Chapter 567: A Date With Nerune (3)

We, having been watching Wataru and Leona's magic duel from a distance on a bench, were approached by Leona.

"Hehehe, I might have won in terms of strength, but I lost in terms of quantity. I won the match but lost the game."

"Well, for Nerune, she'd probably prefer multiple spells she can replicate over a single advanced spell she can't."

Though she said she lost, she looked quite satisfied.

Then, Rokuko clung tightly to my arm and glared at Leona.

"Leona, could you not get so close to Kehma?"

"Oh come now, Rokuko-chan. Aren't we fellow date watchers today? We're friends, dear friends."

"That's one thing, this is another. I'm the one to protect Kehma."

Rokuko, with the vigor of one about to bite. Ah, I love it. I'm being protected...

"Hey, Kehma-san, did I do something to Rokuko-chan? She really seems to dislike me."

"I don't like you either, you know? You messed with my head before."

"... Did I? Mm, nope, sorry, I don't remember."

Leona apologized straight away. She genuinely seemed to have forgotten.

It's said that true evil is one who commits misdeeds without feeling guilty. She's truly like a wicked deity.

"First off, Leona, aren't you an enemy of Haku-sama? There's no reason for us to get along."

"Oh? Didn't I mention the other day that that was all just an act?"

"That aside, I just don't like you."

"But I like you, Rokuko-chan? ... And I'd like to get along with my in-laws."

"I'm not giving you Soto!!"

Hey Rokuko, my arm hurts. Loosen your grip a bit.

"Oi, Leona. Didn't you say something about not laying a hand on your grandkid's partner?"

"It's actually me who's being imposed upon... Kehma-san, what kind of upbringing are you giving to Soto-chan?"

I'd been pretty hands-off, so being questioned on that stung.

Huh? Because Rokuko and I aren't making much progress, you think it's acting as a bad example and pushing others to be more aggressive?

There's some truth to that.

* * *

After the magic duel with Leona-san, Nerune-san and I decided to have lunch on a picnic sheet spread out on the park's grass.

I'd momentarily hoped it might be homemade by Nerune-san... but it turned out to be sandwiches made by Kinue-san.

"Kinue is really good at cooking. She's what you'd call the perfect bride material, right?"

"Indeed. She must be popular in the village."

"Among the three of us, she's the most popular. Next is Rei, and I'm the least popular."

"I like it, though? You, I mean, Nerune-san."

"... And~?"

Ah. Right, not many would approach a woman who's been involved with a hero.

Even in Golen—or, perhaps, being with a hero doesn't matter. Unless the woman herself is uninterested.

"... Um, does that bother you?"

"Not really~. I'm a huge introvert to begin with~, so I just concentrate on my magic research~."

From how she spoke, it might sound like she's sulking or blaming, but Nerune-san's grin suggested it was just a light-hearted joke.

... Yet, the possibility that she might genuinely think that way was one of Nerune-san's charming points.

"Oh yeah~. It's not like I can't cook either you know~? Like, I can bake and slice bread~. Toasted bread with cheese is delicious~."

"Ah, toast? I'd be able to make it if I had a toaster, but in this world... ovens are the best you can get."

"... Ah~, yes~... that's right~, isn't it~?"

Ah. It feels like I just said something I shouldn't have.shouldn't have.

"Could it be that you've... made a toaster?"

"Wha-what are you talking about~? I make bread in an oven~, really~, reeeeally~!"

"Is it some kind of product in development? If so, it's like a corporate secret...?"

"Yes, yes~, that's it~. You see~, there is a stovetop magical tool in the dungeon here, so I based it on that...? Or something like that~? It's not impossible~?"

It felt like she was hiding something, but I decided not to pry any further.

"Any items you make that recreate Japanese tools or magical tools could become quite popular to sell. In fact, there are quite a few such items in the products from the [Hero Workshop] in the imperial capital. If I gave ideas to you or Kantra-san, would you make them for me?"

"Ah~, we'd welcome that~, especially ones for personal use~. But we'd have to charge for the production costs~."

Nerune-san had her own work, so it looked like she didn't have enough hands to produce on a large scale.

If one wants to commercialize and sell at that level, it might be better to ask Kantara-san.

"Handmade magical tools by Nerune-san... I'd love that."

"Handmade, you say~... does that mean there are magical tools that aren't handmade~?"

"Huh?"

I was momentarily taken aback by her question, but considering it, there aren't any mass-produced items made in factories in this world. Everything is handmade by default.

"... Well, in my world, there were non-handmade items called factory products."

"Ohh~, a system for mass-producing high-demand products~!"

Despite me having no intention of going that direction, Nerune-san latched onto the topic in an unexpectedly enthusiastic way. I then explained to her about conveyor belts, what factories entailed, division of labor, and everything I could think of about factories.

"Just like that. Machines—things similar to golems—make them."

"I see! That's very enlightening! Please tell me more!"

Ah—I love her.

Looking into her sparkling eyes behind her glasses, I really thought so.

"Phew~. That was very informative~. Shall we get going~?"

After our conversation, Nerune-san tightly grasped my hand.

The soft, warm touch of her hand made my heart race.

"Eh, where to? Fishing in the pond? Oh, I remember seeing Kehma-san and the others looking this way from the boat."

"Do you think there are fish in this pond~? ... That's not what I meant though~. I was thinking of going to the [Legendary Tree]~.

The [Legendary Tree]. The goal of this date.

... Indeed, the sun was starting to set.

The end of the date, the time for my confession, was approaching.