I Put all my Stats into Charm - Chapter 21

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I Put All My Stats Into Charm Episode 021

After Jerome left.

I returned to the campsite while organizing my thoughts.

How could I change Jerome’s mind?

What exactly did it mean to achieve a special condition?

…Come to think of it, why did Jerome blush?

He even acted flustered, which was unlike him. Though it was a sudden situation, I thought he would react more composedly given his usual demeanor.

Could it be that Jerome sees me as a romantic interest?

If so, there might be hope.

When I arrived at the campsite, I saw Jerome coming out of the encampment. Except for his wet hair, he maintained his usual neat and composed appearance.

I carefully approached Jerome.

“Um, Your Grace.”

“…?”

The flustered Jerome from the hot spring was nowhere to be seen. He looked at me with a calm expression as if he had completely forgotten what happened earlier.

“What is it?”

[‘Charm’ skill is activated.]

[Skill activation failed.]

Damn.

I tried using the skill thinking the special condition might have been achieved from what happened at the hot spring. Apparently not.

Still, reuniting with Jerome was a rare opportunity, so I decided to make the most of this encounter.

“You mentioned you came down south for personal reasons. May I ask what those reasons are?”

Small talk was the best way to close the distance between us.

Jerome stared at me intently before opening his mouth.

“I’m looking for someone.”

“Who are you looking for? If you tell me, I might be able to help.”

He furrowed his brow.

“I believe I told you there would be no reason for you to get involved with Miss Amerbear.”

“I’m not trying to burden you, I’m trying to help.”

“I don’t need help. I’d appreciate it if you could maintain proper boundaries since I don’t welcome any further interest.”

How could someone be so cold? Was it really to the point of talking about boundaries? What did I say that was so rude?

Just as my hurt feelings were about to burst out.

“Your Grace, I…”

“Ah, now I feel alive again!”

Theodore came out of the healer’s encampment, stretching. Having regained his color, he spotted me and Jerome and approached with a bright smile.

“You’re Duke Jerome Winston, right? Thanks for healing me. I survived thanks to you. I thought I was going to meet my maker earlier.”

Jerome looked at Theodore with an expressionless face before nodding lightly.

“I’m glad you seem to be alright. I’ll help you until you can rejoin your companions.”

“Nah, you don’t have to. Once I recover, I’ll go on my own…”

“Please rest comfortably.”

Before Theodore could finish speaking, Jerome turned his back and left.

Theodore watched his retreating figure and shrugged his shoulders.

“I knew he was a boring person, but he’s worse than I thought.”

“Are you okay?”

I looked at Theodore with concern.

“I was really worried you were going to die.”

Though Theodore was an annoying character, my heart had dropped when I saw him collapsed.

He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.

“As you can see, I’m fine. But what happened?”

“His Grace took care of the Brockshil for us.”

“Really? The Duke was in that cave too?”

“Ah, yes.”

I nodded awkwardly.

I couldn’t honestly tell him that I had ridden the Brockshil to the surface using mind control.

If someone who claimed they couldn’t use magic suddenly used a dangerous skill like mind control, wouldn’t anyone find that suspicious?

Moreover, Theodore was a paladin affiliated with the priesthood. If he discovered this ability, I didn’t know what disadvantages I might face.

So it was better not to reveal anything about my skills.

Theodore spoke in an awkward voice.

“I owe the Duke a debt.”

Suddenly he fell silent. His light tone and playful expression all disappeared, replaced by an unfamiliar seriousness on Theodore’s face.

“Sorry. I should have protected you. You almost died because of me.”

He was worried about this?

That’s kind of cute.

I spoke in a nonchalant voice.

“You’ve already saved me several times. You healed me in the mountains too. If it weren’t for you, I would have become wyvern food long ago.”

“Still. If it weren’t for Duke Winston, you would have been eaten by the Brockshil.”

Theodore’s eyebrows drooped. He looked like a large dog soaked in rain.

“We survived, didn’t we? Why are you acting so unlike yourself?”

I lightly tapped Theodore’s shoulder with my fist.

“According to you, life and death are in God’s hands, right?”

I’m actually an atheist. But since Theodore looked so dejected, I quoted his own words.

“Since I survived like this, it must be God’s will. People who are meant to live will survive somehow. Don’t you think?”

Theodore’s eyes widened slightly. He looked at me silently before letting out a bitter smile.

“Right. If it’s God’s will, those meant to live will live.”

Still seeing Theodore’s downcast state, I grabbed his shoulders with both hands and turned his body toward the hot spring.

“Go wash up. You smell terrible.”

Theodore sniffed his own body and grimaced.

“What? What’s this stench?”

The foul smell coming from him was from the Brockshil, but I pretended not to know and looked away.

“How would I know? Maybe you haven’t been washing regularly. There’s a hot spring nearby, so go take a bath.”

“What do you take me for? I’m such a clean person.”

“The hot spring is that way.”

“I bathe morning and evening. Do you know how rare it is to find someone as clean as me?”

“Yes, yes. I’m sure you do.”

I answered half-heartedly while pushing Theodore toward the hot spring.

Theodore grumbled about his bathing routine that no one asked about, but surprisingly went toward the hot spring obediently.

Left alone, I sat down and sighed.

What should I do about that Jerome? He’s putting up such a wall.

This won’t work. I need to at least ask for a reason.

What did I do wrong that made him try to avoid me like this?

If I didn’t at least ask this, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to sleep from frustration and injustice.

I immediately headed toward where Jerome was. He was looking at a map and talking with his companions.

“Your Grace, could we talk for a moment?”

At Jerome’s signal, his companions withdrew.

Confirming we were alone, I immediately brought up the main point.

“Do you have any grievances against me? Or did I do something wrong?”

“No.”

“Then why are you suddenly keeping your distance from me?”

Northern Duke Jerome stared at me silently for a moment before slowly parting his lips.

“We’re not close enough to be concerned about such matters, are we?”

“That’s true, but we’re not complete strangers either. We even ate together…”

He cut me off with a cold tone.

“The meal was a token of gratitude for helping with the request. If you thought of our relationship differently, I apologize.”

Beyond his expressionless face, I could feel a firmly erected defensive wall.

No, this is ridiculous.

The emotions I’d been suppressing against Jerome’s iron wall exploded.

“When did I ever confess to you, Your Grace? I was just expressing my hurt feelings as one person to another. Isn’t this too much?”

“Regardless of romantic relationships, I have no intention of getting close to anyone.”

Jerome put an end to the conversation with a firm voice.

“I don’t wish for any further trouble, so please stay quiet and rest.”

Jerome turned his back and left.

Just how many times am I going to see that bastard’s back of his head?

Do you think you’re so great? Huh?

If it weren’t for needing to see the ending, I wouldn’t be clinging to someone who clearly dislikes me either!

I clenched my fist and pretended to throw a punch at the back of Jerome’s head.

Then I ran into Theodore, who was heading toward the Hot Spring.

What? How long has he been there?

I smiled awkwardly and swung my fist through the air.

“Haha… There are so many flying insects here.”

“I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. Your romance business isn’t going well, I see?”

Cough.

Hit in a vital spot, I cleared my throat.

“What romance business? It’s not like that.”

“What do you mean it’s not? My intuition is spot-on.”

Theodore crossed his arms and casually leaned against a tree.

“Want me to help?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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