Chapter 48

Swoosh.

Hiresia was sketching with charcoal.

I was surprised at her dexterity, which was better than I expected.

It was actually my first time seeing her draw.

Considering she only started handling art supplies after coming to the human world, her movements were impressively skilled.

Could her talent be among the upper ranks?

I wanted to comment, but I held back because I didn’t want to interrupt her concentration.

So, I quietly observed her drawing in silence.

Once the sketch was done, she took out her brushes.

“Could you get me some water?”

“Sure.”

I filled her water bottle from the lake and handed it back to her.

“Are you going to finish it here?”

“No, I can do the coloring later when we get back.”

“Got it.”

It made sense, as calm as it may be, drawing on a small boat was not an easy task.

Hiresia began to squeeze out paint onto the palette and moved her brush.

There were moments of hesitation and contemplation, but for the most part, she smoothly filled the canvas with vibrant colors.

The landscape painting was gradually taking shape,

and as someone with no artistic talent, I found it fascinating to watch someone skillfully paint.

At some point, my gaze shifted to Hiresia.

I had heard somewhere that there’s an attractiveness to anyone deeply immersed in their work, whether male or female.

That seemed very true.

The sight of Hiresia, earnestly painting, alternating her gaze between the landscape and the canvas, felt more charming than ever.

Gulp.

I swallowed dryly without realizing it, unable to easily look away from her.

Her silver hair shimmered mysteriously in the light.

Her beautiful silver eyes seemed to draw me in.

Her white, smooth, pointed ears extended gracefully.

Those unique features, distinct from humans, were striking.

‘Yes, she is definitely…

…a captivating heroine.’

Considered unattainable, with not a single player having won her heart, yet always ranking high in heroine popularity polls among users.

A character with all the desirable traits – looks, abilities, and personality.

Being a special and noble otherworldly race must have added to her allure.

However,

most players are unaware of one fact that only a handful of hardcore players like me know:

Past the midpoint of the game, Hiresia’s personality changes so drastically it’s Hair-curling.

I don’t know the exact cause.

Probably no one does.

Because there hasn’t been a player who has managed to become close enough to her to find out.

All we can do is guess that she must have gone through some shockingly transformative experience.

Knowing the change in her that comes later, I felt a bit melancholic.

I prefer her current personality.

……Much better.’

As I was ruefully thinking to myself,

my eyes suddenly widened.

I had spotted something in the sky.

Dark clouds.

Heavy with rain, they seemed to promise a downpour.

“Senior!”

“What?”

“There are dark clouds.”

I pointed towards the sky.

“Huh?”

She too noticed the dark clouds and looked alarmed.

If the canvas got wet, all her hard work would be for nought.

“We need to leave now. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, I’ve finished 70% of it anyway, so I can do the rest later…”

“Then let’s go.”

I began to row vigorously.

Faster than before.

The boat rocked more intensely.

Hiresia, looking nervous, tried to maintain her balance.

She can’t swim, so she was scared.

But I couldn’t afford to pay her any mind at the moment.

I kept my eyes ahead and rowed towards the dock.

Suddenly.

Crack.

Unexpectedly, she reached out and grabbed the back of my shirt.

I could feel her hand trembling.

‘Ugh’

Why does my face heat up in such a situation?

Hearts are truly strange things.

Just a moment ago, there was no sense of male-female relations between us.

To me, she was just a friendly otherworldly creature, nothing more, nothing less.

I bit my lip and forcibly calmed myself down.

Now was not the time to be distracted.

Swish. Swish. Swish.

The rowboat cut through the water, moving swiftly forward.

Fortunately, we reached the dock before the storm hit.

“Get off, senior!”

I said, picking up the basket of art supplies.

I also had a lunchbox in my backpack, but that was manageable.

“Th-thank you.”

Hiresia quickly disembarked with her canvas.

I looked up at the sky to assess the situation.

It seemed the cloud would reach the academy before us.

Then.

“Let’s hurry over there, senior!”

A small wooden building by the lake.

Usually, it’s the lakekeeper’s place, but it should be empty on a holiday.

Whatever the case, it would provide shelter from the rain.

“Okay!”

We rushed to the wooden building.

Just as we slammed the door shut behind us,

Boom! Crash!

Whoosh!

The sky darkened and the downpour began.

“Phew, that was close.”

I sighed with relief.

“Yeah.”

She nodded.

Then added,

“……Thank you for today. If it weren’t for you, it would have been a disaster.”

“It’s nothing. If I said I’d help, then I’ll help properly.”

After that conversation, a silence fell.

It was definitely different than usual.

Both for me and for her.

I could explain my feelings, having just experienced strange emotions suddenly, but why was she like this?

Could it be that she saw me, even slightly, as a man?

……No, that couldn’t be.

She wasn’t that kind of character.

But at that moment.

[Sudden Quest ‘Helping the High Elf’ completed]

[She is genuinely grateful to you.]

[Your successful handling of the unexpected situation and your manly demeanor seem to have had a positive impact on her emotions.]

[It seems a little seed of affection for you has sprouted in her heart.]

Huh……?

What?!

For a moment, I was so startled I almost yelled out loud.

It’s a game where affinity levels aren’t numerically displayed.

But sometimes, a popup like this appears to indicate a rise in affection.

When it does, it’s a sure sign that affection has increased.

However,

I had never seen such a popup from Hiresia before.

In fact, it’s a rarity to see such notifications at all.

The situations that would make one feel a rise in affection were extremely rare.

It’s a character that is hard to gain affection from.

But now…She has already taken a liking to him.

Undoubtedly so.

Therefore, it’s inevitable to feel flustered.

“Why did your expression suddenly change?”

Hiresia asked puzzledly wide open.

“Ah… I just remembered something I had forgotten.”

“What is it?”

“This.”

I took out a lunchbox from my backpack.

Considering the fluster, it was a pretty skillful handling.

“Lunchbox…?”

“Yes, I prepared it just in case, but just now I remembered.”

I extended the lunchbox to her.

She received it with a bewildered expression.

“But it turns out I prepared quite well, as it doesn’t seem like the rain will stop anytime soon.”

“Is that so.”

Huh?

“Why would you make such a face over a mere lunchbox?

You’re not that simple of an elf.

You’re quite a difficult elf.

I couldn’t help but let out an absurd laugh inside.

Then.

[It seems your appropriately prepared lunchbox had a positive effect on her emotions. It looks like it will be a very pleasant meal.]

Another pop-up message.

What is this…?

It’s absurd.

The quest is complete, but it’s like a narration sitting down and explaining.

Could something still be in progress?

And apart from that…

When you talk like that, I can’t help but become conscious of it, right?

It started to feel warmer.

“It’s a bit hot. May I open the window a bit?”

“Oh, okay.”

I opened the window slightly.

The sound of the rain grew louder.

A cool breeze entered.

Feeling the breeze, my mind settled a bit.

“Ah, there’s a dining table over there. Let’s go there.”

“Okay.”

We sat down at the wooden dining table.

“It seems like it’s already time for lunch, shall we eat?”

“Let’s.”

Her answer seemed oddly curt, or was it just my imagination?

Anyway, we opened the lunchbox.

As it was a deluxe lunchbox, the presentation was quite nice.

Especially since I chose a lunchbox with lots of meat, thinking of her.

“Meat.”

Her eyes sparkled.

Indeed, it’s the meat-loving elf Hiresia.

She ate the meat voraciously, as usual.

Seeing her usual self, I finally smiled wryly.

Yes, that appearance is comforting.

I also ate my lunchbox slowly.

Some time passed.

By then, she had already finished her lunchbox, leaving the vegetables she disliked.

“I have eaten well.”

Hiresia smiled contentedly.

“It was worth the preparation.”

I also showed a broad smile.

It seemed we were finally back to the usual atmosphere.

“Do you also dislike the rain?”

I asked.

“How could I? Rain is a precious existence that bestows the blessing of life on all of us.”

“Is that so.”

What she seemed to dislike, or rather be wary of, was deep water.

“Hmm.”

Hiresia looked at me as if she was thinking about something.

Then she made a comment.

“There are many humans who speak ill of you.”

“Ah.”

I nodded once.

I knew such words would come out someday.

“It’s understandable. I’ve lived a life that deserves to hear such words.”

I admitted it cleanly.

Even if it’s a boxed-in life, it’s something that can’t be detached from me.

“Hmm.”

After listening to me, she seemed to ponder for a moment.

Then she spoke.

“At least, based on what this body has seen and experienced, you do not feel like such a human.”

“I appreciate your assessment.”

“This body judges only based on what it sees, hears, and experiences firsthand.”

“That’s true.”

She really is a good elf.

Especially now, definitely.

A moment of silence passed.

She changed the subject.

“What’s your reason for wanting to learn archery?”

A question she never asked before.

Even when playing as the protagonist, I hadn’t heard it.

I seriously pondered the answer.

There was only one.

“To become stronger.”

“Why do you want to become stronger?”

“To survive.”

A truth without a shred of falsehood.

However, to others, it could sound like nonsense.

But Hiresia’s expression was serious.

“I can feel the desperation.”

“That might be possible. We live only once, after all.”

Words kept flowing.

Perhaps I was glad to have someone take such talks seriously.

“Everyone’s life is only once.”

“That’s true. But it feels a bit different for a senior who lives a very long time.”

“I don’t know. Everyone around me is like that. But in the human world, I might feel that difference.”

“I’m sure you will.”

“Hmm.”

Hiresia looked straight into my eyes.

Today, her silver pupils felt mysteriously deep.

She suddenly blurted out a word.

“Focus.”

“What?”

“There’s no better skill than that for archery training. If you see a path, you can read it.”

Her words struck my mind.

Path.

The path of the arrow.

The skill to see the path of the arrow.

Can you see the path of the arrow?

…Why didn’t I realize it?

It’s like having the perfect answer, being able to study it.

Knowing which way to shoot in any wind, the perfect answer to where it will go.

“That means…?”

She intentionally taught me this skill.

“Thank you, senior!”

Excited, I unknowingly grabbed her hand to express my gratitude, unaware of the consequences that this casual act would bring.