyes glinted.