I Put all my Stats into Charm
Jonathan
매력에 스텟을 몰빵해 버렸다 Jul 13, 2026 24 views
Chapter 21
After Jerome left, I returned to the campsite, organizing my thoughts.
How am I supposed to change Jerome's mind?
And just how do I fulfill this so-called special condition?
...More importantly, why did Jerome blush?
He had even fumbled awkwardly, completely unlike his usual composed self. Sure, the situation had caught him off guard, but if it were the Jerome I knew, I had expected him to remain calm and dignified.
Could it be... Jerome sees me as a woman?
If that was true...
Then maybe there was still hope.
By the time I reached the camp, I spotted Jerome stepping out of his tent. Aside from his still-damp hair, he looked as impeccably neat as always.
I cautiously walked over to him.
"Um... Duke."
"...?"
The flustered Jerome from the hot spring was nowhere to be seen. He looked at me with a calm expression, as though nothing had happened.
"What is it?"
[Activating the 'Charm' skill.]
[Skill activation failed.]
Ugh.
I had tried using the skill because I wondered if what happened at the hot spring had fulfilled the special condition.
Apparently not.
Still, meeting Jerome wasn't an opportunity that came around often, so I decided to make the most of it.
"You mentioned you came all the way to the South because of some personal matter. Would it be alright if I asked what it is?"
Small talk was the best way to close the distance between people.
Jerome stared at me for a moment before answering.
"I'm looking for someone."
"Who are you looking for? If you tell me, maybe I can help."
A slight frown creased his brow.
"I believe I already told you that it has nothing to do with Miss Ambervier."
"I'm not trying to burden you. I just want to help."
"I don't require assistance. I'd appreciate it if you respected my boundaries and refrained from taking any further interest."
Seriously?
Why was he being so cold?
Had I really crossed a line just by asking that?
I was about to let my frustration spill out when—
"Duke, I—"
"Ahhh! I finally feel alive!"
Theodore stretched as he walked out of the healer's tent.
His complexion had completely recovered.
The moment he spotted Jerome and me, he grinned brightly and strode over.
"You're Duke Jerome Winston, right? Thanks for healing me. You saved my life. Earlier, I thought I was about to go say hello to God."
Jerome looked at Theodore with his usual stoic expression before giving a small nod.
"I'm glad you've recovered safely. I'll assist you until you're reunited with your companions."
"Nah, you don't have to. Once I've recovered a little more, I'll manage on my own—"
"Please get some rest."
Before Theodore could finish speaking, Jerome turned around and walked away.
Watching his retreating back, Theodore shrugged.
"I knew he wasn't exactly fun, but he's even worse than I thought."
"You okay?"
I looked at Theodore with genuine concern.
"I really thought you were going to die."
He could be annoying at times, but seeing him collapse had honestly made my heart drop.
Scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, he smiled.
"As you can see, I'm perfectly fine. But... what happened?"
"The Duke defeated Brokshgal."
"He did? So the Duke was in that cave too?"
"Ah... yeah."
I nodded awkwardly.
There was no way I could honestly admit that I had ridden Brokshgal out of the cave using mind control.
A girl who supposedly couldn't even use magic suddenly revealing a dangerous skill like mind control?
Anyone would find that suspicious.
Besides, Theodore was a Holy Knight belonging to the Temple.
If someone like him found out about my ability, who knew what kind of trouble I'd get into?
It was better not to reveal anything about my skills if I could help it.
Theodore spoke quietly.
"I owe the Duke one."
Then he fell silent.
His lighthearted tone disappeared, as did the playful grin that usually adorned his face. Instead, an unfamiliar seriousness settled over him.
"I'm sorry. I should've protected you. You almost died because of me."
Wait... he'd actually been blaming himself?
That was...
kind of adorable.
"It's okay."
I shrugged it off.
"You've already saved me plenty of times. You healed me back in the mountains. If it weren't for you, I'd have become wyvern food ages ago."
"Even so... if Duke Winston hadn't shown up, Brokshgal would've eaten you."
His eyebrows drooped pitifully.
He looked just like a giant dog soaked in the rain.
"As long as I survived, that's what matters. Why are you acting so unlike yourself?"
I lightly punched his shoulder.
"You were the one who said life and death are in God's hands."
Personally, I was an atheist.
But Theodore looked so dejected that I couldn't help quoting his own words back to him.
"The fact that I survived must mean it was God's will. Somehow, people who are meant to live always survive, don't they?"
Theodore's eyes widened slightly.
He stared at me in silence before giving a bitter smile.
"...Yeah. If it's God's will... then those meant to live will survive."
Even then, he still looked gloomy.
So I grabbed both of his shoulders and turned him toward the hot spring.
"Go wash yourself. You stink."
He sniffed himself before immediately grimacing.
"What the...? What's with this awful smell?"
The stench was actually from Brokshgal, but I pretended not to know.
"How should I know? Maybe you've just been skipping baths. There's a hot spring nearby, so go clean yourself."
"What kind of person do you think I am? I'm extremely clean."
"The hot spring's that way."
"I bathe every morning and every evening. Do you know how rare someone this hygienic is?"
"Sure, sure."
I answered absentmindedly while pushing him toward the hot spring.
Muttering all about his completely unasked-for bathing routine, Theodore nevertheless obediently headed toward the springs.
Left alone, I sat down and sighed.
What am I supposed to do about Jerome?
He's built an impenetrable wall around himself.
No.
I had to ask him directly.
What had I done wrong for him to avoid me so deliberately?
If I didn't ask, I'd be too frustrated and wronged to sleep.
I immediately headed over to where Jerome was. He was discussing something with his companions over a map.
"Duke, could we talk for a moment?"
At Jerome's glance, the others quietly withdrew.
Once we were alone, I got straight to the point.
"Are you upset with me? Did I do something wrong?"
"No."
"Then why are you suddenly keeping your distance from me?"
Jerome silently looked at me before finally speaking.
"Are we truly close enough to be having this sort of discussion?"
"But we're not complete strangers either. We've even shared meals together..."
He cut me off in a cold voice.
"Those meals were simply my way of repaying you for assisting with my request. If you interpreted our relationship differently, then I apologize."
Behind his expressionless face stood a wall so solid it felt impossible to break through.
I was speechless.
The emotions I'd been suppressing exploded at Jerome's relentless rejection.
"When did I ever confess my feelings to you? I was only saying I felt hurt as one person talking to another! Don't you think you're taking this too far?"
"Regardless of romance, I have no intention of becoming close to anyone."
His firm voice brought the conversation to a definitive end.
"I ask nothing further of you. Please remain quietly here and focus on recovering."
With that, Jerome turned his back and walked away.
How many times am I going to have to watch this guy walk away from me?
You think you're that amazing, huh?
If I didn't need to reach the ending, I wouldn't be chasing after someone who clearly wants nothing to do with me either!
I clenched my fist and threw a pretend punch at Jerome's retreating back.
Only to freeze.
Theodore, who had apparently been on his way to the hot spring, was standing there.
Wait... since when was he there?
I laughed awkwardly and waved my fist around in the air.
"Haha... there sure are a lot of bugs flying around here."
"I wasn't trying to eavesdrop..."
Theodore leaned casually against a tree with his arms crossed.
"But it looks like your love life's not going so well."
Cough!
The comment hit me right where it hurt, making me choke.
