Chapter 247

Things were going smoothly in the underground.

All I needed now was time.

Time for the new residents to adjust.

They were all in the same boat, and Kaysin’s last words, their spiritual leader, would surely guide them.

“Now then.”

I shifted my focus back to the academy.

I checked my notebook, which contained a list of upcoming events.

There was nothing urgent for now.

It meant I had some free time, albeit not much.

I had to make the most of it.

An idea popped into my head.

“…Should I try that?”

The hospital room where I had experienced a fantasy version of “Love and War.”

The relationship window I had discovered by chance.

That was where I had found the reason why Hiresia’s affection level hadn’t reached “Adoration” yet.

Because I hadn’t met the minimum required conditions.

I felt like I had to try one of those revealed conditions this time.

Force-feeding her vegetables and fruits.

Honestly, I didn’t feel good about it…

“Ah, let’s just be the bad guy for once.”

I stood up, determined.

* * *

“Hum hum hum.”

Hiresia hummed a cheerful tune.

Pheasant meat sizzled on the fire in front of her.

It was a bird with chewy and flavorful meat.

Perhaps that was why Hiresia seemed to be in a particularly good mood.

Seeing her like this made me feel even guiltier…

“Alright, it’s done.”

Hiresia took the cooked pheasant meat off the fire.

And then she tore off a leg and handed it to me.

“Here.”

Hiresia offering me the tastiest leg first?

It was something that would never happen if we weren’t lovers.

My guilt intensified.

Ugh, to repay her kindness with such an act of betrayal…

Oh, heavens.

“Ahem, thank you, senior.”

Chomp.

I took the pheasant leg and took a bite.

It was delicious.

Ah, let’s not think about anything else when eating something delicious.

Chomp, chomp.

Chomp, chomp.

A human and an elf, sitting face to face, enjoying a meal of pheasant meat.

I still couldn’t get used to Hiresia’s eating speed.

One pheasant had already disappeared.

And half of another one was gone.

If I hadn’t caught three pheasants, I would have probably only gotten one leg to eat.

…She could have made a fortune as a food streamer, why was she born in this world?

Gulp, gulp.

Hiresia finished her meal with a slightly, no, very unsatisfied expression, but she drank some water to quench her thirst.

She couldn’t bear to let her lover starve.

Thank you, thank you…

“If you eat that slowly, it’ll all be digested before you finish.”

“…”

No, I was the normal one, she was the abnormal one!

I ignored her comment and continued eating slowly, chewing thoroughly.

I was used to it now.

Hiresia stared at me for a moment and then spoke again.

“By the way, has the professor said anything yet?”

It was obvious who she was referring to.

My fiancée, Regina.

She seemed to be concerned about “that incident” in the hospital room.

It was understandable.

“No, not yet. But she said she wants to set up a meeting soon.”

“Oh? Really?”

Hiresia blinked rapidly.

“I’m a bit nervous, but… Tell her I’m available any day except next week.”

She seemed worried about what kind of bombshell would be dropped at the meeting.

Considering Regina’s personality, it wasn’t entirely impossible, but surely it wouldn’t happen.

Anyway.

“Are you busy next week?”

“Yes, I’m taking a special leave.”

“Special leave?”

I blinked in surprise.

I knew such a system existed and that some students used it, but it was rare.

“Yes. I have to go back to my hometown.”

“Your hometown?”

I tilted my head, curious.

Hiresia’s hometown was the Forgotten Forest.

A mysterious forest located at the western edge of the continent.

It was a forbidden land, inaccessible to humans, with its deep, dense woods that resembled a maze.

And the World Tree was located there.

As were the high elves, the children of the World Tree.

“The Forgotten Forest?”

“Where else would my hometown be?”

“Well, that’s true, but… Isn’t it very far?”

“It doesn’t matter. There’s a way to get there.”

It seemed like there was some kind of teleportation magic circle that only the high elves knew about.

‘I’m curious why she’s going.’

I wanted to ask, but I held back.

I would think about it a bit more and decide whether to ask or not.

Because I knew.

What the Forgotten Forest meant to the high elves.

It was a forbidden land, inaccessible even to other elves, let alone humans.

As such a secret place, it was only natural for it to hold personal secrets.

Prying into it would be a grave insult.

Even though we were lovers, I was still a human.

So I couldn’t help but hesitate.

‘Let’s wait and see.’

I decided not to pry for now.

I would observe the situation and think about it a bit more.

“I see. Alright. I’ll tell the professor what you said.”

“Yes, yes.”

“By the way, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”

I brought up the topic I had prepared.

“Oh? What is it?”

“I wanted to treat you to a meal I cooked myself.”

“Y-You cooked it yourself?”

Hiresia’s eyes widened.

Her face flushed red.

She was clearly happy.

…This made me feel even guiltier.

“Yes, I always feel bad about just eating your cooking. So I wanted to cook you a meal myself, to show my appreciation. Is that okay?”

“O-Of course it’s okay.”

“That’s good to hear. So next week is out, how about the day after tomorrow, for dinner? At my place.”

“Y-Your place?”

Hiresia blinked, flustered.

The word “place” seemed to have a suggestive connotation that made her feel awkward.

“I-Isn’t it too far? And I’m not mentally prepared to meet your family yet…”

Ah, so she had misunderstood.

She thought I was talking about my actual home.

I chuckled and cleared up the misunderstanding.

“No, not my family home. I have a personal house in the Holy City.”

“Ah, I see.”

Her flustered expression seemed to ease a bit, but then…

“W-Wait. So… you live there alone…?”

Her face flushed bright red, and she started twirling her hair.

…What was this elf senior thinking?

No, wait.

If it was a dinner invitation to a house where I lived alone, it was normal to think that…

I suddenly felt awkward too.

No, no, now wasn’t the time to give in to desire!

I waved my hands frantically, my face burning.

“No, no. I live in the dormitory, remember? There are servants living there, managing the house. I just use it occasionally.”

“Ah… I see.”

Hiresia’s embarrassed expression disappeared.

But she still seemed a bit disappointed… L-Let’s stop there.

“Are you okay?”

I asked, fanning myself with my hand.

“I’m fine.”

And so, I successfully secured a dinner date with the elf senior.

* * *

“Here you go.”

Godwin tossed a piece of beef to White, his loyal hound.

At first, I had been shocked. “Are they crazy? Feeding beef to a dog when even humans can barely afford it?” But now I was used to it.

Because I knew this was just how they were.

I wouldn’t even bat an eye if they fed the dog golden eggs now.

“Wait, wait. Godwin, didn’t you hear? We’re not supposed to bring out any meat today.”

Dan said, rushing over when he saw what Godwin was doing.

“Huh? Why?”

Godwin asked, his expression blank.

“We have an important guest coming today. Tsk, judging by your expression, Dolph didn’t tell you.”

Dan clicked his tongue.

Godwin had been working here for a long time, but he was still too intimidated by Dolph to speak up, so he couldn’t delegate any tasks and just kept ordering me around.

“An important guest? What does that have to do with meat?”

“I don’t know. I’m just following orders.”

“Geez, how important can this guest be?”

Godwin grumbled.

He wasn’t the type to be hospitable.

…Well, it was only natural, considering he was a former executioner whose nickname was “The Head Chopper.”

“Stop grumbling and help me clean. Can’t you see I’ve already cleaned this whole area by myself?”

Dan said, pointing to a corner of the yard.

What else could he do?

If Dolph couldn’t do it, he had to step up.

“Alright, alright.”

Godwin, not wanting to listen to any more nagging, shrugged and started working.

The two of them cleaned the yard together.

It went surprisingly smoothly with both of them working together.

They were both strong and energetic, so their productivity was high.

“Done now?”

Godwin tossed the cleaning tools into the shed.

“Yeah, I guess.”

Dan didn’t seem to have any more tasks for him.

It was then.

*Knock, knock.*

Someone knocked on the gate.

Godwin, who was closest to the gate, walked over.

“Who is it?”

“…”

Dan was speechless.

What kind of greeting was that? He was practically picking a fight.

And then his heart sank.

Could it be the important guest?

…N-No. It was too early.

“Sorry. I guess it’s not them.”

Yes, it couldn’t be.

He thought that was the end of it, but then…

*Knock, knock.*

The knocking sound came again.

“Who is it?”

Godwin asked again, his voice as gruff as ever.

“…This is strange. I’m sure this is the right place.”

A confused voice.

Dan’s heart skipped a beat again.

Could it be…?

“This is frustrating. Just tell me who you are.”

“…Is this Max Celtrine’s house? I’m his girlfri… senior.”

Ugh!

Dan rushed towards the gate.

“O-Open the gate! Open it now!”

“Girlfri senior? What’s a girlfri senior?”

Godwin tilted his head, confused.

Was his brain made of muscle too?! It meant girlfriend who was a senior!

“Just open the damn gate!”

Dan shouted desperately.

It was obvious that this was an important guest to their employer, and he couldn’t let the first impression be ruined.

If she was unhappy, their slave contract would be extended!

“Alright, alright.”

*Creak.*

Godwin finally opened the gate.

Dan prayed.

Please don’t let Godwin do anything stupid.

And then.

Godwin suddenly started scratching the back of his head with his large, rake-like hand.

“W-W-Welcome…”

What was wrong with him?

Why was he stuttering like crazy?

“Hello. I think I’ve come to the right place.”

“Y-Yes, y-you’ve c-come to the r-right…”

What was he doing?

And why was his face so red?

Was he drunk?

Dan approached the gate, his expression filled with disbelief.

And then.

“Gasp…!”

He couldn’t help but gasp in surprise.

An incredibly beautiful being stood there.

He couldn’t even find the words to describe her.

Her presence alone was overwhelming.

She was already beautiful, but she had also dressed up for the occasion.

She wore a bright, cheerful light green dress.

It was a see-through dress with a plunging neckline, leaving little to the imagination.

Dan quickly averted his gaze, his face burning red.

His mind couldn’t process what he was seeing.

“U-Um, s-so…”

Dan started stuttering, just like Godwin.

Hiresia smiled inwardly, satisfied that her “serious mode” attire was working as intended.

‘Heh, this is what happens when I get serious about dressing up.’

And so, Hiresia’s first visit began with a bang.