Ch.42The End of That Date (1)

“Oh God! Please make this moment last forever… No, actually, make it pass in the blink of an eye.”

After desperately praying and enduring until morning arrived, I found myself suffering from complicated emotions.

I was glad to be free from the pain of constantly conflicting instincts. Conversely, I also felt a bit disappointed to escape that pain.

For reference, the two instincts were survival instinct and another desire that’s difficult to specify. When you don’t want to die, what choice do you have but to endure with all your might?

It was an overwhelming dawn for someone like me who had never even held hands with a female friend.

Even skipping steps has its limits.

“Yaaawn. Nepy, did you sleep well last night?”

She smiled with twinkling eyes from within my arms.

The nightgown strap precariously hanging on her shoulder caught my eye, stimulating fantasies as a man.

I sighed, pressing my hand against my forehead.

“You’re asking that on purpose, aren’t you…?”

“Why would you say that?”

She innocently questioned back. I thought telling the truth would sound ridiculous and crude, so I just brushed it off.

“… It’s nothing. I slept really well. Surprisingly well.”

“Hmm, that’s good to hear, isn’t it?”

“Yeah…”

Irefi, you’re definitely going to be punished. Without fail!

“Nepy.”

“What.”

“Would you like to sleep in a bit longer, like this?”

I flinched.

Irefi clung to me, her disheveled white hair leading the way. I mustered superhuman willpower to respond.

“No!!! Absolutely not!”

“Why are you taking this so seriously? It’s obviously a joke.”

“Ugh, my mistake.”

I see. It was a joke.

As if I’d accept that!

‘This clearly isn’t just a simple joke?’

Recently, Irefi’s guard has been far too relaxed. Not only that, she freely engages in behavior that could cause misunderstandings.

‘Does she find it fun to tease me? Well, I have teased her a lot in the past. But even so, this is…!’

This is torment harmful to my heart. It’s a game that could potentially make me feel pathetic as a man if I’m not careful.

‘But if it were real, what would become of our relationship?’

How do I see the Irefi before me?

Not the one from our worst possible first meeting, but the one lying beside me with a bright smile…

‘Ah, even fantasizing is a disease. A complete illness.’

I shake my head vigorously to face reality. Logically, there’s no reason to seriously worry about this topic.

“Nepy? Why are you suddenly shaking your head?”

“Trying to wake up.”

“You seem to have been wide awake for a while now. Unless…”

She propped herself up on her elbow beside me, meeting my eye level. Then, brushing her hair around once, she said:

“Nepy is such a sleepyhead.”

Cough!

I nearly coughed up blood silently.

‘How bewitching! You’re so bewitching, Irefi!’

What should I do? If I stay here any longer, my mental balance might collapse like a poorly constructed sand castle.

I quickly gathered my senses, left the bed, and distanced myself from her.

“That’s too much. You’re looking at me like I’m some kind of monster.”

“Sorry, but I think you are a monster.”

“What did you say?”

“I misspoke.”

“You know that’s a flimsy excuse, right?”

Irefi graciously overlooked my ridiculous excuse.

She stared into space for a moment, then pressed her index finger against her cheek.

“By the way, this is troublesome. By this time, the servants and Miren would be awake, and if I leave your room… especially in my nightgown, what would everyone think?”

“Didn’t you check the servants’ schedules and movements before coming here?”

“I simply intended to leave at dawn, but I woke up later than expected.”

“Ugh.”

With Irefi’s physical abilities, she could enter anywhere through the outside of the mansion.

However, Irefi was wearing a somewhat provocative thin nightgown.

If by chance someone saw her like that… I don’t like it. I hope that doesn’t happen.

All for the sake of maintaining Irefi’s dignity!

“What should we do…”

While I was racking my brain with worry, I heard chuckling from the bed.

Irefi, covering her upper body with the blanket which only made her look more seductive, was giggling.

“Nepy, you’re really taking this seriously. I’m happy.”

“Irefi, you don’t mean…?”

“Of course that’s what I mean. Did you think I’d be in this situation without a plan?”

She left the bed and headed toward the tall wardrobe.

With a click, the wardrobe opened to reveal a crisp Nelfrugia Knights uniform neatly hanging inside.

“This way, even if I leave with you, it will just look like a simple visit.”

I’ve been tricked.

Tricked by her again.

I… I… genuinely thought Irefi was in trouble and got all serious by myself.

“That was really mean of you.”

“Nepy? Are you angry? Was I too harsh…?”

Irefi’s round eyes reflected a sorrowful light. Then she slowly approached, took my hand, and held it to herself.

She asked with a voice full of anxiety.

“Are you very angry?”

“… I just got over it.”

I never realized human emotions and willpower could be so weak. The way they melt away like spring snow with just one small action from Irefi…

It seems I’ll never be able to maintain my pride.

“That’s a relief. Now, would you mind turning around for a moment?”

“Why suddenly?”

“Do you want to watch me change? Well, since you granted my request last night, perhaps I should grant yours too.”

“I’ll stare at the wall even if the sky falls down.”

“Nepy prefers walls over… taking notes…!”

“As if that would happen!!!”

While vehemently denying it, I quickly turned in the opposite direction from Irefi.

I decided to attribute the sound of her snickering to my imagination.

Rustle.

‘Ah, damn it.’

This time, my unnecessarily sensitive hearing caught the sound of fabric brushing against her body.

The friction of her nightgown slipping down provocatively. And the process of her uniform taking shape along her body—even though I didn’t want to imagine it, it was painted in my mind like colors on a canvas.

‘Banish these thoughts! Banish these impure thoughts! My mind feels like it’s going to collapse first thing in the morning…’

I’m completely losing my pace, being led by Irefi. Her unexpected composure was newly impressive.

I wish I could see inside her head to understand how she became so adept at toying with people.

“You can turn around now.”

“Phew.”

“You didn’t peek, did you?”

“Even though I’m immortal, I still value my life.”

“Hehe, I see.”

Irefi, now transformed into the complete image of a knight commander. She casually sat on the bed and asked for my opinion.

“What should we do today?”

“Don’t you have work today?”

“My position as knight commander is already on leave, and coincidentally, family matters are also in a lull, so my schedule is clear.”

“That’s great! Let’s not just decide between ourselves, let’s ask Miren too.”

They say strike while the iron is hot. As I was about to rush out the door, I instinctively tensed up.

It was because Irefi remained motionless in her place.

“…”

“Irefi? Is something bothering you?”

She rarely stayed silent, but finally opened her mouth.

“Nepy.”

“Tell me.”

“Just us…”

“Huh?”

“Today… just for today, could we spend time just the two of us?”

“Uh…?”

In her difficult request, I witnessed the appearance of a bashful girl.

That demeanor created a powerful wave that brought silence for a while.

Only the ticking of the clock forcibly wedged into our consciousness.

As the silence continued without explicit expression, she voiced her dissatisfaction.

“Do you dislike spending time alone with me?”

“Huh, of course not! It’s just so unexpected coming from you… I thought I misheard.”

“So you like the idea?”

“Ah.”

This is the same pattern as during dinner yesterday. I can’t fall for it again!

I answered without hesitation.

“Of course, I like it very much.”

“Oh.”

A sudden warmth lingered at Irefi’s ears.

I almost cheered in triumph at finally landing a hit.

“I’ll go out first and get ready. You should prepare and come out too. Unless you want to go out in your pajamas.”

“Ah.”

Irefi left without showing any reaction.

Only then did I lower my head and become aware of my attire. To think I was about to rush out to call Miren looking like this. It could have become a black history I’d regret for a thousand years.

While changing clothes, I suddenly caught a whiff of her feminine scent.

It was an echo that wouldn’t be forgotten for a while.

◇

It was midday with the sun beating down from directly overhead.

The central square of Eldrion was lively. The fountain where I had made a deal with the old man through a dance-off still displayed its imposing height to people, as if piercing the sky.

Marquess Justitia’s manor was quite far from the central square, but it was just like us to run here on foot without a carriage.

Irefi was still wearing her knight commander uniform. Even though she was planning to retire soon, her status hadn’t changed yet, so she had to fulfill her duties.

“Is there anything you want to do, Nepy?”

“Nothing particularly interests me.”

“Really. That’s why people who don’t even know you give you nicknames like ‘NEET noble.'”

“I really hate the social scene.”

Looking back, it wasn’t just Irefi who had changed.

I recalled when I first escaped the Great Cavern and toured Citris Village with her.

It seems like just yesterday when I was amazed by the most ordinary things…

Now I’ve become the kind of person who finds everything bothersome and holes up in a mansion.

This world is turning me, once a diligent person, into a terrible human being.

“I understand your reluctance. But this time, why not enjoy it for your own sake?”

“That sounds good, but I should correct one thing.”

“Yes?”

“Not for me, but for us—let’s have fun together. What’s the point if you, who suggested this, don’t enjoy it?”

“… You always catch me off guard in the strangest ways.”

Irefi’s face took on a texture difficult to describe. Though she quickly bloomed into a full smile.

“Do you like browsing street stalls?”

“I might not enjoy it alone, but with two people, it should be fun. Do nobles usually enjoy street stalls?”

“It depends. Nobles like me who have a lot to lose often don’t touch unverified items or food.”

“But you’re different, right?”

“Well, I’m completely unaffected by toxic substances. You’re the same, aren’t you?”

“Of course, since I’m immortal!”

This Irefi, boldly saying monstrous things in broad daylight.

‘Well, even during the raid in her later years, Irefi was immune to debuffs…’

“That’s why whenever Miren asks, I always taste-test food before giving it to her.”

She casually added.

“Instead of just talking here, let’s actually go around.”

“Shall we? There’s a good smell coming from over there, let’s start there.”

I pointed to a unique stall grilling meat over a bonfire.

“Sounds good. But before that…”

“Hmm?”

Grab.

A refreshing sensation gently enveloped my hand. It was Irefi’s slender, delicate fingers.

“Irefi…?”

“We might get separated and lost. Right?”

“Y-yeah. That’s true. Getting lost would be dangerous…”

Even if we were separated by some distance, her spiritual sense would encompass the entire central square.

The same would be true if I activated my senses.

Such idle thoughts were completely emptied afterward.

It was clearly because of her seemingly bewitching behavior.

“…”

I unconsciously applied strength to my fingers, firmly holding onto Irefi.

In response, her fingers also curled together, forming a link.

At a glance, it was a constraint between just the two of us that could be easily undone with a little force. A loose constraint where I could feel the cold air passing through the gaps between our fingers.

Yet it didn’t seem like it would ever come undone.

Though our fingers were only weakly intertwined, my body and mind felt firmly bound.

It was a strange sensation of being bound by an unsolvable knot, like a tangled and neglected wire mesh.

“You know what?”

“What?”

“Nepy, you pretend not to, but you actually go along with everything when pushed a little.”

“Have I been like that?”

“Yes!”

Irefi stopped a step ahead of me. Her beautiful blue eyes, full of charm that tickled somewhere in my chest, were close.

She said:

“I like that about you. Probably, from a very long time ago.”