Chapter 168: Warren’s Burden

Even though the sun had already set, there was not a single light on in the room, making it difficult for Qiu Nuoya to see Warren’s expression clearly.

But when he caught sight of Warren’s face from such a close distance, Qiu Nuoya froze.

Warren looked angry, yet at the same time, his expression somehow seemed as though he were on the verge of tears.

Qiu Nuoya found himself at a loss for words.

"You’re always special. No matter what I do, I can never catch up to you. Why!? Even so, I’ve always cared about you. And yet, you never tell me anything! You just smile at me and draw a line between us! Honestly, I’d rather you hated me. At least that would mean you actually acknowledged that I exist. But to you, I’m probably no different from the air!"

"That’s not..." Qiu Nuoya had never imagined that Warren felt that way about him. Still, he could not say Warren’s words were completely unfounded.

Qiu Nuoya had always kept a certain distance from everyone. It was partly a consequence of never allowing himself to become deeply involved with other people throughout his life, and partly simply a part of his personality.

No matter how close he became to someone, he could never bring himself to cross that final boundary, nor did he want others to cross it with him. Qiu Nuoya carried too many things on his shoulders, and he had always been afraid of being rejected by the other person. That made him timid when it came to both romantic relationships and friendships. In the end, he had decided that it was better not to want such things from the beginning.

"Even so, I’ve spent all this time trying to get into your line of sight. I’ve worked so hard just so you’d notice me. But, but you know... you’re always walking ahead of me, and I can’t even stand beside you!"

"This is exactly what I mean when I say you’re still a child."

With those words, Warren’s body was suddenly pulled backward. Caught off guard by the unexpected counterattack from someone who had appeared out of nowhere, Warren was thrown toward the back of the room.

"If things do not go the way you want, do you blame everyone else?"

"Viktor..."

"If you have failed to notice how much Nuoya has cared about you, then you truly are nothing more than a fool."

The person who had appeared before them was Viktor.

Qiu Nuoya had known. Viktor was always watching him. Still, at a time like this, Qiu Nuoya wished he would simply stay silent and watch from the sidelines.

In the darkness, Warren clicked his tongue.

Viktor remained cold and composed as he turned to Qiu Nuoya. "Nuoya, isn’t this enough already?"

It was not enough. Nothing had been resolved. Their conversation was far from over.

"I’ve always known that Viktor watches me, but this is something between Warren and me. You shouldn’t interfere."

"Huh..."

"I’m not your property, Viktor. Stop making decisions about me on your own."

"Nuoya..."

"Leave us alone for now. You’re getting in the way."

With that, Qiu Nuoya opened the door and pushed Viktor out into the hallway. Viktor looked slightly taken aback, so Qiu Nuoya simply added one word. "Overprotective."

Then he closed the door and cast a barrier spell over the room.

Perhaps it had been a mistake to let Viktor spy on him all this time simply because Qiu Nuoya had never had anything to hide. Qiu Nuoya probably shared some of the blame as well, since Viktor’s interference had never really bothered him that much before.

"...Are you sure it was okay to kick that guy out?"

"Viktor has nothing to do with the conversation between you and me, does he?"

"He doesn’t?"

"He doesn’t, right?" Qiu Nuoya tilted his head, unable to understand why Warren was so concerned about Viktor’s presence. Then he crouched down in front of Warren, who was still sitting on the floor. "Warren, I’m really sorry for keeping so many things from you all this time. But I never thought you’d take it this seriously..."

"Don’t apologize. If you apologize, those two are going to get angry at me." 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

That was true. Even so, it was still a strange situation in its own way.

"I’m talking to you right now. Igor and Viktor have nothing to do with this. If you were upset about it, then I should apologize to you."

"It’s not something you need to apologize to me for. I understand. I understand what Viktor meant when he called me a child, and I understand that by taking my frustration out on you like this, I’m really just relying on you too much." Warren hugged his knees and lowered his head. "It’s pathetic and frustrating that I’m older than you, yet I’m acting like this. But I didn’t know how else to get rid of this feeling weighing on my chest, so I took it out on you. I’m sorry."

Warren had his own thoughts and burdens that he carried through life. Qiu Nuoya had come to this world and simply let himself drift along, thinking that as long as he was having fun, that was all that mattered. But Warren was a person too, and surely he had his own burdens to carry.

The reality Qiu Nuoya had lived in during his previous life and this world were so fundamentally different that, somewhere deep down, he sometimes felt as though this world were a dream.

To Qiu Nuoya, this world was almost like a virtual reality, an absurdly convenient world where everyone happened to like him. Perhaps, living in such a comfortable environment, he had become a little too careless about his relationships with other people.

"Actually, I’m much older than you, Warren."

"Huh...?" Warren stared at Qiu Nuoya in shock.

"For some reason, when I was brought to this world, God made me much younger. My body is still only thirteen, but on the inside, I’m actually quite an old man. I’m sorry. I know it must be unpleasant to find out that the person you thought you liked is actually an old man. I knew how much you wanted to protect me and how important I was to you, so that only made it harder for me to tell you."