CH 238

Ms. Ivana seems to have a klutz trait. At least, she’s apparently liable for knocking over things all over the place.

Well, I can catch all of them right away thanks to my physical abilities, so it’s no problem.

“S-Sorry…”

“It’s fine. Being a klutz helps a woman to be popular, so no helping it, I guess. I can easily cover that much!”

When I stated this while full of pride, she looked at me with a super conflicted expression.

Somehow…I could hear her asking, what’s with that disappointing girl? But it must be my imagination.

＊

Now then, I suppose I’ll finish up the cooking.

“All that’s left is to dish up…”

“Ah, should I do it then?”

The chance for a klutz to tip over stuff is quite likely, but I think I’ll be able to cover for her one way or the other, and since she served the food so nicely the other day, I suppose I can entrust it to her.

When I handed it over to her…hmm? Somehow she’s trying to add some secret spice to it?

“…What’re you doin’?”

The one grabbing Ms. Ivana’s hand was Sword.

“Sorry. She probably wanted to add a secret spice to it, but since it’ll change the taste, can you only add it to my share?” I told Ms. Ivana.

In response, Sword growled lowly, “Hey, Indra.”

…He looks kinda pissed?

“Y-Yeah? M-Ms. Ivana said she had something to tell you and since you were in the midst of taking a bath, I had her wait. It’s unthinkable to let a young woman wait outside in the cold. She’s your guest and this is your golem, so it’s no problem, is it?”

When I justified things like that, he grabbed me with an iron claw!

“Gyaaa!”

“Your really so damn soft on women! Without a care whether they’re older, you never get enough of it! Learn from me!”

Never get enough, he says…it’s not like I’m particularly fond of men or women, okay?

Well, I do think Ms. Ivana is reasonably good-looking, though.

“…Mr. Sword, Indra…is a woman, right?”

“She’s a woman! One that’s weaker to women than men!”

How terrible of him!

＊

Sword let go of me, scratched his own head, and sighed.

“So, what did you want to tell me?”

Ms. Ivana cast a glance at me and fidgeted.

“Ah… If possible, I’d like us to be alone…”

“That won’t do.”

Before she could ask him to step out, Sword turned her down.

“There’s nothin’ I need to talk ’bout with someone else that Indra can’t hear. If you can’t say it with Indra bein’ present, then keep it to yourself. I don’t wanna hear it.”

＊

Whoaaa. This is his honey-trap-evasion skill, eh!?

Or rather, that’s just what you’d expect from a limp guy.

She probably planned to confess to him, but he sensed it and dodged the bullet!

Ms. Ivana looked at Sword, trembled, and started crying while covering her face.

“…Indra. You send her back home. Since you invited her in, make sure that she gets back to the inn safely,” he spat out with a very displeased voice.

…No choice then.

“The appetizers are done. So please dish them up and eat them.”

After telling him those instructions, I pushed Ms. Ivana’s back, urging her to leave Char.

＊

Hmm.

“I’m sorry about Sword, okay? He’s simply too straight-laced a guy… He keeps his distance from others, and especially so, if the other party faces him with a high level of romantic feelings. …Well, he’s a guy running around all over the country, so wouldn’t it be smarter to grab yourself a reliable guy to build a family rather than being used as a local wife?”

Ms. Ivana remained silent for a while, but then asked me timidly, “…Indra…do you like Mr. Sword?”

Ah, she probably means it in a romantic sense.

“Absolutely not!”

When I answered her cheerfully, she blinked her eyes in surprise, “…But, Mr. Sword…”

“Absolutely not! If I liked him, I wouldn’t have partied with him as a partner.”

Ms. Ivana was lost for words.

“We share a 『relationship of equals』. Neither of us embraces romantic feelings, nor won’t we fall in love with anyone. Well, I personally wouldn’t mind becoming Sword’s lover, but…it looks like Sword has experienced various things until he met me, resulting in him keeping others at large. I understand that, but Sword doesn’t. I haven’t pointed it out because Sword is eager about doing with me 『what he wanted to do with his comrades in the past』. But he holds a high level of distrust towards women.

Even if he gets a girlfriend, it’s pretty clear that he’ll keep doing stuff with me without letting his girlfriend in on it, and that might result in Sword and me getting killed by his girlfriend, but that’s something Sword doesn’t understand either. …Still, that’s only inevitable. I have no plans to restrain Sword in any way. Well, it’s not like it has caused me any stifling inconveniences. For now at least.”

Ms. Ivana looked downwards. And then mumbled as if talking to herself, “…Indra, you sure have it nice. Mr. Sword is dotting on you, and he lets you stay in such a wonderful room.”

……?

“Hmm? You mean Char…the golem from before? I feel grateful for your praise, but you should know that Char is something I built and gave to Sword.”

“Huh?”

Ms. Ivana was extremely surprised.

“I might look like this, but I’m a genius. A great magician and great sorceress. Previously, I wanted Sword’s favorite merchant to sell certain goods, so I made him a transport golem looking similar to the one from before. Because Sword looked very jealous when he saw and meddled with it, I made one for him as well. While at it, I made sure that we could lodge inside since we don’t have any need to transport stuff anyway.”

Completely dumbstruck, Ms. Ivana left her mouth wide open. I’d like to warn her about it being a waste, since she’s a beauty, but looking at her, I totally got the feeling that a beauty is a beauty, no matter what she does.

“Umm, everything inside the golem, too?”

“Yeah, I obtained the materials locally. I used all kinds of things like monster parts or plant materials. Many of the items were created through a combination of magic and sorcery. But well, I’m a genius after all!”

When I threw out my chest in pride, she burst into laughter.

Ehh..? Why?

“…Was it that funny?

“Yep, sorry. …You don’t hear someone proudly announce themselves to be a genius every day, you know?”

“I’m just stating facts! I’m a beautiful genius girl!”

She laughed loudly once more.

“Sorry, you’re so funny, dude!”

“I’m no dude! Call me Indra!”

Why is she reverting to treating me as a guy after talking with me!?

“Ah, okay. But, I got it. Even if you keep correcting me that you’re a girl, he also said that you’re seen as a boy. I can only see you as a boy as well.”

“Why!?”

How coooome!?! Isn’t that way too weird!?

“Hmm, I’d say your way of talking and the hairstyle. Then again, they’re weird even for a boy, you know?”

Isn’t that simply the case because I’m a girl?

“Also, you’re weak to women, I guess?”

She peered at me.

“That’s not true! I’m not weak to women or men as I don’t have any interest in either! I just follow the maxim of 『Cuteness is justice』!”

Ms. Ivana became flabbergasted, “Cuteness is justice?”

I nodded, “It’s not particularly limited to women either. Regardless of whether it’s a guy, monster, golem, or different race, 『Cuteness is justice』. I simply like everything that’s cute. But, only in the shape of admiring them.”

I have absolutely no intention to live together with them. I just feel soothed when I can look at and listen to cute things.

“Okay, what about me then?”

I looked at Ms. Ivana, “…You’re cute if you laugh and act cheerfully like now. Having fun while carefreely smiling makes you a lot more attractive than being desperate because you’re obsessed about something.”

Ms. Ivana stopped while startled.

“…Umm? Are you possibly making a pass at me?”

“Why would you interpret it like that?”

I’ve just stated my general view of things.