This question seemed casual but was highly targeted.
If this Silver Wolf was really one of Herta's subordinates, her admiration and reverence for Herta would be unmistakable.
After all, every researcher at Herta Space Station came here because of their admiration for Herta's name, right?
What kind of existence is Herta to me? Silver Wolf thought to herself. A punching bag?
But she obviously couldn't say that, so she racked her brain for the few praise words she could muster. "Uh… she's probably… uh, a buddy."
Stelle: "Hm—?"
Something's off. Herta's so socially anxious, how could she have a buddy?
"Well—she's a big shot, my big shot, always carrying me," Silver Wolf quickly corrected herself, seeing Stelle's skeptical look.
"Hm—??"
Stelle grew even more suspicious. Big shot? Carrying her? Herta plays games?
And why would Herta be carrying Silver Wolf? Isn't Silver Wolf the one who cheats?
"Something's not right. I'm suspicious of you."
Stelle pointed at Silver Wolf. "What's your actual relationship with Herta?!"
Silver Wolf: (losing it).
At that moment, Silver Wolf felt worse than losing twenty matches in a row. Those two lines were already against her conscience, and this little punk still doubted her?!
Please, if I didn't want to avoid trouble, your Aunt Wolf would've stomped you into the ground by now, okay?
"Tch…"
Silver Wolf steeled herself, gritted her teeth, and went for it. "Fine, I'll tell you the truth!"
"I'm not actually the manager of the Curio Collection Room… I've always, (swallows), always been…"
"I've always been her secret admirer!"
Silver Wolf's eyes misted over, her face full of humiliation. She was betraying herself with these disgusting words.
"From the first day I met her, I was completely smitten. She's pure (stupid), cute (idiotic), sunny, and always helping others (meddlesome). Such a… such a great girl, I just love her!"
"But I know she's busy with her research, busy contributing to the universe, facing doubt and misunderstanding. She has so much to do, so… I can't confess my feelings and disturb her."
"That's why I snuck here, just to catch a glimpse of her, to see how she's doing, if she's tired. As long as I can be her silent guardian, I'm content."
"Do you understand?!"
At first, saying these words felt like some people's first time trying XX, but the more she said, the more she accepted it, adapted, and got the hang of it.
She swore she'd go play two cheated matches to cleanse her soul after this. Saying so much at once felt gross.
She just wasn't sure if this little punk Stelle would buy it. If she didn't, Silver Wolf was out of moves.
But maybe her performance was a bit too dramatic. Would Stelle believe it…? Tch, first time, didn't nail the emotions, messed it up.
"So that's how it is."
Stelle gazed into Silver Wolf's eyes, a hint of admiration in her own. "I get it. Loving someone doesn't mean you have to stand in the sunlight with them."
"This is pure love, not romantic love… Hmph, I acknowledge your resolve!"
"Don't worry, I won't tell Herta what you just said. I'm glad she has a guardian like you…"
Crack—
At that moment, a display case not far from them was accidentally knocked over, crashing to the floor with a crisp sound.
And behind that case stood a tall, beautiful, purple-haired girl.
It was Herta.
"…"
The atmosphere plunged into dead silence, as if the world had hit the pause button, like the famous painting Only Silence.
Dun dun dun dun— (Silver Wolf's inner world sound effects)
Dun dun dun dun— (Silver Wolf's inner world sound effects)
W-Wait, she… she wasn't hiding there the whole time, was she?
That means all the stuff she just said—!
The thought that her near-confession was overheard by Herta filled Silver Wolf with an urge to destroy the world—this was her archenemy!
She'd probably be mocked to death by her forever, right?
Silver Wolf lowered her head, her nails digging into her palms, falling into a rare silence.
N-No big deal, it's fine. She and Herta had been at odds for ages anyway. Even if Herta heard, it didn't matter much—just a loss of initiative in their next clash.
But when Silver Wolf glanced at Herta, hoping to cling to some luck, her eyes widened.
Herta's eyes were misty, filled with one part emotion, one part understanding, one part regret, and seven parts relief.
Silver Wolf: Wait, what's with that gross look?! Stop looking at me like that!
"Sil-Silver Wolf, thank you."
Herta wiped a tear from her eye and said, "So this is what you've always thought. I'm sorry, I was too dense to notice your feelings sooner."
Silver Wolf instinctively stepped back. "Herta, don't get the wrong idea. I was just messing with the kid."
Herta: "Mhm, I understand, I understand."
Silver Wolf: "…"
Silver Wolf: "Y-You don't get it. You used to get flamed by me every day, remember?"
Herta softly hummed, "I know, I remember it all."
"All the good things you've done for me, I remember."
Silver Wolf: ???
"Asta said hitting is affection, scolding is love. Even though you kept flaming me, it was actually to toughen my mental resilience, right?"
Silver Wolf: "I…"
"Thank you. If it weren't for you, I probably never would've become a proper content creator, bravely posting videos online."
Silver Wolf: "You…"
"Asta always told me to be brave, but I didn't get it back then. Now, I do."
"I can't let you keep giving your heart to me one-sidedly, so I'll say it, even with others here. Silver Wolf, thank you!"
Looking at Herta's sincere face, Silver Wolf panicked. Things were spiraling out of control. She kept retreating, but Herta, as if throwing caution to the wind, actually stepped closer.
"Stay right there!"
Silver Wolf suddenly shouted, "Herta, I'm telling you, you've got it all wrong!"
"I don't have any of the feelings you're imagining. No friendship, no love, no feelings! Got it?!"
"All that stuff was just made up. You idiot, you didn't actually believe it, did you?"
"Dumbass! Moron!! Idiot!!! Baka!!! Aho!!!"
Silver Wolf's near-roared words seemed to have some effect. Herta stood frozen, seemingly shaken.
The atmosphere fell back into dead silence, and Silver Wolf slowly let out a breath. Phew, she almost let this girl get the wrong idea.
"…Tch, tch, tch, such a tsundere."
But just as Silver Wolf thought she was regaining control of the situation, Stelle's comment shattered the silence.
And then, Silver Wolf saw the light that had dimmed in Herta's eyes reignite…