I'll Smash Everything with Passive Skills-Chapter 87: 0. Gunther’s Melancholy (1)

A few days after the little commotion with Anna.

It was a holiday.

Veris's plan to lazily nap all day was thwarted, all because of the guy sitting in front of him.

"What do you think I'm lacking?"

"...."

At Gunther's sorrowful question, Veris remained silent.

If he spoke coldly, it seemed that this guy would get hurt for no reason, and if he brushed it off vaguely, the gloom would only grow larger.

"Please speak honestly."

Inappropriately, Gunther's eyes were shining.

It seemed he knew that Veris had a lot to say but hadn't said it.

"Hmm."

Gunther's request to speak honestly was clear. Veris rested his chin on his hand and pondered.

First of all, the biggest problem in Veris's mind was certain.

"Isn't it a problem that you asked someone else to convey your feelings to a girl you're interested in?"

"...!"

Was he shocked?

Gunther stared at Veris with wide eyes, as if he couldn't believe it.

It was only natural that he had nothing to say in response.

No, wasn't this a bit too much?

"W-well, then Anna must be disappointed."

Gunther was once again struggling with his gloom.

Veris felt a sigh escape him involuntarily.

"How can a big guy like you be so anxious and unable to say a word?"

"You don't understand. Your face is a cheat."

"Well, you won't know until you try, right?"

Shudder!

It was the usual calm tone of Veris.

But for some reason, Gunther was furious.

"Damn it! You have a talent for deception, don't you?"

"I asked you to speak honestly, and that was you."

Gunther's motor mouth quickly shut.

Well, if he had any conscience, he wouldn't be in a position to say anything to Veris.

The fact that Veris had agreed to convey Gunther's words was purely out of goodwill.

"Gunther, you pitiful Gunther."

"...Why do you say that? If you're going to tease me again, I won't listen."

Gunther replied firmly. Veris smirked and continued speaking.

"Perhaps, you're too young to be worrying about romance."

"Ha! There's only a year difference between you and me, you know? And my sister is even a year older than you."

"My case is different."

Veris shrugged his shoulders.

Gunther felt his fists clench, but he held back his strength.

After all, even if he swung his fists, Veris wouldn't just take it quietly.

"I don't know what to do anymore."

In the end, Gunther raised both hands in surrender.

It was a perfect declaration of defeat. The atmosphere was quite different from the gloom he had been struggling with until now.

"Are you just going to give up?"

Veris laughed again.

...What a terribly charming smile, Gunther thought, responding with a sour face.

"What can I do? You said she's not very fond of me."

It was a response so pitiful that it made one sigh involuntarily.

Of course, it was true that Anna had said something along those lines.

No, if Gunther hadn't run away like a scared rabbit in that situation, it might have been less so.

"I just don't understand that woman's charm at all."

Veris took a sip of his iced coffee, with cold ice floating in it.

To look at, Gunther was a large man who gave off a strong bear-like impression.

That didn't mean Gunther had an ugly face. Just look at his sister Beatrice, a dark-haired beauty who could steal the soul of any student.

"Your sense of aesthetics is strange."

"...?"

Veris tilted his head.

No matter how he thought about it, it seemed that Gunther was the one with a strange standard for beauty, not Veris himself.

Having said that, perhaps he found it amusing himself, as Gunther blushed and shouted.

"Anyway! You have to help me, brother."

"...Why should I?"

Veris asked, his face incredulous.

Gunther snorted and replied.

"I've helped you more than once, haven't I? I'm asking for something in return."

"Come on. You're talking about the training I gave you for free, or the great sword I brought from the underground dungeon?"

"...."

Despite his mountain-like build, Gunther shrank back like a turtle at Veris's sharp tongue.

From Gunther's perspective, even if he had two mouths, he wouldn't have anything to say.

People call the teachings of a master with overwhelming strength 'fate.'

The reason is simple. It's not easy for someone with a limited perspective to personally look down and offer advice.

Moreover, the great sword from the Death Knight was something Gunther had not parted with since the day he received it.

"Brother."

"Yeah."

"Please, just help this cute younger brother of yours once."

In the end, Gunther struck a ridiculous pose and begged.

Veris scoffed, nodding with a relaxed expression.

"Alright, I'll accept your will."

"Ugh."

Was it because Veris's demeanor was so annoying?

Gunther's groan was transmitted to Veris without any embellishment.

*

"...What a ridiculous thing to say. Asking someone to convey your feelings for you."

Maria's incredulous voice.

Veris and Gunther had returned to the mansion.

It was all thanks to Veris's suggestion to hear the opinions of the other female students.

At first, Gunther had refused, throwing a fit.

But he eventually succumbed to Veris's persuasion. Now, he sat at the table, showing a dark complexion.

From Arwen to Cecilia, and Maria.

As Veris conveyed the truth to the three girls, Gunther felt his face heat up involuntarily.

The one who kept him from wanting to hide in a mouse hole was none other than Veris.

"So, that's why we're here. I wanted to hear your opinions. Apparently, my thoughts aren't helpful."

Veris said with a scoff. The three girls nodded and looked at him.

Their gazes were inscrutable. Veris couldn't help but wear a face of disbelief.

"...Really?"

A ridiculous sound escaped him.

Veris thought he understood women's hearts quite well.

"But, Veris, you have something different from Gunther."

Arwen's dignified voice spoke. But the weight of her words drew everyone's attention to her.

"First, there's your appearance. Even from my perspective, having known you since childhood, your beauty is hard to express in words."

"W-well, I admit that. Lady Arwen. You're practically a goddess of beauty."

"Thank you for the compliment."

Gunther's response was immediately followed by Veris's playful banter.

Gunther struggled to suppress the intense urge to kill.

"...Next is your personality. Veris, you have a truly kind heart. You may seem cold at first glance, but you don't push away those who come into your circle. Gunther, on the other hand, may seem like a bear..."

"Stop! I know that already, so you don't need to point out the differences between me and my brother any further. What I'm curious about is how I should act!"

Gunther's almost tearful shout echoed.

Without any particular movement, Arwen, who had just delivered a factual blow to Gunther, merely lowered her head.

"Is there really no other way?"

At Arwen's words, Cecilia, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

She wore a faint smile on her lips.

"What do you mean by that?"

Gunther's gaze quickly turned. The young lamb sitting in front of Cecilia had a pitiful expression, as if he were a lamb seeking salvation from a Saintess.

"Go for a frontal assault. Knock her down and make it a done deal. Among the priests of the Holy Kingdom..."

"...."

Gunther had forgotten.

Cecilia, the kind-hearted Saintess. But he had overlooked the fact that her innocence could sometimes turn into evil due to its purity.

"Damn it."

There wasn't a single ordinary person in the mansion.

Fortunately, Gunther's sister Beatrice was absent, so he didn't become an even bigger target for ridicule.

Gunther wore a pained expression.

He had only come to the mansion to follow Veris's advice, yet why did it feel like his heart was even more troubled?

"I have an idea too."

"Ooh, oh! Your Highness the Princess. Please share it with us."

Maria, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, raised her hand and spoke.

Gunther's hopeful exclamation was met with an extremely burdensome reaction from Maria, who was sweating profusely as she replied.

"How about preparing a small gift?"

"...!"

Foll𝑜w current novℯls on ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm.

Everyone's eyes turned to her at the unexpectedly simple suggestion.

It was a stark contrast to Arwen, who had just verbally assaulted Gunther, or the Saintess who had been spouting nonsense.

"What do you mean by a gift?"

Had he found hope?

Gunther's face # Nоvеlight # quickly brightened.

"W-well.... Girls usually like sweet things like cake. Something along those lines, I guess."

"Ooh...."

Gunther was so dazzled that he couldn't even look directly at Maria.

Behind her, he felt as if a brilliant light was shining, and he was under the illusion that she had white wings.