CH 23.1

「I’m back, Peneroa-san」

Kuro has just returned.

He’s the benefactor of my husband, Gallios.

I was truly surprised when he suddenly appeared while carrying my husband whose body is twice as big as his lean body.

According to my little brother, Rember, Kuro might be a magician.

Though I don’t know anyone but Nimri-sensei when it comes to a magician, I felt that Kuro is even more mysterious than Nimri-sensei.

Kuro is a quiet and calm youth. It made one feel calm just by being close to him.

「Uhm, I met my acquaintance during my patrol, can I invite that person?」

When I come out to greet him, Kuro said that while looking at me.

At first, I failed to notice that person but then, I saw a hooded woman.

That surprised me.

「My husband has said that Kuro might bring home a woman, but…. It seems that was true」

Kuro didn’t seem to be that type, after all.

「Y-You’re mistaken! ! She is someone I met before!! And today, I really met her by some sort of coincidence!!」

Kuro is denying it while blushing furiously. It seems he’s a shy one.

When I look at the woman behind him, I can’t see her face since it’s being covered by hood. However, I could determine that she’s quite a beauty from the shape of her lips.

The woman is calm and composed which is in contrast to the flustered Kuro.

It might be one-sided love for Kuro.

「I’m just teasing you, and welcome to the Rox kingdom. Let me welcome you as Kuro’s acquaintance」

Thus, I led those two toward the room that was separate from our house.

Kuro will be using the room that’s separate from our house during his stay in the Rox kingdom.

After that, I call Kuro.

「What’s the matter? 」

「I’ll bring beverages for you guys later, what’s your choice? 」

「Thank you very much, Peneroa-san. Please give me the usual」

「Ah, since you’re a misenen*, huh」 [TL : Underage, in katakana ]

「Yeah, since I’m still a miseinen*」 [TL : Minor, in kanji]

「What about your companion? Is she a misenen too? 」

When I asked him so, Kuro replies after pondering for a while.

「…. I’ll leave the choice to you. I think she might not be a miseinen」

「I see, I’ll bring a good one then」

「Thank you very much, Peneroa-san」

Kuro bows his head toward me. Such a polite child.

After that, I separate ways with the two of them.

Since I just acquired a first-class mead from our neighbour, I’m thinking of sharing a bit of it with the woman brought by Kuro.

Mead is the kind of liquor that’s drunk by newly-wed couples after all.

Thus, I’ll give her this liquor so that the Kuro’s love will be a smooth sailing event.

I can’t become your knight.

I became shocked when I heard him saying those words.

But it’s as he said, someone who easily betrays others isn’t qualified to be a knight.

For this very reason, I want this man.

Moreover, the intention of this man isn’t a problem.

Even if he isn’t willing to become mine, I’ll prove that he’s wrong.

Subsequently, I touch the small bottle in my pocket.

I’ll not use this love potion on this man.

I was extremely surprised when I met Diehart.

It seems Diehart didn’t have any intention to kill me just like the first time we met.

I couldn’t feel any malice from Diehart. Though I believe it’s natural due to my beauty.

This man doesn’t seem to be dazzled by my beauty.

But then, Diehart might be the strongest swordsman of this era. So, it would be for the best if this kind of man becomes my slave.

I didn’t consider turning him into my slave just because of his strength, but Diehart’s appearance is more to my preference than Reiji’s. I’ll give him a collar once he become my slave.

A faint smile spreads on my lips just by imagining it.

I imagine the figure of Diehart wearing a collar while prostrating before me. What a good sight to behold.

I’ll even let him kiss my feet.

I spout a lie in the moment Diehart asked why I’m in this kingdom.

Though he naturally wouldn’t believe such lie.

As long as I can remove Diehart from the game, it’s my victory. I can use Diehart to eliminate Modes even without relying on Reiji.

I even allowed Diehart to escort me for this opportunity.

And then, he brought me to the residence of the human, his current base.

I have to do my best to endure this shabby residence of the human.

The room where Diehart’s staying at is an extremely small one, there is only a bed and a table in it.

He then began taking out a chair for me.

It’s a shabby chair, but let’s endure it for now.

That aside, I’m going to leave the room since I have to do something.

「Where are you going, Rena? 」

Diehart asked that question.

「I’ll be back immediately. Moreover, it’s not something that you should ask to a lady」

Just like that, I silenced Diehart.

Men are easy creatures after all. I felt that he’s even easier to handle than Reiji.

I leave the room and then search for the woman from before. I found her immediately since it’s a small house.

I erased my existence and approached that human woman.

That woman prepared two beverages. It seems it was for me and Diehart.

I secretly approach her and take a closer look at the containers of the beverages. One seems to be liquor and another one’s tea.

I know the reason why the beverages are different.

Though Reiji drinks a lot of liquor, the female camp starting from Chiyuki won’t touch them.

It seems that it wasn’t a good thing for a woman of Reiji’s world to drink liquor.

Since Diehart also came from the same world as Reiji, I believe that the beverages are different for the same reason above.

I added the entire bottle of magic potion of love into the liquor.

Just one drop would be enough for a normal human to swear their endless love.

I wonder if this much is enough to turn Diehart into my slave.

After adding the potion, I go back to Diehart’s room.

No problem, Diehart doesn’t even seem to suspect me.

Moreover, I have this. I touch my necklace while thinking so.

It’s a necklace to deceive the eyes of a sage.

When the magic of this necklace is invoked, it’ll inhibit all kind of detection magic over a fixed distance.

Since the magic potion has a trace of magic, he might be able to detect the presence of the potion with magical power detection. I am wearing this necklace to prevent him from doing so.

I brought this in advance since Chiyuki has powerful magical power detection.

If there’s a problem, the user will also be affected by this effect. That’s why it’s hard to use.

A short time later, the woman brings those beverages.

「Thank you very much, Peneroa-san」

Diehart expressed his gratitude to the woman.

The woman then placed the beverage in front of me and Diehart, one person each.

「Well then, enjoy your time」

After saying so, the woman left. She seems to be enjoying this situation.

But, I don’t care about such trivial matters. I take my hood off while secretly invoking the magic of the necklace.

And then, I’m looking at Diehart who’s picking up the cup in front of him.

「Diehart, I heard there’s a ‘Kanpai’ custom in Reiji’s world. Shall we do that ‘Kanpai’ too? 」

Though I don’t know what is the meaning of this ‘kanpai,’ I know how to do it. It’s doing a toast with the beverage in your hand, followed by drinking your own beverage.

「Ha~…. I don’t know why are you asking for us doing a ‘kanpai,’ but…. Whatever」

Diehart is offering his own container while saying so.

I’m also doing the same with mine.

「Kanpai」

Diehart and I perform a toast with our own beverage containers and then drink the beverage.

I’m looking at Diehart who currently drank one mouthful of his beverage.

Diehart’s throat is making a gulping sound as he drinks his beverage.

I WON.

So I thought.

We~ll then, look at me. I drink another mouthful of my own beverage. It’s quite delicious despite being inferior to the liquor made in Elios. Maybe because this liquor is filled with the sweet taste of victory.

Diehart is looking at me.

With this, you are mine. It somehow made me happy. Though it’s being hindered by something, that feeling seems to be magnified by looking at Diehart.

Diehart. No, I’m sure that his real name is Kuroki, isn’t it?

Kuroki. My chest feels hot whenever I think of that name.

「Fufufufu」

I unintentionally let out a smile.

Because I know that Kuroki eyes is looking at me with a passionate gaze.

「KUROKI」

Thus, I pulled Kuroki’s face while saying so.

“Oh crap,” was what I thought.

I’m completely following my opponent’s pace.

I have no idea at all about Rena’s goal.

The day then became an evening without me being able to discover anything.

But I can’t leave Rena to her own devices since she might harm Shirone.

In the first place, I don’t even know why Rena, Reiji, and Shirone are in this place.

This woman is definitely up to no good.

But I don’t know what that is.

The degree of difficulty is way too high for a person like me who has never had any proper conversation with a woman.

It’s an area beyond my comprehension.

I couldn’t just let her go, but to my surprise, she agreed easily when I invited her for a dinner.

But the stores that offer dinners are so crowded that it’s basically impossible to bring Rena into that place.

So, I reluctantly decided to ask permission from Peneroa-san to use the room.

「Kanpai」

We do a toast with the beverages brought by Peneroa-san.

After that, we drink our own beverage.