Ch.73Chapter 73. Have a Nice Trip~♥

Merilyn Sutherland.

My first meeting with her was especially meaningful to me, and that’s why I felt regret at the thought of having to forget her.

Perhaps we might never meet again, but as her letter to me said, I’d have to pretend to forget her until we met again.

“Then I’ll stop by my house for a moment.”

“Yes, see you in a bit~”

I couldn’t just send away someone like that whom I was meeting again.

So after arranging to share a meal and catch up, I decided to return home briefly to disarm and catch my breath.

Following the path from the guild, passing through the plaza and the downtown area, I arrived at a modest house in a residential neighborhood.

Though humble compared to my recent earnings, it was far better than the shanty towns used by the impoverished or the inns exclusively for adventurers.

At least it had a yard, and while smaller than a second floor, there was a spacious attic that could be used as storage or as a guest room when needed.

“To think I’d achieve home ownership in this world when I couldn’t even manage it in my previous life.”

Well, this would be considered quite an achievement for a novice adventurer.

But what made me happier was that there was someone waiting for me whenever I returned to this house.

Irie Haven.

My mentor who had helped me in many ways, and whom I had eventually invited to live together—though I never explicitly stated it, she had become as important as a partner in my daily life.

“I’m home, Iri…”

I was about to say her name as soon as I returned home, but my mouth closed shut at the sight of the entrance.

Usually, she would come out from the kitchen just in time to greet me, but today she was standing at the entrance with her arms crossed, earlier than usual.

And without any greeting, she was just silently glaring at me.

“……”

“…Hmm.”

Yes, she was just glaring at me without saying a word.

Unlike her usual warm and shy demeanor, she seemed as if she had some complaint.

“Um, Iri…”

“Come in.”

I tried to ask if something was wrong, but she simply walked ahead toward the kitchen.

What’s going on? Usually, she would at least greet me. Did I do something wrong?

“Drink this.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Deciding to go along with it, I followed her in, and Irie promptly served me a cup of hot tea.

Then she sat down across the table and began staring at me with eyes sharper than before.

“Um, about dinner…”

“Do you need it?”

“Ah, no. Actually, I have something to tell you about that, Irie.”

“Yes, I know. You’re planning to eat out today, right?”

“Ah, yes. About that, actually…”

“You were going to say that you’ll be having dinner with an acquaintance you met after a long time, and that you’re sorry but I should eat alone today, right?”

Ah, yes, that’s right.

Irie is a prophet, so she already knows what I’m going to say.

But until now, she wouldn’t cut me off like this; she would listen to everything I had to say and we would have a pleasant meal together.

“…Sigh.”

As I was feeling perplexed by this incomprehensible change in atmosphere, I heard her sigh.

Unable to reach for the tea she had served, I anxiously asked her:

“Um, Irie…”

“Hyoseong.”

Not even giving me a chance to speak.

After taking a few deep breaths, Irie spoke in a cold voice.

Then, as if trying to neutralize the chilly look gathering in her eyes, she gripped the teacup filled with hot water and continued with her thoughts.

“Originally, after entering the empire, I had planned to continue living on the streets without being indebted to anyone. It would have been troublesome to evade the guards’ eyes, but for someone like me who can foresee the future, that would hardly count as hardship.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. Irie is a prophet after all.”

“But to others, I appeared suspicious, and that’s why I’m grateful to you for believing my prophecies without doubt. The fact that I, who originally intended to continue my wandering life, accepted your offer to live together was also out of such gratitude and trust.”

“Yes. I’m the one who should be grateful for all your help…”

“As you said, you were able to grow more stably and quickly than expected through my prophecies. The fact that we now have our own home together can be seen as the result of our destinies being altered through my prophecies. Though unintended at first, after modifying the future, we’ve ultimately moved in a positive direction for both of us.”

Irie continued speaking without a single tremor, articulating each word clearly.

It felt almost bureaucratic and mechanical, as if she were reading from a prepared script.

As if she had considered everything I might say from the beginning and prepared her words accordingly.

“Although it’s different from what was planned, I don’t dislike living with you. No, rather, I’m very satisfied with our current life.”

But while she maintained an appearance of composure, her hands on the table were fidgeting nervously.

“Because I have a home, I don’t need to go through the trouble of making prophecies while feeling threatened, and the weariness I feel from fulfilling my mission can be soothed simply by having someone to rely on by my side, and above all, you’ve been kind enough to embrace me when we both have the time…”

For a brief moment, her rigid demeanor faltered.

Then, with a blush on her face and her head lowered, she cautiously directed only her gaze toward me and asked:

“…It wasn’t just me, who enjoyed it, was it?”

-Gulp.

I reflexively swallowed in my dry throat.

Even that wasn’t enough to quench my thirst, so I brought the teacup to my lips and quietly answered.

“Ah, no. I, I enjoyed it too. Yes…”

Wouldn’t it be strange to dislike it?

Although it might be too early to decide, I even had the desire for her to become my partner if I thought about the future.

“…Good. Then what I’m about to say is based on the premise that we don’t take each other lightly, and that we both understand that.”

That such feelings are mutual.

Having shown that she too was considering a relationship beyond what we currently had, she soon shared the anxiety she had been dwelling on with me as I drank my tea.

“Hyoseong. Originally, at this time, you would have told me this: that you were going to have a meal with a ‘female’ acquaintance whom you had regrettably parted with in the past, to share the joy of reunion.”

-Gulp.

“You were going to say this while having someone in your heart, someone to whom you’ve expressed your feelings… someone so close that you even proposed living together. You were going to say that you would miss our usual mealtime to spend a special time with ‘another woman’ over dinner.”

-Gulp, gulp!

A moment when the water, which had been boiling just moments ago, seemed to scorch my esophagus.

Yet I couldn’t complain about the heat.

Even the heat of the hot water that seemed like it would burn my stomach couldn’t neutralize the chill she was emitting.

“When I saw you so thoughtlessly mentioning that you were going to meet another woman besides me, how do you think my future self would have reacted?”

It was then that I realized how dangerous it was to casually mention having dinner with Merilyn.

No, it wasn’t even with a casual heart to begin with.

I couldn’t deny that I once had ‘those feelings’ for Merilyn, even if not as much as I do for Irie now.

“That…”

“I know. I also know that she’s someone you met through my prophecy.”

“Yes, you know…”

“I know everything. The name Merilyn Sutherland, and I have a vague idea of what her past was like when I foresaw you.”

Yes, you know everything. It’s fortunate that I don’t need to explain everything in detail, which speeds up the conversation…

But no matter what, I don’t know what happened in the future, so I’m having trouble adapting. Could you slow down the tempo of the conversation a bit?

“But what’s most important is that I, who was waiting for you to return after meeting such a person, ultimately faced the result that ‘you didn’t come back even after tonight passed.'”

But the prophecy of the future that followed.

It was more than enough to completely crush my bewilderment.

“What, what?”

“I don’t know why either. When you’re not around, what I can foresee is my future, not yours.”

Ah, that’s right.

No matter how much of a prophet she is, she can only prophesy about subjects within her power.

Naturally, while she can confirm her future with me, she can’t check on her own why the future me doesn’t return to her.

“But if I had to guess… Yes, perhaps something happened while you were with that acquaintance.”

“A problem, you say?”

Could it be that I get attacked or have an accident?

“For instance, having a drink with that person, getting drunk, and heading to an inn.”

“…What?”

“No, maybe alcohol wasn’t necessary. Maybe you just did what you both felt like doing. Even though I’m here… even though I’m waiting for you to return.”

“Ah, no, wait. Irie. Such a thing…”

“So, Hyoseong. I think this is necessary.”

Swish. Irie grabbed my hand as I placed it on the table.

Then, with a face that looked like she might cry at any moment, she began to put strength into her hand.

“…I don’t care about your past. What’s important is that I was the first one to be with you, and I’m the one by your side now, and if the future doesn’t change, we will continue to be together. You know what this means, right?”

“Yes, yes. I understand clearly.”

“But since my prophecies aren’t always perfect, I’ll read your future from now on and check what will happen to you after this conversation. Can you allow me to do that?”

Irie was trembling while holding my hand.

I could indirectly feel how anxious she was after foreseeing a future where I didn’t return.

Wondering if I had betrayed her, or if not, if I had been caught up in some unfortunate accident.

“…Yes, if it will make you trust me, Irie, by all means.”

How could I be displeased with a request from someone who had given me her heart so earnestly and wanted to trust me?

Rather, if my feelings for her were genuine, there would be no need to feel ashamed about revealing my future.

“Then that’s good.”

Soon, she who had sought my permission began to gather strength in her body while holding my hand.

Ziiing. Along with a vibrating sound, a faint light leaked from her body.

The sight of a bright, luminous light filling the surroundings like a cluster of stars was something I had occasionally seen when she made prophecies before.

“…Hehe.”

And after that process was complete, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

Along with that, as she gradually relaxed, she changed that emotion more clearly and released my hand.

“Yes~ That’s right~ Of course Hyoseong wouldn’t do such a thing~ After all. After this conversation, you must have gained some awareness~”

“Uh… Did my future self return safely?”

“Yes~ I don’t think I need to give any advice at this point~”

…What on earth does future me experience with Merilyn that makes her emotions change so drastically?

No, if she doesn’t think the problem is with me, does that mean Merilyn causes the problem? Or is it a third party?

Is it because I, who gained some caution after hearing this conversation, completely blocked the future that would make her anxious?

“Ah, if we keep chatting like this, you’ll be late for your appointment.”

But if she doesn’t tell me directly, I have no way of knowing the future.

As I sat there blankly, she, who had already risen from her seat, began to move toward the living room as if preparing something.

“Then I’ll assume you’ll have your meal outside… Ah, I’ll prepare your outdoor clothes. The ones we bought together the other day should be fine, right?”

“What? No, there’s no need to prepare clothes…”

“It’s okay~ I’ve already set aside the clothes you’ll wear.”

Yes, being a prophet, you could set aside the clothes I’ll wear in advance.

But Irie, weren’t you anxious about what I might do just a moment ago?

If you were concerned enough to give me a warning, it seemed like you weren’t planning to let me go, so why did you set aside clothes separately?

“Ah, by the way. Could you buy a bottle of wine on your way back?”

“…Wine?”

“Hehe, since neither of us has anything busy to do tomorrow, I think we can stay up late together~”

Ah, I see. You want to drink and spend time together late into the night.

But Irie, aren’t you quite weak with alcohol?

The second time we were intimate was when I invited you to this house for a small celebration, and even though you were aware that you pounced on me because you were drunk, you’re still asking me to bring alcohol…

Doesn’t this essentially mean you intend to deliberately hold the wild festival that happened that day again tonight?

“Hehe, you can look forward to tonight.”

As I was bewildered by such thoughts, Irie, who had already helped me change clothes, met me at the entrance.

Then she took a step back and said to me.

Showing me an incredibly refreshing smile that I had never seen before.

“Have a good time, Hyoseong~♥”

“Ah, yes. I’ll be back.”

After reflexively greeting her and leaving the entrance, closing the door behind me.

Once I was out on the street, I looked back at the house I had just left and took a moment to reflect on what had happened with Irie.

Irie, who was thoroughly angry when I returned home.

And Irie, whose anger had completely dissipated by the time I was leaving.

“…What’s going on?”

A problem arose without me doing anything, and then it was resolved.

What on earth did my future self do?