Unrequited Love, Lost for the Better - Chapter 10

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※ This work contains depictions of coercive relationships, explicit language, and other graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

“Right. It’s the other team members going with him that are the real concern. Don’t you think so?”

“The sparrows are splitting their legs trying to keep up with the stork. Isn’t that so, Collette?”

“Ahaha…….”

Collette laughed awkwardly at her seniors’ conversation. Following their wands, her bristling hair smoothed down, and her ruined researcher’s uniform became pristine.

Satisfied with Collette’s restored appearance, her seniors nodded and suddenly realized that the fluffy grey-brown head was nowhere to be seen.

“Alright, that’s done. We won’t touch your desk. If you find it hard to clean up alone, have the youngest do it.”

“Right, this is when the youngest should help. Hm? But where did he go? Not helping his own senior?”

“Tsk tsk. In my day, I stuck close to my senior and did whatever I was told without complaint.”

As her seniors clicked their tongues and pointed out Meliano’s absence, Collette grew flustered.

It hadn’t even been a week since he confessed to her.

Since a senior and junior’s desks were typically placed right next to each other, she could hardly focus on her research. So she had sent Meliano out on errands as an excuse. He was probably scouring the Magic Tower for the supplies she had requested.

Unable to leave him to suffer misunderstanding, Collette waved her hands and spoke.

“Somerset is away because I gave him a separate task. He’s doing well, so you needn’t worry.”

“Hm? Oh, is that so?”

“And here we thought the lad had finally caused an accident.”

“An… accident?”

At the momentary subtle shift in Collette’s expression, her seniors exchanged knowing glances among themselves.

In truth, it was impossible not to know in their lab that Collette and Valerian shared a special bond. Whenever something happened to Collette, Valerian de Wintergreen would unfailingly appear.

Nor was that all. The Labyrinth byproducts Collette needed were promptly delivered to their lab by Valerian himself—items that would normally require waiting on a long queue. And even after waiting, there was no guarantee the byproducts would still be available. So her seniors could not help but be grateful that Collette, with her connections to the Exploration Squad, was their junior.

Moreover, Collette—who had drawn attention upon joining the Magic Tower with her dazzling credentials and endearing appearance—would light up at the mention of the 1st Team Leader, her cheeks blooming with a lovely blush. Her seniors could scarcely fail to notice that Collette harbored feelings for the 1st Team Leader.

The interesting point was that while Valerian was overly protective of Collette, his attitude toward her was rather curious.

To their eyes, it certainly seemed as though the 1st Team Leader also had feelings for Collette. Yet they never saw the two doing anything romantic or spending time together as a couple.

Smoke would not rise from a chimney without fire—yet strangely, they never heard any gossip about the pair. As though someone had deliberately intervened.

But their eyes, which spent the most time with Collette, could not be deceived.

Who on earth would personally set aside Labyrinth byproducts—for which one must risk one’s life—for a mere cherished younger sibling? Who would procure expensive desserts from a famous patisserie located beyond the southernmost tip of the Zairka Mountain Range, a journey of nearly four hours from the Magic Tower, just so she wouldn’t go hungry during work?

Thanks to this, those sharing a lab with Collette had their palates well pleased. Yet the one who so ostentatiously displayed his exceptional affection for Collette, while insisting he was merely looking after a cherished younger sibling or a capable junior alumnus—it was enough to make one scoff.

Lovers, or affectionate siblings? Her seniors, who had been watching with interest to see when a tectonic shift might occur in their relationship, found Meliano Somerset’s appearance to be the perfect seasoning.

“Um, Seniors…?”

As their gazes turned teasing, Collette found herself stepping back involuntarily. Seeing her uneasy face, her seniors exchanged glances. It seemed Collette still did not know.

“…Hm. It’s nothing. Get back to your research, Collette.”

“Right! Let’s get to work as well.”

“What shall we have for dinner?”