“So, not only that you were saved by your friend’s sacrifice, but you lost your entire family to the goblins in such cruel ways, and they happened to also be a Lord and two Champions?” Lily said. Her hands were on her temple as she digested Guts’ story.

“Basically, yes,” Guts nodded. His expression was ugly, to say the least.

“Ah, how stupid of me! I knew it was bad from your expression at that time, but I never knew it would be this bad!” Lily frustratedly complained.

Guts had only told her how a friend sacrificed himself for him back then. He was not in a state of mind to describe the more gruesome events like how his dad was crushed like minced pork or his little sister was shot by the person he trusted, albeit with mercy as the reason.

But still, she was able to save him despite not knowing the whole situation.

At that time, Lily was still young and inexperienced, and she…

“Those words cheered me up though,’ Guts began with a slight smile on his bitter face, “‘I am Lily. Together with me, let’s find the purpose of our lives,’ was it?”

“A-Ah! D-Don’t go and say it! It is embarrassing! I d-don’t know what possessed me back then,” Lily waved both of her hands in front to hide her shyness.

…The lines she said back then were cheeky as hell.

“Why not? That was what cheered me up you know? ‘Ask yourself, if they were here, what would they say to you?’” Guts continued, started feeling amused.

“A-Ah, I said STOP!” Her face turned tomato crimson. The waving of hands was also getting wilder and wilder.

“Pffft! Ahahahaha! You are hilarious, you know!” Guts said, already feeling better.

“That’s rude!” Lily pouted, realizing that Guts had already felt better.

‘Though that was indeed embarrassing,’ she added inside her mind.

As for the reason Guts had already felt better…

When Guts narrated his story, it reminded him of the light he had seen at the end of the darkness.

When he had lost everything to those ugly bastards and was blind with rage…

…Her words were the only light that shone him through the darkness and made him see the way forward again.

It guided him, taught him what he should do. His family and friends wouldn’t want to see him depressed about their deaths.

Once he was reminded of that memory of light, he no longer felt like he had to be afraid of the oncoming stampede.

Came what may, he would live the best life he could ever live. At the very least, for the sake of those important to him that were now gone.

…Of course, her hilarious action helped, too, albeit only in a small part.

Guts looked at Lily again. Fondness was in his eyes.

The girl said something about how something had possessed her, and it may very well indeed be so. Except that, she still occasionally had that possession till this day. Considering the other times he had seen it…

…Well, their party wouldn’t become how it was today if not for those occasional possessions, he guessed.

In his time of deepest darkness, she was by his side.

Together with him, she promised they would find their meaning of life together.

From their time together, he realized the girl was hopelessly helpless. Occasionally, however, he would see that same light he once had seen from her yet again, albeit that it was not directed at him.

And that was why…

‘That’s why I love you, Lily. Your hopeless self. Your kindness. The light that you occasionally showed me. I love it all. More so than everyone else. …Or I at least would like to think so.’

He mused at the last thought. He was definitely not the only one who was in love with her.

They all never talked about it, but… it was obvious.

All of them loved Lily. And their love was in no lesser degree than him.

But at the very least, he would like to think that, at the very end of it all, she would choose him. The him who was uncouth and savage and only had straightforwardness as a redeeming feature.

It was a selfish wish without any basis at all.

But that was his sincerest desire.

…Unfortunately, that wish never came true.

Or was it?