I’m Not the Final Boss’ Lover

“…You’ve changed,” Fabian muttered bitterly. My insides boiled at the way he looked at me as if I was a turncoat. How could he say something like this to me when he was the one who threw me away?

I thought it over throughout this conversation and finally grasped the issue. Fabian was too self-centered. Only his pain and anxiety mattered, and he couldn’t see anything other than that. I once had no doubt that Fabian had a noble intention to defeat the demon lord, unlike the career-oriented goals of other expedition corps. He was unaffected by fame and wealth and felt truly sorry for the deaths of others, after all. Thinking about it now, that nobility itself was none other than the selfish element used to construct his ego—to perfect himself as the Champion. I took in the man’s true self with an unwavering gaze as I replied, “You’re the one who has changed. Or maybe all this time, you’ve only been hiding what a horrible human being you were?”

Fabian shrunk back, surprised that I would criticize him with such hostility. I continued barraging him with facts. “And I don’t know how you can even think of comparing yourself to Mayer Knox. You’ve never even managed to reach the level of his feet, have you?”

“But that’s—!”

“Oh, and didn’t you say something about me joining the Dark Knights because of Mayer’s money?” I interrupted him. “Just because of money? No. What drew me was his level. The title of humanity’s strongest. Don’t you think that’s enough to bet my second future on? For successful days to come, unlike the failed past.”

Fabian looked dazed. He probably never even imagined being defined as a failure. “You… Why are you so supportive of Mayer Knox? It can’t be… Was the rumor true?”

“What rumor?”

“About you being that man’s mistress.…”

I clicked my tongue out of incredulity. Did he not hear me deny this in the banquet hall minutes ago? Or was he just trying to make sure again…? Although I was certain Fabian would be disappointed to hear that I was Mayer’s mistress, that was unfortunately not the truth. Regardless of what happened between us, Fabian and I had known each other for several years. He read the change in my face and realized that there was nothing between me and my captain. Fabian showed visible relief, which I found very regrettable. He beamed and said, “I knew it. The answer is no, right? I did think it would be a lie. You’re not such an easy woman, Jun.”

“What do you mean by ‘an easy woman’? Being Mayer’s mistress?”

“Don’t keep making jokes like that. You’re making a mistake if you’re being like this to make me jealous, Jun. I don’t get riled up over things like that.”

Fabian took on a cool stance. It was a completely different reaction to a moment earlier when he was fretting over the possibility of me being in a relationship with Mayer. I was so dumbfounded that I wanted to see how far he would go. I sneered, “Why would I want your jealousy?”

“Because you want me to hold on to you. Right now, you’re just venting your temper because you don’t want to admit it, but the place you’ll come back to in the end is my side.” Fabian thrust his chest out proudly and stepped forward, seeming to believe he had victory in his hands. A gentle smile spread across his lips. “Didn’t you say you wanted your name to go down in history books as a member of the last expedition? There were some misunderstandings between us, but I really took you to the final battle.”

He wouldn’t have given me that chance if Tragula hadn’t been excluded due to an injury. It was comical that he was strutting about it.

“But what about Mayer Knox? You claim that he acknowledged you, but did he promise to take you to defeat the demon lord? You don’t believe that, do you?”

Fabian was making it sound like I would never be able to join the final battle with my abilities. Clearly, he was convinced that while he had let me join out of generosity, there was no one else that would do the same. He pressured me as if my wish to leave my name in history was some sort of secret weakness. It was as if I had made an excessive demand, but it had no impact on me whatsoever. I looked Fabian straight in the eyes and smirked. “Of course I have no doubts about him. I’m going to defeat the demon lord by his side, and have my name written beneath his. As the right arm of Champion Mayer Knox, the light bringer and slayer of evil. And it won’t happen because he allowed it, but because I’ll make it happen.”

“I’ll also…!”