Episode 200
I am now leaving the mansion courtyard and heading toward Isollet's house.
"Huu..."
Thanks to that, my mind was already quite troubled, but because of what just happened, it became even more troubled.
"........"
Lulu and Irina, who have been sticking close to my side since earlier and only glancing at me cautiously, seem to have noticed my mood to some extent.
"Um, Frey..."
After staring out the window for a while like that, Irina, who was by the window, carefully spoke to me.
"A-are you okay? You're okay, right?"
"...Yeah, don't worry."
"Hmm..."
Though I answered, it must not have been satisfying enough, as Irina continued to make a dark expression and started to ponder.
- Swish...
Then after a moment, she suddenly stuck her head out toward me.
"D-do you want to touch?"
As her puppy ears, which still hadn't disappeared and were perking up, entered my vision, I unconsciously smiled.
"I-it's my role to be petted..."
However, Lulu, who had been restless beside me, closed her eyes tightly and cried out, causing a brief silence to flow.
"Ah... I see. Right. This is something only a 'pet' would do."
Before long, Irina nodded with an expression of realization.
"Eh?"
Then she suddenly grabbed my hand and brought it to herself.
- Squish
"T-touch. Frey."
And after a moment, along with the squishy feeling, Irina said with a blushing face and a shy voice.
"Because if there's a pet's method, there's bound to be a separate human method."
After saying that, she began to move quietly while still holding my hand.
"Transformation magic... you... puppy..."
"...I-if you don't like it, forget it!"
However, she suddenly let go of my hand and stuck her flushed face out the window. Why is she acting like that all of a sudden?
By the way, it seemed like Lulu was about to say something?
"M-master."
While I was thinking that, Lulu, who had been glancing at me, poked my side firmly and cautiously asked a question.
"Th-that kid called Rosewin... what are you going to do with her?"
"Hm?"
"You said to bring a flower if she wants to talk again..."
Hearing those words, I answered with a slightly furrowed brow.
"There's no way Rosewin has my flower. If that were the case, there would be no reason for me to keep seeking her out... No, anyway, you can assume she won't come looking for me."
"Ah..."
"But why do you ask that?"
Then Lulu said while hastily avoiding her gaze.
"It's... natural for a pet to be wary of strangers..."
"...Pfft."
Finding her cute, I quietly patted her head, then fell into thought.
'From now on, I'll have to thoroughly push her away.'
Until the final battle ends, I will treat Rosewin coldly.
Since the rumor that I like her has already spread widely, I need to make it known that our relationship has changed so that she won't become a target of the Demon King.
Therefore, even if she sends letters or gifts, I will return them all.
In her second year, she will become the closest confidant of the fake hero party and be monitored by the Demon King, so I must be thorough.
- Frey.
While I was thinking that, Irina's voice suddenly resonated in my head.
".....!?"
- I was curious about something...
I thought I heard something imaginary, but the voice resonates in my head once more. It seems Irina used sound transmission magic.
'...Seriously, how impressive.'
How can she wield such a high-grade magic so simply? Irina hasn't even fully recovered her mana circuits yet.
Is that thing even human?
- I-I am human! I'm definitely human!
'Hm?'
I was having a silly thought while looking at Irina, and perhaps my thought leaked out, as Irina sends a sound transmission with a sulky voice.
- That kid called Rosewin, later if she says she's sorry and clings to you, you're not going to just accept it like nothing happened like a pushover again, right?
"Hm?"
- You're ridiculously kind like a pushover. To the point where I wonder how such a good person exists in this world. I'm worried, that's why I'm asking.
Hearing those words, I chuckled and answered inwardly.
'There won't be anything for you to worry about, so stop your useless worrying. I'm also a proper person, you know.'
- Really?
'Yeah, originally I only need you.'
"...Heek!"
For some reason, her voice sounded anxious, so I sent that with a playful expression as a joke, and Irina, who was looking out the window while sending the sound transmission, screamed.
"So annoying... It's obviously a joke... but only my heart is pounding..."
'What I need right now isn't the assistant system but you, you know?'
- S-shut up!!
After I sent another playful sound transmission, she clutched her chest and collapsed onto the window sill.
"Hmm."
After looking at such Irina for a moment, I soon brought up the system window before my eyes and fell into thought.
'Though there was some exaggeration, it's not a joke.'
Over the past few days, while examining the affection system, I discovered several facts.
The people listed in the affection system are those who have the possibility of forming a relationship with me.
And to complete the conquest or enter a state of progress, I must also 'like' the other person.
For reference, the meaning of 'like' at this time was, as expected, 'like romantically.'
"Hmm..."
Because of that, the conquest status of numerous sub-heroines changed to 'suspended.' Because right now, I have no reason to like them romantically.
Lulu [Conquest Complete]
Details...
Well, if there's an opportunity, it might change like in 'Lulu's' case.
Rosewin Solar Sunset [Conquest Route Closed]
Details...
There seem to be some people who won't change easily.
- Ding!
While I was blankly staring at the system window, I raised my head at a sudden cheerful sound, then frowned deeply.
Isollet Arham Baiwork [Affinity: 81%]
Details...
"This is driving me crazy..."
Now isn't the time to be thinking about Rosewin. Hadn't I already determined all the response methods for this one at least?
What's most urgent for me right now is 'Isollet.' Yet over the past few days, the affinity hadn't increased, but for some reason, just now it went up by another 1 percent.
Could it be that the moment I meet her, the affinity will reach 100%? If that happens, it would be quite troublesome.
I made so much effort to ensure she wouldn't worry about me, so it could all be in vain.
By the way, the fact that her conquest is continuing means that I actually harbor feelings for Isollet?
I don't particularly feel such emotions, it's just strange, nothing more.
- Beep! Beep-beep!
As I closed the system window with an odd expression and leaned back in my seat, a signal came from somewhere.
"Serena?"
I rummaged through my clothes and took out the communication crystal, and it was a message from Serena. Why is she contacting me suddenly?
"What's the matter?"
Daytime Serena was clearly someone I needed to deceive, so I asked with a cold voice, and a completely melted voice came from the crystal.
"Hehe... Frey... is that... really true...?"
"...What?"
- M-marriage. You said you'd marry me... and continue the lineage... that means... you're going to make a child with me, right...?
Hearing those words, I intuitively understood how things had developed.
Probably, daytime Serena had attached some kind of listening device to Rosewin.
- J-just give me a little time... I haven't studied how to have relations yet. I'll study hard while borrowing documents and books from the Imperial Library.
"Um..."
- What should we name the baby? Since the moon and stars met, I'll create various words related to that. Oh, and I'll prepare clothes too, and baby toys...
"........"
Daytime Serena, who was muttering while extremely excited, was so cute that I covered my mouth and listened for a long while.
- Human? Why are you rolling on the floor? Have you finally gone crazy from unable to handle that intellect?
"Pfft."
Hearing Miho's words in a small voice, I ultimately couldn't hold it in and burst into laughter.
- I should have known from when you were hugging the ring earlier and smiling foolishly for hours...
- B-be quiet! Miho!
"Pffhehe..."
".........."
Between the cold Irina and Lulu, I listened to Serena's trivial actions and suppressed my laughter for a long while.
"...Don't misunderstand."
Soon, feeling great regret, I began to whisper coldly.
"I didn't do it because I like you."
Then Serena's voice, which had been chattering endlessly, cut off.
"It was just an excuse I blurted out to get rid of one troublesome woman. I don't have even a speck of intention to live such a sweet life with you."
In that situation, I said words that were the complete opposite of my true feelings.
"Just complete your requests properly. Know that if you deviate even a little, there won't even be a date."
After saying that while maintaining my voice until the end, I tried to cut the crystal connection, but.
- U-ugh...
A pathetic groan came from the crystal, so I stopped my hand just before cutting the connection.
- I-I already ordered them... baby clothes and toys...
"........"
- Human? Why are you slumped on the floor?
- I just purchased [101 Ways to Satisfy a Man] too... ugh...
She continued muttering in a pathetic voice even to Miho's question.
- B-but still... Rosewin. She won, right? Th-that's right. Then it's settled...
Stopping her sniffling, she muttered in a forced bright voice.
- Using me means you still have interest... th-that's right. Even just a date... I-I should work hard...!
After muttering to herself for a while like that, she ended the crystal connection with those words.
"...Gulp."
My fiancée is so cute I think I'm going to go crazy.
Was she always this cute?
"We have almost arrived at the destination~!"
While I was feeling a pleasant afterglow, experiencing a pounding heart for the first time in a long while, the coachman announced that we had almost reached the destination.
"Hmm."
Probably, if I get off here, I'll soon see my sister Aria and Isollet.
Is Aria doing well? Is she eating properly?
How should I treat Isollet? I need to somehow lower the affinity, but would there be a method?
"Let's go."
Thinking such thoughts, I finished preparing to get off, and as the slowing carriage stopped on the road, I got off the carriage and said in a low voice.
"Indeed, I'll need your help."
.
Meanwhile, at that time.
"What...?"
"Well, I'm telling you Frey has come?"
Isollet, who had been lying on the bed, made a dazed expression upon hearing words that were hard to believe.
"Why did he... come?"
"I don't know well either. I just received the contact just now."
"Ah, um..."
Hearing those words, Isollet, who had been dazed for a moment.
"...In that case, I should get ready."
"Eh, ehh?"
Dragging her exhausted body, she rose from her seat and muttered.
"There are things to check too... and I can't meet him like this."
"The doctor definitely said you wouldn't be able to get up for a week..."
"What are you doing, go prepare to welcome him."
"Yes, yes!"
After the servant ran busily out of the room like that, Isollet, who was heading toward the door while sighing.
"...Hmm."
Soon stopped her steps and looked at the paper she was holding in her hand.
- Letter of Appointment -
[I appoint you as the official swordsmanship teacher of the youngest holy knight.]
[The youngest holy knight will visit your house starting today, and as special notes you should be aware of...]
After staring at the appointment letter sent by the Sun God Church for a long while, Isollet.
"...Poor guy."
Saying that, she left the paper on the desk and went out of the room.
[...Frey Raon Starlight is very disliked.]
"He's always only receiving hatred."
Before I knew it, the sun was high in the sky.