episode_0024

Leading the way, the three of us first headed to a dessert shop that seemed oddly familiar for some reason.

“Ah, this place….”

As soon as we stepped inside the shop, memories of the familiar interior flooded back to me.

This place was also one of the event locations implemented in the “Luminor Academy.”

It wasn’t a shop with a particularly special name; if you were to say it was a “cake shop in Blackwood Market,” most people would roughly understand.

In terms of the story itself, it was an insignificant location, more akin to a place for collecting character CGs.

After seizing the release, we couldn’t enter Blackwood Territory as protagonists, so the CG related to the release probably wasn’t implemented.

“They say the strawberry cake they sell here is delicious! Um, do you dislike strawberries or something like that?”

“I like them, Katarina senpai.”

“Me too, senpai.”

“Haha, that’s a relief….”

Even if someone disliked strawberries, who could outright say that on that pitiful face? At the very least, they would make an effort to like it.

The only maid whose personality had deteriorated enough to say such things was probably Aeliana Alicia at best.

With the maids’ salaries, we couldn’t afford to eat three cakes, so we pooled our money and ordered a slice of strawberry cake.

Sitting around with a slice of cake, we shared various stories.

“This strawberry cake looks even prettier up close! I learned that this is something young ladies usually eat….”

“Is that so? Re…Release, is this something only noble ladies eat…? Um…?”

“…I’m not sure even if you ask me.”

What does it matter if noble ladies eat it or maid girls eat it?

Realistically, desserts like these were luxury foods that even pooling the maids’ salaries wouldn’t be enough for. However, before being a medieval fantasy world, this world was a game world. Moreover, claiming it was impossible was another matter.

Blackwood Territory was vast enough to produce its milk and eggs.

Arguably, the shortage of sugar might be a flaw, but if they supplemented the sweetness with strawberries instead of using much sugar, then it wouldn’t be entirely impossible.

Of course, selling such desserts to commoners was somewhat alien, but there was no problem with that.

“Since it’s a place to collect CGs anyway.”

Even though it touted itself as an SRPG game, “Luminor Academy” fundamentally was an adult romance game.

Rather than players who would stray away complaining about realism, it was a game for humans who would play three more hours just to collect CGs of their favorite characters eating strawberry cake.

For now, we decided to enjoy this dessert in front of us without delving too deep into it.

“…Mm.”

The taste is decent enough.

If it were Release in the game, she would have made all sorts of ecstatic expressions, having never tasted such delicious food before.

Having experienced proper strawberry cream cake in my previous world, this dessert was a bit bland but still enjoyable.

“Ooh~! It’s so soft~!!”

Isabel across from me savored each precious bite with various expressions of happiness.

If they had made this scene into a special CG and distributed it, wouldn’t the sales of “Luminor Academy” have increased by about a thousand copies?

Engrossed in such materialistic gamer-like sentiments, this time a slightly anxious voice came from Katarina’s direction.

“Re…Release…?”

“Yes.”

“Why, why are you like this…? It’s not that good…”

…Oh no.

Come to think of it, today’s outing was originally to stop Katarina’s reckless favor repayment.

If I showed dissatisfaction, she would have felt sorry for me and would have continued to force favors on me as before.

It was important to clearly show that I am satisfied here.

“No, senior. It was so delicious that I was momentarily at a loss for words.”

“I-is that so…?”

“The cream melting like clouds on the soft bread, along with the fresh and gentle sweetness of the strawberries. I’ve never tasted such a fantastic dish in my life.”

“I see… That’s fortunate… Please eat more, Lillis…”

“By the way, Katarina, aren’t you eating?”

“I’m fine. Just watching you eat is enough for me… It was the same when Aeria and Alicia came last year…”

“… ”

…As soon as I heard about her past that inexplicably made my eyes well up, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything and just froze in mid-air.

Damn those two bastards.

Upon hearing Katarina’s sad confession, even the slightest hint of resentment left in those bastards who were dragged to the northern border disappeared completely.

Before I knew it, my hand was naturally cutting the remaining piece of cake and bringing it to Katarina’s mouth.

“Katarina, please eat more.”

“Oh, um… I’m okay…”

“Please eat quickly. I’ve had enough.”

“… ”

“It’s my request, will you refuse?”

“… ”

Seeing the cake in front of her, Katarina hesitated, then cautiously opened her mouth.

I pushed the strawberry cake from my fork into her mouth without hesitation.

“Is it delicious?”

-Nods.

With cheeks full of strawberry cake, Katarina happily chewed, resembling a hamster due to her small stature.

‘…Leaving someone who eats so well and enjoying themselves together, these damn bastards.’

Aeria and Alicia, those two girls, sincerely hoped they would work at the northern border for a long time while observing Katarina eating.

Suddenly, Isabelle approached me from the right.

“…Lillis, Lillis.”

“Yes?”

“… ”

In response to her call, I turned my gaze towards Isabelle, but she stood quietly as if she had something to say but held back.

Not understanding Isabelle’s actions, I could only stare at her blankly.

“… ”

“… ”

“Isabelle?”

“… ”

“I-I have something to say…”

“…It’s nothing.”

She picked up her share of the cake, put it in her mouth, and quietly savored it with a somewhat pretentious expression.

For some reason, I felt a slight sense of dissatisfaction coming from her.

…Women’s moods are truly unpredictable.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

After the snack time at the strawberry cake shop, the time with the two of them continued for a while.

They wandered around the shopping street together, looking at various clothes and jewelry.

If they saw a street food that looked tasty while walking, they bought one to share among the three.

Or they sat near the park, exchanging various stories, and before they knew it, half a day had swiftly passed.

‘Surprisingly, this time isn’t so bad.’

In truth, I didn’t have high expectations when I first came out with the two of them to the city.

Girls having fun, there wouldn’t be much fun for me, a guy, to join in. I thought I’d just tag along for a while and cater to the two all day until the day ended.

However, thanks to Katarina, who surprisingly knew a lot about the Blackwood Territory, Isabelle and I were able to explore various parts of the territory.

Time flew by so quickly that I found myself enjoying the time, almost forgetting my gender.

“So, where should we go next? Probably somewhere we haven’t been yet…”

“Let’s head back towards the city entrance now. It seems like it’s almost time for our meeting.”

“Yes, Senior Katarina. Thanks to you, I had a really enjoyable day today.”

“Likewise for me. If it was just Isabelle and me, we probably would have wandered around near the city entrance and spent the day there. Thanks to Senior Katarina, we had a fulfilling day.”

“R-really…? You helped us a lot…”

“Yes, Senior.”

“Haha, I’m glad…”

…Well, with this, Katarina’s somewhat burdensome gestures of repaying me should soften in the future.

I believe this was sufficient repayment even for me, a man who didn’t realize how time flew by and enjoyed the day.

In fact, when I first came out to the city, I did feel a bit regretful.

Rather than spending this rare outing opportunity in this manner, I would have preferred to level up in the mountains.

Now, after thoroughly enjoying everything, I don’t particularly regret it.

‘Leveling up… There will be other opportunities.’

Knowing that being a maid doesn’t necessarily mean being confined within the mansion, perhaps the next opportunity might come sooner.

If I continue to build trust as a maid, I might receive permission for another outing, even if it’s not to the city.

It’s much better than going out to the city on a day like today, getting caught sneaking to the mountains, and facing disciplinary action.

Let’s proceed calmly, calmly.

Increasing maximum mana capacity, leveling up, acquiring skills—all important. But what mattered most was still ‘not drawing attention.’

Especially for figures like Ethan and Harold.

“The city entrance is this way, right?”

“S-shouldn’t we hurry a bit? W-what if Mr. Ma, Mabu leaves us behind and goes ahead…?”

“We’re not too late as it is. Let’s pick up the pace a bit, though.”

I didn’t want our departure schedule to be delayed because of us.

Having already received kindness by taking the carriage, causing harm to such a person was one of the acts I despised the most.

As we hurried across the streets of the city, making our way to the city entrance…

…A crucial word reached my ears from behind.

“Ahh! M-monster!”

…Monster?