It’s been about an hour since Lilia-san left, looking out of character, and I’m now walking the streets of Rigforeshia by myself.
After Lilia-san and Lunamaria-san left, Rei-san and Fia-san seemed to have regained their composure and offered to show us around the city with a strangely high level of tension.
For some reason though, they wanted Sieg-san and I to go out alone, and after they forcefully pushed this formation, Rei-san and Fia-san ended up being the ones guiding Kusonoki-san and Yuzuki-san, while Sieg-san will be my guide, so I was supposed to be walking around the city with Sieg-san but……
As expected though, Sieg-san’s behavior was somewhat strange, as she seemed to be concerned about Lilia-san and Lunamaria-san, so I told her that I was just going to stroll around the neighborhood and that it was okay for her to go check on them. Sieg-san was hesitating at first, but in the end, she went to where Lilia-san and Lunamaria-san are, so I was left here alone.
Well, it’s good if she could take care of what may have been happening with Lilia-san and Lunamaria-san, but I don’t know Rigforeshia well enough to explore it alone, so I’m trying to wander around the neighborhood while avoiding places that look too weird.
The town is lively and bustling with activity as the Sacred Tree Festival is coming up tomorrow…… The atmosphere really is like that day before Christmas, as I could even see some couples here and there. It would be great if these riajuus would explode though……
However, I knew that something like this would happen, but being alone within this atmosphere really isn’t very nice.
It would be great if I could at least find one person I knew here, but I’m afraid I don’t know anyone in this place……
[Aaaahhhhhh!!!]
[ ! ? ]
[It’s Kaitokun-san!]
[Huh?]
Turning my head when I heard a loud voice, I saw a familiar pink-blonde haired fairy who looked less than 50cm…… I think she’s roughly around 30cm tall.
[……Raz-san!?]
[Long time no see~~]
The young fairy girl who I met when Kuro invited me to have barbecue before, Razelia-san, a family member of Kuro’s, flits around me with her small wings, with a bright smile on her face.
[It’s been a while. I never expected that I would meet you here. Is Raz-san here for the Sacred Tree Festival too?]
[That’s right~~ The fairies also live in this forest after all, so there are plenty of Raz’s friends here~~]
[I see, but I’m glad to see you again.]
[Raz is also glad to see Kaitokun-san!]
By the way, Raz-san has always called me “Kaitokun-san”, because she said that this is because Kuro calls me Kaito-kun, so she just put “-san” in there…… Of course, I corrected her, but she never corrected the way she’s calling me.
[Arya? Somehow, haven’t Kaitokun-san become cooler?]
[Eh?]
[I don’t really know why, but it feels gentle and warm near Kaitokun-san. Hmmm. It feels like I’m near Shallow Vernal-sama.]
[Shiro-san did give me her blessings so……]
[Ahhh~~ I see. Shallow Vernal-sama is the God of the world, so Kaitokun-san, who received Shallow Vernal-sama’s blessing, is loved by the world. That’s why Raz who was born from nature feels so comfortable with Kaitokun-san’s magic power~~]
[Heehhh, I didn’t know the blessing I received had that effect.]
I’ve never understood the effect of Shiro-san’s blessing but it seems that her blessing has the effect of making me loved by the world, and for a fairy that was born from nature, the magic power I was clad feels comfortable for them.
I heard before that having a peaceful walk through the forest has a relaxing effect, so the effect may be something like that.
[Were you here alone, Raz-san?]
[Nope~~ I came with Neun.]
[With Neun-san?]
[Yes. Neun looked like she’s depressed, so we came here for a change of scenery~~]
[She’s depressed, you say, what is Neun-san doing now?]
[……Look over there.]
[……What the heck is that……]
In response to my question, I looked in the direction Raz-san pointed at, and saw a black armor sitting on the edge of the road…… sitting in that position we used to do in PE class.
That’s definitely Neun-san…… but what the heck is with that situation? O rather, how the heck could she sit like that even in full armor?
[What happened, for her to be like that?]
[That’s the thing~~ Since Kaitokun-san taught her how to make tofu before, Neun was very excited about it. At first, Ein-san was the one making it, but she was determined to make it herself next time.]
[Fumu fumu.]
[And then, she began working on it each and every day, that she even began to mumble about how it’s “not smooth enough” or “not deep enough”.]
[She’s quite particular about it huh.]
Neun-san seems to be very particular about Japanese food, and she has been trying to make delicious tofu without compromising with it.
I see, she said she would come visit to share some of the tofu when she finished making it, but she never came to visit us because she wasn’t satisfied with the quality of the product.
I didn’t know Neun-san that well yet, but I can understand that she’s a big Japanese food fan, and I guess she won’t be convinced by a food made half-heartedly.
[Because of that, Raz and Acht-kun became curious about Tofu-san. But Neun wouldn’t let us eat until she was satisfied with what she made. But Raz wanted to try eating it, so I asked Ein-san to make some.]
[Ein-san would definitely make it in no time.]
[Yep yep. She made it right away and ate it with Acht-kun. Acht-kun said it was “tasteless”, but Raz thinks Tofu-san is soft, jiggly and very tasty.]
I don’t know if Raz is vegetarian or if it’s because of her racial trait, but she can’t eat any meat at all.
Thinking back, I remembered that she only ate vegetables back when we’re having barbecue.
Anyway, for Raz-san, it seems that tofu made from soybeans was very tasty.
[And that’s when she appeared. Neun came in right at that time and told us how she finished making her own Tofu-san.]
[Fumu……]
[But seeing Raz and Acht-kun eating Tofu-san, it seems like she was confident with her own Tofu-san, saying “Even if it’s made by Ein-sama, it’s not going to be better than the one I made.”]
[……What a daredevil.]
In other words, although the person herself doesn’t intend to do so, Neun-san seems to have challenged that monstrous maid.
That’s no good. No matter how much I wanted to side with Neun-san, the only future I can see with that battle is where she kneels in defeat.
[Then, after she said that, she took a bite of the Tofu-san that Ein-san made…… She just sat down on the ground, said “A bug of my size has shown disrespect to the maid, Ein-sama. My apologies. Please let me continue to eat this tofu even in the future.” as she cried.]
Her heart broke!? The self-confidence she had was just crushed to pieces!?
I- I see, so that’s why she’s that depressed…… She spent nearly a month frantically going through trial and error, and if someone could exceed what she had just done just by making it once, her heart would certainly break.
[That is, how should I say this…… really pitiful.]
[Ein-san was also just listening to Raz and Acht-kun’s request and didn’t mean to hurt Neun. And so, with a troubled face that she usually wouldn’t have, she consoled Neun.]
This may sound very rude, but I can’t imagine that Ein-san looking bewildered.
Well, that’s how unexpected Neun-san’s depression must have been for her.
That’s also why Raz-san invited her to the Sacred Tree Festival for a change of pace, and that’s why we met right now.
After hearing Raz-san’s story, I approached Neun-san who was still sitting there, and with a confused tone, I called out to her.
[U- Ummm, Neun-san. It’s been a while.]
[……Miyama-san? Ah, yes. Long time no see…… For remembering a dung beetle like me who can’t even make tofu properly, thank you very much.]
[……Umm, Raz-san.]
[……What is it?]
[…….I had an image that Neun-san was rather reassuring but……]
[……She’s like that sometimes. Once she starts to get depressed, it will take some time before she gets better again.]
Since she was the First Hero, I thought her heart would have monstrous toughness but…… It seems that Neun-san is the type of person who can’t stop herself from getting depressed.
It certainly seems like she’s taken the responsibility of making it, but I don’t think that’s something that she should be self-loathing for.
Well, this feels really awkward…… How should I say this…… I don’t think this is something I can show to the people of this world who worship the First Hero.
[E- Errr, Raz-san has told me about it but…… Even you should know how outrageous of a being Ein-san is. I’m sure Neun-san’s tofu would also have a taste that won’t be inferior to others……]
[……Then, please try it.]
[Huh?]
[You’ll know the difference once you try it out.]
[Ah, errr…… Alright.]
I tried cheering up the depressed Neun-san by saying something that I didn’t know if it would be a good follow-up.
Thinking that it was just a mistake to compete with a monstrous person like her to begin with, and that the tofu made by Neun-san, who’s quite particular with Japanese cuisine, must be delicious, I told her about those things but Neun-san just took out two types of tofu from her magic box and held them out to me.
[The one on the right is made by Ein-sama and the one on the left is made by me…… Compared to Ein-sama’s, my tofu is just like trash.]
[……………….]
Under the pressure of her very depressed atmosphere, I tried each of the tofu.
The tofu on the right, I don’t know if just terrific is enough to describe it…… It’s smooth and doesn’t get caught on the tongue, and the taste is so refined and elegant that even I can tell it’s a top-quality product. Ein-san made this in one shot? Just how much of a monster is she……?
The tofu on the left is very homemade, and has a warm and gentle taste.
Arehh? But, isn’t this just……
[……Ummm, as far as I’m concerned though, I prefer the tofu on the left though……]
[……Eh?]
[Ah, no, I’m not really saying that either of the tofu is good or bad. However, the tofu on the right certainly is very elegant and tasty…… but for me, I guess it tastes like home or something like that? I prefer the tofu on the left, which is simple and gentle.]
[A- Are you sure?]
After hearing my impression, Neun-san still looks like she can’t believe it, as she raised her face that was being covered by her knees and looked up towards me.
[Yes, it tastes really good. It’s so good that ” I would like to eat it every day”.]
[Fueehhh!?]
When I told her my honest opinion, Neun-san suddenly made a strange sound before standing up in one go.
Arehh? What’s going on? I get the feeling like she suddenly got flustered about something but……
[Mi- Mimi- Miyama-san!? T- T- T- That is to say, errr, y- you’d like to eat my miso soup everyday…… A- A- Are you saying that with that meaning?]
[……Miso soup? Yes, if it’s miso soup made by Neun-san, that sounds great and I’d love to have some.]
[ ~ ~ ~ ! ? ! ? ]
The miso soup made along with this tofu. Unnn, Neun-san is a Japanese foodie, and if she can make such good tofu, she must be a good cook, so if I’m not being a nuisance, I’d love to drink it.
[P- Please wait for a moment!? T- This is the first time I’ve been said such by a man, and my mind can’t keep up so……]
[Ah, no, it’s not like I’m forcing you or anything like that.]
[N- No, I- I don’t dislike Miyama-san by any means, and when we spoke before, Miyama-san had a favorable impression as you’re a very kind person…… H- However, I don’t think we know much about each other yet!!!]
[Eh? Ah, yes. That’s certainly true.]
Unnn? What in the world is Neun-san talking about? Does that mean she isn’t comfortable serving her home-cooked meal to someone she doesn’t know well?
No, I just wanted to try it if you’re okay with it Neun-san, but it’s not like I’m forcing you to give me some of it…… Could it be that because I’m Kuro’s acquaintance, she just can’t say no or something like that?
[Ummm, Neun-san. You don’t really need to mind it that much, if that’s impossible, it’s alright and just say so.]
[N- No, I- I think Miyama-san is a wonderful person, a- and I’ve been alive for a long time now, so I’ve also thought that it was about time to think about it, b- b- but please give me some time! F- First, let’s start with “exchanging letters”!!!]
[……Exchanging letters? Yeah, I don’t really mind but……]
Arehh? Why are we suddenly talking about exchanging letters? She did say earlier about how we still didn’t know each other very well, so I wonder if it’s related to that?
In short, it seems that she wants to deepen our friendship first, and then, she can serve me some of her home-cooked meals.
I heard that Neun-san was born in the Taisho Era, so perhaps, the means they have to deepen their friendship with someone is to communicate by exchanging letters.
I’ve never exchanged letters before, but since I have too much time in my hands since I came to this world, talking with her through letters would be great.
[W- Well then, ummm, I may be inexperienced…… F- From now on, I will be in your care.]
[Ah, yes. Me too.]
[U- Ummm, w- w- well then, I still have things to do, so I’ll be excusing myself! S- See you later!!]
After Neun-san quickly told me that, she vigorously left.
I’m not really sure what happened, but anyway, I guess it’s great that Neun-san had become better huh?
[Neun-san looked very bewildered, but do you have any idea why?]
[Raz also doesn’t know. But I’m glad to see she’s gotten better~~]
[That’s right.]
[Yes! And that’s thanks to Kaitokun-san~~ Thank you!]
Looking at Neun-san’s departing back, I just tilted my head along with Raz.
Dear Mom, Dad—— the day before the Sacred Tree Festival, I met up with some people I never expected to meet. Later on, the flow of our conversation somehow turned strange, and before I knew it——- We’ll be exchanging letters.
Two shadows stare at the figures of Kaito and Razelia, who are tilting their head, from a few distance away from them.
[……What do you think? Aoi-senpai.]
[……From what I see, it seems that there’s also a problem with the other side? I know he said that she’s a Japanese, but it may just be that even her way of thinking is also very old-fashioned.]
Aoi and Hina, who happened to pass by in the middle of their stroll and were watching the series of exchanges, mutter with a somewhat dumbfounded expression.
[I mean, why is Miyama-senpai’s reaction like that? He doesn’t look embarrassed from her reaction, it even looks like he’s really confused~]
[No, you may not have noticed it since they’re speaking with each other normally, but I don’t think you can expect Miyama-san to notice her reaction when he’s talking with someone whose expression is hidden behind her helmet……]
[Isn’t Miyama-senpai supposed to have an absurdly keen sense towards emotions because of his Sympathy Magic?]
[If he can’t see the difference between <like> and <love>, it would be impossible for him even if he can read their emotions……]
The two women, who are conversing with each other with a resigned expression on their faces, are approached by Rejnhardt, who is acting as their guide.
[Unnn? You stopped walking, what’s the matter?]
[No, it’s nothing.]
[Yeah, we were just watching a natural womanizer in action.]
[……Unnn?]
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<Author’s Notes>
Kaito just said before, that riajuus should explode.
Does he want to commit suicide?
T/N: 1/9… That’s one rather long chapter.